Squire for Hire
Squire for Hire Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Getting Started
Deal 1 random Squire card to each player and remove the rest from the game. Note the bonus Item Value on the top right of your card, and the item combos at the bottom.
Shuffle the deck and deal two Loot cards (Item-side up) to each player. Each player chooses one card to start their "Bag", and reshuffles the others back into the deck. Place the deck in the middle of the playing area, with the Story side face-up.
Flip the top two cards to either side of the deck so that they are item-side up.
The player who last packed a bag goes first by reading the first Story card out loud.
Playing the Game
Complete Story Cards one of two ways:
-
Have the required ITEM VALUE (shown by the item type on the left of the Story card). Item Value equals the combined number of spaces the item type takes up in your bag.
-
USE an ITEM (the item type on the right). First, pick up a Loot card. This counts as your reward. Then, try to fully cover the item being used in your bag by placing one full item from the Loot card on top.
Story card example:
- Item Value required — ie. Weapons (Bows, Daggers or Swords totalling 2 spaces).
- Item Use required — ie. Use any 1 Valuable item. (Coins, Chests, or Rings).
You may also choose not to complete a Story card and pass your turn. Flip the Story card to the side of the deck, unless it is a Dungeon.
Adding Loot to your Bag
Place identical items together to score bonus points.
New cards are always placed on top of your existing "Bag".
Your Item Value equals the combined spaces that item type takes up in your bag. (ie. the chest and coins total 5 Item Value). However, each item is only worth 1 Point at the end of game regardless of the number of spaces used.
Junk items deduct 1 point if uncovered.
You can place a loot card as long as you can fit one full item in your bag.
Collecting the Loot
When you complete a Story, pick a Loot card. Add it to your bag by fitting at least one complete item onto the same number of empty spaces in your bag. Junk items also count as empty spaces, however they deduct 1 point if left uncovered! You may also fully cover any other items in your bag if needed.
If your bag does not have enough spaces to fit at least one complete item from the Loot card (Junk items don't count), put the Loot card back and end your turn.
Ending Your Turn
End your turn by flipping the Story card item-side up next to an empty spot beside the deck. If both sides already have loot cards, choose one to cover with the new card.
Quests and Encounters are flipped at the end of your turn. Dungeons are only flipped if neither player can complete it.
If you run out of Story cards, reshuffle the loot piles to continue. If there is only one card left, the next player receives it free.
In Solo play, play through only one round of Story cards. Do not reshuffle to continue.
How to Win
Once all possible Loot cards are placed, tally up your points to determine a winner. In Solo, a score of 25 or more gets you hired!
- + 1 pt for each Weapon, Armour, Magic, Valuable or Potion.
- + 1 pt for identical items that touch (corner-to-corner doesn't count).
- + Bonus pts for combos and bonuses on your Squire card.
- - 1 pt for every visible Junk item.
Item Type Reference
- Weapons: Sword, Dagger, Bow
- Armour: Helmet, Armour, Shield
- Magic: Spellbook, Scroll, Crystal Ball
- Valuables: Coins, Chest, Ring
- Junk: Glasses, Lantern, Broken Sword, Feather, Skull, Apple Core
- Other: Potions