Gnome Kingdom

Gnome Kingdom Rulebook

Table of Contents

Overview

Components:

A. Forest tile – 30 x forest tiles
B. Start tile – 1 x start tile
C. Crown tile – 1 x crown tile
D. Skill card – 47 x skill cards
E. Player mat – 5 x player mats
F. Reference mat – 1 x reference mat
G. Resources – 50 x resource tokens
H. Dice pool token – 1 x dice pool token
I. Player characters – 5 x player characters
J. Dice – 40 x dice

Setup

Choose a player

Each player chooses one of the five clan leaders and takes the corresponding player character and player mat.

Prepare the reference mat

Place the reference mat on the table. Decide who will be the start player. For instance, it could be the player who last saw a garden gnome. Or you can roll a die to see who can roll the highest number. I don't care, I'm just a rulebook.

Then take one die in the clan colour of the start player from the general supply and place it on the designated space at the top of the reference mat.

Next, the marketplace has to be filled. Take a die of a random colour and roll it, then place it on the leftmost space of the marketplace. Repeat this process until dice occupy all spaces above the player number and to the left. For instance, in a 2-player game, the marketplace should consist of 4 dice.

To keep track of the dice pool, place the dice pool token on the leftmost space.

Create the general supply

Create the general supply by creating two piles – one with the resources and one with the dice.

Create the forest tile pile

Create the pile of forest tiles by arranging three separate piles as described below, and then stack these piles on top of each other:

Bottom pile

Create the bottom pile by shuffling the following tiles:

The crown tile
4 random level III forest tiles
2 random level II forest tiles

Middle pile

Then create the middle pile. Shuffle the following tiles and put it on top of the bottom pile:

1 random level III forest tiles
3 random level II forest tiles
2 random level I forest tiles

Top pile

Then create the top pile by shuffling the following tiles and put it on top of the middle pile:

3 random level I forest tiles

Do not shuffle the three piles together.

Skill cards

Shuffle all skill cards and put them in a pile face down. Draw five cards and place them face up next to the pile.

Start tile

All players place their player characters on the corresponding clan resource space on the start tile and take one clan resource from the general supply. The start player picks two random dice from the general supply to create the dice pool. The dice pool is passed around from player to player.

The Game

The object of the game is to collect the most valuable skills before the hidden crown is found in order to become the best leader and be crowned the new regent of the Gnome Kingdom.

A Player's Turn

Quick guide

Receive and refill dice and roll them.

2A) Solve the task on the forest tile:

Keep a die used to solve the task.
Move forward along one of the paths. If there is no forest tile, take one from the pile.
Take a resource from the general supply.

2B) Fail the task on the forest tile:

Search for resources on the forest tile or adjacent forest tiles by either staying on the same forest tile or moving to an adjacent tile, and take one of each resource shown on that forest tile (you may place a new tile).

Complete one or more skill cards.
Turn ends.

Resources and skill card abilities may be used at any time during your turn. Resources and skill cards abilities cannot be used to change another player's dice.

1. Receive and refill dice and roll them

At the beginning of your turn, you will receive dice from the previous player. Check the reference mat to see how many dice are in the dice pool and replenish up to that number from the general supply. You choose the colour of the dice.

Now, you roll all the available dice and try to solve the task on your current forest tile. You may only roll the dice once unless you use resources or skill card abilities.

Increasing the dice pool

The game will start with 2 dice in the dice pool and additional dice will be added when flipping new forest tiles with this symbol on them (the symbol shows "+ one die, max 4"). Move the dice pool token on the reference mat one space to the right. A new die is not added to the dice pool if the max number of dice according to the symbol is already reached (e.g. 4).

2A. Solve the task on the forest tile

On each forest tile, there is a task that needs to be solved in order to advance in the race. A task will specify the number of dice needed to solve the task and the criteria each die needs to fulfil.

A: One die is needed to solve the task on the forest tile. Any remaining dice do not have to fulfil any criteria.
B: The die needs to be either a 1 or a 6. Since there is no colour specified, the die can be any colour.

Players always roll all dice in the dice pool at the beginning of their turn even though not all of the dice need to meet the criteria on the task.

When a task is solved, the player must keep one of the dice they used to solve the task as a symbol of an earned skill. Move the die to the player mat without changing the value of the die.

After a player has solved a task and chosen a die to keep, they get to move through the forest to the next forest tile. Players can freely choose if they want to take the left or the right path. Players cannot move backwards or sideways after they have solved a task.

Example – Tasks and dice: In this example, the player has to roll three dice with the same value and they have solved the task by rolling three 3's. Now the player can choose to keep either of the three dice.

The player may only keep one die from the roll per turn unless the player uses a skill card ability. Remember not to change the value of the die when placing it on the player mat.

If a forest tile has already been placed, move up and place the player character on one of the available resource spaces and take one resource from the general supply.

If a forest tile has not yet been placed, draw a forest tile from the pile, place it, move the player character to one of its available resource spaces, and take that resource from the general supply. Only one player can occupy a resource space at a time.

Example – Placing tiles: The player can choose either the left or the right path on the forest tile. If the left path is chosen, a new forest tile is placed by the player. If the right path is chosen, the player moves up to the existing forest tile.

In the very rare case that it is not possible to move forward in the forest, the player may choose to stay on the current forest tile or move to a forest tile to the left or right.

Example – Collecting resources: The player chooses to place the player character on the acorn space and immediately takes one acorn from the general supply.

If the general supply has run out of a type of resource, take another type of resource of your choice instead.

A player may only attempt to solve one task and move up one forest tile each turn. At some point, a lucky and skillful player will draw the crown tile, and this will trigger the end of the game. The crown tile is placed just like any other forest tile. Only one player can occupy the crown tile.

2B. Fail the task

If a player does not solve the task, no dice is kept this turn. Instead, the player gets to search a forest tile for resources. When a forest tile is searched, the player takes one of each resource on the forest tile (three in total). The player can choose to search the forest tile they are currently standing on, or move to an adjacent forest tile to the left or right and search that forest tile. It is not possible to move forward or backward when searching forest tiles, you can only move to an adjacent forest tile to the left or right.

If one or both spaces adjacent to the forest tile the player is currently standing on are empty, they can choose to place a new forest tile. The player then draws a new forest tile from the pile, places it to the left or right of their current forest tile and moves their character there. Who knows, you might even stumble upon the hidden crown in the process!

A player can always choose not to solve the task even though they have rolled the correct dice or have the resources to solve the task.

If a player fails the task on the start tile, move the player character to this space on the start tile and collect any three resources from the general supply. More than one player can occupy this space at a time.

Example – Unsolved task: The player rolled a 1, 2 and 3 but needed three dice with the same value to solve the task. The player cannot solve the task this turn and may instead search the forest tile and receive a leaf, a mushroom and an acorn resource from the general supply (three in total).

3. Complete one or more skill cards

After attempting to solve a task, a player may choose to complete one or more skill cards. To complete a skill card, spend all the dice shown on the card. These dice are spent from a player's own supply of dice earned after solving tasks. Dice in a player's roll may not be used here.

Each skill card is worth crown points at the end of the game, and this is the only way to earn crown points in the game.

Skill cards also have a special ability which a player can use anytime – but only once during the game. After using the skill card's special ability, flip the card to indicate that it has been used.

Abilities on skill cards may be used on both dice in a player's own roll and in a player's own supply unless the card says otherwise. Special abilities on skill cards may be used at any time during a player's turn.

Skill card key: A – the dice required to complete the skill card. B – the amount of crown points awarded at the end of the game. C – the symbol of the card's ability. D – the name of the card.

Example: On the skill card shown above, a 1 is needed to complete the skill card. Spend the die by moving it from the player mat (own supply) to the general supply.

When a skill card is completed, place the card near the player mat face up. The skill card may be flipped face down during your turn to use the skill card's ability. In the example to the left, you may use the mushroom clan power once. The card can only be used one time during the game. The skill card's special ability may be used in the same turn as it was completed.

Skill cards are replenished immediately.

4. Turn ends

After attempting to solve a task and complete skill cards, a player passes any remaining dice to the next player, and a new turn begins.

Using resources

At any time during a player's turn, resources may be used to manipulate the dice – both dice in the roll and dice in a player's own supply can be manipulated.

A resource is used by returning the resource to the general supply and performing the resource ability (see reference on the player mat). Each clan leader is better at using their own clan resources and has an upgraded clan power.

Example – Pebble resource: This task requires three dice with the same value, but the player rolled a 3, 3 and a 2. The pebble resource can be used to increase the 2 to a 3, so the task can be completed.

Resources & Clan Powers

Resources

Mushroom resource – Swap 1 die from your roll with either any die in the market or from the supply of any player in front of you in the forest.
Acorn resource – Reroll 1 die up to three times.
Leaf resource – Borrow and roll 1 die from the general supply. Return a die of your choice from your roll to the general supply at the end of your turn.
Pebble resource – Increase or decrease the value of 1 die one time.
Berry resource – Change the colour of 1 die to your clan colour. Use dice in the general supply.

Clan powers

Mushroom clan power – Swap 1 die from your roll with either any die in the market or with a die in any player's own supply.
Acorn clan power – Reroll up to 2 dice up to three times each.
Leaf clan power – Borrow and roll up to 2 dice from the general supply. Return the same number of dice of your choice from your roll to the general supply at the end of your turn.
Pebble clan power – Increase or decrease the value of 1 die up to two times.
Berry clan power – Change the colour of 1 die to any colour. Use dice in the general supply.

Exchange two for one resource

At any time during their turn, a player can exchange any two resources with any one resource.

Another turn for 5 resources

A player can choose to spend 5 resources to take another turn immediately. The resources do not have to be of the same kind and are spent by returning them to the general supply. The player must finish the first turn before beginning the new turn.

The Game Ends

Who is crowned King or Queen?

The last round is triggered when a player flips the crown tile and moves their player character onto it.

The bonus for reaching the crown tile is that the player gets to keep one extra dice from the roll and take two resources from the general supply. The extra die does not have to be a die used to solve the task – it can be any remaining die from the player's roll.

The player gets to finish their turn by using their resources and completing as many skill cards as possible.

Afterwards, the current round is completed so that all players have had an equal number of turns in the game. The start player can be seen on the reference mat. Only one player can be on the crown tile.

Lastly, all players count the crown points they have collected on the skill cards during the race. Whoever has collected the most crown points wins the game and gets crowned the new King or Queen of the Gnome Kingdom.

In the event of a tie, the player who found the crown is the winner. If none of the tied players discovered the crown, they must marry each other, share the victory and co-rule the Gnome Kingdom together.

Important Rules

Dice refills – Dice are refilled in the beginning of each player's turn. The player gets to choose the colour of the dice. Look at the reference mat to see how many dice you need to refill.
Dice rolls – A player may only roll the dice once in the beginning of their turn unless they use resources or skill card abilities.
Another turn for 5 resources – A player may only attempt to solve one task and move up one space every turn. A player can choose to spend 5 resources to take another turn immediately after their current turn.
Keeping dice – You can only keep dice if they meet the task's criteria unless it is the bonus on the crown tile.
One player per resource space – Only one player can occupy a resource space at a time.
Failing a task – After failing a task, a player may only search forest tiles on their current level. The player may not move forward or backwards.
Choosing to fail a task – A player can choose not to solve a task even though they have rolled the correct dice or have the resources to solve the task.
Using resources and skill card abilities – Resources and abilities on skill cards can only be used during a player's own turn and only on a player's own roll and own supply – not the other player's rolls or supplies.
Exchange two for one resource – A player can exchange any two resources from their own supply with any one resource from the general supply.
Skill card replenish – Skill cards are replenished immediately after a skill card is completed.

Appendix 1: Forest Tile Tasks

Symbols in the task column are shown as pictures in the rulebook; the description column gives the requirement in words. Row 30 is printed in German in the English rulebook and is transcribed as printed. Row 20 is printed as "either 2 4, or 6" (comma missing in the source) and is transcribed as printed.

Forest Tile Task	Level	Dice	Description
1	I	2	Two dice in roll must be different in value and colour. e.g. one red 2 and green 4
2	I	1	One die in roll has to be a 4, 5 or 6 and in clan colour
3	I	1	One die in roll be a 1, 2 or 3 and in clan colour
4	I	1	One die has to be a 2 or 5
5	I	1	One die has to be a 1 or 6
6	I	2	Two dice must have consecutive values. e.g. 2 and 3

Note on row 30: the source prints this description in German; it is transcribed as printed, with the English rendering in the note.

Appendix 2: Skill Card Abilities

Skill Card	Skill card ability
The Mushroom Expert	Swap 1 die from your roll with either any die in the market or with a die in any player's own supply.
The Leaf Expert	Borrow and roll up to 2 dice from the general supply. Return the same number of dice of your choice from your roll to the general supply at the end of your turn.
The Berry Expert	Change the colour of 1 die to any colour. Use dice in the general supply.
The Pebble Expert	Increase or decrease the value of 1 die up to two times.
The Acorn Expert	Reroll up to 2 dice up to three times each.
The Deceiver	Ignore the colour requirement of a die on a task on forest tiles.
The Gatherer	Take up to 2 resources from the general supply. You choose which ones.
The Master Gatherer	Take up to 3 resources from the general supply. You choose which ones.
The Negotiator	Swap up to 2 resources with another player. The other player cannot decline.

Quick Reference