Gamehelpriverrats

River Rats

In River Rats, two players guide their clans of rats on rafts down a shifting river. By playing cards strategically, they move toward valuable loot or push their opponent into dangerous waters.

Game Objective

The goal is to have the most Victory Points (Loot) at the end of the game (when the river deck is empty). Points are awarded for cheese, gold, and other treasures, while debris or traps may result in negative points.

Game Setup

• The river is formed by a row of cards (the display).
• Each player starts with a hand of 3 Rat cards.
• The players' rafts start at the beginning of the river.

Gameplay

The game is played over several rounds. Each round consists of two phases:

1. Planning Phase (Playing Cards)

Both players simultaneously choose one card from their hand and place it face-down. Then, both cards are revealed at the same time.

• Cards have a numerical value (speed/initiative).
• The card with the higher value is resolved first. In case of a tie, specific priority rules apply (usually based on card symbols).

2. Action Phase (Move & Collect)

Players resolve their actions in sequence:

• Move: Move the raft along the river according to the value or instructions on the card.
• Landing & Collecting: If a raft lands on a space with loot, the player takes the corresponding card (or token).
• Special Effects: Many cards allow pushing the opponent's raft, swapping cards, or manipulating the river layout.

Key Actions & Symbols

The icons on the cards are essential for tactical decisions:

• Forward Arrow: Move your raft forward the indicated number of spaces.
• Anchor: Stay at your current position (ignore movement effects).
• Rat Head (Push): Move the opponent's raft one space forward or backward.
• Whirlpool: Forces players to discard cards or change positions unpredictably.

Loot Categories

• Cheese (Yellow): Standard victory points.
• Shiny Stuff (Gold/Silver): High point values, often highly contested.
• Junk/Traps: May grant negative points or damage the raft (reducing hand size).

End of Game

The game ends immediately when:

1. A player reaches the end of the river (potentially gaining a bonus).
2. The river draw deck is empty.

Final scoring of all collected loot cards follows. The player with the highest total value wins.