Block Buster
Block Buster Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
Before you start the game, take off the point block stickers carefully and attach them to point block tiles.
- 1 game board (marked with areas for 2, 3 and 4 players)
- 64 game blocks in 4 colors
- 25 point blocks in 5 shapes: red circle, red star, green spiral, blue wave, yellow crescent moon
- 8 big penalty tokens (−2)
- 8 small penalty tokens (−1)
- 1 rule booklet
- 1 bag
Preparation
Place the game board in the middle of the table. Each player takes his/her own color blocks. Each player takes 14 blocks for 2 players (15 blocks for 3 players, 16 blocks for 4 players).
The point blocks are placed on the board in a fixed pattern. The placement diagrams show, row by row, the point-block shapes on the board:
- For 2 players (diagram 1-1): 3 × 3 pattern in the 2-player area.
- Row 1: red circle, red star, green spiral
- Row 2: green spiral, red circle, red star
- Row 3: red star, green spiral, red circle
- For 3 players (diagram 1-2): 4 × 4 pattern in the 3-player area.
- Row 1: red circle, blue wave, red star, green spiral
- Row 2: green spiral, red circle, blue wave, red star
- Row 3: red star, green spiral, red circle, blue wave
- Row 4: blue wave, red star, green spiral, red circle
- For 4 players (diagram 1-3): 5 × 5 pattern in the 4-player area.
- Row 1: red circle, yellow moon, blue wave, red star, green spiral
- Row 2: green spiral, red circle, yellow moon, blue wave, red star
- Row 3: red star, green spiral, red circle, yellow moon, blue wave
- Row 4: blue wave, red star, green spiral, red circle, yellow moon
- Row 5: yellow moon, blue wave, red star, green spiral, red circle
Then place point blocks as the pictures show. (You must place them exactly according to the description.)
Playing the game
The players choose a starting player. This game is of advantage to the starting player. So the starting player gets penalty tokens according to the rule before the game begins. The second player also gets a penalty token when there are three or four players.
(A penalty token with 2 red cubes is −2 points, a token with 1 red cube is −1 point.)
Penalty tokens for each player number
| 1st player | 2nd player | 3rd player | 4th player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 players | −5 | 0 | — | — |
| 3 players | −3 | −1 | 0 | — |
| 4 players | −3 | −1 | 0 | 0 |
The starting player begins; players take turns in clockwise order around the board. A player, on his turn, places his first block anywhere on board. (However, the placing area is limited by the boundary according to the number of players.)
From his second block, the blocks must be connected to the side of the previous block. (Diagrams 2-1 and 2-2 illustrate block placement.)
A player surrounds a point block by placing blocks around it. The player who surrounds a point block with more blocks than the others can get the point block. Around a point block there are 12 spaces which can be occupied by blocks. When a player's blocks occupy more of those spaces than the other players, he will get the point block at the end of the game.
Example (3-1): Blue player occupies 7 spaces with his blocks and Yellow player occupies 5 spaces around a point block. As a result, Blue player gets the point block.
At game end, 1 point block scores 3 victory points and 2 same shaped point blocks score 7 victory points. If a player acquires 3 same shaped point blocks during a game, the game is immediately over with his victory. (for 2 players)
Sometimes, a player cannot connect his blocks because his already-placed blocks are blocked by others' blocks. In this case, the player can use penalty tokens. By using them, he can place his new block on spaces which are separated from his previous blocks.
Example (4-1), example 1: Yellow player cannot place his new block as his previous blocks are blocked by Blue player. Yellow player can place his block by skipping 1 space, like picture (4-1, ①). In this case, he must take a "−2 point" penalty token to do this.
Example (4-1), example 2: If he skips 2 spaces, like picture (4-1, ②), he must take two "−2 point" penalty tokens.
Like these, any one skipping charges a "−2 point" penalty token. These minus tokens are deducted from total victory points at game end.
Note: However, the sum of penalty tokens must not be under −10 points, including the penalty tokens which a player receives at the beginning of the game. Also, if there are no more penalty tokens left during the game, any player in need cannot take them.
Scoring for 3–4 players: At game end, 1 point block scores 3 points, 2 same shaped point blocks score 7 points and 3 same shaped point blocks score 12 points. If a player acquires 4 same shaped point blocks during a game, the game is immediately over with his victory.
Game End
A player can say "PASS" when he cannot place his block any more. Then the next player continues the game. When all the players cannot place blocks on board, the game is over. Everyone counts their victory points.
Scoring
At game end, 1 point block scores 3 victory points and 2 same shaped point blocks score 7 victory points. Minus tokens that players have are deducted from total victory points. If a player leaves any blocks at game end, it is also deducted (−1 point per one square of each block). The player who has the most victory points is the winner.
Example of an Ended Game
Example (5-1), a finished game for 2 players: Yellow player acquired 2 red stars (7 points), 1 green spiral (3 points) and 1 red circle (3 points). Yellow player already has −5 point penalty tokens (−5 points) as the starting player. As he placed all his blocks on board, there is no more deduction.
Blue player acquired 2 green spirals (7 points), 1 red star (3 points) and 1 red circle (3 points). Even though he hasn't got a penalty token, he has left 2 blocks which have 8 squares (−8 points). His final score is 5 points.
The winner is Yellow player (8 vs 5).
Tips
- You can use the penalty tokens in order to preoccupy better spaces for your next move.
- It is better to place the blocks with more squares prior to the blocks with less squares.
- If any player acquires 3 same shaped point blocks, the game immediately ends. Therefore, always be cautious of others' moves!
Special Rules
1. Special Rule for 2 players
When you play with the special rule for 2 players, you use all areas on the board like a 4-player game. Each player starts with two colors instead of one. The starting player takes −3 point penalty tokens. Even though you use two colors, acquiring a point block is decided only by one color, not two colors.
2. Couple Game (for 4 players, 2 teams)
Two players can make one team (for a 4-player game). The starting team takes −2 point penalty tokens. Each player chooses one color. Players take turns in clockwise order around the board. Like the special rule for 2 players, acquiring a point block is decided only by one color, not two colors. At game end, you sum up your points together with your partner's points.
3. Official Rule for 2 players
When you play the Official Game for 2 players, you use all areas on the board like a 4-player game. You use only one color but double the amount: 32 blocks in total. The starting player takes −3 point penalty tokens. Other rules are the same.