Samsara (2014)
Samsara (2014) Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- Game board of solid oiled beech wood, 18 x 39 x 2 cm
- 12 playing pieces, 2 scoring pieces
- 2 dice
Game Board and Starting Setup
Elements of the game board (Fig. 1):
- 1 double space (contains one round and one angular space)
- Goal space, Player A
- Scoring track, Player A
- Goal space, Player B
- Scoring track, Player B
- Six playing pieces each, in starting position
- Scoring pieces
- Centre space
The board shows a circular track of 24 double spaces; each double space consists of two halves. One is made round and one angular, and they form the round lane and the angular lane of the circular track respectively. The circular track thus consists of 24 double spaces, or two lanes. Connecting lines link the two lanes.
Each player has their own goal space (round or angular) and a corresponding scoring track in the middle of the board. The centre space belongs to both tracks.
All pieces on the double spaces may be moved by both players, always only clockwise on the two lanes. The goal space can only be reached from the respective outer lane.
Object of the Game
The winner is the player who reaches their goal space exactly with a piece six times and thereby is the first to arrive with their scoring piece on the centre space.
Setup
The players sit facing each other on the long sides of the board. Each player has their goal space on their left. Six playing pieces each are placed on the starting positions of the inner lane; the two scoring pieces are placed on the respective outer spaces of the scoring track (see Fig. 1). Both players agree who makes the first move.
How to Move
The player rolls both dice. For each of the two rolls, they move one piece, one after the other, the corresponding number of spaces forward. They may move over pieces that are in the way.
Both numbers must be moved completely; no roll may be forfeited. The player may choose which roll to move first. It is permitted to move both rolls with one piece.
Pieces always move clockwise on the board. Each player may move any piece, even if it is on the opposite side. Along a connecting line a piece gets to the opposite side of the board and can continue from there; this costs no pips (example see Fig. 2).
The starting position of the pieces is on the inner lane of the circular track. The goal space, in contrast, can only be reached via the outer lane. To get into the goal space, the lane must be changed.
Fig. 2: Player A changes via the connecting line to the opposite side of the board.
Lane Change
This special movement technique is the most important element of Samsara!
It is important to recognise your own opportunities and, since each player may move all pieces, to thwart the plans of the opponent, perhaps even pulling a piece the opponent believed safely in the goal over to your own side.
During a move a piece always moves on one of the two lanes. At the beginning and at the end of a move it is possible to change lanes. A lane change costs no pips.
Lane change at the end of a move
If you land with your move on a space on which a piece already sits, you may change lanes with the moving piece and place it on the other half of the double space, provided it is empty (example see Fig. 3). If this half is also occupied, the move cannot be made.
If the space reached is free, the piece must stay in the lane and be placed there.
Fig. 3: Lane change at the end of a move.
Lane change at the beginning of a move
If two pieces sit on one double space, the lane may also be changed at the beginning of the move. The double space counts as the starting space; counting begins from the following space (example see Fig. 4).
Fig. 4: Lane change at the beginning of a move.
These rules for lane changes naturally also apply to the double spaces directly before the goal spaces. By skilful lane changes and the connecting lines, a piece can be pulled from the opposite side to your own side.
Goal Space and Scoring Track
The outer lane of the circular track leads into the goal space.
If a player reaches their own goal space exactly with the number rolled, they may immediately afterwards move their scoring piece one space along the scoring track toward the centre space. Then they take the piece out of the goal space again and place it on the opposite side of the board on the first free double space.
If the goal space reached is round, the piece is also placed on the round side of the double space. If the goal space is angular, it is accordingly placed in the angular hollow of the double space (example see Fig. 5).
Fig. 5:
- The player has rolled four pips and reaches the goal space exactly with a marble.
- The scoring piece may move one space toward the centre space.
- The marble moves from the goal space to the first free double space on the opposite side.
Scoring
Both scoring tracks end at the centre space. The player whose scoring piece reaches the centre space first has won.
Samsara can be played as a single game or, a little more sportingly, with the following competition rules:
A match consists of two games; the starting player changes. If the starting player is the first to bring their scoring piece to the centre space, the opponent may still carry out one complete move. If they also bring their scoring piece to the centre space, the player on whose side of the board more pieces are located has won. They receive as their score the difference between the number of pieces on their side and that of their opponent.
With an equal number of pieces, neither player receives points and the game ends in a draw.
If at the end of the game only one scoring piece is on the centre space, its owner receives as their score the number of spaces that the opponent's scoring piece is away from the centre space. If both players have the same number of points at the end of a match, it ends in a draw.
When Nothing Is Possible: Moksha!
In exceptional cases a player may be unable to move any piece after their dice roll. Regardless of the scoring track, the game then ends immediately in a draw with four points for each player.
The rules are also available as a video at: www.spiel-samsara.de/spielanleitung.