Rock Me Archimedes Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Contents
• Objective
• Setup
• Gameplay
• Winning
• Variations

Contents

• 1 wooden rocker board
• 1 wooden platform
• 1 marble tray
• 1 die
• 12 black marbles
• 12 white marbles

The contents diagram labels the parts of the rocker board: end zone (at each end), and midzone (the centre).

Objective

Be the first player to oh-so-carefully get four of your marbles into your end zone without causing either end of the rocker board to touch the table.

Setup

Slide apart the rocker board, remove the marble tray, and then slide the rocker board back together. Place the rocker board on top of the wooden platform, making sure the board lies perfectly horizontal (tip: if this proves difficult, try rotating the rocker bottom around or changing the whole board's orientation on your table).

Gameplay

Have each player choose a marble color and an end zone. Then determine who starts by rolling the die (high number begins).

On your turn, either add one of your marbles to any space in the midzone OR roll the die and move one or more of your marbles the number of spaces indicated.

Things to note about moving marbles:

a. You can move your marbles forwards, backwards, or sideways (just not diagonally).

b. You can roll your marble along the grooved paths in the rocker board OR pick it up and place it directly.

c. You can jump over your opponent's marble (or marbles) to move further along on the board (this counts as only one move).

d. You cannot jump over your own marbles.

e. If you roll a two or a three, you can divide your moves among multiple marbles.

f. You cannot move a single marble more than once during a turn (ex. if you roll a three and move one marble forward one space, and then another marble backward one space, you cannot go back to the first marble and move it again).

g. No space on the board is off-limits to your marbles, even your opponent's end zone.

h. You must always move the total number of spaces shown on the die, even if this means having to move out of your own end zone.

One last note about gameplay: you may not touch the rocker board at any time OR use a marble to keep the rocker board from moving freely (i.e. if the board's a-rockin', don't come a-knockin').

Winning

If you cause either end of the rocker board to touch the table (even for a nanosecond), you forfeit the game and your opponent wins. However, if you successfully get four of your marbles into your end zone without ever having the rocker board touch the table, you are declared the winner! Shout out "Eureka!" You're a physics genius!

Note: if on the off chance the game becomes a stalemate, you may either choose to play again using the standard rules OR try mixing it up by playing a variation.

Variations

1. Play where there's two ways to win: either by getting four of your marbles in your end zone OR by tipping your opponent's end zone down to touch the table.

2. Play where you can win by getting four of your marbles in any end zone.

3. Play where you must always pick each marble up off the rocker board and then place it directly in its final resting place (no rolling allowed).

4. Play without the platform.

5. Play "house rules" and personalize the game to make it your own—the possibilities are endless!