Gosu English Rules

G o b l i n S u p r e m a c y

Rulebook


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A Kim Satô GameArtwork by Bertrand Benoit and Romain GaschetDesign by Ian Parovel

Powered by Coke Zero and Sushi

GOSU is a game for 2 to 4 players, aged 10 and up.Playing time ranges from 20 to 45 min depending on the number of players.

Thanks to all the testers who helped us create this game ! Thanks to all of you for these 1200 plus game-tests:

Kim, Marc, Christine, Cyrille, Cyril x 2, Park Lee, Ko, François, Gersende, Chloé, Lilian, Greg x3, Mark, Tim & Tom, Iko, Ian, TokyoBGCrew, Florian x 2, Johann x 2, Fred x 3, Adrien x 2, GG, CROC, Philippe x 4, Matthieu x 2, Manu x 3, 20.100, Phal, Alain, Alexandre, Ben x 2, Cédric x 3, Christophe, David, Emilie, Gabriel, Gael, Jérôme, Julien, Ludo, Martin, Nicolas x 3, Ulysse, Sébastien, Thomas x 2, Will I Am, Asami, Dano, Haya, Kino, Nene, Rui, Fuji, Kami, Peter, Frank, Chelsea, Bertrand, Romain, QQ, Bouly, Ol, Lalou… and the others !


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Wardrums are rumbling

With the rising of the Moon of Blood, the era of the elders brutally came to an end. The established order started to falter before crumbling in an uproar as chaos settled in. But soon, a new imperial order will rise from the smoking ruins of the battlefi elds. An order bound to reign forever… at least until the next red moon!

Prophets and astrologers were putting their horns together in order to forecast the next conjunction and its duration. A month, a year or a century? No one could answer. But from the fi rst evening on everyone had a theory of his own and was more than willing to share it by the campfi re, bathed in the sound of the wardrums. Meanwhile, numbed by centuries of peace, the world was slowly awakening. Blood feuds and hates were blooming everywhere as if the soon-to-come crimson moon was to herald a new age of massacres and slaughters.

In every nation, tribe or clan, from the capitol of the highest Gosu Empire to the lowest forgotten cave, young leaders were feeling an irresistible pull in their guts: the call to battle! As bands were forming, the most daring strategies were being devised Confl icts were erupting everywhere and from the fi rst night on, red, green, blue, yellow and hundreds of other colours of blood started to run freely.

In fact, every blacksmith was relighting his furnace while scores of new weapons were being forged. Sorcerers were delving back in their ancient books, summoning their familiars to their help. Alchemists started working on new formulas while engineers were going back to long forgotten ultra-secret prototypes. For sure, peace was at an end!

A new era was just starting : the era of the warlords!

When Kameo comes into play, take the Advantage Token.

When Kameo mutates, you immediately gain 1 victory point and each of your opponents draws 3 cards.

KAMEO

© 2010 / Moonster Games Illustration: Romain Gaschet


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Game material:

100 Goblin cards8 Activation Token9 Victory points1 Advantage TokenThis rulebook

‒ Hi, my name is Kamakor, wise among the wise and herald of the Ancient Goban Clan. I’m going to teach you how to play GOSU, a shrewd and subtle game, full of goblin humour.

GOSU includes 100 cards, each one depicting a specifi c goblin. This deck is evenly divided into 5 goblin clans (5 colours) of 3 diff erent types. These 3 types correspond to the diff erent goblin levels, ranging from 1 to 3.

“Level 1” goblins are footsoldiers, also known as Bakutos. There are 50 of them in the game (25 different, all duplicated).

“Level 2” goblins are veterans and are called Heroes. There are 35 of them in the game (each one being unique).

“Level 3” goblins are the Ōzekis, or generals. There are 15 of them in the game (each one being unique too).

The goblin’s level is indicated on the top left corner of the card, just below its clan icon.

The 5 goblin clans are the Ancient Gobans (White), the Alpha Goblins (Green), the Dark Goblins (Black), the Meka Goblins (Blue) and the Fire Goblins (Red).


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Goal of the game:

In GOSU, each player portrays a warlord recruiting goblins to build his army. Each Game Round ends in a Great Battle during which the player with the strongest army scores a victory point. The fi rst player to earn three victory points wins the game. You may also win by fulfi lling alternate victory conditions given on the generals’ cards (the Ōzekis).

Game Preparation

The 100 cards are shuffl ed and set face down in a single pile in the middle of the table. It will be the common draw pile for all the players. The common discard pile will be placed next to it. Each player then chooses a colour, takes the two corresponding Activation Tokens and draws 7 cards. Choose randomly the fi rst player to take the Advantage Token and start the fi rst round.Usually, goblins decide who earns the Advantage Token by playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. Feel free however to use whatever method suits you best.

If a player has no Bakuto (Level 1) in his hand at the start of the game, he may discard his complete hand and draw a new hand of 7 cards. He may keep on doing so until he gets at least 1 Bakuto.

Victory Points

Activation Tokens Advantage Token


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Game Rounds

During a Round, players play in turns, clockwise, until they pass. When every player has passed, the Round ends. When a player passes, he cannot play again during the on-going Round. The other players keep playing until the last one has passed. If there is only one player left, he may keep playing as long as he so desires. A player may pass because he cannot play or because he does not wish to play anymore (thus proving himself to be a hardened warlord by holding back good cards for the next Round).

There is no limit to the number of turns a player can play during a Round but each player can only act once per turn. What are the possible actions during your turn then?

The fi rst possible action during your turn is to play a card from your hand in front of you to build your army. Your goblin army is represented by cards set in three lines of fi ve columns. ”Level 1” goblins (Bakutos) form the fi rst line. “Level 2” goblins (Heroes) form the second one while the “Level 3” goblins (Ōzekis) occupy the third and last row. You cannot have more than fi ve goblins per line, so your army cannot exceed 15 goblins.

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

How to bring goblins into play?

The fi rst goblin enrolled must be a Bakuto (Level 1). It is the corner stone of your army. You place it face up on the left-hand side of the fi rst line of your army. Whatever its clan (or its colour if you prefer) the fi rst goblin is played for free, costing nothing to enter the game. If there is an applicable eff ect written on the card when it enters play, you apply it before saying “next, please” (remember you can only act once during your turn).

From now on, starting with your next turn, you will be able to play a Hero (Level 2) or more Bakutos (Level 1).

ANCIENT GOBAN CONJURER

: Destroy one FREE card from your army then draw 2 (+1) cards.

When the Fire Goblin Sniper comes into play, choose up to 2 “Level 1” FREE cards then destroy them.

FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER

When the Alpha Goblin Recruiting Officer comes into play, choose a card level (1, 2 or 3) then reveal the next 5 cards from the draw pile. Take in your hand all the cards of the level you choose and discard the rest.

ALPHA GOBLIN RECRUITING OFFICER

When the Ancient Goban Visionary comes into play, draw 2(+1) cards.

ANCIENT GOBAN VISIONARY




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Whatever his level, a goblin enters the game from left to right.

There is an easy rule if you want to play other Bakutos (from left to right and up to 5 per line). Note that it only applies to Bakutos. If the goblin you are playing comes from a diff erent clan than the Bakutos already in your army, you must discard 2 cards from your hand in order to pay for its enrolment. If there’s already a Bakutos from the same clan in your army, you may enrol it for free, without discarding any card from your hand.

Free Discard 2 cards Discard 2 cards Free Free

Thus, you may play 5 Bakutos from the same clan for free. But if you want to play 5 Bakutos from 5 diff erent clans, you’ll have to discard 8 cards from your hand. You will notice later that having diff erent Bakutos clans may prove an asset and off er more options for your Heroes and Ōzekis (Level 2 and 3 goblins).

If the very fi rst Bakuto you played is destroyed and if there’s no other card left, the next Bakuto you will play shall be regarded as being the fi rst from your army and thus, will be free.









: Copy the ability from any card in one of your opponents’ army.

COPYCAT





: Invert 2 cards of the same Level in the army of your choice. If you have

the Advantage Token, also choose 1 FREE card then destroy it.

DOM


FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER


FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER

: Return 1 (+1) “Fact”, “Garsh”, “Ideo” or “Walror” card from the discard pile to your hand. If you have the Advantage Token, take an extra turn after this one.

DYNAMITE

When a card from your army is destroyed, you may draw 1(+1) card.

PRAHS

When Dalister comes into play, choose 1(+1) FREE card then destroy it.

DALISTER

When Justice comes into play, draw 3(+1) cards.

JUSTICE



When Erxast comes into play, choose an opponent. He must discard 1(+1) card from

his hand while you draw 1(+1) card.

ERXAST




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How to play a Hero (Level 2 Goblin)?

Two rules govern the play of Heroes. First, you cannot have more Heroes than Bakutos (e.g. you cannot have two Heroes above a sole Bakuto). Second, you can only play a Hero if its clan appears on the fi rst level of your army. A Bakuto from the same clan doesn’t need to be right below the Hero but has to be present on the fi rst line. If the fi rst level of your army shows three Bakutos from three diff erent clans, then you can play these clans at Level 2. You may also play three Heroes from the same clan as long as the clan appears on the fi rst line.

EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2














COPYCAT





Overall effect: During a round, the first player to pass draws 3 cards.

KAMAKOR

When Mind comes into play, each player adjusts his hand to 4 cards either by drawing or discarding.

MIND

Overall Effect: When a player destroys a card, he may draw 1 card.

DAWN

When Lipsy comes into play, the player(s) with the lowest number of

victory points draw(s) 2 cards.

LIPSY

When Angel comes into play, the player(s) with the lowest number of


ANGEL

Overall Effect: At any time during the game, if a player has simultaneously “Garsh”, “Fact” and “Ideo” in his army,

he wins the game immediately.

WALROR



DOM


FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER


FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER

: Return 1 (+1) “Fact”, “Garsh”, “Ideo” or “Walror” card from the discard pile to your hand. If you have the Advantage Token, take an extra turn after this one.

DYNAMITE


PRAHS


DALISTER

Overall Effect: At the beginning of any ROUND, if a player has 15 cards in his army, he wins the game immediately.

TEMUCHIN


JUSTICE

When Erxast comes into play, choose an opponent. He must discard 1(+1) card from

his hand while you draw 1(+1) card.

ERXAST


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And what about the Ōzekis (Level 3) ?

The rules governing the play of Ōzekis are very similar to the one governing the play of Heroes.

First, you cannot have more Ōzekis than Heroes (it sounds familiar, isn’t it?).

Second, you can only play an Ōzeki if its clan appears at both Level 1 AND Level 2 in your army. The order of play remains from left to right with a maximum of 5 cards.

EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2



© 2010 / Moonster Games Illustration: Bertrand Benoît


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Note: during the game, if a Bakuto being the unique representant of its clan, disappears, Heroes and Ōzekis from the said clan present in the army are not destroyed. The rules governing the placement of goblin are only applicable at the time of enrolment. The goblins live their own (mostly short but full of astounding feats) life afterwards.

You just learned of the fi rst way for your goblins to enter play. But there is another one: Mutation.

How does mutation work?

“As a Warlord, you have incredible powers, one of them being to mutate a goblin into another goblin… Beware ! Don’t try this at home, GOSU’s goblins are trained professionals.”

You’ll see a mutation cost in the middle left of some goblin cards meaning it can mutate into another goblin. If no cost appears, the goblin just cannot mutate.

If Kokoshomushu comes into play as the result of a mutation, discard your

whole hand then draw 5 cards.: The player of your choice must discard 2 cards from his hand.

KOKOSHOMUSHU

© 2010 / Moonster Games Illustration: omain Gas et


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Let’s say you want to get rid of an already well used goblin. It is indeed good to bring in some fresh blood sometimes! If that well-worn goblin shows a mutation cost, your dreams may come true! You only have to discard as many cards from your hand as indicated by the mutation cost and substitute the new goblin (also taken from your hand) to the “old” one. The “replacement” must be of the same level but not necessarily from the same clan.

Herrr, I think I saw your great warlord eyes sparkle and I will anticipate your question! Can you mutate a Hero into another Hero from your hand even if they do not belong to the same clan? For sure, yes! It is in fact a clever way to play a Hero from a clan whithout a Level 1 representative in play. But think twice: you will not be able to play an Ōzeki from that clan, although a Hero has just come into play, as you still have no Bakuto of this clan !

Mutation knows only one limit: a card may never mutate into an identical version of itself or a vortex opens and demons appear. Then, you have to paint some fi gures, buy Codex, and so on. To make a long story short it would be Chaos… so, no, it’s forbidden. No goblin will ever mutate in another goblin identical to itself.

A mutated card is not considered destroyed. It does go to the common discard pile but never sets off eff ects linked to a destruction.

There … Now you know every conceivable mean to put goblins into play for your army. So, let’s talk about the Activation Tokens!


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Activation Tokens? What are they for?

During your turns, there are three types of actions open to you via the use of your Activation Tokens. First, you can spend one to draw a card. Second, you can spend both of your Activation Tokens to draw three cards. Third, you can play an Activation Token on a card to activate its power. Some cards have an activation symbol indeed (the same than the one on the Activation Tokens. Convenient isn’t it?). It means that if you play an Activation Token on the card, you will be able to activate its power! Mouahahaha, fear my might!

You must notice that a goblin can only have one Activation Token on it at any given time, not because the token is too heavy for him to carry but because this is how it works. Yes, sometimes life is so unfair! Good news is that many cards allow you to take back an Activation Token in your hand, enabling you to use the power of your goblin again. Who’s your daddy?

The beginning of each round sees you retrieve all of your Activation Tokens spent during the previous one (Round, not turn!). In other words: only after the Great Battle and everything that follows. So use them wisely!

To sum up, during each of your turns, you may :

- Play a goblin,- Mutate a goblin,- Spend an Activation Token to draw a card from the draw pile,- Spend two Activation Tokens to draw three cards from the draw pile,- Play an Activation Token on a goblin to activate its power,- Pass (it’s sometimes clever, even if it does mean that the round is over for you)



COPYCAT


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End of a game round : time for the Great Battle !

When all the players have passed, the Great Battle takes place. Take out the kegs, get the terrace out, the show is on! How do you defi ne the winner of a Great Battle at the end of a game round? You only have to add up the military value of all your goblins (written at the middle-right of each card) with the exception of the trapped ones. The owner of the most powerful army wins the Great Battle and scores a victory point. If he gets his third, he simply wins the game!!!

In case of a tie during the Great Battle, the player with the Advantage Token wins. Otherwise, each tied player scores a victory point. If two players receive their third victory points at the same time, they both win the game turn (very rare).

Trick : Bakutos (Level 1) are worth 2 points, Heroes (Level 2) are worth 3 points and Ōzekis (Level 3) are worth 5 points. Thus, a complete column is 10 points, half a column is 5 points and a goblin standing alone is only 2 points. All in all, the maximum value of an army is 50 points!


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End of a game round? Que passa?

When a game round is over, all armies stay put and the players keep their hand of cards. The player with the Advantage Token retains it too. And yeah, it does not automatically change hand at the end of each round!

If no player wins the game, a new round begins.

A new round? Woooooow, even more goblins!

At the beginning of a new round, applicable eff ects are resolved in the following order:

- Each player takes his Activation Token(s) back.- All the trapped cards are released and repositioned face up.- Special victory conditions from the Ōzekis are checked.- Then, the player holding the Advantage Token gets to play fi rst.

You are not mistaken; you do not draw at the beginning of a game round. You must do with your army and your cards, that’s all… So more often than not, managing the cards in your hand will be the key to victory. Only by using the Activation Tokens or through the use of your goblins’ powers will you be able to draw new cards (the later, handed properly, getting you numerous and highly valuable cards, there’s no denying that!).


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How does the Advantage Token work?

At the beginning of the game, you randomly choose someone who will start with the Advantage Token. The player with the Advantage Token gets to play fi rst at the beginning of each round. Only the power of some cards allows you to get a hold of the token. When you control the Advantage Token, some cards have a secondary power. In case of a tie during a Great Battle or for the special victory conditions of the Ōzekis, the token bearer has the advantage and wins. All in all, the Advantage Token is a precious ally!

The rules are almost over. Let’s now take a look at the tiny details which make all the diff erence.






ANCIENT GOBAN VISIONARYANCIENT GOBAN CONJURER




ANGEL



WALROR


FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER


PRAHS


DALISTER


TEMUCHIN


JUSTICE

When Ideo comes into play, choose 1 “Level 1” or “Level 2” FREE card then destroy it

OR draw 2(+1) cards.

Choose only one of the two possible actions.

IDEO


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Ōzekis have powers aff ecting all the players. These powers can change the rules as some may defi ne alternate victory conditions. On the said cards, these powers are preceded by the note “Overall Eff ect:”

You will often be off ered the possibility to destroy a FREE card. First advice: choose it in your most feared opponent’s army, not in yours! Second advice: use the many cards that allow you to destroy a FREE card, to jeopardize your opponents’ combos. But remember, in GOSU, you can only destroy FREE cards.

So, what is a FREE card ? A FREE card is a card that has no card above nor on its right.

EXAMPLE 1

Free

Free

Free













ANGEL



ANGEL



WALROR



WALROR


FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER


FIRE GOBLIN SNIPER


PRAHS


PRAHS


DALISTER


DALISTER


TEMUCHIN


TEMUCHIN


JUSTICE


JUSTICE

When Ideo comes into play, choose 1 “Level 1” or “Level 2” FREE card then destroy it

OR draw 2(+1) cards.

Choose only one of the two possible actions.

IDEO


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EXAMPLE 2

EXAMPLE 3

Free

Free

Free




When the discard pile is shuffled back into the draw pile, draw until you have 7(+1) cards in your hand and take the Advantage Token.

MEOW



DALISTER


: Trap 1(+1) “Level 1” card.

DARK GOBLIN MEDIC



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Some cards show a bonus written between brackets. This bonus only applies if at least one of your opponents has more victory points than you do. So it usually happens after the fi rst round.

When the Dark Goblin Avenger mutates, trap 2 “Level 1” or “Level 2” cards.

Zombie Mutation.

DARK GOBLIN AVENGER


: Trap 1(+1) “Level 1” card.

DARK GOBLIN MEDIC



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As a conclusion, let me tell you about two powers of the Dark Goblins clan.

Trapped! Certain cards allow you to trap one of more cards. Once again, it is more effi cient to do it on your opponents’ army than on yours. However, with goblins’ military strategists you never know… When you trap a card, you turn it over (face down).

A trapped card has no military value, powers nor clan (but still counts as a card for the 5 per line limit).

Thus you can prevent an opponent from playing certain cards by trapping the key clan representative. Only at the beginning of the next game round will a trapped card be released (repositioned face up). You do not have to trap a FREE card; you may trap any card you wish from your opponent’s army. So, why not targeting that so very well hidden card over there that allows him to draw three cards? Hahahaha I am so evil, I cry bear traps!

A trapped card can be destroyed if it is FREE.A trapped card cannot mutate.You can still play a goblin in the row above a trapped card because it is still part of the army.

TRSCK

When Trsck comes into play, choose a FREE card and destroy it. Then draw a number of

cards equal to the Level of the destroyed card.Zombie Mutation.


When the Dark Goblin Necromancer comes into play, trap 1(+1) “Level 1” or “Level 2” card.

Zombie Mutation.

DARK GOBLIN NECROMANCER


When the Dark Goblin Necromancer comes into play, trap 1(+1) “Level 1” or “Level 2” card.

Zombie Mutation.

DARK GOBLIN NECROMANCER


TRSCK

When Trsck comes into play, choose a FREE card and destroy it. Then draw a number of

cards equal to the Level of the destroyed card.Zombie Mutation.



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Finally, the second special power of the Dark Goblins is the Zombie Mutation. The Zombie Mutation works as the standard mutation except that when you replace the goblin, you may use a goblin of the same level from your hand or from the discard pile! Yes, I know, it’s all you can eat at the power-buff et, especially in the middle of the game when the said pile is crammed! On the other hand, when the draw pile is empty, the discard pile is shuffl ed back into a new draw pile, spelling tragedy for the Zombie Mutation (at least temporarily)!

There’s no limit to the number of cards you may hold in hand. You could have as many as 15 if it so pleases you, but it is at your own risks!

Each and every discarded, destroyed or mutated card goes face up onto the common discard pile. Any player may check through the discard pile at will.

When several eff ects happen at the same time the acting player chooses the release order if need be. In any case, every eff ect must be applied. The release order cannot cancel an eff ect whatsoever.

When Kameo comes into play, take the Advantage Token.

When Kameo mutates, you immediately gain 1 victory point and each of your opponents draws 3 cards.

KAMEO


: Discard X cards from your hand then choose a level X FREE card and destroy it.

FIRE GOBLIN AK-52

© 2010 / Moonster Games Illustration: omain Gas et© 2010 / Moonster Games Illustration: Bertrand Benoît

: Discard X cards from your hand, then draw X cards.

ALIKAN


212121

When an “X” value appears on a card, determine “X” when the eff ect goes off . If there’s more than one “X” on the card, every “X” rates the same. The “X” value is not set and you may change it at each use.

If a player earns his third victory point during a turn, he immediately wins the game. Kameo wields this power for instance.

Whenever you have to draw a card and the draw pile is empty, shuffl e the discard pile back into a new draw pile.

When the Dark Goblin Thief comes into play, choose an opponent. He must reveal the next 3 cards from the draw pile and take one. You take the remaining two cards.

Zombie Mutation.

DARK GOBLIN THIEF


When Kork comes into play, the player(s) with the lowest number of


KORK



When Moonlight comes into play and when he mutates, return to your hand an

Activation Token played this round.

MOONLIGHT


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Important details about the cards:

When [card name] comes into play. This eff ect goes off as soon as you play the card, be it by putting it down or by mutating from your hand or from the discard pile (zombie mutation).

When [card name] comes into play and when he mutates. This eff ect goes off as soon as you play the card, as already explained in the previous entry, but also when this card mutates, right before being discarded.

When [card name] comes into play, the player(s) with the lowest number of victory points draw(s) 2 cards. If all players have the same number of victory points, then all players draw two cards.



DOM



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Invert 2 cards of the same level in the army of your choice. You may use it either on yourself or on an opponent. Thus you can protect a card by putting it at the beginning of the line instead of the end where it’s FREE. On the contrary, you may render especially vulnerable an opposing card.

Wanna play in team ? 2 vs 2 ? Download the rules at http://www.moonstergames.com


http://www.moonstergames.com© 2010 / Moonster Games

Documents

Gosu English Rules