Sky Totems
Sky Totems Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 1 Rulebook
- 1 Common Board
- 118 Pedestal blocks
- Common Pedestals: 6 designs, 15 blocks each
- Rare Pedestals: 4 designs, 7 blocks each
- 24 Altar Cards
- 40 Totem Tiles (8 Bird tiles, 8 Wolf tiles, 8 Cat tiles, 8 Horse tiles, 8 Dragon tiles)
- 50 Totem Tile Stands
- 1 Starting Player Marker
- 2 Pedestal Blocking Tiles
- 4 Starting Cloud Tiles
- 40 Cloud Tiles
- 1 Round Marker
- 5 Totem Description Tiles (a set of Japanese and English is included; choose one to use during the game)
- 4 Summary Cards
- 1 Scorepad
- 1 Bag
Game Setup
Common Setup
- Preparing the Common Board. Place the Common Board within easy reach of all players. Place the Round Marker in square 1. If there are between 1~3 players, place a Pedestal Blocking Tile in the Pedestal Field that will not be used.
- Preparing the Totem Description Tiles. Select four Totems to be used in the game, and place the corresponding Totem Description Tiles face up. For players playing for the first time, it is recommended to use the Bird, Wolf, Horse, and Cat Totems.
- Preparing the Totem Tiles. Place the selected Totem Tiles and Totem Tile Stands within easy reach of all players.
- Preparing the Altar Cards. Remove the two Altar Cards corresponding to the Totems that were not selected for this game. Then, shuffle the remaining cards face down and deal three cards to each player. Place the leftover cards back into the box.
- Determining the starting player. Select a starting player at random. Give the Starting Player Marker to that player.
- Preparing the Bag. Place all Pedestals in the Bag. Give the starting player the Bag.
Player Setup
A. Preparing the Starting Cloud Tiles. Each player receives one Starting Cloud Tile.
B. Preparing the Altar Cards. Each player places two of the cards face down and reveals one of the cards. The two cards placed face down become the missions the player aims to complete with their Altar. The revealed card becomes the player's Altar at the beginning of the game. The brown half of the card is the mission, and the black half is the Altar at the beginning of the game. Out of the three Altar Cards that each player has, the brown half will be used for the two face-down cards, and the black half will be used for the one revealed card.
The designation of Altar Cards is conducted simultaneously by all players. A player cannot look at other players' decisions before making their own.
C. Preparing the Starting Altar. Each player collects the Pedestal(s) described on their revealed Altar Card from the Bag and places them on the Altar as indicated. If the revealed Altar Card indicates a cloud icon, the player takes a Cloud Tile and places it adjacent to a Starting Cloud Tile.
D. Preparing the Pedestal Fields. The starting player draws Pedestals from the Bag and places two Pedestals on each Pedestal Field. The starting player cannot look inside the Bag, and must pick the Pedestals at random.
Game Overview
Game Objective
In Sky Totem, each player builds their own Altar throughout the game. At the end of the game, the components of the Altar, such as Pedestals and Totems, and completed Altar Card missions will be scored, and the player with the most points wins.
Game Flow
The game consists of 10 rounds in total. In each round, players take turns clockwise starting with the Starting Player. When all players have finished their turns, the round ends and the next round begins.
After 10 rounds, the final Totems are built and the Altars are completed. The score is calculated, and the player with the most points wins.
Each round proceeds as follows: every player takes a turn in clockwise order, then the End of Round Process happens (pass the Starting Player Marker to the player on the left, and refill Pedestal Fields). After round 10, players may conduct The Final Totem, then Score Calculation happens.
Player Turns
During a player's turn, the player performs one of the following actions:
- Pedestal Construction
- Totem Construction
Other than these actions, the player may "reveal an Altar Card" at any time during their turn if the mission requirements are met (see Revealing Altar Cards).
1. Pedestal Construction
The player selects a Pedestal Field and acquires all Pedestals placed there. Each Pedestal can either be placed on the player's Altar or returned to the Bag. For each Pedestal returned to the Bag, the player acquires one Cloud Tile and places it on their Altar.
Pedestal placement rules: Pedestals can only be placed on top of Cloud Tiles. Pedestals cannot be placed in a spot with no Cloud Tile. Pedestals can be placed on top of each other, but only matching Pedestal designs can be stacked.
Cloud Tile placement rules: Cloud Tiles can only be placed adjacent to an existing Cloud Tile. Cloud Tiles cannot be placed if only the corners are touching, or a tile is separated from existing Cloud Tiles.
2. Totem Construction
The player selects a Totem for which construction conditions are met and places it on their Pedestals. After placing a Totem, the player receives the Totem's blessing. The Totem's score is counted at the end of the game. No additional pedestals or totems can be placed on a spot where a totem has already been placed. Attach Totem Tile Stands to a Totem to make it stand.
Bird Totem
- Condition: This Totem can be placed when all three Pedestals are the same height. The height of the Pedestals must be 2 or higher.
- Blessing: Acquire 3 Cloud Tiles and 3 Pedestals randomly from the Bag and place them.
- Score: At the end of the game, this Totem is worth (3 times the height of the Pedestals under the Totem) points.
Wolf Totem
- Condition: This Totem can be placed when two Pedestals one space away from each other are the same height. The height of the Pedestals must be 2 or higher.
- Blessing: For all Pedestals without a Totem constructed, one of the same Pedestal can be taken from the Bag and placed on top.
- Score: At the end of the game, this Totem is worth (3 times the height of the Pedestals under the Totem) points.
Horse Totem
- Condition: This Totem can be placed when adjacent Pedestals have a height difference of 2. (The height is counted as the higher of the two.)
- Blessing: Play another turn. During the additional turn, "Pedestal Construction" action or "Totem Construction" action can be conducted.
- Score: At the end of the game, this Totem is worth (2 times the height of the Pedestals under the Totem) points. The height of the higher Pedestals is counted.
Cat Totem
- Condition: This Totem cannot be placed by "Totem Construction" action. When the height of the Pedestals in a column reaches 6 or more, immediately place the Cat Totem on that Pedestal.
- Blessing: Select any 2 differing Pedestals from the Bag and place them. The Pedestals must not be the same design as each other.
- Score: At the end of the game, this Totem is worth (1 times the height of the Pedestals under the Totem) points.
Dragon Totem
The Dragon Totem is recommended for advanced players. Try replacing either the Bird, Wolf, or Horse Totem with the Dragon Totem after trying the initial game rules! We highly recommend including the Cat Totem in your gameplay.
- Condition: This Totem can be placed when Pedestals form a stair formation across 3 spaces. (The height is counted as the higher of the two.)
- Blessing: Choose 1 random Pedestal from the Bag and place it in the "Dragon's Treasure Hoard" on the Summary Card. Any Pedestal with the same design as a Pedestal in the Dragon's Treasure Hoard can be placed on top of any Pedestal regardless of design. Then, conduct "Pedestal Construction" action.
- Score: At the end of the game, this Totem is worth (3 times the height of the Pedestals under the Totem) points. The height of the highest Pedestals is counted.
When there are Pedestals in the Dragon's Treasure Hoard: any Pedestal that matches the design of a Pedestal placed in the Dragon's Treasure Hoard can be placed on a Pedestal of a different design. When multiple designs of Pedestals are stacked together, the next Pedestal must match the design of the lowest Pedestal or the design of the Pedestal in the Dragon's Treasure Hoard.
Revealing Altar Cards
Players may reveal their Altar Cards at any time during their turn if the mission requirements are met. After revealing an Altar Card, the player can select a Pedestal of their choice from the Bag and place it on their Altar.
Revealed Altar Cards are scored at the end of the game.
Ending a Round
The round ends once all players have taken their turns.
- The starting player advances the Round Marker by 1 space.
- The starting player passes the Starting Player Marker and the Bag to the player to their left.
- The player newly receiving the Starting Player Marker replenishes all Pedestals on the Common Board. (No Pedestals are replenished at the end of the 10th round.)
- Pedestal Fields with Pedestals still standing: Leave the remaining Pedestals in place. Without looking inside, randomly take 1 Pedestal from the Bag and add it to the Pedestal Field.
- Pedestal Fields with no Pedestals left: Without looking inside, randomly take 2 Pedestals from the Bag and place them in the Pedestal Field.
- Start the next round. Once all 10 rounds are completed, move onto "The Final Totem".
The Final Totem
At the end of the 10th round, beginning with the current starting player, players may conduct "Totem Construction" action once. (Players can also choose to pass.)
After this final round of Totem Construction, the game moves onto Score Calculation.
Score Calculation
Before Score Calculation, if any player has an unrevealed Altar Card with its mission requirements met, the Altar Card can be revealed. After revealing the Altar Card, the player can select a Pedestal of their choice from the Bag and place it on their Altar. If multiple players have revealed an Altar Card, complete Pedestal selection and placement clockwise starting from the player closest to the starting player.
Each player calculates their Altar's score, and the player with the highest score wins the game.
- Common Pedestals: 1 point per Pedestal. All Pedestals are counted in the score whether or not there are Totems built on top of them.
- Rare Pedestals: 2 points per Pedestal. All Pedestals are counted in the score whether or not there are Totems built on top of them.
- Totems: The number of points is indicated on the Totem Description Tile. All Totems are calculated as (the number of spaces the Totem takes up times the height of the Pedestals) points.
- Revealed Altar Cards: The number of points is indicated on the Altar Card. If the Altar Card has been revealed at some point in the game, the points are counted in the score regardless of whether the mission requirements are met at the end of the game.
If there is a tie between players for the highest score, the player with the most Totems is the winner. If even the number of Totems is the same, the players share the victory.
Example of Score Calculation
It is recommended to fill in each player's Scorepad page from top to bottom.
In the example Altar:
- Bird Totem: 3×2 = 6 points
- Wolf Totem: 0 points (not built)
- Horse Totem: 2×3 + 2×3 = 12 points
- Cat Totem: 1×6 = 6 points
- Normal Pedestals: 14×1 = 14 points
- Rare Pedestals: 6×2 = 12 points
- Altar Cards: 2 points
For a total of 52 points.
Rules for Solo Play
When playing solo, the player creates 2 Altars by themself. The basic rules are the same as in a 2-player game, but the operations of 2 players are conducted by a single player. The final score is determined as the total score of the 2 Altars.
Score ranges:
- ~99 points: Unfinished Altars
- 100~129 points: Decent Altars
- 130~159 points: Wonderful Altars
- 160~179 points: Altars to Go Down in History
- 180~ points: Altars Chosen by the Gods
Rules FAQs
General Rules
Q1. If the players run out of a certain Totem Tile, is it impossible to build that Totem? A1. There is no limit to the number of Totems that can be built, so it is possible to build that Totem. Use the Totem Tile Stands as a placeholder to indicate that a Totem has been built there.
Q2. If the players run out of a Cloud Tile, is it impossible to acquire a Cloud Tile? A2. There is no limit to the number of Cloud Tiles that can be placed, so it is possible to acquire a Cloud Tile. Use coins or other substitutes as replacements.
Q3. What happens if the Pedestals run out in the bag? A3. If there are no Pedestals left in the bag when you attempt to draw one due to Totem Blessings or Altar Cards, you cannot acquire a Pedestal. If Pedestals cannot be replenished at the start of a round, no further Pedestals will be added.
Pedestal Placement Rules
Q1. After obtaining multiple Pedestals, if some of the Pedestals are returned to the Bag and traded for Cloud Tiles, is placing a Pedestal that was just obtained on top of a Cloud Tile that was just obtained allowed? A1. Yes, it is allowed.
Q2. Can Pedestals of the same design be placed on separate Cloud Tiles? A2. Yes, they can be placed separately.
Q3. Can Pedestals be returned to the Bag and traded for Cloud Tiles even if there are empty Cloud Tiles? A3. Yes, they can be traded.
Bird Totem Rules
Q1. Can the Pedestals earned from the Bird Totem's blessings be returned to the Bag and traded for Cloud Tiles? A1. Yes, they can be traded.
Wolf Totem Rules
Q1. Can a Wolf Totem be built if the Pedestal between 2 Pedestals is higher than both sides? A1. No, it cannot be built if the middle is higher than the sides.
Q2. Can a Wolf Totem be built so that it straddles another Totem? A2. No, it cannot overlap with another Totem.
Q3. When placing a Pedestal due to the Wolf Totem blessing or during Pedestal construction, can a Pedestal be placed on the space between the Wolf Totem's Totem Tile Stands? A3. No. There is no Totem Tile Stand on the space between the Wolf Totem's legs, but it is treated as if a Totem is standing there.
Q4. Can the Pedestals earned from the Wolf Totem's blessings be returned to the Bag and traded for Cloud Tiles? A4. No, they cannot be traded.
Horse Totem Rules
Q1. Can the lower part of the Horse Totem be built directly on a Cloud Tile? A1. No. At least one Pedestal must be placed under the Horse Totem.
Q2. If a Horse Totem is constructed as The Final Totem and an extra turn is earned, but there are no available Pedestals in the Pedestal Fields, is it impossible to conduct "Pedestal construction" action that turn? A2. If there are no Pedestals left in the Pedestal Fields, draw 2 Pedestals randomly from the Bag in order to conduct "Pedestal Construction" action.
Cat Totem Rules
Q1. If 2 Pedestals of the same design are drawn from the Bag during "Pedestal Construction" action, can the 2 be placed on a stack of height 5 to create a Cat Totem of height 7? A1. Yes. The Cat Totem can only be placed after the obtained Pedestals have all been placed.
Q2. Can the Pedestals earned from the Cat Totem's blessings be returned to the Bag and traded for Cloud Tiles? A2. Yes, they can be traded.
Dragon Totem Rules
Q1. Are the Pedestals placed in the Dragon's Treasure Hoard counted when calculating the score? A1. Yes, they are counted.
Q2. Can the lowest part of the Dragon Totem be built directly on a Cloud Tile? A2. No. At least one Pedestal must be placed under the Dragon Totem.
Q3. If a second Dragon Totem is built, can a second Pedestal be placed in the Dragon's Treasure Hoard? A3. Yes, a second Pedestal can be added to the Hoard.
Q4. What happens if a Dragon Totem is built when there are no Pedestals left in the Pedestal Fields? A4. When performing the "Pedestal Construction" action as part of the blessing effect, draw 2 Pedestals randomly from the Bag.
Altar Card Rules
Q1. Can Pedestals obtained by the effect of an Altar Card be returned to the Bag and traded for Cloud Tiles? A1. Yes, they can be traded.
Q2. Is it necessary for the Totems used to complete the "God of Birds", "God of Horses", and "Dragon God" Altar Cards to be the exact height as indicated on the Altar Card? A2. No, they can be any height.
Game Tips
Make the Most of Totem Blessings. Play strategically to maximize the blessings of each totem. For example, the Bird Totem is easier to utilize if built early in the game, while the Wolf Totem works well when built after expanding your altar.
Aim for the Cat Totem. The Cat Totem is powerful as it can be built without using an action. While collecting six pedestals may seem challenging, focusing on pedestals that other players aren't collecting can make it surprisingly easy to complete.
Focus on Completing Your First Altar Card. Start by aiming to fulfill the conditions of your first Altar Card. Once you complete it, the pedestal reward you receive upon revealing the card will make it easier to achieve your second card.