Territory Control

Components

One 8x8 square-grid board,

~25-35 player-one territory,

~25-35 player-two territory,

10 player-one meeples,

10 player-two meeples,

8 cards of 1a-5a each,

8 cards of 1b-5b each.

Introduction

This game is about tactfully playing cards to restrict your opponents play and to win the most territory on the board. Both players have only ten turns to play each game. Whoever has the most territory by the end is declared winner.

Setup

The player who will play second puts one of their connectors in the center of the board. Then, the starting player puts a connector adjacent to that piece in the middle. After that, play begins with the starting player.Have two players sit across from each other and place the board between them. It is important that each player has a row of the board that is closest to them. Give meeples and territory of one color to each player.

Choose whether to play with the “a'' cards or the “b” cards. We suggest using the “a” cards for your first game. Deal out two of each card labeled “Xa” or “Xb” to each player. This becomes their hand and should be kept hidden from the opposing player during the game.

Finally, choose a starting player by whatever means you can agree on.

Card Anatomy

A card consists of a pattern of two types of squares. The pattern of squares on the card corresponds to squares on the board. The dark square in the center is where you play your meeple. The colored squares are where you attack.

Play

Playing your turn consists of picking one card and playing it. When you play, you may rotate the card in any direction: up, down, left, or right. Whether or not you can play the meeple determines whether or not you can play the card. If a pattern of a card other than the meeple extends off the board, just ignore those squares.

You can only play meeples in empty squares immediately up, down, left or right of your pieces. You may also play meeples on the row of the board closest to your side. However, you cannot play meeples in squares that are immediately up, down, left or right of your opponent’s pieces.

For each attacking square, play differs based on what occupies that square on the board. On empty squares, place territory of your color. On squares with your opponent’s territory, remove it, making the square empty. On squares with meeples, however, nothing happens. Unlike territory, meeples can never be removed from the board.

After playing a card, discard it. After your turn is over, it’s your opponent’s turn.

End of the Game

There are three ways the game can end. If both players have played all ten of their turns, the player who has the most pieces on the board wins. If a player starts their turn and there is no spot on the board to play a meeple, the player who just played their turn wins. And if a player has played all of their territory pieces and tries to take a turn in which they need to play more territory but cannot, they win.

Alternative gamemode: Randomized Hands

Instead of dealing out two of each card to each player, players will have a hand with a randomized amount of each card type. Both players will have the same starting hand.

Choose whether to play with the “a'' cards or the “b” cards. Take four of each card labeled "Xa" or "Xb" and shuffle them. Deal out ten cards face up. Make a second pile with the same cards in it. Give one pile to each player: this becomes their hand.

Alternative gamemode: Handless

Instead of having hands, the players can play any card type at any time.

Choose whether to play with the “a'' cards or the “b” cards. Place next to the board one of each card with the label "Xa" or "Xb" on them. These become the five cards each player plays with. After playing a card, do not discard it.