Schatz des Phönix
Schatz des Phönix Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The Idea of the Game
Place your cards next to the nests and try to create especially valuable combos. The player who has collected the most treasure after three rounds will become part of the legend!
8 and up, 2-6 players, about 30 minutes.
Components
- 69 equipment cards (two each of wild 2, wild 3, cards 2-6, and 2x in colors red, blue, yellow, green and purple, plus one 7 card in each color)
- 6 guild cards
- 39 treasure tokens (36 small ones with values between 2 and 10, 3 large ones with value 10)
- 1 starting player token
- 3 phoenix nests
Setup
Place the three phoenix nests in the middle of the table so the same symbols are pointing in the same directions on all of them. Leave enough space around each of the nests so you will be able to place cards next to them on all sides. Each player picks a guild and takes the corresponding guild card. It will show you which sides of the nests to place your cards during the game. Put any remaining guild cards back in the box.
Shuffle the small treasure tokens and place one less than the number of players in each nest. For example, if there are three players, place two tokens in each nest. Exception: If there are six players, place only four small treasure tokens in each nest instead of five.
In addition, place one large 10-value treasure token in the big nest. Keep the remaining treasure tokens ready for later rounds.
Shuffle the equipment cards and deal 5 cards to each player. The remaining equipment cards make up the face-down draw deck. Reveal the top card of the deck and put it next to the deck.
Give the starting player token to the sneakiest player.
Playing the Game
The player with the starting player token goes first. You'll play three rounds, in each round taking turns in a clockwise direction until you've each played two cards by each nest. Then you'll distribute the treasures.
Playing a card
On your turn, play one of the cards from your hand next to any nest, face up. Always place it next to the side of the nest showing your guild symbol.
Then draw a card, choosing either the top card of the draw deck or the face-up card next to it. If you pick the face-up card, reveal a new one from the deck. Then it's the next player's turn.
Each side of every nest can have two cards next to it at most. Shift the second card a little so the values of both cards are visible. Once everyone has placed two cards next to all three nests, distribute the treasures.
Example: All players have played one card each, now it's Ellie's turn again. She could play her card next to the nest with the treasures worth 2 and 6, which would lock in her card combination for this nest. Instead, she decides to play her red 3 next to another nest. Then she takes the face-up 3 next to the draw deck.
Distributing Treasures
Start by distributing the treasures from the smaller nests before scoring the big nest. Treasures are always worth as much as the value printed on them. The player with the highest combo of equipment cards next to the nest picks their treasure first, then the player with the second-highest combo picks theirs, and so on.
Combo Values
How much the equipment cards you've played are worth depends on how well they fit together. Here's how you determine their values:
Two matches
- Same color & same number (e.g. two red 3s) or wild card & same number (e.g. a wild 2 and a 2): create a two-digit value (e.g. 33, 22).
One match
- Same color & different number (e.g. purple 7 and purple 6): add the values together (e.g. 13).
- Same number & different color (e.g. 6 and 6): add the values together (e.g. 12).
- 2x & same color (e.g. a 7 and a 2x of that color): double the value (e.g. 14).
No matches
- Different number & different color (e.g. 5 and 2): only the higher value counts (e.g. 5).
- 2x & different color (e.g. 4 and a 2x): only the value counts (e.g. 4).
No equipment
- 2x & 2x: zero (0).
If two or more players have a combo with the same value, the one with the starting player token or the first player involved in turn order picks their treasure first.
It's possible for some of you not to get any treasures from a given nest.
Example: Ellie has played a green 3 and a wild 3 next to this nest, a combo worth 33. Sam has played a green and a red 5 there, worth 10. Ezio has played a yellow 3 and a yellow 7, also worth 10. Ellie has the highest value, so she picks first, taking the token worth 6 points. Sam and Ezio have created the same value, but Sam is closer to Ellie, who has the starting player token. He takes the token worth 2 points and Ezio doesn't get anything.
After you've distributed the treasures, the player who took the large 10-value token from the big nest takes the starting player token.
This ends the first round. Collect your treasures in front of you, face down. You may look at your own treasures at any time.
A New Round
Discard all cards currently next to phoenix nests. Keep the cards you have in your hand and continue playing with them.
If the draw deck runs out, reshuffle the discarded equipment cards and turn them into a new deck.
Place new treasure tokens in the nests like you did before the first round.
The player with the starting player token starts the next round by playing their first card.
The End of the Game
The game ends after the third round. Add the values of all treasures you've earned together. The player with the highest total value wins the game and adds another chapter to the legend of the phoenix's treasure! If two or more players have the highest total value, they share the victory.