Max
Max Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Information
A co-operative strategy game for 1 to 8 players, age 4+. Duration about 10 minutes.
Game Components
- 4 wooden play figures (cat, mouse, bird, squirrel)
- Game board
- Tree in 2 parts
- 2 discs with the safe spots for Bird and Squirrel
- Mouse's burrow
- 2 special dice
- 4 cat treats: milk, cat chow, tinned meat and catmint
The game board shows the starting spot for Max the Tomcat and, separately, the starting space for the small animals, at the tree stump.
Game Overview
The players co-operatively care for three little creatures. The creatures try to reach their homes, located near the tree. But tomcat Max is hungry and will try to catch them! Fortunately, Max can be lured back to the house with a tasty cat treat. In this way, the players can give the little creatures a lead.
Preparations
- Take all the game components from the box.
- Put the game board back in the box.
- Assemble the tree by sliding the 2 parts together and place it in the middle of the board.
- Slide the discs with branches and the bird nest into the grooves on the tree.
- Put Max in his basket.
- Put Mouse, Squirrel and Bird on the tree stump.
- Put the cat treats next to the game board.
Playing
Take turns rolling the dice. For each black spot thrown, move Max one space ahead. For each green spot thrown, one of the little creatures is moved one space forward. Choose which of the 3 creatures you wish to move. Of course you may ask for the other players' advice!
When two green spots come up, you can move either two creatures one space, or move one creature two spaces ahead.
When green and black is thrown, move Max as well as one of the little creatures. It is your choice which one is moving first.
The Shortcuts
Mouse, Squirrel and Bird each know one shortcut. When they land on the beginning space, they can immediately follow the footprints to the other end. You don't have to use the shorter route. Maybe Max is waiting at the other end!
EXAMPLE: Jasmine rolled two green dots. She moves Mouse 1 space ahead and thus arrives at the shortcut. Jasmine chooses to let Mouse trip to the other end of the shortcut. Should she choose to let Mouse take 2 steps, the Mouse would miss the shortcut.
TAKE CARE! Max can smell the trail of every little creature and uses all the shortcuts. Except when Max is standing just before the footprint space, and two black spots come up. In that case, he will pass by the shortcut. He is in such a rush that he misses it!
Max Catches One of the Small Animals
If Max ends up at the same spot as the little creatures, he will catch them. These creatures are now removed from the game. Resume play with the leftover creatures.
TAKE NOTICE! With a double throw, Max can sometimes jump over a creature without harming it! The little creatures can jump over Max as well.
The Nice Treats for Max
When Max comes too close to the little creatures, you can lure him back home. Before you throw, put one of the treats near his basket. Max will return to the place where he started the game. After that, you throw the dice.
There are only four treats; once they are used up, you cannot call Max back anymore. Decide together when you want to use them!
The Last Space
If Max ever gets to the last space before the tree, he will remain there for the rest of the game. Black spots have no effect anymore and Max can't even be lured home with one of the treats! Now, the creatures can only pass this space by throwing double green. It is dangerous to let Max get so close to the tree.
The Safe Spots
The creatures must reach their home in the tree, which is one step beyond the last space. They are safe there. Max cannot go into the big tree.
Game End
The game can end in two ways:
- Mouse, Squirrel and Bird have safely arrived home: Yippee! We made it!
- Max was too fast for the little creatures. Not all of them have safely reached their homes. How do you feel about Max catching the little creatures? How is it for the creatures? And for Max? Do you know how these things work in nature? If you play the game once more, what could you do to bring all of them safely home?
Increasing the Game Level
For a more challenging game, play with 3 cat treats instead of 4.
Co-operative Game
Max the Tomcat is a perfect game to play with the whole family. Brothers, sisters and parents will all have fun in helping the youngest family members. Even 3-year-olds can play along in this way!
This is a game without competition between the players. In co-operative games, the players have a common goal. During play, you will find out together how to win the game. The game develops skills like working together, logic thinking and emotional management.
The Author
The Canadian games author Jim Deacove has had more than 40 years of experience with co-op games. He wants to create games in which the players have fun and he noticed that playing together brings more enjoyment than playing against each other. By now, he designed more than 100 co-operative games. His best games are published in Europe by Sunny Games.