Tinkers to Tales of the Arabian Nights

I've enjoyed Tales of the Arabian Nights for years, but the original game eventually became too easy as we all learned many of the stories. Interestingly, embedded under the stories is a good race game.

Studmuffin Variant

For experienced players, we developed a few variants. The most interesting one is these alternate victory conditions. One needs all of:

Sultan status
Being in Baghdad at the end of your turn
20 Destiny Points
20 Story Points
Fabulous weath
A treasure
2 Quests completed

We always use the two-player rules, that is, draw two cards and deal with one of them. Skip the merchant rules.

Initial conditions can be varied to handicap players. The strongest players should be started with one of each point (starting with zero destiny points is no good---a player can get eliminated randomly too easily without a D point to trade away), one skill of their choice (excluding Major Magic, of course...everyone takes Scholarship), and Beggar wealth level (the lowest). Weaker players can be started at higher wealth levels and/or with two or three skills.

Some Minor Rules Tinkers

Players with a very bad status may choose to start over.

Players may not have more than 20 DPs or SPs. Any extra are lost. If, however, a player loses points while at 20, they go below 20.

When players may trade a wealth level to a player with a skill or status who's in their square, if they have the skill or status themself, they can trade the wealth level for the benefit desired. This is a must in the solo variant and a good idea in general.

Solo Variant

Studmuffin rules apply. When drawing cards from the deck for quest extensions, reshuffle unused cards back into the deck, so as to remove only one card for this purpose. Try to accomplish all the objectives before the end of the first deck. If you manage that (it isn't easy), try to have more cards left over. Finishing by the end of the second deck is quite good. Failing to finish by the end of the third deck is disappointing.

Helpful Hints

Be very careful about getting Sultan too early. By far the most difficult goal is Fabulous wealth, but that's obtained by turning Sultan when you have a treasure. If you lose a wealth level after becoming Sultan, it can take quite awhile to get back to Fabulous.