!

\MERX
1he abstract chance strategy board game for to players.
Copyright aor Christopher Cale, 1ied to a Kite Cames
Equipment
r !\MERX board
, ordinary dice
6 playing pieces per player
Objectie
1he first person to capture three of their
opponent's pieces ins.
Setup
Each player's pieces begin play off the board. Each
player should roll all three dice. 1he highest
rolling player takes the first turn.
n Your 1urn
First, roll all three dice. You may then do one of
to things, either place a piece on the board or
moe a piece already on the board.
Placing a Piece
Simply put one of your pieces not already on the
board on any numbered space that matches one of
the numbers you thre on your dice this turn.
Moing a Piece
A piece may moe fromit's space into any
adjacent space, as long as the number on that
space matches one of the numbers you thre on
your dice this turn. 1his moe may be
orthogonally or diagonally, but must be to an
adjacent space.
Protected Spaces
You may neer place a piece on - or moe a piece
into - a space that is adjacent to , or more enemy
pieces. 1his means you can block off areas of the
board to your opponent.
Vhat f Don't Vant 1o Do Anything?
You may not pass in !\MERX. f you possibly
can do something ith your turn, you must do so.
Een if there are no useful moes aailable to
you.
Capturing
f you manage to surround an enemy piece by
haing , of your pieces in adjacent squares, you
capture that piece. Remoe it fromthe board and
place it in front of you as a trophy! t is possible
to capture more than one piece ith one moe!
1ry to keep at least one piece off the board as long as
possible, that ay to of your pieces adjacent to an
enemy constitute a threat. Once all your pieces are in
play, you ill find yourself much less manoeurable.
1ry not to allo yourself to be forced into a corner. t
ill not go ell.
f things are going badly in one part of the board, do
something unepected in another.
Formations are important, try to keep a group of three
pieces near each other.
1he dice aren't alays kind. Keep your play fluid. f
the dice don't gie you hat you ant, do something
different.
f you lose, blame the dice!
Capture and Protection Patterns
For your isualisation, these are all the alid
capture patterns that may turn up in a game of
!\MERX. Each of these could be rotated or
mirrored to any position.
Some 1ips
n general, don't place a piece net to your opponent
in the first couple of turns. Vithout a formation to
back you up you ill probably end up losing it.
Some Eamples
Placing a Piece - Black has
thron a a, a , and a . 1he
red numbers sho the
spaces here a piece could
be placed. 1he blue number
is protected by the Vhite
pieces and so cannot be used.
Moing a Piece - Black has
thron a r, a and a ,.
1he red numbers sho the
spaces here the black piece
can be moed to.
r
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a
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6
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r
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