ARENA

Barbarians

By Kjeld

OVERVIEW

The game begins with players spread randomly throughout the grasslands. Production will increase rapidly with capture of a capital (see 'Capital' below for details), though it will increase risk of elimination. If you lose your last capital city you're out of the game. Gather resources and outposts as you expand (see 'Special Locations'), but be aware that the terrain will affect your attack/defend strength and also the number of units you can have on a given hex (see 'Terrain Effects').

GAMEPLAY RULES

Default fog is set to medium, some special territories can help you pierce the fog of war. You may return to unit placement from attack, but not fortify after attack (though you have unlimited fortifies per turn). You may hold any number of units in reserve and any number of cards in your hand. Card scale ramps slowly (5,5,6,6,7...10,11,13,14,16...).

SPECIAL LOCATIONS

Capital: Each capital has two territories, the base capital hex and a special fortified capital city. Both territories add 2 to defend dice. The capital base hex grants a bonus: +3 place-anywhere, +10 on self. Max units 50. The capital city serves as a defensive reserve. It will automatically refill at +10 units per turn, up to a cap of 50. The capital city may only be attacked from the capital base hex, and has an attack-only border back to the capital base hex with +2 to the attack dice.

Fortress [FS]: Adds 1 to defend dice. Bonus: +5 on self. Max units 35 (regardless of terrain type).

Village [V]: Bonus: +5 on self. Max units 35 (regardless of terrain type).

Place of Power [PP]: Each place of power gives a +2 place-anywhere bonus plus a place-anywhere collector's bonus of +2 for each pair of places or power you control. For example, controlling one place of power would give you +2, controlling two would give you +6, controlling 3 would give you +12, controlling 4 would give you +20, etc. Also, each place of power grants full vision up to three hexes away (excluding capitals).

Tunnels: Found only in hillly terrain, each tunnel connects to each other tunnel on the board at default dice (d7 v d7). Tunnels hold a maximum of 15 units.

RESOURCES

Timber [T]: Each tile with an axe icon gives you a +1 factory bonus on your capital(s) and a +2 factory bonus on all villages you control.

Ore [O]: Each tile with a shovel and pick icon gives you a +1 factory bonus on your capital(s) and a +2 factory bonus on all fortresses you control.

Wheat [WH]: Each tile with a wheat icon gives you a +2 factory bonus on your capital(s).

Fish [FI]: Each tile with a fish icon gives you a +2 factory bonus on your capital(s)and a +1 factory bonus on all fortresses and villages you control.

TERRAIN EFFECTS

Grasslands [G]: Attack with d8, defend with d7. Unit Max 50.

Swamps [S]: Attack with d6, defend with d9. Unit Max 15.

Forest [F]: Attack with d7, defend with d8. Unit Max 30.

Hills [H]: Attack with d7, defend with d8. Unit Max 25.

Forested Hills [FH]: Attack with d6, defend with d9. Unit Max 15.

Mountains [M]: Attack with d6, defend with d10. Unit Max 10.

Plateau [P]: Attack with d8. Defend with d7 against other plateaus. Against non-plateau terrains only: defend with d9. Unit Max 50.

Water [W]: Attack with d9, defend with d6. Unit Max 50.

SCENARIOS

Note: Grayed-out text = in development

Arena 3-4/5-6/7-8/9-10 Player: FFA setups with balanced starts for three to ten players.

Arena Duel: An even start for 2 players to duel.

Arena - 3 v 3: In this scenario, the East team faces off against the West team. A team wins when the captain (the central player on either side) is eliminated.

Oracle's Arena: Though the board is covered in heavy fog, players may "pay" 10 units from their capital on any turn to consult the oracle, revealing the entire map. Note that only one player may consult the oracle on any given turn, and it will go to the last player to make the attack. Plan accordingly.

Random Start FFA: For anywhere from 5-10 players. Starting capitals are randomized, but note that this may lead to unequal start positions.

5 v 5 Teams: One team starts in the East, the other in the West.

2 v 2 v 2 v 2 v 2 Teams: Teams start distributed around the board.

8 Player FFA: An even start for 8 players.

4 v 4 Teams: One team starts in the North, the other in the South.

2 v 2 v 2 v 2 Teams: One team in each corner, middle East and middle West capitals start neutral.

3 v 3 Teams: One team starts in the far East, the other in the far West.

2 v 2 v 2 Teams: Teams start in the non-corner capitals.

4 Player FFA: An even start for 4 players.

Slow 4 Player FFA: A variant starting configuration that places players farther apart at the beginning.

2 v 2 Teams: Teams start in symmetric positions, same as 4 Player FFA.