The White Castle · Board game rules
In solo mode, do I choose what The Rival selects?
Quick answer
No, you do not choose The Rival’s selections in solo mode; their actions are determined by the Solitaire deck.
Details
In solitaire mode, The Rival’s moves are dictated by their Solitaire deck. When it is The Rival’s turn, you draw cards from their deck and follow the instructions on the revealed cards to determine which die they take, where it is placed, and any actions performed [p.16 — THE TOKUGAWA CLANS VISIT - SOLITAIRE MODE].
The process is automated:
- Reveal the top card of the Solitaire deck.
- If the specified die (color and position on the Bridge) is available, use it. If not, draw additional cards until a valid die is found.
- Place the die as instructed by the card, resolve coin gains/losses (The Rival never pays but may gain coins), and ignore stacking rules [p.17 — Gameplay].
- Perform all actions listed on the final two revealed cards (or one if only one was used), in order. If an action cannot be performed, The Rival gains Clan Points equal to the current round number for each failed action [p.17 — Gameplay].
Watch out: While you physically manipulate the cards and pieces, you must follow the deck’s instructions strictly—there is no player agency in choosing The Rival’s actions. The only exceptions are rare ties (e.g., multiple Gardens with identical point values), where you may choose arbitrarily, but this is an edge case, not a general rule [p.18 — The Solitaire Icons].