Spooky Stairs
Spooky Stairs Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Materials
- Large board, 51 x 51 cm
- 4 wooden figures, "ghosts"
- 4 wooden figures, "children"
- Coloured wooden disks
- 1 special die
Game Preparation
The board is placed in the centre of the table. The ghosts initially remain next to the board. Every child places a figure with a "metal head" on the lowest step of the ghost's staircase (arrow) and a disk of the same colour in front of him/her on the table in order not to forget the colour of the figure during the game.
Rules for 4 Players
The youngest child begins and rolls the die. Order of play is in a clockwise direction.
Meaning of the Points on the Die
When it's each person's turn, he/she moves their figure "up" as many steps as the number of points indicated on the die. Several figures can be located on the same step.
What Does the Ghost Mean on the Die?
When a "ghost" appears on the die, the following happens: The child who has rolled the die "transforms" any figure into a ghost, i.e. he places one of the ghosts waiting alongside the board upside down over his own figure or over one of the other figures. The "metal head" then clamps onto the inside of the ghost figure. The figure has disappeared!
And So It Continues
If it's a child's turn whose figure has just been transformed into a ghost and he/she rolls the die and the result is a number, the child must move a ghost figure! So you always have to remember under which ghost you are hiding!
Peeping during the game is absolutely forbidden!
- Once all the figures have been transformed into ghosts and a number is rolled on the die, then a ghost figure has to be moved in the direction of the goal. Moving backwards is not allowed!
- Once all the figures have been transformed into ghosts, and a ghost is rolled, then the child who has rolled the ghost, has to swap any two of the ghosts!
(With 4-year olds it might be helpful to point to the square with the finger, remove the ghost first and then swap it with another one.)
End of the Game
As soon as a ghost has reached the top step of the staircase (with the old phantom), the child who has the figure hiding in the ghost, wins. The child who has moved the figure to the goal can reveal the secret. He/she turns the ghost upside down and then everyone can see who the real winner is and he/she can shout "BOO" loudly!
Important
The last step does not have to be landed on by exact count.
When the winner is revealed, the children can play on for 2nd and 3rd places.
Rules for 2 Players
Both the non-selected figures are "transformed into ghosts" before the game begins and are placed on the start square with the other two figures.
These "neutral ghosts" automatically join the game during the swapping.
If a neutral ghost should reach the last step first, the game is not over. Keep playing until a ghost owned by a child wins. The child whose figure is hidden in this ghost is the winner.
Rules for 3 Players
The fourth figure is "transformed into a ghost" before the game begins. Otherwise the rules are the same as for 2 players.
Variation for Older Children
Whoever rolls the ghost (after all the figures have just been transformed into ghosts), has two possible choices:
- The child either swaps two ghosts (in the usual way) or
- He/she can swap any two coloured wooden disks, so that the associated ghosts swap owners!
And now, have fun.....!