From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in Townsfolk Tussle?

The first Village phase starts with the villager at the bottom of the turn-order track and proceeds upward. Combat runs downward from the top, with the villain acting first.

Rule details

During setup, arrange the villager tokens on the order track and leave the top villain slot empty. The manual recommends seating order, placing the biggest troublemaker at the top of the villager positions.

The opening Village phase starts by drawing three Feats per villager in shopping order; Town Events and shopping follow that same order.

After a fight, move the top villager token to the bottom and slide the other villagers upward before the next Village phase.

This English summary covers the reviewed German base-game manual in the standard four-round mode. Solo, Double, Swap and three-round modes are separate variants.

Source & edition

Townsfolk Tussle - Anleitung & Schicksale, German publisher manualFrosted Games, under license from Panic Roll · Dorf-Phase - phase order and initial Feats; Spielaufbau step5; Town Events and shopping; Kampfbeginn; post-fight order-track update; German credits and variants · Checked 2026-09-26Printed page references: 11, 6, 12, 13, 22, 34
PDF page 11 PDF page 6 PDF page 12 PDF page 13 PDF page 22 PDF page 34
Townsfolk Tussle - official German base-game productFrosted Games · Player count2-5; base game identified as the German version of the English second edition; German language and Panic Roll partnership · Checked 2026-09-26

Image: © Frosted Games · Frosted Games

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<blockquote class="whogoesfirst-rule" cite="https://whogoesfirst.fun/games/townsfolk-tussle-frosted-2024-de-base/">
  <p><strong>Who goes first in Townsfolk Tussle?</strong> The first Village phase starts with the villager at the bottom of the turn-order track and proceeds upward. Combat runs downward from the top, with the villain acting first.</p>
  <p>Source: <a href="https://whogoesfirst.fun/games/townsfolk-tussle-frosted-2024-de-base/">Official starting rule on Who Goes First?</a> (Frosted Games · English summary of the German base-game manual · ©2024 · standard four-round mode · 2–5 players)</p>
</blockquote>

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