Each Player shuffles his Plot deck and draws three Plot cards. Players may look at their cards, but cannot play any of them until the game actually begins. Shuffle the Group deck and deal a starting hand of 7 Groups to each player, face down. Players may look at their cards, but cannot play any of them until the game actually begins. Each player chooses one Group card from his hand, as the first puppet of his Illuminati.
All players show their choices at the same time.
Any puppets which are chosen by more than one player go back into the owners' hands, and they must make alternate choices. This continues until there are no duplicate puppets. Each player rolls two dice. The one with the highest roll goes first. You may not use Plot cards or special abilities on them, either.