Menara Game Rules

Introduction

Welcome to Menara, the game of architectural skill and teamwork! In Menara, you and your fellow players will work together to construct a magnificent temple tower. But beware – building a tower is no easy task, and you will need to rely on each other’s abilities to succeed. Are you ready to take on the challenge?

Objective

The goal of the game is to erect the temple tower by placing the tower blocks on top of one another. Each block must be carefully positioned to maintain stability. If the tower collapses, you lose!

Setup

At the beginning of the game, you will set up the game board by placing the foundation columns in a circle. The number of columns used depends on the difficulty level you choose. Then, you will place the temple tower blocks nearby, along with the dice and the action cards. Each player will choose a color and take the corresponding action cards. You are now ready to begin!

Gameplay

Menara is played over a series of rounds. On your turn, you will perform the following steps:

1. Roll the dice: Roll both dice to determine the actions available to you this turn.
2. Take actions: Choose one action from the available options based on the dice results. You can either build a tower block, reinforce the stability of the tower, or take a special action using your action cards.
3. Build a tower block: If you choose to build a tower block, you must carefully place it on top of the tower. The block must be placed in a legal position without causing the tower to collapse. To determine the legality of the position, consult the action cards that show you the possible placements for that turn’s die rolls.
4. Reinforce stability: If you choose to reinforce the stability of the tower, you can add or remove pillars from the foundation columns or the tower itself. This will help maintain the tower’s balance and prevent it from toppling over.
5. Special actions: If you choose to take a special action using your action cards, you must follow the instructions provided on the card. These actions can provide you with additional options or abilities to assist in building the tower.
6. End of turn: After taking your chosen action, your turn ends, and play passes to the next player clockwise.

Winning the Game

In Menara, teamwork is key. The game ends in victory if the tower is completed and all players have contributed to its construction. However, if the tower collapses before it is finished, all players lose. The challenge lies in working together and carefully planning each move to keep the tower standing strong.

Conclusion

Now that you understand the rules of Menara, gather your friends and prepare to embark on a journey of teamwork and construction. Remember, communication and coordination are vital. Best of luck, and may the tower rise high!

Let’s work together to rebuild the temple. Our goal is to follow each construction plan card and carefully place the columns and temple floors in the right spots.

Remember, your decisions have consequences, so think carefully about each move. The success of the project depends on all of us!

Be careful though, mistakes and bad plans can make the temple taller and taller, even if you didn’t plan for it!

Getting Started

1. Alright, let’s get started! The first step is to take out all the pieces from the sheets in the game box. Make sure you have everything you need to build the camp.

If you’re wondering how to set up columns in a camp, I’ve got you covered! First, take a cloth bag and put all the columns inside. Once they’re all in, shuffle them around and pick out six columns at random. Place these columns within the camp. It’s a simple process, but it adds an element of surprise and excitement to your camping experience. So, next time you’re getting ready to set up camp, don’t forget to give this a try!

Imagine stacking 18 temple floors on top of each other, but in a random order, creating a puzzling quarry.

Now, let’s take the 3 top temple floors and place them in the middle of the table. They should touch each other at two points, without overlapping, just like a tricky puzzle. #image.jpg

These three temple floors will act as the foundation for the temple. You have the freedom to choose whether the light or dark side faces up on each floor. #image.jpg

First, I want you to lay out the level cards in a row. The number of level cards you lay out will determine the difficulty of the game. So, let’s see:

If you want an easy game, start with 3 level cards. Just like this: #image.jpg

If you’re up for a medium challenge, start with 4 level cards. Here’s an example: #image.jpg

But if you’re feeling daring and want a difficult game, go all out and start with all 5 level cards. Look at this: #image.jpg

Now, take the construction plan cards and sort them. To mix things up, shuffle each color separately. Make three separate piles for drawing.

So, here’s how it works. First, we all grab a bunch of columns from the bag. The number of columns we each get depends on how many players there are and how hard we want to make the game.

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Gameplay Explained

When we play this game, the person who was last on the top floor of a building gets to go first. Then, we take turns. Here’s what you do when it’s your turn:

1. You can swap some of your columns with the camp.
2. You pick a construction plan card and show it to everyone.
3. You build what is shown on the card.
4. You make sure your columns are full.

We should talk to each other about what we’re going to do next. It’s important to think ahead and work together to be successful.

1. Swap Columns with the Camp

You can take columns from the camp and give them back in return. You can take as many as you want.

2. Pick a Construction Plan Card

You can choose any card from the three piles of construction plan cards.

When I look at the pile of cards with the blue symbols on them, I can tell that they are mostly simple building plans that are easy to solve.

In the realm of construction plans, there exists a stack of cards adorned with striking yellow symbols. These particular cards bear plans of moderate complexity, neither too simple nor excessively intricate.

When it comes to the construction plan cards, the ones with red glyphs are particularly challenging.

Take a look at the top card from the pile you’ve selected.

Keep in mind that the construction plan cards follow a progression – starting with blue glyphs, then moving to yellow, and finally ending with red glyphs – each increasing in difficulty. It’s possible that you may not be able to solve them right away, especially in the beginning of the game.

So, choose your pile wisely.

3. Building

Make sure to always place the columns on bases that match their colors. There are five different types of construction plan cards:

Did you know that you can place columns on temple floors in the tower? You can choose to have one column, two columns, three columns, or even four columns. This gives you the freedom to create your own unique design and personalize your tower.

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When you’re visiting the temple tower, you have the opportunity to customize your experience. One way to do this is by selecting a specific floor to explore. Each floor is unique and has its own set of features and attractions. In order to make the most of your visit, it’s important to choose the right floor that suits your interests and preferences.

One option is to select a floor that is known for its columns. These columns are not just ordinary structures; they are architectural wonders that add beauty and elegance to the temple. By choosing a floor with columns, you’ll be able to appreciate and admire their intricate designs and craftsmanship.

Another factor to consider when choosing a floor is the number of columns. Some floors have two columns, while others have three. The number of columns can affect the overall layout and aesthetics of the floor. For example, a floor with two columns may have a more open and spacious feel, while a floor with three columns may have a more symmetrical and balanced design.

Additionally, it’s important to take into account the matching bases. These bases serve as the foundation for the columns and play a crucial role in supporting their weight. By selecting a floor with matching bases, you can ensure that the columns are securely positioned and stable.

By considering these factors and choosing the right floor, you can enhance your temple tower experience. Whether you’re interested in the architectural beauty of the columns or the overall design and layout of the floor, selecting the perfect floor will allow you to fully appreciate the wonders of the temple.

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If you want to mix things up while playing the game, try moving columns. Imagine you have a tower with several columns. You can remove one, two, or even three columns from the tower and place them on a higher level, as long as there are matching empty bases available. You have the freedom to move both freestanding columns and those that are overbuilt.

Keep in mind that once you’ve moved a column, you can’t move it again on the same turn. This adds an extra layer of strategy to your decision-making process. Choose your moves wisely!

If you want to build a temple floor, here’s what you need to do: on this particular card, you’ll find instructions on how many columns you should place on the floor. The number of columns should be enough to cover all the bases on that floor. This card is always used whenever you want to put a new floor in the temple.

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If you want to change the position of a floor in the temple, you can move it up or down. But be careful! If the floor already has columns on it, you have to move them too. And here’s the catch – if the columns fall over during the move, you won’t meet the construction plan requirements.

When you place a column on a floor, make sure it fits perfectly on the base of the same color. The column should not stick out beyond the base’s outline. And don’t worry, you can place multiple columns at once. In fact, you can even place columns on top of bases that have already been built upon by another floor.

Now comes the tricky part – carefully insert the column between the temple floors. If you successfully complete a construction plan, you can discard it and move on to the next one.

What if you can’t complete a construction plan?

If I can’t complete a construction plan card, it turns into an extra level card. I’ll add it face down to the row of level cards. This means the temple will have to be one level higher at the end of the game.

The same goes if I try to place a column and realize it would cause the tower to collapse. I’ll have to put that column back into my supply.

Whenever I add a construction plan card to the row of level cards, I can exchange all the columns in my camp. I’ll draw six new columns and put the old ones back in the bag. That’s the end of my turn.

If I’ve already put down columns or moved temple floors while trying to fulfill the construction plan card, they stay where they are. I don’t need to undo anything. If any columns have fallen over, I just set them up again in the same place.

For instance: So far, we planned to have a three-level temple. However, because we couldn’t complete one of the construction plan cards, we have to adjust our plans. That specific card is now added to the row of level cards. This means that our temple will need to be built one level higher.

Keep in mind that only temple floors resting on columns count as levels. The three temple floors on the base do not count as a level. It’s also possible for one level to include multiple temple floors.

Example: As I ascend the levels of the temple, a sense of awe washes over me. Each level is a marvel of architecture, with its own unique design and purpose. The topmost level is the 3rd level, characterized by two temple floors. The 2nd level follows closely, boasting three temple floors of its own. Finally, the 1st level completes the grand structure with its three temple floors. At the base, where it all begins, there are also three temple floors.

Embarking on a Construction Journey

When I place a column on the last free base of a temple floor, my construction plan card is momentarily disrupted. This interruption signals the need to add a new temple floor to the towering edifice. Such moments of progress can occur multiple times within a single game turn, only to be followed by the resumption of my construction plan card’s execution.

In order to add a new temple floor, I retrieve the topmost floor from the quarry and diligently study my current construction plan card. It holds the key to my next move, guiding me as I continue to build and expand.

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If the rim of the temple floor has a rim that is orange-brown, with one side light and the other side dark, you have the option to select which side faces up. It’s your personal choice whether you prefer the light or dark side to be visible.

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When I’m working with a construction plan card, it’s important to pay attention to the rim. If the rim has two light faces, I know that I need to turn the light side of the temple floor face up. It’s a simple way to make sure I’m following the right steps.

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If the temple has a dark rim, use the dark side of the temple floor. Easy enough, right?

Now comes the fun part – adding the temple floor to the temple itself. You have a couple of options here. You can either build it on columns or extend the existing temple base.

• If you choose to build the temple on columns, make sure to cover at least three free columns for stability. You can pick any three columns you like as long as they’re free.
• If you prefer to extend the temple base, the new temple floor needs to touch the previous temple base at two points or more. Imagine it like a puzzle piece fitting into place #image.jpg.

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Hey, listen up!

When you extend the temple base, guess what happens? The number of levels the temple needs to have at the end of the game increases by one. To show this, all you have to do is add your construction plan card face down to the row of level cards after your turn. Easy peasy!

Now, here’s the good news. If you still have some columns left to place after building a temple floor, you can put them on the newly built floors. How cool is that?

4. Time to Fill Up on Columns

At the end of your turn, reach into the cloth bag and grab as many columns as you just placed. It’s like a little reward for a job well done!

The Temple’s Falling Down

Uh-oh! If any of the temple floors collapse, the game is over. Game over, man! Oh, and it’s also game over if any columns fall over and can’t be put back where they belong. We don’t want that, do we?

End of the Line

Hey there! Let me break down how this game works for you:

The game will end in two ways: either the temple collapses or one of the following conditions are met:

• If you can’t fully replenish your columns by the end of your turn.
• If you use up the last construction plan card.
• If you place the final floor of the temple (even if it’s not filled with columns).

Pay attention to this:

The game won’t end until one of these three conditions is met – even if your temple is taller than the number of laid-out level cards right now.

So, just having a tall temple at the moment doesn’t mean you’ve won yet, as things might change by the end of the game.

You’ll win together if your temple is tall enough – that means having the same or more levels than the number of laid-out level cards.