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Official Doomlings Rules
Doomlings is a card game where you play as cute creatures trying to survive the impending apocalypse! You collect trait cards to score points, but watch out for catastrophe cards that can cause chaos. Here's a breakdown of the rules to help you survive the end of the world (in the cutest way possible):
Objective
Collect as many points as possible by the end of the game to ensure your species thrives despite impending catastrophes.
Setup
1. Shuffle the Decks: Shuffle the Trait, Age, and Catastrophe decks separately.
2. Deal Gene Pool Cards: Give each player a Gene Pool card. This card shows a number on the front, which indicates the maximum number of cards you can hold in your hand at the end of your turn. It also has a gold star spot for Dominant Traits (explained later).
3. Starting Age: Place "The Birth of Life" card face up on the table. This ensures no catastrophes happen at the beginning. Shuffle the remaining Age cards and place them face down next to "The Birth of Life." This is the Age pile.
4. Deal Trait Cards: Deal five Trait cards face down to each player. This is your starting hand.
5. Catastrophe Pile: Shuffle the Catastrophe cards and place them face down next to the Age pile. This is the Catastrophe pile.
Gameplay
The game is played in rounds called Ages. Each Age consists of several phases:
Phase 1: Reveal Age Card
The first player flips the top card from the Age pile, revealing a new Age. Follow any instructions or effects listed on the Age card. These can affect gameplay or scoring for this Age.
Phase 2: Player Turns
Players take turns in clockwise order. On your turn, you can do one of two actions:
Play a Trait Card: Choose a Trait card from your hand, reveal it, and place it face up in front of you. This is your Trait pile, which scores points at the end of the game. Some Trait cards might have special abilities that activate when played.
Stabilize: If you don't want to play a Trait card, you can choose to stabilize. Discard excess cards from your hand (if any) to reach the number indicated on your Gene Pool card.
Phase 3: Check Catastrophes
After all players have finished their turns or chosen to stabilize, check for catastrophes:
Flip the top card from the Catastrophe pile.
Resolve the catastrophe's effect as described on the card. This might involve discarding cards, losing points, or other chaotic events.
Important: Ignore the "World End" effect (usually a yellow card) at this point.
Phase 4: Start a New Age
Place the revealed Age and Catastrophe cards in a separate discard pile for these decks.
The first player position moves clockwise to the next player.
Special Rules:
Dominant Traits: Trait cards with a gold star can be played as Dominant Traits. You can only play two Dominant Traits throughout the game, and they cannot be discarded or stolen. Place them face up in the gold star spot on your Gene Pool card.
Action Symbols: Some Trait cards have an "A" symbol. These abilities can only be activated when you play the card from your hand, not after it's placed in your Trait pile.
Winning the Game
The game ends when the third Catastrophe card with a "World End" effect is revealed. Players tally their points from their Trait piles, and the player with the most points wins! They are the cutest creature to survive the apocalypse (sort of).
Notes/Variations
Strategy and Risk: Decide whether to play more Trait cards for points or stabilize early to avoid discarding cards due to catastrophe effects.
Combo Effects: Some Trait cards have abilities that work well together. Look for combos to maximize your score.
Family-Friendly Fun: Doomlings offers a lighthearted and strategic experience suitable for families and casual gamers.
So gather your fellow creatures, grab your decks, and see who can survive the end of the world with the most adorable (and high-scoring) Trait pile! Remember, play strategically, manage your hand size, and maybe those cute looks will help you through the apocalypse in Doomlings.
