Gamehelpkumata

Game Overview

In Kumata, different animal clans compete for dominance in the jungle. By tactically stacking dominoes, players try to keep their clan symbols visible on the highest levels. It is a vertical tile-placement game where height translates directly into points.

Goal of the Game

Score the most points through your visible clan symbols and your placed totem marker at the end of the game.

Setup Details

• 3-4 Players: Use 10 dominoes per clan (Monkey, Snake, Toucan, or Tiger), split into two face-up stacks of 5.
• 2 Players: Use the Hippo and Crocodile clans (15 dominoes each, three stacks of 5). Flip board tiles to the 2-player side.

Gameplay

On your turn, you must perform exactly one of these two actions:

1. Place a Domino (Stacking)

Take the top domino from one of your stacks and place it.

• Level 1: Must be placed on two empty board squares.
• Higher Levels (Stability Rule): A domino can never perfectly cover a single domino below it. It must always bridge across or touch at least two different dominoes/squares underneath.
• The Color Rule: At least one half of the new domino must be placed on a surface (board or domino) of the matching color/number. The other half can land on any color.

2. Place the Totem (Once per game)

Instead of placing a domino, place your totem on an empty half of one of your dominoes already on the board.

• Protection: A space with a totem can no longer be built over.
• Strategic Block: You may not place a totem solely to eliminate an opponent's only possible legal move.

Scoring Specifics

Element	Points at Game End
Visible Clan Symbols	Each half showing your animal: Level 1 = 1 pt, Level 2 = 2 pts, Level 3 = 3 pts, etc.
Empty Halves	Domino halves without a symbol score 0 points, regardless of their level.
The Totem	Scores points equal to the level it sits on (e.g., Level 3 = 3 pts). It does not count as an additional level for height.
Penalty	If the totem is still in your reserve at the end, subtract 1 point.

Game End

The game ends immediately when the active player cannot make a legal move. No other players take further turns.

Variants

• Maze Mode: Arrange the 9 board tiles freely (connected by at least one side) instead of a 3x3 grid.
• Alliance Mode (4 Players): Play 2 vs 2. Teammates sit opposite each other and combine their final scores.