Ubi
Ubi Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Equipment
1 Map, 2 Dice (Rubi Cubis), 750 Ubi-and-Answer Cards, 2 Card boxes, (1) 6-sided Map Reader (Rubicon Reticle), 4 score keeping Rubis - each of which incorporates a platform and 4 scoring facets - and 1 finishing piece (Rubi Ubi).
Object of the Game
The winner is the player who first assembles the 4 Rubi scoring facets to form a complete Rubi topped with by the Rubi Ubi finishing piece. Rubi facets are earned by answering one Ubi in each of the 4 Ubi Zones with triangular precision.
Set Up
Unfold the map and place both sets of Ubi-and-Answer Cards on the table. Each player gets a Rubi Platform and 4 Rubi Facets, the Rubi Ubi finishing piece is set aside. Players should now familiarize themselves with the Rubicon Reticle by placing it on the large area of the map, locating a number on the map to the center of the Rubicon Reticle, with the letter 'A' pointing NORTH toward the top of the map. The chevrons on the Rubicon Reticle must match the tank traps on the map. Hexagonal accuracy is denoted by the number. Triangular accuracy is denoted by the number and the letter of one of the 6 triangular areas.
Start of Play
The player born closest to March 15 plays first, with a tie broken in favor of the older or oldest among those tied. The player with first turn rolls the Rubi Cubis to determine the Ubi Zone and the degree of precision, either Hexagonal or triangular, required for the answer. One Rubi Cubi is the Zone Cubi, having one face for each of the 4 Ubi Zones and 2 faces showing an Ubi Eye. When an Ubi Eye is thrown on the Zone Cubi, the player may choose any Ubi Zone. The other Rubi Cubi is the Precision Cubi, which will show either a hexagon or a triangle or an Ubi Eye. If a hexagon is thrown, the answer must be the number of the hexagon in which the location is found. If a triangle is thrown, the answer must provide the number of the hexagon and the triangle within it, denoted by S,E,A,R,C or H on the Rubicon Reticle Map Reader. The player may choose to give either hexagonal or triangular precision if the Ubi Eye is rolled on the Precision Cubi.
The Ubi Zones are denoted on the cards as follows: AMR....Americas, EUR...Europe, WAT...Water, UNI...Universal. An Ubi, next to the appropriate Ubi Zone symbol is taken from the first card in either box and is read by another player. Answers are on the opposite side of each card. If the player correctly answers the Ubi, with hexagonal or triangular precision as required, the turn continues with another roll of the Rubi Cubis. If the player answers incorrectly, the turn passes to the left. The next Ubi comes from the first card in the other box.
Answers consist of hexagonal or triangular designations, with place names provided for explanatory purposes. It is not sufficient simply to give the answer as a place name - the answer must be given as a number or as a number and letter. Some answers may have multiple designations, for example: 14-S or E. Either is considered a correct answer.
Continuation of Play
Play continues with cards being placed in the rear of the box from which they are drawn after each Ubi has been posed and answered. When a player answers an Ubi with triangular precision, a Rubi scoring facet is placed in the appropriate position on the players's Rubi platform.
The insert maps of part of North and Europe are optional Expert Areas which may be used by all, some, or none of the players at their discretion. The Expert Areas carry their own answers, separated from the world map by a slash. The smaller Expert Area hexagons are indicated by the interior chevrons on the Rubicon Reticle face. The scope of each Expert Area is outlined on the world map. Feel free to use the expert areas for orientation. GHOSTS and LEGEND, found between the Expert Areas on the map, provide help in finding some of the answer locations.
Note that not all Ubis have a symbol, and not all symbols have an Ubi. There's something fishy about some Ubis. We are pulling your leg. These are called red herrings. When a red herring surfaces, the correct answer is "that's a red herring". Great Caesar's Ghosts lurks within the game. A player to whom he speaks, beware! (Looking on the bright side, we could have included a dagger).
Winning the Game
After a player has correctly answered an Ubi with triangular precision in each Ubi Zone, the player throws the Rubi Ubi finishing piece to determine the Ubi Zone for a game winning Ubi. The next card then is drawn and an Ubi posed from the Ubi Zone shown atop the Rubi Ubi finishing piece. If the Ubi is answered correctly with TRIANGULAR PRECISION or "that's a red herring", the game is won, and the player completes the Rubi by inserting the Rubi Ubi finishing piece. If it is answered incorrectly, the turn passes and the Rubi Ubi finishing piece is thrown again on the players next turn.
Because a correct answer always means another roll of the Rubi Cubis and, ultimately, the Rubi Ubi finishing piece, a player may meet the game winning requirements on the first turn. If this happens, the game is over. Have a drink and start again.
The game is well suited to team play.