Welcome to the March of the Ants Game Rules!

I’m excited to tell you all about this amazing game. Get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure into the world of ants!

In March of the Ants, you are given the unique opportunity to lead your very own ant colony. Your mission is to gather resources, build your colony, and establish dominance over the vast underground network.

Now, let me walk you through some important rules and guidelines to help you navigate this engaging game:

Game Components

In order to play March of the Ants, you will need:

• 1 Game Board
• 120 Action Cards
• 80 Ability Cards
• 80 Event Cards
• 60 Goals Cards
• 5 Player Boards
• 240 Ant Tiles
• 20 Game Round Tokens
• 30 Resource Tokens
• 1 ‘Starting Player’ Token
• 1 ‘First Player’ Token

Game Setup

Let’s start by setting up the game:

1. Place the Game Board in the center of the play area.
2. Give each player a Player Board, 4 Action Cards, and 2 Goal Cards.
3. Shuffle the Ability Cards and place them face-down next to the Game Board.
4. Shuffle the Event Cards and place them face-down next to the Ability Cards.
5. Shuffle the Ant Tiles, then randomly distribute them face-down to create a supply pool near the Game Board.
6. Place the Resource Tokens next to the Game Board, within reach of all players.
7. Give the ‘Starting Player’ Token to the player who most recently saw an ant in real life (or the player who most recently played a game, if no one has seen an ant recently).
8. Give the ‘First Player’ Token to the player on the starting player’s left.

Gameplay

March of the Ants is played over a series of rounds. Each round consists of six phases:

1. Upkeep Phase

In this phase, players gain resources, refresh their Action Cards, and remove any Round Goal cards from previous rounds.

2. Events Phase

During this phase, an Event Card is drawn and resolved. Events can have various effects on the game, so be prepared for anything!

3. Action Phase

Now, it’s time to take action! In turn order, each player performs one action until everyone has passed. You can gather resources, play cards, or perform other actions to strengthen your colony.

4. Colony Phase

In this phase, players have the opportunity to perform colony actions, such as spawning new ants or evolving existing ants. This is where you can expand and improve your ant colony.

5. Event Phase

This phase is similar to the Events Phase mentioned earlier. Another Event Card is drawn and resolved, bringing new surprises to the game.

6. Scoring Phase

Finally, comes the Scoring Phase. During this phase, players score points based on their progress towards achieving current and future goals.

The game continues with each subsequent round until the end condition is met, which depends on the number of players. The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner!

Now that you’re familiar with the rules and gameplay of March of the Ants, it’s time to gather your friends and experience the excitement of building your own ant empire!

When I play March of the Ants, the game takes me through the changing seasons. Each round has three parts: the Worker Phase, where I make most of my moves; the Soldier Phase, where we fight battles on contested hexes; and the Queen Phase, where I gather resources, feed ants, and make important decisions before going to sleep.

When the game is over, the player with the most colony points wins. I can earn colony points by controlling hexes that border The Great Tunnel, collecting points from special hexes, evolving complete ant bodies, winning battles, and meeting the requirements of unique Colony Goal cards.

What’s in the Game?

• I have a fantastic selection of components for my game called “The Great Tunnel.” It includes 1 Great Tunnel, 25 Hex Tiles, 66 Cards, 5 Nest Mats, 180 Cubes (egg/larva/ant), 5 Player Markers, 30 Food Tokens, 1 Score Track, 15 Centipede/Wormhole Counters, 1 Round Marker, and 1 Active Player Marker. Isn’t that exciting?

Let’s Get Started!

1. First, we need to set up the game. Place The Great Tunnel in the middle of the table. It’s the centerpiece of the game.
2. Next, let’s prepare the play area. Put the Score Track on one side.
3. Now, it’s time to get your playing pieces. Each player gets cubes in their favorite color. They also get a Nest Mat. This is where you’ll build your ant empire. Exciting, right?
4. Place five cubes of your chosen color in your Larvae Chamber. Put one cube in The Great Tunnel. Don’t forget to put your Player Marker on the starting square of the Score Track. Keep your other cubes next to your Nest Mat for now.
5. Lastly, we need to make sure you have enough food to sustain your ants. Put two food tokens in your Food Stores.

Let’s get started with a game of Hexapoda Tactics! Here’s how to set it up:

1. First, shuffle the cards and deal two cards to each player. Make sure the deck is placed next to the play area for easy access.

2. Take the standard hex tiles and shuffle them. Then, place them face down in a stack next to The Great Tunnel. If you’re playing for the first time, it’s recommended to remove the Beyond the Meadow hexes (tiles 21-25) from the game.

3. Each player should randomly select two starting hexes. Shuffle them and place them face down on top of the standard hex pile. Any unused starting hex tiles can be returned to the game box.

4. Keep the food and centipede/wormhole tokens nearby, as they will be used during gameplay.

5. Put the Round Marker on The Great Tunnel at Round One, which represents Early Spring.

6. Now, it’s time to determine the starting player. Randomly select one player and give them the Active Player Marker.

With the setup complete, it’s time to start playing Hexapoda Tactics and see who will emerge victorious! Have fun exploring the world of hexes and strategic decision-making.

In March of the Ants, I got this game board called the Meadow. It’s made up of two parts: The Great Tunnel and the hex tiles. The Meadow gets bigger as I explore and add new hex tiles to it. It’s really cool to see it grow!

Hexes

The Great Tunnel

The Great Tunnel is the heart of the Meadow. It’s where all the ant colonies come from. Consider it the center of everything. You can always put larvae into The Great Tunnel after exploring, marching, or thanks to a card. No one can challenge or fight in this sacred place.

The Great Tunnel has a special feature called the Round Track. Every round, the Round Marker moves forward. When the last round is over, the game ends.

Anatomy of a Hex

Icon Key

Explained

When you see a little picture on a website or phone app, called an “icon”, it can be like a secret code. It gives you important information or helps you do something specific. Icons are like little pictures that make it easier for us to understand and use technology.

Why are icons important?

Icons are important because they make life easier. They save time and energy because you don’t have to read words to understand what they mean. With just a quick glance at an icon, you can figure out what it represents.

How can icons help me?

Icons can help you in many different ways. They can show you where to find things or how to use a certain feature on a website or app. Icons can also give you hints or alerts when something is wrong or needs your attention.

What are some common icons?

There are many different icons that you might see when using technology. Here are a few examples:

• A magnifying glass icon might mean “search”. It helps you look for something specific.
• A trash can icon might mean “delete”. It helps you get rid of something you don’t want anymore.
• A heart icon might mean “like” or “favorite”. It helps you show that you really enjoy something.
• A thumbs-up icon might mean “good” or “approve”. It helps you show that you think something is great.

These are just a few examples, but there are many more icons out there. Each one has its own special meaning and can help you do different things.

Conclusion

Icons may be small, but they play a big role in our everyday lives. They give us important information and make it easier for us to use technology. So next time you see an icon, think of it as your helpful little friend giving you clues and guiding you along the way.

Placing Larvae

As soon as you put larvae into the Meadow or move them there, they transform into ants.

Inhabiting Collection Sites

When I move an ant to a hex, it right away settles in any available collection site. If there are multiple empty collection sites, I get to choose the one. I don’t have to start with the control site. If there are no empty collection sites, I place the ant on the outskirts of that hex.

Inhabiting Hexes

In order to settle in a hex, I need to have at least one ant in that hex which is already occupying a collection site. I can’t move larvae into hexes that I haven’t settled in. However, there are special card effects that let me place larvae in uninhabited sites.

Outskirts

When it comes to ant colonies, the outskirts are a fascinating place. These are the hexes that don’t have any collection sites, and ants in the outskirts don’t actually live there, nor do they collect resources. It’s a bit puzzling, isn’t it? Well, let me explain.

What Happens to Vacated Collection Sites?

Imagine this scenario: after resolving an action, a reaction, a battle, or a card effect, a hex ends up with an empty collection site. Now, if there are ants in the outskirts of that hex, something interesting happens – one of those ants will immediately move in and make that site their home.

But wait, what if there are ants from different players in the outskirts? Well, in that case, it’s like a race! All the players will move their available ants to occupy the vacant sites, starting with the Active Player and continuing in a clockwise direction. It’s a flurry of activity as these industrious little creatures hustle to find a new place to live.

In the Soldier Phase and Queen Phase, we ants will settle in empty spots one by one, going clockwise starting with the winner of a battle or the player with the Active Player Marker. As you can imagine, things can get pretty interesting when hexes are contested. That happens when two or more players have ants in the same hex and there are ants in the outskirts. When that occurs, the hex is considered contested – it’s like a real ant showdown!

During the Soldier Phase, we engage in ant battles in every contested hex. We ants fight it out to see who comes out on top. It’s an intense moment, let me tell you. But don’t worry, our Great Tunnel is a safe zone. Battles never happen there, it’s our peaceful sanctuary.

Now, let’s talk about shared hexes. A hex is shared when two or more players have their ants chilling in that same hex, but there are no ants in the outskirts. When a hex is shared, we ants respect each other’s space and don’t fight. Makes sense, right? We’re all just coexisting peacefully. Oh, and just so you know, the Great Tunnel doesn’t count as a shared hex. It’s our little secret hideaway.

Speaking of phases, let’s move on to the Worker Phase, where the real work happens. It’s time to get busy, my friend!

In the Worker Phase, it’s time for us to take action. We each get a turn, starting with the player who has the Active Player Marker. They’ll turn it over to reveal the sun face at the start of the phase.

During our turn, we can choose one of five actions: Explore, March, Forage, Play a Card, or Rest. If we decide to take an action other than Rest, the other players can also react to what we do. These Reactions don’t cost anything and are done in order, going clockwise from the player to the left of the active player.

After we’re done with our action and any Reactions, we pass the Active Player Marker to the player on our left, and it’s their turn to take action. This cycle continues until two players decide to Rest.

It’s important to note that the Explore, March, and Forage actions all require one food to perform. But playing a card doesn’t cost any food. Instead, we’ll have to spend larvae and/or ants. And if we decide to Rest, there’s no cost involved.

A. Explore

Cost: It’ll only cost you 1 food.

Action: Here’s what you do: draw and place a hex next to a hex where you already have one of your ants. Now, here’s the tricky part. The hex you place has to have at least one tunnel connected to a tunnel in the hex you’re exploring from. And don’t forget, you have to move one or more of your ants from an adjacent hex into the explored hex.

First, I draw a hex. Then, I get to choose which hex I want to explore from. And finally, I get to choose which tunnel I’ll connect it to. Oh, the possibilities! And by the way, ants can explore from the collection sites or from the outskirts.

Reaction: Now, here’s where things get interesting. Every other player has the chance to place one larva from their Larvae Chamber onto any hex they live in or into The Great Tunnel.

But hold on, there’s a catch. You can only do this Reaction if you have at least one larva in your Larvae Chamber. So, make sure you’ve got some larvae before trying to pull this off.

Discover the Diagram

Oh boy, have I got something cool to show you! It’s a diagram, and let me tell you, it’s pretty amazing. It’s a visual representation of something, like a picture that explains things. I’m gonna walk you through how to make sense of it, so buckle up and get ready!

First off, check out this diagram. See how it’s got these shapes and lines all over the place? Well, each shape represents something, like an idea or a thing. And the lines, well, they connect the shapes and show how everything is related. It’s like a big old puzzle!

Now, when you look at a diagram, sometimes it can be a little hard to figure out what’s going on. That’s okay, it happens to the best of us. But don’t worry, I’m gonna give you some tips to help you out.

First, let’s talk about the shapes. Each shape has a little label inside that tells you what it is. And the cool thing is, sometimes the shapes look like what they represent. So if you see a shape that looks like a cloud, it probably represents something related to the weather. Pretty neat, huh?

Next, let’s think about those lines. The lines show you how everything is connected. They tell you how one shape relates to another. So if you see a line that connects two shapes, it means there’s some kind of relationship between them. Maybe they’re similar, or maybe one leads to the other. The lines give you clues about how things fit together.

Now, here’s a handy tip for reading a diagram. Start by looking for the main shapes. These are usually the biggest ones or the ones that stand out the most. Once you’ve found the main shapes, follow the lines to see how everything connects. It’s kind of like following a trail of breadcrumbs. Before you know it, you’ll start to see the big picture.

So, there you have it. Diagrams are pretty cool, huh? They’re like a secret code that unlocks all kinds of knowledge. The more you practice reading diagrams, the better you’ll get at understanding all sorts of information. So keep exploring and keep learning. The world is full of diagrams waiting to be discovered!

Now, go on and take a closer look at that diagram. Who knows what you’ll uncover? It’s like a treasure hunt for knowledge. Enjoy the adventure!

1. So, here’s the deal: I’m the red player, and I have at least one ant in Fungalreach. That means I can explore through any open tunnels in that hex.
2. But hold up, there’s a catch – I can only explore where there is a tunnel. No tunnel, no exploring.
3. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. I can’t explore through the open tunnels of Water’s Edge. Why? Simple. I don’t have any ants in that hex. So, the tunnels stay closed for me.

I’m going to show you how to play a game called “Bug Empires.” First, I’ll explain what happens during the Explore phase. In this phase, each player takes turns exploring different hexes on the game board.

Let’s say I’m the red player. I spend one food point to Explore and draw a hex card from the pile. The card I draw is called “Dry Seep.” Now, I get to choose which tunnel in a location called Fungalreach I want to connect the new hex to. I decide to connect it to the bottom right tunnel in Fungalreach. After that, I have to move at least one of my ants from Fungalreach into the newly explored hex. I decide to leave one ant behind in Fungalreach, but I could have moved both ants if I wanted to. I also have to decide whether to inhabit the new hex or not. I choose to inhabit it, but I could have chosen to inhabit either hex.

Now, let’s talk about connecting tunnels. As the red player, I only need to connect tunnels between Dry Seep and Fungalreach. It’s okay if there are blocked tunnels between other hexes.

Now, let’s move on to the next phase, which is called March. But before we do that, let me explain that the blue player has a special reaction to my Explore phase. The blue player gets to place a larva into a location called Water’s Edge.

I hope this explanation helps you understand how to play Bug Empires. Enjoy the game!

Cost: You need 1 piece of food to perform this action.

Action: You can move up to five steps. First, move any larvae you have, and then move your ants.

A step can be used to do one of the following: move a single larva from the Larvae Chamber to any hex where you have ants (or into The Great Tunnel), or move one ant from any hex to an adjacent hex that is connected by a tunnel, or move an ant from a hex with a wormhole to any other hex with a wormhole.

Remember that you must move any larvae before moving your ants. Whenever you move a larva to the Meadow, it immediately becomes an ant. If you have any thorax evolutions in play for the Worker caste bonus, you can move one additional step for each thorax evolution when you choose the March action. However, the Worker caste bonus does not give you extra steps for Reactions to the March action.

Reaction: Each of the other players has the option to move one of their ants one step. However, they cannot move any larvae.

March Diagram

1. I want to move my larvae into Water’s Edge, but I can’t do it directly because I don’t have any collection sites there.
2. I’ll pay one food to March and take up to five steps. I’ll use three steps to move three larvae into Soil. Once they enter the Meadow, they’ll transform into ants.
3. With the two remaining steps, I’ll move two ants from Soil into Water’s Edge. They’ll immediately start inhabiting the available collection sites there.
4. Since there are no available sites in Soil, one of my red ants will stay on the outskirts. This means that Soil is now a contested hex. If it remains contested during the Soldier Phase, there will be a battle.

I want to tell you about an interesting game called “Ant Colony”. In this game, different players take turns making decisions and taking actions. Let me explain how some of these actions work.

First, there’s the “March” action. When the red player takes this action, the black player reacts by moving one ant from Soil to Dry Seep.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. When the red ant moves out of Soil, another ant from the outskirts immediately takes its place in the collection site. This means that Soil is no longer contested.

After that, it’s the blue player’s turn to react. They decide to move into the outskirts of Dry Seep, making it a contested area.

Now let’s talk about the ants in Water’s Edge. They can’t move into the vacated food collection site because they are already occupying other sites. If the red player wants to move one of these ants, they would have to use a step.

So, as you can see, the game involves a lot of strategic decision-making and planning. Each player has to consider their options and think about the consequences of their actions. It’s a game that requires both strategy and creativity.

Now that you know a bit about how the game works, I hope it piques your interest. If you enjoy games that challenge your thinking and require careful planning, then you’ll love “Ant Colony”.

With these actions in mind, you can start playing and exploring the fascinating world of ants. Have fun!

Cost: You’ll need 1 food to play this card.

Action: When you play this card, draw two cards from the deck.

Reaction: Here’s an interesting twist – every player, except you, can choose to gain one larva. If they do, they take a cube from the side of their Nest Mat and add it to their Larvae Chamber. But here’s the catch – if they don’t have any cubes left, tough luck, no larvae for them!

Now, here’s another thing. If you ever have to draw a card, but the deck is empty, don’t worry! Just grab all the cards from the discard pile, give them a good shuffle, and ta-da! You’ve got yourself a brand new deck to draw from.

Anatomy of a Card

1. Types of Cards
2. Cost of Cards – You can pay with larvae and/or ants.
3. Name of Cards
4. Scientific Names – This has no effect on gameplay.
5. Card Value – Used in battle.
6. Card Description – Explains effects and abilities.
7. Flavor Text – This has no effect on gameplay.
8. Evolution Body Section/Caste Bonus Symbol.
9. Centipede Symbol – Removes marked cards in the Solo and Co-op game.

D. How to Play a Card

Cost:

Action: I can play a card from my hand.

Reaction: You can discard a card from your hand in order to draw a card.

When I want to play a card, I don’t have to worry about food. Instead, I need to pay with my larvae and/or ants. The amount I need to pay is equal to the cost of the card. To make the payment, I have to take larvae and/or ants from either the Larvae Chamber or the Meadow and put them back on the side of my nest mat.

Did you know that in addition to the cost, each card in March of the Ants has a number that is used in battle and by certain evolution cards?

March of the Ants features three types of cards:

Event

Events are special cards that represent the actions of ants or natural forces. They have one-time effects. Once an Event card is resolved, it is placed face up in the discard pile.

Evolution

Evolutions are cards that are attached to the ant body on a player’s Nest Mat. They provide permanent upgrades to the nest. Each evolution offers a unique bonus to the player’s ants. When new evolutions are played, they are placed on top of any previously played evolutions in each body section.

However, only the topmost evolution in each body section is active and provides its unique effect.

Caste Bonuses – Every time I evolve, I get a special bonus depending on which part of my body changes. These bonuses add up for each evolution that I have.

• Soldier – Head: When it’s time for the Soldier Phase, my Army Strength increases by one for each evolution of my head.
• Worker – Thorax: Whenever I perform the March action, I can move an extra step for each evolution of my thorax. However, this bonus does not apply when reacting to March.
• Queen – Abdomen: During the Queen Phase, each food I have is enough to feed one additional ant for each evolution of my abdomen.

The Amazing Ant Body – You score three points for each complete ant body. A complete ant body is made up of a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. You can have more than one complete ant body and earn points for each, but you can only score each card once.

Colony Goals

Colony Goals give you special tasks to complete. They also give you a small bonus to help you complete the task. When you complete a Colony Goal, you earn colony points. When you play a Colony Goal card, it goes face up in your Stashed Colony Goals area and stays there.

You can have up to two Colony Goal cards in play at a time. If you want to play a third Colony Goal card, you have to discard one of the cards already in play.

Evolution Diagram

1. When I play the Tawny Crazy Head, the black player gains its ability, but not the ability of the previous head evolution. I must place the new evolution on top of the existing ones.
2. Since I have two head evolutions in play, the black player receives the Soldier caste bonus twice. This means I can add two to my Army Strength in every battle I fight.
3. Having one thorax evolution in play, I gain the ability of the Scouting Thorax, in addition to the Worker caste bonus. When I choose the March action, I can take one extra step.
4. Unfortunately, I don’t have an abdomen evolution in play, so I miss out on the Queen caste bonus. However, if I play an abdomen evolution, I will evolve a complete ant and earn three colony points.

E. Rest

When I don’t have any resources left to take actions or there’s nothing else I want to do, I’ll choose to Rest. But I can’t choose to Rest as my first action each round. The first time I Rest in a round, I’ll put a larva on my Nest Mat’s Resting area. And after Resting once, I have to Rest on each turn that follows.

Every time I Rest after the first, I’ll place a piece of food on my Resting area. Even after Resting, I still have the option to do Reactions.

The Worker Phase will end as soon as two players have Rested. The player who Rests second gets to keep the Active Player Marker. They flip it to the Moon side, which means they’ll be the Starting Player in the next Worker Phase.

When I decide to Rest in the game, I gain one larva. However, I can only choose Rest as my first action if I have no cards in hand and no food.

The Rest Diagram

1. Whenever I Rest, I can place one larva from the supply over here.
2. For each additional Rest I take, I can place one food from the supply in this spot.
3. I can continue stacking food in this area for each Rest until the Worker Phase ends.
4. As soon as a second player Rests, the Worker Phase ends. At that moment, all the resources that have been collected in this area are moved to the Larvae Chamber and Food Stores.
5. After each player’s turn, the Active Player Marker is passed in clockwise order.

When the second player decides to Rest, they need to flip the Active Player Marker to the side that shows the moon. This marks the end of the Worker Phase and indicates that they will be the Starting Player in the next Worker Phase.

When the next Worker Phase begins, I will flip the Active Player Marker to reveal the sun.

Soldier Phase

At the start of the Soldier Phase: I will resolve any relevant head evolution bonuses in clockwise order, starting with the player who has the Active Player Marker.

I will resolve battles by hex number, starting with the lowest numbered hex. If there is a centipede battle and an ant battle in the same hex, I will resolve the centipede battle first.

Battle Rules

Battles will take place in all contested hexes. Each battle will be between two players. A hex is considered contested when there are two or more players present and there are more ants than collection sites.

When it comes to hexes with centipedes, things always get interesting. The Great Tunnel is off-limits for battles, so that’s out of the question. In each hex where a battle takes place, there’s a defender and an invader. It’s like a game of cat and mouse!

If there are three or more players in a hex, the invader is the one with the most ants who isn’t the defender. But if there’s a tie, the defender gets to choose who has the honor of invading.

The Battle Progression

Strength of the Armies

Fighting Spirit

The Outcome

In the game, each player adds up the strength of their discarded cards to determine their Army Strength. The player with the highest total wins, with ties going to the defender.

Casualties

Spoils

During each Soldier Phase, two players will battle each other once in each hex. Even if the hex remains contested after the battle, no further battles will take place during that phase.

However, if ants from a player who didn’t participate in the initial battle are still present in the hex, another battle will occur.

In this case, the player who didn’t take part in the initial battle will now face off against the player who controls the site. If the player who didn’t participate in the first battle already controls the site, they will instead battle the player with the most ants in the hex.

If I, as the player who occupies a specific control site, have battled every other player in that hex, there won’t be any further battles in that location during the Soldier Phase. It’s important to note this rule.

Diagram of Battle Stages

Army Strength –

Ferocity

I discard a card with a ferocity value of three. And you, the blue player, discard a card with the same ferocity value of three.

Outcome

Casualties

Spoils

As a result of the battle, I gain and I can move my ant from the outskirts into the control site. This is one of the key rewards for winning a battle in March of the Ants.

Let’s Talk About Centipede Battle Rules

Today, I want to share with you the fascinating world of centipede battles. Have you ever heard of them? If not, get ready to enter a whole new dimension of excitement!

Now, let me start by telling you a little secret: the centipede is always the invader. That’s right! These multi-legged creatures are always on the move, looking for new territories to conquer.

So, what exactly are centipede battles? Well, imagine a battlefield where two centipedes clash in an epic struggle for dominance. Each one tries to outmaneuver and outwit the other in a game of survival.

But how do these battles unfold? Let me break it down for you. First, the centipedes size each other up, assessing their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s like a mental chess game, where strategy is key.

Then, they engage in a fast and furious dance of legs, darting and dodging in a flurry of movement. It’s a spectacle to behold, as these agile creatures twist and turn, trying to gain the upper hand.

But here’s the twist: centipedes have a secret weapon. When they feel threatened, they can regenerate lost segments of their bodies. It’s like having a built-in superpower that allows them to bounce back and keep fighting.

However, this ability comes with a price. Regenerating takes energy and time, leaving the centipede vulnerable to counterattacks. It’s a double-edged sword that can either elevate them to victory or lead to their ultimate downfall.

Like any battle, there can only be one winner. And when the dust settles, the victorious centipede claims the territory as its own, while the defeated one retreats in search of new opportunities.

So, there you have it – the world of centipede battles. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the strategies and tactics of these extraordinary creatures. If you’re curious about nature’s endless surprises, then centipede battles will surely captivate your imagination.

In order to figure out how strong the Army is, the centipede gets rid of the card on the top of the deck. The Army’s strength is the same as the number on the card that was discarded.

The ants that are battling the centipede can also discard a card to increase the Ferocity.

So here’s the deal. The centipede plays the card game too. It starts by throwing away a card from its deck and adding it to its mighty Army Strength. Now, if the ants are victorious, they wipe out the centipede and send its token back to where it came from. And guess what? The glorious winner gets a yummy food treat and a precious colony point. Not bad, huh?

But, there’s a catch. If the centipede loses, things go south for the poor soul who dared to challenge it. They have to say goodbye to half of the centipede’s Army Strength in the form of lost ants. Ouch!

If the centipede wins, you lose ants equal to its Army Strength (the total from both cards).

Centipede battle with two or more Players

If two or more of us have ants in a hex with a centipede, the centipede will first battle the person who occupies the control site. If the centipede beats them, it will then fight the person who now occupies the control site.

If no one occupies the control site, the centipede will fight the person with the most ants first. If two people have the same number of ants, the centipede will battle players in that hex in clockwise order starting with the player who holds the Active Player Marker.

Each of us will only battle the centipede once in each hex per turn. If the hex is still being fought over after the centipede battle is resolved, then there will be an ant battle.

Centipede Battle Diagram

1. If there’s a centipede in a hex, it means that hex is a battleground.
2. I’ll discard the top card from the deck. The number on the discarded card (three) will determine the centipede’s base Army Strength.
3. You can choose to discard a card from your hand. If you do, you can add the number two to the four ants that are already in the hex, giving you a total of six.
4. The centipede will discard a second card from the top of the deck. The number two on that card will be added to the previous card’s number, resulting in a total Army Strength of five.
5. The ants beat the centipede and destroy half of its total ants (rounded down). The red player earns one food and one colony point, and the centipede token goes back to the supply.
6. If the centipede wins, it destroys ants equal to its Army Strength from both cards.

In the Queen Phase:

Start of Queen Phase

Resolve the bonuses for abdomen evolution in clockwise order, starting with the player who has the Active Player Marker.

Harvest

When my ants live in collection sites, they gather resources. Whenever they collect food or larvae, I put a token of that resource in my nest. And when they collect cards, I draw one card from the deck. If they collect colony points, I move my player marker one space on the Score Track.

Most collection sites give me one resource, unless there’s a number on or next to the icon, which means I get more.

Feeding my Ants

Four ants can eat one food token. But larvae don’t need to eat. I have to use my available food to feed my ants. If I run out of food and my ants are still hungry, I have to give up one larva to feed each unfed ant.

If I run out of larvae too, I have to get rid of any ants that haven’t been fed.

Feeding Diagram

When it’s time to feed my ants, I need to pay one food for every four ants I have. That’s the deal. Once all the food is taken, then things get a little tricky. Any ants that haven’t been fed will eat one larva each. But here’s the catch – if there are no more larvae left, those unfed ants won’t survive. It’s a tough world out there in the ant colony.

The good news is that I don’t need to worry about feeding the larvae. They can fend for themselves. But there’s another factor I should consider. For each abdomen I have in play, every food I pay will feed an extra ant. So, having more abdomens can really help feed my hungry colony.

Queen Caste Bonus

If my ant body has evolved and I have a queen, things get even better. Each food I pay will feed an additional ant for each abdomen evolution. So, if I have one abdomen evolution, one food can feed up to five ants. And if I have two abdomen evolutions, one food can feed up to ten ants. Talk about a royal feast!

Royal Decree

Once all the ants in the colony have been fed, it’s time for the Royal Decree. This is where I, as the player, get to decide if my queen will produce more food or larvae. It’s a big decision.

If I choose food, I’ll gain two extra pieces. But if I choose larvae, I’ll get five of those instead. Each player gets to make their own choice. Just remember, there won’t be a Royal Decree in the final round. So make it count!

One more thing. The Royal Decree is resolved in clockwise order, starting with the player who has the Active Player Marker. That’s the one with the power, so they go first. It’s only fair.

Slumber

When I control each hex that is adjacent to The Great Tunnel, called the Inner Meadow, I earn one colony point for each of them. I don’t need to connect the hexes to the Great Tunnel with tunnels to earn these points.

If I meet the conditions of any Colony Goal cards I have in play, I earn additional colony points. The Round Marker advances one space.

Once the Slumber phase ends, the next Worker Phase begins. The player who rested second in the Worker Phase and has the Active Player Marker becomes the Starting Player.

If the game is in its final round, we tally the end game points and declare a winner.

Queen Phase Diagram

Harvest

Hey there! Let me break down the game for you. First, there are three players: red, blue, and black. Here’s what each player collects:

The red player collects two pieces of food, four larvae, one card, and one colony point. Impressive, right? The blue player, on the other hand, collects two pieces of food and one larva.

Now let’s move on to the black player. They collect two pieces of food and a whopping seven larvae. They sure know how to feed their ants!

Feed Ants

Feeding ants is important to keep them happy and healthy. The red player’s ants are hungry and need two pieces of food. The blue player’s ants aren’t as hungry and only need one piece of food.

Now, let’s talk about the black player’s ants. They have a total of nine ants, which would normally require three pieces of food. However, the black player has a clever strategy in play. They have an abdomen evolution that allows each piece of food to feed an additional ant. So, their ants only need two pieces of food. Genius, right?

Royal Decree

Now it’s time for each player to make a choice. They can either gain two pieces of food or five larvae. Tough decision!

Slumber

And lastly, we have the slumber phase. Good night, ants!

Explore the Inner Meadow

Hey there! Let’s dive into the world of the Inner Meadow. I’m in control of a character named Bark, who is represented by the red player. Each time I make a move or take an action, I earn one colony point. On the other hand, the black player controls not just one, but three territories: Tall Sand, Soil, and Water’s Edge. The black player has an advantage here and earns three colony points.

Now, let’s talk about the blue player. They control Loamy Tunnels and also earn one colony point for every action taken. But wait, there’s more – the blue player also has control over Dry Seep. However, since it’s not adjacent to The Great Tunnel, it doesn’t yield any colony points.

Reach for the Colony Goals

When I, the red player, inhabit Soil, Bark, and Dry Seep, I earn two colony points due to Extensive Tunnel.

I advance the Round Marker by moving it one space.

The Game’s Conclusion and the Path to Victory

As each nest competes for ecological dominance, we must choose unique evolutionary paths and strategies. The nest that accumulates the most colony points will triumph, passing down their genetic code and becoming the ancestors of countless generations of ants to come.

Our success is measured by the number of colony points we gather. At the end of the game, after the Slumber round, we earn additional colony points. Then, we tally up our total colony points, and the winner is announced.

Earning Colony Points:

Whenever I gain colony points, I get to move my Player Marker, which is a disc of the same color as me, one space forward on the Score Track for each colony point I earn. There are a few different ways to earn colony points throughout the game:

During the Game

• Battles – When I win a battle, I earn one colony point for each battle I win.
• Colony Point Collection Sites – I can earn colony points by collecting them during the Harvest phase of the game.
• Cards – Some Event and Evolution cards give me colony points during the game.
• Complete Ant Bodies – If I have a complete ant body with a head, thorax, and abdomen, I earn three colony points. I can have multiple complete ant bodies, but each card can only be scored in one ant body.

After Each Slumber

The Great Tunnel Game: A Guide to Colony Points and Strategies

Hey there! I wanna talk to you about The Great Tunnel, a cool game where you can earn colony points to become the ultimate winner. So, let’s dive right in and explore all the exciting aspects of this game!

Earning Colony Points

First things first – let’s talk about how you can earn colony points. There are two main ways:

• Inner Meadow Hexes – You earn one colony point for each hex you control that is next to The Great Tunnel.
• Colony Goals – You can earn colony points by meeting the conditions of Colony Goal cards that you have in play.

End of Game

Now, let’s take a look at how the game ends and what determines the winner. There are three end game rewards:

• Largest Brood – The player with the most larvae earns three colony points.
• Greatest Stores – The player with the most food earns three colony points.
• Untold Potential – The player with the most cards in hand earns three colony points.

If there’s a tie for any of the end game rewards, each tied player gets one colony point. But remember, the player with the most colony points is the ultimate winner!

And in case of a tie in colony points, the player with the most ants in the Meadow will be crowned the winner. So, make sure to build a thriving ant population!

Strategy and Tactics

Now, let’s talk strategy! To increase your chances of winning, you’ll need to plan your moves carefully. Here are a few tips:

• Focus on controlling the hexes next to The Great Tunnel to earn those valuable colony points.
• Keep an eye on your Colony Goal cards and try to meet their conditions to earn more points.
• Don’t forget about the end game rewards – aim for the largest brood, greatest stores, and untold potential to earn extra points.
• Lastly, remember that having a strong presence in the Meadow can give you an advantage in case of a tie in colony points.

So, there you have it! With this guide, you’re ready to embark on your journey in The Great Tunnel and strive for victory. Best of luck!

When playing the game, it’s crucial to handle the larvae and food diligently, making sure I have enough of both to do various actions, play cards, gather armies, and feed my ants.

At the beginning of the game, I must Explore to secure places for collecting food. This is because food is the key to expanding and evolving my nest.

Depending on my strategies, I may choose to focus on expansion, evolution, collection, or war. To be the most successful player, I’ll probably need a combination of all of them.

If I wish to be aggressive, I should first gather enough resources to feed and grow my armies.

During the Queen Phase, I should carefully consider whether to produce larvae or food with my Royal Decree. The colony needs a suitable balance of both to thrive.

Long Game Variant

When you play a long game of March of the Ants, you’ll notice a small change. Instead of four rounds, the game now has five. To set up, place the Round Marker on Round Zero, and get ready for an extended experience.

Going Beyond the Meadow

Now, let’s talk about the Beyond the Meadow hexes (#21-25). These hexes bring in something special: unique effects and abilities. Each tile has its own special power written on it. Whenever you explore or place a Beyond the Meadow hex, you get to use that power.

For your first game, it’s a good idea to remove all the Beyond the Meadow hexes. This way, you can focus on the basics of the game first. However, once you get the hang of it, you can add some excitement by including 2-3 randomly selected Beyond the Meadow hexes per game.

In a game with five players or in a long game, go all out and include all five Beyond the Meadow hexes. This will give you a truly immersive experience.