You can choose between 3 difficulty settings:

Easy

This difficulty setting is for players who find "normal" to be too challenging or for those who want an easier time while learning the rules.

Add this 2 steps during setup:

1) Roll the six-sided die to determine an extra starting resource: Metal (1), Wood (2), Food (3), Cunning (4), Medium Effort (5), or Treasure (6).

2) You also begin the game with a Skill Card — draw two and select one, then put the other in the discard pile.

Normal

This is the standard difficulty setting.

Hard

This difficulty setting is for players who want a real challenge.

On hard, you begin the game with only 10 Small Effort, instead of 13. In addition, monsters attack first during the Battle Step.