Cat Sudoku: Summer Festival
Cat Sudoku: Summer Festival Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Components
- 36 cards (6 red, 6 blue, 6 green, 9 yellow, 9 purple; numbered 1-9)
- 1 Host token
- 1 Score zone aid
- 10 Reserve tokens
- 1 Rulebook
Card Placement Rule
- Cards must be played so that they create a 3x3 grid.
- A card CANNOT be played in the same row or column as another card that matches its NUMBER or COLOR, except for the space where it is played.
- Cards may be played on top of other cards, with the one exception that cards can never be placed on top of the card where the host token is located. There is no limit to how high the cards can stack.
Game Setup
- Draw Deck a. In a solo or 2-player game, remove all nine purple cards. b. Set the score zone aid to the side. c. Shuffle the deck of cards and place it face down. Remove two cards from the game and place them back in the game box without looking at them. In a 4-player game, remove three cards instead of two. d. Take the top card of the deck and place it face up in the middle of the table and place the host token on the top of the card. This card will serve as the center of the 3x3 grid.
- Reserve Cards. All players take cards and place them face up in their player area (the area in front of them on the table).
- In a solo or 2-player game, all players take three reserve cards.
- In a 3 or 4-player game, all players take two reserve cards.
- Reserve Token. All players take one reserve token and place it in their player area. Place the remaining tokens to the side within reach of all players.
- Start Player. The player who most recently played Cat Sudoku is the starting player and takes the first turn. If no one or more than one player has played Cat Sudoku recently, the player who has most recently gone to a festival begins the game.
Gameplay / Turn
On a player's turn, they complete two phases in the following order. When someone finishes their turn, play continues to their left.
Phase 1: Draw and Place
The player draws a card from the top of the deck. The card must then be placed in one of two ways:
- Place in the Grid
- The card is placed face up in the grid according to the card placement rules (see above).
- Once it is played, pick up the host token and place it on top of the card that was just played.
- If the card is placed according to its special placement rules (on the card), take a reserve token. If there are no more reserve tokens, the player cannot take one.
- Place in the Reserve
- If the player cannot or chooses not to play the card in the grid, the card is placed face up in their player area as a reserve card.
Phase 2 (optional): Play Reserve Cards
Spend two reserve tokens to play one of your reserve cards.
- Once it is played, place the host token on top of the card that was just played.
- If the card is placed according to its special placement rules, take a reserve token.
Players can play more than one reserve card if they have enough reserve tokens to place them. The reserve cards can be played in any order. Reserve cards may be played regardless of what choice the player made in Phase 1.
Catching a Mistake
If a card is played in a row or column of a card with the same color or number, an error had been made. If the error is caught by another player before the end of the turn, the following takes place:
- The player who found the mistake takes a reserve token. If there are no more reserve tokens, the player can take one from a player who has the most tokens. They may choose from whom to take if there is a tie for most tokens.
- The player who placed the card incorrectly must take the card back from the grid and add it to their reserve. The player's turn ends.
Ending the Game
The game ends immediately when the draw deck is depleted at the end of a player's turn.
Scoring
- Zone. Score every card in their scoring zone. Each card is worth 1 victory point.
- Solo. The player scores the middle column.
- 2-player. The starting player scores the left column, and the other player scores the right column.
- 3-player. The starting player scores the left column, the second player scores the middle column, and the third player scores the right column.
- 4-player. Each player scores an outside row or column. (Note: there will be two overlapping spaces for each player.)
- Reserve Cards. Every card that is still in a player's reserve is worth -3 victory points.
- Reserve Tokens. The player who has the most reserve tokens receives 2 victory points. In the case of a tie, all tied players receive 2 victory points. If no player has any reserve tokens at the end of the game, no one scores any additional points.
- In a solo game, the player receives 2 victory points if they have at least one reserve token at the end of the game.
Advanced Scoring Options
Use the following rules to score zones:
- A stack with two or three cards
- Stacks of exactly zero or one card do not score victory points.
- Each stack with exactly two cards scores 2 victory points.
- Each stack with exactly three cards scores 5 victory points.
- A stack with the most cards in the zone. Score 1 victory point for each card in that stack.
Win
The player with the most points wins the game. In the case of a tie, the player who has more reserve tokens wins. In case of another tie, players share the win.
Scoring Titles
- 2 to 5 points - Keen Kitten: Demonstrates a basic foundation in sudoku strategy, signifying the beginning of your journey in mastering the game.
- 6 to 9 points - Feline Fanatic: Showcases a growing proficiency and enthusiasm for solving a double-deck sudoku puzzle.
- 10 to 13 points - Meow Maestro: A true testament to skill and understanding of Cat Sudoku: Summer Festival and dedication to mastering the game.
- 14 to 17 points - Temple Treasures: Earned by uncovering strategies within the game that lead to particularly efficient or creative puzzle solutions, akin to discovering hidden treasures within Natsu's temple.
- 18+ points - Sudoku Sensei: This prestigious achievement is awarded to those who attain a flawless score on double Sudoku puzzles, demonstrating their exceptional skill and precision in conquering the game's challenges. It's a testament to your cleverness, just like our feline friends who always seem to land on their feet!