Drachenturm
Drachenturm Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- Game board (two parts) with tower
- 4 scaffolding levels
- 4 sliders (1 prince, 3 knights)
- Balcony ring
- Tower ring, room
- 4 beams
- Princess Zaffira
- Tarax the dragon with rock
- 12 companions in 5 colors
- 22 building tiles
Before the first game
Please carefully remove all of the game material from the panels before starting the first game! Please dispose of the remaining panel parts. Put together the two parts of each companion to create a three-dimensional companion.
Preparation
- Puzzle the two parts of the game board together and place the tower on top as illustrated. Make sure that the door to the Princess's room is at the back of the tower.
- Insert two beams through the lower slits of the tower.
- Push the tower ring over the tower until it rests on the beams.
- Insert the other two beams through the upper slits of the tower.
- Push the balcony ring over the tower until it rests on the upper beams. Pay attention to the alignment.
- Place Zaffira's room on the beams, and place the Princess on the marking. Pay attention to the alignment of the room.
- Press Tarax's left wing down so that it locks in. Then carefully pull the rock and the dragon apart until the string is completely extended.
- Place the rock on the marking, and the dragon on the dragon field closest to the tower. The dragon must sit in the hole in the game board.
- Take the three scaffolding levels with the colored markings, and place one of them on the rock and the lower tower ring, so that one edge touches the tower. Shuffle the building tiles and place them face down next to the game board. Keep the companions handy. Stack the scaffolding levels next to the game board. Place the scaffolding level without markings at the bottom of the stack. Now it's time to get going!
Prince Carlo's plan to rescue Princess Zaffira has two phases: First he has to build scaffolding next to the dragon's tower, then he can rescue the princess.
Phase 1: Daring construction of the scaffolding
How to play
Are you good builders? Then you have to rely on luck and a good memory to uncover the correct building tiles.
Play in a clockwise direction. The most fearless player begins, and uncovers the first building tile. What does the tile show?
A companion
Is there a marking on the current scaffolding level that is the same color as the companion? If so, take a companion of the appropriate color and place them on this marking. Once used, the building tile is placed back in the box.
Is there already a companion on the marking, or is there no marking of this color on the current scaffolding level? Then unfortunately you may not place a companion. Try to memorize the location of the building tile before you turn it back over.
Example: Set up companions. You turned over a building tile with a red companion. Place a red companion on the red marking of the current scaffolding level. Then the building tile is placed back in the box and it's the next player's turn.
A joker
With a joker you may select any free marking on the current scaffolding level and place the appropriately colored companion on it. Once used, the building tile is placed back in the box.
If all the markings on the current scaffolding level are already occupied by companions, try to memorize the location of the building tile before you turn it back over.
A scaffolding level
This tile may only be used after all four of the markings on the current scaffolding level have a companion on them. Then you may take the next scaffolding level from the stack and carefully place this on the four companions, with one edge of the level touching the tower. Once used, the building tile is placed back in the box. Another level of scaffolding may not be placed until there are four companions standing on the current level; if you cannot use it then memorize the location of the building tile before you turn it back over.
Example: Building scaffolding levels. If there is a companion standing on each of the four markings on a scaffolding level, it's time to turn over a building tile with a scaffolding level on it! Once you have found this building tile you may place the next scaffolding level on the four companions.
Attention: The scaffolding level without colored markings is placed last as the very top level. With this step the scaffolding is completed, and you can start rescuing the Princess (see Phase 2).
Tarax the dragon
Oh no! The dragon heard you and wants to break the scaffolding. Move the dragon back one field, so that he sits in the next hole. When the dragon moves another field back on the game board it means that you have less time to rescue the Princess from the tower. Turn the dragon tile back over. Memorize where the dragon tile is so that you don't quickly uncover it again. If or when the dragon reaches his last field, he remains there.
Then it's the next player's turn.
If the tower accidentally collapses during building, set it up again before you continue. Unfortunately this costs precious time and the dragon moves one step. If the dragon is already on the last field of the game board, he remains there.
Phase 2: The rescue of Princess Zaffira
Is your scaffolding finished? Then off you go to rescue the princess! But hurry as the dragon has noticed your rescue attempt and he desperately wants to collapse the scaffolding. The amount of time you have to do this depends on where the dragon is. Every step that the dragon has taken already means a little less time. Will you manage to free the princess before the dragon pulls the rock out from under the scaffolding and it collapses?
Preparation for the rescue
Every player selects a slider: One is the prince, the others his knights. Once everyone is ready you need to activate the dragon. Leave the dragon on his field and carefully press his left wing up. Now the clock is ticking!
Tip: If you can't agree who gets the prince, any player can take the requisite sliders and scramble them concealed behind their back. The player then distributes the sliders in turn clockwise to the other players and keeps the last one.
How to play
Hold your sliders at the narrow end. The wide end, with the prince or knight, is used to move the princess. The easiest way to rescue Zaffira is to have the prince move her, and use the knights to make sure she doesn't fall. Of course you can do it however you think is best.
First Zaffira needs to be moved carefully out the door in the back of the tower wall, and onto the balcony. You have to be careful that she doesn't get stuck in a hole in the floor of her room. If this happens you have to carefully move her out of the hole.
Because the balcony has no railings, you need to be very careful when moving Zaffira along the tower wall to the scaffolding. Once she gets to the scaffolding, the princess uses the holes in each scaffolding level to get down. Make sure that she doesn't roll off when she drops down from one level to the next.
Important rules for rescuing Princess Zaffira:
- You may only hold your sliders at the narrow end.
- The sliders are the only tools you are allowed to use to move Princess Zaffira, or to stop her from falling. Do not use your fingers or hands.
- If the princess falls down despite your best efforts, place her back to where she was before she fell down, and continue with the rescue.
End of the game
If you managed to push Princess Zaffira all the way to her carriage on the game board before Tarax the dragon collapses the scaffolding, then the rescue was successful. Prince Carlo can take Zaffira back to Fairytale land in the carriage. You're a group of heroes, and are honored with a great feast.
If the scaffolding collapses before Zaffira reaches the carriage, then unfortunately Tarax the dragon won this round and takes poor Zaffira back. Why don't you try again? Good luck!
Variation for beginners
The basic rules of the game apply, but with the following change:
When you uncover a dragon tile Tarax moves one field. Then the dragon tile is taken out of the game. This means it cannot be accidentally turned over again.
It's even easier if you take one or two dragon tiles out before the game starts. This means that Tarax won't reach the back fields.
Variation for pros
The basic rules of the game apply, but with the following change: The game becomes more difficult if you select one of the following obstacles for rescuing the princess:
- Put your second hand behind your back.
- Use your non-dominant hand.
- Keep your eyes closed.
- When Zaffira reaches the next level pass your slider to the player next to you (in a clockwise direction).
- Put one hand on the shoulder of the player next to you.
- You may not speak once the rescue starts.
Naturally you can also think of other obstacles yourselves, or combine a couple of them.