Atlas & Zeus

Atlas & Zeus Rulebook

Table of Contents

Components

The game components comprise:

16 islands, numbered from 1 to 16, consisting of the following: 2 holy islands - 4 volcanic islands - 10 ordinary islands.
Occupancy limit: 1 figure = 1 people tile; 3 figures = an unlimited number of people.
1 "Flood" marker.
1 actions chart, on which the sequence of actions is indicated.
2 "Turtle" markers (one marker each for the blue clan and the red clan), 2 "Caught in the net" markers (one marker each for the blue clan and the red clan), 2 "Pilehouse" markers (one marker each for the blue clan and the red clan).
1 initiative marker.
16 people tiles (8 red and 8 blue). For both clans the distribution of strengths is as follows: 1 high priest of strength 40 - 3 lords of strength 30 - 4 soldiers of strength 20.
50 action cards (25 red and 25 blue). The 25 cards are identical for each player.

Object of the Game

To be the last player to have at least one survivor at the end of the game.

At the end of each round one of the 16 islands of Atlantis sinks beneath the waters, together with all of the people who were not able to flee from it. As the available land area becomes smaller and smaller, conflict becomes inevitable. The players gain advantages with the help of action cards. For example through clever metamorphoses or by influencing natural forces they eliminate one opponent after another in order to be the last Atlantean at the end.

Preparation

The 16 islands are shuffled and laid out [face up] in a circle on the table.

The 16 people tiles (8 blue and 8 red) are shuffled together, and one is then placed [face up] on each island. The first tile is placed on the island showing the number 1, and the others are then placed clockwise from here.

In this way each game begins with a different layout.

The "Flood" marker is placed on island number 1.

Each player places his own coloured "Turtle", "Caught in the net" and "Pilehouse" markers ready for use in front of him.

The "order of actions" chart is placed to one side of the table.

Each player shuffles the 25 action cards of his colour and creates his own face down draw pile.

Each player takes the first 6 cards from his draw pile into his hand.

The playing area should then look similar to the illustration at the end of the rules.

Now the game can start!

Playing Procedure

At the beginning of the game, the player whose people tile is on island 1 has the initiative. He takes the "Initiative" marker and places it in front of him. In each of the following rounds the initiative alternates between the players.

There are a number of phases in each round of the game:

The player with the initiative selects his actions
The other player selects his actions
The chosen actions are carried out
One island sinks beneath the waves
Take cards
End of the round

Detailed procedure for the individual phases:

The player with the initiative selects his actions

In this phase the player with the initiative chooses three cards from his hand. He places the selected cards face down on the actions chart, such that each card is assigned to a different action number. These numbers indicate the order in which the actions will be carried out in phase three.

Note: It is a requirement that the three chosen action numbers are different colours!!!

Thus, if a player wants to take two actions one after the other, he has to choose numbers 2 and 3 [or 4 and 5] and relinquish the first action in the round to his opponent, [even though the latter could spring a surprise on him?].

This system also ensures that a player cannot have three turns in row.

The other player selects his actions

The player without the initiative now selects three cards from his hand and lays them face down on the remaining three action numbers.

Carrying out the actions

The actions of the cards are carried out, staring with number 1 and ending with number 6.

The action card in the first position is turned over and the instructions in the text on the card are immediately carried out. Afterwards the second action card is dealt with, and so on until the sixth and last card is reached.

It is only in accordance with the action cards that the people tiles move around. These movements are described on the corresponding cards. Game features such as the strengths of the people tiles and the occupancy limits are also mentioned.

One island sinks beneath the waves

After the sixth action has been performed, the island where the flood marker is located sinks into the deep.

This island card is removed from the game together with the people tiles that have until now resided there.

After this the flood marker is moved to the island with the next highest number relative to the sunken island. (Exception: If there is no next highest number [which can happen as a result of some of the actions], the flood card is moved to the island with the lowest number still available)

Example: Islands 2, 3, 7, 9 and 13 remain.

If the flood is on island 2, it moves to island 3. If the flood is on island 9, it moves to island 13, and from there to island 2.

Take cards

Each player takes three cards from his own draw pile into his hand. If there are not enough cards available, the discarded cards are shuffled to create a new draw pile.

End of the round

The gap left by the sunken island is closed up to form a complete ring of islands again. The order of the islands remains the same.

The player with the "Initiative" marker gives it up to his opponent and a new round begins.

End of the Game

If at any point during the game a player loses his last people tile, he also immediately loses the game. If both players lose their last people tile at the same time, they have both lost. Their blindness in this merciless war has not gained them the favour of the gods…

Description of the Action Cards

Important: The players need only remember the text for the most important card functions. In their first game the players should refer to the following notes, in which each card is described in detail, to resolve questions about the exact interpretation of a particular card.

[Versetzen]

Transfer: You have a movement point allowance of one to three islands, that you can assign to your people. With one movement point you can move one person by one island.

Example: You can move one person by two islands and another person by one island.

Note: The occupancy limit of an island cannot be exceeded as a result! (it is allowed to move through an island that is already at capacity, but not to stop there)