Nice Buns Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• The Goal
• Contents
• Setting Up
• Step One: Rolling the Dice
  • Small Die
  • Medium Die
  • Large Die
• Step Two: Making a Deal
• Step Three: Grabbing Some Buns
• Turn Example
• Fish Head Buns
  • For Example
• Don't Be Greedy
  • For Example
• Stocking the Serving Tray
• Winning
• Important Bits
  • Small Die
  • Medium Die
  • No Doubles
  • Fish Head Buns

The Goal

To be the first customer to fill their plate with three sets of three Bao Buns in three different colors.

Contents

• Large die
• Medium die
• Small die
• Plates x6
• Buns x20 of each color (blue, green, red, yellow)
• Fish head buns x12 (gray)
• Serving tray
• Steamer bag
• Dice guides x2

Setting Up

1. Pass each player a plate, then empty all the buns (including the fish head buns) into the steamer bag. Pull it tight, then give it a good shake to shuffle them around.
2. Next, take six buns at random from the bag and place them on the serving tray in the middle of the table.
3. Finally, get each player to pick two random (and non-matching) buns from the bag and place them in front of them (not on their plate).

If you pull out a gray fish head bun at either of these stages, put it back in the bag and pick again.

Step One: Rolling the Dice

Choose a player to start and get them to roll all three dice at once.

Each of these dice do different things. The small die lets you take buns from the steamer bag, the medium-sized die lets you take buns from the serving tray and the large die lets you do extra-special actions.

Small Die

Take this amount of buns from the bag without looking, 1 at a time.

Medium Die

• Put one of your buns (any color) back in the bag.
• Choose ONE bun of these colors and take it from the serving tray (if available). (The die faces show a four-color face and two-color faces.)

Large Die

• Give a bun to another player.
• Steal a bun from another player (as long as it's not on their plate).
• Swap one of your buns with another player (as long as it's not on their plate). They don't get a choice.

The game contains two 'Dice Guides', which can be shared by players during the game.

Step Two: Making a Deal

In the Nice Buns Buffet, you share everything with your neighbor - including your dice rolls! The player who just rolled must now split their dice into two groups.

For example: the large die and the small die (2) in one group with the medium die in the other, OR the large die in one group with the medium die and the small die (2) in the other.

In some situations, players might want to split their dice into a group of 3 and 0. This is allowed, but it's very rarely useful!

Now, the player on their left must decide which group of dice they want to keep for themselves and which group they'll leave for the player who rolled. Once they've made their choice, it's time to grab some buns!

Step Three: Grabbing Some Buns

When all three dice have been actioned, play moves clockwise around the table.

One by one, carry out the actions on the dice. You must action the smallest die first, followed by the middle one, then finally the large one.

Whenever you collect a new bun, place it in front of you. As soon as you collect a set of three buns of the same color, you can put them on your plate (as long as you haven't got any fish head buns).

Important! Buns that have been moved onto your plate are now 'safe'. This means they can't be stolen, traded with, or given away to the other players.

Turn Example

Ben rolls his dice and splits them up like this:

• Group one: the large die (give a bun to another player) and the small die (2).
• Group two: the medium die (red/blue).

Jill (the player on Ben's left) then chooses which group of dice to take. Jill chooses group 1 and leaves Ben with group 2.

When resolving the dice, always do it in the following order: small -> medium -> large.

Here's what happens next:

1. Small die: Jill takes two buns from the steamer without looking.
2. Medium die: Ben takes a red or a blue bun from the serving tray.
3. Big die: Jill gives a bun to another player.

Fish Head Buns

Gray fish head buns are super-smelly and can absolutely ruin the flavour of your other, nicer buns! If you collect a fish head bun, you must place it in front of you and add it to your largest set of buns (not including the ones already on your plate).

For Example

For example, Ben has two red buns and one blue bun, so the fish head bun joins the red set.

However, if he collects another two blue buns, the fish head bun will immediately move over to the blue set instead.

This means you won't be able to move any sets of buns over to your plate until you lose the fish head bun - so better get rid of it fast!

Don't Be Greedy

If you collect a set of four or more buns at any point (with or without a fish head bun), you'll have to throw them all back in the steamer bag.

For Example

This player has two blue buns, then picked up a fish head bun, creating a set of three.

If they pick up another blue bun OR another fish head bun, it would create a set of four. If that happens, all four buns would have to go back into the bag.

Stocking the Serving Tray

The Serving Tray must have six buns on it at all times. That means, whenever you take one, you must replace it straightaway with a new bun from the Steamer Bag.

Fish head buns aren't allowed on the Serving Tray at any time. So, if you pull one out of the bag, just drop it back in and try again until you pick out a nice one.

Winning

The first player to fill their plate with three sets of three buns in three different colors wins (see The Goal).

Important Bits

(The scan is cropped at the right edge; text ending in [...] is cut off in the source.)

Small Die

You must take the buns out of the bag one by one. T[...] fun for the other players to watch.

Medium Die

If only one of the colors shown is available, you must [...] If neither are available, you get nothing.

No Doubles

You can't collect more than one set of each color. Fo[r example, if] you've already got three red buns on your plate and [...] set of three red buns, the second set goes straight b[...]

Fish Head Buns

The fish head bun always attaches itself to your large[st set...] if you've got a fish head bun in front of you, it means [...] to move any buns onto your plate until you've gotten [...]