Shark Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Objective
• Components
• Setup
• Gameplay
  • Summary of Turns
• Action Description
  • Required Action: Expansion
    • 1. Place a Building and earn bonuses
    • 2. Dividends and Losses
  • Optional Action: Trading
    • 1. Buy
    • 2. Sell
  • Summary of Actions
• Game End
• Additional Rules
  • 1. Joker Building Rule
  • 2. Neutral Building Rule
  • 3. Pioneer Rule
  • Simultaneous Additional Rules
• Credits

Objective

Roll dices and grow companies while trading Stocks. The Stocks you own can get you Money through bonuses and dividends. The player with the most wealth by adding up all their Stocks and Money wins.

Components

• Game Board X 1
• Stock Index X 1
• Company Building X 72 (companies: red, blue, green, yellow) — Each company has 18 pieces of same color Building.
• Special Building X 10 (black x 5, white x 5)
• Money X 120 ($1000 x 30, $5000 x 30, $10000 x 30, $50000 x 30)
• Company Die X 1
• Area Die X 1
• Stock Marker X 4 (companies: red, blue, green, yellow) — 1 Stock Marker per company.
• Stock X 88 (companies: red, blue, green, yellow) — Each company has 15 Stocks valued at 1, and 7 Stocks valued at 5.
• Rulebooks X 2 (English / Korean)
• Tray (Inner Tray / Card Tray)

Setup

1. Take out all components except the Inner Tray.
2. Put the Game Board on the middle of the table. Then place the Stock Index, Card Tray, Company Die, and Area Die beside the Game Board.
   • There is also a way to play the game by placing the Game Board on the bottom package box.
3. Sort all Company Buildings by color and place them on the table, next to the Game Board. The basic rules do not use Special Buildings. Special Buildings are only use for the Additional Rules (refer to page 7).
   • Each Company Building, Stock Marker, Stock belongs to a company of the same color. You can refer to the Stocks for each company's color, name, and icon.
4. Place Stock Markers by color in the corresponding company icon space on the Stock Index.
5. Divide the Stocks by company color and unit then organize them in the Card Tray.
6. Divide the Money by unit then organize them in the Card Tray.
7. One of the players will serve as the Banker. The Banker manages and distributes Stocks, Buildings, and Money to the players during the entirety of the game.
8. In a clockwise direction starting from the Banker, select and take 1 Stock of any company. Players can choose Stocks of the same company as each other.
9. The Banker is the starting player and will start the game.

Gameplay

The turns proceed in a clockwise manner from the starting player. A turn consists of a Required Action (Expansion) and an Optional Action (Trading). The Optional Action can be taken before and also after the Required Action. When all actions have been completed, the turn goes to the next player. Each player's turn proceeds in the following five-step sequence, and players can skip Optional Actions in their turn. For a description of each action, refer to "Action Description".

Summary of Turns

Start Turn → Trade (Optional Action) → Expansion (Required Action) → Trade (Optional Action) → End Turn

Action Description

Required Action: Expansion

Expansion proceeds in the order of placing Buildings, earning bonuses, and collecting dividends or losses.

1. Place a Building and earn bonuses

Roll both Company Die and Area Die. Then, place one of the Company Buildings indicated by the Company Die on a desired space in the Game Board area with the same number corresponding to what was rolled on the Area Die. At this time, Buildings cannot be placed horizontally or vertically adjacent to other company's Building, except when a "Hostile Takeover" is possible (refer to page 5). You can however, place them diagonally adjacent.

• If the Company Die rolls a black or gray Building, you can choose any Company Building.
• If the Area Die rolls a Shark symbol, place a Building on one of the Shark areas on the Game Board.
• On occasion, if you cannot place a Building due to the rules, you can only perform an Optional Action (Trading).

Example) The starting player Jin rolls the dice. The Company Die rolls a red company and the Area Die rolls a 3. Jin places a red Building in area 3.

Pic.1) Different Company Buildings should not be placed horizontally and vertically adjacent to each other.

Pic.2) You can place a different Company Building on a diagonally adjacent space.

Placed Building becomes one of two different types (Lone Building / Chain) depending on where it is placed as following.

A. Lone Building

Any Building placed in a cell that is not vertically or horizontally adjacent to any Building becomes a Lone Building. The player who places a Lone Building immediately receives $1000 as a bonus. If the corresponding company's Stock price was $0 (Stock Marker placed at company icon of the Stock Index), move the corresponding Stock Marker to 1000 section of the Stock Index (The Stock value increases to $1000). However, if the Stock was already at $1000, the Stock value does not increase.

Example) It is Sam's turn. Sam places the first red Building on the Game Board and immediately receives $1000 from the bank as a Lone Building bonus. Then, red Stock Marker on the Stock Index is moved to 1000 from the company icon. The Stock price of the red company is now $1000.

B. Chain

If 2 or more Buildings of the same company are connected horizontally or vertically regardless of area border, it becomes a Chain. Chains can be further extended by attaching additional Buildings or Chains of the same company to it. A company's Stock price is determined by the number of Buildings in all its corresponding Chains on the entire Game Board. For each additional Building in the Chain, corresponding company's Stock price rises by one level. So, a company's current Stock price is same value with 'The number of chained Buildings of that company × 1000' except when current Stock price is $1000. The player who raise the company's Stock price by creating or expanding the Chain will immediately receive a Money bonus from the bank equal to the current risen Stock price of the company.

• When connecting a Lone Building with a Chain, or connecting several Lone Buildings into a Chain, it may increase the company's Stock price by several levels.

Company Stock price = The number of chained Buildings of the company × 1000

Pic.3) There is only one green Chain consisting of 3 connected Buildings on the Game Board. 1 green Building was added to make a Chain of 4. As a result, the Stock price of the green company rose from $3000 to $4000 (Pic.4). The player responsible for raising the Stock price of the green company by placing a Building receives an instant Money bonus from the bank equal to the current Stock price of $4000.

Pic.5) The red company has a Lone Building in Area 1, and a Chain of 3 Buildings in Area 2. The current Stock price of the red company is $3000.

Pic.6) In Area 1, create a Chain with 2 Buildings by placing a red Building on a space horizontally or vertically adjacent to a red Lone Building. There is already a group of 3 Buildings chained on another part of the Game Board, so the red Chain has 5 Buildings on the Game Board now.

Pic.7) The number of the Building connected as red Chain on the entire Game Board was increased from 3 to 5, so the Stock price of the red company rises from $3000 to $5000. The player who raised the Stock price by making a new red Chain immediately receives Money from the bank equal to the current red Stock price of $5000 as a bonus.

[Important!] Hostile Takeover

You can perform Hostile Takeover when creating a Chain or extending. Hostile Takeover is the act of placing a larger Chain of companies beside a smaller company in order to eliminate the smaller company. Normally, you cannot place a Building horizontally or vertically adjacent to another company's Building, but you can do it when performing a Hostile Takeover. The following conditions must be met when performing a Hostile Takeover:

1. The new Building must be horizontally or vertically adjacent to the other company's Building.
2. The Chain that will contain the new Building should have the largest number of Buildings within its Chain compared to the Buildings of all other companies that are horizontally or vertically adjacent to it.

After placing a Chain through a Hostile Takeover, you will then first increase the corresponding Stock price and receive a bonus of placed Chain according to the general Chain rules. Next, remove all the Lone Buildings and Chains of other companies that are vertically or horizontally adjacent to the Chain you just placed a Building on the Game Board. Removed Buildings can no longer be used in the game. The Stock price of a company declines by 1 for each Building removed. But if the removed building was a Lone Building, the Stock price will not go down.

• As long as there is at least one Building of its color remaining on the Game Board, the company's Stock price will not fall below $1000. However, the Stock price of a company with no Buildings on the board will be reduced to $0. The Stock Marker of the company whose Stock price lowered to $0 is placed on the company icon at the bottom of the Stock Index.

Pic.8), Pic.9) Example of Hostile Takeover by red company. New red Building which is in the dotted square satisfies both conditions of Hostile Takeover. In that case, red company's Stock price rises and the player who did Hostile Takeover receives bonus from expanding red Chain. Then, the green Chain that is horizontally adjacent to the red Chain with more buildings are removed from Game Board. Since green Chain with 2 Buildings has been removed, the Stock price of green company must declines by 2 same as the number of the removed Building. But only down to $1000 because a green Building remains on the Game Board.

2. Dividends and Losses

If a Building placement changes the Stock price, dividends and losses must be settled. Dividends and losses are equal to the value of the difference between the current Stock price (after the change) and the prior Stock price (before the change), multiplied by the number of company Stocks owned by the player. Losses must always be settled after the dividend settlement is over.

Dividend, loss = Difference between current Stock price and prior Stock price x number of Stocks owned

If a company's Stock price rises, all players who owned corresponding Stocks receive a dividend from the bank. If a company's Stock price falls, all players who owned corresponding Stocks must pay a loss to the bank, except for the player currently playing their turn. Even if a company's Stock price drops from $1000 to $0, you will still have to pay the losses.

• Forced Sell – If you don't have Money to pay out a loss, you will have to sell your owned Stock to cover the payment. Stocks sold in this manner are valued at less than half the current Stock price per share, and rounding down to the $1000 value. For example, a Stock of $6000 per share would be sold at $3000, and a Stock of $3000 per share would be priced at $1000. A Stock with a price of $1000 becomes $0 if you are forced to sell to cover losses.
• Bankruptcy – If a player is unable to pay the loss even after selling all your Stocks, then that player will go bankrupt. Bankrupt players are eliminated from the game.

Optional Action: Trading

On your turn, you can buy and sell Stocks. You can do this before and after your Required Action. You may choose to trade once or not at all each turn. You can check the current Stock price by observing where the Stock Marker lies on the Stock Index. You can only trade Stocks that are at least $1000. Buying and selling must follow the following rules.

1. Buy

Decide which company and the amount you want to buy and pay the bank according to the current Stock price. Then receive Stocks equal to the amount purchased. You can only buy 5 Stocks in total per turn. If you already bought 5 Stocks before your Required Action, you cannot buy any more Stocks after your Required Action.

Any Stocks bought on your turn immediately belongs to you, but must be placed separate from Stock you originally owned until the end of your turn (to indicate the buy limits of current turn). When your turn is over, combine bought Stocks to your originally owned Stocks, and organize your Stocks in front of you in a manner that allows other players to read each number.

2. Sell

You can sell any Stock in your possession and return it to the Card Tray. And you will receive Money from the bank according to the current price of each Stock you returned to the Card Tray. There is no limit to the number of Stocks you can sell, and you can also sell separated Stocks on a turn you bought them.

Pic.10) Before Mari does her Required Action, she buys 2 red Stocks. After her Required Action, she buys 2 green Stocks and 1 yellow Stock. She also sells 2 blue Stocks in her possession before ending her turn. Mari bought the maximum of 5 Stocks while selling as many Stocks she wanted.

Summary of Actions

Required Action: Expansion

1. Place a Building and earn bonuses — Place one Company Building according to the results of Company Die and Area Die.

• A. Lone Building — Place a Building in a cell that is not vertically or horizontally adjacent to any Building. Players can earn $1000 as a bonus.
• B. Chain — Place a Building in a cell that is vertically or horizontally adjacent to same color Company Building. Players can earn Money equal to the current Stock price of the company that corresponds the Building you just placed. A company's Stock price that the Chain was removed by Hostile Takeover will be decreased 1 step per removed Building.

2. Dividend and losses — Any players who owns Stocks that has risen in price receive a dividend from the bank. Any players who owns Stocks that has fallen in price must pay a loss to the bank except for the player currently playing their turn.

Optional Action: Trading

• Players can buy and sell Stocks before and after the Required Action.
  • Buy: 5 Stocks in total per turn.
  • Sell: No limit to the number of Stocks. (player can sell separated Stocks on a turn bought them)

Game End

If one of the three prerequisites are met, the game ends at the end of the proceeding turn.

1. A company Stock price reaches the value of $15000
2. All of a company's Buildings have been used for placing and/or have been removed from the game.
3. All company Stocks have been bought.

Upon Game End, calculate the value of your owned Stocks. Then add this value to your Money to determine your total wealth. The richest player wins.

Additional Rules

can also be enjoyed with these three additional rules. You can play with all three additional rules, but it is recommended that you use only one per game.

1. Joker Building Rule

The basic rules are the same, but include 5 black Buildings in the game. Black Buildings can only be placed as Lone Buildings. A black Building can be connected with other color as a Chain, and once placed they will not be removed.

• Place the black Buildings beside the Company Buildings during Setup.
• If you roll a black or grey Building during your Required Action, you can place any Building on the Game Board (including black). If there are no black Buildings to place, place any Company Building.
• Black Building can only be placed as a Lone Building.
• The player who placed a black Building immediately receives a bonus equal to the highest valued company's Stock price from the bank.
• If a black Building is connected as a Chain, that black Building is considered a Company Building of that Chain. A Chain can have several black Buildings. Stock price is determined by the number of all the Buildings placed as a Chain, so the Stock increases by $2000 at least when a black Building joins the Chain.
• Under no circumstances can a black Building be removed from the Game Board. If a Chain that includes black Buildings is removed, you must only remove Company Buildings that are not black from the Game Board. The decrease in Stock value will still include the black Buildings in the number of Buildings removed. The remaining black Buildings can be chained with other colors continuously.
• Even if there are no black Buildings to place, the game does not end.

2. Neutral Building Rule

The basic rules are the same, but include 5 grey Buildings in the game. Grey Buildings are barriers that block corporate Expansion. Grey Buildings can be placed horizontally or vertically adjacent to other Buildings, but it cannot be joined in a Chain. Grey Buildings can be placed or removed from the Game Board according to what was rolled on the Die.

• Place the grey Buildings beside the Company Buildings during Setup.
• If you roll a black or grey Building during your Required Action, you can place any Building on the Game Board (including grey) or you can remove a grey Building on the Game Board. If there are no grey Buildings to place, either remove a grey Building on the Game Board or place any Company Building.
• Any removed grey Buildings cannot be used again.
• Grey Building can be placed as a Lone Building, and also can be placed adjacent to any Building.
• There is no bonus when placing or removing grey Buildings.
• Grey Buildings cannot be linked in a Chain. Even if at least 2 grey Buildings are beside each other, these Buildings are not chained. If there is a grey Building at a cell between Buildings of different companies, there are no Hostile Takeover because those Buildings are not linked as a Chain.
• Even if there are no grey Buildings to place, the game does not end.

3. Pioneer Rule

The basic rules are the same, but there is an additional rule added to your Required Action.

After rolling the Die, if you place the first Building of one company in an area that doesn't have a same Company Building, you have "Pioneered" successfully. Pioneered player earns $1000 as a Lone Building bonus immediately, and repeats the Required Action from its first. By pioneering, players are able to place 2 Buildings per turn, but this does not mean players can place 3 Buildings per turn.

If the player fails to pioneer or does not want to pioneer, the player proceeds the rest of the turn according to the result of the first Die roll.

Simultaneous Additional Rules

1. When Joker Buildings and Neutral Buildings are both used in the game: During your Required Action, perform the following action according to the Die.
   • If the Company Die is black: You can choose and place any Building except grey.
   • If the Company Die is grey: You can choose and place any Building except black. Alternatively, you can remove a grey Building from the Game Board.
2. If Pioneer Rules are used with other Additional Rules: If you place Special Buildings during your Required Action, it is not considered successful in pioneering.

Credits

Game by: Henri Jean Vanaise Artwork by: Il Taek Oh | Design Manager: Jun Woo Lee | Project Manager: Andy JW Yeom

is published by Korea Boardgames Co., Ltd. under license by Henri Jean Vanaise. Copyright© 2022 Korea Boardgames Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.