Save the Whales

Save the Whales Rulebook

Table of Contents

The Rules

The Object (to save the Whales)

Very few games are based on cooperation. However, in this game, all players work together, trying to save eight Whales. Your goal is to beat THE SYSTEM—the worldwide forces which are causing our great Whales to become endangered species and extinct.

The only way you can really "win" this game is to save all eight Whales. However, this is a game of fun, so enjoy yourself while trying to do the very best you can.

As you play, you'll discover various strategies you can use to SAVE THE WHALES. Naturally, the more you play, the better you'll become.

Who Can Play

Two, three or four people—from about the age of eight to ten on up. (Younger children can play if someone who reads plays along with them.) Actually, even more people can play, but things get a little crowded.

One game usually takes between 1 and 1½ hours to play.

The Game Equipment

The game consists of the Gameboard, a pair of special Dice (each marked with a Catcher Ship), eight authentically detailed Whale Markers (Gray, Blue, Fin, Humpback, Bowhead, Right, Sperm and Orca), 21 DAWN O'DAY and 21 OLD FATHER NEPTUNE Game Cards, one Catcher Ship, the Magic Barnacle, Survival Points and Exchange Pieces and the POW Button. (A Muslin Bag is also included for storing "loose" items.)

Starting on page 9 of this booklet you'll find some important information which concerns all whale-lovers everywhere.

Setting Up the Game

Gameboard

Look it over, paying special attention to: the four corner spaces; the eight individual Whale spaces (note the number in each space); the ENDANGERED SPECIES path (shown as a continuous line of Whales just inside the main track); the World Map on the inner part of the Board; and THE SYSTEM and EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS (in the middle of the Board).

The most dangerous places to land on the main track include: KRILL IS BEING HARVESTED, OIL SPILL, RADIOACTIVE WASTE and IWC. Of course, the worst place of all is EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS. Avoid it at all costs!

The best place a Whale can end up is in its NATURAL HABITAT. When a Whale is "saved," it is placed on its "habitat" in an ocean on the World Map.

Catcher Ship

(sometimes called the Killer Ship)

Place the Ship in the space labeled CATCHER SHIP WHALING PORT, alongside the ENDANGERED SPECIES path. It always stays and moves on this path.

Game Cards

Detach all the Game Cards and place each set on the two spaces marked DAWN O'DAY and OLD FATHER NEPTUNE, just inside the main track.

Survival Points (called SPs) and Exchange Pieces

Punch them out and stack them in the two designated spaces in THE SYSTEM. All SPs have a face value of one. One Exchange Piece is worth 5 SPs; they may be exchanged anytime during the game. Each player takes 3 SPs to start the game.

Whale Markers

Each player selects one Whale and places it on POW to start the game. Each Whale is inscribed with its species name. The remaining Whales will be brought into the game as it progresses.

Magic Barnacle

Place it in the space marked THE MAGIC BARNACLE. The Magic Barnacle represents the small, volcano-shaped organism which attaches itself to whales. If you get it, let your Whale ride on top of it—it's good luck!

The General Idea

To save any Whale, any one of the Whales must first occupy MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT. Players then pool their SPs and pay THE SYSTEM the value of the Whale selected for protection. (The value of each Whale is shown in its own space.) Players save the Whale they believe is most important or desirable to protect at that time. Once a Whale is saved, it is placed in its own NATURAL HABITAT, remaining there for the rest of the game. After a player's Whale is saved, another is selected and brought into play.

A player's Whale is "endangered" whenever it is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path. A player who is unable or unwilling to pay a penalty must move his/her Whale onto this path. A Whale must also move here when it lands on a "bad" space like PIRATE WHALERS—under most conditions.

Once a Whale is caught in the ENDANGERED SPECIES path it can become "extinct" at any moment—just as in real life. It can become "extinct" if: any player rolls double Catcher Ships; if the Catcher Ship lands on the Whale or vice-versa; or if that player is unable or unwilling to pay a penalty. If this happens, the Whale is moved to EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS for the remainder of the game. Whenever any player rolls one Catcher Ship while a Whale is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path, the Catcher Ship is moved instead of that player's Whale—according to the amount shown on the Die.

However, if the Whale holds the Magic Barnacle (the good luck charm) . . . becoming "extinct" can usually be avoided.

Anytime a Whale occupies MORATORIUM, no other Whale can become "extinct."

The Magic Barnacle protects its holder from most "bad" things and can also be passed to another Whale—usually one in trouble—under certain conditions. The Magic Barnacle is "lost" and must be given up if its holder lands on RADIOACTIVE WASTE LEAKING or OIL SPILL.

Players draw Game Cards upon landing on the OLD FATHER NEPTUNE and DAWN O'DAY spaces. The Cards represent the wisdom of both our aged characters and direct players to move their Whales and collect or pay SPs for various reasons.

During the game, players will be collecting SPs from THE SYSTEM—or paying out SPs to THE SYSTEM, depending on where they land and which Cards they draw. Players pool their SPs and help each other when a penalty must be paid.

Players must use keen judgment and decide together when it's best to save a Whale—and which Whale to save. It is usually wise to keep some SPs on hand in case of a string of bad luck.

And there you have the general idea behind SAVE THE WHALES.

Playing the Game (the basics)

Any player may go first—it really doesn't matter who because everyone is working together. Play moves clockwise around the board according to the total thrown on the Dice. A player rolling doubles gets another turn—except when double Catcher Ships are rolled.

A player's turn includes rolling the Dice, moving his/her Whale Marker or the Catcher Ship the appropriate number of spaces and completing any instructions.

Active Whales include all Whales on the board (in play)—except those in their NATURAL HABITAT or in EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS.

Start Playing Now (learn by doing)

The best way to learn this game is to start playing it. With the basic rules you have read and the information provided on the Gameboard, you should be able to start playing now. If you land on a space and need more information, refer to the detailed rules that follow.

The Eight Whales

In this game, there are two Toothed Whales: Sperm and Orca. Toothed Whales eat squid and fish. There are six Baleen Whales: Humpback, Fin, Blue, Bowhead, Right and Gray. Baleen Whales eat plankton.

There is one space for each species of Whale. The number in each of the spaces tells you how many SPs it will take to save that particular Whale. For example, one or more players would combine their resources to pay THE SYSTEM 10 SPs to save the Fin Whale. These numbers are roughly based on the very real "degree of danger" of extinction that each type of Whale is currently facing.

If you land on your own "Whale space," you may collect 5 SPs or move anywhere. If a Whale is fortunate enough to land on its own space while holding the Magic Barnacle it is automatically saved and may immediately move into its NATURAL HABITAT free!

Saving the Whales

A Whale can be "saved" one of two ways:

If a Whale lands on its own Whale space while holding the Magic Barnacle.
If any Whale occupies MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT, all players may combine their SPs to save any one or more "active" Whales by paying THE SYSTEM the exact number of SPs specified.

Whenever a Whale is saved, it is placed in its NATURAL HABITAT. This Whale remains there, fully protected against all dangers for the remainder of the game. If a Whale lands on a space such as RADIOACTIVE WASTE or IWC (while another Whale occupies MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT), the Whale in danger may be immediately saved and placed in its NATURAL HABITAT if the correct number of SPs are paid—thereby avoiding the penalty of that space.

The Endangered Species Path

All instructions in the ENDANGERED SPECIES path apply only to Whales—not to the Catcher Ship.

A Whale must move into the ENDANGERED SPECIES path if one of these situations occurs:

If a Whale lands on SPOTTED BY A CATCHER SHIP or PIRATE WHALERS (only if the Ship is out of the WHALING PORT).
If a player is unable or unwilling to pay THE SYSTEM the total number of SPs required by instructions on a Card or on the Board. (This can apply to any player, not just to the one whose turn it is.)

When a Whale is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path, it may move out in one of several ways:

If the Whale lands on the space directly above DAWN O'DAY, THAR SHE BLOWS!, or that Whale's own space. When this occurs, the Whale simply slides down into the main track (even if the Catcher Ship is in the way).
If another player's Whale lands on CALVING SANCTUARY, the Whales may trade places.
If another player's Whale lands on ARCTIC CIRCLE or ANTARCTICA, the Whale(s) may come out and join the Whale which landed there.
If a Game Card is drawn which permits the Whale to move out.
If the Whale lands on the space with the Mermaid on it (which allows it to move to THE MAGIC BARNACLE space).
If another player's Whale occupies MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT and the correct number of SPs are paid to THE SYSTEM to save the Whale.

There are two Safe Zones on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path which are always safe when occupied: STORM AT SEA and CATCHER SHIP STUCK ON ICEBERG.

Activating the Catcher Ship

The Catcher Ship is based at the WHALING PORT. An important point to remember during the game is that one or more Whales must occupy the ENDANGERED SPECIES path before the Catcher Ship is moved. If any player rolls a Catcher Ship on one Die, he/she moves the Catcher Ship clockwise along the ENDANGERED SPECIES path according to the number shown on the other Die (and the Whale remains stationary). However, if no Whale is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path, the Catcher Ship remains where it is and the player's Whale is moved on the main track instead according to the number shown on the Die.

Rolling Double Catcher Ships

If any player rolls double Catcher Ships while any Whale is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path, the Whale in the path must move to EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS. However, double Catcher Ships can be ignored under the following conditions:

If any Whale occupies MORATORIUM.
If the player's Whale holds the Magic Barnacle.
If the player's Whale is in one of the two "Safe Zones."

The Magic Barnacle

This is a good luck charm that "protects" the Whale holding it—but only that Whale. A Whale gets it by landing on THE MAGIC BARNACLE space . . . if the Magic Barnacle is there. The benefits of holding the Barnacle include:

The holder can ignore the directions on all "bad" Game Cards and almost all "bad" spaces.
The holder can ignore the Dice anytime he/she rolls double Catcher Ships. However, the "magic" only pertains to the holder's Whale. If the holder rolls double Catcher Ships while another player's Whale is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path or the holder causes the Catcher Ship to land on some other player's Whale, the other player's Whale is not protected.

The holder is not protected in these situations:

If it lands on OIL SPILL or RADIOACTIVE WASTE.
If another Whale (not the holder) lands on FLOATING FACTORY or IWC. In these cases, the Whale holding the Magic Barnacle must pay the penalty just as other players are required to do.

Anytime the holder lands on MIND IN THE WATERS, WHALE MIGRATION or on either of the two spaces on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path (shown with a glowing, golden barnacle), the Magic Barnacle can be passed to any other Whale. The reverse is also allowed: any Whale can receive the Magic Barnacle from the holder just by landing on any one of the spaces listed above.

How to Lose It

The Magic Barnacle must be immediately returned to THE MAGIC BARNACLE space in these situations:

If the holder lands on OIL SPILL or RADIOACTIVE WASTE. (The penalty must also be paid.)
If a Whale holding the Magic Barnacle is saved and placed in its NATURAL HABITAT. (This is the best way to lose it!)
If the holder is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path and cannot pay a penalty, it moves into EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS. (This rarely occurs.)

How a Whale Becomes Extinct

Once a Whale becomes "extinct," it is placed in EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS and is lost for the remainder of the game. As we mentioned earlier (under the General Idea), there are three ways a Whale can become "extinct" (provided it doesn't hold the Magic Barnacle or is on a ("Safe Zone")):

If a Whale occupies the ENDANGERED SPECIES path and any player rolls double Catcher Ships. (If two or more players' Whales—without the Magic Barnacle—are in the ENDANGERED SPECIES path and a third player rolls double Catcher Ships, the Whale closest to the Catcher Ship moves to EXTINCT MARINE MAMMALS.)
If a Whale is on a space in the ENDANGERED SPECIES path and the Catcher Ship lands on it—or vice-versa.
If a player whose Whale is on the ENDANGERED SPECIES path cannot pay a penalty—even with the help from the other players.

Remember: Anytime any Whale occupies MORATORIUM, no Whale can become extinct.

Bringing More Whales Into Play

When a player's Whale is saved or becomes "extinct," that player selects another "new" Whale to play, until all eight Whales have been brought into the game. Each new Whale starts at POW.

Moving Another Player's Whale

After all eight Whales have been brought into play and a player no longer has a Whale to move, he/she may continue playing by moving any other player's Whale. However, the player must announce which Whale he/she intends to move before rolling the Dice each time.

Wearing the POW Button

Any player may be chosen to wear it. However, we suggest the Button be worn only after a game is played in which all eight Whales are saved. It hardly seems right otherwise!

Cooperation (advice from Old Father Neptune)

All species of Whales live within a beautiful system of balances, mutual understanding and cooperation. So if any situation arises during a game which isn't covered in these rules, all players should work together in friendship and harmony to reach a solution acceptable to all.