Crumo

Introduction:Crumo (from Proto-Germanic: krÅ«mô, meaning “fragment”) is a drawless territorial game for two players: Black and White. It is played on the hexes (cells) of an initially empty hexagonal board. The recommended size is 6 cells per side, but boards of 5 or 7 are also valid. Each player has access to a sufficient supply of stackable pieces of their own color. Definitions: A stack is a group of pieces of the same color located on the same cell. A single piece also a stack. The height of a stack is the number of pieces it contains. A group is a maximal set of connected stacks of the same color and height. A single stack is also a group. A stack guards a cell when there is a straight connection between them at a distance equal to the stack’s height, even if there are other stacks along the connection. Stacks also guard the cells they occupy. A stack receives an amount of attack equal to the amount of enemy stacks guarding the cell it occupies, and an amount of defense equal to the amount of friendly stacks doing the same. A group is dead if at least one of its stacks receives more attack than defense; otherwise, it is alive. A controlled cell is a cell that can only be occupied by friendly stacks. Turns:Black plays first, then turns alternate. On your turn, perform one of the following actions: Place a stack of your color, of any height, on an empty cell that guards at least one cell not occupied by enemy stacks, unless all guarded enemy stacks have more defense than attack. Move an entire stack or a portion of it a distance equal to the number of pieces taken. After the move, remove all dead enemy groups and then all dead friendly groups. If you move an entire stack without capturing, you must place a stack according to the rule above. Pass your turn. If the only stack you remove is the one you just placed, your placement is illegal. For better visual clarity, although capturing is mandatory, it is recommended that beginners start playing with optional captures. End of the game:The game ends when both players pass on consecutive turns. The winner is the player with the highest score, calculated by summing the cells controlled by friendly stacks, the enemy pieces captured, and an extra half-point for the player who passed first. To balance the game, before starting, the first player places an initial black stack and the second player chooses sides. This balancing method is called the pie rule. Simple variant:Same rules, except the stacks don't die as a group, but rather individually. —description from the designer