Who goes first in Z-Man Games games?

17 starting-player rules checked against Z-Man Games rulebooks.

All publishers

• ArboretumThe player who last watered a plant starts.
• Archaeology: The New ExpeditionThe first player is the person who last put their feet in the sand.
• Beyond Baker StreetWith Character cards, the player holding the lowest-numbered Character card starts. In the first game, when no Character cards are used, the player who most recently read a Sherlock Holmes story starts.
• BlueprintsIn the first round, the player who most recently visited a building under construction goes first.
• Campaign Manager 2008The player who first finishes building their Campaign Strategy deck may go first. With the preconstructed starting decks, the player closest to their 18th birthday may go first.
• Carcassonne: AmazonasStart with whoever most recently took a boat ride. The rulebook also permits the youngest player to start instead. Play proceeds clockwise.
• Carcassonne: Hunters and GatherersThe youngest player takes the first turn. Continue clockwise.
• ChinatownThe player who most recently visited a Chinatown takes the First Player card.
• CitadelsThe oldest player takes the crown. The crowned player is first to choose a character card.
• Dragon FarkleThe player who brought the most snacks starts the game.
• Love LetterFor the opening round, the person who most recently wrote a letter by hand starts. Turns proceed clockwise.
• PandemicLook at the City cards in your opening hands. Whoever holds the card showing the largest city population takes the first turn.
• Pandemic Legacy: Season 1Take all the pawns and blindly draw one. That pawn’s player goes first.
• Pandemic: Rapid ResponseThe player who most recently traveled by plane starts. Continue clockwise.
• SmileThe last player to have seen a firefly starts.
• Star Wars: Jabba's Palace – A Love Letter GameWhoever most recently rescued a friend starts the first round. Turns proceed clockwise.
• World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich KingStart with the player who has traveled furthest north. Turns continue clockwise.

Each answer is our reviewed summary of that edition’s publisher rulebook. Open a game for its source, tie-break and edition details. Or pick a starting player at random.