Save Patient Zero Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game Information
  • Game Contents
• Recommended and Variant Modes
• 1. Setup
• 2. Game Story, Overview, and Goal
• 3. Gameplay
• 4. Variants
  • No Savvy mode for 2+ players
  • Lean mode (1-2 players)
  • Agile mode (1-7 players)
  • Disruption mode (1-7 players)
• The App
• 5. Tools
  • SAMPLY (3x per lab)
  • MIKROSKOPO (3x per lab)
  • ANALYZER (3x per lab)
  • DEDUKTO (1x per lab)
  • INTERVALLO (1x per lab)
  • SCANPAD (1x per lab)
  • CENTRIFUGO (1x per lab)
  • HACKZ (1x per lab)
  • SPIONADO (1x per lab)
  • FUZIO (1x per lab)
  • SUBSTRAKTO (2x per lab)
  • KOLOZOMI (2x per lab)
• 6. How good were you?
• 7. Disruption Deck
  • ELEKTROPANEO
  • LIMIGO
  • RESTRUKTURADO
  • ONIDIRO
  • MALFERMA
  • KOSTREDUKTADO
  • KOLORA
  • MIKROADMINISTRADO
  • KOLAPSO
  • PLANADO
  • MALBONAMATIKO
  • PROCESSO
  • KRIZO

Game Information

• Players: 1-7 (best with 3-5 players)
• Playtime: 30 minutes
• Age: 10+ (experienced 8+)

Game Contents

• 2 x 30 Research sheets
• 2 Screens + extra sheets and clips for other languages. Use the clips to attach extra sheets to the screen.
• 2 Pencils
• 2 Scanpads
• 2 Estugamo Tokens
• 2 Centrifugo Tokens
• 1 Rulebook
• 168 Cards: 24 Tool Cards (Lab-M), 40 Sample Cards (Lab-M), 24 Tool Cards (Lab-T), 40 Sample Cards (Lab-T), 25 Molecule Cards, 15 Interruption Cards

Note: Download extra Research sheets and rules in other languages on the publisher's website.

Recommended and Variant Modes

Depending on the number of players, here are recommended setups, as well as variant play modes, to enjoy the game at its full potential:

• Number of players = 1. Recommended Setup: 1 lab only. Game Master: App. Variant: None.
• Number of players = 2. Recommended Setup: 1 against 1. Game Master: App. Variant: No Savvy Mode: 1 against 1 where each player has two roles, playing as their own lab and as the game master for the other player at the same time. The 2-player mode is possible without an app with only a few changes.
• Number of players = 3/5/7. Recommended Setup: 1/2/3 against 1/2/3 with a game master. Game Master: Player as Savvy. Variant: Playing with an app as the game master and a different number of players in each team.
• Number of players = 4/6. Recommended Setup: 2/3 against 2/3 with an app. Game Master: App. Variant: It is also possible to play 2 against 1 or 3 against 2 with a player as the game master.

1. Setup

Ready to play and save the world? Find the setup rules for 3 and more players below, where teams compete with the help of a game master. Rules for solo play and for 2 players can be found below in the Variants section.

1. Choose one player to be Savvy, the lab computer, and split the remaining players into 2 teams.
2. Seat each team on a different side of the table, facing the opposing team.
3. Prepare the labs.

• Each team takes their components, named Lab-T for one and Lab-M for the other: 1 Screen, 1 Tool Cards deck, 1 Sample Cards deck, 1 Scanpad, 1 Centrifugo, 1 Estugamo, 1 Research sheet, 1 pencil. Each team hides their game material behind the screen.
• The Research sheet shows 25 numbered molecules surrounded by lab tools. Write down your team name and player names on the sheet.
• For beginners, only use the following tools: Dedukto, Samply, Analyzer, Scanpad, Intervallo, Antidote. All other tools are put back in the box.
• Shuffle the Sample Cards decks.
• Place the Tool Cards faceup in front of you, sorted by type.

4. The player chosen to be Savvy, the lab computer, randomly draws 3 cards from the Molecule Card deck, memorizes them, and sets them aside, hidden from the two teams. The remaining Molecule Cards are placed in a facedown deck between either team.

2. Game Story, Overview, and Goal

A new pathology has just broken out! Patient Zero has been identified, it's up to you to find the antidote as soon as possible to save the patient and all of humanity!

Save Patient Zero pits two labs against each other. Each lab employs one to three scientists, the players. Another player embodies a lab computer named Savvy, who plays as the game master.

Both labs compete to identify an antidote made of 3 of 25 molecules. The general idea of the game is to use lab tools in the most efficient order. Whoever finds the antidote first wins the game. Ties aren't possible.

The gameplay of Save Patient Zero is straightforward. Step by step, you need to learn how the tools work. Then, you can master how to combine them efficiently. The best way to learn how each tool works is just to try them out.

3. Gameplay

At the beginning of each round, the teams choose freely from their available Tool Cards. Each Tool Card can only be played once, but you can have several cards for the same tool. Out of the 25 possible molecules, the teams narrow down potential solutions, round after round, until they find the 3 that cure the patient. The game continues until a team finds the antidote. It takes an average of 6 to 8 rounds to complete the game.

• At the beginning of each round, the teams select a Tool Card from their deck and pass it facedown to Savvy.
• When both teams have selected a tool, Savvy reveals them. Then, each lab gets to apply their tool with Savvy's help. Used Tool Cards remain faceup and visible to everyone throughout the game.
• The team that selects their tool first gets to play first. The order is very important throughout the game. One lab cannot proceed to the next round until the other lab finishes applying their tool for the round.
• Play continues until a team plays the Antidote tool and successfully finds the 3 molecules.

Note: It is strongly recommended you be as discreet as possible when exchanging thoughts and information so that the opposing lab doesn't benefit from it. You can also bluff if you want. The best teams usually whisper in each other's ears.

4. Variants

No Savvy mode for 2+ players

Savvy broke down, but there is a solution. Each lab draws 3 Molecule Cards that the opposing team must find. Each team acts as Savvy for the opposing team. Remove the Spionado tool, which is useless in this mode. When playing Dedukto, Savvy should not see the Molecule Cards passed to the opposite lab.

Lean mode (1-2 players)

There is only one lab and Savvy. One player is Savvy. Alternatively, use the game master app. The goal is to try to find the antidote with the fewest Tool Cards played possible. See "How good were you?" below.

Agile mode (1-7 players)

For each lab, randomly remove 10 Tool Cards from the deck while making sure that 2 Antidote Cards remain available. The game plays as usual with each team trying their best with the tools available to them.

Disruption mode (1-7 players)

See "7. Disruption Deck" below.

The App

Save Patient Zero comes with a free app. It can optionally serve as Savvy, the game master. Once it has been downloaded, no internet connection is required.

The app is not required to play. For a totally analogue experience, one of the players must be Savvy, the game master.

5. Tools

SAMPLY (3x per lab)

• Draw 3 cards from the top of your Sample Cards deck.
• Give the cards to Savvy.

Savvy places the cards around your Research sheet as follows:

• On the right (check mark) side if the Sample Card includes at least one of the three secret molecules.
• On the left (X) side if the Sample Cards includes none of the secret molecules.
• You can look at these cards whenever you want throughout the game. Make sure you keep them on their sides of the sheet.

MIKROSKOPO (3x per lab)

• Your team has one minute to look through the entire Sample Cards deck once and choose only 2 Sample Cards.
• Give the 2 cards to Savvy.

Savvy puts the cards around your Research sheet as follows:

• On the right (check mark) side if the Sample Card includes at least one of the three secret molecules.
• On the left (X) side if the Sample Cards includes none of the secret molecules.
• Shuffle the Sample Cards deck after this action.

ANALYZER (3x per lab)

This tool is only usable if Samply or Mikroskopo were previously used.

• Select up to 3 cards from the right (check mark) side of the Research sheet, those containing at least one secret molecule.
• Give the cards to Savvy.

Savvy puts the cards back on the Research sheet as follows:

• On the x1 slot if the card contains 1 secret molecule.
• On the x2 slot if the card contains 2 secret molecules.
• On the x3 slot if the card contains 3 secret molecules.
• You can look at these cards whenever you want throughout the game. Make sure you keep them on their correct x1, x2 or x3 slots.

DEDUKTO (1x per lab)

• Receive 5 Molecule Cards from Savvy.
• These cards do not include any secret molecules that can cure the patient.
• Keep these cards behind your screen. The opposing lab shouldn't see them.

INTERVALLO (1x per lab)

• Decide whether you would like to use the Min or Max function of the tool and tell that to Savvy.

Savvy marks a row on your Research sheet:

• If you choose Min, that row includes the molecule with the lowest number that is part of the solution.
• If you choose Max, that row includes the molecule with the highest number that is part of the solution.

SCANPAD (1x per lab)

• Position the Scanpad device over 6 molecules on your Research sheet, vertically or horizontally.
• Savvy marks your sheet to indicate how many molecules are part of the solution (from 0 to 3).

CENTRIFUGO (1x per lab)

• Position the Centrifugo device on your Research sheet so that it points to 4 molecules.
• Savvy marks your sheet to indicate if at least one of these 4 molecules is part of the solution.

HACKZ (1x per lab)

• Play the opposing teams' tool. They also get to play it.

SPIONADO (1x per lab)

• Savvy draws 2 cards from the opposing lab's left (X) slot for your lab to look at before you give them back.

FUZIO (1x per lab)

• Savvy picks one of 4 zones that matches to the sum of all 3 numbers of secret molecules. For example, if the secret molecules are numbers 5, 9, and 24, Savvy would check the box 33-39.

SUBSTRAKTO (2x per lab)

• Savvy randomly chooses 2 secret molecules and marks the difference between their numbers on your Research sheet. For example, Savvy marks 4 if the two randomly chosen secret molecules are 5 and 9.

KOLOZOMI (2x per lab)

This tool can only be used if Dedukto was previously used.

• Show Savvy 1 of the Molecule Cards you received after using Dedukto.
• Savvy marks your Research sheet to indicate if the color of the molecule on the card matches any of the secret molecules.

MEZAKOL (1x per lab)

• Savvy tells you the color of the middle molecule of the 3 secret molecules.

ESTUGAMO (1x per lab)

• Position the Estugamo device on your Research sheet so that it points to a row or a column.
• Savvy marks your sheet to indicate if at least one of the 5 molecules in the row or column includes a secret molecule.

ANTIDOTE (2x per lab)

• Propose an antidote by drawing a circle around the 3 molecules you think form the antidote.
• Savvy marks your sheet's Antidote section by checking one of the boxes (from 0 to 3).
• If Savvy checks a 3, you win.
• If not, you get one more chance.
• If you don't find the antidote after using your second Antidote card, you lose and the other team keeps searching for the antidote. Each team only has two Antidote cards. Make good use of them.

6. How good were you?

How many Tool Cards did you use to find the antidote?

• 4 Tool Cards or less: 2 Nobel prizes: Chemistry and Peace
• 5 Tool Cards: Nobel prize potentials
• 6 Tool Cards: World-acclaimed scientists
• 7 Tool Cards: Tenured professors
• 8 Tool Cards: Excellent researchers
• 9 Tool Cards: Up and coming lab technicians
• 10 Tool Cards or more: Promising students

7. Disruption Deck

For experienced players, we suggest introducing the use of a Disruption Deck to add some more variety to each game of Save Patient Zero.

Extra setup step: Shuffle the Disruption Deck and put it facedown in front of Savvy.

Extra gameplay step: After each lab has played 3 tools, Savvy draws a disruption card. Its effect applies to both labs for the rest of the game.

ELEKTROPANEO

Scanpad, Estugamo, and Centrifugo are down and cannot be used during the next 2 turns.

LIMIGO

Each lab must discard Tool Cards until they only have one of each type, Antidote included.

RESTRUKTURADO

Both labs exchange their research sheets and only their research sheets (no cards).

ONIDIRO

A new study revealed Mikroskopo is ineffective for this pathology. Remove the Mikroskopo cards and put them back into the box.

MALFERMA

Both labs give their Research sheet to the other team for 10 seconds and then get it back.

Note: This card cannot be played in No Savvy mode. Pick another one.

KOSTREDUKTADO

From now on, neither lab can use pens or pencils. Savvy can still make marks on the Research sheets.

KOLORA

Neither lab can use Kolozomi or Mezakol for the rest of the game. Put the cards back in the box.

MIKROADMINISTRADO

Both labs have a new manager, a micro manager. They shuffle their Tool Cards deck and draw the first 3 cards. They will have to play these tools on the next rounds, in the order they were drawn. If an Antidote Card is drawn put it back and draw another Tool Card.

KOLAPSO

Both labs shuffle their Tool Cards deck. Then they both reveal the top card of their deck and immediately discard it.

PLANADO

Both labs choose the next 5 tools they will play. Then they put the cards in order and give them to Savvy.

MALBONAMATIKO

The data center broke down. Neither lab can use Substrakto or Fuzio for the rest of the game. Put the cards back in the box.

PROCESSO

A lawsuit is underway. Management won't let either lab use Spionado for the rest of the game. Put the cards back in the box.

KRIZO

There are only 4 rounds left to find the Antidote. After that, it's too late.

PREMO

Management wants results right away. Both labs must play an Antidote Card on the next round.

MISFUNKCIO

For the rest of the game, Scanpad will give you either one false positive or one false negative (Savvy decides).