Welcome to the Sobek Game Rules!

Hey there! Have you ever heard of Sobek? Well, let me tell you all about it. Sobek is an exciting and fun board game that you can enjoy with your friends and family. It’s a game that combines strategy, luck, and a little bit of unpredictability. Sounds interesting, right? Let’s dive in and discover the rules!

Setting Up the Game

Before we start playing, we need to set up the game board. Lay out the Sobek game board in the middle of the playing area. Make sure each player has their own set of Crocodile tokens, Pharaoh tokens, and Priest tokens. Shuffle the Nile cards and place them face-down in a stack. Finally, give each player their own set of Action cards. Once everything is set up, we’re ready to begin!

Objective

The goal of Sobek is to outwit your opponents and become the most powerful force in ancient Egypt. You do this by strategically placing your Crocodile tokens on the Nile cards, collecting resources, and earning Pharaoh and Priest tokens.

Gameplay

On your turn, you can perform up to three actions. These actions can include placing a Crocodile token on a Nile card, collecting resources from the Nile card, playing an Action card, or buying Pharaoh or Priest tokens. Each action requires you to make careful decisions and think ahead.

The Nile cards are the key to success in Sobek. They represent different locations along the Nile River, and some of them contain valuable resources. By placing your Crocodile tokens on these cards, you can collect those resources and gain an advantage over your opponents.

Action cards can be used to add an extra twist to the game. They allow you to take special actions, steal resources from other players, or even block their moves. Make sure to use them wisely and strategically to gain an upper hand.

Winning the Game

The game ends when one player reaches a certain number of Pharaoh and Priest tokens. At this point, the final scoring takes place. Players calculate their points based on their collected resources, Crocodile tokens on the Nile cards, and any special bonuses they have earned. The player with the most points is declared the winner and becomes the ultimate ruler of ancient Egypt!

So there you have it, the rules of Sobek! It’s a game that combines strategy, luck, and a taste of ancient Egypt. Are you ready to become the ruler of the Nile? Gather your friends and family, set up the game, and let the adventure begin!

The construction of the temple dedicated to Sobek is in full swing. A whole economy has sprung up next to the construction site: there’s a brand-new market, and the feluccas sailing up and down the Nile are constantly bringing goods of all kinds.

Merchants are fiercely competing with each other, and some are willing to engage in unreasonable corruption to gain fame and fortune. Mostly fortune, actually.

You’re also a member of the local merchants’ guild and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to outshine your competitors.

You have three rounds to earn more money than your rivals, but be careful not to become too corrupt!

What You’ll Find Inside

• I’m glad you asked! Let me give you a sneak peek at what’s included in this amazing board game:
• First up, we have the gameboard itself. This is where all the action takes place, and it’s beautifully designed to immerse you in the world of the game.
• You’ll also find four scoring markers. These will help you keep track of your progress as you play, so you’ll always know how you’re doing.
• Next, we have twelve event tokens. These little guys are important for shaking things up and adding some unpredictability to the game. You never know what’s going to happen next!
• Then there are the four corruption tiles. These are a double-edged sword – they can help you in some ways, but they can also cause trouble if you’re not careful. Use them wisely!
• The game also comes with fifty-four goods cards. Each card represents a different item that you can trade or use to your advantage. Collect them all and become a master of commerce!
• And let’s not forget the nine character cards. These cards introduce unique personalities to the game, each with their own special abilities and quirks. Choose the one that speaks to you and get ready to embrace your inner character.
• Finally, we have the instructions. Don’t worry, they’re not boring! They’re easy to follow and will guide you through the game, ensuring that you have the best possible experience.

Diving into the Cards

Let’s take a closer look at one type of card: the goods card.

Hey there! Let me break it down for you. You know, there are two types of cards when it comes to each good: those that have a trade value and those that don’t. Take a look at the ivory card below; it’s one of the cards that doesn’t have any intrinsic value.

Now, here’s an interesting thing to note. Do you see those 3 points on the border of the card? Well, they’re there to remind you that the cards in this particular group, which do have a trade value, have 3 scarabs.

Get to know a character:

Every character card is part of a goods family. You can easily identify the family by looking at the color of the card’s border and the matching icon, like the ivory one here.

I have a rulebook here, and let me tell ya, each character in this game has a unique power. The power is described in detail in the back of this rulebook. You can see the power on the papyrus at the bottom of each character card. Now, during a round, you can use a character card as a goods card or as the character with their special power. But here’s the thing, you can’t do both at the same time. Got it? Great. Now, let’s talk about the setup for the game.

1. I’ll start by placing the gameboard in the middle of the table.
2. Now, I’ll choose a color and grab the corresponding marker. I’ll place it on the starting space of the scoring track.
3. Next, I’ll find the corruption tile that matches my color seal. I’ll place it right in front of me.
4. I’ll take the cards with green backs and give myself 2 cards from the deck. These cards will be my starting hand. The remaining green cards are not needed for this round, so I can put them back in the box.
5. Lastly, I’ll shuffle the goods and character cards together, making a face-down deck. This deck will be placed next to the scoring track.

Remember: If you are playing with 2 players, remove the first 9 cards from the deck. These 9 cards won’t be used in the current round and can be put back in the box.

1. To start, find the space next to the temple;
2. Place the goods cards (with the BEIGE back) facing up;
3. The character cards (with the ORANGE back) should always be placed face down.

Decide randomly who will start the first round. Now, we’re ready to play.

Let’s Play

When it’s your turn, you must choose one (and only one) of the 3 actions shown below.

Once you’ve taken your action, your turn is over and then the player on your left gets to choose their action, and then the next player, and so on.

These are the 3 different actions you can take:

1. Take a Card
2. Play a Character
3. Play a Set

Action 1: Take a Card

• When you pick a card, you need to select one of the 4 cards that are currently on display and insert it into your hand.
• By “available,” we mean one of the first 4 cards, starting with the card closest to the “0” spot. For example:

NB: If you have fewer than 4 cards, the options are limited:

Corruption

Corruption is a widespread issue that affects societies around the world. From politicians to business leaders, and even everyday individuals, corruption can be found in various forms and at various scales. It is a problem that has serious consequences for everyone involved.

One aspect of corruption that is particularly troubling is the way it undermines trust. When someone abuses their power for personal gain, it erodes the trust that people have in their leaders and institutions. This lack of trust can have far-reaching effects, including social unrest and economic instability.

Corruption also perpetuates inequality. When resources are siphoned off through corrupt practices, it leaves less for the most vulnerable members of society. This leads to a cycle of poverty and desperation, where those in power continue to exploit the system for their own benefit while those who need the most help are left behind.

Furthermore, corruption hinders development. When funds earmarked for public projects are embezzled or misused, it delays progress and prevents much-needed infrastructure from being built. This affects the lives of everyday people who rely on these services for their basic needs.

Addressing corruption requires a multi-faceted approach that involves all sectors of society. Accountability and transparency are essential in ensuring that those in power are held responsible for their actions. Strong legal frameworks and independent judicial systems are necessary to combat corruption effectively.

As individuals, we can also play a role in fighting corruption. By staying informed and vigilant, we can report any suspicious activities or instances of corruption that we come across. By refusing to participate in corrupt practices ourselves, we can create a culture of integrity and honesty.

Combating corruption is a long-term and ongoing effort, but it is crucial for the well-being of society as a whole. By working together, we can create a world where corruption is not tolerated, and where trust, equality, and development can thrive.

• When choosing a card, it’s important to consider the consequences. If you take the first card, you won’t face any consequences. But if you skip cards, they will end up under your corruption tile, and that can lead to trouble.
• The corruption rule is simple: any cards you skip go under your corruption tile.

Now, let’s say you decide to take the amulet card (3). That means you’re skipping the wheat (1) and the marble (2). As a result, you must place the wheat and marble cards facedown under your corruption tile.

It’s important to remember that the corruption rule applies to all types of cards, whether they’re goods or characters.

B. Play a Character

• Choose one character to play. Place the character face up on the discard pile, next to the deck, and use the power indicated on the character’s papyrus.
• You can find more information about each character’s power on the last page of the rules.

C. Play a Set

• A set consists of cards of the same type.
• To play a set, you need to lay down at least 3 cards face up in front of you. (And you can play even more!)

Alright, let’s break it down. A set is basically when you have a bunch of cards that are all the same. So, for example, if you have three cards that all show a picture of a dog, then you’ve got a set. Simple, right?

Now when it comes to playing a set, there are some rules to follow. You need to put down at least three cards in front of you, with the pictures facing up, so everyone can see them. But the cool thing is, you can play even more than three cards if you want to. The more, the merrier!

So, remember, a set is when you have a group of cards that are all the same. And to play a set, just lay down three or more cards for everyone to see. Easy peasy!

• A set can have one or more amulets (joker).
• Each character is connected to a type of goods and can be part of a set with the same goods type. However, when a character is played in a set, their power doesn’t count!
• You can add cards to an already played set to earn more points during scoring, but you must add at least 3 new cards.

Event Tokens

If at least 1 of the 5 tokens hasn’t been played yet, playing a set will trigger an event.

When I play a set, I take all the remaining tokens and choose one to immediately apply its effect. Once I’ve used the token, I discard it.

If I want to prevent another player from using a token, I can choose one that either has no effect on me or cannot be applied. If I choose such a token, I simply discard it.

Now let’s talk about goods deliveries. When I take the last card along the Nile, it’s my responsibility to prepare a new set of cards for the next player. I do this by drawing 9 cards from the top of the deck and placing them according to the set-up rules.

Throughout a round, there will be a total of 6 deliveries of goods and characters (5 deliveries in a 2-player game).

Finally, let’s discuss the characters.

• Meet Queen Sobek Neferou: Whenever I play Queen Sobek during a round, the last goods delivery will only have 6 cards instead of the usual number. Exciting, right? Draw 3 cards when you choose me as your character!
• Introducing the High Priest/ess: Time to clean up your corruption pile! Discard all cards of one goods type from your pile. Note that you can only discard characters of that particular type, not amulets.
• Meet the Thief: Feeling sneaky? Choose a player and steal a card from their hand. It’s a random pick, but don’t worry, you get to see the card backs, so you can choose the color you want.
• The Scribe: Prepare for some card reduction! When you play as the Scribe, your opponents must reduce their hands to 6 cards. Anything extra goes straight to their corruption pile.

When you’re playing Sobek, there are three important characters you need to know: Vizir, Courtisan, and Merchant. Each of these characters has a unique ability that can help you in the game.

First, let’s talk about Vizir. With Vizir, you have the power to choose a card from your opponent’s corruption pile and add it to your own hand. You can take a look at the pile and pick the card that you think will benefit you the most. It’s like having a secret weapon up your sleeve.

Next, we have the Courtisan. The Courtisan allows you to add 1 or 2 cards from your hand to a set that has already been played. The cards you add must belong to the same family as the set. This means you can strengthen your sets and increase your chances of winning the game.

Lastly, we have the Merchant. The Merchant gives you the freedom to choose any card from the remaining cards and add it to your hand. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about taking corruption or discarding any cards. It’s like going on a shopping spree without any limits.

These characters add a new dimension to the game of Sobek. They give you more options and strategies to consider when making your moves. So, if you enjoy playing Sobek, you’ll definitely love the power that Vizir, Courtisan, and Merchant bring to the table. Give them a try and see how they can elevate your game to new heights.

Event Tokens

• 
  Guild: When you play this token, I can move my scoring marker to the next space with the same symbol, and I also get to move an opponent’s scoring marker back in a similar way.
• 
  Flood: If you play this token, you get to take another turn right away.
• 
  Curse: This token can be “offered” to an opponent. It counts as 2 extra cards when figuring out corruption at the end of the round. When you play this token, it doesn’t get discarded. Instead, it stays with your opponent’s corruption pile until the round ends.

In the game of Sobek, there are three special abilities that can help you gain an advantage.

Prosperity: When you acquire the Prosperity token, you can add it to a collection of wheat, fish, or cattle cards that you already have. By doing this, the value of your set increases by 2 scarabs. Embalming: With the Embalming ability, you can take all the cards in your corruption pile and add them back to your hand. This allows you to have more cards to play with and strategize. Deceit: Deceit is a cunning ability. When you activate it, you reveal the number of cards in your corruption pile and earn points based on that number. Afterward, you replace the cards under your tile, setting yourself up for future moves.

At the end of each round in Sobek, something important happens. The round comes to an abrupt halt as soon as a player picks up the last card from the last delivery. This signifies the end of the current round and sets the stage for the next one.

When I have a set of 3 or more cards in my hand, I can play them horizontally to score fewer points. But remember, I can’t add cards to existing sets on the table at this time. If I have any cards left in my hand that I can’t play, they go into my corruption pile.

So, the round has come to an end, and guess what? You still have 7 cards in your hand. Can you believe it? It’s pretty crazy, right? I mean, what are the odds?

Okay, let’s talk about what happens next. The fish card you have in your hand, well, it’s not going to be of much use at this point. Unfortunately, it’s the only one, so it gets thrown into the corruption pile. Tough luck, my friend.

Now, those marble cards you’ve got, they’re in a similar boat. With only 2 of them, you can’t create a full set. So, like the fish card, they get added to the corruption pile. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it happens.

Oh, and that character card you were so excited to play? Yeah, sorry, but the round is already over. So, no playing the character this time. Maybe next time, though.

Alright, let’s move on to the wheat cards. You have 3 of them, plus a wheat character card. Unfortunately, you can’t add them to the wheat set that’s already on the table. But, hey, here’s some good news. Since you have at least 3 cards, you can play them as a new set. Just make sure to lay them out horizontally so we can tell the difference from the sets played during the round. Pretty clever, huh?

Okay, here we are. The round is officially scored. It’s finally time to see how well you did. Are you ready? I sure hope so!

Scoring

Now, let’s talk about the scoring process. Each set of cards is scored separately. So, we’re going to take a look at each set one by one.

Here’s how it works. For each set, you take the number of scarabs and multiply it by the number of cards in the set. That gives you the total points for that particular set. Simple, right? But here’s the twist. When you have a horizontal set, you add up the scarabs instead of multiplying them. So, keep that in mind.

Hey there! Let me break down how scoring works for you. It’s actually quite simple and adds a fun element to the game.

So, here’s the deal: each card you pick up during the round is worth a certain number of points. These points, when totaled up, form your score for the round. And that’s not all – your score is then added to the scoring track, which keeps a record of how well you’re doing throughout the game.

It’s a neat way to keep track of your progress and see how you’re stacking up against your opponents. The higher your score, the better you’re doing, and the closer you are to victory!

Pretty cool, right? So, as you play, keep an eye on those points, because they can make all the difference. Have fun!

Hey there! Just wanted to let you know that you got a score of 23 points in this example. Pretty good, right?

A Lesson in Corruption

Alright, now let’s talk about the consequences of your corrupt actions: you need to face the music by counting up all the cards hiding beneath your corruption tile.

Hey there! So, here’s the deal: if you have the most cards, you’re actually going to lose some points. I know, it sounds strange, but stick with me.

Let’s say you’re playing as Blue. Before the scoring in this round, you had 38 points, and guess what? You have the most corruption cards. That’s not great news.

Now, your sets managed to earn you 23 points, bringing your total score to 61. Not too shabby, right?

But, here’s where things get tricky. Since you scored 2 “lots” of 10 points (the rest doesn’t count), you have to move back 2 Ankh symbols on the scoring track. This means you end up with 52 points. Ouch!

Now, because of all that corruption, you lost 9 points out of the 23 you earned. That’s definitely a bummer, so try to avoid that in the future, okay?

New Round

Alright, time for a fresh start! The new round is all about using all the cards, including the ones hidden under those corruption tiles. Oh, and don’t forget about the tokens.

Setting up is exactly the same as it was in the beginning of the game. Good luck!

Once the round is ready, you get to decide who starts the game. It can be you, if you want.

The Game Ends

The game finishes after the 3rd round is scored. The person with the most points wins.

If there’s a tie, the tied players share the victory. The game ends early if any player has more than 100 points at the end of the 2nd round (after considering the corruption penalty).

Important Points to Remember

• If there’s a tie for corruption, count the number of scarabs on the cards. The player with the most scarabs is the most corrupt. If it’s still tied, all the tied players are considered corrupt.
• When you play a character with no effect, it’s okay. Sometimes, you might want to do this to have fewer cards at the end of the round or to skip a turn without getting a card because there’s nothing interesting available.
• Remember, you can either use a character for its effect or as part of a set, but not both!
• If someone takes the last card from the last delivery, the round ends right away. This can be a sneaky move if your opponents have a lot of cards in their hand that could end up in their corruption pile.
• If a player has more than 100 points, count the 0 space as 100, and so on (1=101, 2=102, and so on).