Connect4 – Launchers Game Rules

Hey there! I’m excited to share with you the rules for a fun game called Connect4 – Launchers. Get ready for a thrilling competition!

The goal of Connect4 – Launchers is to be the first player to connect four of your colored tokens in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. It may sound simple, but trust me, it’s not as easy as it seems!

To start the game, decide who will be player 1 and who will be player 2. The game requires both players to use one of the two provided launchers. Each player will have a specific color assigned to their tokens, either red or yellow.

The game board consists of a rectangular grid, vertically suspended with seven columns and six rows. At the beginning of the game, all columns are empty. Now, here comes the fun part!

Player 1 begins by inserting one of their colored tokens into any column of their choosing. The token will drop to the lowest available position in that column. Then, Player 2 takes their turn, placing their token in a different column.

The game continues in this alternating fashion. Players take turns launching their tokens into the columns until the board is completely filled, or until one player manages to connect four of their tokens in a row.

The tricky part is that players have to strategically choose which column to insert their token into. Once a token is inserted, it can’t be moved or removed. This means that each move must be thought through carefully to prevent your opponent from winning!

Now, let me explain the concept of a winning connection. To win, a player needs to have four of their own colored tokens adjacent to each other, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. A connection can be made in any direction but requires four tokens in a row – no more, no less.

If all the columns are filled, and no player has connected four tokens in a row, the game ends in a tie. If you’re a competitive player, you definitely want to avoid a tie!

So, are you ready to play Connect4 – Launchers? Grab a friend, set up the game board, and let the thrilling battle begin! Remember, think strategically, and aim to connect those tokens to claim victory!

• There are 21 Red Checkers
• There are 21 Yellow Checkers
• There are 4 Pillar Pieces
• There are 2 Trays
• There is 1 Red Checker Launcher
• There is 1 Yellow Checker Launcher
• There is a Rulebook

Setting Up

This is how you prepare for all 3 games. Put the game together as shown.

So here’s the deal: you and a friend both have a role to play in this game. You get the red checkers and the launcher, while your friend gets the yellow checkers and their own launcher. Don’t worry about any markings on the checkers just yet; they come into play in Game 3, not right now.

Alright, let’s get started! Here’s what you need to do to play this game:

Setting Up the Game

First, find a flat surface where you can place the game. It can be any flat table or even the floor – just make sure it’s between you and the other players. Each of you will have your own side to play on.

Launching the Checkers

Now, before we dive into the game, let’s take some time to practice launching. Keep the launchers on the playing surface at all times. This will help you get the hang of it and make sure you’re ready to start.

Remember: you can launch the checkers from anywhere on your own side of the game. Just aim and let it fly!

To launch into closer spaces, just don’t push all the way down on the launcher.

Game 1: Basic Frantic Launch

What’s the Goal?

The goal is to be the first player to get four checkers in a row in either tray.

How to Play

1. One of us will yell, “Ready, set, launch!”
2. Both of us will launch our checkers at the same time into either tray. Go as fast as you can!
3. The first player to get four checkers in a row must shout, “CONNECT 4!” and both players have to stop.

The four checkers in a row can be in a straight line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

Remember, only the top checker in a space counts!

The conclusion of the game

The player who manages to connect four chips in a row in either tray is declared the winner. However, if neither player is able to achieve this, a rematch is in order!

Game 2: Championship Frantic Launch

Objective of the Game

The goal is to be the first player to score a minimum of five points.

How to Play

Playing this game involves going through rounds. Each round is similar to playing a single game of Basic Frantic Launch (Game 1).

Points are earned for each instance of connecting four chips in a row.

Points

Where is the 4-in-a-row?
Point Value

Top Tray	2
Bottom Tray	1

At the conclusion of each round, the player who earned the points moves their scoring marker up on their launcher based on the points accumulated.

(At the start of every game, the scoring marker begins at 0).

Starting and Ending a Round

When it comes to playing the game, the goal is simple: be the first player to score at least 3 points. This is achieved by collecting all of your checkers from the trays or anywhere else they’ve landed.

Now, let’s talk about the game play. It’s a game of rounds where players take turns launching one checker at a time. The youngest player goes first. The round ends when one player gets a 4-in-a-row or when both players run out of checkers to launch.

And here’s where things get interesting – Game 3: Advanced Power Launch. In this version, you have the option to play with any or all Power Checkers, each with their own special powers. These powers will add an extra layer of excitement and strategy to your gameplay.

Finally, the ultimate goal is to be the first player to score 5 points. Once you reach this milestone, you emerge as the victor!

Welcome to Power Launch, a game where the majority rules! In this game, I’ll explain how control of a space works. Basically, it all comes down to the number of checkers each player has in a space.

Let’s say you and your friend are playing Power Launch. You’ve just made a move and placed your checker in a space on the board. Now it’s time to determine who has control of that space.

If you have more checkers in that space than your friend does, congratulations! You are in control of the space. It’s like having the upper hand in a game of tug-of-war.

But if you and your friend have an equal number of checkers in the space, well, that’s a tie. In Power Launch, when there’s a tie, neither player controls the space. It’s like a stalemate, where neither side has the advantage.

So, remember, in Power Launch, it’s all about the majority. The player with the most checkers in a space takes control. And if there’s a tie, neither player controls the space. Now that you understand how control of a space works, you’re ready to dive into the exciting world of Power Launch!

When it’s my turn to score, I slide my scoring marker up on the launcher. Here’s how it works:

Where is the 4-in-a-row?
Point Value

Top Tray	2
Bottom Tray	1

(At the start of each game, the scoring marker is set to 0).

Let’s Begin a New Round

We clear the trays and each player collects their colored checkers to start another round. The player who didn’t launch first in the last round gets to start this one.

Different Types of Checkers

Normal Checkers: Nothing special happens. We continue playing as usual.

Power Checkers: If the Power Checker doesn’t land in a space, my turn is over. But if it does, something powerful is activated:

Give It Another Shot: Why not try launching another checker right away (maybe even a Power Checker)?

Mega Blast: When I play the Mega Blast card, I unleash a powerful force that clears all the checkers from every space around where it lands.

Remove a Row: When I land on a space, I have the power to remove all the checkers in the same row. I can choose to remove the checkers in the row that goes from front to back or the row that goes from side to side.

Space Erase: So here’s the deal – when I pick a spot to land my checker, I get to choose a space next to it, and then I clear out all the checkers from that chosen space! It’s like a magical eraser for checkers!

I’ll take checkers out of the game and put them aside for now. You can’t launch them again in this round.

Once a player scores 3 points, they win the game!

Let me clarify a few rules for you:

– If a checker completely misses the trays, don’t worry. You can launch it again in a future turn, or right away in Game 1 or 2.

– Even if one player has no checkers left to launch, the other player can still launch their remaining checkers.

– If an opponent’s checker is still in the air when someone says, “CONNECT 4,” and it lands on top of the 4-in-a-row, the game keeps going. No one has won yet! This can happen in Game 1 or 2.

– If a checker lands on the tray but doesn’t land in a space, just leave it there.

– In Game 3, if a Power Checker is in a space, it counts towards a 4-in-a-row.

• If I miss the tray, I can launch it again later.
• If it lands on the tray but not in a space, the power is canceled.
• If it lands in a space, I have to use the power on this turn.

Team Play

My teammates and I sit next to each other.

Basic & championship frantic launch team play – for 2 teams

I launch a checker and then pass the launcher to my teammate, who launches a checker right away. We have to be fast and frantic, flipping and passing quickly.

Advanced power launch team play – for 2 teams

I launch a checker and then pass the launcher to my teammate, who launches a checker on our team’s next turn. Any one of us can decide when to use Power Checkers.