Array
Array Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Definitions
- ARRAY: the individual patterns created during the game where cards are touching each other.
- SPLICE: to match a color and therefore add a card to the array. There are 2 possible levels to the splice moves: splice 1 and splice 2 (see page 5). (Source note: the splice levels are described on printed pages 3 and 4.)
- SLICE: to separate two matching and touching colors and therefore create two separate arrays from the original array.
- SLICE AND SPLICE: to separate two matching and touching colors, create two arrays from the original array, and add new cards to the two separate arrays. This special move allows the player to double the number of opportunities to place down more cards.
- SPLATTER: to use an action card that causes opponents to pick up a specific number of cards.
- SLAM: to use an action card that gives an opponent 10 additional points.
To Win the Round
The first player to play all of the cards from their hand wins the round. The remaining cards in each player's hand have a point value assigned to them. Players who reach 100 points or more are eliminated from the game.
To Win the Game
The last player to reach 100 points wins the game.
Starting the Game
The dealer shuffles thoroughly and deals 7 cards face down to each player. After dealing the cards, the remaining deck is placed face down off to the side of the playing area and becomes the pickup deck. The dealer role rotates to the left after each round. Play begins with the player to the left of the dealer.
The top card on the pickup deck is turned over and placed by itself in the center of the playing area. This is the starting card for the first array. If this card happens to be an action card, then replace it into the pickup deck and turn over another card.
Fig. 1. Starting Card: a single two-color card.
Array Game Play
First Move
The player to the left of the dealer splices a regular array card (2, 3, or 4 colors) that has one color on it that matches the starting card (Splice 1). In the same turn, the player can splice any cards they have in their hand that match the rest of the colors on the card they just laid down (Splice 2).
Fig. 2. First Move: Splice 1 and Splice 2.
This is not a required move; it is only done if they are matching cards in the player's hand. In this case, the player can splice a card with an orange, and/or a gray - or both, or neither, depending on what is in their hand. An action card cannot be played on the first move of the game. If the player doesn't have a suitable card to play, then this player picks up a card and it is the next player's turn.
Subsequent Turns
The rest of the round involves simple splicing moves, slicing and splicing combination moves, and action cards. After the first move of the round is complete, players now have 4 main actions that can be done:
1. Slice and Splice
Slice the blue portions apart and create two arrays. In order to do this though, the player must have at least two cards with blue on them to add to the sliced blue portions.
Fig. 3a. Slice.
Once this is achieved now the same player can add cards to the cards they just placed down. (In this case up to 4 more cards in the same turn.)
Fig. 3b. Splice.
Tip: This is how slicing and splicing doubles or triples opportunities to place more cards in one turn.
2. Splice
If the player can't slice then they can just splice cards. From the two cards already in play, the player has to choose a location where to add a card.
Fig. 4a. Splice 1.
The player may only match one color at this stage. In this case the player decided to match the orange with another 3 color card.
Fig. 4b. Splice 2.
Once this is done, the player can now add other cards to try to match all the colors on the card they just placed down. If they leave one or more color spaces open, that is fine, but it is a missed opportunity. The move ends after the two possible splice levels (Splice 1 and Splice 2).
Tip: By figuring out the best sequence, the player can maximize the number of cards played in one turn.
3. Splatter & Slam
Players can choose to use a turn to punish their opponents by playing a Splatter or SLAM card instead of a regular color card. The Splatter or SLAM card can be given to any player. The player who receives the card must pick up the number of cards as indicated on the Splatter card or add 10 points to their score if they receive the SLAM card. Play continues to the left of the player who handed out the action card.
Drawing BECAUSE OF a Splatter card is not a turn.
4. Draw
If a player cannot do moves 1, 2, or 3, then the player must draw a card from the deck and add this to their hand. This draw completes their turn.
End of the Round
When a player manages to play all of the cards in their hand the round is over.
Winner of the Round
The player with the least number of points at the end of the round is the winner of the round.
Winner of the Game
At the completion of each round the losing players add up their point total and add it to points from previous rounds. Any player with a total of 100 or more points at the end of each round is eliminated from further play. The last player in the game is the winner. If the last players each reach 100 or more points at the end of the round then the player with the lowest number of points wins the game. If the last players have the exact same number of points at or above 100, then a sudden death round is played and the winner of this wins the entire game!
Calculating Points
Each card left in the hands of the losing players count as follows:
Color Cards: 2, 3 or 4 points, depending on the number of colors on the cards.
Splatter Cards: 1-5 points, depending on the number of pickup cards identified on the Splatter card.
SLAM Cards: 10 points.
Tips
- For a shorter game, decrease the number of points to be knocked out of the game to 50.
- Make a longer game by increasing the points to 200.
- Play a specified number of hands or play for a specified period of time (player with the least points wins).