Cuboro Tricky Ways Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Game Version 1
  • Initial Position
  • Game Course
  • Types of Changing
  • Joker
  • Points
  • Further Game Course
• Game Version 2
  • Initial Position
  • Game Course
  • Points
  • Further Game Course
• Challenging Game Variations

Components

Cuboro elements (pieces, with counts): 3 (2x), 25 (1x), 46 (1x), KT (1x), 26 (1x), ST (1x), 11T (1x), 45 (1x), and 15 glass marbles.

The board has a Point field track and Finish fields for marbles. The starting tower (ST) is the element used to launch the first marble, and it starts outside the game field.

Game Version 1

(From age 6, and as an introduction!)

As for this version, paths are arranged on the surface of the cubes (channels).

Starting position 1

Starting position 1 is laid out as a 3x3 grid of cuboro cubes (the starting grid for version 1). The center field is the empty field reserved for the starting tower.

Initial Position

1. Place the 8 cuboro cubes on the board according to the basic grid "Starting position 1" – pay attention to the alignment of the channels.
2. The starting tower remains outside!
3. For each player, place a game peg in the starting field.
4. For four players, each receives 3 marbles: 2 blue and 1 red (joker). In case of fewer players, split the marbles equally (each receives the same number/colours).

Game Course

• The oldest player starts.
• The cuboro cubes in the starting positions can be rearranged using a maximum of three types of changing.
• The goal is to create as long a path as possible from the empty field (reserved for the starting tower) to one of the finish fields.

Types of Changing

Only three types of changing are allowed:

1. Shifting – A cube may be shifted into the empty field (without rotating).
2. Rotation – A cube may be rotated on its current field position.
3. Jumping – A cube may jump into the empty field from any position and also be rotated.

The same type of changing can be used three times, or a mixture of the options. Attention! Move only one cube at a time. It is not allowed to remove additional cubes from the game field or move two cubes at the same time.

Now the starting tower comes into use and a marble is sent on its way (stopping of the marble because of not enough speed does not count as failure).

Joker

Each player may at one time make a fourth, additional change (red joker marble). It is allowed to use the joker during an arbitrary move without advance notice.

Points

Each of the used functions – starting tower + channel(s) on the cuboro cubes – accords to one point, thus means one field forward on the points' course.

The shortest possible path is from the starting tower directly into one of the finish fields (1 point) – always possible. The longest possible path leads from the starting tower through 9 channels into one of the finish fields (= 10 points).

Further Game Course

The starting tower is removed and it is the next player's turn. Again, as long a path as possible is to be created ending at another finish field.

Finish fields occupied by a marble cannot be used again.

The game ends when all finish fields are occupied with a marble. The winner is the player who has come the furthest on the points' course.

If two game pegs reach the same point field, they are placed on top of each other. Level-on-points ranks are possible at the end of the game.

Game Version 2

(From age 12)

As for this version, paths are arranged on the surface and the inside of the cuboro elements (channels and tunnels).

Starting position 2

Starting position 2 is laid out as a 3x3 grid of cuboro cubes (the starting grid for version 2), with tunnel elements (46, 26, 3, KT, 11T, 25, 3, 45) placed on the board.

Initial Position

1. Place the 8 cuboro cubes on the board according to the basic grid "Starting position 2" – pay attention to the alignment of the channels and tunnels.
2. The starting tower remains outside!

Game Course

The course is the same as in game version 1. Here, rotating the cube also includes "turning it upside down". It is allowed to lift the cubes in order to know the direction of the tunnels.

Points

Each function used – starting tower / channel(s) = 1 point.

Each tunnel function used = 2 points.

The level-changing element 11T counts for a tunnel function (2 points).

The shortest possible path is from the starting tower directly into one of the finish fields (1 point) – always possible. The longest possible path leads from the starting tower through 7 channels + 7 tunnels into one of the finish fields (= 22 points).

Further Game Course

The same as in game version 1 (see above).

Challenging Game Variations

For ambitious players:

• Strategic planning of shorter paths in order to complicate the task for the next player.
• Assigning minus points for the 2nd and 3rd change, e.g.:
  1. Shifting = 0 minus points,
  2. Rotating = 1 minus point,
  3. Jumping = 2 minus points.
• Limit time: one minute per move, each additional 20 seconds = 1 minus point.
• Initial position: one of the players could create an individual initial position.
• Prolonged rounds: two or more rounds can be added together.
• It can be played in teams against each other.

Experience and creativity are required to tap the cuboro system's full potential. The more it is played with, the more original and amazing track courses are discovered. Including the tunnel functions poses a challenge even to those loving riddles and tough strategists!