Gem Getter Galactic Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Setup
• Gameplay
  • Step 1 - Roll
  • Step 2 - Dig
  • Step 3 - Collect
• Elements
  • Rhodium, Titanium, Platinum
  • Gold
  • Diamond
  • Stellarite
  • Getterite
  • Space Pearls
  • Nebulite
  • Crescentite
  • Linearite
  • Boulderite
  • Lithium
  • Explodium
  • Uranium
• Scoring
• Clarifications

Setup

Choose a Roll Sheet to place in the center of the table along with two 6-sided dice (ideally blue and white). Give each player a writing device and a Dig Sheet. You can play with matching or unique sheets. Any number of players can join if you have enough Dig Sheets.

Each player may use the Round Tracker (1-9) on their Dig Sheet to track the game's progress.

Gameplay

Gem Getter Galactic is played in 9 rounds. Each round has 3 steps: Roll, Dig, and Collect.

Step 1 - Roll

Choose any player to roll the dice. Place the blue die on the corresponding blue space and the white die on the corresponding white space. These dice show which dig patterns will be available in the next step. If you're using different dice colours, decide ahead of time which die will go on which side of the sheet.

Step 2 - Dig

All players simultaneously choose one of the available dig patterns and "dig" it into their mines. If neither option fits, a player may instead dig a single 1x1 square.

Note: some die rolls reveal two options separated by the word "or." A player choosing these patterns must select only one of the options. When the word "both" or "all" appears, all indicated pieces must be placed.

All digs must follow these placement rules:

• Your first dig must touch one of the four open sides of the asteroid (left, right, top, bottom).
• In later rounds, all digs must connect to a previous dig pattern - not diagonally.
• Dig patterns may be rotated or flipped in any way as long as they maintain the same shape.
• Dig patterns cannot overlap any previously dug spaces, the edges of your mine, or any of the 5 white boulders.

Use dots or lines to fill in your dig patterns. This makes it easier to see where you've dug and where you haven't. You may also find it helpful to add the current round number to each pattern.

Step 3 - Collect

All players check to see which elements (metal, gems, fuel) have been covered by their dig patterns and record them in the scoring sections of their Dig Sheets. Most elements are collected on the right side of the dig sheet, but fuel (Lithium, Explodium, and Uranium) is collected below the asteroid. Players outline one circle for each element unearthed during that turn's dig. Circles are outlined from left to right.

Example: this dig pattern covers 2 Rhodium and 1 Gold. They are circled in the scoring section.

Bonuses can be earned by completely surrounding boulders (all 8 surrounding squares) or by filling in rows and columns. Boulders in a row or column do not need to be surrounded in order to gain the row/column bonus. Cross off bonuses and record them like any other elements in the scoring sections.

Examples: surrounding this boulder earns the player 2 bonus elements. The player earns an Explodium for filling in an entire row. The boulder bonus is not required to complete the row.

For dig patterns with multiple pieces (white 3-6), you must place all the pieces before using any bonus dig patterns from Rhodium, Titanium, Platinum, Lithium, and Explodium.

Elements

Rhodium, Titanium, Platinum

Set track: 2 / 5 / 10 / 16 / 23 / 33 / 45.

Rhodium, Titanium, and Platinum score in sets. Collect one of each to qualify for the points shown above. In addition, collecting all of one type grants bonus dig patterns which are dug immediately. Coding your bonus digs with letters (R, T, P) will help you track what you've done.

Example: A player collects their final Titanium on the last round. They immediately dig two bonus patterns, collecting 3 elements. Since they only have two Platinum, they score 5 pts. for 2 sets.

Gold

Track: 2 / 5 / 8 / 11 / 10 (buy one) / 14 / 19 / 25.

Gold slowly increases in value until you collect your 5th Gold. At that point, a small dip in value allows you to buy an additional element from those pictured. Add a circle to that element's scoring track.

Diamond

Track: 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 20 / 24 / 28.

Diamonds are always worth 4 points each.

Stellarite

Track: 2 / 5 / 9 / 14 / 21 / 30.

The value of Stellarite increases significantly the more you collect.

Getterite

Track: A = 1 / AB = 3 / ABC = 9 / ABCD = 17 / ABCDE = 28 / ABCDEF = 39 (enter blue or white die #).

When you collect Getterite, instead of a circle, enter the current round's blue or white die number in the left-most empty field. You can enter either die number, regardless of which die you dig with.

Score one point bubble based on how many different numbers you have collected (e.g. 1 5 2 3 2 would score 17 for 4 different numbers).

If you collect more than one Getterite on the same round, you can use both die numbers.

Space Pearls

Track: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 PER (select ONE when collecting first: Gold, Diamond, Stellarite or Getterite).

Space Pearl points are multiplied by the number of Gold, Diamonds, Stellarite, or Getterite you have. When you collect your first Space Pearl, select one of the four as the multiplier by circling its icon above. You can't change your selection later in the game.

Nebulite

Track: 1 / 2 / 4 PER gem type (with at least 2 collected).

Nebulite points are multiplied by the number of gem types for which you have collected at least 2 gems. Only the gems pictured qualify for this multiplier. Rhodium, Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Lithium, Explodium, and Uranium do not qualify.

Crescentite

Track: 2 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 13 PER SET (set = 1 of each fuel).

Crescentite points are multiplied by the number of full sets of fuel you've collected (Uranium can be used or unused). Example: If you finished a game with 6 Lithium, 3 Explodium and 2 Uranium, you would have 2 full sets of fuel (3 Crescentite would score 7 x 2 = 14 pts).

Linearite

Track: 1 / 2 / 3 PER filled row and column (count both).

Linearite points are multiplied by the number of completed rows and columns in your mine. If a row or column contains a boulder, you don't need the boulder bonus to get the row/column bonus.

Boulderite

Track: 2 / 4 / 7 PER boulder bonus.

Boulderite points are multiplied by the number of boulders you have completely surrounded.

Lithium

When you collect a Lithium with a bonus dig shown above it, immediately dig that pattern into your mine (one square or two), following standard placement rules. Coding Lithium digs with the letter "L" may help you keep track of what you've done.

Example: A player collects their second Lithium in the second round, earning a 1-square bonus dig pattern. They cross off the bonus and immediately use it to dig a single square and collect a Titanium.

Explodium

As with Lithium, Explodium bonus digs are drawn immediately after collecting, but these "explosions" destroy everything they touch. Do not collect any elements covered by Explodium patterns. They do still count toward row/column/boulder bonuses. One exception: If an Explodium dig pattern covers another Explodium, you collect it, immediately triggering another explosion.

Explodium bonuses should be drawn with Xs to distinguish them from other patterns on your dig sheet.

Example: A player collects an Explodium in the first round, earning a 1x2 "explosion" pattern. They immediately cross off the bonus, and "x" out the pattern on their sheet. The Rhodium is not collected.

Uranium

When you collect a Uranium, outline a collection circle as usual. Each collected Uranium can be crossed off later in the game, allowing you to use one of two powerful abilities.

• Fly to a new dig site: Whichever dig pattern (or bonus dig) you are placing can be placed on any open side of the asteroid; it does not need to be adjacent to a previous dig. In later rounds, future digging can connect to either site.
• Use any dig pattern: Immediately after the dice roll, you may use a Uranium to select any dig pattern from the roll sheet. Note: Your selected pattern is dug in place of - not in addition to - the current round's dig.

Example: A player starts on the right side of the asteroid for the first round, collecting a Uranium. On the second round, they cross off the Uranium and fly to the other side of the asteroid for the next dig, collecting another Uranium. On round 3, the dice roll reveals a blue 2 and a white 2. The player does not like either option so they cross off their second Uranium to instead dig a different pattern (Blue 3).

Note: at the end of the game, unused Uranium are worth 1 point each.

Scoring

At the end of 9 rounds, record the points earned for each element. Generally, the number written above the highest filled-in circle is the total number of points earned for that element. Yellow points x are multiplied by various features in your mine. Players add up the scores for each element to determine their final score. In the case of a tie, the tied players share the victory!

Don't forget to add points from unused Uranium.

Clarifications

Uranium powers and bonus digs can be used creatively, even multiple times in the same round. Example: You have 2 unused Uranium. You use the first Uranium to select a different dig pattern from the Roll sheet. Your dig uncovers your 5th Lithium and an Explodium. You dig your first Lithium bonus dig adjacent to your original dig site, then you use the second Uranium to fly the bonus "explosion" pattern to a new dig site on the left side of the asteroid. You place your second Lithium bonus dig adjacent to the explosion.

Bonus digs earned in a single round can be placed in any order. Example: On round 7 you collect your 5th Lithium and your final Titanium. You use the 1x2 Titanium bonus to collect an Explodium. Next, you use one of your two Lithium bonuses to collect a second Explodium. You then use the second Explodium bonus. Next, you use the 1x1 Titanium bonus. You then use the first Explodium bonus. Finally, you use the second of your two Lithium bonuses.

When placing multi-piece dig patterns (white 3-6), you must place all pieces before collecting elements and proceeding to bonus digs (from Rhodium, Titanium, Platinum, Lithium, and Explodium). Example: With a white 4, you could not dig your first square on an Explodium, add the explosion pattern, and then finish digging the other 3 squares. All pieces of the pattern must be placed before collecting any elements or proceeding to bonus digs.

For two-piece bonus digs (5th and 7th Lithium, Rhodium, Titanium, Platinum), it is not required that the pieces connect to each other. They can be dug separately or together as long as both are connected to a previous dig pattern or bonus dig.

Purchasing an element with Gold never lets you collect more than the maximum quantity. Buying an element may result in being unable to collect it later (if already maxed). When buying Getterite, enter one of the current round's die numbers as usual.

When flying to a new site, you are allowed to dig again from a side of the asteroid that you began on, or have already reached with later digs. Example: On round 1, you begin digging from the top of the asteroid, collecting a Uranium. On round 2, you use the Uranium to dig from the top again, but not adjacent to round 1's dig pattern.

Collected Getterites with matching numbers still count as separate Getterites for the purpose of scoring Space Pearls.