dexdouglas[img]https://x4.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x4.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___snipboard.io_ituLQP.jpg[/img]
This is Kulami! A beautiful abstract strategy game involving area control for 2 players. Your goal is to have the most points at the end of the game by controlling tiles that are worth more points than your opponent. 1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000
dexdouglasWe will be playing the [red]Red[/red] player and our opponent will be *Black*. As the start player, you can select any circle on the game board. Let's select this one here which is a tile worth 6 points. 2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment010kulami_tile_2_3 16
dexdouglasYou can see under our name that we have scored *6 points*! This is because the piece we placed is on a tile with 6 spaces. If you have more pieces on a tile than your opponent, you claim those points. Tiles are worth 6, 4, 3, or 2 points. 1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e54cc1225400player_score_90653752 1
dexdouglasOur opponent also placed on a tile with 6 spaces. It's your turn to place but not all spaces are highlighted in [blue]blue[/blue]. When it is your turn to place a piece, you *must* place it in the *row or column* from where the last played piece went BUT you cannot place it on the tile you or your opponent just played on. 1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e54dc1e3d800
dexdouglasWith those restrictions in mind, why don't we score 4 points by placing a piece here.2kulami_tile_6_5630e54dc1e3d810kulami_tile_6_5 11
dexdouglasOur opponent has given us access to *two* different 6 point tiles (in addition to others). We can go up and claim a new one and an additional 6 points, or we can move left and reinforce the tile we currently have control of. Let's go ahead and reinforce our position on the tile to the left. 1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e54f8f0dd810kulami_tile_3_3 11
dexdouglasYou can see our score didn't change from the last turn. We still only have control of a 6 point tile and a 4 point tile which equals 10 points. Our opponent has taken the lead by getting another 6 point tile so they are at 15 points! Let's *even* the score a bit. Click here:1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e550a68a1810kulami_tile_2_6 1 player_score_90653752 1 player_score_79645950 2
dexdouglasNow our opponent's score has dropped by 6 points! This is because they no longer have the majority of pieces on the tile. When a tile has an equal number of pieces on it, nobody scores that tile's points. 1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e55126fd2200player_score_79645950 1
dexdouglasOur opponent has placed a piece on this center 6 point tile but we still outnumber them so our scores remain the same.1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400
dexdouglasAs you can see, the rules are pretty simple! Remember, you want to have the most points at the end of the game. The end of the game triggers if it is a player's turn and they cannot place a piece, then, that's the end of the game. 2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400
dexdouglasEach player starts with 28 pieces and the remaining supply is seen under your player name. There are 64 spaces available in the game and only 56 pieces in the supply so you will never have all spaces filled in at the end. In fact, the game might end even earlier if you can trap your opponent.
3archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400kulami_marblecount_p90653752 1 kulami_marblecount_p79645950 2
dexdouglasHere's a picture of the board near the end of this particular game. [img]https://x4.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x4.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___snipboard.io_HTv29a.jpg[/img]
[red]Red[/red] has placed in the selected area and now *Black* has 3 options. 1 would give *Black* 4 points, 2 gives *Black* 0 points, and 3 takes 6 points away from [red]Red[/red]. if we place in 3, the only move available to Red is to the left, and then the game would be over.4archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400
dexdouglasDepending on the score, and how far ahead a player is, you may want to end the game as soon as possible or you may want to try and squeeze a few more points in.
5archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400
dexdouglasAnd that's all there is to know about the standard game of Kulami! If you enjoy this game, I would highly suggest purchasing a copy as the wooden tiles and shiny marbles really add a wonderful bit of tactile gratification into this game.
[img]https://x4.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x4.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___snipboard.io_vUKa7E.jpg[/img]6archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400
dexdouglasLast thing: a few variants I want to mention as well! If you get bored of the standard square board, you can also select a random board setup. The same rules apply but any gaps in the board are ignored.
[img]https://x4.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x4.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___snipboard.io_vx9kha.jpg[/img]
7archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400
dexdouglasThis can lead to some very interesting setups that can end the game a lot sooner than expected.
[img]https://x4.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x4.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___snipboard.io_Ws8dE4.jpg[/img]8archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e552468dc400
dexdouglasFinally, you can add two different scoring variants in addition to the standard scoring method. *Biggest Area* scoring gives you bonus points equal to your largest contiguous area of marbles. In this example, *Black* scores an extra 17 points to [red]Red's[/red] 12.
[img]https://x4.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x4.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___snipboard.io_B0oixz.jpg[/img]9archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e55246980c00
dexdouglasIn *Lines* scoring, you score any horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines that are at least 5 long.
In this example, *Black* scores an extra 15 points for 3 lines of length 5 and [red]Red[/red] scores 12 points for lines of length 7 and 5.
[img]https://x4.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x4.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___snipboard.io_HiNZI3.jpg[/img]10archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e55246980c00
dexdouglasYou can combine both of these scoring variants together as well if you really want some high scoring games! That is all to say about [red]Kulami[/red] by Andreas Kuhnekath. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!11archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment630e55246980c00
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