3stica: Difference between revisions - Looney Pyramid Games Wiki

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<h1 align=center>INTRO</h1><p>3Stica ("Threestica") is a quick little abstract territory-based war game, being the unholy union of the original [[Gnostica]] rules (and, by extension, a Tarot deck), a set of FATE/Fudge dice, and a "3house" set of Looney Pyramids. The cards make up an oft-changing board, and players move Looney Pyramids around the board as minions. Every card has a power, and when a player has one of his pyramids on a card, he or she may use the power of that card through the minion. Players also have a hand of cards which allow them to use those powers through any of their minions. Cards are worth points while occupied, and the game ends when the deck is exhausted an agreed-upon number of times (once per player, for a normal game). Playing time: 15-30 minutes</p>

<title>3STICA

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<h1 align=center>INTRO</h1><p>3Stica ("Threestica") is a quick little abstract territory-based war game, being the unholy union of the original Gnostica rules (and, by extension, a Tarot deck), a set of FATE/Fudge dice, and a "3house" set of Looney Pyramids. The cards make up an oft-changing board, and players move Looney Pyramids around the board as minions. Every card has a power, and when a player has one of his pyramids on a card, he or she may use the power of that card through the minion. Players also have a hand of cards which allow them to use those powers through any of their minions. Cards are worth points while occupied, and the game ends when the deck is exhausted an agreed-upon number of times (once per player, for a normal game). Playing time: 15-30 minutes</p>

<h3>REQUIRED EQUIPMENT</h3>

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<li>MINION -- Any of your pyramids on a card which is activated, or any pyramid allowed to act via other game effects, is a 'minion' for the current turn.

<li>TERRITORY -- Any card currently in play on the board is a territory; only three pyramids are allowed per territory.

<li>ORIENTATION -- A minion may point in any four of the cardinal directions, or straight up (targeting its own territory).

<li>ORIENTATION -- A minion may point (laying on its side) in any four of the cardinal directions, or straight up (targeting its own territory).

<li>TARGET -- The pyramid(s) or territory a minion is pointing to; a minion may only affect the pyramid/territory targeted, but a minion may always target itself, regardless of orientation.

<li>WASTELAND -- The space at the outside edge of the current gameboard, one card wide (i.e., blank spaces)

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<li>QUEEN -- Three-pip Looney Pyramid (three per player)

<li>CREATE -- Add a new pawn to the board OR play a card to the board

<li>MOVE -- Move or push one ~~pawn~~ for minion's value OR push an empty/friendly territory

<li>MOVE -- Move or push one pyramid for your minion's value OR push an empty/friendly territory

<li>GROW -- Replace a pyramid with one size larger OR replace a territory with one of greater value

<li>ATTACK -- Reduce target pyramid by the difference between rolls OR replace a territory with one of lesser value

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<h3>STARTING PLAYER</h3>

<p>To start the game, every player ‘bids’ a card at once. The player with the highest value Major card wins the bid; if nobody bid one, then the player with the highest value Minor card wins the bid. If there is still a tie, set aside the bid cards and repeat until someone wins the bid. The player to the right of the winner fills his hand to five from the bid cards, as does each player anticlockwise around the table. Finally, the winner claims the remaining card(s) and takes the first turn, with play proceeding clockwise.</p>

<h3>SCORING</h3>

<p>Your score is the total value of territory occupied solely by your pyramids: Major territories are each worth 2 points, while Minor ones are 1 point. Wastelands count for nothing.</p>

<h3>WINNING</h3>

<p>When the discard pile must be reshuffled, flip the turn marker; once the cards have been exhausted again, the players each take another turn, the game ends, and players take score. The player with the highest score wins the game.</.

<h3>TURN ACTIONS</h3>

On your turn, you must choose *ONE* of the following:<br>

<li>If you have no pyramids on the board, you must create a pawn in any empty territory or wasteland.

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<li>Yes, a minion using the Sun can place a Major territory in a targeted wasteland without first creating a Minor territory. Similarly, you can create a Drone without a pawn in your stash.<br>

<p>^A "3HOUSE" set is three [[icehouse piece Looney Pyramid]] stash sets. If you already have your own pyramids, you need three of each size of one color, per player.<br>

<p>^A "3HOUSE" set is three [[icehouse piece|Looney Pyramid]] stash sets. If you already have your own pyramids, you need three of each size of one color, per player.<br>

†Originally, [[http://www.ginohn.com/wunder201005/games/Gnostica/GnosticaRules.html Gnostica]] was played with a Tarot deck; if playing 3stica with them, Cups = create, Rods/Wands = move, Discs/Coins/Pentacles = grow, and Swords = attack. My thanks to [[https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/gnostica this fine designer]] for being the main inspiration behind this game.<br>