Koala Rescue Club
Koala Rescue Club Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Setup
Each player takes a sheet and a marker. You will also need one 6-sided die.
Gameplay
The game is played over 30 turns divided into 2 rounds. Each turn you will either plant trees or rehome koalas in 1 area of your map (an area is a group of trees marked by a sign). At the end of each round you will score areas you have filled with trees and koalas, and any hospitals you have built. You can also score points by fulfilling the requirements of merit badges.
Each turn, any player rolls the die. All players write the number rolled in the next empty white square at the bottom of their sheet. This is to keep track of what turn it is. Then all players simultaneously draw a shape of circles within 1 area, corresponding to the number rolled. These shapes are displayed at the bottom-left of the sheet. Turns are taken simultaneously, so do not look at what the other players are drawing until you have finished your turn.
Each player must choose to use the rolled shape to EITHER plant trees OR rehome koalas, as follows.
Plant Trees
Circle trees in the configuration of the rolled shape.
- You may only circle trees in area A, or in an area you have connected to with a skybridge.
- You may flip or rotate the shape.
- You must use the entire shape.
- You may not circle a tree more than once.
- You do not need to draw the shape in a way that touches previous trees, you may leave gaps.
Rehome Koalas
Circle koalas in the configuration of the rolled shape.
- You may only ever circle koalas on trees that are already circled.
- You may only circle koalas in area A, or in an area you have connected to with a skybridge.
- You may flip or rotate the shape.
- You must use the entire shape.
- You may not circle a koala more than once.
- You do not need to draw the shape in a way that touches previous koalas, you may leave gaps.
Remember, on each turn you must choose to plant trees OR rehome koalas. You may never use the rolled shape to do some of each.
(Examples: A 6 is rolled and the player decides to plant trees. A 4 is rolled and the player decides to rehome koalas.)
Circling a Single Tree or Koala
If you cannot legally fit the rolled shape anywhere or you choose not to use it, you may instead use your turn to circle 1 tree OR circle 1 koala in a circled tree. In both cases the circle must be in area A, or in an area you have connected to with a skybridge.
Using Volunteers
After the die is rolled, you may choose to use volunteers to change its number. Each volunteer you use adjusts the die result by plus 1 or minus 1. You may also use a volunteer to turn a 6 into a 1 or a 1 into a 6. To use a volunteer, fill in an already-circled volunteer at the bottom of your sheet.
- You may use multiple volunteers in a turn.
- Volunteers only change the die result for you, not the other players.
- On map 1, you start with 1 volunteer already circled and ready to use, but this is not the case on all maps.
(Example: A player uses 2 volunteers to turn the rolled 5 into a 1.)
Bonuses
After taking your turn, if you have now circled every koala in a row or column, you may take the bonus action depicted in the white circle at the end of that row or column. Fill in the circle and do the following (bonus symbols appear as icons on the sheet):
- Tree bonus: Circle 1 tree in area A, or in an area you are connected to with a skybridge.
- Koala bonus: Circle 1 koala in a tree in area A, or in an area you are connected to with a skybridge.
- Volunteer bonus: Circle 1 volunteer at the bottom of your sheet. You may use it on a future turn.
- Hospital bonus: Fill in any 1 circle on any hospital depicted on the left side of your sheet.
- Skybridge bonus: Trace the skybridge until it reaches a sign. You are now connected to this new area and may circle trees and koalas in it.
Some maps have bonuses with a number next to them. This means you get to do that bonus multiple times.
- Remember, you only claim a bonus when a row or column is filled with koalas (not just trees).
- If you complete multiple rows/columns in 1 turn, you may choose the order in which you use the bonuses.
- If you cannot legally use a bonus when you fill it in, it is lost. You may not save it for later.
Merit Badges
At the end of each turn, all players check to see if they have fulfilled the requirements of any of the merit badges listed on the lower-right of the sheet. If you have, announce it to the group.
The first player to achieve a particular merit badge circles the larger circle beneath it, and will score this many points. All other players to achieve this badge circle the smaller circle beneath it. If multiple players are first to achieve the same merit badge on the same turn, they all circle the larger circle.
Scoring a Round
After the 15th turn, round 1 is over. After the 30th turn, round 2 is over. After each round the players score:
- 1 point for each area completely filled with trees (whether or not it is also filled with koalas).
- 1 point for each area completely filled with koalas.
- The points listed on the roof of any hospital that has all of its circles filled.
In round 2 you score all your complete areas and hospitals, including those you scored in round 1. Write your score for each round in the boxes provided.
End of the Game
After round 2, the game is over. Each player adds together their scores from round 1, round 2, and any merit badge points. Write your total in the box under the merit badges. Whoever has the most points wins and is Koala Rescue Club's most helpful member!
If there is a tie, the tied player who circled the most koalas wins.
Classroom Play
You can play Koala Rescue Club with any number of players at once, even a whole classroom. Play the game as usual, with the teacher rolling the die and announcing the result to the players. To help the game run smoothly, each turn when a player finishes drawing they should raise their hand. When all players have their hands up, the teacher will know it is time for the next turn.
Solo Version
You can also play Koala Rescue Club by yourself. Gameplay works the same but with 1 difference. If you achieve a merit badge in round 1, you receive the points in its larger circle. If you achieve a merit badge in round 2, you receive the points in the smaller circle. At the end of the game, see how good your score is in the table below. Try and beat your top score!
| Score | Rank |
|---|---|
| 0-12 | Junior club member. Keep practicing! |
| 13-16 | Club secretary. You're getting the hang of it! |
| 17-20 | Club treasurer. You're making a real difference! |
| 21-24 | Vice-president. An excellent achievement! |
| 25+ | President. A champion of Koala Rescue Club! |