Big Monster
Big Monster Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 1 circular game board, double-sided
- 120 Monster tiles (including 40 marked '5+')
- 24 Mutation tiles
- 12 Explorer tiles
- 37 Medals
- 4 Reference cards
- Final scoring pad
Game Overview
Big Monster is an innovative drafting game played over two rounds representing two days of exploring an unknown planet. The total number of exploration points obtained by the players will be calculated at the end of the game to determine the winner(s).
What is the innovative drafting mechanic?
After picking a tile from his/her hand, each player quickly assigns the remaining cards to another player of their choice – choosing either to help his/her teammate, or hinder an opponent.
Three Game Modes
With 4 or 6 players, Big Monster can be played in teams of two. In team mode, the lowest score of either teammate will be the team's final score.
From 3 to 6 players, a game of Big Monster can also be played in competitive mode. When playing with this mode, every player will be competing against the others. The winner will be the player with the most exploration points at the end of the game.
With 2 players, Big Monster is played according to special rules. You will find these rules at the end of the rulebook.
The game board is double-sided: one side is used for team mode, the other side for competitive mode.
Setup
This set-up is for a game in team mode. If you play with the competitive mode, refer to the special rules noted below in each step.
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The players choose their partners and sit around the table in such way that no partners will be directly next to each other.
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Place the board in the center of the play area, Team side up.
Place the desert medals (3 medals), runes (3 medals) and penalty (2 medals) on their corresponding spots on the board. They will be present in every game.
Then pick 2 individual medals:
- One of lake, grassland or swamp type.
- One of either ice or lava type.
And take the team medals matching the individual ones selected.
In competitive mode, the other side of the board is used, as well as 5 individual medals (one for each monster type) and the penalty medal on the End Game zone.
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Place the mutation tiles near the board in 4 distinct piles. These are the mutated versions of the ice monsters that will be used during the game.
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Each player receives two Explorer tiles and chooses one that he will place face up in front of him/her. It represents his/her landing area on the planet. This tile defines his/her special ability. The other Explorer tile is placed ship side up near the central board. These face down explorer tiles will be used to assign a hand of tiles during the drafting phase.
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Shuffle the monster tiles together. The number changes according to the number of players depending on the number of players (the tiles bearing a '5+' are only used in games with 5 or 6 players). Make piles of 10 tiles, and place one pile on each player's ship.
Sequence of Play
The game will be played in 2 rounds. Each round is made of 9 turns.
Game Turn
- Choose a tile from your hand.
- Pass your deck to another player of your choice.
- Add the chosen tile to your player's area.
During your first game, we recommend that all players announce what tile they are placing.
At a signal from a player, everyone grabs the hand of tiles currently on his/her ship and looks at them.
After choosing one that he places, face down, in front of him/her, a player must immediately put the remaining tiles on another player's ship (teammate or opponent) – on the condition that the spot is still free.
A player cannot put his tiles on his/her own ship, unless that player is the slowest to choose a tile and his/her ship is the only available spot left. (Exception: an explorer's ability.)
Once all the players have assigned their hand to another player by placing it on an opponent or teammate ship, all players turn over the tile they've selected and place it in their exploration zone. A few rules must be followed:
- Allowed: Adjacent to an existing tile by either the long or short side; facing the same way.
- Forbidden: Upside down, sideways, or non-adjacent to an existing tile.
It must be placed adjacent to a previously placed tile, or to the explorer tile. It must be placed the right way up (with the monsters standing on their legs). A tile can be placed next to another even if that doesn't complete a crystal. All tiles can be placed next to another, no matter what type of monster they show. Once placed, a tile cannot be moved for the rest of the game.
* If a mutagenic monster is properly connected to a mutant tile (ice monster), the latter evolves immediately. The player takes the corresponding mutation tile and puts it over the original tile. Some monsters can mutate twice.
Monster Tiles (7 Monster Families)
1. Ice Monsters Tiles
The ice monster tiles show four monster mutant tiles, each worth 1, 2, 3, or 4 points, and matching mutagenic tiles for each. Only mutant monsters can mutate: the chicken monster can no longer evolve once placed, unlike the crab monster, which can mutate twice (into its Side 1 and then Side 2 mutation).
Example: Sebastian has placed two ice monsters during the first two turns. On turn 3, he plays down a double mutagenic monster and immediately takes the corresponding mutation tiles. On turn 4, he plays down a single mutagenic monster and immediately takes the crab's mutation tile, bringing it to its final form.
Only mutant monsters can mute.
2. Big Monster
The Big Monster tiles form a single large creature, split across three tiles, worth points when completed (see Grassland Monsters Tiles – Special Tiles below for the exact scoring).
3. Lava Monsters Tiles – Dragon
Lava monster tiles score 1 point each, plus crystals worth 2 points, 5 points, or 10 points when completed.
Example: Damien laid 6 lava monster tiles. The monsters will give him 14 points, and the crystals will give him 17 points. The incomplete crystals give no points.
4. Swamp Monsters Tiles
2 points per swamp monster:
- 1 tile = 2 points (2 points per tile)
- 2 tiles = 8 points (4 points per tile)
- 3 tiles = 18 points (6 points per tile)
- 4 tiles = 32 points (6 points per tile)
- 5 tiles = 50 points (10 points per tile)
5. Grassland Monsters Tiles – Special Tiles
- 2 points per green complete crystal.
- 1 point per different type of tile (max. 7 points). Half a Big Monster counts for 1 point. The explorer tile doesn't count.
- 4 points per complete Big Monster.
- 2 points per medal.
- 2 points per rune stone monster.
- 3 points per desert tile.
- 1 point per green complete crystal.
- 1 point per lava tile.
- 2 points per grassland tiles.
6. Desert Tiles
The desert monster give no victory point. They will allow players to win medals, especially the desert medal. The desert medal is 10 points whereas the other medals are only 5 points.
7. Rune Monster
The rune monsters give no victory point. You can collect them to complete crystals and in order to win medals.
Explorer Tiles
Each Explorer tile grants its owner a unique special ability, active from the start of the game:
- 1 point per ice tile.
- Starts with one desert tile (counts towards the Desert and 5/7 Different Monsters medals).
- At the end of the game, choose a card in the discard pile and place it in your exploration zone.
- 1 point per lava tile.
- Starts with one mutagenic monster (counts towards the Ice and 5/7 Different Monsters medals).
- 1 point per mutagenic.
- 1 point per grassland tile.
- 2 points per medal (each medal brings 2 points – including the penalty ones).
- 2 points per runic stone monster.
- 4 points per complete Big Monster.
- 1 point per complete crystal.
- After choosing your tile, you can put your hand of tiles on your own ship (assuming it's still free).
Awarding Medals
Now comes the time to check whether one or more players have met the requirements for receiving a medal!
To earn an individual medal, a player must meet the requirements by himself, using only the tiles placed before him. If more than one players end up meeting the conditions on the same turn, they all earn a medal (use extra medals of the same value as the one awarded).
To earn a team medal, the discoveries (placed monster tiles) of both partners are added up. Each team member receives a medal, regardless of his actual contribution. (See medal descriptions)
"Two or more teams meeting the requirements on the same turn will all earn them, as with the individual medals."
End of Turn
At the end of the first round, unused tiles are discarded (face down). Each player receives a new hand of 10 tiles on their ship. The second round is played exactly the same way as the first.
At the end of the second round, each player will have 18 tiles placed before him/her, as well as, potentially, some individual and/or team medals.
A penalty medal is awarded to each member of the team whose total of 'desert' and 'rune' monsters is the lowest. In case of a tie, all concerned teams receive the medals.
In competitive mode, the penalty medal is awarded to the player whose total of 'desert' and 'rune' monsters is the lowest. In case of a tie, all concerned players receive the medal.
Medals Requirements Description
Individual medals — The first player to meet the requirements earns the medal. Team medals — The first team to meet the requirements earns a medal per team member.
Permanent Medals
| Requirement | Individual medal | Team medal |
|---|---|---|
| Desert tiles | 3 tiles = 10 points | 6 tiles = 10 points |
| Rune Monsters | 4 monsters = 5 points | 8 monsters = 5 points |
| Fewest desert/rune monsters | -10 points | -10 points |
Each player counts his number of desert and rune monsters. The player with the fewest takes a penalty medal. That player's score will be lowered by 10 points.
Both members of a team count their number of desert and rune monsters. The team with the fewest in total receives one penalty medal per player – both teammates' scores will be lowered by 10 points.
Random Medals
| Requirement | Individual medal | Team medal |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Big Monsters | 2 = 5 points | 4 = 5 points |
| Swamp and/or grassland tiles | 4 = 5 points | 8 = 5 points |
| Different tiles (the Big Monster mustn't be complete) | 5 = 5 points | 7 = 5 points |
| Lava tiles | 5 = 5 points | 10 = 5 points |
| Different crystals (one of each) | 3 = 5 points | 3 series = 5 points |
| Ice tiles (horizontal and vertical) | 6 = 5 points | 12 = 5 points |
| Mutagenic | 4 = 5 points | 8 = 5 points |
Final Scoring
Using the scoring pad, count the exploration points obtained by each player.
The lowest score in each team is kept as that team's final score – the higher score being used only as a tie-breaker. If two teams are still tied after comparing their highest scores, the team who played the most Big Monsters wins. If it's still a draw, then victory is shared.
The scoring pad tracks, per player: Ice Tiles score, Big Monsters score (1 or 11 points), Lava tiles score, Grassland tiles score, Swamp tiles score, Crystals score (2, 5, or 10 points each), Explorer tile score, and Medals score (5, 10, or -10 points each), summed to a Total, with only the lowest total in each team counted as the Team's final score.
Example with 6 players: in Team A, Dimitri scores 76 points and Damien 126. In Team B, Anne-Cat scores 94 points and François 93. And in Team C, Lise scores 83 points and Martin 88.
Only the lowest scores of each team are taken into account, therefore Team B wins with 93 points, ahead of Team C with 83 and Team A with only 76.
In competitive mode, the player with the most exploration points wins. In case of a tie, the player with the most Big Monster tiles is the winner.
Rules for 2-Player Games
Playing with only two players reinforces the strategic and blocking aspects of the game. The drafting mechanic isn't used, giving the game a different pace.
Setup
Discard the 40 '5+' tiles. Shuffle the remaining 80 tiles and make 20 stacks of 4 tiles. Discard the two black-suited explorers.
- Place the board on its competitive side and complete it with the individual medals. Team medals are returned to the box.
- Place the mutation tiles near the board in 4 distinct piles.
- Each player receives two Explorer tiles and chooses one. The others are returned to the box.
- The last player to have been to the moon will be the first player. At a pinch, the last player to have daydreamed about the moon will do.
Sequence of Play
On the first turn, the first player reveals the 4 tiles from the first stack. He chooses one and discards another. The second player then chooses one of the remaining two and discards the last one. He will be first player for the next turn. The rules for placing the tiles are the same as for the other modes.
On the second turn, 2 series of 4 tiles are revealed. The first player selects one of the series, then picks one of its tiles and discards another. The second player then chooses one of the remaining two in that series and discards the last one.
The first player changes each turn, and a new series of 4 tiles is revealed, so that there will always be 2 series of 4 tiles available to choose from – except on the last turn, where there will only be one series left.
Example: On turn 2, Yoann is the first player. He has a choice between 2 series of 4 tiles. He chooses series 1, takes the tile with two rune monsters, and discards the lava tile. On this turn, his opponent Celine will have to choose between two ice tiles. Series 2 remains in play for the next turn. Celine becomes first player, and she reveals 4 tiles from a new stack to make a new series.
As in other game modes, players check whether requirements are meant for medals at the end of each turn. If both players meet the requirements on the same turn, they each receive a medal.
End Game
Each player has his explorer tile and 20 monster tiles placed before him. The penalty medal is awarded to the player with the fewest 'desert' and 'rune' monsters.
The player with the most exploration points wins the game. In case of a draw, the player with the most points from Big Monsters wins. If there's still a tie, then the victory is shared.
Monster Tile Counts by Player Count
2 to 4 Players Configuration
Ice monsters: four mutant tiles (values 1, 2, 3, 4), x4 each; mutagenic tiles x4 of each type (two types). Lava monsters: x2, x4, x7, x2, x2 of the five lava monster tiles; x5 each of the two Big Monster water tiles. Grassland monsters: x1 each of six grassland special tiles, plus x5 of the desert-type grassland tile. Rune monsters: x1, x2, x2, x1, x2, x2 of the six rune monster tiles. Desert monsters: x8.
5 to 6 Players Configuration
Ice monsters: four mutant tiles (values 1, 2, 3, 4), x6 each; mutagenic tiles x6 of each type (two types). Lava monsters: x4, x6, x11, x3, x3 of the five lava monster tiles; x8 each of the two Big Monster water tiles. Grassland monsters: x1 each of four grassland special tiles, plus x1 each of five more grassland special tiles, plus x5 of the desert-type grassland tile. Rune monsters: x2, x3, x2, x2, x3, x4 of the six rune monster tiles. Desert monsters: x11.
The tiles marked '5+' (used only in games with 5 or 6 players) are included in the 5 to 6 Players Configuration counts above.