De Zoektocht naar El Dorado: Dobbelavontuur Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Goal of the Game
• 4 Maps
• 2 Difficulty Levels
• Game Setup
  • Remember!
• Course of Play
  • 1. The Player Rolls All the Dice (If Necessary)
  • 2. The Player Chooses a Die
  • 3. The Player Uses the Die (and 1 Resource, If They Wish)
• Map – Route Zone
  • Moving Along the Expedition Route
  • Making an Offering in a Temple
    • How Large an Offering Must Be Made?
    • Continuing the Expedition Beyond a Temple
    • Remember the Following Rules
  • Map No. 1: Reward for Finding the Amulet
  • Maps No. 3 and 4: Settlements of the Muisca Tribe
• Map – Resources and Helpers Zone
  • How to Obtain Resources?
  • How to Use Obtained Resources?
  • Map No. 1
  • Map No. 2
  • Map No. 3
  • Map No. 4
• Combining Coins
• The Gate to El Dorado
• End of the Game

Components

• 6 dice with the following faces: machete, paddle, torch, amulet, map, coins
• 1 die with the following faces: signposts, coins
• 4 maps: no. 1, 2, 3 and 4
• 4 pencils

Goal of the Game

Your task is to reach El Dorado. You will be discreetly watched by the Muisca tribe guarding the gates to the Golden City. The tribe will prevent you from entering it until you have made offerings in the appropriate number of temples.

During the expedition you may come across settlements of this tribe. To cross the natives' lands you will have to pay dearly. In gold, of course.

We also have good news for you. During the expedition you can obtain resources that help you on your trek. You can also hire helpers: a cartographer, a guide and an ethnographer.

The winner is the player who is the first to reach the golden temple that is the gate to El Dorado.

4 Maps

There are 4 maps in the game – each with a different route and different resources that you will be able to obtain during the expedition.

Each map is a separate expedition – the higher the map number, the greater the challenge. So play them in order from 1 to 4, to gradually get to know the elements appearing in subsequent expeditions.

During the game all players must have a map with the same number.

2 Difficulty Levels

Each of the 4 expeditions can be played at 2 difficulty levels:

• If you want to set out on the expedition at the easier level, cross out the yellow temple on your sheet. During the expedition you will have to make an offering in 1 temple fewer.
• If you want to set out on the expedition at the harder level, do not cross out the yellow temple. During the expedition you will have to make an offering in 1 temple more.

Game Setup

1. Each player takes a pencil and a map (you must all have the same map – no. 1, 2, 3 or 4) and places them in front of themselves.
2. Decide whether you are playing at the easier or harder level. We recommend playing the first game at the easier level, so cross out the yellow temple (as described above).
3. Place all the dice in the middle of the table.

Remember!

Before you move on to the detailed rules of the game, remember the following information – it will make it easier to understand the rules described later in the rulebook.

In each of their turns a player must use 1 die and optionally 1 resource.

Resources are things a player obtains during the game – they mark them in the lower part of the map (you will find a detailed description of resources later in the rulebook).

Each map is divided into 2 zones:

• ROUTE ZONE – here the player marks the route of their expedition and the offerings made in temples.
• RESOURCES AND HELPERS ZONE – here the player marks the resources collected and the helpers hired.

When taking their turn, a player must use a die and optionally a resource.

Now you can move on to the detailed rules of the game.

Course of Play

The person who was most recently on some expedition (or the youngest player) becomes the starting player – so that all players remember this, they circle the hat on their map. Then they take all the dice from the middle of the table.

On their turn a player performs the following actions:

1. Rolls all the dice (if necessary)
2. Chooses a die
3. Uses the die (and 1 resource, if they wish)

This ends the player's turn. The next player, sitting on the left, begins their turn.

1. The Player Rolls All the Dice (If Necessary)

At the beginning of the first round the starting player rolls all the dice. Later in the game the following rules apply:

• If there is no die in the middle of the table, the player takes all the dice and rolls them in the middle of the table.
• If there is at least 1 die in the middle of the table, the player does not roll the dice – they go straight to action no. 2.

2. The Player Chooses a Die

The player chooses 1 die from the middle of the table, tells the rivals what is on it (e.g. a machete, a paddle or 2 coins), and places it next to their map.

3. The Player Uses the Die (and 1 Resource, If They Wish)

The player uses the chosen die. They may also use 1 resource. They may use the die and the resource in any order (explained in "How to Use Obtained Resources"). On their map they mark the actions performed.

Map – Route Zone

This part of the map contains:

• the hat – circled by the player starting the game,
• the golden temple that is the gate to El Dorado – the goal of the expedition,
• spaces leading to El Dorado,
• temple spaces – this is where you make offerings,
• temple symbols – their number tells you in how many temples you must make an offering to be able to enter El Dorado.

You mark the route of the expedition by filling in the spaces you have reached. You begin the expedition from any outermost space on the left side – you fill it in according to the rules described below. You continue the expedition by filling in further spaces adjacent to any space already filled in. Filled-in spaces are called spaces visited by the player.

Moving Along the Expedition Route

To move along the route, the player uses 1 die and/or 1 resource with the appropriate symbol (machete / paddle / torch / map / amulet). Then they fill in one space with that symbol – this space must be adjacent to any space already visited by the player (i.e. already filled in).

At the beginning of the game the first filled-in space will of course not be adjacent to another filled-in space.

The signpost acts as a joker. Using a signpost (from a die and/or a resource) to move along the route, the player fills in one space with a symbol of their choice: machete, paddle, torch, map, amulet or signpost – this space must be adjacent to any space already visited by the player (i.e. already filled in).

Note! A player may not use a die showing a signpost as a coin!

Spaces visited by the player remain filled in until the end of the game.

Remember that you do not have to continue the expedition from the most recently visited space – you may develop your route in any direction, filling in a space adjacent to any space already filled in.

Making an Offering in a Temple

A player may make an offering when they have access to a temple (a space adjacent to it is filled in). You cannot pass through a temple space without making an offering in it!

Offerings are made in the form of coins (from a die and optionally from a resource):

• To make an offering, the player must choose 1 die with a coin or coins. The player may not use more than 1 die to make an offering. They may, however, add coins from 1 of their resources to the coins from 1 die, to make a larger offering in the temple (see COMBINING COINS).
• The player writes the number of coins offered in 2 places: on the space of the temple in which they make the offering, and on an empty temple symbol (on the right side of the map).
• The rivals write the same number of coins on their maps – above the space of the same temple.

How Large an Offering Must Be Made?

• If no one has yet made an offering in a given temple, the player may make an offering of any number of coins.
• If someone has already made an offering in a given temple, the number written above the temple space tells you the minimum offering that can be made in this temple.

Example A: In previous turns the player reached a space adjacent to a temple. In the new turn they can therefore make an offering in it. None of the rivals has yet made an offering in it, so the player may offer any number of coins. The player chose a die with 2 coins, which they offer. They write the number 2 on the temple space and on the temple symbol (on the right side of the map). The other players write the number 2 above the space of this temple on their maps. If during the game one of them reaches this temple, they will be able to make an offering in it – a minimum of 2 coins.

Example B: One of the rivals decided to make an offering in the temple from the example above. Above the temple space there is the number 2, so the offering must be at least 2 coins. The player chose a die with 3 coins – they offer them. They write the number 3 on the temple space and on the temple symbol (on the right side of the map). For the remaining 2 rivals, who have not yet made an offering in this temple, nothing changes – the minimum offering is still 2 coins – as much as they have written above the space of this temple.

Take care to write the numbers correctly ON temple spaces and ABOVE temple spaces.

• A number ON a temple space means that the player has made an offering in it.
• A number ABOVE a temple space means that the player has not yet made an offering in it, and informs them of the minimum size of the offering.

Continuing the Expedition Beyond a Temple

After making an offering in a temple, the player may continue the expedition in subsequent turns. To visit a space lying beyond the temple space, the player must (according to the rules described above) choose the appropriate die and/or resource and fill in the space.

You cannot pass through a temple space without making an offering in it!

Remember the Following Rules

• The first offering made in a given temple sets the minimum number of coins for the other players wishing to make an offering in it. The minimum offering in a given temple remains unchanged until the end of the game.
• If a player chose a die and optionally a resource with several coins, they must use them all (they may not keep some of them for later).
• If a player has used all the temple symbols (on the right side of the map) – i.e. has made offerings in the required number of temples – but wants to make offerings in further temples, they write the number of coins offered next to them (they will be taken into account at the end of the game to resolve a possible tie).

During the game all players' maps are open and should be clearly visible to the rivals. This lets you check their progress and compare it with your own expedition.

Map No. 1: Reward for Finding the Amulet

On the route of expedition no. 1 you will encounter spaces with an amulet and a die with a signpost.

The first player who finds the amulet, i.e. reaches such a space, gains the reward – the die with the signpost. The player uses it immediately (in the upper or lower zone of the map).

After the die is used, all rivals cross out the die above this space on their maps. In this way they mark that the amulet has already been found and the reward (the die) is no longer available to them.

Maps No. 3 and 4: Settlements of the Muisca Tribe

On the routes of expeditions no. 3 and 4 you will come across settlements of the Muisca tribe. You will not pass through them until you have handed the tribe the appropriate fee.

On the tribe's spaces there are coins – their number (from 1 to 4) indicates the size of the fee you must pay, paying with a die (but not a resource) to enter the tribe's lands.

Note! The tribe's chief accepts payment in instalments – you may spread the fee over several of your turns.

Example: A player wants to visit a settlement marked with 3 coins. They chose a die with 2 coins, so they fill in 2 coins on the settlement space. In the next turn they will choose a die allowing them to fill in the third coin, and thereby visit the settlement.

Note! Settlements are the only spaces in the route zone that you may fill in gradually, over several of your turns.

Coins from the chosen die may be used to fill in coins on only 1 settlement space. Excess coins are lost.

Map – Resources and Helpers Zone

In this part of the map you obtain resources and hire helpers – they can help you reach El Dorado. Resources are the large spaces in black frames, and helpers are the characters visible on maps no. 2, 3 and 4.

Here you will find 2 kinds of symbols that tell you what you can use when you want to obtain a given resource:

• DIE SYMBOL = you may use any die
• FLAT SYMBOL = you may use a resource or a die of the given kind, e.g.: a resource or die with a machete; a resource or die with a signpost; a resource or die with a torch; a resource or die with 2 coins

How to Obtain Resources?

To obtain a resource, you must fill in all the spaces in front of it.

Note! Resources may be obtained in any order.

Example: A player chose a die with a map, to use it to obtain the resource with 2 machetes – they fill in 1 of the 2 map spaces in front of this resource. In the next turn they also chose a die with a map and fill in the second map space – they have obtained 2 machetes. They will be able to use them later in the game.

How to Use Obtained Resources?

Let us recall the course of a player's turn: 1) roll the dice (if there are none in the middle of the table), 2) choose a die, 3) use the die (and 1 resource, if they wish).

• A player may (but does not have to) use only 1 resource in their turn.
• A player may use the die and the resource in any order. They may not, however, combine them! The die and the resource must be used separately (the exception is coins – see COMBINING COINS).
• A resource may be used in any part of the map: in the route zone (e.g. to fill in another visited space) or in the resources and helpers zone (e.g. to obtain another resource).
• A resource may be used in the turn in which it was obtained, or in any of your turns later in the game.
• Each resource is single-use. After using it, you must fill in its space.

If a player obtained a resource with more than 1 item, e.g. 2 machetes, they must use both in the same turn, but may use them separately (e.g. one in the route zone, and the other in the resources and helpers zone).

Map No. 1

• To obtain the following resources, you must use the indicated dice and/or resources.

  Example: A player chose a die with a machete. So they fill in the machete space in front of the resource with a machete. The player has obtained a machete, which they can use later in the game.

• To obtain the following resources, you must use any dice.

  Example: To obtain the resource with 3 coins, a player must use 2 dice of any kind. The player chose a die with a map. They fill in 1 of the 2 dice. In one of the following turns the player chose a die with a torch. They fill in the second die – they have obtained 3 coins, which they can use later in the game.

• To obtain the following resources, you must use coins from dice and/or resources. Each small white circle symbolises 1 coin used to obtain the resource.

  Example: To obtain the resource with a signpost, a player must use 3 coins. The player chose a die with a torch. They cannot use it to obtain the signpost, so they use it in the route zone. And in the resources and helpers zone they use an already owned resource with 1 coin – they cross out 1 of the 3 spaces. In one of the following turns the player chose a die with 2 coins. They fill in the 2 remaining spaces – they have obtained the signpost, which they can use later in the game.

Map No. 2

In this expedition a "zero" offering made in a temple can be obtained (you do not need to spend coins on it), and you can also hire a helper – the cartographer.

• To obtain the right to make an offering in a temple without spending coins, you must use the indicated dice and/or resources (they may be filled in in any order).

  How to make a "zero" offering? When a player reaches, in the route zone, a space adjacent to a temple and is the first player making an offering in it, they may make an offering equal to 0 coins (they give nothing as an offering). The player writes the number 0 on the temple space and on the temple symbol (on the right side of the map). The rivals write the number 0 above the space of this temple (if they reach it, they will be able to make an offering of any number of coins in it, including 0 coins).

  Example: To obtain the right to a "zero" offering, a player must use 3 amulets. The player chose a die with an amulet, so they fill in 1 of the 3 spaces. They also use an already owned resource with 1 amulet – they fill in the second space. In one of the following turns the player chose a die with a signpost (it acts as a joker), which they use as an amulet. They fill in the third space – they have obtained the right to make an offering in a temple without spending coins. They can use it later in the game.

• You may hire a cartographer for your expedition – they are great with maps. To hire them, you must use the indicated dice and/or resources.

  After hiring the cartographer (see the example below) the player may use a chosen die with a map as a signpost.

  The player may use the cartographer in each of their turns (it is not single-use). The cartographer is an additional action. So in their turn the player may use both a die and a resource, and make use of the cartographer.

  Example: To hire the cartographer, a player must use 2 maps. The player chose a die with a map, so they fill in 1 of the 2 map spaces. They also use an already owned resource with 1 map – they fill in the second space – they have hired the cartographer, whose services they can use later in the game.

Map No. 3

In this expedition resources with special actions are added, and you can also hire a helper – the guide.

• To obtain resources with special actions, you must use the indicated dice and/or resources. After obtaining them you may use them as follows:

  • At the beginning of their turn the player rolls all the dice (regardless of how many dice are left in the middle of the table). Then they choose 1 of them and use it.
  • The player chooses 2 dice from the middle of the table. Then they use them one after the other in any order (they may not combine them). If there are fewer than 2 dice in the middle of the table, the player may not use this special action.
  • The player chooses 1 die from the middle of the table. They may use it 2 times in their turn, as if they were using 2 dice (one after the other, they may not combine them).

• You may hire a guide for your expedition – she will improve your financial situation. To hire her, you must use the indicated dice and/or resources.

  After hiring the guide the player may use a chosen die with an amulet as a die with 2 coins.

  The player may use the guide in each of their turns (she is not single-use). The guide is an additional action. So in their turn the player may use both a die and a resource, and make use of the guide.

Map No. 4

In this expedition a resource with a new special action is added, and you can also hire 2 helpers – a guide (performing a different action than in expedition no. 3) and an ethnographer.

• To obtain the resource with the special action, you must use the indicated dice and/or resources. After obtaining it you may use it as follows:

  • The player chooses 1 die from the middle of the table. They may use it 3 times in their turn, as if they were using 3 dice (one after the other, they may not combine them).

• You may hire a guide for your expedition – she will increase the number of your coins. To hire her, you must use the indicated dice and/or resources.

  After hiring the guide, the player has 1 additional coin on a chosen die with a coin or coins.

  The player may use the guide in each of their turns (she is not single-use). The guide is an additional action. So in their turn the player may use both a die and a resource, and make use of the guide.

• You may hire an ethnographer for your expedition – she will let you reroll the dice. To hire her, you must visit (fill in) 3 adjacent settlements of the Muisca tribe.

  After hiring the ethnographer the player may use her action only at the beginning of their turn. If at the beginning of the turn there is a torch among the dice lying in the middle of the table, the player may reroll all the dice from the middle of the table. They may do this only once per turn.

  The player may use the ethnographer in each of their turns (she is not single-use). It must, however, be the first action of the turn. The ethnographer is an additional action. So in their turn the player may make use of her help, and then use a die and a resource.

Combining Coins

To make a larger offering in a temple, a player may combine the coins from 1 die with the coins from 1 resource.

Example: A player wants to make an offering in a temple in which the minimum offering is 3 coins. The player chose a die with 2 coins – that is too few to make the offering. So they add a resource with 1 coin. After making the offering they write the number 3 on the temple space and on the temple symbol (on the right side of the map). The player fills in the used resource with 1 coin – they will no longer be able to use it.

The Gate to El Dorado

To enter the last space of the expedition, i.e. the golden temple that is the gate to El Dorado, the player must meet the following conditions:

• The player must have made offerings in at least as many temples as there are temple symbols on the expedition sheet.
• Additionally, the player must make an offering in the golden temple (on the last space of the expedition). Above the space of the golden temple there is the number 3 (expeditions no. 1, 2, 3) or 4 (expedition no. 4) – it indicates the minimum number of coins that must be offered.

The player who meets the above requirements crosses the gate to El Dorado (fills in this space).

End of the Game

The game ends after the round in which at least 1 player has entered El Dorado. That player becomes the winner.

If 2 or more players entered El Dorado in the same round, these players count the coins they have offered in temples (written on the temple symbols on the right side of the map). The winner is the player with the most coins offered. If there is still a tie, the players share the victory.