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Palagonia is a creative game of strategy and co-operation. You'll need a minimum of three players, 48 Palago tiles, a pair of Palagonia dice, plus a pen and paper to keep score on. If you would like to play with more than five players we recommend an extra set of tiles.
Table of Contents:
Objective of the Game:
Players score points by forming creatures. Larger ones are usually worth more, depending on their shape. The best way to close a high scoring creature is to team up with one of your neighbours (either the player just before you or just after you), because points are usually given to both players who contribute. Millions of different shaped creatures are possible!
Start the Game:
All players roll one die to begin. the player with the highest actual number (2,3,4, or 5) starts the game by taking exactly that number of tiles and connecting them together in any way (with colours matching). If nobody rolls a number, then all players roll again. Play then continues in a clockwise direction.
Play Continues:
From now on each play consists of the following steps:
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Roll both dice.
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Choose one to obey.
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Carry out that action.
Their are three different types of dice actions:
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Remove an external tile.
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Rotate an internal tile, if there is one.
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Number of tiles to be played.
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Basic Rules:
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All tiles-to-be-played must interconnect unless they are all used to close a creature.
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When closing a creature, all tiles-to-be-played must form part of that creature or it does not score.
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If a player rolls doubles they get an extra turn.
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When one die action cannot be carried out, the other must be followed. If neither die action is possible, the player must remove an external tile.
Scoring:
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When a player scores, the previous player receives the same points!
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To score a creature, just count its loops and legs and score 1 point for each loop and 1 point for each leg.
Definitions:
What are loops?
Loops include the main outer loop around the creature, plus any inner loops. All inner shapes such as eyes, bones, snails, and even 'inner-inner' shapes have loops.
What are legs?
A leg is an extension of a creature's outer loop that ends in a straight and two tips.
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You choose!
You will often be faced with a choice of picking up some easy points on your turn or setting up the next player for a higher score.
Suppose you roll a 2:3 in position A.
You could play tiles and complete the creature at B and score three points. Or you could play three tiles at C and set up the next player to score five points or more.
Also remember that the two tiles at B do not have to touch each other since they close the creature, whereas the three tiles at C must interconnect.
Suppose you roll a : in position D.
In this case Rotate is not allowed as there are no internal tiles. So Remove is the only option and could be used to break open the creature (as in E) to set up the next player.
Exceptions:
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Creatures worth only one or two points do not score.
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Creatures closed with less than all the tiles-to-be-played do not score.
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A player who rolls doubles and completes a creature on the following roll, gains points only for themselves (i.e. does not share points with the previous player).
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See the FAQ for further explanations.
Scoring made easy:
Just remember:
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One point for your creature (outer loop).
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One point for each inner shape (inner loops)
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One point for each outer leg of your creature.
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Here is an example:
This yellow creature has: 1 outer loop + 4 inner loops + 2 legs. The blue eye, the yellow eye, the bone, and the snail all contribute to the creature's total score.
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End Game:
The game can only end when one of the dice shows the same number as the tiles left in the bag.
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If only one die roll is legal then it must be carried out. For example, if there are 4 tiles left in the bag and the player rolls a 3:5, then three is the only move possible.
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If both dice throws are legal, and one shows the exact number of tiles left in the bag, then that player decides whether or not to end the game.
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If neither die roll is legal (too few tiles in the bag), then a tile is removed and the game continues.
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When all tiles are played, the game ends and the player with the highest total score wins!
Hints:
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In the early stages of the game Rotate and Remove should hardly be used. However, they quickly gain in value once the palago contains one or more closed creatures.
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A Remove is often the most useful roll, as it can be used to break open a closed creature and set up the next player for a higher score.
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A Rotate may allow two adjacent creatures to be joined together, contributing to higher scores for the rest of the game.
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It does not happen often but occasionally a Rotate can be used to break open a creature and set up the next player.
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Players lucky enough to roll doubles should try to set themselves up for the largest possible score on their next turn, because they won't have to share points with the previous player.
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The colour of the first closed creature tends to dominate in all subsequent shapes. Even so, it's still worth keeping an eye out for opportunities in the other colour.
Palagonia Solitaire:
You can also play Palagonia by yourself using the same rules, except there is no point sharing. If during the game you manage to form any of the friendly Palagonian creatures, please award yourself double points.
Another interesting challenge is to arrange all the tiles in the highest possible scoring creature, but don't ask us what it looks like!
FAQ:
Q: What if two or more players roll the same high number at the start?
A: They both must roll again.
Q: What if a player rolls doubles twice (or more) in a row?
A: They continue until they stop rolling doubles.
Q: What if both dice are Rotate but there are no internal tiles?
A: If there is no legal action then remove a tile.
Q: Can players pass their turn?
A: No, they must always make a legal move.
Q: Can a partially surrounded tile be rotated?
A: No.
Q: When rotating a tile, can it be rotated back to its starting position?
A: No.
Q: How on earth can a tile be rotated without messing up the palago?
A: Remove it be pressing down on one edge and cantilevering it up. Then replace it.
Q: Can a tile be removed from the palago leaving a hole in the middle?
A: Never.
Q: In fact, can holes (spaces surrounded by 6 tiles) ever be created?
A: Not in Palagonia (yes in Palago).
Q: Are tiles that are already surrounded by 5 tiles considered to be external?
A: Yes.
Q: Can the palago be split into two unconnected parts by removing a tile?
A: No all tiles must remain contiguous.
Q: Must Removed tiles be put back in the bag and used again?
A: Always.
Q: Can a creature be closed without using all of the tiles-to-be-played?
A: Yes, but tiles not closing the creature must be played somewhere else and the creature does not score.
Q: Do internal legs score?
A: No, only the external legs of a creature score.
Q: Do eyes and bones score?
A: No, not by themselves.
Q: If a Rotate forms a new creature does it score?
A: No, players only score when they throw a number and close a creature with new tiles.
Q: Can the positions of the players be changed?
A: Not once the game has started.
Q: What can be done about players who refuse to cooperate during the game?
A: Give them a copy of "No Contest: The Case Against Competition" by Alfie Kohn
Q: Help, all of our tiles were taken from the palago by players who rolled lots of Removes
A: Start again.
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