Nippon: Zaibatsu · Board game rules
How do I set up the worker queue for solo play?
Quick answer
In Solo mode, fill the Worker Queue exactly as in a 2-player game: place random Workers only in the top area of the Worker Queue.
Details
Solo mode setup is performed "as for a 2-player game," with only specific changes listed for Common Setup, Individual Setup, and Starting Conditions [p.20 — CHANGES IN SETUP]. Since the Worker Queue setup (step 3c) is not among the listed changes, the standard 2-player rule applies: "In a 2-player game, place Workers only in the top area of the Worker Queue" [p.4 — SETUP].
This means you fill the Hiring area with 3 random Workers per space as normal, and only the top row of the Worker Queue receives random Workers from the bag — the middle and bottom rows remain empty for the entire Solo game, just as they would in a normal 2-player game [p.4 — SETUP].
Watch out: Don't confuse this with the Automa-specific Worker set, which is handled separately — one removed set of Workers is placed randomly in the Regions on the Main board, and the other removed set goes into the Automa's Priority area, not into the Worker Queue [p.20 — CHANGES IN SETUP], [p.21 — AUTOMA SETUP].