Kumata
Kumata Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 40 dominoes
- 9 board tiles
- 4 totem tokens
- 1 rulebook
All components are double-sided. One side is used for 3-4 player games and the other for 2-player games only.
Setup
3 - 4 Players
Each player chooses a clan: monkeys, snakes, toucans, or tigers.
Take the 10 dominoes and the totem of your clan. Shuffle the dominoes and divide them into 2 equal face-up stacks in front of you (your clan side up). Place the totem nearby.
A player then randomly arranges the 9 board tiles in a 3x3 grid using the 4-color side.
Note: In a 3-player game, one clan is left out.
2 Players
Each player chooses a clan: hippos or crocodiles.
Take the 15 dominoes and 2 totems of your clan. Shuffle the dominoes and divide them into 3 equal face-up stacks in front of you (your clan side up). Place your totems nearby.
A player then randomly arranges the 9 board tiles in a 3x3 grid using the 2-color side.
Gameplay
Players take turns clockwise. The game goes on until all dominoes have been played or no more moves are possible.
The first player is the one with the highest total value on top of their stacks. In case of a tie, the youngest among the tied players goes first.
On their turn, a player chooses one of the visible dominoes on top of their stack — called reserve dominoes — and places it on the board.
Once per game in 3-4 player mode (or twice in a 2-player game), a player may place their totem on the domino they just played.
The game ends as soon as a player has no more possible moves on their turn. Players then proceed to final scoring to determine the winner.
Domino Description
Each domino is double-sided: the front is used in 3-4 player games, and the back in 2-player games.
Each domino shows two halves in the player's color, each displaying a value: 1, 2, 3, 4, or blank.
Note: In 3- or 4-player games, no halves have a value of 4.
A blank half can cover any other half, regardless of its value, even another blank half.
Placing a Domino
To place a domino, both of its halves must cover other halves of matching values. You may place dominoes on halves of any clan (including your own), as long as values match.
The domino must always be placed flat: either directly on the board (within a single tile or across two adjacent tiles), or on top of two different dominoes already in play (see below).
Stacking Dominoes
You may place a domino on top of other dominoes under two conditions:
- The domino must be placed on two different dominoes (regardless of clan). This rule does not apply to board tiles.
- The dominoes below must be at the same height. Tiles must always be fully supported. No overhanging parts are allowed.
You may not completely cover a domino with another domino!
Blank Halves
A blank half may cover or be covered by any other half, regardless of its value.
No Legal Moves
If a player cannot place any of their reserve dominoes on their turn, they must choose one (from the top of their stacks) and place it next to their stacks. Then, they skip their turn. This domino becomes a new reserve stack on their next turn.
Note: If one of your reserve dominoes is playable, you must play it.
Important: Any visible values on the dominoes remaining in the reserve will be included in the final scoring at the end of the game.
Placing a Totem
Once per game (or twice in a 2-player game), a player may place their totem on the domino they just played. The totem must be placed in the center of the domino.
Once a totem is placed on a domino, both of its halves are locked for the rest of the game. That domino can no longer be covered and its score will count in the final scoring.
At the end of the game, each totem earns bonus points based on its height above the table.
Penalty: Any totem left in reserve at the end of the game costs 1 point.
Note: In a 2-player game, you cannot place both totems on the same domino.
End of the Game
The game can end in two ways:
- If, at the start of their turn, a player has no more reserve dominoes.
- If, on their turn, a player cannot play any of their reserve dominoes and cannot create a new stack.
In both cases, the game ends immediately and final scoring begins.
Scoring
Each player scores their points in turn, starting with the player who ended the game.
Visible Points
Each player adds up:
- The visible points from their clan's halves on the board tiles and on their dominoes in play.
- The visible points of their remaining dominoes in reserve (if any).
Tip: To make scoring easier, players can run their finger over the board row by row, adding all the visible points of their clan's halves.
Totem Points
The player then scores bonus points from their totem(s): Each totem scores +1 point per level of height above the table. The board tiles count as the first level, and therefore the first point. The totem does not count as an extra level.
Penalty: If a totem remains in the reserve at the end of the game, the player loses 1 point.
Example: it's the tigers' turn, but they cannot place their 3-2 domino or create a new stack. This triggers final scoring.
Total scoring example:
| Clan | In play | Reserve | Totem | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tigers | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| snakes | 5 | 6 | -1 | 10 (Master of the jungle) |
| toucans | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| monkeys | 11 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
Winning Condition
The player with the highest total score wins the game. In case of a tie, the player whose totem is placed at the highest level wins. If there is still a tie, the tied players share the victory and the regency of Kumata.
Variants
Maze Mode (2-4 players)
Players arrange the 9 board tiles freely, as long as all tiles are connected by at least one side. All other rules remain the same.
Alliance Mode (4 players only)
Play in teams of 2 versus 2. At the end, each team combines their total scores. The team with the highest score wins.
Credits
- Game designer: Claude Leroy
- Illustrations: Mary Maka
- Co-developers: Andréa Farkas & Tom Delahaye
- Graphic Design: Benjamin Treilhou & Tom Delahaye
- Publisher: Cosmoludo
- Distribution: Blackrock Games Export
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