Munch
| Munch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Designed by Robert Dudley | ||
| Ancient space monsters roam the galaxy, munching worlds and each other. | ||
| Players: | 2 - 4 | |
| Length: | Medium | |
| Complexity: | Medium | |
| Trios per color: | 5 | |
| Number of colors: | 1 per player + 3 | |
| - - - - - - Other equipment - - - - - - | ||
| Mega-Volcano board | ||
| Setup time: | less than 5 minutes | |
| Playing time: | 20 minutes - 45 minutes | |
| Strategy depth: | Medium | |
| Random chance: | None | |
| Game mechanics: | Capturing, Placement | |
| Theme: | Space | |
| BGG Link: | 117948 | |
| Status: Complete (v1.0), Year released: 2011 | ||
Things You Need
Munch is a game for 2-4 players. You need a Mega-Volcano or other 6x6 board and five Rainbow stashes. One Xeno stash is needed for three or four player games.
Background
In the multitude of dimensions outside of ours live endless numbers of eons-old space monsters. On rare occasion, one manages to break through the barriers that separate us. Ravenous after consuming everything in their own universes, these monsters swim slowly through the stars in search of fresh worlds to eat.
Setup
Set aside a space by each player for his or her army and graveyard. Designate three areas near the board for the planet bank, the spawning pit, and the void. Place all of the black, red, and green pyramids in the planet bank. These are the worlds. Each player chooses a unique color not used for worlds and takes a trio of that color. These are the monsters. Place all three of your monsters in your army. Leave some space by the edges of the board to place monsters when they are unleashed.
Choose a player to go first using a method of your choice.
The Rules
You take one action each turn. You may either unleash a monster, move a monster, or place a world. After you take your action, your turn ends.
If one of your monsters is on the board or at the board edge on your turn, you must move that monster. Otherwise, you may choose to either place a world or unleash a monster.
If you can't place a world, unleash a monster, or move a monster, then you must pass your turn.
Placing Worlds
Choose any world in the planet bank and place it in any empty square on the board. If there is no empty square on the board, you can't choose to place a world as your action.
Monsters
Unleashing a Monster
There are only two circumstances under which you can unleash a monster:
- There are at least eight worlds on the board.
- There is at least one monster on the board.
To unleash a monster, place any one monster in your army on any board edge next to a square. Only one monster can be on the edge of each square at one time, though other monsters can still be unleashed on the same board edge. Monsters can only be unleashed to a square's edge if there is currently a world on the board that they can move to from that square's edge.
When you unleash a monster, move any monster you have in the void back into your army. Then move any monster you have in the spawning pit into the void.
Moving a Monster
Monsters move a number of spaces in a straight line equal to their pip count. Moving from the edge of the board onto the board counts as one space of movement. Monsters can move over other monsters and worlds, but can not move diagonally. If it is possible for a monster you have unleashed to move to either a world or another monster, it must do so. If a monster you have unleashed is unable to move to a world or another monster, move it back to your army and end your turn.
Munching
Monsters munch worlds when they land on them. Move any worlds your monsters munch to your graveyard. If your monster lands on another monster, munch that monster. Move the munched monster to the spawning pit. You lose your next turn when one of your monsters is munched.
Harmonious Worlds
Certain colors of worlds can not be munched by certain sizes of monsters. When a monster moves onto one of these harmonious worlds, the monster is stacked on top instead of munching it. Monsters can not move onto or munch monsters stacked with harmonious worlds. If a monster stacked on a harmonious world moves to another harmonious world, return the monster to your army and return the world moved to this turn to the planet bank.
- Red: Harmonious to small monsters
- Green: Harmonious to medium monsters
- Black: Harmonious to large monsters
Winning
Continue playing until no further worlds can be munched. Players calculate the value of munched worlds in their graveyards at that time.
Single-colored trios you munched are worth five points each. All other worlds you munched are worth one point each. Subtract five points for each of your monsters in the spawning pit or the void.
The player with the most points is the winner.
Files
Printable 6x6 board - PDF download