Bonfire: Trees & Creatures
Bonfire: Trees & Creatures Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components and Rules for Adding a 5th Player
The last to arrive at the cities of the ancients is the house of the Black River, for they had the longest road. But they, too, are awaited by a friendly guardian and informed about the tasks ahead.
Additional Components
Components for the black player:
- 8 Fate Tiles
- 10 Offering Tiles
- 1 Overview Card (for the Final Scoring)
- 7 Portals
- 1 "0/50" Marker
- 1 Score Marker
- 18 Resources
- 1 Action Overview
- 1 Ship
- 1 Guardian
- 7 Novices
- 21 Action Tiles
- 1 Starting Tile for Guardians
- 1 Player Board
- 1 Extension (Terrace)
- 8 Multiplier Tokens
Setup
- Place 2 additional Tasks on each of the 4 islands with a Guardian. During a Receive a Task action, you may take one of these tasks, paying 1 less resource than usual, since there is no resource depicted on these islands; you still have to pay and deliver the Offering Tile.
- Place 5 Portals to every space at the Great Bonfire.
Note: There are no longer enough Guardians for every player resulting in some extra competition. If you run out of Resources or Action Tiles, you can use the Multiplier Tokens: Place a Resource or Action Tile on the Token, indicating you now own three of that kind.
Module 1: Ancient Trees
The joy is immeasurable when the gnomes see the first delicate blossoms on the withered branches of the ancient trees. Obviously, the aura of the guardians gives new strength to even these oldest of Asperia's trees.
Additional Components
- 1 Tree Board
- 24 Trees (7 blue, 7 red, 6 yellow, 4 white)
- 6 Guardian Tiles
- 3 Tasks (1 of each color, put them to the others): Have 1 yellow Tree; Have Trees in blue, red and yellow; Have 4 Trees of the same color (not white)
- 1 Neutral Novice
- 1 Gnome ("Elder")
- 1 Tom-Card (for Solo Play)
Setup
- Place the Tree Board adjacent to the main Board. It should extend the forest next to the Path Tiles. The new board also offers space for the stacks of Path Tiles.
- Shuffle the 24 Trees and place the stack face up onto the rightmost space.
- Draw 4 Trees and place them in the remaining spaces so that a total of 5 Trees are displayed.
- Place the Neutral Novice on the Common Task.
- Add the additional Elder to the Elders of the Base Game, creating a display of 7. This Elder reads: "You gain 1 Point for each Tree in your City."
- Shuffle the 6 Guardian Tiles, draw 4 and place them at random next to the Guardians depicted on the Board. Return the 2 remaining Tiles back into the box. If this Tile is present: Place 6 different Action Tiles on this Tile as a randomly sorted stack.
Gameplay
a) If you performed the Make a Procession action and then have at least 1 Guardian on a Path Tile with no Tree adjacent to it, you may place 1 Tree:
- Choose 1 of the 3 leftmost Trees.
- Pay the Resources depicted on the left side of that Tree.
- Place the Tree adjacent to one of your Path Tiles that has a Guardian on it and above which no other Tree has been placed.
- Move the remaining Trees from right to left, refreshing the display to contain 5 Trees.
b) Each Tree has a different use:
- The function is depicted in the crown of each Tree (see Appendix I: Trees).
- The right side of the Tree depicts when and how often you may use its function: once, immediately; any number of times; once at the end of the game.
- Example (printed callout): Pay 1 flower. At the end of the game, you gain 1 Point for each of your red Trees.
c) On the Tree Board each Guardian is associated with a Guardian Tile. If you have the corresponding Guardian in your city, she gives you a small advantage whenever you take a Tree:
- You gain 1 Point.
- You may choose from all 5 Trees.
- You may pay 1 Resource to gain 1 yellow Action Tile.
- You may also place Trees above Path Tiles that do not have a Guardian on them.
- You may pay 1 Gold to gain 2 Points.
- Take the topmost Action Tile of the stack on this Tile. If you take the last Tile, immediately create a new stack like during setup.
d) On the Tree Board there is 1 additional space of the High Council, on which Novices can be placed.
- Bonus: "Take 1 of the 3 leftmost Trees (not white!) for free and place it according to the usual rules adjacent to a path tile. OR: Gain 1 Point."
- You can use the advantages of your Guardians. Afterwards, refill the display as usual.
e) On the Tree Board there is 1 additional Common Task, which lets you gain 7 Points: Have 7 Trees.
End of Game
- You gain 2 Points for each Tree of the same color as the adjacent Bonfire.
- You gain 2 Points for each of your white Trees, adjacent to any Bonfire.
- You gain the Points for any Trees with the end-of-game symbol.
- You gain 7 Points if you fulfilled the Common Task Have 7 Trees.
Example (printed callout): You gain 2 Points because the color of the Tree matches the Bonfire and an additional 3 Points, because you placed a Guardian by the Tree.
Solo Play
a) Before playing, replace the depicted old card with the new card.
b) The action Retrieve a Guardian is now extended:
- Take any Guardian Tom does not already have.
- Is there an unoccupied Path Tile:
- Yes: Place her on the next unoccupied Path Tile. Take the leftmost Tree from the display and place it next to this Path Tile. Refill the display afterwards.
- No: Place her on the Starting Tile for Guardians, as usual.
c) Tom neither uses the functions of the Trees nor the advantages of the Guardian Tiles.
d) During Final Scoring Tom moves all Guardians to the adjacent Bonfires, if there's a Portal between them. He now also receives 2 Points for any Tree matching the color of the adjacent Bonfire, as well as Points for the Guardians, who are next to a Bonfire.
Module 2: Creatures
The gnomes have always respected their environment. This is how, over time, friendships developed, with many other creatures of Asperia. Every house of gnomes has built one particularly deep relationship with a distinct species. As it now turns out, the individual abilities of these beings will be of great value for the gnomes in accomplishing their difficult task.
Additional Components
9 Creature Tiles:
- Crystal Dragons grind their scales on the very prisms that amplify the light of the bonfires. As a result, these prisms refract the light of all bonfires alike.
- The Enchanted Spider is one of the oldest life forms of Asperia and full of that magic of the elder days. In their webs you can recognize the pattern of time itself.
- Glimmer Birds refract the light of the bonfires with their shimmering wings. They skillfully use this ability to benefit "their" gnomes.
- The gnomes once were Treelings. There is a hidden valley in which a group of them thrive to this day and live together in happiness with the resident gnomes.
- Only the bravest dare to sit a Seer Salamander on their head. But as soon as it put its tentacles on the temples, that bearer is a master in directing fate.
- Cuddle Cats are natural born pets. The elders love them and spend a lot of time with them. And that pleases the younger gnomes, giving them more leeway for their tasks.
- The arcs on the dorsal spines of Thunder Toads enable flash-like visions. If you know how to interpret them, favorable opportunities await.
- Since the beginning of time the gnomes have been helping newly hatched Giant Turtles to reach the water by the big river. Out of gratitude they now take you to the most distant islands.
- Twinkling Bugs carry tiny fragments of the bonfires and happily share their power with the gnomes. However, they need to regenerate for a long time after such exertion.
Setup
- After setup, but before the first turn (i.e. Base Game Page 5, between steps 7 and 8): Remove the Thunder Toad (03) from the game, when you're playing without the Events module. Shuffle the Creatures and then reveal as many Creatures as there are players plus 2.
- Starting to the right of the Starting Player and then continuing counterclockwise, every player chooses 1 Creature for themselves and places it face up below their Action Overview. Return the remaining Creatures back into the box.
- The Creature and its ability are available to you for the entire game (see Appendix II: Creatures).
Module 3: Events
Even on Asperia, no two days are ever the same. So seize the day and the opportunities it presents!
Additional Components
21 Event Cards
Setup & Gameplay
The Events change the base rules of the game in a positive manner (see Appendix III: Events). Shuffle the Event Cards to form a face down deck. The Starting Player:
- takes the deck
- reveals the top Event before their very first turn and places it so everyone can see it. From now on, everyone may use this Event.
- reveals 1 Event Card each time before performing the action Place a Fate Tile. From now on, only the new Event is active. Only then does the player place the Fate Tile and can already use the new Event if applicable.
Appendix I: Trees
Card text as printed on the Trees (English translation of the Russian community scan; see the source note above). The number is the card's printed number. The bonus marked with an asterisk applies only when you spend resources or Action Tiles to acquire or perform an action.
- 01: Immediately perform the action "Make a Procession" and take 1 step with Guardians of your choice.
- 02: Gain 1 yellow Action Tile and 1 Gold.
- 03: You may use green Action Tiles as yellow.*
- 04: You may use Blossom Resource tokens as Gold.*
- 05: Gain 1 Point at the end of the game for each blue Tree in your City.
- 06: Gain 4 Points at the end of the game for each group of 4 identical adjacent symbols in your Fate Area.
- 07: You may place a Guardian on this Tree by moving her 1 step from an adjacent Path Tile during a Procession. Gain 3 Points at the end of the game.
- 11: Gain 1 Point at the end of the game for each red Tree in your City.
- 12: Gain 2 blue Action Tiles.
- 13: Gain 2 additional Points at the end of the game for each red Bonfire in your City.
- 14: You may use Root Resource tokens as Gold.*
- 15: Gain 2 Points at the end of the game for each group of 3 identical adjacent symbols in your Fate Area.
- 16: You may place a Guardian on this Tree by moving her 1 step from an adjacent Path Tile during a Procession. Gain 5 Points at the end of the game.
Appendix II: Creatures
Creature ability text (English translation of the Russian community scan; see the source note above). The number is the Creature tile's printed number. Translator's note: Creature 04 reads "action board" in the Russian; it is rendered here as "your Player Board". Check against the physical card if in doubt.
- 01 Crystal Dragons: When you spend Resources (not Gold), you may use any Resources instead. At the end of the game, gain 2 Points for each Path Tile that does not match the color of the Bonfire.
- 02 Treelings: Immediately recruit a Gnome for free and gain 1 Gold and 1 yellow Action Tile.
- 03 Thunder Toads (only with Module 3: Events): Each time a new Event is revealed, you take 1 additional Event card and place it face up in front of you. During the game you have 2 Events available (1 common and 1 personal).
- 04 Enchanted Spider: When performing the action Place a Fate Tile, you may choose from the entire available supply of tiles on your Player Board.
- 05 Seer Salamander: When performing the action Place a Fate Tile, you may cover previously placed Fate Tiles in your Fate Area. You must completely cover 3 previously placed symbols on one level. After that, gain 3 Action Tiles for placing the new Fate Tile and 3 Action Tiles for the 3 covered symbols (that is, you gain exactly 6 Action Tiles).
- 06 Giant Turtles: When performing the action Move your Ship, you may pay 1 blue Action Tile to move to any island.
- 07 Glimmer Birds: When performing the action Use the Great Bonfire, you may choose not to rotate the Great Bonfire. Each time you select a Portal, you may place it in your City either clockwise, starting from the far left position, or counterclockwise, starting from the right.
- 08 Cuddle Cats: Scoring for the Elder cards takes place at the end of the game (not immediately).
- 09 Twinkling Bugs: On your first and last turn, take 1 additional turn each. At the end of the game, gain 2 Points instead of the additional turn.
Appendix III: Events
Event text (English translation of the Russian community scan; see the source note above). The number is the Event card's printed number.
- 01 All actions: You may use any Resources to substitute for required Resources (not Gold) when paying for something.
- 02 Place a Fate Tile: Your personal supply may contain up to 2 Action Tiles when you place a Fate Tile in your City.
- 03 Place a Fate Tile: Additionally gain 1 Action Tile of your choice whose symbol is depicted on the Fate Tile you placed.
- 04 Place a Fate Tile: Gain 2 Points for each group of 3 or 4 identical symbols that you formed when placing the Fate Tile.
- 05 Place a Fate Tile: When you cover a yellow Action Tile symbol or a Gold symbol with the Fate Tile, gain 2 Points.
- 06 Lay a Path: Immediately gain the Resource depicted on the Path Tile.
- 07 Lay a Path: The cost of a Path Tile is equal to 1 green Action Tile.
- 08 Move your Ship: If you spent at least 1 blue Action Tile, you may move your Ship 1 additional time.
- 09 Move your Ship: For 1 blue Action Tile you may move your Ship to any island where an opponent's Ship is located.
- 10 Receive a Task: You do not need to spend the Resource depicted on the Offering Tile.
- 11 Receive a Task: You do not need to spend the Resource depicted on the island.