Gamehelpboreal

2025-06-02T11:07:11Z

Niall: /* Card Anatomy */ - updated archive card definition.

== '''<big>Overview</big>''' ==
The game is played in rounds, where each player will go through 2 phases (Exploration & Rest phase) before passing the turn.

== '''<big>Card Anatomy</big>''' ==
Top left: card family, followed by compass cost. Note that “Archive” cards have cost against a grey background, and belong to zero or multiple families.

Top right: # of compass replenished during resting phase

Bottom right: VP in book symbol, and some cards have an additional power/special effect
[[File:Boreal1.jpg|thumb|none|318x318px|Fig 1]]

== '''<big>Player Turn</big>''' ==
On your turn you will go through 2 phases; Exploration & Rest

=== '''Exploration Phase''' ===
During this phase, you can either:

* Build a card into your tableau from the center board or your reserve
* Reserve a card from the center board into your reserve

==== '''''Build''''' ====
Each player begins the game with an exploration token on the 5 spot, which tracks the number of compasses you have.

When you build a card, '''you must pay its cost in number of compass''' (move your exploration token).

If you build a card from the center board, the card can only come from those in '''the same column''' or to the '''left of your exploration token'''. For example, if your token is at the 3 spot, you can only pick cards #1, #2 or #3

You build by placing cards in your tableau in the shape of a pyramid (4 cards on bottom, 3 on second level, 2 on the third, and 1 on top). To build a card on an upper level space, there must be 2 cards right below it

''<u>Note:</u>''

''- You can only ever build OR reserve 1 archive card.''

''- If you already have an archive card reserved, you can't reserve another one''

''- Once a card is taken from the center board, its instantly replaced with a card from the main deck''

==== '''''Reserve''''' ====
If you choose to reserve a card instead, you can take ANY card from the center board (it does not have to be on the same column or to the left of your exploration token). Also when you reserve a card, you don't need to move your exploration token. You can have multiple cards in your reserve, though they must be face up.

=== '''Rest Phase''' ===
Count all of the compasses on cards built in your pyramid that are open* plus any additional compass given by the space of your exploration token. Move that many spaces to the right (Figure 2, D).

<nowiki>*</nowiki>An open card is a card that doesn't have a card on top of it.
[[File:Boreal2.jpg|thumb|none|Fig 2]]

In this example, the player would gain 5 compasses in total (Figure 2, A)

- 2 from the exploration token being in space 0

- 3 from their open cards (Figure 2, B) (the other cards (Figure 2, C) have cards on top of them).

== '''<big>Game End</big>''' ==
Endgame is triggered when one player manages to build the 10th card in their pyramid. Continue until both players have equal turns.

Gamehelpboreal

2025-06-01T06:24:09Z

Niall: Defined archive cards in the card anatomy section. This isn’t explained elsewhere in English rules anywhere online, and it was driving me mad trying to work out why I couldn’t play a card. Answer was on a BGG forum.

== '''<big>Overview</big>''' ==
The game is played in rounds, where each player will go through 2 phases (Exploration & Rest phase) before passing the turn.

== '''<big>Card Anatomy</big>''' ==
Top left: card family (colour), followed by compass cost. “Archive” cards have no colour.

Top right: # of compass replenished during resting phase

Bottom right: VP in book symbol, and some cards have an additional power/special effect
[[File:Boreal1.jpg|thumb|none|318x318px|Fig 1]]

== '''<big>Player Turn</big>''' ==
On your turn you will go through 2 phases; Exploration & Rest

=== '''Exploration Phase''' ===
During this phase, you can either:

* Build a card into your tableau from the center board or your reserve
* Reserve a card from the center board into your reserve

==== '''''Build''''' ====
Each player begins the game with an exploration token on the 5 spot, which tracks the number of compasses you have.

When you build a card, '''you must pay its cost in number of compass''' (move your exploration token).

If you build a card from the center board, the card can only come from those in '''the same column''' or to the '''left of your exploration token'''. For example, if your token is at the 3 spot, you can only pick cards #1, #2 or #3

You build by placing cards in your tableau in the shape of a pyramid (4 cards on bottom, 3 on second level, 2 on the third, and 1 on top). To build a card on an upper level space, there must be 2 cards right below it

''<u>Note:</u>''

''- You can only ever build OR reserve 1 archive card.''

''- If you already have an archive card reserved, you can't reserve another one''

''- Once a card is taken from the center board, its instantly replaced with a card from the main deck''

==== '''''Reserve''''' ====
If you choose to reserve a card instead, you can take ANY card from the center board (it does not have to be on the same column or to the left of your exploration token). Also when you reserve a card, you don't need to move your exploration token. You can have multiple cards in your reserve, though they must be face up.

=== '''Rest Phase''' ===
Count all of the compasses on cards built in your pyramid that are open* plus any additional compass given by the space of your exploration token. Move that many spaces to the right (Figure 2, D).

<nowiki>*</nowiki>An open card is a card that doesn't have a card on top of it.
[[File:Boreal2.jpg|thumb|none|Fig 2]]

In this example, the player would gain 5 compasses in total (Figure 2, A)

- 2 from the exploration token being in space 0

- 3 from their open cards (Figure 2, B) (the other cards (Figure 2, C) have cards on top of them).

== '''<big>Game End</big>''' ==
Endgame is triggered when one player manages to build the 10th card in their pyramid. Continue until both players have equal turns.

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