OBJECTIVE OF INNOVATION: The objective of Innovation is win the game. There are two different ways to win the game. Players may have the most points when the game comes to an end, or they may collect enough achievements to win the game before it ends.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 to 4 Players
MATERIALS: 105 Innovation Playing Cards
TYPE OF GAME: Party Card Game
AUDIENCE: Ages 13 and Up
OVERVIEW OF INNOVATION
Innovation is the game made for innovators. Players build civilizations throughout numerous ages, using technology and ingenuity. Some aspects allow for your civilization to advance through ages fast. Others may keep your civilization in the dark ages.
SETUP
The cards should first be divided into ten decks, creating the supply piles. These are arranged in a clock like fashion. One card from ages one through nine are placed in the middle, distinguishing the normal achievements. The special achievements are paled to the side in a column.
Players should orient themselves around the cards, ensuring that all cards are within reach. The players will keep an area in front of them clear, as this is where their civilization is built. The game is ready to begin.
GAMEPLAY
Each player, going clockwise around the board will draw two of the age 1 cards. Everyone will choose a card to play on their board and a card to keep in their hand. The player who chose to play a card that is first alphabetically will go first. On their first turn, players will only take one action.
After that, players should choose two actions with each turn. Actions include Drawing, Melding, Dogma, or Achieving. The two actions chosen may be any combination of the four.
Throughout the game, players will acquire cards to put in their score pile. Players may claim achievements using the achieve action if they have enough points and a top card that is higher in value than the achievement.
Draw
To complete this action, the player must determine their highest value top card on their board. The top card from that age’s supply is then collected and added to their hand.
Meld
To complete this action, the player must choose a card from their hand and place it on their board on top of a card that matches its color if available. If the color is already splayed, then that card continues the splay. Any card from their hand may be chosen.
Dogma
This action is the center most important part of progressing through the game. The player will choose a top card to activate. At the beginning of a Dogma, players count the number of featured icons that they have on their board. Players that have as many as the player selecting the Dogma may share in the innovation earned.
If any player shares the effects, the player who chose the Dogma may earn one free Draw action.
Some Dogma effects instruct players to splay a color in a certain direction. Simply take the top card and slide it in whichever direction the Dogma indicates.
Achieve
Players must have a score that is five times that of the age of the achievement, and they must have a top card of greater value than the achievement if they want to complete this action. If both of these stipulations are met, then the player may collect an achievement.
Scoring
Each player’s score is equal to the total value of their cards they have accumulated through dogma effects. Players who have reached the predetermined number of achievements wins the game! If no player has reached the achievements needed, then scores must be compared.
END OF GAME
The game comes to an end after time passes age ten. If this occurs, players will tally their points, and the player with the most points wins the game. Players may also earn a certain number of achievements to end the game and win immediately. If there are teams, the teams must earn 6 achievements. If there are three players, they need five achievements to win, and if there are 4 players, they need 4 achievements to win.
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