Gamehelphipposcrocodiles - Revision history

Jayadevhaddadi: Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

2026-11-02T13:23:53Z

Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:23, 2 November 2026
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	! Component !! Icon !! Description		! Component !! Icon !! Description
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''Hippos''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 8 ~~brown~~ hippo pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a 3×3 body plus 1 snout cell).		\| '''Hippos''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 8 hippo pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a 3×3 body plus 1 snout cell).
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''Crocodiles''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 8 ~~olive-green~~ crocodile pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a central 6-square spine with ~~two leg pairs extending to width 3~~).		\| '''Crocodiles''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 8 crocodile pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a central 6-square spine with 4 legs).
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''Trunks''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| Optional 3×1 wooden log obstacles that block placement.		\| '''Trunks''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| Optional 3×1 wooden log obstacles that block placement.
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''Maps''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 4 distinct aquatic terrains: Square (14×14, 196 ~~cells~~), Rectangle (20×10, 200 ~~cells~~), Lagoon (209 ~~cells~~), and Pool (208 ~~cells~~).		\| '''Maps''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 4 distinct aquatic terrains: Square (14×14, 196 squares), Rectangle (20×10, 200 squares), Lagoon (209 squares), and Pool (208 squares).
	\|}		\|}

	==Setup==		==Setup==

	* One player ~~controls~~ the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png\|20px\|middle]] '''Hippos''' (8 pieces); the other ~~controls~~ the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png\|20px\|middle]] '''Crocodiles''' (8 pieces).		* One player plays the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png\|20px\|middle]] '''Hippos''' (8 pieces); the other plays the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png\|20px\|middle]] '''Crocodiles''' (8 pieces).
	* The game takes place on the chosen map (Square [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png\|20px\|middle]], Rectangle [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png\|20px\|middle]], Lagoon [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png\|20px\|middle]], or Pool [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png\|20px\|middle]]).		* The game takes place on the chosen map (Square [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png\|20px\|middle]], Rectangle [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png\|20px\|middle]], Lagoon [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png\|20px\|middle]], or Pool [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png\|20px\|middle]]).
	* Pieces must ~~remain~~ entirely within ~~grid boundaries~~ and cannot ~~overhang the map edge~~.		* Pieces must fit entirely within the water area of the board and cannot overlap other pieces or trunks.
	* '''Trunks (~~optional variant~~)''': If enabled, 4 ~~log obstacles~~ [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|20px\|middle]] (3×1 squares) are placed before ~~the first animal~~ (either placed alternately by players or placed randomly)~~. No piece may overlap a trunk~~.		* '''Trunks (table option)''': If enabled, 4 trunks [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|20px\|middle]] (3×1 squares) are placed before any animals are played (either placed alternately by players, 2 each, or placed randomly).

	==Your turn==		==Your turn==
Line 28:		Line 28:
	On your turn, place one of your remaining animal pieces onto the board:		On your turn, place one of your remaining animal pieces onto the board:

	# '''~~Pick~~ position''': ~~Tap~~ any ~~highlighted~~ legal square on the board to preview your animal~~'s pivot there~~.		# '''Choose position''': Click any legal square on the board to preview your animal.
	# '''Rotate orientation''': Turn your piece into any of the 4 cardinal directions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) by clicking ~~the grey~~ '''↻ Rotate''' ~~button~~ in the ~~action~~ bar, pressing '''R''' ~~on your keyboard~~, or ~~tapping the preview piece directly~~.		# '''Rotate orientation''': Turn your piece into any of the 4 cardinal directions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) by clicking '''↻ Rotate''' in the status bar, pressing '''R''' (or '''Shift+R'''), or using keys '''W''', '''D''', '''S''', '''A'''.
	# '''Confirm placement''': Click the blue '''Confirm''' button to lock in your move~~. Animals cannot overlap existing animals, trunks [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|20px\|middle]],~~ or ~~the board edge~~.		# '''Confirm placement''': Click the blue '''Confirm''' button to lock in your move (or click red '''Cancel''' to clear your preview).

	===Difficulty options===		===Difficulty options===
	* '''Easy (default)''': All valid ~~legal pivot cells~~ are highlighted on the board for the current orientation.		* '''Easy (default)''': All valid placement squares are highlighted on the board for the current orientation.
	* '''Hard''': No highlights are shown. If no legal placements remain, click the red '''Surrender''' button to concede.		* '''Hard''': No highlights are shown. If no legal placements remain, click the red '''Surrender''' button to concede.

	==End of the game==		==End of the game==

	* The game ends immediately when the active player cannot legally place any of their remaining animal pieces ~~onto the board~~.		* The game ends immediately when the active player cannot legally place any of their remaining animal pieces (or clicks '''Surrender''' in Hard mode).
	* That player loses, and the ~~last player who successfully~~ placed an animal ~~wins~~ the ~~game!~~		* That player loses (0 points), and the opponent wins (1 point).

			==Variants (table options)==

			* '''Map''' (Option 100):
			** '''Square (14×14)''' (default): 196 squares.
			** '''Rectangle (20×10)''': 200 squares.
			** '''Lagoon''': 209 squares.
			** '''Pool''': 208 squares.
			** '''Random''': randomly selects one of the four maps.
			* '''Trunks''' (Option 101):
			** '''Off''' (default): no trunks on the board.
			** '''On – players place 2 each''': players take turns placing 2 trunks each before animals are placed.
			** '''On – randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random during setup.
			* '''Animal distribution''' (Option 102):
			** '''Random''' (default): animal assignments are decided at random.
			** '''First player plays Hippos''': starting player gets Hippos.
			** '''First player plays Crocodiles''': starting player gets Crocodiles.
			* '''Difficulty''' (Option 103):
			** '''Easy''' (default): valid placements are highlighted on the board.
			** '''Hard''': no highlights; surrender button available when stuck.

	==Controls on BGA==		==Controls on BGA==

	* '''Placement''': ~~Tap or~~ click a ~~highlighted~~ square to ~~preview~~ your piece.		* '''Placement''': click a square on the board to stage your piece.
	* '''Rotation''': ~~Click~~ '''↻ Rotate''' in the ~~action~~ bar, press '''R''' (or '''Shift+R''' ~~to reverse~~), or use keys '''W''', '''A''', '''S''', '''D''' to ~~point up, left, down, or right~~.		* '''Rotation''': click '''↻ Rotate''' in the status bar, press '''R''' (rotate clockwise), '''Shift+R''' (rotate counter-clockwise), or use keys '''W''', '''D''', '''S''', '''A''' to orient directly.
	* '''Confirm / Cancel''': ~~Click~~ blue '''Confirm''' to ~~play the piece~~, or red '''Cancel''' to clear your ~~staged~~ preview.		* '''Confirm / Cancel''': click blue '''Confirm''' to finalize, or red '''Cancel''' to clear your preview.
			* '''Surrender''': in Hard mode, click red '''Surrender''' if you have no legal placements remaining.
			* '''Trunk placement''': click an empty square, rotate if needed, and press '''Confirm''' (or '''Cancel''').
			* '''Tooltips''': hover over the '''↻ Rotate''' button to view keyboard shortcuts.
			* '''Preferences''':
			** '''Colorblind support''' (Preference 100, default: Off): enables colour-blind styling.
			** '''Sound effects''' (Preference 101, default: On): toggle sounds.
			** '''Confirm placement''' (Preference 102, default: On): set to Off to place immediately on click without requiring Confirm.
			** '''Animal colours''' (Preference 104, default: Bright): choose Bright (pink hippos, bright green crocodiles) or Natural (brown hippos, olive-green crocodiles).

Jayadevhaddadi: Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

2026-11-02T11:33:52Z

Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:33, 2 November 2026
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	==Goal==		==Goal==

	'''Hippos & Crocodiles''' is an abstract strategy game ~~for 2 players~~ designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. ~~The goal is to place~~ animal pieces onto the ~~board~~. If you cannot place ~~a piece~~ on your turn, you lose immediately; the last player to place a piece wins!		'''Hippos & Crocodiles''' is a 2-player spatial abstract strategy game designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. Players take turns placing polyomino animal pieces onto the grid. If you cannot place an animal on your turn, you lose immediately; the last player to legally place a piece wins!

	==~~Setup~~==		==Components==

	* One player controls the '''Hippos''' (brown~~) and has 8~~ hippo pieces ~~in reserve~~.		{\| class="wikitable"
	* The other player controls the '''Crocodiles''' (olive green~~) and has 8~~ crocodile pieces ~~in reserve~~.		! Component !! Icon !! Description
	* The game is played on one of four maps (table option '''Map'''~~; choose~~ '''~~Random~~'~~'' to have one of the four picked at random when the game starts)~~:		\|-
	** '''~~Square~~''': 14×14 ~~grid (~~196 ~~squares~~), ~~the default.~~		\| '''Hippos''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 8 brown hippo pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a 3×3 body plus 1 snout cell).
	** '''Rectangle~~''':~~ 20×10 ~~grid (~~200 ~~squares~~).		\|-
	** '''Lagoon~~''': a meandering lagoon, 19 rows of 11 squares each, drifting right, centre, left, centre and right again from top to bottom~~ (209 ~~squares~~).		\| '''Crocodiles''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 8 olive-green crocodile pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a central 6-square spine with two leg pairs extending to width 3).
	** '''Pool~~''': the round pool board, 16×16 grid with the corners cut off~~ (208 ~~squares~~).		\|-
	* Animals can only cover squares of the map: nothing may stick out over its edge.		\| '''Trunks''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| Optional 3×1 wooden log obstacles that block placement.
			\|-
			\| '''Maps''' \|\| [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png\|28px\|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png\|28px\|middle]] \|\| 4 distinct aquatic terrains: Square (14×14, 196 cells), Rectangle (20×10, 200 cells), Lagoon (209 cells), and Pool (208 cells).
			\|}

	==~~Animal distribution~~==		==Setup==

	~~Table option~~ '''~~Animal distribution~~''':		* One player controls the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png\|20px\|middle]] '''Hippos''' (8 pieces); the other controls the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png\|20px\|middle]] '''Crocodiles''' (8 pieces).
	* '''~~Random~~''' (~~default~~): ~~who plays the Hippos~~ and ~~who plays~~ the ~~Crocodiles is decided at random~~.		* The game takes place on the chosen map (Square [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png\|20px\|middle]], Rectangle [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png\|20px\|middle]], Lagoon [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png\|20px\|middle]], or Pool [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png\|20px\|middle]]).
	* '''~~First player plays Hippos''' / '''First player plays Crocodiles~~''': the ~~player who starts gets that~~ animal. ~~When you start~~ a ~~rematch from the end of a game, BGA rotates the starting player, so the animals swap automatically (with '''Random''' the animals are drawn again)~~.		* Pieces must remain entirely within grid boundaries and cannot overhang the map edge.
			* '''Trunks (optional variant)''': If enabled, 4 log obstacles [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|20px\|middle]] (3×1 squares) are placed before the first animal (either placed alternately by players or placed randomly). No piece may overlap a trunk.

	==~~Difficulty~~==		==Your turn==

	~~Table option '''Difficulty''':~~		On your turn, place one of your remaining animal pieces onto the board:
	* '''Easy''' (default): the cells where the centre of ~~the~~ animal ~~can go are highlighted on~~ the board ~~for its current direction.~~
	* '''Hard''': no highlights and no counts. Place the animal where you think it fits; a spot that does not fit is shown in red and cannot be confirmed. If you cannot find a place for your animal, press '''Surrender''' (red button, with a confirmation): ~~you lose the game immediately. In Easy mode there is no Surrender button: the game ends by itself when you have no legal move.~~

	~~==Trunks~~ (~~optional~~)==		# '''Pick position''': Tap any highlighted legal square on the board to preview your animal's pivot there.
			# '''Rotate orientation''': Turn your piece into any of the 4 cardinal directions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) by clicking the grey '''↻ Rotate''' button in the action bar, pressing '''R''' on your keyboard, or tapping the preview piece directly.
			# '''Confirm placement''': Click the blue '''Confirm''' button to lock in your move. Animals cannot overlap existing animals, trunks [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png\|20px\|middle]], or the board edge.

	Trunks are brown rectangles of 3×1 squares that act as obstacles: no animal can be placed on top of them. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, must fit completely inside the map and cannot overlap another trunk. The more trunks, the shorter the game. Table option '''Trunks''':		===Difficulty options===
	* '''~~Off''': no trunks~~ (default).		* '''Easy (default)''': All valid legal pivot cells are highlighted on the board for the current orientation.
	* '''On - players place 2 each''': before the first animal, the players take turns placing trunks, the first player starting, until each has placed 2. Tap a square, press the grey '''↻ Rotate''' button in the Action Bar (or '''R''') to switch between horizontal and vertical, then '''Confirm'''.		* '''Hard''': No highlights are shown. If no legal placements remain, click the red '''Surrender''' button to concede.
	* '''On - randomly placed''': 4 trunks are ~~placed at random before the game, never touching each other, so that both players can still move.~~

	~~==Animals==~~

	~~Each animal occupies exactly 10 squares on the board:~~
	* '''Hippo''': A 3×3 square body with a single protruding snout cell.
	* '''Crocodile''': A central spine of 6 squares with two pairs of legs extending out to width 3.

	~~==Your turn==~~

	~~{\| class="wikitable"~~
	~~! # !! Action !! Description~~
	\|-
	~~\| 1 \|\| '''Pick placement''' \|\| Tap one of the~~ highlighted ~~squares~~ on the board ~~to preview your animal there. Animals can be placed in any of~~ the ~~4 cardinal orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The marked circle is the pivot: it stays on the same square when you rotate~~.
	\|-
	~~\| 2 \|\|~~ '''~~Rotate~~''' ~~\|\| Press the grey '''↻ Rotate''' button in the Action Bar (it also works before you pick a square~~: ~~the highlighted squares follow the new orientation), or tap the previewed animal itself, to turn it a quarter turn clockwise. Orientations that do not fit~~ are ~~skipped in Easy mode~~. ~~For a trunk~~, the ~~same button switches between horizontal and vertical.~~
	\|-
	~~\| 3 \|\|~~ '''~~Confirm''' \|\| Click '''Confirm''' to lock in your move, or '''Cancel~~''' to ~~pick again. Animals cannot overlap each other or a trunk, or extend beyond the map~~.
	\|}

	==~~Controls~~==		==End of the game==

	* ~~'''Tap / click''' a highlighted square to preview your~~ animal ~~there.~~		* The game ends immediately when the active player cannot legally place any of their remaining animal pieces onto the board.
	* '''↻ Rotate''' (grey button in the Action Bar, before Confirm) or a tap on the ~~previewed animal: turn it a quarter turn clockwise~~.		* That player loses, and the last player who successfully placed an animal wins the game!
	* ~~'''R''' rotates clockwise~~, ~~'''Shift+R''' rotates back (keyboard).~~
	* '''W''', '''A''', '''S''', '''D''' point the animal~~'s head up, left, down or right.~~
	* '''Confirm''' locks in the move, '''Cancel''' takes the preview back.
	* With a mouse, move the ~~pointer over a highlighted square to see a transparent preview of your animal with its pivot on that square.~~

	==~~Game end~~==		==Controls on BGA==

	* ~~When an active player cannot place any of their remaining animals legally onto~~ the ~~board~~, ~~that player loses immediately~~.		* '''Placement''': Tap or click a highlighted square to preview your piece.
	* ~~The other player is declared~~ the ~~winner!~~		* '''Rotation''': Click '''↻ Rotate''' in the action bar, press '''R''' (or '''Shift+R''' to reverse), or use keys '''W''', '''A''', '''S''', '''D''' to point up, left, down, or right.
			* '''Confirm / Cancel''': Click blue '''Confirm''' to play the piece, or red '''Cancel''' to clear your staged preview.

Jayadevhaddadi: Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

2026-10-30T09:03:25Z

Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:03, 30 October 2026
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	** '''Lagoon''': a meandering lagoon, 19 rows of 11 squares each, drifting right, centre, left, centre and right again from top to bottom (209 squares).		** '''Lagoon''': a meandering lagoon, 19 rows of 11 squares each, drifting right, centre, left, centre and right again from top to bottom (209 squares).
	** '''Pool''': the round pool board, 16×16 grid with the corners cut off (208 squares).		** '''Pool''': the round pool board, 16×16 grid with the corners cut off (208 squares).
	* Animals can only cover squares of the map: nothing may stick out over ~~the green frame~~.		* Animals can only cover squares of the map: nothing may stick out over its edge.

	==Animal distribution==		==Animal distribution==
Line 23:		Line 23:

	Table option '''Difficulty''':		Table option '''Difficulty''':
	* '''Easy''' (default): the cells where the centre of the animal can go are highlighted~~, and~~ the ~~status bar tells how many spots are possible in each~~ direction ~~(where the animal's head points) for all four rotations~~.		* '''Easy''' (default): the cells where the centre of the animal can go are highlighted on the board for its current direction.
	* '''Hard''': no highlights and no counts. Place the animal where you think it fits; a spot that does not fit is shown in red and cannot be confirmed. If you cannot find a place for your animal, press '''Surrender''' (red button, with a confirmation): you lose the game immediately. In Easy mode there is no Surrender button: the game ends by itself when you have no legal move.		* '''Hard''': no highlights and no counts. Place the animal where you think it fits; a spot that does not fit is shown in red and cannot be confirmed. If you cannot find a place for your animal, press '''Surrender''' (red button, with a confirmation): you lose the game immediately. In Easy mode there is no Surrender button: the game ends by itself when you have no legal move.

Jayadevhaddadi: Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

2026-10-29T16:19:14Z

Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

Jayadevhaddadi: Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

2026-10-29T16:04:27Z

Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 29 October 2026
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	Trunks are brown rectangles of 3×1 squares that act as obstacles: no animal can be placed on top of them. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, must fit completely inside the map and cannot overlap another trunk. The more trunks, the shorter the game. Table option '''Trunks''':		Trunks are brown rectangles of 3×1 squares that act as obstacles: no animal can be placed on top of them. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, must fit completely inside the map and cannot overlap another trunk. The more trunks, the shorter the game. Table option '''Trunks''':
	* '''Off''': no trunks (default).		* '''Off''': no trunks (default).
	* '''On - players place 2 each''': before the first animal, the players take turns placing trunks, the first player starting, until each has placed 2. Tap a square, ~~use '''Horizontal'''/'''Vertical'''~~ (~~keys '''W'''/'''S''' and '''A'''/~~'''D''') to switch between horizontal and vertical, then '''Confirm ~~trunk~~'''.		* '''On - players place 2 each''': before the first animal, the players take turns placing trunks, the first player starting, until each has placed 2. Tap a square, tap the round rotate button (or press '''R''') to switch between horizontal and vertical, then '''Confirm'''.
	* '''On - randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random before the game, never touching each other, so that both players can still move.		* '''On - randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random before the game, never touching each other, so that both players can still move.

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	! # !! Action !! Description		! # !! Action !! Description
	\|-		\|-
	\| 1 \|\| '''Pick placement''' \|\| ~~On a touch screen: tap an unoccupied~~ board ~~cell where~~ your animal ~~can fit~~. Animals can be placed in any of the 4 cardinal orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The marked circle is the pivot: it stays on the same square when you rotate.		\| 1 \|\| '''Pick placement''' \|\| Tap one of the highlighted squares on the board to preview your animal there. Animals can be placed in any of the 4 cardinal orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The marked circle is the pivot: it stays on the same square when you rotate.
	\|-		\|-
	\| 2 \|\| '''Rotate''' \|\| ~~Use~~ the ~~'''↑ Up'''~~, ~~'''← Left'''~~, ~~'''↓ Down''' and '''→ Right''' buttons~~ to ~~choose~~ the ~~direction your animal looks (its head points that way)~~.		\| 2 \|\| '''Rotate''' \|\| Tap the round rotate button next to the previewed animal, or tap the animal itself, to turn it a quarter turn clockwise. Orientations that do not fit are skipped in Easy mode. For a trunk, the same button switches between horizontal and vertical.
	\|-		\|-
	\| 3 \|\| '''Confirm''' \|\| ~~(Touch screens.)~~ Click '''Confirm ~~placement~~''' to lock in your move. Animals cannot overlap each other or a trunk, or extend beyond the map.		\| 3 \|\| '''Confirm''' \|\| Click '''Confirm''' to lock in your move, or '''Cancel''' to pick again. Animals cannot overlap each other or a trunk, or extend beyond the map.
	\|}		\|}

	'''~~With a mouse~~'''~~: move the pointer over~~ a square to ~~see a transparent~~ preview of your animal ~~with its pivot~~ on ~~that square~~, ~~and click to place it at once~~ (~~no Confirm step~~). ~~Press~~ '''W''' ~~(look up)~~, '''A''' ~~(look left)~~, '''S''' ~~(look~~ down) or '''D''' ~~(look right) to turn~~ the preview; the ~~four direction buttons work too~~.		==Controls==

			* '''Tap / click''' a highlighted square to preview your animal there.
			* '''Rotate button''' (round grey button next to the previewed animal) or a tap on the previewed animal: turn it a quarter turn clockwise.
			* '''R''' rotates clockwise, '''Shift+R''' rotates back (keyboard).
			* '''W''', '''A''', '''S''', '''D''' point the animal's head up, left, down or right.
			* '''Confirm''' locks in the move, '''Cancel''' takes the preview back.
			* With a mouse, move the pointer over a highlighted square to see a transparent preview of your animal with its pivot on that square.

	==Game end==		==Game end==

Jayadevhaddadi: Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

2026-10-26T15:16:02Z

Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki

New page

==Goal==

'''Hippos & Crocodiles''' is an abstract strategy game for 2 players designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. The goal is to place animal pieces onto the board. If you cannot place a piece on your turn, you lose immediately; the last player to place a piece wins!

==Setup==

* One player controls the '''Hippos''' (brown) and has 8 hippo pieces in reserve.
* The other player controls the '''Crocodiles''' (olive green) and has 8 crocodile pieces in reserve.
* The game is played on one of four maps (table option '''Map'''; choose '''Random''' to have one of the four picked at random when the game starts):
** '''Square''': 14×14 grid (196 squares), the default.
** '''Rectangle''': 20×10 grid (200 squares).
** '''Lagoon''': a meandering lagoon, 19 rows of 11 squares each, drifting right, centre, left, centre and right again from top to bottom (209 squares).
** '''Pool''': the round pool board, 16×16 grid with the corners cut off (208 squares).
* Animals can only cover squares of the map: nothing may stick out over the green frame.

==Animal distribution==

Table option '''Animal distribution''':
* '''Random''' (default): who plays the Hippos and who plays the Crocodiles is decided at random.
* '''First player plays Hippos''' / '''First player plays Crocodiles''': the player who starts gets that animal. When you start a rematch from the end of a game, BGA rotates the starting player, so the animals swap automatically (with '''Random''' the animals are drawn again).

==Difficulty==

Table option '''Difficulty''':
* '''Easy''' (default): the cells where the centre of the animal can go are highlighted, and the status bar tells how many spots are possible in each direction (where the animal's head points) for all four rotations.
* '''Hard''': no highlights and no counts. Place the animal where you think it fits; a spot that does not fit is shown in red and cannot be confirmed. If you cannot find a place for your animal, press '''Surrender''' (red button, with a confirmation): you lose the game immediately. In Easy mode there is no Surrender button: the game ends by itself when you have no legal move.

==Trunks (optional)==

Trunks are brown rectangles of 3×1 squares that act as obstacles: no animal can be placed on top of them. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, must fit completely inside the map and cannot overlap another trunk. The more trunks, the shorter the game. Table option '''Trunks''':
* '''Off''': no trunks (default).
* '''On - players place 2 each''': before the first animal, the players take turns placing trunks, the first player starting, until each has placed 2. Tap a square, use '''Horizontal'''/'''Vertical''' (keys '''W'''/'''S''' and '''A'''/'''D''') to switch between horizontal and vertical, then '''Confirm trunk'''.
* '''On - randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random before the game, never touching each other, so that both players can still move.

==Animals==

Each animal occupies exactly 10 squares on the board:
* '''Hippo''': A 3×3 square body with a single protruding snout cell.
* '''Crocodile''': A central spine of 6 squares with two pairs of legs extending out to width 3.

==Your turn==

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Action !! Description
|-
| 1 || '''Pick placement''' || On a touch screen: tap an unoccupied board cell where your animal can fit. Animals can be placed in any of the 4 cardinal orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The marked circle is the pivot: it stays on the same square when you rotate.
|-
| 2 || '''Rotate''' || Use the '''↑ Up''', '''← Left''', '''↓ Down''' and '''→ Right''' buttons to choose the direction your animal looks (its head points that way).
|-
| 3 || '''Confirm''' || (Touch screens.) Click '''Confirm placement''' to lock in your move. Animals cannot overlap each other or a trunk, or extend beyond the map.
|}

'''With a mouse''': move the pointer over a square to see a transparent preview of your animal with its pivot on that square, and click to place it at once (no Confirm step). Press '''W''' (look up), '''A''' (look left), '''S''' (look down) or '''D''' (look right) to turn the preview; the four direction buttons work too.

==Game end==

* When an active player cannot place any of their remaining animals legally onto the board, that player loses immediately.
* The other player is declared the winner!

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:19, 29 October 2026
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	Trunks are brown rectangles of 3×1 squares that act as obstacles: no animal can be placed on top of them. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, must fit completely inside the map and cannot overlap another trunk. The more trunks, the shorter the game. Table option '''Trunks''':		Trunks are brown rectangles of 3×1 squares that act as obstacles: no animal can be placed on top of them. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, must fit completely inside the map and cannot overlap another trunk. The more trunks, the shorter the game. Table option '''Trunks''':
	* '''Off''': no trunks (default).		* '''Off''': no trunks (default).
	* '''On - players place 2 each''': before the first animal, the players take turns placing trunks, the first player starting, until each has placed 2. Tap a square, ~~tap~~ the ~~round rotate~~ button (or ~~press~~ '''R''') to switch between horizontal and vertical, then '''Confirm'''.		* '''On - players place 2 each''': before the first animal, the players take turns placing trunks, the first player starting, until each has placed 2. Tap a square, press the grey '''↻ Rotate''' button in the Action Bar (or '''R''') to switch between horizontal and vertical, then '''Confirm'''.
	* '''On - randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random before the game, never touching each other, so that both players can still move.		* '''On - randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random before the game, never touching each other, so that both players can still move.

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	\| 1 \|\| '''Pick placement''' \|\| Tap one of the highlighted squares on the board to preview your animal there. Animals can be placed in any of the 4 cardinal orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The marked circle is the pivot: it stays on the same square when you rotate.		\| 1 \|\| '''Pick placement''' \|\| Tap one of the highlighted squares on the board to preview your animal there. Animals can be placed in any of the 4 cardinal orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The marked circle is the pivot: it stays on the same square when you rotate.
	\|-		\|-
	\| 2 \|\| '''Rotate''' \|\| ~~Tap~~ the ~~round rotate~~ button ~~next to~~ the ~~previewed animal~~, or tap the animal itself, to turn it a quarter turn clockwise. Orientations that do not fit are skipped in Easy mode. For a trunk, the same button switches between horizontal and vertical.		\| 2 \|\| '''Rotate''' \|\| Press the grey '''↻ Rotate''' button in the Action Bar (it also works before you pick a square: the highlighted squares follow the new orientation), or tap the previewed animal itself, to turn it a quarter turn clockwise. Orientations that do not fit are skipped in Easy mode. For a trunk, the same button switches between horizontal and vertical.
	\|-		\|-
	\| 3 \|\| '''Confirm''' \|\| Click '''Confirm''' to lock in your move, or '''Cancel''' to pick again. Animals cannot overlap each other or a trunk, or extend beyond the map.		\| 3 \|\| '''Confirm''' \|\| Click '''Confirm''' to lock in your move, or '''Cancel''' to pick again. Animals cannot overlap each other or a trunk, or extend beyond the map.
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	* '''Tap / click''' a highlighted square to preview your animal there.		* '''Tap / click''' a highlighted square to preview your animal there.
	* '''Rotate ~~button~~''' (~~round~~ grey button ~~next to~~ the ~~previewed animal~~) or a tap on the previewed animal: turn it a quarter turn clockwise.		* '''↻ Rotate''' (grey button in the Action Bar, before Confirm) or a tap on the previewed animal: turn it a quarter turn clockwise.
	* '''R''' rotates clockwise, '''Shift+R''' rotates back (keyboard).		* '''R''' rotates clockwise, '''Shift+R''' rotates back (keyboard).
	* '''W''', '''A''', '''S''', '''D''' point the animal's head up, left, down or right.		* '''W''', '''A''', '''S''', '''D''' point the animal's head up, left, down or right.