Ace of Spies Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • Objective
• Game Setup
• Game Play
• Interrupts
• Winning the Game
• FAQ
• Card Types & Explanation
• Symbol Key

Introduction

Objective

Once the game ends (see the Game Play section), the Spy who has amassed the most points from completed missions is the winner, the Ace of Spies.

Game Setup

1. Separate the four card decks. You should have 40 cards for each city (London, Paris and Berlin) as well as 35 Mission cards.
2. Shuffle the four decks, placing them face down in the middle of the play area.
3. Deal each player two cards from each City deck. They should begin the game with a total of six City cards.
4. Deal each player three Mission cards. They must keep at least ONE of the Mission cards, but may choose to keep two or all three.
5. Finally, take two cards from each city deck and lay them face up on the table.

Game Play

1. Players have four options at the start of each turn. They may either:

   a.) Draw any two cards from the City decks. If one of the face up City cards is taken, it must be immediately replaced with another from the same City deck. Cards can be taken in any combination - two face up, one face up / one face down, or two face down - from whatever City deck you like. If you choose this option, you MUST take two cards - no more, no less.

   b.) Draw three cards from the Mission deck. If this option is chosen, the player must draw three cards and keep at least one. You may choose to keep two or all three. Any cards that the player is not keeping should be placed face down in a discard pile. These cards are now out of the game.

   c.) Play an Agent from their hand to use its special ability. Place it face up on the table and follow the text on the card in red. Please note, this Agent still scores you 2 points despite not being part of a completed mission. Other players are also able to steal it away from you.

   d.) Discard any number of cards from your hand in order to perform a special action. The points value in the top left corner denotes a card's value and you must discard an amount equal to or more than the costs listed in the actions below. You may only perform one special action.

   Special Actions and their costs:

   • Collect any ONE card from the discard pile (5 cost)
   • Collect any TWO cards from the discard pile (7 cost)
   • Collect any ONE card from any ONE City deck (5 cost)
   • Collect any ONE card from the Mission deck (7 cost)
   • Force any player to discard any ONE card of your choice from a completed mission (5 cost)

2. Players may then attempt to complete Missions. Show the other players the Mission you wish to complete, then lay down the necessary City cards. Remember that some Agent cards let you complete a Mission without certain elements or add some for extra points - check before completing! Lay a completed Mission in front of you so other players can see all cards played. Note that you may complete as many missions as you like in a single turn as long as you have the cards needed.

Interrupts

Please note: Interrupt cards can be played at any time in the game, even when it isn't your turn. If an Interrupt card is played, it must be resolved immediately, then play continues as normal. The "Not So Fast!" Interrupt cards can also be played to stop the effect of any Agent using its special ability (the red text).

Additional rules on interrupts:

• Interrupts are removed from game once played.
• If you draw an interrupt from a visible pile (one of the six city cards that are face up) then you can't draw any more cards.

Winning the Game

The game can end in one of three ways:

1. Once any of the four decks has run out.
2. Once any player reaches 75 points.
3. Once any player completes their seventh mission.

There is then one final round of play, going round the table and ending with the player who triggered the end of the game. The player who then has the highest points score is declared the winner, the Ace of Spies!

FAQ

When does game end? Immediately or at end of turn?

Once a player has triggered a game ending condition, there is one final round of play. Everyone gets one more turn, finishing with the player who triggered the end.

"Play on any completed mission" - does that mean I can play later or only when completing the mission?

It means you play it on any mission that has been finished and is on the table.

Are mission cards kept in the hand?

Mission cards are not officially kept in your hand (generally have them face down on the table in front of you) and they do NOT count towards your hand limit of 10.

Can mission cards be discarded to do special actions?

Once you have a mission card, it can't be discarded. You either complete it or you don't.

What happens to mission cards I haven't completed at the end of the game?

Those missions' point values are subtracted from your total score.

For "False information", "Double Crossed", and "The Snitch", does the player that plays the interrupt get to choose or does the target?

The player that played the interrupt chooses.

For "The Assassin" - can I see their hand if they don't have an agent?

Yes, if they don't have an agent, they have to prove it by showing you all their cards.

Does that mean show everyone?

No, just you.

Card Types & Explanation

The card diagrams in the printed rulebook are images. The labelled parts of each card type are listed below as printed.

Agent cards have: Card Name; Agent Symbol and City Color; Point Value; Special Ability (the red text); Flavor Text.

Example (Captain Willis, 2 points): the special ability reads "Take two bonus cards from the London deck on completing a mission. The Re-user: Take any two cards from the discard pile."

The printed example cards Blueprints (1 point) and The Park Bench (1 point) are labelled Agent Symbol and City Color, Point Value, and Flavor Text, with no special-ability text.

Interrupt cards have: Card Name; Interrupt Symbol and City Color; Card Ability; Flavor Text.

Tool cards have: Card Name; Tool Symbol and City Color; Point Value; Flavor Text.

Mission cards have: Card Name; Mission Symbol; Point Value; Fulfillment Requirements; Flavor Text.

Symbol Key

• Interrupt Symbol
• Agent Symbol
• Intelligence Symbol
• Location Symbol
• Tool Symbol
• Mission Symbol
• Berlin City Color
• London City Color
• Paris City Color