Ada's Library
Ada's Library Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 6 master book cards
- 24 book tiles
- 45 library cards
- 1 bag
Preparation
- Shuffle the master book cards and place them face-down in a row at the center of the table. (Master Bookshelf)
- Shuffle all the library cards and form a face-down pile. (draw pile)
- Put all the book tiles in the cloth bag. Then, each player randomly draws ten books out of the bag and places them left to right in front of them in the order they were drawn. (the player's book pile)
- After all players have created their book pile, turn over the six master book cards in the center: this represents the book order you must try and get your book pile into.
- Choose the first player. In turn, each player takes 5 library cards from the top of the draw pile and keeps them in their hand.
Play!
- During their turn, players must either play a library card from their hand; or discard a card. If they play a card, the effects are immediately applied. If they discard a card, there is no effect.
- Once a card has been played, or discarded, place it face up to one side of the game play area. (discard pile)
- Then, the player takes the top card from the draw pile and places it in their hand.
- When a draw pile is exhausted, a player can reshuffle the used library cards and the game goes on.
Library Cards
Players can change the order of their books by playing library cards.
(1) Move cards
These cards allow the player to move a book from 1 to 4 spaces, depending on the card played, within their own pile of books. The player can choose which direction to move the book; however, the book may never be moved farther than the last position of the book pile. A book must use all of the moves dictated by the library card. A card that dictates a move of 4 spaces cannot be used to move 3 spaces just because it is impossible to move the tile any farther without exiting the line of books.
Once a move is made, the books passed over are shifted to reform a continuous line of books.
Example: The player chooses to move the yellow tile 4 spaces to the right. As a result, the yellow tile goes to where the teal tile was, and the four tiles move sideways to fill the space. The rearranged book pile is as follows.
(2) Move to the End card
These cards allow the player to move a tile to either end of their book pile.
Example: The player uses a Move to End card to move the gray tile to the right end of their book pile, as shown in the picture below. As a result, the player's book pile has been arranged as follows.
(3) Switch cards
These cards allow the player to switch a book with another book in their book pile located from 1 to 4 spaces away depending on the card played. Switching may occur in either direction.
Example: The player uses a Switch 4 card to switch the yellow tile with the teal tile 4 spaces away on the right, as shown in the picture below. As a result, the player's book pile has been arranged as follows.
(4) Reverse cards
These cards allow the player to switch the book at one end of the book pile with the book at the other end of the book pile.
Example: The player played a Reverse card to the following book pile. As a result, the player's book pile has been arranged as follows.
(5) Master Bookshelf Modify cards
These cards allow the player to move one of the presented book cards either 1 to 2 spaces, depending on the card played, in the direction of the player's choosing.
Example: The player plays a Master Bookshelf Modify 2 Card and moves the yellow book card to the right. The yellow book card takes the place of the teal card, and the teal and gray cards move one space to the left to fill the space. As a result, the center book cards have been changed as follows.
(6) Exchange Cards
These cards allow the player to exchange one of the books in their book pile with the book in their opponent's pile that lays in the direct opposite position from the book being swapped. The opponent cannot refuse this exchange.
Example: The player played an exchange card to exchange the magenta tile in their book pile to the blue tile in the same location of the opponent's book pile. The result is as follows.
End of the Game
The game ends when a player succeeds in arranging their books in the order dictated by the Master Bookshelf. If all the colors of the books are not present in a player's book pile, simply ignore the missing colors.
Special Rules for 4 Player Game
Use 36 tiles in the game. Each player takes 9 book tiles and tries to arrange them with the same basic rules.
Two players sitting on one side and facing the other two is recommended. When a player uses the 'Exchange Cards', they can exchange the book tiles with only the opponent sitting directly opposite.
Credits
A game by Zach Greenvoss, Amanda Greenvoss. Illustration by Wanjin Gill. Published by Gameology Inc. | www.playte.com