lead to losing an important piece. The rule is known as the ‘two field’ moves rule.
You may also not continuously pursue one or more enemy pieces. If this happens (and extends across more than two
fields) the aggressor must stop this at once.
The bombs and the flag may never be moved and therefore remain in the same place throughout the duration
of the game.
Special rules apply to the Scouts (2). Scouts can jump over an unlimited number of empty fields. Of course, they can only
do so in a straight line, i.e. to the left, to the right, forwards or backwards. As far as they can as long as the fields are
empty because they cannot jump over their own army’s pieces or those of the enemy. Neither can they jump over the
lakes. Scouts are the only pieces that can launch an attack from a sizeable distance.
Attacking
If one of your pieces is immediately in front of, next to or behind one of your
opponent’s pieces, you can attack that piece. Attacks are launched as follows:
you take your piece, tap the enemy piece and say the rank (or number) of your
piece. Your opponent then says the rank (or number) of his or her piece. The
piece with the lowest rank loses and is removed from the board. If the
attacking piece wins, it takes the place of the losing piece. If the defending
piece wins it simply remains where it was. If you attack a piece of the same
rank, both pieces lose and are removed from the board. You are never obliged
to attack. As mentioned above, Scouts can attack from a considerable
distance. The fields in between must be empty though and the Scout must
move in a straight line. A Scout (2) can therefore eliminate a Spy (1) from a
sizeable distance.
The ranks:
The Field Marshal (10) outranks a General (9) and all the pieces of a lower rank.
The General (9) outranks the Colonels (8) and all the lower ranks. This applies
down to the Spy (1), which holds the lowest rank.
The ranks are depicted in the correct order on the screen and are listed at the
beginning of these instructions, where they are given by name and rank. It’s a good idea to memorise the ranks.
Of course, you can play with just the numbers – i.e. my ‘8’ beats your ‘5’ – but it sounds better to say my ‘Colonel’ beats
your ‘Lieutenant’.
Bombs and Miners (3). Any piece that attacks a bomb loses. The bomb stays in the same place. The only exception to
this rule is the Miner. If a Miner attacks a bomb it becomes inactive and must be removed from play. The Miner then takes
the place of the destroyed bomb.
The Spy (1). While the Spy is very seductive she holds the lowest rank; any piece that attacks her wins. But she has one
extremely powerful attribute that makes her a mysterious intriguer. If a Spy attacks a Field Marshal (10) she wins the
battle! This only applies if the Spy launches the attack. If the Field Marshal attacks, it beats a Spy and clears it from the
board. The flag can be conquered by any piece. This includes a jumping Scout!
The winner:
You can win the game by conquering your opponent’s flag. You also win if your opponent cannot move anything. This
would be the case if your opponent were left with only bombs and a flag, or if bombs block the path of his or her last
moving pieces.
Useful tips:
• Position your flag somewhere in the back row(s). Possibly surround it with bombs so that it can only be conquered by your
enemy’s Miners (3).
• It may also be a good idea to protect the corner field with your bombs, as if your flag were hidden there. Meanwhile, in
reality, your flag may be hidden somewhere at the rear in the centre of the playing field!
• Watch out! Don’t put too many bombs in the front line. This would hinder the movement of your own
playing pieces.
• Position pieces with both high and low ranks in the first two rows. A piece is relatively well protected if there is another
piece (of at least two ranks higher) behind or next to it. After all, if an enemy Captain (6) beats your Lieutenant (5), you’ll
need at least a Major (7) to retaliate and win.
• Also position a number of Scouts (2) in the first rows. This will enable you to Scout out advancing troops. But position some
of them at the rear as well, to save them for the final showdown. If you are forced to play without any Scouts you may as
well be fighting in the dark.
Squares where you can
move and enemy pieces
you can attack!
