SodoffBaldrick: Created page with "== Overview == '''Magic Maze''' is a '''real-time cooperative''' game: all players act at the same time on a single shared board, and everyone wins or loses together. You control four fantasy heroes robbing a shopping mall: * '''Elf''' (green) * '''Dwarf''' (orange) * '''Barbarian''' (yellow) * '''Mage''' (purple) '''Goal:''' explore the mall, find and steal the four items, then flee through the exits — all before the sand timer runs out. == Your Action Tile / abil..."

2026-10-06T21:04:45Z

Created page with "== Overview == '''Magic Maze''' is a '''real-time cooperative''' game: all players act at the same time on a single shared board, and everyone wins or loses together. You control four fantasy heroes robbing a shopping mall: * '''Elf''' (green) * '''Dwarf''' (orange) * '''Barbarian''' (yellow) * '''Mage''' (purple) '''Goal:''' explore the mall, find and steal the four items, then flee through the exits — all before the sand timer runs out. == Your Action Tile / abil..."

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== Overview ==

'''Magic Maze''' is a '''real-time cooperative''' game: all players act at the same
time on a single shared board, and everyone wins or loses together. You control four
fantasy heroes robbing a shopping mall:

* '''Elf''' (green)
* '''Dwarf''' (orange)
* '''Barbarian''' (yellow)
* '''Mage''' (purple)

'''Goal:''' explore the mall, find and steal the four items, then flee through the
exits — all before the sand timer runs out.

== Your Action Tile / abilities ==

Each player receives an Action tile showing a subset of these abilities. The exact
letters depend on the player count (with fewer players you hold more of them):

* '''N / E / S / W''' — move ''any'' hero one space in that compass direction.
* '''H (Search)''' — a hero standing on its own coloured search space explores, adding
the next tile to the mall.
* '''P (Vortex)''' — send the hero matching a vortex's colour to that vortex space.
* '''R (Escalator)''' — ride an escalator.

'''Passing Action tiles.''' Each time the sand timer is flipped, pass your Action tile
to the player on your left, so the ability letters rotate around the table. ''(On a
turn-based table there is no running timer; triggering a Sand Timer space rotates the
Action tiles instead.)''

== Core rules ==

'''Moving.''' Move heroes one space at a time; two pawns may never share a space. You
may chain moves ("keep moving") in one direction.

'''Exploring.''' When a hero stands on its own coloured search space, the party may
place the next tile from the deck, extending the mall. Only search spaces on the edge
of the mall let you grow it.

'''Stealing.''' When '''all four heroes are standing on their own item''' (one item per
colour), the items are stolen and the game enters the '''Escape''' phase.

'''Escaping.''' Each hero must now reach its '''own coloured exit'''. When a hero
reaches its exit it escapes. The party wins once '''all four heroes have escaped'''.

'''The sand timer.''' The timer starts when a player performs the first action. Moving
a hero onto a '''Sand Timer space''' flips the timer (the remaining time becomes the
elapsed time — you may gain or lose time), and each Sand Timer space can be used only
once.

'''Communication restriction.''' You may not talk, point, or signal — only '''stare
intensely''' at another player, or place the '''"Do Something!" pawn''' in front of
them. Whenever the '''sand timer is flipped''', everyone may speak until the next
action is performed. Staring and the "Do Something!" pawn may be used by any player at
any time; the pawn is passed from player to player to prompt someone to act.

'''Vortexes and escalators''' let heroes cross the mall quickly, but vortexes are
colour-specific and escalators are one-way links.

== Player counts ==

1–8 players in the standard game. Fewer players hold more abilities; nobody ever
controls every ability, so the table always depends on cooperation. Scenario 9 allows
up to 9 players.

== Scenario rules (the campaign) ==

Each scenario adds a rule to the base game. Scenarios 1–7 form the introductory
campaign (each keeps all previous permanent rules); scenarios 8–17 are advanced
challenges.

=== 1. Discovery ===

The introductory scenario. The mall has a '''single shared exit (purple)''' that every
hero must use. '''You may talk freely the whole game.''' Escaped heroes are removed
from the board so they do not block the shared exit.

=== 2. Several Exits ===

Exits now come in four colours. '''Each hero must escape through the exit of its own
colour.''' No free talking.

=== 3. Pass your Action tile ===

Every time the sand timer is flipped, '''pass your Action tile to the player on your
left''' — your abilities move around the table.

=== 4. Dwarf & Elf special abilities ===

The '''Dwarf''' is the only hero who can pass through the small orange '''rubble
walls'''. When the '''Elf explores a new tile''', all players may talk (as if the timer
had flipped) until the next action.

=== 5. Mage special ability ===

The '''Mage''' can use a '''Crystal Ball''' search space to explore, adding '''two
extra tiles''' for free (any colour), then the Crystal Ball is used up. The starting
tile switches to side 1b.

=== 6. Barbarian special ability ===

'''Security Cameras''' appear. While '''2 or more cameras are active''', nobody may use
Sand Timer spaces. The '''Barbarian''' switches a camera off by moving onto it.

=== 7. Maximum Surveillance ===

The same mission but with '''four Security Cameras''': keep at most one active, or the
Sand Timer spaces are locked.

=== 8. Divination ===

The mall tile deck is played '''face up''', so everyone can always see the next tile
that will be added. ''[BGA note: the upcoming tile is shown in the HUD card.]''

=== 9. Follow the leader! ===

'''Requires 3 or more players (up to 9).''' Play with the Action tiles for '''one
player fewer''': one player receives no Action tile and can only use the '''"Do
Something!" pawn''' — they are the only player allowed to use it.

=== 10. Trick the Guards ===

To fool the guards, heroes must '''steal an item that is not their own''', then
'''escape through an exit that is not their colour'''. Each exit may be used by only
one hero, so escaped heroes remain on their exits and block them.

=== 11. Rearrangement mode ===

The walls never stop moving. '''Before the items are stolen''', every time the sand
timer is flipped you must '''discard two already-placed tiles''' (they cannot contain a
hero and cannot be the starting tile; the mall must still be traversable without
Vortexes). Discarded tiles go under the deck. '''If two tiles cannot be removed, you
lose.'''

=== 12. Gestures only ===

When talking is allowed, you may '''only use gestures — never words'''.
''[BGA note: this is a communication rule; the platform cannot enforce it.]''

=== 13. Multidimensional mall ===

The mall exists on '''two planes'''. Orange and green start on one dimension, yellow
and purple on the other; the two can never be connected by exploring. '''The four
heroes can never all be in one dimension at the same time''', and heroes cross
dimensions '''only with the Use a Vortex action''' (colour to colour). The deck is
face up, and '''the Vortex system shuts down after the theft'''.

=== 14. No communication ===

'''No communication at all, ever''' — you may only '''stare intensely''' and use the
'''"Do Something!" pawn'''. ''[BGA note: the platform provides staring and the pawn,
but cannot enforce silence.]''

=== 15. You have beautiful eyes ===

Combine "No communication" with the removal of the '''"Do Something!" pawn''' — only
'''intense staring''' remains. ''[BGA note: the pawn is disabled; the no-talking part
is not platform-enforced.]''

=== 16. Vortex out of service ===

The entire '''Vortex system is offline for the whole game''': you can never use the
Use a Vortex action.

=== 17. Groups forbidden ===

The guards distrust crowds: '''no two heroes may ever share a Mall tile''' (the
starting tile is exempt). Additionally, '''escaped heroes are not removed''' — they
stay on their exits and keep blocking them.

== Winning and losing ==

You '''win''' when all four heroes have escaped the mall. You '''lose''' if the sand
timer runs out before then (and in Scenario 11, if a required rearrangement is
impossible).

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