Goblin Coaster
Goblin Coaster Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Aim of the Game
GOBLIN COASTER is a cooperative game: You all play together against the clock and must attempt to complete the Goblin roller coaster within the time limit. The player whose turn it is draws a tile from the bag and uses it to continue building the roller coaster. The sand timer is the goblin roller-coaster. You must move it forward and turn it over. It mustn't ever run out though! You must work together to make it past obstacles on the tracks, drawing the correct items from the bag to do so, and complete other challenges along the way, too. Be sure to work together! Only then will you make it past the rocks, through the swarms of bats and past the spider webs! Can you finish the Goblin Coaster in time?
Components
- 1 start ramp
- 40 pieces of track
- 1 starter track piece
- 20 items
- 12 safety regulations
- 4 checkpoints
- 1 cloth bag
- 1 treasure
- 2 sand timers:
- Orange: approx. 30 seconds
- Green: approx. 40 seconds
How to Play the Game
Are you playing "Goblin Coaster" for the first time? Then we recommend that you begin with Level 1 and play each level in turn. You're then free to choose which elements you want to master your games with!
Game Setup
Put the parts you need for your level in the bag. You can see which ones you'll need on the respective level. The levels are described in detail from the next page on. Mix the parts in the bag well once!
All of the players should now draw parts from the bag — without looking at them first — and place them in front of them. How many depends on the number of players — check in this table:
| Number of players | Number of parts to start with (per player) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4-6 | 2 |
Lay the starter track piece ready on the start ramp. Place the orange sand timer (approx. 30 seconds) on the start ramp, in front of the first space.
Note: Each player may only draw a maximum of one item (square tile) when setting up the game.
Whoever was last in a mine starts and takes the cloth bag.
Example setup for three people playing Level 2.
Level 1 — Good Luck!
Parts in the bag: Only the pieces of track.
(All of the items and the safety regulations can stay in the box — you won't need them in this level.)
The roller coaster sets off on its first lap! This level is far easier than all of the others and introduces the basic gameplay. Don't worry if you don't find the game particularly challenging yet — this will change in the next level!
Turn the sand timer over and move it forward one space. Now you need to try to quickly build the roller coaster track. Whoever has the bag after the game setup begins. Play then continues in a clockwise direction. When it's your turn, you must always perform the following steps in this order:
-
Draw a piece of track from the bag. You can feel for the different pieces and have a think which you'd like to take. You may NEVER look inside the bag though. Place the piece of track you've drawn in front of you.
-
Attach a piece of track. Attach one of the pieces of track you have in front of you to the roller coaster track. The colors of the pieces of track you join together that form an "X" or feature brown wooden tracks must always match.
OR Return a piece of track to the bag. If you can't — or don't want to — attach a piece of track, you'll need to return one piece to the bag.
-
Pass the bag to the player on your left.
The sand timer must never run out! Each of you may turn it over again at any time during the game. However, you must then move the sand timer forward one space each time.
The obstacles depicted on the pieces of track do not play a role in Level 1!
When do you lose?
- The roller coaster plunges into the depths: If the sand timer runs out and you can't move any further with it, then you've lost. It then plunges to the gloomy depths and the goblins must walk home all bruised.
- The roller coaster stops on the track: If you don't notice that the sand timer has run out, then you've lost. Because that's when the goblin rescue team must step in!
When do you win?
- The Goblin Coaster is complete: You must manage to complete the track all the way back to the start ramp and place the sand timer on one of the final pieces of track there. It's enough for the final part to touch the start ramp at any point in the process.
If you win Level 1, then the first test phase for the Goblin Coaster can be deemed a success and you may move on to the next level!
Level 2 — Obstacle Up Ahead!
Parts in the bag: All tracks and all items.
(You won't need the safety regulations for this level.)
The first journey was a success, but obstacles block your way on the next lap. The gameplay is the same as in Level 1, but now you must watch out for obstacles on the pieces of track. To move the sand timer onto a piece of track featuring an obstacle, you must first draw the item from the bag that you need to remove it.
Obstacles and the items that remove them:
- Rocks — You need to use the pickax to move the rocks out of the way.
- Spider web — You need to use the scissors to cut through the spider web.
- Bats — You need to use the lamp to frighten the bats away.
The magic wand removes any obstacle! Careful though: There are only two magic wands in the bag, so use them wisely!
The sand timer that features on some items does not play a role yet in Level 2!
Gameplay in Level 2:
-
Draw a piece of track or item from the bag. You can feel for the different parts and have a think which you'd like. Maybe there's an item you need urgently? Then feel carefully — the items are a different shape to the pieces of track. You may NEVER look inside the bag though. Place the piece of track or item you've drawn in front of you.
-
Attach a piece of track (same as in Level 1).
OR Remove an obstacle. Place the required item on an obstacle to move it out of the way (1). Only now can you move the sand timer onto this space (2).
OR Return a piece of track or item to the bag. If you can't — or don't want to — attach a piece of track, you'll need to return one piece to the bag. Alternatively, you can return an item.
-
Pass the bag to the player on your left.
You win or lose just like in Level 1. Remember that you can't move the sand timer onto a piece of track featuring an obstacle until you have used an item to clear it from the track. You also lose if you have to move the sand timer onto a space featuring an obstacle that has not yet been removed.
Too difficult?
If you find that the sand timer always runs out before you finish building the Goblin Coaster, try the 40-second sand timer instead.
Level 3 — Reach Your Destination via Detours!
Parts in the bag: All pieces of track and all items.
Also lay the checkpoints ready.
Game Setup
Lay two checkpoints out on the table. It's entirely up to you where you place them. You could place a sand timer on the start ramp and place the parts one sand timer (on its side) apart for example.
You play the same way as in Level 2 otherwise, but must manage to get around the checkpoints with your pieces of track. No part of the track may touch a checkpoint.
"Off to the Treasure!" Play Variation
Lay all four checkpoints out on the table, ideally one after the other. Place the treasure after the last checkpoint. You must now stay within the checkpoints. You no longer build the track back to the start ramp, but rather to the treasure!
Level 4 — Time Just Keeps Running ...
Parts in the bag: All tracks and all items.
You can choose to play the same way as in Level 2 or 3. But now you need to pay attention to the sand timers on the items, too. As soon as you place an item on an obstacle featuring a sand timer, you must immediately move the sand timer forward one space — no matter where it is at the time. You may NOT turn the sand timer over during this move!
Level 5 — Better Safe Than Sorry
Parts in the bag: All of the pieces of track, all items, and six randomly selected safety regulations.
Note: If you draw a safety regulation while setting up the game, return it to the bag and draw another piece instead.
You can choose to play the same way as in Level 2, 3 or 4. Watch out, goblins! There are special safety regulations for this track section that you must follow. When you draw a safety regulation from the bag, you must place it as many spaces next to the track in front of the sand timer as there are arrows on the safety regulation. If there are not as many spaces yet, simply place the safety regulation next to the last piece of track.
If you draw a safety regulation, you must NOT return it to the bag. You must immediately pass the bag on in a clockwise direction. You have to meet the safety regulations by the time that the sand timer reaches the space where the regulation is located.
What do the safety regulations mean?
- Quiet on the construction site: Whoever's turn it is isn't allowed to speak.
- Hearing protection: Whoever's turn it is must cover both their ears. Another player then needs to help them with their move!
- Helmet mandatory: Whoever's turn it is must keep their hand on their head at all times.
- Steep hill: As soon as a piece of track is added or an item is played, immediately move the sand timer forward one space without turning it over. You should only bring this safety regulation into play if you are very experienced!
- Toxic fumes: Whoever's turn it is must always hold their nose.
- No item: The item depicted on the safety regulation may not be played. You can of course choose which side should face up though. Be sure to choose wisely! This safety regulation has no effect on the magic wand!
Goblins apparently have a hard time getting their work done when there are safety regulations to follow. If you like, all of the safety regulations that require hands can be completed by other players. So you can put your hand on the head of the person who has the bag or cover their ears for them, for example, should a safety regulation stipulate this. Be sure to clarify before you start playing whether this is okay with everyone though! You either all win or all lose just like in all the other levels!
What's Next?
Congratulations, you've mastered all of the levels! You now know how to play "Goblin Coaster" and can choose which elements you wish to play with in future games. Maybe you want to use the checkpoints to set a special route? Perhaps you want to play with ALL of the safety regulations in the bag for once? Or maybe you have a toy dragon that the track needs to lead around? The Goblin Coaster is now in your hands! Have fun!