Roundforest Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Goal
• Setup
• Playing the Game
  • a. Moving the playing piece
  • b. Pausing
    • Blue colour chip: draw an item, then keep, trade or drop it
    • Yellow colour chip: draw an item and place it on another forest tile
    • Red colour chip: draw a character card
  • Magic well
  • Item tokens
  • Character tokens
  • Setting and removing a blockade (optional!)
  • Meeting the Forest Spirit
• End of the Game
• The Characters
  • Friendly characters
  • Hostile characters
  • Helpful characters

Components

• 32 octagonal forest tiles, 4 of which show a well
• 4 backpacks with space for items, coins and golden apples
• 4 playing pieces
• 4 overview cards
• 8 compass tokens
• 1 black bag
• 1 blue bag
• 52 colour chips: 24 blue / 16 yellow / 12 red
• 1 fairy board
• 12 character cards
• 12 golden apple tokens
• 12 character tokens
• 39 item tokens
• 24 copper coins
• 12 silver coins
• 1 Emerald Ring token
• 1 rulebook

Goal

The aim is to obtain the legendary Emerald Ring. To do so, 3 golden apples must be delivered to the Forest Spirit, and all debts owed to shady figures must be settled.

Setup

Before the first game, carefully push the parts out of the punch-out sheets. Depending on the number of players, place the forest tiles face up in random order to form the playing area, the Roundforest (see the setup diagrams for 3-4 players and for 2 players on the next page).

When setting up, make sure that:

• the four wells lie exactly where shown in the diagram;
• there is enough space between the forest tiles so they can be rotated freely during play;
• all tiles are placed so that the octagon pairs are aligned horizontally and vertically, not diagonally.

Each player chooses a colour, takes the matching playing piece and backpack, and places the backpack in a corner of the forest. The playing piece is set on it. Each player also receives 2 compass tokens and 1 overview card, which they place next to their backpack.

All colour chips are mixed in the black bag, and then one chip is placed at random in the centre of each forest tile, one chip per tile. The four wells remain free. All item tokens go into the blue bag.

Note: For an even more challenging game, first remove all tokens showing a silver coin from the game.

The fairy board is placed next to the Roundforest and its rows are filled with randomly drawn item tokens. The 12 character cards are shuffled and placed face down as a draw pile at the edge of the forest. The 12 character tokens are placed face up beside it. The copper and silver coins, the golden apples and the Emerald Ring are placed next to the forest as the general supply.

Playing the Game

The starting player is determined. Play then proceeds clockwise.

On their turn, the player chooses one of two actions:

• a. Move the playing piece, or
• b. Pause and remain on the forest tile.

a. Moving the playing piece

In the first round, all players start with their playing pieces from their backpack and may move onto one of the two adjacent forest tiles. In later turns, backpacks may no longer be entered.

The octagonal symbols on the forest tiles, the octagon pairs, show how far a playing piece may move horizontally or vertically. A playing piece may move at most two forest tiles, but not beyond the edge of the forest.

• The octagonal symbols placed on the inside refer to the directly adjacent forest tiles. The symbols on the outside refer to the next-but-one forest tiles in the indicated direction.
• If a symbol is filled in white, the corresponding forest tile may be entered. If the symbol is empty, i.e. not filled in, the playing piece may not be moved onto that forest tile.
• If the empty symbol lies on the inside, the tile may be jumped over.

Only one playing piece may stand on each forest tile.

Exception: The compass. Giving up a compass token allows the player to also enter the forest tiles that are marked with an empty symbol on the forest tile the player is standing on. The compass token is then removed from the game. Each player may use this option only 2 times during the entire game.

b. Pausing

The player leaves the playing piece where it stands. A player must also pause if, because of the movement rules shown by the symbols, they cannot move their piece off its forest tile in a turn.

After this, the player carries out the following steps in order:

1. Rotate the forest tile. Whether the player chose action a) or b), the forest tile on which the playing piece stands must be rotated by 90°. The direction of rotation is indicated by the two arrows on the forest tile. The new orientation of the octagon pairs determines the possible moves available in the next turn. If the player has paused, their turn ends here and the next player takes their turn.

2. Fill the vacated forest tile. The forest tile that the player moved the playing piece away from must be filled with a colour chip drawn at random from the black bag, unless the player has left an item token or character token on that tile.

3. Carry out the action. Depending on what lies on the forest tile onto which the player moved the playing piece, different actions are possible:

Blue colour chip: draw an item, then keep, trade or drop it

If a blue colour chip lies on the forest tile, it is placed beside the playing area. The player takes the blue bag and draws an item from it. Players may collect light and heavy items on their journey through the forest.

• Heavy items are marked by a background with an orange glow. The heavy items are: Anvil, Barrel, Saddle, Treasure Chest and Stone. Each player may keep at most one heavy item in their backpack. Heavy items can also be used to prevent forest tiles from being rotated (see Setting and Removing a Blockade).
• Light items are: Helmet, Horseshoe, Hat, Cheese, Cauldron, Cross, Jug, Spoon, Mortar, Coin, Mushroom, Provision Flask, Key, Sword, Boot and Magic Potion.

If an item is marked with a red exclamation mark, it can be useful for fulfilling tasks set by characters (see The Characters).

Once the player has drawn an item, they may choose one of the following three options:

• a. Keep the item. They place it on a free space in their backpack.

• b. Do not keep the item, or do not want it. They place the item token on the forest tile under their playing piece. It stays there until a player collects it.

• c. Trade with the Fairy. The fairy board has three rows of items. If a player wants to trade, they must return the token they just drew to the blue bag and may choose an item from one of the 3 rows on the fairy board. The following applies:

  • Top row: The player must pay 2 copper coins.
  • Middle row: The player must pay 1 copper coin.
  • Bottom row: The player receives the item at no additional cost.

  Paid coins go back into the supply.

  Note: If a player has no copper coins, they may also give the Fairy 1 silver coin, but the Fairy will keep the change!

  The traded item token is stored in the backpack. Then the remaining item tokens in the corresponding row are removed and placed beside the fairy board. The tokens in the upper rows move down, and the top row is refilled with new items from the bag. Afterwards, the two removed item tokens go back into the blue bag.

  Note: If a drawn or traded token shows a coin, it may immediately be exchanged for the corresponding coin from the supply. The token then goes back into the blue bag.

  Attention: A backpack has room for at most 3 items, of which at most one may be heavy!

Yellow colour chip: draw an item and place it on another forest tile

If a yellow colour chip lies on the forest tile, it is placed beside the playing area. The player then takes the blue bag and draws an item from it. The player may not keep this item; they must place it on any other forest tile that has a yellow colour chip. That yellow chip is also placed beside the playing area. The item stays on the forest tile until a player collects it.

If no forest tiles have yellow chips, the item is placed on any other forest tile with a blue colour chip instead. The blue chip goes to the other coloured chips beside the playing area.

Red colour chip: draw a character card

If a red colour chip lies on the forest tile, it is placed beside the playing area. The player draws any character card face down from the pile. There are three different kinds of characters, which are marked by a symbol on the card:

• Friendly characters such as the Blacksmith, the Innkeeper and the Sculptor
• Hostile characters such as the Witch, the Bandit and the Devil
• Helpful characters such as the Prince, the Unicorn, the Merchant, the Beggar, the Goblin and the Forest Spirit

Friendly and hostile characters set tasks that can be fulfilled with certain items (red exclamation mark!) and/or coins. The player may choose whether to fulfil the upper or the lower task.

If a player cannot or does not want to fulfil a task immediately, they place the drawn character card face up beside their backpack. They then look for the character token matching the card and place it on the forest tile under their playing piece. In this way, other players can also meet the character and fulfil the task.

Attention: If a player holds a card with a friendly or hostile character, they are in debt to that character, because they have not fulfilled the task set. As long as a player is in debt to one or more characters, the Forest Spirit withholds the Emerald Ring from them, even if the player has collected 3 golden apples!

The player has 3 options for settling their debts:

• The player collects the items or coins necessary to fulfil the task and, during the game, moves onto the forest tile with the matching character token in order to hand them over to the character.
• The player sacrifices a golden apple and so buys their freedom from the debt. The apple goes back into the supply. If the player cannot or does not want to sacrifice a golden apple immediately, but wishes to use this option of settling the debt at a later time, they must likewise first move onto the forest tile with the matching character token, in order to hand the golden apple over to the character.
• Another player collects the required items or coins and fulfils the task. To do so, that player must also move onto the forest tile with the matching character token, in order to redeem the items or coins.

If the upper of the two tasks on a card is fulfilled, the debt is settled and the player is free. If the lower task is fulfilled, the player additionally receives a golden apple, either as a reward from friendly characters or from hostile characters who have been tricked.

As soon as a task is fulfilled, the corresponding character card is shuffled back into the pile and the matching character token is placed beside the playing area. The items used to fulfil the task go back into the blue bag; coins go back into the general supply.

Helpful characters offer particular abilities, and sometimes the player can choose one of them. If a player wants to use the ability, they carry out the action shown on the card and shuffle the character card back into the pile. If a player does not need the ability or does not want to use it immediately, they place the drawn character card face up, visible to all, beside the fairy board. They look for the matching character token and place it under their playing piece on the forest tile. In this way, other players can also meet the character and use its ability. All players must first move onto the forest tile with the character token to do so. Among the helpers is also the Forest Spirit (see Meeting the Forest Spirit).

A detailed description of the various characters is given at the end of these rules.

Only when all colour chips have been used up from the bag are the chips collected beside the playing area returned to the bag.

Magic well

Deep in the forest, 4 magic wells are hidden, which turn items into coins, and coins into golden apples. When a player moves onto a forest tile with a well, they may choose one of the following options:

• Give up 2 items from their backpack and exchange them for 2 copper coins, which the player collects in their backpack.
• Give up 3 copper coins from their backpack and exchange them for 1 silver coin, which the player collects in their backpack.
• Give up 1 silver coin from their backpack and exchange it for 1 golden apple, which the player places in their backpack.

Exchanged items go back into the blue bag, and exchanged coins go back into the supply. It is not allowed to change money arbitrarily with copper or silver coins from the supply.

Nothing: If the player cannot or does not want to make an exchange, they simply forgo it.

Attention: During their turn, the player may carry out only one of the actions mentioned, and only if they have just moved onto the forest tile with the well. An exchange may always be carried out only as described on the overview card. An exchange of just one copper coin for a single item, or of two golden apples for two silver coins, is not possible. If the player pauses on a forest tile with a well, they rotate the tile in their next turn, but may not carry out any further action. After that, the next player takes their turn.

Item tokens

If a player moves onto a forest tile on which an item token already lies, they may take it and either place it in their backpack, or exchange it for an item from the fairy board as described above. Both are possible only if there is enough room in the backpack (maximum 3 items, of which at most one heavy!). If there is no room left in the backpack, the player may not enter a forest tile with an item token!

Character tokens

If a character token lies on a forest tile, that tile may be entered only if the character's ability is used or the task set is fulfilled. This does not have to be the player who originally placed the character token on the forest tile. If a player fulfils another player's debt, the affected player shuffles the fulfilled character card back into the pile. They have been lucky: they are rid of the debt, but receive no reward. The reward goes to the player who fulfilled the task. The character token is placed beside the pile of face-down character cards again.

Setting and removing a blockade (optional!)

Heavy items can be used to prevent forest tiles from being rotated. To do so, a token showing a heavy item is taken from the backpack and placed in a free space between the forest tiles. All adjacent forest tiles are then blocked and cannot be rotated until the heavy item is removed again. A blockade may be set or removed only once per turn, either at the beginning or at the end of the turn.

Attention: Heavy items lying on a forest tile do not form a blockade and do not prevent rotation. Do not forget: only 1 heavy item may be in the backpack at any time!

Meeting the Forest Spirit

To be able to meet the Forest Spirit, the player must fulfil two conditions: they must no longer be in debt to any character, and they must have collected 3 golden apples. There are five ways to obtain the coveted golden apples:

• by transforming a silver coin at the magic well,
• as a reward for fulfilling a task set by friendly characters,
• as a reward from hostile characters, when they are tricked,
• from a helpful character: the Merchant,
• from the treasure chest: a player who has collected the item tokens Treasure Chest and Key in their backpack may open the chest with the key, in which there is a golden apple. The player takes it from the supply. Both item tokens go back into the blue bag, and the golden apple is kept in the backpack.

If a player fulfils all conditions to end the game, and the Forest Spirit token has not yet been placed, it is time for the Forest Spirit to appear. To do so, the player to the left of the player who fulfils all conditions looks for the Forest Spirit token and places it on any forest tile with a red colour chip. If there is no red chip on any forest tile, the Forest Spirit token may be placed on a forest tile with a blue colour chip. That colour chip is placed on the side beside the playing area.

End of the Game

The game ends as soon as a player has collected 3 golden apples, is no longer in debt to any character, and has moved onto the forest tile on which the Forest Spirit token lies. The player receives the Emerald Ring from the Forest Spirit in exchange for the 3 golden apples and wins the game.

The Characters

Friendly characters

The Blacksmith needs an anvil (heavy item!) to be able to forge his masterpiece. Whoever gives him an anvil receives a sword as a reward. The player may take the corresponding token from the blue bag. If there is no sword left in the bag, the player is unlucky and receives nothing. Whoever gives the Blacksmith an anvil but already has a sword in their backpack receives a golden apple from the supply instead. The anvil goes back into the blue bag.

The Innkeeper needs a beer barrel (heavy item!) for his thirsty guests. Whoever gives him a beer barrel receives a magic potion as a reward. The player may take the corresponding token from the blue bag. If there is no magic potion left in the bag, the player is unlucky and receives nothing. Whoever gives the Innkeeper a beer barrel but already has a magic potion in their backpack receives a golden apple from the supply instead. The beer barrel goes back into the blue bag.

The Sculptor needs a large stone (heavy item!) to be able to chisel his sculptures. Whoever gives him a stone receives a cross as a reward. The player may take the corresponding token from the blue bag. If there is no cross left in the bag, the player is unlucky and receives nothing. Whoever gives the Sculptor a large stone but already has a cross in their backpack receives a golden apple from the supply instead. The stone goes back into the blue bag.

Hostile characters

The Witch is afraid of the cross. Whoever has a cross may use it to drive the Witch away. But whoever has both a cross and a magic potion gives both to the Witch. The Witch drinks the magic potion and immediately falls into a deep sleep. She drops a golden apple in doing so. Both items, the cross and the magic potion, go back into the blue bag, and the player may take a golden apple from the supply.

The Bandit demands two copper coins as protection money. Whoever gives him these drives this grumpy fellow away. Whoever gives him a sword in addition to the two copper coins has tricked the Bandit and frightens him off so suddenly that he drops a golden apple in his fright. The copper coins go back into the supply and the sword into the blue bag. The player may take the golden apple from the supply.

The Devil offers the player a deal: one silver coin for the player's soul. Whoever gives him a silver coin drives the unwelcome companion away and saves their soul. Whoever gives him a cross in addition to the silver coin has tricked the Devil and gets rid of him once and for all. In addition, there is a golden apple from the supply.

Helpful characters

The Prince rewards the courage of the player who meets him. The player may draw three items from the blue bag, choose one of them, and place it in their backpack. The other two items go back into the bag. This ability may only be used if there is still enough room in the backpack.

The Merchant offers a tempting deal: he buys up to 3 items from the player for one copper coin each. The item tokens go into the blue bag, and the copper coins go into the player's backpack. As a further option, the Merchant makes the one-time offer of selling the player a golden apple for one silver coin. The player may take the apple from the supply and place it in their backpack, and the silver coin goes into the coin supply. The player may choose one of the two offers, but never take both at the same time!

Note: The Merchant is not a bank and does not exchange copper coins for silver!

The Goblin finds the object of the player's desire. The player may choose an item of their choice from the blue bag and exchange it for an item from their backpack. The goblin does not hand over coin tokens! It must be noted that here too, after the exchange, only one heavy item may be in the backpack.

The Beggar travels far and knows everyone. For one copper coin he leads the player to a character of their choice. To do so, the player may choose any character card from the pile and shuffles the card with the Beggar back into the pile face down. If the player has chosen a helper, the character's ability may be used immediately. If the player has chosen a friendly or hostile character, the debt may be settled immediately. Otherwise, proceed as described above.

The Forest Spirit possesses the legendary Emerald Ring. Whoever is no longer in debt to any character and brings 3 golden apples to the Forest Spirit receives the valuable ring and wins the game.

The Unicorn finds its way through the Roundforest effortlessly and brings the player very quickly to the desired place. The player may set their playing piece on any free forest tile and then rotates that tile by 90°. Their turn then ends. However, if the player has collected a saddle in their backpack, they may additionally carry out the action indicated on that forest tile by a chip or a token. The saddle token goes back into the blue bag.