The pack of territory cards is shuffled, and each player is given five territory cards.

They then place one solider on every territory represented by that card; so that at the end of Step One; each player will have five cards and five solders on the board.

Each player takes turns to place one extra solider onto any unoccupied territory. Once they have done this,

the next player places one solider onto an unoccupied territory, until all players have ten soldiers on ten territories.

All players place two of their initial cards, face down, on the table. On one card they place their Capital Block,

and on another they place their Farm Block. All cards are upturned at the same time so that the selection of Capitals and farms is disclosed at the same time.

The players then start their turn; in reverse order to

that which they placed their extra troops onto the five

territories.