Crocodile Pool Party
Crocodile Pool Party Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Idea
Twelve swimmers splash about in the luxury pool, six of them belong to you. Their true nature only shows when you turn them over. They become crocodiles, which may move as far in one turn as the printed number allows. And the wild hunt begins: crocodiles hunt swimmers and other crocodiles. But the more crocodiles appear, the more tactical the action becomes. Whoever wants to win must not lose their head... and nothing else.
Object of the Game
Whoever gets the most game tiles through to their own pool bar wins.
Components
1 game board, 12 double-sided printed game tiles.
Setup
- Before the first game, carefully detach the game tiles from the frame.
- The game board is placed upright between the two players, so that each player sits in front of the pool bar in the colour of the other player.
- Each player receives 6 game tiles in their own colour. These are mixed with the "swimmer" side facing up, so that the crocodiles on the underside are not visible.
- In the first game, the swimmers are simply placed on the board as shown in the illustration.
- In later games, both players alternately place one swimmer on the board until each has placed all six.
- For this, the four rows of a player, in which their swimmers start, are marked on the edge of the board by coloured tiles. In the two rows with one tile, one swimmer is placed; in the two rows with two tiles, two swimmers are placed.
- Red begins. Then play alternates.
Course of Play
In their turn, the player must move one of their own game tiles:
A) Move a swimmer. or B) Turn over one of their own swimmers and move the crocodile just revealed. or C) Move one of their own crocodiles that is already face up.
A) Moving a Swimmer
A swimmer moves one or two spaces horizontally or vertically. It may move forward, backward or sideways, and may change direction once during the move (i.e., turn at a right angle). The swimmer may only move over empty spaces and must end its move on an empty space.
B) Turning Over a Swimmer
First, one of your own swimmers is turned over and returned to the same space with the crocodile side facing up. Then this crocodile is moved immediately (see Movement Rules for Crocodiles).
C) Moving a Crocodile That Is Already Face Up
If you already have a face-up crocodile, you may move it according to the "Movement Rules for Crocodiles".
Movement Rules for Crocodiles
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The movement number printed next to the crocodile must be moved in full; letting points lapse is not allowed.
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Movement is only over empty spaces. Other game tiles may therefore not be jumped over.
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Crocodiles may move forward, backward or sideways.
- Crocodiles with the number "2", "3", "4" or "5" may move horizontally and vertically and, during their movement, change direction once (i.e., turn at a right angle).
- Crocodiles with the number "1" may move horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
- Crocodiles with the number "6" may move horizontally and vertically and, during their movement, change direction up to twice.
However, a crocodile may not enter any space more than once during its move.
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If the space on which the crocodile ends its movement holds a swimmer or crocodile of the opponent, that game tile is "eaten". To do so, place your crocodile on top of the opposing game tile.
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Eating opposing game tiles creates stacks. The crocodile on top of a stack shows which player the stack belongs to. A stack is always moved by its owner with all of its game tiles. The movement rules for crocodiles continue to apply. A stack may itself eat and may also be eaten. There is no limit to the height of a stack.
Your Pool Bar
Three spaces with exit ladders lead to each pool bar. Over these, one can leave the pool and reach one's own pool bar. The bar counts as one space. A game tile must be moved onto the pool bar with a suitable movement number. Remaining movement points may not be forfeited!
- The first player who moves game tiles onto their pool bar must move a stack (of at least two game tiles) onto their bar.
- Only after that may both players also move single swimmers or crocodiles onto their pool bar.
End of the Game
As soon as only game tiles or stacks of one player remain in the pool, the game ends immediately. Each player now counts the game tiles on their own pool bar. It does not matter which player's game tiles they are. The player with the higher number wins. In case of a tie, the numbers (movement points of the crocodiles) are added together and that determines the winner.
And because a game is so refreshingly short and sometimes wonderfully unfair, one likes to play another game right away. Now the loser is the starting player!