Die Maulwurf Company Mitbringspiel
Die Maulwurf Company Mitbringspiel Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 4 different dig layers
- 1 target layer with the "Golden Shovel"
- 10 red mole pieces (Excavator Brigade)
- 10 blue mole pieces (The Shovel Swingers)
- 10 green mole pieces (Team Wühlemann & Sons)
- 10 yellow mole pieces (The Tunnel Gazers)
- 4 sets of move discs in 4 colours (values 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4)
Setup
The Dig Layers
The target layer with the "Golden Shovel" is placed at the very bottom of the box insert. Above it, the four dig layers are placed in the insert by colour, from bottom to top: first the blue layer, then the light-brown layer, and above that the red layer (different soil and rock layers). The green layer lies at the very top (grass surface with molehills).
Each layer has dig holes (cut-outs) and can be turned into six different positions. This way there are always new paths from top to bottom.
The Mole Pieces
With two players, each player receives 10 mole pieces of one colour. Three players each play with 7 moles. With four players, each player receives 6 mole pieces.
The Move Discs
In addition to their mole pieces, each player receives a set of move discs in their colour (values: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4). Each player shuffles their discs well, face down (numbers facing down), and lays them out in a row in front of them on the table.
The Starting Lineup
Starting with the player with the biggest hands, each player in turn places one of their own moles on any free space of the top dig layer. Only one mole may stand on each space. No moles may be placed in the dig holes (here: molehills) during the starting lineup. This continues until all teams stand completely on the grass surface. Placing and play proceed clockwise.
Gameplay
The goal for each player is to bring as many of their own moles as possible exactly into the dig holes, because only these can continue digging in the next layer.
The starting player begins; after that, play passes around the table in turn. Whoever is on turn turns over any one move disc from their row and moves one of their moles exactly the number printed on it. Then they place that move disc face up to the side. When they are next on turn, they turn over one of the still face-down move discs, move one of their moles by the printed number again, and so on.
All Move Discs Turned Face Up
Only once all 6 move discs are turned face up are they all shuffled face down again and laid out anew. It makes no difference whether a new dig layer has already been reached or not.
Movement Rules
- Each player may move only their own moles.
- A mole must always be moved straight ahead by the number printed on the move disc. Dig holes and special spaces count as ordinary spaces, and a mole may move over them.
- A mole may never be moved diagonally.
- A mole must always land on an unoccupied space.
- A mole may never move over one of its own or another player's moles (not even when the other mole sits in a dig hole).
- There is zugzwang. Whoever is unlucky may therefore have to pull a mole that already sits in a dig hole back out. Exception: a player who has all of their (remaining) moles sitting in dig holes may pass until the dig layer is lifted off. If no move can be made, the turn is forfeited.
All Dig Holes of a Layer Are Occupied
As soon as all dig holes of a layer are occupied, that layer is lifted off with all moles still standing on it and set aside. All these moles are lost. Each player may now continue the game only with the moles that made it through a dig hole into the next layer. This way the moles dig their way from layer to layer, and fewer and fewer remain. A player who has no mole left in the game is unfortunately eliminated.
Special Spaces
On the top layer, the grass surface, there are no special spaces; they appear only on the layers beneath. If a mole lands on a special space, the player may immediately turn over another move disc and move any one of their own moles accordingly. With this move, however, the mole may not land on another special space.
The Lowest Dig Layer
On the lowest dig layer, both the three dashed paths and the three solid paths may be used.
Exception: with two players, only the three solid paths lead into the dig hole (the dashed lines may, however, be used to jump over the dig hole).
End of the Game
The first player to move their mole into the dig hole of the blue dig layer has won the game and receives ...
The "Golden Shovel"
After an exhausting, nerve-racking digging contest, the champion may now lift off the last dig layer and enjoy in full the triumph of their mole, this year's winner of the "Golden Shovel".
Congratulations!
Yet at this moment let us also think of all the other participants of the digging contest who have exhausted themselves and dropped out, and let us hope with them for next time, when it will be said again: "On your marks, dig, go!"