Backyard Builders Treehouse Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game Components
• Game Setup
• Game Turn
  • How to Build Your Treehouse
• Game End
• Bonus Points for the Longest Color Run
• Winner of the Game
• Achievement Card Expansion
  • Achievement Card Expansion: Game Setup
  • Achievement Card Expansion: Game Turn
  • Achievement Card Expansion: Game End

Game Components

• 1 Hammer Token
• 5 Ladder Cards
• 15 Achievement Cards
• 32 Treehouse Cards

Game Setup

• Give each player 1 Ladder Card. Put any unused Ladder Cards back in the box, they will not be needed.
• Set the Achievement Cards to the side.
• If playing with only 2 players, remove all 8 Purple Treehouse Cards. Put these back in the box, they will not be needed.
• Shuffle the deck thoroughly and place it face down in the center of the table.
• Randomly determine a Start Player and place the Hammer Token in front of that player. It will stay there the entire game.
• The start player draws cards equal to the number of players and begins the first turn.

Game Turn

Beginning with the Start Player, players will take turns in clockwise order. On your turn, do the following in this order:

1. Draw 1 card from the Draw Deck and add it to your hand.
2. Select 1 card from your hand of cards and add that card to your Treehouse either face-up OR face-down as a wild.
3. Pass the rest of your hand cards clockwise to the player to your left.

How to Build Your Treehouse

To add a card to your Treehouse, the Floor on the bottom of your Treehouse Card must match the color or the number on the top of your Treehouse. Wild (Grey) and your Ladder Card always match to any number or color.

The rules sheet shows three examples marked with a green check, where the card matches, and one example marked with a red X, where it does not.

Game End

The game ends after all players have added Treehouse Cards to their individual Treehouse based upon the number of players.

• 2 Players: 7 Treehouse Cards
• 3 Players: 6 Treehouse Cards
• 4 Players: 5 Treehouse Cards
• 5 Players: 4 Treehouse Cards

After the game has ended, all players add up the points from all the Floors on their individual Treehouse to determine their point total.

Bonus Points for the Longest Color Run

In addition to the total value of their Treehouse, the player(s) with the longest run of a single color gains 1 bonus point for each Floor in that run. For example, a run of 4 Green Floors in a row would be worth 4 bonus points if it was the longest run in the game among all players. These bonus points are only awarded to the longest color run. Of course, if more than one player ties for the longest run, ALL tied players will gain the bonus points. Note, Wild Cards do NOT count as a color type, and therefore do NOT count toward runs (see example above where the Wild Card breaks the yellow FLOOR run).

The rules sheet's example diagram is labelled: 32 Points for the upper Floors, 4 Points for a run of four Floors, and TOTAL = 36 POINTS.

Winner of the Game

After the longest color run is awarded, the player with the most points wins! If two or more players are tied, the tied player who is farthest from the Start Player, in clockwise order, WINS!

Achievement Card Expansion

Using these cards is optional. It is recommended to only use them after playing at least a couple of times. If you choose to use these cards, randomly choose ONE Achievement Card and place it face up next to the Draw Deck. Only 1 Achievement Card is needed each game. Each Achievement Card details a condition that all players are working towards during the game. At the end of the game, ALL players that achieve this condition will receive points equal to the value on the Achievement Card. These players will add these Achievement points to their previous point total. Whoever has the most points WINS!

Achievement Card Expansion: Game Setup

Deal the start player cards equal to the number of players.

Achievement Card Expansion: Game Turn

1. Draw 1 card
2. Play card face up/down
3. Pass hand to the left

Achievement Card Expansion: Game End

Game ends after a set number of Treehouse Cards:

• 2 Players = 7 Treehouse Cards
• 3 Players = 6 Treehouse Cards
• 4 Players = 5 Treehouse Cards
• 5 Players = 4 Treehouse Cards

Scoring:

• Add up the total value of the points on your Treehouse Cards.
• Award 1 point for each Floor in the longest color run.
• Award Achievement points (optional).
• Most points wins!