<p>The decks you use are completely at the discretion of the players.  I like to use all the decks I own.  Some people like to use certain decks.  Some people like to ensure a particular distribution of cards from each deck, but I find that tedious.  Here's how I set things up:</p>

<ul>
<li>Set up the game board normally.  </li>
<li>Shuffle all Minor Improvements together from all decks.  </li>
<li>Remove all Occupations that carry a number greater than the number of players in the game (this number appears in a colored square and is either 1+, 3+ or 4+).  </li>
<li>Shuffle all remaining Occupations together from all decks.  </li>
<li>Randomly deal out 7 (or more) Occupations to each player.  </li>
<li>Randomly deal out 7 (or more) Minor Improvements to each player.  </li>
</ul>

<p>(The next two steps are the drafting steps, which you can skip if you want to.)  </p>

<ul>
<li>Each player chooses on Occupation and one Minor Improvement to keep, then passes the rest of their dealt cards to the person on their left/right.  </li>
<li><p>Repeat the previous step until all cards have been chosen.</p></li>
<li><p>If you chose to deal more than 7 Occs/Minors, each player discards until they have 7 each.  </p></li>
<li>Play the game.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-17T16:35:40.250Z
Also, when you deal out occupations, make sure that you remove any that carry a number greater than the number of players in the game (this number appears in a coloured circle and is either 1+, 3+ or 4+).
user2390246
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-18T00:30:56.417Z
Great thank you - That's what I thought was the case, just wasn't sure.
dwjohnston
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-17T16:06:16.053Z
2016-02-18T00:30:07.477Z
2016-02-18T00:30:07.477Z
Solocutor
<p>I'm reasonably experienced playing Agricola - but the family friendly version only, because the people I've played with find the game complicated enough as it is. </p>

<p>I understand how the minor improvements and occupations are supposed to be used; at the start of the game each player will have seven occupations and seven minor improvements, which they'll play through out the game. </p>

<p>The question is - how do I decide which deck (E, I, K) to use, and how do I select nPlayers * 7 occupations and minor improvements from it? </p>

<p>From what I've seen, the purpose of the different decks is to provide differing levels of complexity to game, the E deck being more suitable for beginners and the K deck for very experienced players. </p>

<p>I also see there are various ways to distribute the initial seven cards, a draft commonly being used, <a href="https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/3585/house-rule-for-minor-improvement-occupation-distribution">as suggested in this question.</a> </p>

<p>Say I am playing with a draft, with three players. Do I just randomly select 21 minor improvements from the E deck? </p>

<p>Can someone please provide a step by step guide to setting up the game, from deciding which deck to use, to selecting the cards for draft/mulligan and then drafting them? </p>

<agricola>
How are Minor Improvement and Occupation cards meant to be selected for play?
dwjohnston
# How are Minor Improvement and Occupation cards meant to be selected for play?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-17)

I'm reasonably experienced playing Agricola - but the family friendly version only, because the people I've played with find the game complicated enough as it is.

I understand how the minor improvements and occupations are supposed to be used; at the start of the game each player will have seven occupations and seven minor improvements, which they'll play through out the game.

The question is - how do I decide which deck (E, I, K) to use, and how do I select nPlayers \* 7 occupations and minor improvements from it?

From what I've seen, the purpose of the different decks is to provide differing levels of complexity to game, the E deck being more suitable for beginners and the K deck for very experienced players.

I also see there are various ways to distribute the initial seven cards, a draft commonly being used, [as suggested in this question.](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/3585/house-rule-for-minor-improvement-occupation-distribution)

Say I am playing with a draft, with three players. Do I just randomly select 21 minor improvements from the E deck?

Can someone please provide a step by step guide to setting up the game, from deciding which deck to use, to selecting the cards for draft/mulligan and then drafting them?

**Tags:** agricola


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-02-17. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The decks you use are completely at the discretion of the players. I like to use all the decks I own. Some people like to use certain decks. Some people like to ensure a particular distribution of cards from each deck, but I find that tedious. Here's how I set things up:

* Set up the game board normally.
* Shuffle all Minor Improvements together from all decks.
* Remove all Occupations that carry a number greater than the number of players in the game (this number appears in a colored square and is either 1+, 3+ or 4+).
* Shuffle all remaining Occupations together from all decks.
* Randomly deal out 7 (or more) Occupations to each player.
* Randomly deal out 7 (or more) Minor Improvements to each player.

(The next two steps are the drafting steps, which you can skip if you want to.)

* Each player chooses on Occupation and one Minor Improvement to keep, then passes the rest of their dealt cards to the person on their left/right.
* Repeat the previous step until all cards have been chosen.
* If you chose to deal more than 7 Occs/Minors, each player discards until they have 7 each.
* Play the game.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Also, when you deal out occupations, make sure that you remove any that carry a number greater than the number of players in the game (this number appears in a coloured circle and is either 1+, 3+ or 4+).  
> **username_0**: Great thank you - That's what I thought was the case, just wasn't sure.  

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