how to play dragon delta

How to play…How to play…

A series by Wendy DermanA series by Wendy Derman

Dragon DeltaDragon Delta

German-style board gameGerman-style board game 2 to 6 players2 to 6 players Ages 8 and upAges 8 and up 1 hour or less to play1 hour or less to play

The ChallengeThe Challenge

Be the first to cross the Dragon River by:Be the first to cross the Dragon River by:

Placing stones on sandbarsPlacing stones on sandbars Placing planks on stonesPlacing planks on stones Walking across the planksWalking across the planks

You must reach the shore directly opposite your You must reach the shore directly opposite your starting location.starting location.

The risksThe risks

Thwart your opponents by:Thwart your opponents by:

Blocking themBlocking them Removing their planksRemoving their planks Summoning dragonsSummoning dragons

The piecesThe pieces

A pawn for each playerA pawn for each player A set of 6 planks for each playerA set of 6 planks for each player A common pool of stonesA common pool of stones

Placement cardsPlacement cards

Place 1 or 2 stonesPlace 1 or 2 stones Place 1 or 2 planksPlace 1 or 2 planks Remove a plank or a stoneRemove a plank or a stone

You may not remove a plank that someone is You may not remove a plank that someone is standing onstanding on

You may not remove a stone that is supporting a You may not remove a stone that is supporting a plankplank

Movement cardsMovement cards

Move pawn 1 spaceMove pawn 1 space Move pawn 2 spacesMove pawn 2 spaces Jump your pawn over an opponent’s pawnJump your pawn over an opponent’s pawn

Two players may not stand on the same plank.Two players may not stand on the same plank.

If you cannot complete movement exactly as shown on If you cannot complete movement exactly as shown on the card, you fall into the river and go back to your the card, you fall into the river and go back to your starting zone.starting zone.

Here be dragonsHere be dragons

Every player has 5 dragon cards, matching the Every player has 5 dragon cards, matching the colors of their opponentscolors of their opponents

When you play a dragon card, the opponent When you play a dragon card, the opponent who has the color you play loses their turnwho has the color you play loses their turn

You may only play 1 dragon card per roundYou may only play 1 dragon card per round

The PlayThe Play

Every player secretly picks 5 cards from all available Every player secretly picks 5 cards from all available cards and stacks them in the order in which they will be cards and stacks them in the order in which they will be played.played.

Everyone turns up card #1. Actions on the cards are Everyone turns up card #1. Actions on the cards are carried out, beginning with the starting player and carried out, beginning with the starting player and moving clockwise.moving clockwise.

Turns 2 through 5 are completed in the same way.Turns 2 through 5 are completed in the same way. After turn 5, the round ends. All cards are returned to After turn 5, the round ends. All cards are returned to

the players hands. Starting player moves to the next the players hands. Starting player moves to the next person clockwise.person clockwise.

Round 1Round 1

Here is what the board might look like at the Here is what the board might look like at the end of round 1.end of round 1.

Most players have headed towards the center, Most players have headed towards the center, and are on a collision course.and are on a collision course.

Blue has decided to go around the outside edge Blue has decided to go around the outside edge instead. It is a longer path, but with less risk of instead. It is a longer path, but with less risk of bumping into opponents.bumping into opponents.

The catchThe catch

You may not change the cards you picked or the You may not change the cards you picked or the order you picked for them once the round order you picked for them once the round begins.begins.

This means that based on your opponent’s This means that based on your opponent’s moves, you may not be able to legally complete a moves, you may not be able to legally complete a move that you had planned.move that you had planned.

Oh no!Oh no!

If you play a movement card but your pawn is If you play a movement card but your pawn is not able to complete the movement, you fall not able to complete the movement, you fall into the river and go back to your starting zone.into the river and go back to your starting zone.

The next image shows yellow blocked by other The next image shows yellow blocked by other players in all directions.players in all directions.

If yellow’s next card is to move one or two If yellow’s next card is to move one or two spaces, yellow will fall into the river.spaces, yellow will fall into the river.

However, if yellow’s next card is placement, a However, if yellow’s next card is placement, a dragon, or jump a pawn, they are safe.dragon, or jump a pawn, they are safe.

The winThe win

The first player to touch the shore of The first player to touch the shore of the zone directly opposite their starting the zone directly opposite their starting

zone, wins the game.zone, wins the game.