Gamehelpepizodiak
The game is played by three players.
It consists of 48 tiles (four times each tile numbered 1 to 12).
The goal is to play all one's tiles (empty one's hand) to score points (this is one round).
There are two game modes. With "One round" you only play one round: until the first player's hand is empty. With "Score 7" you play multiple rounds until one player has the required number of points. (See "Scoring" below for more detail.)
Course of the game
The tiles are dealt: 12 to each player, the remaining 12 forming a common draw pile.
Every player will get an opportunity to draw and play every turn.
The dial can only have one tile of each value; these will be positioned at the planned locations (marked with the number concerned).
When the dial is full its tiles are shuffled (with the remaining draw pile if there is one) to form a new draw pile. A new turn of the dial then begins, which will take place in the same way as the previous one (but without the discarded set of already scored sets).
When a player empties their hand, the points are scored and a new deal is made as at the start of the first round. (Or, the game will end if the game mode is one round.)
Authorized moves
When there is a draw pile
You must take one or two of the below actions, in order.
- Action 1. (Optional) Draw. You can pick up a tile from the common draw pile. Alternatively, you can pick up a tile from the edge of the dial, but only if that tile was just played by the previous player and you have at least one matching tile in your hand.
- Action 2. (Optional) Play. If you have a set of three you can discard the set to the area marked as "Discard" to score one point. Alternatively, you can place any number of consecutive tiles to one of the sides of the dial, either clockwise or anti-clockwise. If you drew a card but you do not want to play you can choose to pass.
When there is no more draw pile
The conditions for placing, discarding or picking up remain the same. However, instead of drawing, players can choose to skip their turn (even if they have a playable tile or a set in hand).
It is impossible to pass with a single immediately playable tile: players must play a valid move (place a tile or series of tiles, on one side or the other of the dial, or discard a set).
When two players have consecutively passed their turn, if the third player does not have one of the immediately playable tiles, they may contest the move. If the player does not have any of the tiles corresponding to the two playable positions on the dial, they will choose which of the two values to challenge.
When the player disputes a value, the four tiles will be removed from the hands of the other two players. The set is discarded from the game (the person who contested will score one point) and the unique tile comes into the possession of the player who contested, which they must then place on the dial (according to the usual conditions given above).
If no one has the opportunity to challenge, it is impossible for players to skip their turns more than three times in a row. In this case, when the turn goes to the first player to pass, that player will be forced to place a non-unique tile from their hand (or a straight if they wish).
Scoring
One round
- You get one point every time you discard a set of three (the score shown in red on your player card).
- If you emptied your hand (and thereby ending the game) you get an additional three bonus points.
Score 7
The scoring rules are the same, but this time every time you win one round you get 3 points (the score shown as stars on your player card). The first player to 7 or more points will win the game.