Times Square (2015) Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• How to Play Times Square
  • You Need Brains to Survive!
  • How to Fight Zombies
  • Power up Your Dice
  • Aliens, Zombies, Heroes, Items and more!
    • Zombie cards
    • Items
    • Hero cards
    • Events
• Game 1 - The Invasion Begins
  • Your Mission
  • Getting Ready
  • Set Up
  • Let's Play
• Game 2 - Transformation
  • Your Mission
  • Getting Ready
  • Set Up
  • Let's Play
• Game 3 - Outnumbered
  • Your Mission
  • Getting Ready
  • Set Up
  • Let's Play

How to Play Times Square

Times Square includes 3 different maths games.

You Need Brains to Survive!

Every Zombie has a Target Strength (the large number in the bottom right of the Zombie card). You must exactly "hit" this number with one or more of your dice to remove that Zombie from play.

Fighting Zombies can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Players take turns rolling dice and use dice individually, or combine them by using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. Dice results can also be Powered Up (squared) or Powered Down (square rooted) to reach the number on the Zombie card to "defeat it".

How to Fight Zombies

Joe, Laura and Zaeem are fighting Zombies! There are 6 Zombies left in play. It's Joe's turn, he rolls an 8, 2, 2 and 6. Looking at the Zombies in play, Joe, Laura and Zaeem work out that they can use all the dice to hit the Strength 80 Zombie.

• They add the 2 and 2 to make 4.
• Then add this 4 to the 6 to make 10.
• Then multiply the 10 with the 8 dice to make 80!

Joe can now flip the 80 Strength Zombie over to show it has been defeated. Because all the dice were used no more Zombies are added into Times Square this turn.

Note: Unused dice. You must add 1 Zombie card into Times Square for each unused dice at the end of your turn.

It's Laura's go, she rolls a 7, 2, 3 and 6. Laura looks at each Zombie's Targeting Wheel. She works out she can defeat two Zombies on her turn, the 14 and the 18. Laura flips over these two Zombies and because she has used all her dice no more Zombies are added to the game.

Dice can be added and multiplied together, and they can also be taken away and divided. But there is something else you can do that is very powerful and can give you the chance to hit even more Zombies on your go...

Power up Your Dice

Powering up your dice (also known as squaring) is a great way to hit those tougher Aliens and Zombies! You can Power up a single dice by multiplying it by itself, i.e. a 2 powers up to a 4 (2x2=4) and 3 powers up to 9 (3x3=9). You can also combine dice and then Power up the result, like this: 2 + 3 = 5, then Power up 5 x 5 = 25.

It's Zaeem's turn, and there are only three Zombies left in Times Square! Look closely at the Zombies left in play. The shape in the middle of the Targeting Wheel is normally round, but on these Zombies it is square. This gives players a clue that these Zombies can be hit by Powering up (Squaring) dice or dice combos. Zaeem rolls a 12, 6, 3 and a 4. Working together, Joe, Laura and Zaeem use the dice like this:

• Power up the 12 dice: 12 x 12 = 144
• Then Power up the 6: 6 x 6 = 36
• Add the 4 and 3 dice to make 7
• Power this up to hit the 49: 7 x 7 = 49

Joe, Laura and Zaeem have cleared Times Square of Zombies and won the game!

Aliens, Zombies, Heroes, Items and more!

Times Square involves more than just Aliens and Zombies! There are Heroes to save, helpful Items to collect and Events that randomly appear to help or hinder players!

Zombie cards

Every Zombie's Strength in Times Square is a number from the 12 Times Tables. Each Zombie has a Targeting Wheel that shows players number combinations that can be multiplied to exactly reach a Zombie's Strength. Other icons on the Zombie cards are used when using the cards with the City of Zombies maths board game.

Items

Items can be found and collected then used to help players fight Zombies. Items are shared between players and can be used at any time. Some items can be used to change your dice rolls, some change a Zombie's Strength while others can even change the rules!

Hero cards

Heroes have a special ability that can be used to help players fight Zombies. Transformation cards feature a Hero on one side and a Zombie version of that Hero on the flip side.

Events

Event cards can help or hinder players. They add a twist to gameplay appearing at random as you play. Some Events help the Zombies while others help the players. You can use the Event cards from Times Square with the City of Zombies maths board game.

Game 1 - The Invasion Begins

Your Mission

The Zombies are invading Times Square! Destroy them as quickly as possible!

Getting Ready

• Zombie cards: Pick which Zombies you'd like to play against. This can either be the entire deck, or just certain Times Tables you'd like to practice.
• Items: Remove the Walkie Talkie Item from the Item deck. It's not used in this game.
• Remove Hero cards and Event cards: You can put them back in the game box for now.
• Grab the 4 Dice and get ready! You'll need the 4 included Dice and a Stopwatch or clock if you'd like to time your game.

Set Up

1. Shuffle the 6 Item cards. Deal 4 out at random face-up so all players can see them. Put the remaining 2 items back in the game box.
2. Shuffle the Zombie cards. Deal out 9 Zombies face up in a 3 by 3 grid.
3. Put the remaining Zombie cards in a stack face down next to the game area. This stack is called the Zombie Deck.

Choose who will be the First Player.

Let's Play

Start the clock!

Players take it in turn to destroy Zombies by rolling and combining their dice to match the numbers on the Zombie cards. Use Item cards at any time to help you.

For each unused dice, add a new Zombie card from the Zombie Deck into play to a maximum of 9.

You've won when all the Zombies in play are destroyed. Don't forget to use your Item Cards!

Bonus! Take 1 minute off your time for each unused Item card you have left.

Game 2 - Transformation

Your Mission

Transform the Heroes back into Human form and destroy the remaining Zombies!

Getting Ready

• Transformation Cards: These cards are used to flip back and forth between Heroes and Zombies.
• Zombie Cards: Pick which Zombies you'd like to play against. This can either be the entire deck, or just certain Times Tables you'd like to practice.
• Item Cards: Shuffle all Item Cards into their own deck.
• 4 Dice and a Stopwatch or Clock: Grab the 4 included Dice and set up a clock or stopwatch if you'd like to time your game!

Set Up

1. Shuffle the 7 Item cards. Deal 4 out at random, face up, so all players can see them. Put the remaining 3 items away, you won't be using them in this game.
2. Place a Hero Transformation card, Zombie side up, on top of each Item card.
3. Shuffle and deal out 12 face up Zombie cards, laid out in a grid.
4. Put the remaining Zombie cards in a face down stack. This stack is called the Zombie Deck.
5. Choose who will be the First Player.

Let's Play

Start the clock!

Players take it in turn to destroy Zombies by rolling and combining their dice to match the numbers on the Zombie cards. Use Item cards at any time to help you.

For each unused dice, add a new Zombie card from the Zombie Deck into play.

You've won when all the Zombies in play are destroyed.

Bonus! Take 1 minute off your time for each unused Item card you have left.

Game 3 - Outnumbered

Your Mission

Survive the Zombie attack and save the Heroes before they are "Outnumbered".

Getting Ready

• Hero Cards: Shuffle the Hero deck and place it face down near the playing area.
• Zombie Cards: Shuffle all the Zombie Cards into a face down deck next to the playing area.
• 4 Dice: Place the 4 game Dice within easy reach of all players.
• Item Cards: Shuffle the item cards into the Zombie deck.
• Event Cards (optional): Shuffle the event cards into the Zombie deck.
• Stopwatch or clock: Set your stopwatch if you want to time your game.

Set Up

1. Decide how many Heroes and Zombies you want to play with. We suggest 4 Heroes in a two player game, 5-6 in a three player game. (Minimum 2 Heroes.)
2. Shuffle the Zombie cards, including Items and Event cards together.
3. Place a Hero card on the playing surface and deal out 6 Zombie cards above the Hero. Turn the bottom 3 Zombie cards face up. If any items are revealed, "give" them to the hero (place them next to the Hero card). Replace any Item cards moved this way with a card from the Zombie deck. (Each Hero can "hold" up to two Items.) Continue until the row above each Hero card only contains Zombies. If an Event card appears, immediately read the card text and follow the instructions. Do this for each Hero card you are using in the game.
4. Put the remaining Zombie cards in a face down stack. This stack is called the Zombie Deck.
5. Choose who will be the First Player.

Let's Play

Start the clock!

Players take it in turn to destroy Zombies by rolling and combining their dice to match the numbers on the Zombie cards. Use Item cards at any time to help you.

When a Zombie is destroyed, remove it from play and put it face up in a Zombie Graveyard discard pile. Immediately replace it with a card from the Zombie deck.

Try to use all your dice to destroy Zombies. For each dice you fail to use, you must flip over a face-down Zombie card!

If 6 Zombies are revealed around one Hero, that Hero is Outnumbered and flees. Remove that Hero along with any items from the game. Put the Zombies that Outnumbered the Hero into the Zombie Graveyard discard pile.

To win you must empty the Zombie deck and destroy all Zombies in play.

If there are no Heroes left, you lose!