Fractal Tricks Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Game Setup
• Game Play
  • Playing a Trick
  • Ending a Round

Components

1 game board

The game board consists of 9 Outer Spaces and 3 Inner Spaces. Three adjacent Outer Spaces form an Outer Triangle. Three Inner Spaces together form an Inner Triangle.

2 screens

One Cosmos screen and one Chaos screen.

20 number tokens

Number tokens numbered 0 to 9, in two colors (black and white).

10 victory tokens

Five victory tokens marked with the Cosmos symbol and five victory tokens marked with the Chaos symbol.

Game Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Choose the players to take on the roles of Chaos and Cosmos, and give each player the corresponding screens. Chaos is the starting player.
3. Shuffle the number tokens face-down and have each player randomly take 9 tokens. Place these tokens face-up behind their screens.
4. Set aside the remaining 2 number tokens and all 10 victory tokens.

Game Play

The game is played over several rounds. Each round consists of 3 phases, and each phase has 3 tricks. A trick means both players play a number token to the same 'Outer Space' on the game board, starting with the starting player. After 9 tricks are played, the round ends, and the winner of the round takes some victory tokens.

Playing a Trick

1. The starting player places one of their number tokens face up on an empty 'Outer Space' on the game board.

   • In the first trick of each phase, any 'Outer Space' may be chosen.
   • In the second or third trick of a phase, the token must be placed on an 'Outer Space' adjacent to where the last trick was played.

2. The second player must place a number token that meets one of the following conditions on top of the starting player's token:

   • A number token of the same color.
   • A number token of a different color that adds up to 9 with the starting player's token.
   • If no token of the same color is available: any number token.

   e.g., The starting player places a black 6. The second player can place any black token or a white 3. If the second player has no black tokens, any white token may be placed.

3. Compare the two tokens to determine the winner of the trick:

   • If the tokens are the same color, the player with the higher number wins.
   • If the tokens are different colors, the player with the lower number wins.
   • If the tokens have the same number, Chaos decides the winner.
   • e.g.1, A black 6 and a black 4 result in the black 6 winning.
   • e.g.2, A black 6 and a white 3 result in the white 3 winning.
   • e.g.3, A black 6 and a white 6 result in Chaos deciding the winner.

4. If Chaos wins the trick, the two tokens played in that trick are flipped face down and cannot be checked by either player for the rest of the round. If Cosmos wins the trick, the tokens remain face up and can be viewed by both players.

Ending a Round

After the third phase, the round ends. The game board now shows 1 'Inner Triangle' and 3 'Outer Triangles'. If one or more 'Outer Triangles' match the winning pattern of the 'Inner Triangle,' Cosmos wins the round. Otherwise, Chaos wins.

• e.g.1, The 'Inner Triangle' shows victories for Chaos-Chaos-Cosmos at the top-left-right, and the top 'Outer Triangle' also shows Chaos-Chaos-Cosmos. This round results in a victory for Cosmos.
• e.g.2, None of the 'Outer Triangles' match the 'Inner Triangle,' resulting in a victory for Chaos.

If Chaos wins the round, they take all victory tokens marked with the Chaos symbol. If Cosmos wins, they take all victory tokens marked with the Cosmos symbol.

If Cosmos collects 3 or more victory tokens, or Chaos collects 4 or more victory tokens, that player wins the game. If neither player meets the victory condition, proceed to the next round. Clear the board of victory tokens, shuffle all 20 number tokens, and each player takes 9 tokens for the new round. The winner of the last round becomes the starting player for the next round.