The Ants Are on the March: Rules for Two and Five Players

Hey there! Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of ants and join them in their march? I’ve got some important rules for you to follow when playing the game “March of the Ants.” Whether you’re playing with just two players or with a big group of five, these rules will help you navigate the game and have an amazing time.

Preparing for the March

Before we begin, let’s make sure we’re all set to go. Grab your game board and the different kinds of ant cards, like the worker, soldier, and queen ants. Shuffle the cards and distribute six of them to each player. You’ll also have some event cards that spice things up during the game. Keep them nearby. Are we all good? Let’s march on!

The Two-Player March

In a two-player match, you’re going head-to-head with your opponent. Your goal is to strategically place ants on the board, expand your colony, and score points. On each turn, you can do three things: play a card, activate your ants, or draw a new card. Keep an eye on the resources you need to play cards and make sure you have enough to move forward. By navigating the terrain and cleverly using your ant abilities, you’ll outwit your opponent and emerge victorious!

The Five-Player March

Now, let’s talk about the bigger march with five players. In this version, you’re part of a larger ant kingdom, competing with four other players for resources and territory. Just like in the two-player version, you’ll take turns playing cards, activating ants, and drawing new cards. However, with more players, the game becomes more unpredictable and exciting. You’ll need to be quick and cunning to claim your space and achieve victory.

March On to Victory

Remember, the key to success is careful planning and adaptation. Ants may be small, but their strength lies in their cooperation and strategy. By leveraging the unique abilities of your ant cards and making smart moves on the board, you’ll pave your way to victory. So, gather your cards, ally with your ants, and march on to glory!

If you want to play a two-player game of March of the Ants, here are some extra rules to follow:

Getting Ready

Use the opposite side of The Great Tunnel board.

1. First, I grab two hexes from the pile and choose one to connect to The Great Tunnel. It’s like building our own little ant kingdom!
2. After that, I start with three ants in my newly placed hex and three larvae in my Larvae Chamber. I also have two food and two cards to start off with.

That’s how we get the game going! It’s all about strategy and building up our ant colonies. Let’s see who can create the most successful one!

Resting: Taking a Break

When I decide to take a break and Rest, it’s your chance to have one last turn before the Worker Phase comes to an end.

You have the freedom to choose any action, including Rest. By doing so, you become the Active Player and keep the Active Player Marker. This means you’ll be the one starting the next Worker Phase.

Inner Meadow Hexes: Connecting to The Great Tunnel

If you want to score points for Inner Meadow hexes, they must be connected to The Great Tunnel. Remember, you only gain colony points for the hexes you control that are linked to The Great Tunnel through tunnels.

Colony Goals: Comparing Resources

When it comes to goals that involve comparing resources with your neighbor, remember that you’re only comparing with the other player. If you have more of a particular resource than your opponent, you fulfill the objective of the goal and earn the points.

Let’s say I have epic Stores and I have two food during Slumber, while you only have one food. In this case, I would gain two colony points.

Playing with Five Players

So you want to play March of the Ants with five players? Here’s how you do it:

Getting Started

First things first – make sure you include all 8 starting hex tiles.

Reacting to Actions

In a five player game, only the immediate neighbors of the Active Player can react to their actions. Let’s say player C decides to explore – players B and D can both react by placing a larva in a hex they currently occupy. However, players A and E cannot take this reaction.

Keep in mind that any card effects that affect all players will indeed affect all players in the game.

Resting Time

In a five player game, the Worker Phase continues until three players choose to Rest. As soon as the third player decides to Rest, the Worker Phase ends. The player who Rests third gets to keep the Active Player Marker and will be the Starting Player in the next Worker Phase.