The Equinox Games, A Stonehenge Abstract Strategy Game by Michael Lange
Most board games take the form of some type of race or other. This game is no exception. I wanted to combine a race of acquisition with one of speed, not to a destination but rather by passing or "lapping" opponents. To minimize the raw luck of big numbers and increase strategy I have provided options as to how the number cards drawn may be utilized and how resources may be protected.
Game Rules
Number of players: 3–5
Object of the game: The first player to have his color disk atop the majority of trilithons in play is the winner. That would be 2 trilithons in a 3 player game, 3 in a 4 player game etc..
Getting Started
Equipment: The game board. The neutral (grey) figure. One Trilathon per player. The entire card deck.
Each player will need:
A player figure. 10 corresponding colored bars. Enough corresponding colored disks to top the majority of trilithons in play.
Setup: Set a trilithon up in place for each player. Each player places a disk atop one trilithon to 'claim' it.
Shuffle all cards together and place them in the center of the board.
Each player places a color bar on the corresponding colored bars around the outer ring of the game board (5 each).
Each player places their remaining bars in front of themselves called “The Stack” parallel to one another and with one being closer to them and the others being progressively closer to the game board (this order becomes important as other colored bars are gained).
A card is drawn from the top of the deck. Place the neutral figure on the corresponding number on the game board then discard that card. (if a trilithon card is drawn, discard and draw until a number card is drawn.
The player figures should be placed on the moon square directly below number one on the game board. The remaining disks should be handy to the players.
Playing the Game
Beginning the game:
Decide who goes first. Be cute like oldest, youngest, last to shower etc. or just cut cards or roll dice. From there play will continue clockwise around the table. The neutral figure will move after the last player each round of play. Deal one card to each player face down.
The turn:
Draw a card. The mover then decides which card to play, his drawn card or his down card. If the down card is used, the drawn card replaces the down card.
If a trilithon card is played the player steals a bar of the color corresponding to the dot on the card from any player who has a bar of that color. If the colored dot on the card is not in play or is his/her own color, the player may take any bar from the outer ring of the game board and add it to his/her stack.
If a number card is played the player may either move his/her figure a number of spaces along the inner ring (the sun/moon symbol squares) equal to the number on the card played or 'teleport' directly to the corresponding number on the game board.
Moving and passing:
Moving for players is always along the inner circle (sun and moon squares). Two players may not end a move on a square with another figure. If a number card causes this, the moving player must stop at the first available empty space behind the occupied square(s).
Passing is possible. Whenever another player is passed, the mover takes a bar from that player's stack.
When moving off of a number square, a player moves on to the inner ring counting the first square under the next number as one.
If passing a player who is on a number square, any sun/moon symbol below the number occupied is considered a pass.
Teleporting:
When teleporting to a number, no player is passed. Any number of figures may occupy a number square but none are considered passed by the other. If there is a bar above the number teleported to, the player may take it and add it to his stack.
Taking bars:
When a player takes a bar from an opponent it must be taken from the top of the stack (the bar closest to the board). Players should arrange their stacks with bars they wish to protect closer to them and further from the board.
Neutral figure movement:
Each round, after the last player has moved, a card is drawn for the neutral figure.
If a trilithon card is drawn it is discarded and no movement takes place.
If a number card is drawn the figure moves on the numbered row the number of spaces indicated on the card. Any player passed or joined (since these are number squares and may be shared) is 'regulated'.
The neutral figure 'regulates' by replacing missing bars to the outer ring.
Regulating:
When the neutral figure contacts a player it takes a bar from that player if they have a bar matching the color of an empty bar space on the outer ring. This may allow the neutral figure to take from deeper in the stack, however if there are multiple possibilities as to what bar to replace, the neutral figure will recognize stack order and take the possible bar closest to the board.
Note on stacking:
Any player may re align their stacks during their own turns.
Ending the Game
Whoever has the most bars of any color has sway over a trilithon. Each player began with a trilithon because they had more bars of their own color than anyone else.
If at any time a player has more of an opponent's color bars than any other player, he/she replaces that player's color disk with his/her own atop a trilithon.
When ever one player has his/her disks atop the majority of trilithons that player wins.
Michael Lange was the author of "Mach: the First Colony" published in 1985 by "Alliance Publications".
This rule set is for use with
Stonehenge: An
Anthology Board Game™ from Paizo Publishing.
Stonehenge may be purchased at
paizo.com
or at your favorite local game store. ©
2012
Paizo Publishing, LLC. Titanic Games, its logo, and Anthology Board Game are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries.
All rights reserved. This contribution was made under the Anthology Board Game Library Agreement, whose conditions apply to the material in this document. For more free
Stonehenge
rule sets, visit the Stonehenge
Library at
paizo.com/stonehengelibrary.
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