Runes: The Game Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Quick Start
• Game Preparation
• Rune Stones
• Game Play
  • 1. Who Starts the Game?
  • 2. The First Turn
  • 3. The Second Player's Turn
  • 4. The Next Player's Turn
  • 5. What if not all runes match?
  • 6. What's different with golden rune stones?
  • 7. What's Special about Black Rune Stones?
  • 8. Overbuilding Rune Stones
  • 9. Extra Coins for Lines and Circles
  • Winning
• Ritual Cards
  • Structure of a Ritual Card
  • Detailed Descriptions of Selected Rituals
  • Overview of Rituals
• Game Variants
  • Adventurer (Recommendation)
  • Explorer
  • Little Explorer
• Contents

Quick Start

The goal is to be the first to place all your coins on the hexagonal rune stones. Match the rune stones as best as you can! For each matching rune symbol, you may place 1 coin in the center of the stone - on golden stones, 2 coins per symbol. Black stones grant powerful rituals, which you can play at any time. If you form lines or circles, you may place 5 extra coins!

But beware: opponents can cover your stones if theirs fit better - and the already placed coins are returned to you!

Game Preparation

1. Shuffle all rune stones and place them face down in three or more draw piles.

2. Shuffle all ritual cards and place them face down in a draw pile.

3. Each player takes a coin tray and places it face up in front of them.

4. Each player chooses a coin color. The colors are only used to distinguish players.

5. Depending on the number of players, each player receives a certain number of coins. Place them in stacks of 5 on your coin tray.

   • 2 players = 40
   • 3 players = 35
   • 4 players = 30
   • 5 players = 25

   Example: With 4 players, place 30 coins in stacks of 5 on each coin tray.

6. Each player draws 3 rune stones and places them face up in front of them. These unplaced rune stones are called HAND STONES - only they may be placed during the game.

Rune Stones

Each rune stone shows 6 rune symbols. There are 6 different rune symbols and 1 star, which can be used as a joker. The star can be placed anywhere.

For each matching rune, the player may place 1 coin from their coin tray in the center of the rune stone. On a golden rune stone, 2 coins may be placed.

• When a gray rune stone is placed, 1 coin may be placed for each matching rune.
• When a black rune stone is placed, 1 coin may be placed for each matching rune, and 1 ritual card may also be drawn (see Ritual Cards).
• When a golden rune stone is placed, 2 coins may be placed for each matching rune, up to a MAXIMUM of 6 coins per stone!

Game Play

Goal: Be the first to place all your coins on the rune stones.

1. Who Starts the Game?

The youngest player begins. If another game is played immediately afterward, the player with the most coins on their coin tray at the end of the previous game goes first.

2. The First Turn

The first player places 1 of their 3 hand stones anywhere on the table. Then, place 1 coin from your coin tray in the center of the rune stone (on a golden rune stone, 2 coins may be placed).

IMPORTANT: A player only draws 3 new hand stones when they have none left. The draw happens immediately after placing the last hand stone.

Example: The red player starts and places 1 red coin on the rune stone.

Rule 1: A player draws 3 new hand stones from the draw pile only after placing ALL of their hand stones.

3. The Second Player's Turn

The game is played clockwise. On each turn, a player may place 1 hand stone. The second player may now place one of their 3 hand stones if at least 1 rune matches.

If a player CANNOT place a hand stone, the next player takes their turn!

Example: The blue player places one of their hand stones so that the runes match.

Rule 2: Not all runes need to match when placing a rune stone! It's enough if at LEAST 1 rune matches!

4. The Next Player's Turn

The next player also chooses a hand stone that matches. The more runes match, the more coins may be placed.

Example: The green player places their rune stone so that the rune matches. They may place 2 green coins.

Place 1 coin in the center of the rune stone for each MATCHING rune! (Golden stones: see Rule 6)

Rule 4 (as printed)

5. What if not all runes match?

When placing a rune stone, at least 1 rune must match. Only matching runes are counted!

Example: The purple player places their rune stone so that only the runes match. They may place 1 purple coin.

Once a rune stone has been placed and RELEASED, your turn is over! It may not be moved again!

Rule 3 (as printed)

6. What's different with golden rune stones?

On golden rune stones, you may place twice as many coins, but no more than 6 coins on a single rune stone!

Example: The red player places their golden rune stone so that the runes match. They may place 2 red coins.

Rule 5: On a golden rune stone, 2 COINS may be placed for each matching rune, but only a MAXIMUM of 6 coins in total!

(The rule numbers printed beside the illustrated steps are not in sequence on the page; they are reproduced here as printed.)

7. What's Special about Black Rune Stones?

When placing a black rune stone, the same placement rules as for a gray rune stone apply. Additionally, the player may draw 1 ritual card, which grants special abilities. Ritual cards are explained in detail under Ritual Cards.

Example: The blue player places their black rune stone so that the runes match (the star fits everywhere). They may place 2 blue coins and draw 1 ritual card.

Rule 7: For each black rune stone placed, the player draws 1 RITUAL card that can be played at any time!

8. Overbuilding Rune Stones

Already placed rune stones (including your own) can be OVERBUILT if a hand stone fits BETTER! The new stone must match more runes than the previous stone at that moment. IMPORTANT: The number of coins does not matter!

Any coins on the rune stone being overbuilt are returned to the player's coin tray first. Then the new rune stone is placed on top of the old one (on TOP of the old rune stone). For each matching rune, the player may place the corresponding number of coins on the new rune stone.

Example: The black rune stone, with 2 matching runes, is overbuilt. The new hand stone matches all 3 runes, so 1 more rune matches! The blue coins must be returned to the coin tray. The green player places the new rune stone with 3 matching runes on top of the black rune stone. Now 3 runes match, so they may place 3 green coins.

Rule 8: Already placed rune stones (including your own) can be OVERBUILT if a hand stone fits BETTER!

9. Extra Coins for Lines and Circles

If a player creates a line of at least 6 rune stones or a closed circle, they may place 5 extra coins between the rune stones. These coins remain there as long as the formation is fully under the player's control. If a rune stone is overbuilt or stolen and the formation is broken, the 5 coins are returned to the player's coin tray.

Note: Lines and circles may overlap!

Rule 9: For a line of at least 6 rune stones or a closed circle, 5 EXTRA coins may be placed!

Winning

When you are the FIRST to place all your coins on your rune stones, you win RUNES!

Ritual Cards

When a black rune stone is placed, the corresponding player may draw 1 ritual card. Only that player may look at the card and then either place it face down in front of them or play it immediately.

Rule 1: Draw 1 RITUAL CARD for each black rune stone you place!

Rituals give an advantage to the player who plays them or cause a disadvantage to an opponent. That means, they can be used either for yourself or against another player. They may be played at any time, even outside your turn.

Rule 2: Rituals may be played at ANY TIME, even outside your turn!

Each player may hold a maximum of 3 ritual cards. If another black rune stone is placed, a new ritual card may only be drawn if one of the collected rituals is immediately played or removed from the game.

Rule 3: A MAXIMUM of 3 ritual cards may be collected!

A ritual is played by revealing the card. The card is read aloud and the instructions of the ritual are followed. After the ritual is resolved, the card is placed face up on the discard pile.

1. Reveal the card
2. Resolve the ritual
3. Discard the card face up

Rule 4: When a ritual card is REVEALED, it is played IMMEDIATELY and then placed FACE UP for everyone to see!

When a ritual is played, the normal game flow is paused: No hand stones may be placed, and no new ritual cards may be revealed (except defensive rituals). After the ritual is resolved, the game continues with the player whose turn it was before.

Rule 5: When a ritual is played, the normal game flow PAUSES. After the ritual, play resumes with the INTERRUPTED player.

Structure of a Ritual Card

• Ritual Name
• Ritual Strength (is especially strong)
• Ritual Symbol
• Die Symbol (die is needed)
• Description
• Die Instructions (explains what to do; in this example, the die roll 1-6 corresponds to the numbers 1-6)

Detailed Descriptions of Selected Rituals

Replace Coins: Roll the die and choose a rune stone of another player that has no more coins than the number rolled. Then replace the player's coins with the same number of your own coins. The replaced coins are returned to the player's coin tray.

Steal Rune Stone: With this ritual, you can overbuild a placed rune stone even outside your turn. The number of matching runes can be the same and does not have to be higher, unlike normal overbuilding.

Place Additional Coins: The player rolls the die and places that many extra coins on one of their already placed rune stones. Important: A rune stone may hold a maximum of 6 coins. If the roll would cause the total to exceed 6 coins, the number of coins placed is reduced accordingly.

Steal Hand Stones: Take a gray hand stone from another player and add it to your hand stones. If you roll a 4, 5 or 6, you may also take a black hand stone from any player, if available.

Overview of Rituals

Rituals marked as especially powerful (see Game Variants) are noted below.

• 2x Skip Turn
• 2x Place Ritual Stone
• 2x Place Additional Coins
• 2x Draw New Hand Stones
• 2x Ward Off Ritual
• 2x Refill Hand Stones
• 2x Reverse Ritual
• 2x Reverse Direction
• 1x Copy Ritual
• 1x Fast Turn
• 2x Replace Coins (especially powerful)
• 2x Steal Rune Stone (especially powerful)
• 2x Steal Hand Stones (especially powerful)
• 2x Exchange Hand Stones (especially powerful)
• 2x Steal Golden Hand Stone (especially powerful)

Game Variants

Adventurer (Recommendation)

Who it's for: For everyone who wants to experience maximum enjoyment.

Rule changes: None (played according to the instructions).

Description: Experience a fantastic tile-placement adventure that offers the perfect mix of fun, excitement and strategy.

Explorer

Who it's for: For children under 10. Also great as an introduction to the first game!

Rule changes:

1. Rituals marked as especially powerful are not used.
2. Rune stones cannot be stolen, see point 8 (Overbuilding Rune Stones).

Description: This variant offers a more relaxed gaming experience and focuses on shared enjoyment.

Little Explorer

Who it's for: For children under 8 who cannot yet read.

Rule changes:

1. Play without rituals.
2. Rune stones cannot be stolen, see point 8 (Overbuilding Rune Stones).

Description: A simple tile-placement game that gives children their first experience with the game.

Contents

• 200 Coins
• 72 Rune Stones
• 28 Ritual Cards
• 5 Coin Trays
• 1 Die
• 1 Rulebook