Board Game Arena - User contributions [en]

Gamehelppicnic

2026-11-02T10:00:17Z

Tartanphoenix: /* Tips */

== Overview ==
Lay out the perfect picnic spread. Take food tiles from the shared '''hamper''', arrange them round your '''plate''', and score for tasty combinations. Cover your ants, chase your cakes, and fill your plate.

2 to 4 players, about 20 minutes.

== Your turn ==
# '''Take the top tile of any pile''' in the hamper. Once you have chosen a pile you cannot change your mind, but everyone then sees the other side of the tile.
# '''Place it either way up:'''
#* '''Food''' goes in the '''next space round your plate''', clockwise, overlapping the tile before. The 12th tile is tucked under the first to close the circle.
#* '''Once per game''' you may put a food tile in the '''centre''' instead. The centre touches every space round the plate.
#* A '''Drink''' goes '''beside''' your plate, not on it. You may take any number of drinks.

When all 13 spaces on your plate are full (12 round the rim plus the centre), your picnic is laid out and you take no more turns. The others carry on until every plate is full.

== Covering ==
Each tile has at most one ant, and one of its two pickles, on the part the next tile overlaps. So:
* Every tile round the rim loses '''one ant''' (if it has any) and '''one pickle''' once the next tile goes down.
* The 12th tile loses them to the tuck under the first.
* Tiles in the '''centre''' and '''drinks''' are never covered: all their ants and pickles show.

== Scoring ==
* '''Cheese:''' 1 point if touching a Cracker, or 3 points if touching 2 or more.
* '''Crackers:''' 6 points for each set of 3 Crackers and 1 Drink.
* '''Pickles:''' each visible Pickle scores 1 point for each Cheese on your plate.
* '''Cakes:''' each connected group of Cakes, any colours mixed:
{| class="wikitable"
! Group size !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7+
|-
! Points
| 1 || 3 || 5 || 7 || 10 || 15
|}
* '''Most Cakes:''' 3 points each for having the most Blue, the most Pink and the most Green Cakes. Ties all score.
* '''Drinks:''' 1 point per ice cube.
* '''Ants:''' count the visible ants on your plate and your drinks. Fewest: '''+3''' points. Most: '''-3''' points. Ties all score.

== Winning ==
Highest score wins. If tied, the player with fewer visible ants wins. If still tied, it is a shared win.

== On screen ==
* Your '''player panel''' shows each scoring item as ''how many (points)'', and your score is always up to date, majorities included. Hover over a line for the detail.
* While placing a tile, choose a side (or use '''Flip'''), then click the dashed space round your plate or the centre. Your panel shows what the tile would add before you confirm.
* Hover over any tile (or long press on a phone) to see its ants, pickles or ice cubes, and how many are covered.

== Tips ==
* Drinks do not take up space on your plate, but they carry a lot of ants that can never be covered.
* The centre touches every space: great for joining cakes into one big group, or for a Cracker that touches all your Cheese.

Gamehelppicnic

2026-11-02T09:59:45Z

Tartanphoenix: Created page with "== Overview == Lay out the perfect picnic spread. Take food tiles from the shared '''hamper''', arrange them round your '''plate''', and score for tasty combinations. Cover your ants, chase your cakes, and fill your plate. 2 to 4 players, about 20 minutes. == Your turn == # '''Take the top tile of any pile''' in the hamper. Once you have chosen a pile you cannot change your mind, but everyone then sees the other side of the tile. # '''Place it either way up:''' #* '''F..."

== Overview ==
Lay out the perfect picnic spread. Take food tiles from the shared '''hamper''', arrange them round your '''plate''', and score for tasty combinations. Cover your ants, chase your cakes, and fill your plate.

2 to 4 players, about 20 minutes.

== Your turn ==
# '''Take the top tile of any pile''' in the hamper. Once you have chosen a pile you cannot change your mind, but everyone then sees the other side of the tile.
# '''Place it either way up:'''
#* '''Food''' goes in the '''next space round your plate''', clockwise, overlapping the tile before. The 12th tile is tucked under the first to close the circle.
#* '''Once per game''' you may put a food tile in the '''centre''' instead. The centre touches every space round the plate.
#* A '''Drink''' goes '''beside''' your plate, not on it. You may take any number of drinks.

When all 13 spaces on your plate are full (12 round the rim plus the centre), your picnic is laid out and you take no more turns. The others carry on until every plate is full.

== Covering ==
Each tile has at most one ant, and one of its two pickles, on the part the next tile overlaps. So:
* Every tile round the rim loses '''one ant''' (if it has any) and '''one pickle''' once the next tile goes down.
* The 12th tile loses them to the tuck under the first.
* Tiles in the '''centre''' and '''drinks''' are never covered: all their ants and pickles show.

== Scoring ==
* '''Cheese:''' 1 point if touching a Cracker, or 3 points if touching 2 or more.
* '''Crackers:''' 6 points for each set of 3 Crackers and 1 Drink.
* '''Pickles:''' each visible Pickle scores 1 point for each Cheese on your plate.
* '''Cakes:''' each connected group of Cakes, any colours mixed:
{| class="wikitable"
! Group size !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7+
|-
! Points
| 1 || 3 || 5 || 7 || 10 || 15
|}
* '''Most Cakes:''' 3 points each for having the most Blue, the most Pink and the most Green Cakes. Ties all score.
* '''Drinks:''' 1 point per ice cube.
* '''Ants:''' count the visible ants on your plate and your drinks. Fewest: '''+3''' points. Most: '''-3''' points. Ties all score.

== Winning ==
Highest score wins. If tied, the player with fewer visible ants wins. If still tied, it is a shared win.

== On screen ==
* Your '''player panel''' shows each scoring item as ''how many (points)'', and your score is always up to date, majorities included. Hover over a line for the detail.
* While placing a tile, choose a side (or use '''Flip'''), then click the dashed space round your plate or the centre. Your panel shows what the tile would add before you confirm.
* Hover over any tile (or long press on a phone) to see its ants, pickles or ice cubes, and how many are covered.

== Tips ==
* Try to cover ants with the next tile you lay.
* Drinks do not take up space on your plate, but they carry a lot of ants that can never be covered.
* The centre touches every space: great for joining cakes into one big group, or for a Cracker that touches all your Cheese.

Gamehelplettershome

2026-10-27T13:59:58Z

Tartanphoenix: /* Take a tile */

== Overview ==
You have moved to a new town and you have one year to get to know it. Walk its streets, pin what you find to your '''corkboard''', note down '''memories''', and visit a '''postbox''' to write letters home about them.

When someone's corkboard is full, the year draws to a close. Score points for your letters and for '''Reflections''' on the town you got to know.

== The town ==
* 16 tiles in a 4 by 4 grid, with streets running between them (never round the outside).
* Each street has four '''stops'''. Every stop sits between two tiles, so wherever you stand you can take one of two tiles.
* Two '''postboxes''' stand at opposite corners of the town. The four stops around each postbox are '''postbox stops''', the only places you can write home.

== Tiles ==
Every tile is one of three categories: '''People''', '''Places''' or '''Events'''.
* Tiles show one or two everyday icons: '''Food''', '''Nature''', '''Book''', '''Craft''', '''Music'''.
* Only People can show a '''Heart'''. Only Events can show '''Fireworks'''. These count as icons too.
* A '''sent''' tile is flipped face down: '''each flipped tile is a letter home'''. It keeps its category but shows no icons.

== Your turn ==
'''Move your pawn one stop, then either take a tile or write home.'''

=== Move ===
* '''First turn:''' walk into town by placing your pawn on any free stop at the end of a street.
* '''After that:''' move to a free stop next to yours (two stops are next to each other if they touch the same crossing).
* You may '''walk through one pawn''': if a pawn stands next to you, you may move to any free stop next to it.
* You must move, and you may not finish on a stop with a pawn on it.

=== Take a tile ===
# Take one of the two tiles beside your stop and pin it to any empty space on your corkboard. It stays there.
# '''You may note a memory.''' Take one memory from the market that shows any icon on the tile you just took, and put it in one of your 3 memory slots. If the memory ties an icon to a category (e.g. ''a Nature Person''), that icon only counts on a tile of that category: a Nature Event cannot note ''a Nature Person next to Book'', though a Book tile of any category can.
#* If all 3 slots are full, first '''let go''' of one of your memories to make room. It goes to the discard pile. You can only let go of a memory like this, to make room for a new one.
# A new tile fills the gap in town, and the market is refilled to 5. If the memory deck runs out, the discard pile is shuffled to make a new deck.

=== Write home ===
Only from a postbox stop. Send as many letters as your corkboard allows, one at a time:
# Choose a memory from your slots that your corkboard meets '''right now'''.
# Flip one face-up tile that formed part of the pattern. '''That flipped tile is your letter''', worth 2 points.
# The memory is used up and leaves your slot.

Each flip removes that tile's icons, so '''the order you write in matters'''.

== Memories ==
"Next to" means touching along an edge. Only face-up tiles count, except where a memory asks for a sent tile.
* '''A category and an icon:''' e.g. ''a Craft Place next to Food''.
* '''One icon between two others:''' e.g. ''Food next to Nature and Craft'' (one tile touching both).
* '''Three of an icon:''' e.g. ''three Music tiles anywhere''.
* '''Heart or Fireworks:''' e.g. ''Heart next to Craft''.
* '''Building on a letter:''' e.g. ''a sent Person next to Food''. Flip the Food tile when you send it.

You can note a memory you cannot yet meet and build towards it, but it fills a slot until you send it or let it go. Memories still in your slots at the end score nothing.

== End of the year ==
When a player fills the last space on their corkboard, '''the year ends at the end of that round''', so everyone has had the same number of turns. The '''First player''' badge shows who started each round.

Then everyone gets one '''final letter-writing turn''', all at the same time: send letters from the memories in your slots, '''wherever you are''' (no move, no postbox needed). You may send as many as your corkboard allows, or none. Players with nothing they could send skip this step.

== Scoring ==
* '''Letters:''' 2 points for each flipped tile on your corkboard.
* '''Reflections:''' 3 shared Reflections, plus 1 private Reflection each (revealed at the end).

Each Reflection says which tiles it counts: '''any tile''', only tiles '''still face up''', or only tiles '''written home about'''.

'''Highest total wins.''' Ties go to whoever has the most flipped tiles. If still tied, players share the win.

== Tips for playing on BGA ==
* Hover over a memory to light up the tiles on your corkboard that make it (green) or that it could build on (yellow).
* A green envelope on one of your memories means you could send it now.
* On a phone, press and hold a tile or memory to see its details.
* Nothing is sent until you confirm. Use '''Reset''' to start your turn again.

Gamehelplettershome

2026-10-27T13:59:22Z

Tartanphoenix:

== Overview ==
You have moved to a new town and you have one year to get to know it. Walk its streets, pin what you find to your '''corkboard''', note down '''memories''', and visit a '''postbox''' to write letters home about them.

When someone's corkboard is full, the year draws to a close. Score points for your letters and for '''Reflections''' on the town you got to know.

== The town ==
* 16 tiles in a 4 by 4 grid, with streets running between them (never round the outside).
* Each street has four '''stops'''. Every stop sits between two tiles, so wherever you stand you can take one of two tiles.
* Two '''postboxes''' stand at opposite corners of the town. The four stops around each postbox are '''postbox stops''', the only places you can write home.

== Tiles ==
Every tile is one of three categories: '''People''', '''Places''' or '''Events'''.
* Tiles show one or two everyday icons: '''Food''', '''Nature''', '''Book''', '''Craft''', '''Music'''.
* Only People can show a '''Heart'''. Only Events can show '''Fireworks'''. These count as icons too.
* A '''sent''' tile is flipped face down: '''each flipped tile is a letter home'''. It keeps its category but shows no icons.

== Your turn ==
'''Move your pawn one stop, then either take a tile or write home.'''

=== Move ===
* '''First turn:''' walk into town by placing your pawn on any free stop at the end of a street.
* '''After that:''' move to a free stop next to yours (two stops are next to each other if they touch the same crossing).
* You may '''walk through one pawn''': if a pawn stands next to you, you may move to any free stop next to it.
* You must move, and you may not finish on a stop with a pawn on it.

=== Take a tile ===
# Take one of the two tiles beside your stop and pin it to any empty space on your corkboard. It stays there.
# '''You may note a memory.''' If you have a free memory slot (you have 3), take one memory from the market that shows any icon on the tile you just took.
# A new tile fills the gap in town, and the market is refilled.

=== Write home ===
Only from a postbox stop. Send as many letters as your corkboard allows, one at a time:
# Choose a memory from your slots that your corkboard meets '''right now'''.
# Flip one face-up tile that formed part of the pattern. '''That flipped tile is your letter''', worth 2 points.
# The memory is used up and leaves your slot.

Each flip removes that tile's icons, so '''the order you write in matters'''.

== Memories ==
"Next to" means touching along an edge. Only face-up tiles count, except where a memory asks for a sent tile.
* '''A category and an icon:''' e.g. ''a Craft Place next to Food''.
* '''One icon between two others:''' e.g. ''Food next to Nature and Craft'' (one tile touching both).
* '''Three of an icon:''' e.g. ''three Music tiles anywhere''.
* '''Heart or Fireworks:''' e.g. ''Heart next to Craft''.
* '''Building on a letter:''' e.g. ''a sent Person next to Food''. Flip the Food tile when you send it.

You can note a memory you cannot yet meet and build towards it, but it fills a slot until you send it or let it go. Memories still in your slots at the end score nothing.

== End of the year ==
When a player fills the last space on their corkboard, '''the year ends at the end of that round''', so everyone has had the same number of turns. The '''First player''' badge shows who started each round.

Then everyone gets one '''final letter-writing turn''', all at the same time: send letters from the memories in your slots, '''wherever you are''' (no move, no postbox needed). You may send as many as your corkboard allows, or none. Players with nothing they could send skip this step.

== Scoring ==
* '''Letters:''' 2 points for each flipped tile on your corkboard.
* '''Reflections:''' 3 shared Reflections, plus 1 private Reflection each (revealed at the end).

Each Reflection says which tiles it counts: '''any tile''', only tiles '''still face up''', or only tiles '''written home about'''.

'''Highest total wins.''' Ties go to whoever has the most flipped tiles. If still tied, players share the win.

== Tips for playing on BGA ==
* Hover over a memory to light up the tiles on your corkboard that make it (green) or that it could build on (yellow).
* A green envelope on one of your memories means you could send it now.
* On a phone, press and hold a tile or memory to see its details.
* Nothing is sent until you confirm. Use '''Reset''' to start your turn again.

Gamehelplettershome

2026-10-27T13:58:29Z

Tartanphoenix: /* Memories */

== Overview ==
You have moved to a new town and you have one year to get to know it. Walk its streets, pin what you find to your '''corkboard''', note down '''memories''', and visit a '''postbox''' to write letters home about them.

When someone's corkboard is full, the year draws to a close. Score points for your letters and for '''Reflections''' on the town you got to know.

== The town ==
* 16 tiles in a 4 by 4 grid, with streets running between them (never round the outside).
* Each street has four '''stops'''. Every stop sits between two tiles, so wherever you stand you can take one of two tiles.
* Two '''postboxes''' stand at opposite corners of the town. The four stops around each postbox are '''postbox stops''', the only places you can write home.

== Tiles ==
Every tile is one of three categories: '''People''', '''Places''' or '''Events'''.
* Tiles show one or two everyday icons: '''Food''', '''Nature''', '''Book''', '''Craft''', '''Music'''.
* Only People can show a '''Heart'''. Only Events can show '''Fireworks'''. These count as icons too.
* A '''sent''' tile is flipped face down: '''each flipped tile is a letter home'''. It keeps its category but shows no icons.

== Your turn ==
'''Move your pawn one stop, then either take a tile or write home.'''

=== Move ===
* '''First turn:''' walk into town by placing your pawn on any free stop at the end of a street.
* '''After that:''' move to a free stop next to yours (two stops are next to each other if they touch the same crossing).
* You may '''walk through one pawn''': if a pawn stands next to you, you may move to any free stop next to it.
* You must move, and you may not finish on a stop with a pawn on it.

=== Take a tile ===
# Take one of the two tiles beside your stop and pin it to any empty space on your corkboard. It stays there.
# '''You may note a memory.''' If you have a free memory slot (you have 3), take one memory from the market that shows any icon on the tile you just took.
# A new tile fills the gap in town, and the market is refilled.

=== Write home ===
Only from a postbox stop. Send as many letters as your corkboard allows, one at a time:
# Choose a memory from your slots that your corkboard meets '''right now'''.
# Flip one face-up tile that formed part of the pattern. '''That flipped tile is your letter''', worth 2 points.
# The memory is used up and leaves your slot.

Each flip removes that tile's icons, so '''the order you write in matters'''.

=== A full corkboard ===
Once your corkboard is full you cannot take tiles. You just move, and write home if you are at a postbox.

== Memories ==
"Next to" means touching along an edge. Only face-up tiles count, except where a memory asks for a sent tile.
* '''A category and an icon:''' e.g. ''a Craft Place next to Food''.
* '''One icon between two others:''' e.g. ''Food next to Nature and Craft'' (one tile touching both).
* '''Three of an icon:''' e.g. ''three Music tiles anywhere''.
* '''Heart or Fireworks:''' e.g. ''Heart next to Craft''.
* '''Building on a letter:''' e.g. ''a sent Person next to Food''. Flip the Food tile when you send it.

You can note a memory you cannot yet meet and build towards it, but it fills a slot until you send it or let it go. Memories still in your slots at the end score nothing.

== End of the year ==
When a player fills the last space on their corkboard, '''the year ends at the end of that round''', so everyone has had the same number of turns. The '''First player''' badge shows who started each round.

Then everyone gets one '''final letter-writing turn''', all at the same time: send letters from the memories in your slots, '''wherever you are''' (no move, no postbox needed). You may send as many as your corkboard allows, or none. Players with nothing they could send skip this step.

== Scoring ==
* '''Letters:''' 2 points for each flipped tile on your corkboard.
* '''Reflections:''' 3 shared Reflections, plus 1 private Reflection each (revealed at the end).

Each Reflection says which tiles it counts: '''any tile''', only tiles '''still face up''', or only tiles '''written home about'''.

'''Highest total wins.''' Ties go to whoever has the most flipped tiles. If still tied, players share the win.

== Tips for playing on BGA ==
* Hover over a memory to light up the tiles on your corkboard that make it (green) or that it could build on (yellow).
* A green envelope on one of your memories means you could send it now.
* On a phone, press and hold a tile or memory to see its details.
* Nothing is sent until you confirm. Use '''Reset''' to start your turn again.

Gamehelplettershome

2026-10-27T13:58:12Z

Tartanphoenix: /* End of the year */

== Overview ==
You have moved to a new town and you have one year to get to know it. Walk its streets, pin what you find to your '''corkboard''', note down '''memories''', and visit a '''postbox''' to write letters home about them.

When someone's corkboard is full, the year draws to a close. Score points for your letters and for '''Reflections''' on the town you got to know.

== The town ==
* 16 tiles in a 4 by 4 grid, with streets running between them (never round the outside).
* Each street has four '''stops'''. Every stop sits between two tiles, so wherever you stand you can take one of two tiles.
* Two '''postboxes''' stand at opposite corners of the town. The four stops around each postbox are '''postbox stops''', the only places you can write home.

== Tiles ==
Every tile is one of three categories: '''People''', '''Places''' or '''Events'''.
* Tiles show one or two everyday icons: '''Food''', '''Nature''', '''Book''', '''Craft''', '''Music'''.
* Only People can show a '''Heart'''. Only Events can show '''Fireworks'''. These count as icons too.
* A '''sent''' tile is flipped face down: '''each flipped tile is a letter home'''. It keeps its category but shows no icons.

== Your turn ==
'''Move your pawn one stop, then either take a tile or write home.'''

=== Move ===
* '''First turn:''' walk into town by placing your pawn on any free stop at the end of a street.
* '''After that:''' move to a free stop next to yours (two stops are next to each other if they touch the same crossing).
* You may '''walk through one pawn''': if a pawn stands next to you, you may move to any free stop next to it.
* You must move, and you may not finish on a stop with a pawn on it.

=== Take a tile ===
# Take one of the two tiles beside your stop and pin it to any empty space on your corkboard. It stays there.
# '''You may note a memory.''' If you have a free memory slot (you have 3), take one memory from the market that shows any icon on the tile you just took.
# A new tile fills the gap in town, and the market is refilled.

=== Write home ===
Only from a postbox stop. Send as many letters as your corkboard allows, one at a time:
# Choose a memory from your slots that your corkboard meets '''right now'''.
# Flip one face-up tile that formed part of the pattern. '''That flipped tile is your letter''', worth 2 points.
# The memory is used up and leaves your slot.

Each flip removes that tile's icons, so '''the order you write in matters'''.

=== A full corkboard ===
Once your corkboard is full you cannot take tiles. You just move, and write home if you are at a postbox.

== Memories ==
"Next to" means touching along an edge. Only face-up tiles count, except where a memory asks for a sent tile.
* '''A category and an icon:''' e.g. ''a Craft Place next to Food''.
* '''One icon between two others:''' e.g. ''Food next to both Nature and Craft''.
* '''Three of an icon:''' e.g. ''three Music tiles anywhere on your board''.
* '''Heart or Fireworks:''' e.g. ''Heart next to Craft''.
* '''Building on a letter:''' e.g. ''a sent Person next to Food''. Flip the Food tile when you send it.

You can note a memory you cannot yet meet and build towards it, but it fills a slot until you send it. Memories still in your slots at the end score nothing.

== End of the year ==
When a player fills the last space on their corkboard, '''the year ends at the end of that round''', so everyone has had the same number of turns. The '''First player''' badge shows who started each round.

Then everyone gets one '''final letter-writing turn''', all at the same time: send letters from the memories in your slots, '''wherever you are''' (no move, no postbox needed). You may send as many as your corkboard allows, or none. Players with nothing they could send skip this step.

== Scoring ==
* '''Letters:''' 2 points for each flipped tile on your corkboard.
* '''Reflections:''' 3 shared Reflections, plus 1 private Reflection each (revealed at the end).

Each Reflection says which tiles it counts: '''any tile''', only tiles '''still face up''', or only tiles '''written home about'''.

'''Highest total wins.''' Ties go to whoever has the most flipped tiles. If still tied, players share the win.

== Tips for playing on BGA ==
* Hover over a memory to light up the tiles on your corkboard that make it (green) or that it could build on (yellow).
* A green envelope on one of your memories means you could send it now.
* On a phone, press and hold a tile or memory to see its details.
* Nothing is sent until you confirm. Use '''Reset''' to start your turn again.

Gamehelpventlife

2026-10-26T11:07:52Z

Tartanphoenix: Created page with "== Overview == Players build a shared deep-sea vent field from triple-hex tiles, then fill it with creatures. Each of the four species in play scores in its own way. When every tile has been placed, the highest total score wins. == Components == * '''Tiles''': each tile has three hexes. The top hex is always a '''Black Smoker'''; the other two are '''Basalt Ridge''', '''Diffuse Vents''' or '''Microbial Mat'''. A game uses 36 tiles with 2 players, 48 with 3 and 60 with..."

== Overview ==

Players build a shared deep-sea vent field from triple-hex tiles, then fill it with creatures. Each of the four species in play scores in its own way. When every tile has been placed, the highest total score wins.

== Components ==

* '''Tiles''': each tile has three hexes. The top hex is always a '''Black Smoker'''; the other two are '''Basalt Ridge''', '''Diffuse Vents''' or '''Microbial Mat'''. A game uses 36 tiles with 2 players, 48 with 3 and 60 with 4.
* '''Creatures''': each player has 6 tokens of each species in play, in their colour.

== Setup ==

Four of the seven species are used each game. The table creator chooses how:
* '''First game''': Tube Worms, Volcano Snails, Blind Vent Shrimp and Yeti Crabs.
* '''Random''': four at random.
* '''Choose''': the table creator ticks four.
* '''Draft''': players take turns to choose, starting with the last player. With 2 or 4 players they pick the four species used; with 3 players each leaves one species out.

Each player starts with one tile, hidden from the others. The field starts empty.

== Your turn ==

=== 1. Place your tile ===

You may place it in either of two ways:
* '''On the seafloor''': flat on the table, touching at least one tile along a full edge. The first tile of the game goes in the middle.
* '''Up on a plateau''': on top of existing tiles, if
** its Black Smoker sits on a Black Smoker,
** all three hexes underneath are at the same level (no gaps or overhangs), and
** it covers at least two different tiles.

Building up raises the field one level. Levels matter to several species.

=== 2. Move covered creatures ===

If your tile covers creatures, they must move or go back to their owner's supply (see each species below). Your own creatures move first, then the other players' in turn order. When a creature has a choice, its owner decides where it goes.

A covered creature always moves to an '''empty''' hex, and never onto the tile that covered it (except Tube Worms climbing a smoker). "Level" means the level it was on before it was covered. If it has nowhere to go, it returns to its owner's supply.

=== 3. Place creatures of one species ===

Choose one species and place creatures from your supply, following that species' rules. Creatures go on '''empty''' hexes, on any tile at any level unless the species says otherwise. You must place if you can; you only skip when nothing you have left can be placed.

=== 4. Draw a tile ===

Take a new tile for your next turn.

== The species ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Species !! Placement !! When covered !! Scoring
|-
| '''Giant Tube Worms''' || Only on Black Smokers. On a '''seafloor''' smoker you may place 2 on the same hex. || If a new smoker is stacked on theirs, all worms there climb onto it. Covered by any other hex: back to supply. || Each worm scores the level of its smoker (seafloor = 1).
|-
| '''Volcano Snails''' || 1 to 3 snails on '''connected''' Basalt Ridge hexes, any level. || Move to an adjacent hex at a '''lower''' level (any terrain, smokers included). || 1 point for each neighbouring hex at a different height. Empty table does not count.
|-
| '''Blind Vent Shrimp''' || Any hex that is not Basalt Ridge (smokers allowed). || Move to an adjacent hex that is not Basalt Ridge. || 2 points if next to Diffuse Vents '''or''' Microbial Mat; 5 if next to '''both'''.
|-
| '''Eelpout Fish''' || A seafloor hex, or any hex next to one of your Fish at any level. Never a smoker. || Move to an adjacent hex at the same or a lower level, not a smoker. || Each shoal of your connected Fish: 2 = 5, 3 = 10, 4 = 15, 5 = 20, 6 = 25. A lone Fish scores 0.
|-
| '''Yeti Crabs''' || Any hex above the seafloor (smokers allowed). || Move to an adjacent hex at the '''same''' level. || See ''Plateaus'' below.
|-
| '''Deep-Sea Octopus''' || Any Edge hex (next to a space with no tile). || Move in a straight line, in a direction its owner chooses, to the last hex before the edge of the field. That hex must be empty. || 2 points for each different species next to it (anyone's creatures, not Octopus).
|-
| '''Vent Sponges''' || Any hex, any level. || Always go back to supply. || 2 points for each different terrain next to it, Black Smoker included.
|}

=== Plateaus (Yeti Crabs) ===

A '''plateau''' is a group of connected hexes at the same level, above the seafloor. Terrain does not matter. For each plateau:
* The player with the most Crabs on it scores 1 point per hex in the plateau.
* The player with the second most scores half that, rounded down.
* If players tie for first, they all score in full and no second place is awarded. If players tie for second, they all score half.

== End of the game ==

When the last tile has been drawn, keep playing until everyone has placed the tile in their hand. Everyone gets the same number of turns. Then score each species and add them up.

'''Tiebreaks''': highest single-species score, then highest Tube Worm score. If still tied, the players share the victory.

== Playing on BGA ==

* '''Placing a tile''': click a blue position (an outline on the seafloor, or a blue-ringed Black Smoker to build up). Your tile appears in gold. Click it again or press '''Rotate''' to turn it, then '''Confirm'''.
* '''Placing creatures''': choose a species in the status bar, click highlighted hexes, then '''Confirm'''. For two Tube Worms, click the same seafloor smoker twice.
* '''Moving a covered creature''': click the creature, then a highlighted hex, then '''Confirm'''.
* '''The view''': drag to move, mouse wheel to zoom. The buttons in the corner turn the field, tilt it, zoom and show the whole field. Raised hexes show their level number; the '''Level colours''' preference tints them by height.
* Hover over (or long-press) a species or a hex for its rules and level.

Gamehelplettershome

2026-10-23T10:26:50Z

Tartanphoenix: Created page with "== Overview == You have moved to a new town and you have one year to get to know it. Walk its streets, pin what you find to your '''corkboard''', note down '''memories''', and visit a '''postbox''' to write letters home about them. When someone's corkboard is full, the year draws to a close. Score points for your letters and for '''Reflections''' on the town you got to know. == The town == * 16 tiles in a 4 by 4 grid, with streets running between them (never round the..."

== Overview ==
You have moved to a new town and you have one year to get to know it. Walk its streets, pin what you find to your '''corkboard''', note down '''memories''', and visit a '''postbox''' to write letters home about them.

When someone's corkboard is full, the year draws to a close. Score points for your letters and for '''Reflections''' on the town you got to know.

== The town ==
* 16 tiles in a 4 by 4 grid, with streets running between them (never round the outside).
* Each street has four '''stops'''. Every stop sits between two tiles, so wherever you stand you can take one of two tiles.
* Two '''postboxes''' stand at opposite corners of the town. The four stops around each postbox are '''postbox stops''', the only places you can write home.

== Tiles ==
Every tile is one of three categories: '''People''', '''Places''' or '''Events'''.
* Tiles show one or two everyday icons: '''Food''', '''Nature''', '''Book''', '''Craft''', '''Music'''.
* Only People can show a '''Heart'''. Only Events can show '''Fireworks'''. These count as icons too.
* A '''sent''' tile is flipped face down: '''each flipped tile is a letter home'''. It keeps its category but shows no icons.

== Your turn ==
'''Move your pawn one stop, then either take a tile or write home.'''

=== Move ===
* '''First turn:''' walk into town by placing your pawn on any free stop at the end of a street.
* '''After that:''' move to a free stop next to yours (two stops are next to each other if they touch the same crossing).
* You may '''walk through one pawn''': if a pawn stands next to you, you may move to any free stop next to it.
* You must move, and you may not finish on a stop with a pawn on it.

=== Take a tile ===
# Take one of the two tiles beside your stop and pin it to any empty space on your corkboard. It stays there.
# '''You may note a memory.''' If you have a free memory slot (you have 3), take one memory from the market that shows any icon on the tile you just took.
# A new tile fills the gap in town, and the market is refilled.

=== Write home ===
Only from a postbox stop. Send as many letters as your corkboard allows, one at a time:
# Choose a memory from your slots that your corkboard meets '''right now'''.
# Flip one face-up tile that formed part of the pattern. '''That flipped tile is your letter''', worth 2 points.
# The memory is used up and leaves your slot.

Each flip removes that tile's icons, so '''the order you write in matters'''.

=== A full corkboard ===
Once your corkboard is full you cannot take tiles. You just move, and write home if you are at a postbox.

== Memories ==
"Next to" means touching along an edge. Only face-up tiles count, except where a memory asks for a sent tile.
* '''A category and an icon:''' e.g. ''a Craft Place next to Food''.
* '''One icon between two others:''' e.g. ''Food next to both Nature and Craft''.
* '''Three of an icon:''' e.g. ''three Music tiles anywhere on your board''.
* '''Heart or Fireworks:''' e.g. ''Heart next to Craft''.
* '''Building on a letter:''' e.g. ''a sent Person next to Food''. Flip the Food tile when you send it.

You can note a memory you cannot yet meet and build towards it, but it fills a slot until you send it. Memories still in your slots at the end score nothing.

== End of the year ==
When a player fills the last space on their corkboard, '''finish the current round, then play one more full round'''. Everyone gets the same number of turns.

== Scoring ==
* '''Letters:''' 2 points for each flipped tile on your corkboard.
* '''Reflections:''' 3 shared Reflections, plus 1 private Reflection each (revealed at the end).

Each Reflection says which tiles it counts: '''any tile''', only tiles '''still face up''', or only tiles '''written home about'''.

'''Highest total wins.''' Ties go to whoever has the most flipped tiles. If still tied, players share the win.

== Tips for playing on BGA ==
* Hover over a memory to light up the tiles on your corkboard that make it (green) or that it could build on (yellow).
* A green envelope on one of your memories means you could send it now.
* On a phone, press and hold a tile or memory to see its details.
* Nothing is sent until you confirm. Use '''Reset''' to start your turn again.