Final Fantasy XIV: Gold Saucer Cactpot Party
Final Fantasy XIV: Gold Saucer Cactpot Party Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Objective of the Game
Try to bet on the winning space while also predicting which numbers the other players will place. The player who has the highest total score after playing 2 games (3 games if there are only 2 or 3 players) is declared the winner.
Game Components
- Game board x1
- Number chips x9
- Star token x1
- Cactuar playing pieces: two each of four colour variations
- Betting tokens: four each of four different colours
- Starting player marker x1
- X tokens x9 (optional)
- Point chips: 10 Points x5, 5 Points x10, 1 Point x20
- Rule Guide x4 (8 languages)
- Summary cards x16
Setting Up the Game
- Each player chooses a colour and takes the number of Cactuar pieces and betting tokens of the same colour indicated on the chart below.
| 4 player game | 3 player game | 2 player game | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactuar pieces | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Betting tokens | 3 | 3 | 4 |
- The last player to have visited the Gold Saucer is given the starting player marker and takes the first turn. (It is also fine to decide who goes first using a random method of some kind.)
- Place the number chips facing down (with the numbered face concealed) and mix them up before dealing them out to the players. For the four player game, deal each player two chips, for the two player game deal each player four chips and for the three player game deal the starting player and the second player three chips each and the last player only two. Players may check the number on their own chips at any time.
- Place the Star Token onto the remaining number chip.
Playing the Game
Order of Play
The order of play begins with the starting player and proceeds around the table in a clockwise direction. Once the final player in the sequence has taken their first turn, play then proceeds back in an anticlockwise direction (this means that the last player in the turn sequence will take two turns in a row). Once the starting player has taken their second turn, the whole sequence starts again with another starting player turn (resulting in the starting player also taking two turns in a row).
Turn sequence in the four player game: players 1, 2, 3, 4 (clockwise), then 4, 3, 2, 1 (anticlockwise), then 1, 2, 3, 4 again, and so on (the diagram numbers turns 1-12).
Setup Phase
During this phase, each player places their number chips on the board to prepare for the Betting phase.
It is not permitted for 3 face-up number chips to be placed in a row.
When placing a face-down chip, a player must place their Cactuar piece on top of it.
Four player game
The players take it in turns placing a single number chip face UP (with the number visible) on the board, starting with the starting player and proceeding in a clockwise direction. Once each player has placed a chip, play then continues going back around in an anticlockwise direction, with each player placing a second chip each, but face DOWN this time. Once each player has placed two chips, the final chip covered over by the Star Token is placed in the empty space.
Three player game
The players take it in turns placing a single number chip face UP on the board, starting with the starting player and proceeding in a clockwise direction. Once the third player has placed a chip, play then continues going back around in an anticlockwise direction, with each player placing a second chip each but face DOWN this time. Once each player has placed two chips, the starting player and then the second player in the turn order place a third chip each face DOWN. The final chip that is covered over by the Star Token is then placed in the empty space.
Two player game
The starting player places a single number chip face UP on the board. Then both players take it in turns to place two chips each, one face UP and the other face DOWN, starting with the second player. Finally, the starting player places his last remaining chip face DOWN and the final chip that was covered over by the Star Token is placed in the empty space.
Betting Phase
Players take it in turns to place a betting token on a space of their choice. If the space they choose already has another player's token on it, the new token is placed on top of the previous one. Up to three different players are permitted to bet on the same space. (The same player is not allowed to bet on the same space twice.) Once every player has placed down 3 betting tokens, the phase ends (4 tokens each for the two player game).
There are three different types of bet that a player can make: Line Bet (the lines around the 3x3 grid), Bingo Bet (the three spaces beside the grid), and Star Bet (the row of spaces along the bottom of the board).
Line bet
The player predicts the lines (Horizontally, Vertically, or Diagonally) that will create a bingo and bets on that outcome. The following three different types of bingo are possible:
- Big Bingo: A line containing the numbers 1-2-3 or 7-8-9. The actual order the numbers are lined up in is not relevant. The first player to bet on this line receives 5 points, the second player 3 points and the third player 1.
- Straight Bingo: A line containing three consecutive numbers. The actual order the numbers are lined up in is not relevant. The first player to bet on this line receives 4 points, the second player 2 points and the third player 1.
- 15 bingo: A line where all the numbers add up to a total of 15. The first player to bet on this line receives 3 points, the second player 2 points and the third player 1.
Caution: Lines that fulfill two or more bingo criteria, such as 4-5-6 are counted as the type of bingo that yields the higher score.
Bingo bet
The player predicts how many bingos in total will be formed and bets on that happening.
- 0-1: This bet is won if the number of bingos formed is zero or one. The first player to bet on this outcome receives 3 points, the second player 2 points and the third player 1.
- 2: This bet is won if the number of bingos formed is exactly two. The first player to bet on this outcome receives 4 points, the second player 2 points and the third player 1.
- 3-8: This bet is won if the number of bingos formed is three or more. The first player to bet on this outcome receives 5 points, the second player 3 points and the third player 1.
Caution: Lines that fulfill two or more bingo criteria are counted as one bingo.
Star bet
The player predicts which number is under the star token and bets on that. The first player to bet on this outcome receives 5 points, the second player 3 points and the third player 1.
Scoring Phase
All number chips are turned face up and the players check what the value of the chip under the star token is and which lines have formed a bingo. Players are then awarded point chips for every outcome they correctly bet on.
Scoring phase example
(Board shows 9 / 4 / 7 in the top row, 8 / 5 / 6 in the middle row, 1 / 3 / 2 in the bottom row, with the star token on the left.)
- A. Big Bingo (Blue player earns 5 points, Red player earns 3.)
- B. Straight Bingo (Red player earns 4 points, Blue player earns 2 and Yellow 1.)
- C. 15 Bingo (Nobody bet here so no points are earned.)
- D. Bingo Bet (The total number of bingos is 3, so the 3-8 score is achieved and the Yellow player earns 5 points.)
- E. Star Bet (The star token concealed the 8 chip, so the Yellow player earns 5 points, the Blue player earns 3.)
Points Chart (Summary Card)
| Bet | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bingo (1-2-3 or 7-8-9, any order) | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Straight Bingo (three consecutive numbers, any order) | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 15 Bingo (numbers add up to 15) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Bingo Bet 0-1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Bingo Bet 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Bingo Bet 3-8 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Star Bet |
Ending the Game
Once the first scoring phase ends, move the starting player marker one place clockwise around the order of play (two places for the four player game) and then set up for another game. Once the second scoring phase ends (the third scoring phase for the two or three player game), calculate all players total scores over all games and declare the winner (the player with the highest aggregate score).
Q&A
Q. Is it possible to make two star bets on two different numbers? A. This is possible. You are free to bet several times as long as your tokens are placed on different spaces.
Q. If you have forgotten the numbers on any of the chips that you have placed face down, is it possible to check them later in the game? A. Yes you can. You are free to check the numbers on any of the chips under your own coloured Cactuar piece at any time.
Q. What are the "X Tokens" for? A. You may place X Tokens on spots where there is no chance of a payout right before the betting phase, it will make things a bit easier. We recommend you use them until you get familiar with the game.