Duat
Duat Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Initial Set Up
Set up the pieces as shown. (The starting positions are given only in a diagram in the rulebook.)
Starting Player
The player who most recently saw a sunrise goes first and chooses Black or White.
Objective
Push 1 of your opponent's pieces off the board.
How to Play
Game Pieces
Each game piece has art depicting a winged scarab pushing a sun.
The sun is the front of the piece and dictates the direction that piece is facing as well as the only side from which it cannot be pushed.
Turn Summary
On your turn, you must either take:
- Only 1 player action, OR
- Any combination of 3 player actions
You may divide your player actions among any of your pieces. (Rotate • Move • Push)
Player Actions
Rotate
Choose one of your pieces and rotate it 90 degrees in either direction on its current space. It now faces a different direction.
You may rotate a piece multiple times on your turn, but each quarter rotation counts as a separate action.
Move
Choose one of your pieces and slide it forward one space in the direction of the sun. A move action cannot be used to leave the board.
You may move a piece multiple times on your turn, but each space moved counts as a separate action.
Push
Choose one of your pieces next to and facing any other piece and slide it forward one space in the direction of the sun. This action pushes all pieces in a row.
If any piece you would push is facing you, a push action cannot be taken.
You can push your own pieces.
A single push action may be used to move multiple pieces.
Diagram captions:
- Black can push all pieces not facing it.
- Black cannot push when facing itself.
- Black cannot push when White is facing it.
Game End
Dawn has arrived.
A player wins as soon as they push one of their opponent's pieces off the board.
Scarabs in an undead land, lay claim upon the day. Deeds are written in the sand, in search of a new way.
Diagram caption: Black can push White off and win.
Notes
Duat is intended to be a quick, strategic game that embodies an endless cycle of foresight and reflection. As such, the length of a game of Duat can fluctuate dramatically depending on what strategies players use and how aggressively or defensively the board develops.
In rare instances where players agree that neither can win, we recommend resetting and playing again. We hope you enjoy playing and encourage you to test out new openings and responses with every new game.