RULES FOR BALAANS
GOAL
Balaans is a dueling game for two players, in which players compete for control of 5 lanes in a card array. They defeat their opponents by playing higher Power cards, or using combinations of Power and Destiny cards to drain their opponent's chip stock.
CARDS
The game uses a deck of 60 cards split into two players decks, the Red and Black deck. Each player deck has 30 cards: 15 Power cards and 15 Destiny cards.
Power Cards - Each player has 15 Power cards which come in the values of 1-5. There are 3 Power cards of each value.
Destiny Cards - Each player has 15 Destiny cards with differing effects. Each player deck features:
The effects of these cards are described below.
SETUP
Player Decks - Each player has a deck of 30 cards. The deck is shuffled prior to beginning play.
Player's Chip Stock - Each player starts the game with 10 coins of equal value. This represents the player's wager. Before play begins, players must agree the stakes and the value of their chips.
Card Array - In a game of Balaans, players lay out up to 5 cards in a line from left to right. Opponents lay out their cards in the same line opposite. Every card laid out opens a 'lane', and your opponent contests control of that lane with their cards.
GAMEPLAY
WIN CONDITIONS
There are two ways to win a game of Balaans:
1 - Victory by Attrition — Deplete your opponent's Chip Stock. Once all 10 chips are gone, they must concede.
2 - Victory by Position — Control or hold 3 out of 5 lanes with the highest power card.
The first represents forcing an enemy to flee the battlefield, the second represents dominating the battlefield and capturing their force.
EXAMPLE
The black player has a VICTORY BY POSITION — this is shown by the green lanes. The cards in the blue lane are tied, and in the red lane, Red has the highest card.
A Victory by Position is achieved at the end of the opposing player's turn. If they can not reverse the win conditions during their turn, they lose.
THE ROUND
2. THE DRAFT
Each player draws 5 cards from their Player Deck.
1. CHOOSE STARTING PLAYER
To select a starting player, each player draws and puts down a single power card and reveals them simultaneously. The player with the highest power card is the first player.
Once a the first player has been chosen, discard those power cards, reshuffle the deck and draw a new card to replace the played power cards.
In subsequent games, the winner of the last bout goes first.
PLAYER TURN
1. DRAW A CARD
The Player draws a single card from their Player Deck.
2. PLAY CARDS
The player may then:
A) Play a Power Card on an Empty lane (or a Reset Position)
Reset Positions are described below.
B) Play a Power Card on top of a previous card
The card must be of equal value or one point higher or lower than the card it is played on.
C) Play a Destiny Card on top of a previous card.
Destiny cards may not be played on an Empty lane.
D) Play a Destiny Card Combo.
Combinations are covered below.
NOTE: When a player plays a Destiny Card on their turn, their opponent is allowed to take a React Action with their own Destiny Card or a Destiny Card Combo. If you only play a Power Card, your opponent MAY NOT take a React Action. React Actions are covered in more detail below.
3. Evaluate Victory Conditions
If your opponent has taken all 10 of your chips (Victory by Attrition) OR they hold 3 or more of the 5 lanes in the Array with a higher value power card (Victory by Position), you lose the game.
Victory by Position can only be achieved when both players have cards in all 5 lanes.
PLAYING POWER CARDS
Power cards must be played in a row of five positions opposite your opponent. Cards positioned opposite another are said to occupy a lane. These cards typically play against each other, and are scored against each other in a Victory of Position.
It is not required to mirror an opponent every time they occupy a position in an empty lane, but it is likely that this will happen eventually. Only when both players have cards in position in all five lanes can a Victory by Position be calculated.
PLAYING DESTINY CARDS
To use Destiny Cards, they must be played on an untapped Power Cards. Once a Power Card is tapped, the Destiny Card is activated and takes its effect.
1. PLACING & ACTIVATING DESTINY CARDS
Destiny cards (can only be played on top of Power Cards. The value of the Power Card beneath determines the Destiny Card's strength.
The Power Card beneath your Destiny Card may either:
A) Be immediately tapped to activate that Destiny Card. Rotate the Power Card 180° to indicate it is tapped. The card may not be used to power another Destiny Card.
OR
B) Left untapped to activate a card on a later turn. Leave the card in its current position. If another card is played on top of the Destiny Card, the Power Card is still available to be tapped.
When a Destiny Card is activated by tapping a Power Card, it activates as a Card of equivalent strength. For example, a Destroy Card actvated with a Power (4) Card becomes a Destroy (4) Card.
Note: The value of the top Power Card in a lane still counts toward a Victory of Position regardless of whether it is tapped.
