Quartile
Quartile Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 49 Quartile tiles
- 1 Score pad
- 1 Pencil
- 1 Rule Sheet
Each of the 49 tiles has a central number and four edge numbers, shown as pips. When you play a tile on the table, at least one side must touch a tile already played, and the two external numbers touching must total the value of the central number of the tile being played. If you are able to place a tile in such a way as to have multiple sides total the center number, then you earn points for the tile value multiplied by the number of sides that match up. Under no circumstances can you play a tile in such a manner as to cause one (or more) of its sides to touch another tile without the two numbers totaling the center number of the tile being played.
Setup
- Lay all the tiles face down on the table to create a drawing Quarry.
- Each player draws four tiles from the Quarry. These form each player's "hand."
- One more tile is pulled and laid face down in the center of the table (no one should see which tile this is). This is the "Start Tile" and remains face down throughout the game. The Start Tile is considered to have "wild" edge values and satisfies any number requirement on a tile played next to it.
Determining the First Player
Unlike most games, going first is not necessarily a good thing. To determine who will go first, each player chooses one tile in their hand and places it face down in front of them. All players reveal these tiles simultaneously, and whoever has the lowest number chooses who goes first. In the case of a tie, those players must reveal a second tile from their hand.
Play Sequence
The starting player then follows the three steps of a turn. Play then passes to the player on the left.
1. Play a Tile
Pick one tile from your hand and place it on the table, touching at least one tile already played and following the tile placement rules.
Tile placement rules:
- Tiles played must touch one side of a previously placed tile. The sum of the edge pips on the two touching sides must equal the value of the central number on the tile being played.
- A tile played with multiple sides that correctly add up to its central number earns points equal to its central number multiplied by the number of sides that touch.
- Under no circumstances can a tile be played in such a manner as to cause one or more of its sides to touch another tile without the edge pips totaling the central number of the tile being played. The sides of the Start Tile are considered "wild" and always add up to the tile being played.
2. Score
The score is based on the tile you placed. Players receive points equal to the central number of the tile. If a tile is placed so that the edge pips add up to the central number on multiple sides, then the score is multiplied by that number of sides.
Example: Adam places a tile with a central number of 6. This correctly touches two other tiles' sides. Adam scores 12 points for this play.
Central number 6 x 2 sides touched = 12 points
3. Draw
Draw a tile from the Quarry unless its supply has been exhausted.
Unable to Play a Tile
If a player cannot find a tile in their hand that correctly follows the rules of tile placement, the person next in line randomly picks a tile from that player. If possible, that player plays it for them, scoring points for it. This player also takes their turn normally, potentially scoring twice. If the tile cannot be played, however, it is discarded.
In either case, the player who was unable to play a tile draws a tile from the Quarry as they normally would at the end of their turn.
Empty Quarry
If the Quarry is empty, continue playing until all the players' tiles have been placed and scores recorded.
End of Game
The game ends when the last tile is played. Players then add up their points, and the player with the highest score wins.
Optional Rules
The following rules are not part of the basic game and are only to be used with the consent of all players.
Children
Instead of scoring based on the central number, players have only to match outside edge numbers and score 1 point per side that matches, and otherwise follow the basic tile placement rules.
Predetermined Point Game
Instead of having the winner be the one with the most points, set a target point total, and whoever scores closest (without going over) wins.
Visiting the Quarry
Before a player places a tile, they can spend five points to draw their "end of turn" tile early. A player can then play any of their tiles; however, they may not draw a second tile at the end of their turn.
Further Instructions
For more instructions and examples of how to play Quartile, see the publisher's "Show Me How" page at www.simplyfun.com/showmehow/.