Virgin Queen Learn before game night

A course for four first-timers

Learn Virgin Queen before game night.

Elizabeth's Europe, 1559 to 1598: rival powers wage war, arrange marriages, explore the New World and fight over the Reformation. Every move starts with a card.

Start: Lesson 1 →
Virgin Queen box art
GMT Games · design by Ed Beach

The path · same for everyone

Seven lessons, then your power

0 of 7 essentials · 0 of 80 min

Step 1

The essentials

Watch in order. About 80 minutes, each with a short quiz.

  1. 1

    The Big Picture

    11:23
  2. 2

    Cards Are Everything

    11:06
  3. 3

    Making War on Land

    11:30
  4. 4

    The Seas

    11:14
  5. 5

    The Fight for Souls

    11:46
  6. 6

    The Rest of the Turn

    11:51
  7. 7

    The Sleeping Giants

    11:26

Step 2 · open any time

Now pick your power

Each power page covers how you score, what only you can do, and your Turn 1 situation. You can switch later.

  • Ottoman

    An ally in our 4-player game

    A big army in Istanbul and corsairs in Algiers. England runs it from Turn 1 in our game.

    Choose Ottoman →

  • Spain

    Starts on 17 VP, the most. Everyone else is chasing you.

    Choose Spain →

  • England

    Elizabeth's England, with the Ottomans as your ally from Turn 1.

    Choose England →

  • France

    The middle of Europe, with Huguenots inside your own borders.

    Choose France →

  • Holy Roman Empire

    An ally in our 4-player game

    Asleep at the start. Whoever wins it over gets its generals and its armies.

    Choose Holy Roman Empire →

  • Protestant

    Starts on 1 VP. You grow by converting and by rebellion.

    Choose Protestant →

Step 3 · last, before game night

At the table

Our own Turn 1, all four seats, phase by phase. Watch it after your power page, with the deep dives marked Before Turn 1.

  1. T1

    Turn 1 at the Table

    18:47

Step 4 · optional

The wrap-up

  1. 8

    Every Action

    10:34

Step 5 · when the game gets there

Deep dives

One topic each, in more detail. Watch each one before the turn it matters.

  1. DD

    The World Map

    Before Turn 1

    11:35
  2. DD

    Marriage and Patronage

    Before Turn 1

    11:21
  3. DD

    Sieges and Assaults

    Before Turn 1

    10:27
  4. DD

    Winter

    Before the end of Turn 1

    11:57
  5. DD

    Naval Combat and Piracy

    Before Turn 1

    11:32
  6. DD

    Conversion and Rebellion

    Before Turn 1

    11:59
  7. DD

    Diplomacy, Minors and War

    Before Turn 2

    11:53
  8. DD

    Espionage

    Before Turn 3

    12:31