Brikks
Brikks Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Setup
Each player receives two sheets, a chip, and a pen. On the front of one sheet (the "playing field") the player will fill in blocks over the course of the game. The second sheet is turned to its back side. This back side is there so the player can use their chip to always mark the current block.
In a two-player game, the 3-circle and 4-circle in the energy bar are crossed out (deactivated). In a three-player game, only the 4-circle is crossed out. The starting player is determined.
Beginning with the player to the right of the starting player and continuing counter-clockwise, each player chooses a block from the "1" column of the block overview and enters it in their bottom row. A player may not choose a block that has already been taken by another player, and the block may not be rotated. This way, every player starts with slightly different starting conditions. The starting player then begins the game.
The Player Sheet
The player sheet contains the following areas:
- Colored circles
- Victory point multipliers
- A place to record victory points
- Bombs
- The bonus point track
- An explanation of how many crosses are worth how many victory points
- The energy track
- Energy costs for actions
- Energy points
Gameplay
The starting player rolls both dice. If they are not satisfied with the result, they may roll BOTH dice ONE more time (it is not allowed to roll only one die).
The number die determines the vertical column, while the color die determines the horizontal row. The block determined by the two dice applies to ALL players.
The players mark the corresponding block using their chip on the overview. This block MUST now be entered by all players. Entering a block means that blocks always fall from top to bottom, until they reach the bottom or come to rest against another block. Each player may choose for themselves at which position the block falls down. At the position where the block comes to rest, the player then draws the outline of the block and puts a cross in each square of the block.
Example: Lukas rolled Green and 3. This suits him, so he does not roll again. He and all other players must now draw in the green block from the third column. Lukas lets the block fall so that it lies half on top of the "black" 4-block (starting block).
While falling, a block can be moved left or right in order to push it into a fitting gap or maneuver it through a narrow spot. However, it must be able to fit through by its width. It is not enough for the block to fit into the gap at the end if it would have gotten stuck partway through. Even after falling, a block can still be shifted any distance left or right, in order to push it "under" another block.
Example: The first yellow block would fit into Lukas' gap, but since it is 2 squares wide, it would not "slide through" the 1-square-wide gap.
Whenever a block is entered so that it covers a circle of the same color as the block, the player may activate 2 energy points on the energy track for later use, by circling the next two free circles.
Example: Nina draws the white block so that it covers a white color dot (A). She may therefore unlock two new energy points on the energy track (B).
Energy Track and Bonus Point Track
Energy points that are circled on the energy track are activated and can be used for one of the following two actions (after which they are crossed out):
- For each energy point, a player may move the chip on their overview ONE column to the left or right (thereby rotating the block). This is the only way to rotate blocks. For example, anyone who wants to move (rotate) the block from the first to the third column must cross out 2 energy points.
- For 5 energy points, a player may replace the current block with any block of their choice.
If a player circles an energy point that contains a pink X on the energy track, they put a cross in the yellow bonus point track (starting from the left). This unlocks victory points. At the end of the game, the bonus point track is worth as many victory points as indicated by the field after the last crossed-out field.
Example: Marie rolled a blue 1 as her first roll. Since she doesn't like it, she rolls again. She rolls a 4 and Red. She doesn't like this either, but this roll must now be taken by all players. Lukas shifts the 4 two columns to the left using two energy points, which he crosses off on his sheet (A), and enters the block in its new orientation according to column 2 (B). Since he draws a red block onto the red circle, he receives two new energy points (C). Since this unlocks a pink X, he receives another cross on the bonus point track (D). At the end of the game, he would now receive 6 bonus points.
If a player completes 2 gapless rows at once with the newly entered block, they may put 1 cross on the bonus point track. For 3 gapless rows, they get 2 crosses, and for 4 gapless rows, even 4 crosses.
Example: With the red block, Lukas completed two rows at the same time, so he may put a cross on the bonus point track. This also let him cross off the 6 on the bonus point track, and he would receive 10 bonus points for this at the end of the game.
Special case: Should a player be able to make more than 14 crosses on the bonus point track, all further crosses are forfeited. A player cannot reach more than 75 points on this track.
Should a block not fit into a player's plans at all, they can blow it up with a bomb and thus not have to use it. However, the player receives no replacement block (they draw no block on their sheet this round). Players have a total of 3 bombs available in the game. When a bomb is used, it is marked as used (crossed out), starting from the top. If any bombs remain unused at the end of the game, they are worth the indicated victory points.
Example: Marie cannot use the red block even by shifting it to the 2. She sacrifices one of her bombs, crosses it out, and enters no block for this roll.
End of Game
A player is eliminated from the game as soon as they can no longer fully fit a block. They then no longer roll the dice. The other players continue playing until they, too, can no longer enter a block. Once the last player has been eliminated, scoring takes place.
Each player enters their victory points for each row into the light blue area on the left, based on their block:
- For a gapless row with 10 "X"s, they receive 5 points.
- For a row with 9 "X"s (one gap in the row), they receive 2 points.
- For a row with 8 "X"s (two gaps), they receive 1 point.
Rows with more gaps are not scored.
In the orange area (scoring rows 6 through 10), the points are doubled, and in the topmost row they are quadrupled.
Afterward, all victory points are added together: the light blue victory point track, plus points from the yellow bonus point track, plus unused bombs, plus 1 victory point per 2 activated and unused energy points on the energy track.
Example: A 3 and Yellow were rolled. Lukas cannot rotate the block, even using his energy points, so that it fits for him. He also still has an unused bomb open. He chooses not to use it, since he would rather secure the 4 points. Since he cannot enter the block, the game ends for him. He receives 47 points for his rows (5+5+5+5+5+4+4+10+0+4+0=47). In addition, he receives 21 bonus points, 4 points for the unused bomb, and 1 point for 2 unused energy points. In total, that is 73 points (47+21+4+1=73).
Difficulty Level
Brikks can also be played with different difficulty levels. The base game described above would then be Level 2. Anyone who wants it a bit easier, or is playing together with children, can play Level 1. Anyone who wants more of a challenge chooses Level 3 or even Level 4:
- Level 1: As soon as a circle is covered by a block of the wrong color, 1 energy point is unlocked. If a circle is covered by a block of the same color as the circle, 2 energy points are unlocked.
- Level 2: As soon as a circle is covered by a block of the same color as the circle, 2 energy points are unlocked.
- Level 3: Same rule as Level 2, except: if a circle is covered by a block of the wrong color, the player loses ONE already-activated energy point.
- Level 4: Same rule as Level 2, except: if a circle is covered by a block of the wrong color, the player loses TWO already-activated energy points.
Groups of varying skill can also scale well using the levels. Children can play with the Level 1 rules, while adults play Level 2 or 3.
Brikks Duel (Variant for 2 Players)
In the Duel, victory points do not matter. No numbers are crossed out on the bonus point track either. In the Duel, it's about which player stays in the game longer (in other words: can still place a block).
The rules are unchanged, except that a player may now, for every pink X they gain on the energy track, or that they get by completing several gapless rows with only one block, enter a single square — a "mini-block," so to speak — on their opponent's sheet at the end of the round (i.e., draw a bordered X). This mini-block must be placed according to the normal rules. So, for example, it cannot simply be drawn floating anywhere.
Color dots may be covered by this, however, meaning they can then no longer be used by the opponent.
Should a player be allowed to build more than one mini-block in a round, these may touch at most at a corner. They may not be drawn directly adjacent to one another. For example, with 4 mini-blocks, a player may not simply build a 4-block on their opponent's sheet.
Bombs are also still used the same way (and take on even greater importance here than in the regular game).
Should both players be unable to place any more blocks in the same round, the points that the players have gained from the individual rows they built are counted. These then serve as a tie-breaker.
Solo Play
In solo play, there is no option to reroll. Here, the player must take the first roll. To compensate, they start with an extra (5th) activated energy point to the right of the 4 fixed ones. This is circled at the start of the game. All other rules remain unchanged.
How well a player can stack blocks can be seen from the table below. The points here are calculated for Level 1. For each higher level, the player may add 5 points.
| Score | Rating |
|---|---|
| > 150 | Brikks Master 2000!!! |
| 130 – 150 | You show-off! |
| 110 – 129 | You should do this professionally! |
| 100 – 109 | Did you all see that? |
| 90 – 99 | Enjoy your success! |
| 80 – 89 | Someone's been practicing! |
| 70 – 79 | On a roll! |
| 60 – 69 | There's still room to improve! |
| < 60 | Your first time? |
Summary
- 1 energy point = move the chip one column (= rotate the block)
- 5 energy points = replace the current block with any block of your choice
- A block on a circle of the same color in the play area = activate 2 energy points
- An entered block completes rows without gaps: 2 rows = X, 3 rows = XX, 4 rows = XXXX
- The current block does not have to be used (no replacement!)