UberMartian Coasters

UberMartian Coasters
Jim Dunaway
variation of Martian Coasters published by Looney Labs
:Players	Players:	2 - 10
:Time	Length:	Long
:Complexity	Complexity:	Simple
Trios per color:		1
Number of colors:		1 per player
Pyramid trios:
Monochr. stashes:		2
Five-color sets:
- - - - - - Other equipment - - - - - -
Martian Coasters, D6, D12
Setup time:		5 minutes
Playing time:		30 - 60
Strategy depth:		Medium
Random chance:		Medium
Game mechanics:
Theme:		The wikipage input value is empty (e.g. <code>SomeProperty::, [[]]</code>) and therefore it cannot be used as a name or as part of a query condition.
BGG Link:
Status: Complete (v1.0), Year released: 2007

Setup

1. Mark 1 set of coasters for either the Rainbow or the Xeno colors.
2. Each player chooses a color and takes the nest of that color.
3. Players each roll the six-sided die. The player with the lowest roll is the dealer. Re-roll any ties for the lowest number. Turns proceed clockwise; starting with the player to the dealer's left.
4. Shuffle the two sets of coasters together and deal them out to each player. Optionally, if a color nest is not chosen, omit the corresponding color coaster from the stack.
5. Players take turns placing their coasters on the table in such a way that each coaster lines up with at least one other coaster. Coasters cannot be boxed in. At least one side must be open.
6. Once all of the coasters have been placed, players will then take turns placing their queens. There must be at least one coaster between their home coaster and the coaster upon which they are placing their queen, and the queen must be placed in the center square.
7. Once all of the queens have been placed, players will then take turns placing their drones, following the same rule for placing their queens, except that the players may not place their drones on top of their queens. They must place their drones on top of another player's queen. If necessary, players may move another player's drone in order to place their own drone. However, they may only move one player's drone once. They may not move several players' drones, nor may they move a player's drone several times.
8. Once all of the drones have been placed, players will then take turns placing their pawns, following the same rules for placing their drones.
9. Once all of the pyramids have been placed, play will begin following the standard Martian Coasters rules.

Sample coasters layout

Sample game setup

Team play rules

You can play UberMartian Coasters with teams, following the rules stated above, but with the following exceptions:

1. Teams must be equal in size and number
2. While teammates can collaborate on strategy, only one person per team may roll the dice and make the actual moves.
3. Teammates must alternate turns.

Double-trouble variation

1. For up to five players
2. The game is set up according to the standard rules, except that each player chooses two color nests. In order to win, both of the player's nests must be in the center square of its home coaster.

Prime Directive variation

1. Requires both sets of Twin Win cards (found at the bottom of the page).
2. The coasters are laid out according to the standard rules.
3. Twin Win "tree" cards are removed from the deck, which is then shuffled.
4. Each player, starting with the player on the dealer's right and going counter-clockwise, draws a card. The color on the card indicates the player's color.
5. The pyramids are then placed according to the standard rules.

Redirection variation

1. Requires both sets of Twin Win cards (found at the bottom of the page) and a twelve-sided die.
2. The coasters are laid out according to the standard rules.
3. Twin Win "tree" cards are removed from the deck, which is then shuffled.
4. The twelve-sided die is rolled and set aside, making sure that the result remains showing on the die.
5. The pyramids are then placed according to the standard rules and the game commences.
6. The game commences, according to the standard Martian Coasters rule, with one exception. Each round, the twelve-sided die roll is reduced by one. Once the twelve-sided die roll is reduced to zero, each player, starting with the player on the dealer's right and going counter-clockwise, draws a card. The color on the card indicates the player's new color.
7. Play then resumes with each player having a new color.

Twin Win cards

The Twin Win cards can be downloaded in pdf format here:

Rainbow Twin Win cards

Xeno Twin Win cards

These can then be printed on heavy card stock, laminated (for protection), and cut into the individual cards.

Optionally, you can download the graphic images and take them to a one-hour photo lab and printed as 8x10s and cut into the individual cards (it may be cheaper to do this than print them on card stock and have them laminated).

Rainbow Twin Win cards graphic image (.jpg)

Xeno Twin Win cards graphic image (.jpg)

License Information

http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/88x31.png This work is distributed by Jim Dunaway under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.