Wild Duo
Wild Duo Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Tusk Tactics
Game Content
- 1 Savannah Board (double-sided)
- 30 Elephants (15 per player)
- 5 Elephants (neutral)
Game Setup
The 30 elephants are placed on the savannah board as shown in the setup illustration. The neutral elephants remain in the box for the base version. Then each player chooses a color, and the game begins.
Goal of the Game
In «Tusk Tactics» each player controls one of two elephant families that meet in the savannah. During this encounter, the families split up, mingle, and form smaller herds. The player who manages to lead the most of these herds with their elephants wins the game.
The Game
The player with the yellow elephants starts the game, then players take turns, each performing a move with one of their elephants, respectively a stack led by one of their elephants. If at any point a player can no longer make a valid move, the game is over for them, and the opponent completes all their possible moves.
Important: Valid game moves must be made, even if they are disadvantageous for a player.
Movement
Elephants can be moved along the lines of the Savannah board. There are 5 rules to follow:
- Players can only move elephants/stacks whose top elephant shows their color.
- The movement of an elephant/stack must be in a straight line.
- The group size (= stack height) determines how far the stack must move. When a single elephant is moved, it moves one space. When a group of two elephants is moved, they move two spaces, and so on.
- An elephant/stack must always land on another elephant or stack. If a player lands on the opponent's elephant/stack, the player takes control of that stack for future moves.
- Elephants/stacks, when moved, can be moved over other elephants/stacks, meaning they can jump over them.
Example: Player orange wants to move the stack of 3 in the center. No movement is possible in directions 1-3, since a stack of 3 must move 3 spaces and would therefore fall off the board in each of these directions. In direction 4, movement is not possible because there is no elephant/stack at position C and a movement must always end on one. Thus there are 2 valid options for the stack in the center, a move to position A or B. (The lettered positions A, B and C and the directions 1-6 are shown in the printed example diagram.)
End of the Game
The game ends when neither player can make a valid move. The player who leads the most elephant herds wins the game. An elephant herd is a stack of four or more elephants. In the event of a tie in the number of herds, the player with the largest herd wins.
Largest Herd
Game Setup
«Largest Herd» is a variant of Tusk Tactics. In this variant, the back of the Savanna board is used, and the game is set up as shown in the printed illustration. In this variant, the 5 neutral elephants are also part of the game.
The Game
The game has the same rules as the base version but includes an additional movement rule: In addition to the own elephants, the players can move the neutral elephants or stacks led by neutral elephants.
Important: As with the own elephants or those of the opponent, the players can also incorporate neutral elephants into their groups or land on them with their elephants/stacks.
End of the Game
The game ends when neither player can make a valid move (including moves by neutral elephants). The player who leads the largest group with one of their elephants, meaning they have their elephant on top of the tallest stack, wins. Groups led by neutral elephants are ignored in the game evaluation. If the largest groups are tied in size, the player with the second-largest group wins, and so on.
The Fission-Fusion Social System of African Elephants
The African elephant is the largest terrestrial animal in the world, surpassing the other two elephant species, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. African elephants possess a large brain and are mentally and physically tirelessly active. In the wild, everything elephants do presents an intellectual challenge: locating and accessing a variety of food sources; remembering the location of water during drought periods; and making decisions about where to go, whom to associate with, whom to join, and whom to avoid. The latter, in particular, is enormously complex in African elephant societies because they have one of the most sophisticated fission-fusion social systems in the animal kingdom.
Elephants can split into small groups of one or two individuals (fission = splitting), which then later rejoin with other small groups, forming herds of hundreds of animals (fusion = merging/rejoining). Ecological and social factors influence the decision to split up or rejoin. For instance, when resources such as food and water become scarce in a specific area, the larger group can split into smaller units to reduce competition and the resulting pressure on resources. On the other hand, young elephants in larger herds can benefit from the presence and guidance of multiple experienced mothers, which enhances their chances of survival and learning success. The fission-fusion social system provides significant advantages to the African elephant, allowing them to adapt flexibly to changing environmental conditions, maintain social relationships, and access resources effectively.
The complex social behavior of elephants, characterized by close, enduring, cooperative social relationships with simultaneous fission-fusion behavior, is only found in some group-hunting predators (such as hyenas, lions, and sperm whales) and primates (such as chimpanzees and humans) besides elephants.
Baleen Bubbles
Game Content
- 1 Ocean Board
- 12 Humpback Whales (6 per player)
- 2 School of Fish (1 per player)
Game Setup
Each player selects a color and takes all the whales, respectively the school of fish of the chosen color. Afterward, the player places the school of fish in the middle of the first row of their board side. The whales are placed to the right and left of the school of fish, so that the entire first row of their side is occupied with their game pieces.
Goal of the Game
In «Baleen Bubbles» each player controls a group of humpback whales that work together to hunt down a school of fish. The player who successfully manages to drive their school of fish to the center of the game board first wins the game.
The Game
The player with the blue whales starts the game by moving a whale or their school of fish. There is only one restriction: The starting player may not move their school of fish vertically in their very first turn and thereby block the opponent's school of fish head-on. After that, the players take turns moving one of their pieces.
Movement
All game pieces can move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (but always in a straight line). When a game piece is moved, the movement must continue in the direction of the move until the game piece either reaches the edge of the game board or is blocked by one of their own or an opponent's game piece. This means that it's not allowed to stop in the middle of a "sliding movement". The movement must always continue until the game piece "collides" with the edge or another game piece.
Example: The black school of fish has four movement options. For each one, the movement must continue until the school of fish collides with the edge or another piece on the board (diagonally, vertically or horizontally).
End of the Game
To win the game, the player must bring their school of fish to a halt on the central, middle square of the ocean board. Due to the movement rules, the school of fish can only be stopped on the central square if its movement is obstructed by another optimally placed game piece, preventing it from "sliding" further in its direction of movement. The player who accomplishes this first wins the game. Alternatively, a player can also win the game by rendering the opponent's school of fish immobile, i.e., blocking it completely.
Important: The only game pieces allowed to stay on the central, middle square are the two schools of fish. If a humpback whale's move would end on the middle square, the move is invalid and cannot be executed.
The Bubble-Net Feeding of Humpback Whales
Humpback whales are among the largest whale species worldwide and inhabit all oceans. Belonging to the baleen whale suborder, they possess baleen (keratinous structures) in their mouths instead of teeth, which they use to filter their food from the water. They also use these baleens in their most remarkable feeding technique, the bubble-net feeding. This complex strategy is used by groups of humpback whales to encircle, and capture/eat schools of small fish and krill using bubbles and coordinated movements.
Bubble-net feeding is characterized by a multi-step process that starts with finding prey. Humpback whales have excellent senses, including keen hearing and the ability to perceive changes in water pressure and vibrations. They utilize these senses to locate large aggregations of prey (= schools of fish). When a group of humpback whales locates a school of fish, they come together and form a circular formation beneath the school. Once in position, the whales initiate a coordinated descent, releasing a series of bubbles. These bubbles are released in a spiral pattern, creating a cylindrical bubble net that rises to the surface. While the whales continue to emit bubbles, the ascending cylindrical bubble net encircles the school of fish, entrapping them in a column of water from which they cannot escape. With the school of fish ensnared within the bubble net, the humpback whales swim in a circular motion upward, creating a tighter and denser column of bubbles. This upward movement forces the school of fish to cluster closer together.
At a certain point, the whales suddenly swim up through the center of the bubble net, opening their mouths wide. This allows the whales to take in a large amount of water and fish at once. Once their mouths are closed, they use their baleens to filter out the water. The baleen acts like a sieve, retaining the fish/krill while expelling the water from their mouths. The captured prey is then swallowed whole.
Bubble-net feeding impressively demonstrates how cooperative behavior can maximize the feeding success of an entire group.
Sealed Shores
Game Content
- 1 Island Board
- 16 Sea Lions (8 per player)
Game Setup
The players decide on one color each and place their sea lions on the island board according to the illustration (below).
Goal of the Game
In «Sealed Shores», each player controls a group of South American sea lions competing for territory and females on the beach. The first player who manages to encircle one of the opponent's sea lions, so that it cannot make a valid move at the beginning of the turn, wins the game.
The Game
The player who chose the sand-colored sea lions starts the game. Then each player takes turns moving one of their sea lions at least one space at a time.
Movement
Sea lions can be moved horizontally or vertically (i.e. along the visible lines). A sea lion can be moved any distance along the line it is currently on. However, a sea lion cannot be moved through or over another sea lion, nor can it land on the same square as another sea lion. Sea lions can be moved over the edge of the island board and reappear on the opposite line, where they can still be moved further (in a straight line) if space allows.
Example: The brown sea lion on the left can reach 10 possible positions on the island board in one move including 3 positions on the opposite side of the island if it dives in on the left and resurfaces on the right.
End of the Game
A sea lion that cannot be moved in any direction at the start of a player's turn is considered blocked. If a player manages to block a sea lion of the opponent player, they win the game. If a player blocks both an opponent's and a player's own sea lion in one move, they win the game, as the opponent cannot move one of their sea lions first.
Example: If the brown sea lion moves one space to the left, the circled sand-colored sea lion is blocked or immobilized at the start of the move. Brown thus wins the game with this move.
The Territorial Behavior of South American Sea Lions
For most of the year, South American sea lions live swimming in the open sea and don't return to land even for sleeping. They feed on numerous species of fish and cephalopods such as squids. Only during the breeding season (December to February), these social animals come back to land and gather in very large numbers along the coasts of South America.
Strong males, so called bulls, arrive at the coasts a few weeks before the females to secure a territory. This is crucial, as the most dominant males with the best territories attract the most females. Having an ideal spot along the coast is very important for female sea lions, as they give birth to their young during their time on land (after a year-long pregnancy). A few days after giving birth, the females mate again, usually with the dominant bull in whose territory they are currently located.
The most powerful bulls gather harems of 3 to 18 females around them. They must constantly prevent these females from leaving their territory and defend with all means against potential rivals. This includes not only vocalizations and physical behavior, but also intense fighting. Maintaining a harem guarantees the males to pass on their genes, but it is also an enormous effort. The males usually do not leave their territory during the entire breeding season, fasting and competing until they have used up all their energy reserves.
The weaker, mostly young males are usually pushed to the edges of the colony during the mating season, as the dominant bulls secure the attractive territories in the center. These subordinate males often form groups and attempt to «raid» the colony, attempting to kidnap females and mate with them amidst the resulting chaos. Although these group raids are often unsuccessful, occasionally such actions are fruitful, and a young male can win a female or even secure a place with multiple females within the colony.
Monkey Monarchs
Game Content
- 1 Mountain Board (double-sided)
- 12 Golden snub-nosed Monkeys (6 blue, 6 yellow)
Game Setup
The players choose a color each. Each player starts with the same number of monkeys (but with a different group composition) positioned as shown in the setup illustration: one alpha male, bachelors, and females.
If the players wish to play the game with a calmer starting phase, it's possible to use the 6 x 6 game board on the back of the mountain board. The arrangement of the monkeys remains unchanged.
Goal of the Game
In «Monkey Monarchs», each player takes on the role of a Golden snub-nosed monkey clan, competing for the same mountain. This leads to conflicts, during which your group members may sometimes turn against you. Whoever defeats the opposing alpha male or moves their alpha male to the opponents alpha's starting position, wins the game.
The Game
The yellow player starts the game. After that, the players take turns, each performing a move with one of their monkeys.
Movement
There are three different types of monkeys: alpha males, females with their offspring, and bachelors. The alpha male is the leader of the group, while the females and bachelors represent the group members. All monkeys can move one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. However, monkeys cannot move to a square already occupied by another monkey.
Important: Once one of the players has moved their alpha male from its starting square, that square can only be entered by the opposing alpha.
Exception: If it's possible to defeat the opposing alpha male by moving one of the own monkeys to the starting square, this move is allowed.
Defeat
If a monkey gets «trapped» vertically, horizontally or diagonally by two defined game pieces, it is defeated and removed from the board. There are three ways in which a monkey can be defeated:
- Alpha victory: The own alpha male can «trap» and defeat one to three opposing monkeys with any of the own group members.
- Group member victory: Two of the own identical group members can «trap» and defeat one to three opposing monkeys, meaning two own females can cooperate or two own bachelors. However, females and bachelors never cooperate with each other.
- Deception victory: Group members of the same type can collaborate across clans to deceive their own clan. For example, if an opposing bachelor or the opposing alpha male gets «trapped» by an own female and an opposing female, the involved monkeys are defeated. However, opposing females never deceive other opposing females, just as opposing bachelors never deceive other opposing bachelors.
Example 1: If the yellow female moves one position to the left, she cooperates with the second yellow female and the trapped blue bachelor is removed from the game. Although the female herself becomes trapped between two blue bachelors as a result of this movement, it is not removed, because a victory must always be actively achieved.
Example 2: If the blue female moves one position to the left, together with the blue alpha it traps an enemy female and an enemy bachelor, which would thus both be defeated.
Example 3: If the yellow female in example 1 were a yellow bachelor, the blue bachelor would not be defeated because unequal group members do not cooperate.
Important:
- Moving a monkey can lead to several victories simultaneously.
- In your turn, one of your own monkeys can never be defeated. For example, if you also trap one of your own monkeys between two monkeys, neither of the trapped monkeys will be defeated, i.e. neither your own monkey nor the opponent's monkey. The same applies if, for example, you move a monkey into the free space between two monkeys of the opponent, then this monkey is also not defeated.
Example 4: If the blue bachelor moves to the right, this leads to a deception victory, as he, together with the yellow bachelor, traps the yellow female, removing her.
Example 5: If the blue female moves to the right, this does not lead to a deception victory, since yellow females never deceive other yellow females.
Important: Once three or more own monkeys are defeated, the player must move their alpha male at the next opportunity, if it is still positioned on the starting square.
End of the Game
If the player manages to move their alpha male to the starting square of the opposing alpha male, they win the game. Additionally, the player can also win the game immediately by «trapping» and defeating the opposing alpha male or by blocking the opponent in such a way that they cannot make a legal move on their turn.
The Structure of Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys Breeding Bands
Golden snub-nosed monkeys are a highly endangered species of primates inhabiting the mountain forests of central China. Their social organization is extremely complex. The basic social units are one-male units (OMUs), consisting of an adult male along with several adult females and their offspring. Multiple such OMUs, organized in a hierarchical manner, come together to form a breeding band. This breeding band also exhibits a hierarchy and collectively holds a territory. Individuals or entire OMUs can switch between different breeding bands, further increasing the social complexity.
Members of a breeding band coordinate their daily activities. Although they eat, rest, and travel together in a coordinated manner, social interactions between members of different OMUs within the breeding band are rare. Group members remain close together, as interactions between different OMUs often lead to confrontation. In conflicts with other social groups (breeding bands/OMUs), both males and females support each other while simultaneously protecting their offspring.
Within the OMUs, males often remain alone and stay away from the rest of the group during resting periods. Female golden snub-nosed monkeys, on the other hand, typically form multiple close bonds with other females. Female golden snub-nosed monkeys also intentionally engage in "affairs" with all resident males in the area behind the OMU's leader's back, leading to confusion about the paternity of the offspring. This has the advantage that when a new male takes over the OMU, he will not kill the offspring because he cannot be sure if they are his own or not.
Near the described breeding bands, there are usually all-male units (AMUs) where several young males live together. These are often former male juveniles from the breeding band who were expelled by the OMU leaders at a certain age. At times, solitary adult males join these AMUs, who have been displaced as OMU leaders and are either in "retirement" or waiting for their chance to take over an OMU again.
Manakin Mates
Game Content
- 12 Bird discs (one side white, one side purple)
- 1 Rainforest board
Game Setup
At the start of the game, there are no birds on the Rainforest board. Each player receives 6 bird discs and chooses one of the two colors (white or purple). Then, each player flips all their bird stones to the respective side.
Goal of the Game
In «Manakin Mates» each player controls a group of blue manakins, getting ready for their mating dance. The player who successfully arranges a perfectly coordinated quartet of birds – meaning four birds of the player's color in a row (whether horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) – first, wins the game.
The Game
The player with the purple bird discs starts (since the rainforest puts purple at a slight disadvantage), then the turns take place alternately.
In their turn, a player can either place a bird disc from their supply on any vacant square of the rainforest board or move a bird disc of their color which is already placed. Bird discs can be moved in any direction (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) by one square. However, if a white disc is on a white square, it can be moved along the entire white diagonal. The same applies equally to purple bird discs on purple squares. The squares in the center and in the corners are neutral and offer no movement advantage to either color.
Example: The purple bird disc can be moved to all adjacent squares. In addition, if it is on a purple square, it can advance along the diagonal of the same color by up to 2 squares. The white bird disc can even advance up to 3 squares at specific positions on the board.
Flip
If a player moves one of their bird discs in a way that encloses one or more opposing disc between two of their own discs (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally), the enclosed discs are flipped, resulting in a change of color. However, flipping only occurs when the enclosure is directly caused by a disc movement. If a bird disc is placed on the rainforest board and thus encloses opposing discs, those discs remain unaffected and are not flipped.
Important: When flipping bird discs lead to the enclosure of additional discs, these newly enclosed discs are not flipped. Thus, a chain reaction does not occur.
Example: If the purple bird disc moves one position to the left, a white disc is enclosed diagonally and another horizontally. Both bird discs are turned to the purple side. This flip causes the third white bird disc to be enclosed diagonally as well, but this does not cause the disc to flip because chain reactions do not occur.
End of the Game
To win the game, a player must move one of their bird discs in such a way that their action results in four stones of the same color being directly in a row, either through the placement or the resulting flipping (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). Placing a bird disc on the rainforest board to form four in a row is allowed but does not lead to victory.
If, at any point, five bird discs of a player are in a row, whether through placement, movement, or flipping, the player loses the game. If four and five bird discs of a player are in a row simultaneously, the player still loses the game, i.e., a loss by five discs in a row dominates a win of four discs in a row.
The Courtship Dance of the Blue Manakin
The Blue Manakin lives in the Atlantic rainforests of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. It is characterized by its striking plumage, especially its bright blue chest, which also gives it its name. In contrast to the males, the females are rather inconspicuously colored (olive-green), which is particularly important for egg incubation.
Only the dominant alpha male can mate with the female. The subordinate beta males, however, gain experience from these dances, preparing for the time when the oldest male loses his status, and one of the younger males takes his place.
The Blue Manakin is especially known for its impressive cooperative courtship behavior. These behaviors are displayed by the birds only in selected courtship sites (= leks), which are characterized by slender, slightly curved branches at a height of about 1.5 meters. Each of these courtship sites features a dominant alpha male, which gathers several subordinate males (beta) around him.
When a female enters the courtship site and perches on one of the branches, the alpha and beta males follow and line up beside her, with the alpha male closest. During the ensuing courtship dance, the alpha male leaps high and hovers in front of the female before returning to the branch and rejoining the end of the group. This is followed by the beta males, replicating his movements one by one. This rotating circular motion continues (often more than 50 jumps) until the female signals her readiness to mate, which is indicated by her reaction, such as increased body movements, jumping, and wing flapping. The alpha male now acoustically signals to the other males to move away, and performs a special solo dance intended to lead to mating.