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FelixSwag: Rules of Dig Your Way Out

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Rules of Dig Your Way Out

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 === Gang abilities ===
 Each Gang has 4 different cards: you get the top one, so you don't choose your ability. Abilities are free and unlimited unless stated otherwise.
 === Setup ===

FelixSwag: Reorganized for a quick start; Background cards no longer detailed

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FelixSwag: Rules of Dig Your Way Out

2026-11-14T02:39:01Z

Rules of Dig Your Way Out

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You are inmates sentenced to life in Blackgate prison. Your plan: dig a tunnel and escape. But after the first escape, security will be reinforced and nobody else will get out. '''Be the first to dig your way out!'''

== Goal ==

The game ends immediately when a player reaches the required number of '''Tunnel points'''. That player wins.

{| class="wikitable"
! Players !! 2-3 !! 4 !! 5-6
|-
! Tunnel points to win
| 12 || 10 || 8
|}

You score Tunnel points by '''Digging''' with Tools: Spoon (1 point), Pickaxe (2 points) or Shovel (3 points).

== Setup ==

* The Spoon, Knife, Pickaxe and Shovel cards form 4 piles on the board. Discarded Tools and Knives go back to their pile.
* Each Gang has its own face-up pile on the board. A discarded Gang card goes to the bottom of its pile.
* All Search cards form a face-down deck. Discarded Search cards go face up next to it. When the deck is empty, the discard pile is shuffled into a new deck.
* Each player gets a prisoner, whose standee starts in the '''Cell Block''', 1 hidden '''Background''' card and 3 Search cards.

== Cards ==

'''Search cards''' (77):
* '''Containers''' (5), '''Pikes''' (6), '''Links''' (14): crafting materials.
* '''Blades''' (10): crafting materials that are also Weapons.
* '''Accessories''' (18): Boots, Ring, Bandana, Golden chain, Silver watch, Cap. Used to join Gangs.
* '''Rare items''' (6): worth many Cigarettes when sold.
* '''Actions''' (18): one-shot effects.

Most cards show a number of cigarettes: that is their value when you '''Sell''' them.

'''Weapons''' are Blades and Knives (20 Knife cards on the board).

'''Tools''' are Spoons, Pickaxes and Shovels (11 of each on the board).

== Your turn ==

On your turn, you may perform '''up to 2 actions'''. There are 2 kinds of actions:
* '''Basic actions''' can be done in most Places.
* '''Place actions''' can only be done in a specific Place.

In addition, these are free and don't cost an action:
* Reveal your '''Background''' card.
* Use your '''Gang''' ability.

At the end of your turn, if you have more than '''10 cards''' in hand, you discard down to 10.

== Basic actions ==

=== Search ===
''Once per turn.''

Draw the number of Search cards shown on the Place where you are (0 to 3, see [[#Places|Places]]).

=== Move ===
* '''Simple move''' (1 action): roll the die. Each face shows 2 Places: move to one of them. You can't stay where you are: if one of the 2 Places is your current Place, you must go to the other one.
* '''Cautious move''' (2 actions): move to the Place of your choice without rolling the die.

{| class="wikitable"
! Die !! Places
|-
| 1 || Cell Block or Cafeteria
|-
| 2 || Cell Block or Recreational Area
|-
| 3 || Cell Block or Infirmary
|-
| 4 || Cafeteria or Recreational Area
|-
| 5 || Showers or Infirmary
|-
| 6 || Showers or Recreational Area
|}

=== Join a Gang ===
Discard Accessory cards of '''different''' types from your hand, then take the top card of that Gang's pile and place it face up next to your board. Two copies of the same Accessory never count.

{| class="wikitable"
! Gang !! Accepted Accessories !! Required
|-
| Bikers || Boots, Ring, Bandana || 2 different
|-
| Bratva || Golden chain, Ring, Silver watch || 2 different
|-
| Cartel || Boots, Cap, Silver watch || 2 different
|-
| Crew || Cap, Golden chain, Bandana || 2 different
|-
| Queers || any || 3 different
|-
| Triad || any || 3 different
|}

You can only belong to '''one Gang''' at a time. If you join a Gang (a new one or the same one again), your previous Gang card goes back under its pile.

=== Play an Action card ===
Reveal an Action card from your hand, apply its effect, then discard it.

=== Extort ===
''Once per turn.'' You need at least 1 '''Weapon''' card in hand. Target another player in the same Place as you.

'''Intimidation''': choose the Tool you want (Spoon, Pickaxe or Shovel) and lay 1 Weapon card in front of your target.
* If they have that Tool, they may '''cooperate''' and give it to you. The extortion ends, no combat.
* Otherwise, a '''combat''' starts. You are the attacker, your target is the defender.

'''Combat''': starting with the defender, both players take turns playing a Weapon card. The first player who can't or won't play a Weapon '''loses''' and takes 1 '''Beating'''.
* The winner takes the requested Tool if the attacker won and the defender had it.
* In any other case, the winner takes a random card from the loser's hand.

All Weapons played are discarded: Knives go back to their pile, Blades to the Search discard pile.

=== Craft ===
''Not in the Cell Block or the Showers. Not if you have 1 or 2 Beatings.''

Perform one craft: discard the materials, then take the crafted card(s) from the board.

{| class="wikitable"
! Materials !! Crafted
|-
| Links + Pike || 1 Pickaxe
|-
| Links + Container || 1 Shovel
|-
| Links + Blade || 2 Knives
|}

You can't craft an item whose pile is empty.

== Place actions ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Action !! Place !! Effect
|-
| '''Dig''' || Cell Block || Place 1 Tool card (Spoon, Pickaxe or Shovel) from your hand next to your board and score its Tunnel points. ''Not if you have 2 Beatings.''
|-
| '''Sell''' || Recreational Area || Discard any number of cards and gain 1 Cigarette per cigarette shown on them.
|-
| '''Buy''' || Recreational Area || One purchase: 2 Cigarettes = 1 Knife, 5 Cigarettes = 2 Knives, 6 Cigarettes = 1 Pickaxe, 8 Cigarettes = 1 Shovel.
|-
| '''Steal a Spoon''' || Cafeteria || Take 1 Spoon from the board.
|-
| '''Heal''' || Infirmary || Remove 1 Beating.
|}

== Places ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Place !! Search !! Die faces !! Notes
|-
| Cell Block || 1 card || 1, 2, 3 || Dig. No Craft.
|-
| Cafeteria || 2 cards || 1, 4 || Steal a Spoon.
|-
| Recreational Area || 2 cards || 2, 4, 6 || Sell, Buy.
|-
| Infirmary || 1 card || 3, 5 || Heal.
|-
| Showers || 3 cards || 5, 6 || No Craft.
|-
| Solitary Confinement || none || none || If you start your turn here, you only have '''1 action'''. No Search, Extort or Craft. Only reachable by Cautious move or a card effect.
|}

== Beatings ==

A player can have up to '''2 Beatings''', never more.
* '''1 Beating''': you can't Craft.
* '''2 Beatings''': you can't Craft nor Dig.

Heal in the Infirmary to remove them.

== Background cards ==

Each player has 1 hidden Background card. You can reveal it '''once per game''', at the moment written on the card, as a free action. Apply its effect immediately.

Each Background card shows a Gang: if you belong to that Gang when you reveal it, you also get its '''Gang bonus'''.

{| class="wikitable"
! Card !! Effect !! Gang !! Gang bonus
|-
| Too Fast for You? || During your turn, play a 3rd action. || Bikers || Play a 4th action.
|-
| Get Out of Here! || During your turn, move every standee except yours to one Place of your choice (not Solitary Confinement). || Bikers || Also move your own standee to the Place of your choice (not Solitary Confinement).
|-
| This Is My Turf. || During your turn, move your standee to the Cell Block. || Bikers || Move all other standees in the Cell Block to Solitary Confinement.
|-
| Is That Everything You've Got? || After losing a combat, you receive no Beating. || Bratva || The winner doesn't take a card from you either.
|-
| I Will Cut You with Your Own Blade! || Before a combat where you defend, the attacker must give you a Weapon card from their hand, or lose the combat. || Bratva || If you win the combat, draw 3 Knives.
|-
| I Got Strong Bones They Say. || During your turn, remove 1 Beating. || Bratva || Remove 2 Beatings.
|-
| You Really Believe It Will Do? || Before a combat, draw 2 Knives. || Cartel || Draw 2 more Knives.
|-
| Don't Think About Saying No to Me. || When you extort a Pickaxe, the target must cooperate if they have one. || Cartel || Same when you extort a Shovel.
|-
| Nobody Walks Away from Me. || During your turn, give 1 Beating to the player of your choice. || Cartel || Also steal a random card from their hand.
|-
| I Know a Guy. || During your turn, you may Buy in any Place except the Cell Block and Solitary Confinement this turn. || Crew || Your purchases cost 2 fewer Cigarettes this turn.
|-
| Protection Doesn't Come Cheap. || During your turn, take half of the Cigarettes of the player of your choice (rounded up). || Crew || Take all their Cigarettes instead.
|-
| Me, Cheating? Never! || During your turn, roll the die twice (without moving) and gain Cigarettes equal to the total. || Crew || Roll a third time and gain that result too.
|-
| I Will Take It All, for Free! || During your turn, draw Search cards until you have 10 cards in hand. || Queers || Then discard any number of cards and draw that many.
|-
| Every Cent Is Good to Take. || During your turn, take 1 card of your choice from the Search discard pile. || Queers || Take 2 more.
|-
| You Shouldn't Look Away. || During your turn, steal 2 random cards from one or several players of your choice. || Queers || Steal 2 more the same way.
|-
| I Can Fix That. || During your turn, return 1 Spoon from your hand to the board and take 1 Pickaxe. || Triad || Take 1 Shovel instead.
|-
| I Never Liked Rules. || During your turn, you may Craft Pickaxes in the Cell Block this turn. || Triad || You may also Craft Shovels in the Cell Block.
|-
| I Have Friends in the Workshop. || During your turn, take 1 Links and 1 Pike from the Search deck (or the discard pile if none are left in the deck). || Triad || Also take 1 Links and 1 Container.
|}

== Gang abilities ==

Each Gang has 4 cards with different abilities. You get the top card of the pile, so you don't choose your ability. Unless stated otherwise, abilities are free and have no usage limit.

=== Bikers ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Card !! Timing !! Effect
|-
| Master Key || During your turn, as 1 action || Move to an adjacent Place instead of rolling the die.
|-
| Second Chance || When you make a Simple move || Reroll the die once. You must apply the second result.
|-
| (Not So) Free Pass || During your turn, as 1 action || Spend 2 Cigarettes to move to the Place of your choice.
|-
| Lucky Number || When you make a Simple move || On a 5: draw a Knife. On a 6: move to the Place of your choice.
|}

=== Bratva ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Card !! Timing !! Effect
|-
| Untouchable || During other players' turns || You can't be targeted by Action cards (effects hitting everybody still apply).
|-
| Sturdiness || When a player extorts you || They must play 2 Weapons instead of 1 to intimidate you.
|-
| Grudge || When you lose a combat || Draw 2 Knives after the combat.
|-
| Spying || When a player extorts you || Look at their hand before choosing to cooperate or fight.
|}

=== Cartel ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Card !! Timing !! Effect
|-
| Fury || When you win a combat || The loser receives 2 Beatings instead of 1.
|-
| Knife Throwing || When you extort a player || You can target a player in a Place adjacent to yours (never Solitary Confinement).
|-
| Improvisation || During an extortion, once || Use any one card from your hand as a Weapon.
|-
| The King's Choice || When you win a combat || Look at the loser's hand and choose the card you take.
|}

=== Crew ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Card !! Timing !! Effect
|-
| Collect || At the end of your turn || If you have no Cigarettes, gain 2. Otherwise, gain 1.
|-
| Negotiation || When you Sell || Every card sold gives 1 more Cigarette.
|-
| Cigarettes Stash || When you make a Simple move || If the die result is even, gain 2 Cigarettes.
|-
| Group Deal || During your turn, as 1 action || Draw and immediately discard 3 Search cards, and gain their Cigarette value.
|}

=== Queers ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Card !! Timing !! Effect
|-
| Successful Search || When you Search || Draw 1 more card.
|-
| Item Stash || When you make a Simple move || If the die result is even, draw 1 Search card.
|-
| Recycling || When you Search || You may draw from the top of the discard pile instead of the deck.
|-
| Equivalent Exchange || During your turn, as 1 action || Discard up to 4 cards, then draw that many Search cards.
|}

=== Triad ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Card !! Timing !! Effect
|-
| Versatile Links || When you Craft || Cap, Golden chain and Bandana can be used as Links.
|-
| Versatile Blades || When you Craft || Silver watch, Ring and Boots can be used as Blades.
|-
| Pickaxe Expertise || When you Craft || New recipe: Links + Pike + Container = 2 Pickaxes.
|-
| Knife Expertise || When you Craft || New recipe: Links + Links + Pike = 3 Knives.
|}

== Option: Michel & Michelle ==

This optional expansion is recommended for 2-player games: it adds interaction and extortions. Michel is a prisoner controlled by no one. He starts in the '''Showers''', with his own deck of Michel cards.

'''Move''': at the end of your turn, you may roll the die to move Michel, following the Simple move rules. You choose his destination when the die gives 2 options.

'''Extortion''': each time Michel ends a move, he extorts every player in his Place, one by one, clockwise. Each time a player arrives in Michel's Place, he extorts them too.

When Michel extorts you, a Michel card is revealed:
* '''No Knife''' on the card: nothing happens, the extortion ends.
* '''Knife''' on the card: you may '''cooperate''' by discarding one of the Tools shown on the card. Otherwise, a combat starts.

In combat, you play a Weapon, then a new Michel card is revealed:
* '''No Knife''': you '''win''' and draw 1 Search card.
* '''Knife''': you must play another Weapon, and so on.

If you can't or won't play a Weapon, you '''lose''': you take 1 Beating, and you discard one of the Tools shown on the first Michel card (or a random card if you have none).

''On Board Game Arena, you can only cooperate on the first Michel card.''

Gamehelpdigyourwayout - Revision history

FelixSwag: No tables: lists render better in the game panel

FelixSwag: Rules of Dig Your Way Out

FelixSwag: Reorganized for a quick start; Background cards no longer detailed

FelixSwag: Rules of Dig Your Way Out