This game is currently under development, in the Nearly Complete stage. Feedback is strongly encouraged! Feel free to give comments on game design or structure on the talk page.
Randomly set all 10 large and 10 medium pieces (Fences) upright along the edges of the board (5 on each edge), outside the play field (Outside spaces).
Fences are Outside the field to start, but may move Inside the 5x5 grid during game play.
Fences are either Standing (upright) or Pointing (flat). The Fences are Standing at game start.
Choose a first Player (longest hair, shortest hair, most novel color of hair, etc.).
Players take turns drawing from the pool of 10 small pieces, creating a Stack on any empty Inside space on the board (for two players, this must be opposite corners of the board).
The first small piece taken by each Player is placed on the board, later pieces are stacked on top of this piece in order.
Players continue drawing until each player stack is full (4 high for 2 players, 3 for 3 players, 2 for 4 players).
Set aside the remaining small pieces from the game.
Each Player Stack represents how much Damage from Hits a Stack can withstand before being destroyed.
Checking for Hits is done at the end of each Step, after all pieces are moved during any of the three Turn Steps below.
A Stack is considered Hit:
If another Stack attempts to move into the same square as the Stack.
If the Stack attempts to move onto a Fence or Outside square.
If the Stack ends movement in the uninterrupted (only empty spaces between) path from a Pointing Fence pointing at the Stack.
If a Fence is moved or Pointed such that it is Pointing (with only empty spaces between) at the Stack.
If any piece is moved such that another Pointing Fence is only now pointing (with only empty spaces between) at the Stack.
Any attempt to move any piece into a non-empty square or a Stack to an Outside square causes the piece to remain in place (the piece is still considered moved), though a Hit occurs and is resolved.
If a Stack moves onto another Stack, only the stationary Stack is Hit.
All Hits are determined and resolved simultaneously whenever a check is made.
Any adjustments to a Stack (from Damage or the Dig or Wild Actions) never cause a Hit.
Damage from Hits is resolved simultaneously:
Each Hit causes one Damage to the Stack.
No Damage occurs if the top color of the Stack matches the color of the Fence or opponent's Stack involved in the Hit.
If the Hit is a Stack attempting to move Outside, Damage occurs regardless of top color of the Stack.
For each Damage to a Stack, remove the top small pyramid of the Stack.
If the Stack becomes empty, the owning Player loses and is out of the game.
Fence moves around a StackMove a Fence one space in any direction (Row or Column) to any empty Inside or Outside space, keeping the Fence's orientation. A Fence must either be moved adjacent to the Player's Stack (in any of the four spaces around the Stack) or an adjacent Fence must be made non-adjacent. If this is not possible, any Fence may be moved. A Pointing Fence may not move 'backwards' along its Pointed line, but may move sideways or 'forwards'.
Step 2
Roll a Treehouse die and perform the result as shown below.
If the action is impossible, then the Player's Stack is Hit and Damaged.
Die Result
Action
1 - Tip
Tip action sample
Player must tip any Standing Fence piece in their Stack's Row or Column along the Fence's Row or Column to point to any Inside space. This Tipped Fence then moves through all empty Inside spaces in the Pointed direction, staying in the last such space.
2 - Swap
Swap action sample
Player's Stack must swap positions with any Fence in the same Row or Column, keeping the Fence's orientation. If the Fence is Outside, the Stack does not swap positions, but is Hit and Damaged, in addition to any other Hits.
3 - Hop
Hop action sample
Player must either move (Hop) their Stack over any one directly adjacent Inside Fence to the board location on the other side or Hop an adjacent Fence to the empty square on the other side of the Stack. If a Stack's target square is Outside or is not empty, then the Stack bounces back to the original square, registering any Hit. If a Standing Fence is Hopped over by a Stack, it always falls to Point at the target square, even if the Stack bounces back.
4 - Dig
Dig action sample
Player must move the top piece of their Stack to the bottom of the Stack. If there is only one Piece in the Stack, then the Player must add one previously-destroyed piece of their Stack to the bottom of the Stack instead.
5 - Aim
Aim action sample
Player must change the orientation of at least one adjacent Fence of their Stack to any Pointing direction (towards an Inside space) or to Standing. A change to a new direction must occur for each affected Fence.
6 - Wild
Player may reorder the pieces of their Stack and then must choose one of the above options.
Step 3
Player then must move their Stack one space in any Row or Column to an Inside space. If this would result in coexisting with another piece, the Stack remains in place (though considered moved) and the consequences of the Hit(s) occur.
