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Publish Microchip game help from repository GAMEHELP.wiki
 
Publish microchip rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki
 
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==Goal==
==Goal==


Build the most valuable '''microchip''' from the tiles you collect. A microchip is a structure of tiles whose white paths join up with no open ends. Each connection is worth 1 point, and every tile you hold outside your microchip costs 2 points.
'''Microchip''' is a spatial abstract strategy game for 2–5 players designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. Draft circuit tiles from a shared pool and arrange them on your personal 5×5 circuit board. Build the highest-scoring closed microchip: each connection in your microchip scores 1 point, while every tile outside your microchip costs 2 penalty points.


==Setup==
==Components==
 
* The pool holds the tiles, face up: '''60 tiles''' in 5 colours (12 each) for 3 or 4 players, 60 for 5 players (6 rows), and 50 for 2 players (10 tiles go back to the box).
* Each player receives a '''board''': a 5 x 5 grid of coloured spaces. Each colour appears five times on a board.
* The right-hand column of the pool is the '''draw column'''.
* The starting player is chosen at random. Play goes clockwise.
 
==Tiles==
 
Each tile has white paths. A path that reaches a side of the tile is a '''connection'''. There are five shapes, 12 tiles per colour:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Shape !! Connections !! Copies per colour
! Component !! Icon !! Connections !! Description
|-
|-
| Cross || 4 || 1
| '''Cross''' || [[File:Microchip_tile_plus.png|28px|middle]] || 4 connections || 1 copy per colour (5 total). Connects in all 4 cardinal directions.
|-
|-
| T || 3 || 3
| '''T-Junction''' || [[File:Microchip_tile_tee.png|28px|middle]] || 3 connections || 3 copies per colour (15 total). Branches into 3 directions.
|-
|-
| Corner || 2 || 2
| '''Corner''' || [[File:Microchip_tile_corner.png|28px|middle]] || 2 connections || 2 copies per colour (10 total). Turns 90°.
|-
|-
| Straight || 2 || 2
| '''Straight''' || [[File:Microchip_tile_straight.png|28px|middle]] || 2 connections || 2 copies per colour (10 total). Runs straight through.
|-
|-
| End (with a square pad) || 1 || 4
| '''Terminal End''' || [[File:Microchip_tile_end.png|28px|middle]] || 1 connection || 4 copies per colour (20 total). Caps and closes a path.
|-
| '''Circuit Board''' || — || — || Personal 5×5 grid per player (25 spaces: 5 each of blue, red, green, yellow, pink).
|}
|}


==Your turn==
==Setup==


* '''Draw.''' On your turn take one tile from the draw column. Players take turns clockwise. When the draw column is empty, the next column to the left becomes the draw column.
* '''Shared Pool''': 60 tiles (12 of each of the 5 colours: blue, red, green, yellow, pink) arranged in a grid:
* '''Arrange.''' You may arrange your tiles on your board at any time, including on other players' turns. Tap a tile in your tray, then tap a space on your board to place it. You can move a tile on the board, turn it (if turning is allowed), exchange it with another tile, or take it back to your tray.
** 2 players: 50 tiles (5 rows × 10 columns; 10 tiles removed at random).
** 3–4 players: 60 tiles (5 rows × 12 columns).
** 5 players: 60 tiles (6 rows × 10 columns).
* The rightmost column with remaining tiles forms the active '''draw column'''.
* Each player receives a unique 5×5 circuit board (5 spaces of each colour) and a tray.


==Placing a tile==
==Your turn==


A tile can be placed only if all of these are true:
# '''Draft a tile (mandatory)''': On your turn, take one tile of your choice from the active draw column into your tray. When a column is exhausted, the next column to the left becomes the new draw column.
# '''Arrange your board (free action)''': You may place, rotate, move, swap, or return tiles from your tray to your board at any time, even during other players' turns.


===Placing circuit tiles===
A tile may be placed on your board only when all conditions are met:
* The space is empty.
* The space is empty.
* The colour of the tile matches the colour of the space.
* The '''colour of the tile matches the colour of the space'''.
* No connection points at the edge of the board.
* No connection may point off the edge of the board.
 
* Where two tiles touch, their paths must match (wire meets wire, or blank edge meets blank edge). Mismatched paths or paths pointing off-board show a red `!` error badge. A path pointing to an empty space shows a yellow warning triangle until closed.
Click a tile to select it, click it again to turn it, and click an empty space to move it there. A tile stays selected until you click somewhere else. A tile placed where it cannot legally go (wrong colour, a path off the board, or a path that does not match a neighbouring tile) is marked with a red '''!''' badge, and you cannot finish while one is on your board. A tile with a path leading to an empty space shows a yellow warning triangle; this does not block finishing, but open structures do not score.
 
A connection may point at an empty space while you build. It is an '''open path''' until a tile is placed there.
 
==Finishing==
 
When the pool is empty, every player builds their final microchip. Press '''Finish''' when you are done. The game ends when every player has finished.
 
==Scoring==
 
* Your microchip is your biggest structure with '''no open paths''' (most tiles). A structure with an open path is not a microchip and does not count.
* Its value is the sum of the connections of its tiles.
* Your score is the value of your microchip, minus 2 for each tile you hold that is outside it.
* If the scores are equal, the player whose microchip has more tiles wins. If that is also equal, the players share the win.


==Preferences==
==End of the game and scoring==


* '''Colourblind support''' (preference): shows a shape on every space and tile. Triangle is blue, square is red, circle is green, diamond is yellow and cross is pink.
* When the shared pool is completely empty, all players finalize their circuit boards and press '''Finish'''.
* '''Closed Microchip''': Your scored microchip is your single most valuable connected group of tiles that has '''zero open connections''' (no wire pointing to an empty space, off-board, or to a mismatched edge). Any group with an open wire is invalid and scores 0 points.
* '''Scoring''':
** '''+1 point''' for each connection point on tiles within your closed microchip.
** '''-2 points''' for each tile remaining in your tray or placed outside your closed microchip.
* The player with the highest score wins!
* '''Tie-breaker''': Most tiles in the winning microchip. If still tied, victory is shared.


==Notes on the rules==
==Controls on BGA==


* Tiles can be turned in 90-degree steps to fit legally onto the board.
* '''Drafting''': Click any tile in the active rightmost draw column to take it.
* Boards are generated with the rulebook's method for making a board, one for each player.
* '''Placing''': Click a tile in your tray, then click an empty matching-colour space on your board.
* The rulebook says to play again when there is a tie that cannot be broken. Online, the players share the win instead.
* '''Rotating''': Click a tile already on your board to rotate it 90° clockwise, or select it and press '''Rotate'''.
* '''Moving & Removing''': Click a placed tile to select it, then click another cell to move or swap, or press '''Remove''' to return it to your tray. Press '''Deselect''' to clear your selection.
* '''Finish''': Once all pool tiles are drafted, click blue '''Finish'''. If you need to make changes before everyone finishes, click '''Resume building'''.
* '''Badges''': A red `!` badge indicates an invalid placement (path running off-board or mismatched edges). A yellow warning triangle indicates an unclosed path.
* '''Preferences''': Colourblind support (Preference 100, default: Off): displays geometric symbols on board spaces and tiles.

Latest revision as of 13:28, 2 November 2026

Goal

Microchip is a spatial abstract strategy game for 2–5 players designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. Draft circuit tiles from a shared pool and arrange them on your personal 5×5 circuit board. Build the highest-scoring closed microchip: each connection in your microchip scores 1 point, while every tile outside your microchip costs 2 penalty points.

Components

Component Icon Connections Description
Cross 4 connections 1 copy per colour (5 total). Connects in all 4 cardinal directions.
T-Junction 3 connections 3 copies per colour (15 total). Branches into 3 directions.
Corner 2 connections 2 copies per colour (10 total). Turns 90°.
Straight 2 connections 2 copies per colour (10 total). Runs straight through.
Terminal End 1 connection 4 copies per colour (20 total). Caps and closes a path.
Circuit Board — — Personal 5×5 grid per player (25 spaces: 5 each of blue, red, green, yellow, pink).

Setup

  • Shared Pool: 60 tiles (12 of each of the 5 colours: blue, red, green, yellow, pink) arranged in a grid:
    • 2 players: 50 tiles (5 rows × 10 columns; 10 tiles removed at random).
    • 3–4 players: 60 tiles (5 rows × 12 columns).
    • 5 players: 60 tiles (6 rows × 10 columns).
  • The rightmost column with remaining tiles forms the active draw column.
  • Each player receives a unique 5×5 circuit board (5 spaces of each colour) and a tray.

Your turn

  1. Draft a tile (mandatory): On your turn, take one tile of your choice from the active draw column into your tray. When a column is exhausted, the next column to the left becomes the new draw column.
  2. Arrange your board (free action): You may place, rotate, move, swap, or return tiles from your tray to your board at any time, even during other players' turns.

Placing circuit tiles

A tile may be placed on your board only when all conditions are met:

  • The space is empty.
  • The colour of the tile matches the colour of the space.
  • No connection may point off the edge of the board.
  • Where two tiles touch, their paths must match (wire meets wire, or blank edge meets blank edge). Mismatched paths or paths pointing off-board show a red `!` error badge. A path pointing to an empty space shows a yellow warning triangle until closed.

End of the game and scoring

  • When the shared pool is completely empty, all players finalize their circuit boards and press Finish.
  • Closed Microchip: Your scored microchip is your single most valuable connected group of tiles that has zero open connections (no wire pointing to an empty space, off-board, or to a mismatched edge). Any group with an open wire is invalid and scores 0 points.
  • Scoring:
    • +1 point for each connection point on tiles within your closed microchip.
    • -2 points for each tile remaining in your tray or placed outside your closed microchip.
  • The player with the highest score wins!
  • Tie-breaker: Most tiles in the winning microchip. If still tied, victory is shared.

Controls on BGA

  • Drafting: Click any tile in the active rightmost draw column to take it.
  • Placing: Click a tile in your tray, then click an empty matching-colour space on your board.
  • Rotating: Click a tile already on your board to rotate it 90° clockwise, or select it and press Rotate.
  • Moving & Removing: Click a placed tile to select it, then click another cell to move or swap, or press Remove to return it to your tray. Press Deselect to clear your selection.
  • Finish: Once all pool tiles are drafted, click blue Finish. If you need to make changes before everyone finishes, click Resume building.
  • Badges: A red `!` badge indicates an invalid placement (path running off-board or mismatched edges). A yellow warning triangle indicates an unclosed path.
  • Preferences: Colourblind support (Preference 100, default: Off): displays geometric symbols on board spaces and tiles.
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