Natural Chaos
Natural Chaos Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 1 Gameboard
- 8 fire elements on black bases
- 8 earth elements on black bases
- 8 water elements on white bases
- 8 plant elements on white bases
- 2 Eternity Stones (Module)
Ranking System
Fire > Plant > Earth > Water > Fire
- Fire burns the Plant
- Plant tangles up the Earth
- Earth soaks up the Water
- Water puts out the Fire
Goal of the Game
Each player will control two element types that have the same color bases. One player plays with black/square bases (fire and earth). The other player plays with white/round bases (water and plant). A player wins the game when he or she gets four bases of his or her color in a visual row on a single quadrant of the gameboard (a 4x4 Grid). Victories may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
Note: The victory can be a combination of that player's different elements. It DOES NOT have to be all the same element, just four of that player's bases in a row.
Ties are not allowed: Any action that would cause both players to win may not be performed.
Starting Player Face-Off
The starting player is determined by a pregame face-off. Each player secretly puts one of his or her own two elements in his or her hand. Then both players simultaneously reveal each of their hidden elements at the same time. The player that has the highest-ranking element of the two wins and is the starting player.
Example: Susan reveals water and Frank reveals Fire. Water puts out Fire, therefore Susan is the starting player.
On Your Turn
Each turn a player may choose ONE of the three following options.
- Place
- Move
- Switch
Place: Placing an Element onto the Board
On your turn you may choose to enter a new piece into the game according to the following rules.
- Which of your two elements you choose to Place is up to you.
- You may only Place a new element on the board that currently has the fewest of your pieces on it. It does not matter how many of your opponent's pieces are on that board. If there are multiple boards tied for the fewest of your pieces, you may choose which one of the tied boards that you want to place on.
- You may Place the new element on any unoccupied space of the chosen board.
Example: Frank, the player with the black bases, would like to add a new Earth element to the board. He has two pieces on the bottom two quadrants, has one on the top left quadrant, and has none on the top right quadrant. He therefore can add the new Earth element to any empty square on the top right quadrant ONLY. (This is easily the most forgotten rule)
If Frank chooses to place a new element on his next turn, he would be able to add it to either of the top two quadrants because they would then be tied with the fewest of his pieces at one each.
Move: Move a Piece That You Control One Place
You may Move any one of your elements that is already on the board to an unoccupied space that is one spot away (Up, Down, Left, Right). You may NOT move diagonally.
"Looping the quadrant" - Each quadrant loops on itself. If you go off the edge of a quadrant you will pop up on the corresponding square on the other side of that same quadrant. Spaces on opposite sides of a single quadrant are considered adjacent to each other.
Example: Frank wants to Move a piece. If he chooses to move the Fire, he may move it one space up, down, left or right.
If Frank moves the Earth in the right quadrant, he may move it one space up, down, right, or loop the board to the left causing him to pop up on the opposite side of that same quadrant.
Switch: Switch the Places of Two Pieces
Select one of your pieces that are already on the board.
- If your piece is adjacent to (not diagonal) an opponent's piece that you outrank, you may force the two pieces to Switch places.
OR
- If your piece is in the exact same location as an opponent's piece on any other quadrant and you outrank your opponent's piece, you may force the two pieces to Switch places.
Note: No piece will ever be removed from the board. Pieces only switch places.
Note: You can never Switch places with your own pieces. You don't outrank your own pieces.
Example: Frank, the player with the black bases, has three different Switch Options.
Option 1: Frank could use his Fire in the upper quadrant to perform a Switch action with the Plant because Fire burns Plant. He cannot perform a Switch with the Water because he doesn't outrank it.
Option 2: Because spaces on opposite sides of a quadrant are considered adjacent to each other, Frank could choose to use his Earth to "loop the quadrant" and perform a Switch on the Water in the bottom quadrant because Earth soaks up Water.
Option 3: Frank could use his Fire in the bottom quadrant to Switch with the Plant in the upper quadrant because he outranks it, and they are in the exact same locations of different quadrants. (They are both in the bottom right space of their quadrants)
4 Player Variant (2 vs. 2)
Setup Changes
Each player now has a teammate that he or she is playing with. (Fire and Earth) vs (Water and Plant). Each player will be given one type of element instead of two. Therefore, each player only has 8 pieces that he or she is able to Place.
Changes in Gameplay
- Whatever element wins the face-off is the element player that will start the game.
- Turn order - Players will play in the reverse order of the ranking system. The Fire player will play after Plant and then Water will then play after Fire, etc.
The counterclockwise green arrows indicate the turn order. (It is recommended that players sit at the table near their elements' board-art to help keep track of the turn order.)
- When taking a turn, a player may Place one of his or her own personal element pieces or perform a Move or Switch action with one of his or her own team's pieces that is already on the board. (Summary: You may only place your own individual element, but you may manipulate any of your own team's pieces once they are on the board.)
Note: When Placing a piece you still have to count the total of your team's bases on each quadrant, not just your personal elements pieces.
Eternity Stones Module
In the midst of the chaos there are some things that stand resolute, unchanging, and outlasting even time itself...
The Eternity Stones Module is an optional component that you may choose to add to the game if you would like.
Setup Changes
Each player receives an Eternity Stone. After the Starting Player is determined each player's first turn consists of placing an Eternity Stone on any board in any location. After both Eternity Stones have been placed the gameplay will continue as normal.
Note: In a 4-Player game, the first team member to play from each team will use his or her turn to place the Eternity Stone for his or her team.
Function of Eternity Stones
- Eternity Stones are never outranked, and therefore, they will never move from their original locations.
- Eternity Stones do not count as either player's piece, and therefore, they do not count when determining what board has the fewest of a player's pieces.
- Eternity Stones do not count as part of either player's victory condition.