House of Cats
House of Cats Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 4 custom dice (with sides 2, 3, 4, 5, cat, mouse)
- 12 ability tiles
- 120 playing sheets (60 copies of 4 different levels)
- 6 pencils
Setup
Give each player a pencil and a playing sheet of the same level.
Shuffle the ability tiles face down, then reveal four random tiles face up in a row in the middle of the table. Return the remaining tiles to the box.
Draw the symbol of each ability in spaces 2-5 on your player sheet (in the order the tiles were revealed).
Don't worry about drawing well. These symbols simply serve as a reminder of which ability is tied to which number. Leave the ability tiles on the table so you can refer to them during the game as needed.
Additional setup for Levels 2-3
If your playing sheets are from levels 2-3, complete the following additional setup:
One player rolls three dice. Next, every player must write the result of each die in a single star space of their choice on their playing sheet.
First game
For your first game we recommend playing Level 1 and using ability tiles A, B, C, and D.
Draw the first ability in box 2, the second in box 3, etc.
Levels 2-3
Roll dice for starting symbols in star spaces.
Playing the Game
Each turn, any player rolls the four dice (it doesn't matter which player). All players must simultaneously choose the results from 3 of the dice to draw in spaces on their playing sheet, adhering to the following rules:
- All spaces you draw in must be empty and adjacent to each other but do not need to be adjacent to previously filled spaces.
- If you choose to draw in an area with fewer than 3 empty spaces, fill in as many spaces as you can (additional die results are forfeited).
- Draw cat and mouse die results on your sheet using the same rules as numbers (except for cats on Level 1, see page 6).
The scoring of cats and mice depends on the level you are playing (see pages 6-9).
When all players are done writing the turn's die results on their playing sheet, check to see if anyone has filled every space on their playing sheet. If so, the game ends and points are tallied (see page 5). If not, start the next turn by rolling the four dice again.
If your artistic skills are limited, we suggest using these simplified shapes: a circle with two triangle ears (or just a circle) for Cat; a triangle with two circle ears (or just a triangle) for Mouse.
Fun biology fact! Did you know that cats consist of a circle + 2 triangles, while mice consist of a triangle + 2 circles?
Completing Rooms
At any time when you form a group of adjacent equal numbers, and the size of the group is the same as the number, you complete a room.
When you complete a room, draw walls around the numbers in the group.
Each space can only be part of one room.
Next, draw a circle in the ability box for the corresponding number to indicate the ability is now available for you to use (see next page).
Special situation:
If you form a group that is larger than its number, you must immediately decide which spaces are used to form the room and draw walls around them. The additional spaces can be used to form other rooms later.
Examples of rooms: Two 2's; Three 3's; Four 4's; Five 5's.
Using Abilities
Each room you complete gives you an opportunity to use its corresponding ability once. Abilities with a lightning-bolt icon must be used immediately. All other abilities can be saved and used at any time, even in the middle of the turn you obtained the ability. When you use an ability, cross off a circle in its ability box.
There is no limit to the number of abilities you may use on your turn, and you may combine ability effects, if possible.
All abilities are described on page 8.
Note: Abilities are gained immediately when rooms are completed, even in the middle of a turn. Example: If the first number you write on your turn completes a room, you may immediately use its ability on one of the remaining two dice results.
End of the Game & Scoring
Once any player fills every space on their sheet, the game ends. Each player counts their points as follows:
- Completed rooms. For each completed room, score the points shown to the right of its ability box. You score points whether the circles have been crossed off or not.
- Cats and mice. Cats and mice score depending on the level you are playing (see pages 6-7).
- Empty spaces. Lose 1 point for each empty space on your sheet (does not apply to level 4).
The player with the most points wins. In case of a tie, the tied player who has filled the most spaces on their sheet wins. If the tie persists, the tied players share the victory.
Scoring example: 3 size-two rooms, 3x1 = 3 points. 4 size-three rooms, 4x3 = 12 points. 0 size-four rooms, 0x5 = 0 points. 1 size-five room, 1x7 = 7 points.
Special Rules for Level 1
Cats
On Level 1, cats are not drawn on your sheet. Instead, for each cat you choose, cross off the leftmost cat in the cat bar on the bottom of your sheet. This means you will draw one less symbol on your sheet when you choose a cat.
When you cross off a cat that has a number, you must immediately write that number in an empty space anywhere on your sheet. The "#" indicates you choose the number (2-5) to write.
At the end of the game, score 1 point for each crossed off cat on your cat bar.
Mice
Mice eats cheese, so each time you draw a mouse, cross off the cheese shown at the end of the mouse's row and column.
At the end of the game, score 1 point for each crossed-off cheese.
Example: Kristian scores 2 points for the mice in the column with a cat. The column with a single mouse (and no cats) does not score.
Special Rules for Level 2
Cats and mice
For each row and column, score 1 point for each mouse if there is also at least 1 cat in that row/column.
Bonus boxes
For each bonus box (a, b, c, d, e), score points equal to the number in the bonus box if it is part of a completed room.
As a reminder, when you complete a room that includes a bonus box, immediately write the number in the corresponding scoring box.
Bonus boxes with Cats and mice do not score bonus points.
Example: A bonus box with a completed group of 5's is worth 5 bonus points.
Special Rules for Level 3
Cats and mice
For each of the four colored areas:
- Score 1 point for each mouse if there are 1 or 2 cats in the area.
- Score 3 points for each mouse if there are 3 or more cats in the area.
- Score no points for mice if there are no cats in the area.
Bonus boxes
Bonus boxes are scored as described for level 2 (see page 7).
Example: William has 3 cats in his red area, and therefore scores 6 points for his two mice there. He scores nothing for the mice in the blue area, since there are no cats there.
Special Rules for Level 4
Completing rooms
When the game begins, the playing area is limited to the 15 spaces on the playing sheet.
Whenever you complete a room, expand the playing area with a number of spaces equal to the size of the completed room. The new spaces can be added anywhere and in any shape, but they must be adjacent to each other.
If you cannot expand the full number of spaces, expand as many spaces you can (additional spaces are forfeited).
Note: The expansion occurs immediately when rooms are completed, even in the middle of a turn. Example: You write two numbers to complete a room, and expand the playing area before you write the third symbol in the new area.
Cats and mice
You score points both for crossed-off cheese (as in level 1) and for mice in the same row/column as a cat (as in level 2 — see page 6-7).
End of the Game
The game only ends when all players have filled every available space in their playing area. Players who finish early must wait until the other players conclude to tally their points.
Abilities
There is no limit to the number of abilities you may use on your turn, and you may combine ability effects, if possible. Abilities are gained immediately when rooms are completed, and may be used on the very same turn or saved for later.
- Draw the result from one die in a space that is not adjacent to the others.
- Increase or decrease the value of a number die result by 1.
- Draw a number (2, 3, 4 or 5) instead of drawing a mouse.
- Draw a 3 in any empty space on your sheet.
- Use one extra or one less die this turn. Example: use all 4 dice or use only 2.
- Draw a 2 instead of a 5, or a 5 instead of a 2.
- Cross off one number on your sheet that is not part of a completed room, then draw it in any empty space on your sheet.
- Draw a cat or a mouse instead of a number.
- When choosing two equal dice results, draw them both in the same space. This space counts as two of the drawn symbol (for completing rooms or scoring mice/cats).
- This turn, spaces you draw in may be diagonally adjacent.
Must be used immediately:
- Draw any symbol (number, cat or mouse) in an empty space on your sheet.
- Draw 1 mouse in an empty space or 2 mice in any adjacent empty spaces on your sheet.
The designers would like to thank everyone who tested the game, and in particular Conny Richter, Michaël Giraud, Joe Huber, Tom Lehmann, Alberto Torre, Kjartan Lindøe, Kjetil Svendsen, Sturla Johansen, Eilif Svensson, Marianne Ringås, Dag Magnus Ringås, and Inger Marie Fossnes.
Game Design: William Attia & Kristian A. Østby Art: Yan Moussu Proof Reading: Van Willis
(C) 2023 Aporta Games. All rights reserved.