The Rules of Torqu Number of Players: 2-8 Object: Attain the highest point total to win a match. Move your stone to the end space first to win the game. The Deck: The deck consists of 160 cards. There are 10 suits with 16 cards in each suit. Each suit consists of 4 sets of 4 matching cards. Each card is marked with a mage rune to indicate it's suit, and a number to indicate it's place in the suit. Layout: The center tableau is laid out, face up, as follows: 1) stack of 16 cards in the center 2) place 8 stacks of 8 cards to each of the 8 compass points (north, northeast, east, southest, etc) 3) place 8 more stacks of 8 cards across two of each of the 8 first stacks of 8 There should be 9 exposed cards open to draw from at the beginning of the game. Only exposed cards may be drawn. during game play. Though a good match for the first card drawn may be under the first card drawn, the player may not pick it up. The two cards drawn must both be exposed at the same time before they can be drawn together. Deal: For 2 players, deal 8 cards to each player For 3 players, deal 5 cards to each player, dealing 17 cards to the center stack in the tableau For 4 players, deal 4 cards to each player For 5 players, deal 4 to each player, only dealing 12 cards to the center stack in the tableau For 6 players, deal 4 to each player, 16 in the center stack, 7 in each of the secondary stacks of 8 For 7 players, deal 4 to each player, 12 in the center stack, 7 in each of the secondary stacks of 8 For 8 players, deal 4 to each player, 16 in the center stack, 7 in all stacks of 8 Game Play: Every turn, 2 cards are drawn from the center tableau by each player. The 2 cards must be a part of a set: matching pictures, matching suits, matching numbers, or two consecutive numbers. Cards are held in the hand until the player is ready to create his own personal tableau. Personal tableaus are built as the center tableau with the following exceptions: 2 or 3 players divide the number of cards in each stack by 2, thus beginning with a center stack of 8; 4 or more players divide by 4, starting with a center stack of 4. The personal tableau is only laid out at the end of a turn. When the center tableau is no longer playable, the match ends and the points are scored. Note: The final four cards of the Magic Suite, Mirrors, are wild cards, and may be used as any other card in the deck when the set is over. Any Mirror card may substitute for any other card, suite or number when scoring at the end of the set. Variations: DEATH: Players will draw from both the center tableau *and* from the personal tableaus of other players. Only exposed cards may be drawn. The first card must always be drawn from the center tableau. The match is played until all of the cards are taken from the center tableau. Points are scored as for a regular match. PARTNERS: In an even numbered game, each two players build on one personal tableau. Their points are totalled together at the end of the match. DRAGONS: Each of the dragon suit cards match one of the elemental matching sets. Ex: The Rain Dragon card may be used with three Rain cards to make a perfect match. The Mountain Dragon card may be used with three Mountain cards to make a perfect match. Points: At the end of a match, add up the value of all the cards remaining in your hand. Any complete sets that remain in your hand will count against you for the full amount of the set. The total counts as a negative penalty to your final score. Disassemble your personal tableau and arrange the cards in sets that will give you the maximum number of points for that tableau. The sum of any cards that do not fit into a set will be a negative penalty to your score. All scoring sets must be four cards. Sets: There are four cards to a complete set. Descriptions and point values are as follows: Perfect Four: 300 points: all matching pictures Fifteen Flush: 180 points: of the same suit, the sum of their values is 15 Fifteen: 120 points: of different suits, the sum of their values is 15 Straight Flush: 60+sum: of the same suit, their values are consecutive Striaght: 30+sum: of different suits, their values are consecutive Four of a Kind: 10 times the number: of different suites, their values are the same Flush: 30 points: of the same suit Possible Fifteen Flush combinations include: 1,2,3,9; 1,2,4,8; 1,2,5,7; 1,3,4,7; 1,3,5,6; and 2,3,4,6. Movement on the game board: The board consists of 73 colored spaces. Begin at the black space on the outer edge. Follow the colors and arrows to the white center space. To determine the number of spaces a player moves at the end of a match, total the points and divide by 100, rounding to the nearest whole number. If two players have the same score, the one who has the lowest actual point value moves back one space. No two stones can occupy the same space. If less than 100 points are scored, no movement is possible. If a player has a negative point score of -99 to -1, no movement is possible. A negative score of -100 or less, divide the total number of negative points as positive points and move back that many spaces (unless you are on the first space, then no movement is possible). The Cards: Air Suite 1-4: Cloud 5-8: Wind 9-12: Feather 13-16: Lightning Earth Suite 1-4: Stone 5-8: Gem 9-12: Plowed Field 13-16: Mountain Water Suite 1-4: Rain 5-8: Ice 9-12: River 13-16: Ocean Fire Suite 1-4: Smoke 5-8: Candle 9-12: Ash 13-16: Blaze Celestial Suite 1-4: Stars 5-8: Moons 9-12: Comets 13-16: Suns Plant Suite 1-4: Mushroom 5-8: Seedling 9-12: Flower 13-16: Tree Animal Suite 1-4: Insect 5-8: Reptile 9-12: Bird 13-16: Mammal War Suite 1-4: Banners 5-8: Spears 9-12: Bows 13-16: Swords Magic Suite 1-4: Books 5-8: Potions 9-12: Wands 13-16: Mirrors Dragon Suite Air Dragons 1 - Cloud Dragon 2 - Wind Dragon 3 - Feather Dragon 4 - Lightning Dragon Earth Dragons 5 - Stone Dragon 6 - Gem Dragon 7 - Field Dragon 8 - Mountain Dragon Water Dragons 9 - Rain Dragon 10 - Ice Dragon 11 - River Dragon 12 - Ocean Dragon Fire Dragons 13 - Smoke Dragon 14 - Candle Dragon 15 - Ash Dragon 16 - Blaze Dragon