From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in Goblin Vaults?

In multiplayer, whoever looks most like a goblin takes the first human bidding turn.

Rule details

Give that player the first player marker. Initial vault cards are chosen and revealed simultaneously during setup; bidding then begins with the marker holder and proceeds clockwise.

With two players, reveal Glavrun’s bidding card before the human players bid. In solo play, the first player marker is unused and Glavrun also reveals a card before the human acts.

After a non-final round’s Warden Phase, pass the first player marker clockwise.

If there’s a tie

The cited starting-player instruction does not specify a tie-break. We don’t infer one.

Source & edition

Goblin Vaults — Thunderworks Games rulesThunderworks Games · Setup steps 9–10; Card Strength; Bidding Phase and two-player box; Warden Phase and Final Scoring; Solitary Mode; credits · Checked 2026-09-23

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