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Gamehelptartan

2026-03-22T02:09:54Z

Ambroisemarche:

== Game Overview ==

Two Scottish clans clash for dominance in the Highlands. Prophecy says that only a chief crowned by his bishop in a cathedral built by his own people can unify the lands. Rally your clan, build powerful formations, and be the first to complete the coronation ritual.

'''Tartan''' is a 2-player abstract strategy game with no randomness. Games last 10–20 minutes.

== Goal of the Game ==

Be the first player to move your '''Bishop''' onto a '''Cathedral''' of your own color. This completes the coronation and wins the game immediately.

== Setup ==

The game begins with two phases:

=== 1. Placement Phase ===

Players take turns placing their '''12 Family tokens''' on the hexagonal board:
* A token '''cannot''' be placed on a '''Loch''' space.
* A token '''cannot''' be placed adjacent to any other token (friendly or enemy).
* When no player can legally place a token, unplaced tokens go to the player's '''reserve'''.

=== 2. Bishop Placement ===

Both '''Bishop''' tokens are placed on the '''central Loch'''.

== Pieces and Formations ==

Tokens can unite by stacking to form more powerful units:

{| class="wikitable"
! Unit !! Stack Size !! Movement !! Special
|-
| '''Family''' || 1 token || 1 space in any direction || Basic unit.
|-
| '''Horde''' || 2 tokens || Exactly 2 spaces || Can capture an enemy '''Family'''. Bounce effect on formation.
|-
| '''Army''' || 3 tokens || Exactly 3 spaces, in a straight line || Can capture an enemy '''Horde''' (not a Family). Bounce effect on formation.
|-
| '''Cathedral''' || 4 tokens || Immovable || Formed by two friendly '''Hordes''' only. Cannot be moved or dismantled.
|-
| '''Bishop''' || Special token || 1 space in any direction || Can move onto any unit (friendly or enemy) to '''bless''' it: the unit is then immobilized and protected.
|}

'''Important:'''
* Hordes and Armies must complete their '''full movement''' — they cannot stop short.
* All spaces along the movement path must be '''empty''' (passing through the same empty space twice is allowed).
* A Family '''cannot''' unite with an Army.
* A Cathedral can '''only''' be formed by two Hordes (not by an Army + Family).

== Bounce Effect ==

When a new '''Horde''' or '''Army''' is formed (by uniting two pieces), the newly formed unit may '''immediately perform a full bonus movement''' within the same turn. This can trigger chain reactions if the bonus movement creates another union.

== Gameplay ==

After the placement phase, players take turns starting with the player who placed the last Family token. On your turn, you must perform '''exactly one''' of the following actions:

=== Action 1: Move a Piece ===

Move one of your pieces (Family, Horde, Army, or Bishop) according to its movement rules. A move can:
* '''Occupy an empty space:''' Move to a valid empty space (not a Loch).
* '''Unite with a friendly piece:''' Move onto a friendly piece to form a stronger unit (triggers bounce effect if applicable).
* '''Capture an enemy piece:''' Move a Horde onto an enemy Family, or an Army onto an enemy Horde. The captured piece is removed from the game.

=== Action 2: Dismantle a Horde ===

Remove one of your Hordes from the board to redeploy your forces:
# Remove the Horde from the game.
# Take '''3 Family tokens''': the 2 from the Horde + 1 from your reserve (that has NOT been captured).
# Place these 3 Families on empty spaces, each adjacent to a '''different Loch''' (not the central Loch).
# New Families cannot be placed on a Loch or on an occupied space.

== Bishop Rules ==

* Moves '''1 space''' in any direction, like a Family.
* Can move onto a space occupied by any unit (friendly or enemy). The unit beneath is then '''blessed''': immobilized and protected as long as the Bishop remains on it.
* '''Cannot''' move onto a Loch (except at the start of the game on the central Loch). Once it leaves the central Loch, it cannot return.
* '''Cannot''' move onto the opponent's Bishop.

== End of the Game ==

=== Victory ===

A player wins '''immediately''' when they move their Bishop onto a Cathedral of their own color. The coronation is complete.

=== Draw ===

The game is a draw if:
* Both players agree to a draw, '''or'''
* '''15 consecutive moves''' are made without any capture or union.

Tips tartan

2026-03-12T11:53:36Z

Ambroisemarche:

Strategy Tips

FOCUS ON THE OBJECTIVE
The only way to win is to build a Cathedral and move your Bishop onto it. Capturing enemy pieces is useful if it brings you closer to this goal, or pushes your opponent further from theirs — but don't get distracted. Every move should serve the coronation.

DISMANTLE TO RECONNECT
This is the most POWERFUL move in Tartan! If you have isolated Families with no neighbors, don't hesitate to dismantle a Horde (stack of 2). You'll get 3 Family tokens to place next to Lochs, which lets you reposition and create new potential Hordes across the board. Sometimes breaking apart is the best way to rebuild stronger.

KEEP YOU FAMILIES (single tokens) CLOSE
A lone Family is useless — it can't form a Horde, can't threaten anything, and is easy prey. Always try to keep your Families within reach of each other so they can combine when the moment is right.

DON'T BUILD AN ARMY (stack of 3) WITHOUT AN IMMEDIATE STRONG EFFECT ON THE BOARD
Armies look powerful, but they can't win you the game: YOU CAN'T BUILD A CATHEDRAL FROM AN ARMY, and they can't capture Families (single token). If your Army doesn't eliminate a Horde with the bounce on the turn it's formed, that Horde can simply dismantle and reform elsewhere — and you'll have wasted 3 tokens with no way back. Only create an Army when it has a clear target.

ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE BOUNCE!
The bounce effect is the heart of Tartan's tactics. Every time you form a Horde (stack of 2), it gets a free 2-space move immediately. This means 3 adjacent Families are not just 3 weak tokens — they have the potential of an Army in a single turn: merge two into a Horde, bounce onto the third, and you've got an Army ready to strike. Always scan the board for bounce opportunities before you move!

Tips tartan

2026-03-10T10:24:28Z

Ambroisemarche: Created page with "Strategy Tips Keep your Families close A lone Family is useless — it can't form a Horde, can't threaten anything, and is easy prey. Always try to keep your Families within reach of each other so they can combine when the moment is right. Don't build an Army without a plan Armies look powerful, but they can't win you the game: you can't build a Cathedral from an Army, and they can't capture Families. If your Army doesn't eliminate a Horde on the turn it's formed, that..."

Strategy Tips

Keep your Families close
A lone Family is useless — it can't form a Horde, can't threaten anything, and is easy prey. Always try to keep your Families within reach of each other so they can combine when the moment is right.

Don't build an Army without a plan
Armies look powerful, but they can't win you the game: you can't build a Cathedral from an Army, and they can't capture Families. If your Army doesn't eliminate a Horde on the turn it's formed, that Horde can simply dismantle and reform elsewhere. And once an Army is built, there's no going back — so only create one when it has a clear target.

Dismantle to reconnect
If you have isolated Families with no neighbours, don't hesitate to dismantle a Horde. You'll get 3 Family tokens to place next to Lochs, which lets you reposition and create new potential Hordes across the board. Sometimes breaking apart is the best way to rebuild stronger.

Always think about the bounce
The bounce effect is the heart of Tartan's tactics. Every time you form a Horde, it gets a free 2-space move immediately. This means 3 adjacent Families are not just 3 weak tokens — they have the potential of an Army in a single turn: merge two into a Horde, bounce onto the third, and you've got an Army ready to strike. Always scan the board for bounce opportunities before you move!