Mottainai Game Rules

Welcome to the world of Mottainai, a game that will challenge your strategic thinking and resource management skills. In this guide, I will walk you through the rules of the game, helping you understand how to play and ultimately achieve victory.

Mottainai is a card game where players take on the roles of monks in a Buddhist temple. Each player strives to create the most impressive collection of works in order to gain the favor of the temple and ultimately attain enlightenment.

To begin the game, each player will receive a set of cards representing different materials and works. These cards are laid out in a specific pattern, creating the central card pool known as the offering. Your first task is to choose one of the available materials from the offering and place it in your hand. This material will serve as the foundation for your strategy.

Once you have chosen your material, you can begin to build works using that material and other cards in your hand. These works can vary in complexity and can provide various benefits that will help you in the game. It is up to you to decide which works to create, taking into account the ever-changing needs of the temple and the resources available to you.

In order to build a work, you must first gather the necessary materials. You can do this by performing actions such as crafting, trading, or manipulating cards in your hand. Each work requires specific materials, and you must carefully plan and strategize in order to collect the right combination of cards.

Once you have gathered the necessary materials, you can initiate the work. This involves playing the required cards from your hand and placing them in front of you. The completed work will provide you with a variety of benefits, such as gaining victory points, earning special abilities, or acquiring additional resources.

Victory points are a crucial aspect of the game, as they determine the winner. At the end of the game, players will count the total number of victory points they have accumulated through their works and other game mechanics. The player with the highest number of victory points will be declared the winner and heralded as the most enlightened monk in the temple.

In addition to creating works, players can also engage in other actions, such as storing cards for future use, stealing materials from other players, or performing special abilities granted by specific works. These actions add depth and complexity to the game, requiring players to think strategically and adapt to changing circumstances.

Understanding the rules of Mottainai is important, but it is equally important to experiment and explore different strategies. In this game, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to victory. Each player must find their own path to enlightenment and adapt their tactics based on the ever-changing dynamics of the game.

So, are you ready to embark on the journey of becoming an enlightened monk in the Mottainai temple? By following these rules and utilizing your strategic thinking, you will be well on your way to achieving victory and attaining enlightenment. Good luck, and may your works be a testament to your wisdom and skill!

Imagine yourself as an acolyte in a Buddhist temple. Your job is to create beautiful works of art to showcase and sell to the visitors and tourists who come to the temple. You have a variety of materials to choose from, each with its own value and level of difficulty.

Once you complete a work, you have the option to display it in your Gallery to train your helpers or in your Gift Shop to make sales. The more valuable the work, the better it will be for you in the end.

The ultimate goal is to have the most valuable completed works, sales, and backorders. But to achieve that, you’ll have to perform tasks, hire helpers, collect materials, and find time for prayer.

What’s in the Box?

• 2 decks of 54 cards (Deluxe)
• 6 Reference cards
• 1 rulebook (this one!)

Let’s Get Started!

Wow, Mottainai is a game that has so much going on! But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I’ll explain everything step by step, making it super easy for you to understand. You’re in good hands!

Now, there are quite a few things to learn about Mottainai, but don’t get overwhelmed. Just take a deep breath and follow along. Trust me, it’ll all make sense once we dive in.

Before we start, let me tell you a little secret. If you’ve played Glory to Rome or Innovation, you’ll find Mottainai a bit familiar. So, if you’re already familiar with those games, this will be a breeze for you!

Mottainai is a game that might seem a bit confusing at first, but don’t worry! It just takes a couple of plays to really understand how it all works.

There’s a lot happening in the game, so it’s totally normal to feel a bit overwhelmed during your first game or two. But trust me, once you get the hang of it, it’ll be super fun!

Setting Up

First, each player needs to take a temple mat. Then, shuffle the deck of cards and give each player a hand of five cards. Don’t forget to also place one card facedown in each temple’s task slot.

To decide who goes first, every player draws a card from the deck and discards it, creating the “floor”. The player who discarded the card closest to the letter A in the alphabet gets to take the first turn.

Welcome to the Temple, our virtual haven and your trusted guide! Here, you’ll discover a wealth of knowledge and resources to assist you in your quest. Consider this sacred space your go-to source for all your needs, whether it’s finding Tasks, enlisting Helpers, gathering Materials, or boosting your Sales. Let’s embark on this adventure together, unveiling the mysteries that await within the Temple’s walls!

Inside Your Temple

When I think of temples, I often imagine grand structures filled with tranquility and divine energy. But have you ever considered that your body is a temple too? It’s true! Our bodies are sacred spaces that deserve our utmost care and attention.

Let’s take a journey inside this magnificent temple of yours and explore its various areas that require our focus and nurturing.

The Mind

The mind is like the central chamber of your temple, the place where thoughts arise and emotions bloom. It’s where your consciousness resides, constantly buzzing with activity. But just as a temple needs a peaceful sanctuary, so does your mind.

To maintain a tranquil space within your mind, it’s essential to cultivate positive thoughts and embrace mindfulness. By nourishing your mind with uplifting ideas and choosing to focus on the present moment, you can create an inner sanctuary that promotes peace and serenity.

The Heart

Within the walls of your temple lies the heart, the seat of your emotions, compassion, and love. The heart is where you experience joy, sorrow, and the wide range of feelings that make us human.

To care for your heart, you must cultivate kindness, both towards yourself and others. Embrace empathy and understanding, for they open the door to deep connections and forge bonds that strengthen the temple within you.

The Body

Your physical body is a vital part of your temple, as it carries you through the journey of life. Just as a temple requires maintenance and care, so does your body.

Taking care of your body involves nourishing it with healthy food, engaging in regular exercise, and getting enough rest. Treat your body with reverence and gratitude, for it is the vessel through which you experience the world.

The Spirit

The spirit is the ethereal essence within your temple, the intangible force that connects you to something higher. It’s the spark of divinity that resides within each of us.

To nurture your spirit, take time for self-reflection, meditation, or any practice that allows you to tap into your inner wisdom. Listen to the whispers of your soul, for they guide you towards fulfillment and purpose.

In conclusion, your body is not just a collection of bones and organs; it is a sacred temple deserving of love and care. By tending to the areas within your temple – the mind, heart, body, and spirit – you can cultivate a harmonious and thriving existence.

So, my friend, honor your temple. Embrace its divinity. And remember, you hold the power to create a sanctuary within, where peace, joy, and love flourish.

Card Anatomy

Let’s dive into the fascinating world of cards! Have you ever wondered what makes a card so special? Well, let me break it down for you.

Firstly, we have the header of the card. This is like the title that grabs your attention and gives you a glimpse of what’s to come. Just like when you see a book with an intriguing title, it piques your curiosity and makes you want to know more.

Next, we have the body of the card. This is where the real magic happens. It’s like the story inside the book—the part that keeps you engaged and interested. It could be a description, a story, or even a list of features. The length and content of the body vary depending on the card’s purpose, but its main goal is to offer an enticing and valuable experience.

Another important element is the image. Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Images can capture your attention, evoke emotions, and provide additional context to the information in the card. They play a crucial role in conveying the message and making the card visually appealing.

Lastly, we have the call-to-action. This is like the grand finale of a fireworks show—it’s the big moment where you’re encouraged to take action. Whether it’s clicking a button, signing up for something, or exploring further, the call-to-action is designed to guide you towards the next step.

So, as you can see, a card is not just a simple rectangle on your screen. It’s a well-crafted piece of content that aims to captivate and engage you. Next time you come across a card, take a moment to appreciate its anatomy and the thought that went into creating it. You might be surprised by how much thought and creativity are packed into this seemingly ordinary element.

Game Play

When I play the game of Mottainai, I take turns with other players. Let me explain what you do during your turn. It’s divided into three parts: Morning, Noon, and Night.

Every turn, you’ll use different actions to add cards to your temple and complete works in the Gallery (left wing) and Gift Shop (right wing).

We keep playing until one of two things happens: either the deck runs out of cards, or someone finishes five works in one wing of their temple.

Hey there! Winning in this game is all about finding the right strategies. And guess what? I’ve got some awesome ones just for you!

First, you can try to race to complete five simple works. This way, you’ll be able to quickly earn those sweet victory points.

Another strategy is to focus on getting lots of sales for backorders. This will not only boost your income but also give you an upper hand in the game.

Using helpers to draw many cards is also a great idea. By having more cards in your hand, you’ll have more options and flexibility to make some killer moves.

Completing clay or metal works can be another winning strategy. These works are highly valued, so finishing them will give you a significant advantage.

But here’s the secret to success: don’t be afraid to adjust your strategy based on the cards you have and what’s happening on the game board. Adaptability is key!

Now, let’s dive into how your turn works. It’s divided into three parts: Morning, Noon, and Night. Each part has its own unique actions and opportunities.

After you finish your turn, it’s time for the next player’s turn. The game keeps going clockwise.

In the following pages, I’ll explain in detail how cards can get tucked under the four edges of your temple and how you can complete works to place in your two wings. Get ready to become a master of this game!

First things first, let’s check if you have more than five cards in your hand. If you do, you’ll need to return some of them to the deck until you have five remaining.

Next, it’s time to deal with any “In the morning” effects on the works you’ve already completed. If you have more than one effect, you can choose the order in which to do them. Remember, each effect can only be used once per turn.

Now, it’s time to discard the card in your temple’s task slot to the floor. This is the face-down card you placed there during setup on your first turn.

Finally, you have the option to place a new task from your hand under your temple in the task slot. If you choose not to, the slot will remain empty and you’ll take a prayer action instead of a task later on.

Hey there! Let’s talk about this fun game I like to play with my friends. It’s called “Task Time.” The rules are simple, and I’ll explain them to you right now:

1. First, I go around the group and complete each opponent’s task. We start with the person next to me and keep going in a clockwise direction. But if someone doesn’t have a task, we just skip them. Fair enough, right?

2. Next, it’s my turn! I get to perform my own task. But if I don’t have a task assigned, I can take one Prayer action instead. It’s a nice little bonus for not having to do anything, if you ask me!

See? Easy peasy lemon squeezy! This game is a surefire way to have a good time with your friends. And if you like it, I bet you’ll absolutely love playing it. So why not give it a try next time you’re looking for a fun activity?

At night, I perform any “At night” effects on my works that I’ve already completed.

Then, I draw the cards in my waiting area and add them to my hand.

In my Waiting Area

Whenever I draw a card and if it is played in my waiting area, it forms a face-down stack of cards next to my temple. I never look at or take these cards into my hand until it’s Night.

Performing A Task

Every task that I perform, whether it’s mine or an opponent’s, consists of one or more actions. I always start with one action for a task and get an additional action for each matching helper in my temple. If my helper is covered, it provides two extra actions instead of just one.

Each action that I take can be one of three types: The action that matches the task itself (like Potter), a Craft action, or a Prayer action. I must use each action that I have. If I’m unable to use an action, then I have to replace it with a Prayer action.

No re-counting

Let’s start by counting how many actions you have at the beginning of a task. Keep in mind that any new helpers or cards you get during the task won’t affect this count.

Hey there! So, let’s say you’re doing a Potter task and you have two Potter helpers. That means you have three actions to take. You can do Potter – Craft – Potter, or Potter – Prayer – Prayer, or mix it up however you like!

Types of Actions

Hey there! I’ll help you navigate the exciting world of card games. Let’s start by talking about a cool move called the “Clerk.”

Whenever you’re playing a card game and you want to make a powerful move, the Clerk is your secret weapon! Here’s how it works: first, you need to grab a card from your Craft bench. Then, with a flick of your wrist, you move that card over to your Sales.

But why would you want to do that, you ask? Well, let me tell you! When you use the Clerk, you’re taking a card and turning it into something even better. You’re giving it an upgrade, so it can reach its full potential and help you win the game. The Clerk is like a magic wand that transforms a regular card into a superstar.

So, the next time you’re sitting at the table and you’re strategizing your next move, don’t forget about the power of the Clerk. It’s a clever trick that can really level up your game. Give it a try and see how it can make a difference for you!

Me: So, what happens is that you can take a card from the Floor and add it to your Helpers.

Tailor: Here’s a nifty little trick you can use. Take a look at your hand and pick out any cards you don’t need right now. Return them. Then, like magic, draw new cards to add up to five. Simple, right? This way, you’ll always have a nice balance of cards in your hand and waiting area.

I’m going to tell you about a cool game called Potter: You get to take a card from the Floor and add it to your Craft bench.

Hey there! I’m Smith, and I’ll guide you on completing a work using materials from your hand as support. It’s pretty simple, so let’s dive right in.

First things first, any action you take can be replaced by either a Craft or Prayer action. Now, let’s break it down.

If you choose to go the Craft route, you’ll complete a work from your hand, but with a catch: you need to use materials from your craft bench as support. The work you complete must be of the same type as the action you replaced. For example, if you replace a Potter action, your completed work must be a Clay work. Make sense so far?

If, on the other hand, you decide to go the Prayer route, you get a special perk. You draw one card and add it to your waiting area. It’s like saving it for later, for the perfect moment.

Now, let’s talk about the Waiting Area.

Every time you draw a card, and it happens to be played in your waiting area, it goes to a face-down stack of cards right next to your temple. But here’s the twist – you can’t look at or take these cards into your hand until Nighttime comes around. Yes, we want to make sure you remember this, so we’re telling you twice!

Alright, time to wrap up with Completing A Work!

When you use the Craft and Smith actions, you can turn a work from your hand into a finished product and place it in one of the two sections of your temple. Each work has a value assigned to it (3 for clay, 1 for paper, and so on), indicating how many cards of that material you need to complete it. To reach that number, you count the work you’re building plus a certain number of matching cards as support.

During a Smith action, you reveal support cards from your hand. During a Craft action, you reveal support cards from your craft bench. In both cases, you get to keep the support cards. The chart below shows the number of cards you need to support the completion of each type of work.

ValueMaterial TypeSupport for SmithSupport for Craft

1	Paper	None required	None required
2	Stone	1 Stone card in hand	1 Stone in craft bench
2	Cloth	1 Cloth card in hand	1 Cloth in craft bench
3	Clay	2 Clay cards in hand	2 Clay in craft bench
3	Metal	2 Metal cards in hand	2 Metal in craft bench

Gallery: Covering Helpers

Did you know that in this game, you can hire helpers in your Gallery? They can be quite useful, you know. These helpers provide an extra action during each task, whether it’s yours or your opponent’s. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: the more you work on your Gallery, the more effective your helpers become. How, you ask? Well, you can cover your helpers with works in your Gallery, and each covered helper will provide not just one, but two extra actions!

When I finish a task, it helps out a certain number of people depending on how much it’s worth. For example, if I write a paper, one person gets help, or if I do some physical labor, two people get help. It’s like a big game of hide-and-seek. If I can’t find enough people to help, then nobody gets any help at all. It’s kind of tricky, but that’s how it works.

Covering Sales in Your Gift Shop

When I work as a clerk in my Gift Shop, I can transfer items from my craft bench to the shop for sales. But here’s the catch: for those sales to count and earn points, they need some cover. It’s just like having someone who supports you when you need it!

Think of each item in your Gift Shop as a shield that covers a certain number of sales. The more valuable the item, the more sales it can cover. And guess what? Each covered sale is worth the same number of points as the item’s value. So the more sales you have covered, the more points you rack up!

But here’s something to note: if an item doesn’t have any cover, it won’t earn you any points. However, it still counts towards the total number of items for determining backorder points. It’s like having extra items in the shop, even if they don’t make you any money!

Game Over

The game comes to an end in one of two ways. Either a player constructs a fifth piece in one side of their temple, or the final card is drawn from the deck.

When the game concludes, it does so abruptly. I don’t get to finish my turn, and any consequences that would have occurred after completing the piece don’t come into effect. The cards in my waiting area never make it into my hand.

Now, let’s tally up the scores:

• The value of each of my pieces, whether in the Gift Shop or the Gallery, is added together.
• The worth of each of my concealed sales is counted.
• Backorders: I look at each type of material and see which player has the most sales (whether they’re concealed or revealed). That player treats the cards of that type in their hand as backorders. If there is a tie for the highest number of sales for a type, nobody earns points for it.
• Points from card effects on completed works (like Scrolls and Teapots).

In this game, the player who collects the most points wins! If there’s a tie, the player with the closest turn order to the current player becomes the winner.

An Example of Scoring

Let’s say a player has finished six works, which are worth a total of 12 points. They also have one covered sale, a clay, adding 3 additional points.

Furthermore, even if they’re not covered, having the most metal sales out of all players allows the metal cards in hand to be counted as backorders. This gives them another 6 points, resulting in a total score of 21. Additionally, certain cards may have effects that grant points at the end of the game.

Note that the cards in the waiting area don’t affect the end-game scoring.