1. BOARD: Place on the table, showing the side matching your player count (1–3 or 4–5).

2. PLANET TILES: Shuffle and place in a stack face down next to the board.

3. EXPLORE TOKENS: Randomly place 1 face up on each planet spot in the planet grid, then return excess explore tokens to the box.

4. QUEENSHIP MINIATURE: Place on its starting location in the planet grid.

5. DANCE TILES: Randomly place 1 face up on each of the rectangular spots on the Convert action. Return excess dance tiles to the box.

6. DANCE TOKENS: Place in a stack on the Convert action (these are not randomized; they are open information for all players).

7. SEED CARDS: Shuffle and place in a deck face down on the Research action.

8. FARM TILES: Shuffle and place 1 tile face up on each farm tile slot, then place the rest in a stack face down on the Advance action.

9. RECRUIT TILES: Shuffle and place 1 tile face up on each recruit tile slot, then place the rest in a stack face down on the Advance action.

10. DEVELOPMENT TILES: Shuffle and place 1 tile face up on each development tile slot, then place the rest in a stack face down on the Advance action.

11. CARVING TILES: Shuffle and place 1 tile face up on each slot on the Carve action, then return excess carving tiles to the box. Place all other items—frames, fiber, pollen, water, wax, and honey—in a general supply next to the board.