Dice Forge

2017

Dice Forge is an innovative board game where players customize their own dice, manage resources, and outsmart rivals in a divine race for a seat among the gods.

45
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium Light

About the game

Dice Forge is a captivating board game that combines strategy, luck, and immersive storytelling into one thrilling adventure. The game takes you into a mythical world where you are an ambitious hero seeking to earn the favor of the Gods. Set in a vibrant, high-fantasy universe, Dice Forge offers an experience steeped in Greek mythology, featuring iconic gods such as Zeus, Hermes, Athena, and Aphrodite.

The core mechanics of Dice Forge revolve around a unique dice-crafting system. Each player begins the game with identical dice, which can be enhanced and changed throughout the game by ‘forging’ new faces onto them. This innovative feature allows you to customize your dice and adapt your strategy as the game progresses. With each roll of the dice, you can gather resources, earn points, or perform special actions, contributing to a rich and dynamic gameplay experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Below is a list of components included in the board game ‘Dice Forge’ and their corresponding purposes:

1. Game Board

The game board is the main component which serves as the playing field for the players. It has different areas such as the Sanctuary, the Temple, the Islands, and the Tracks.

2. Dice

Each player has two dice. The dice are unique because they have removable faces. Players can “forge” their dice throughout the game by replacing faces to improve their resources or victory points. The dice are rolled to obtain rewards at the start of each player’s turn.

3. Dice Faces

These are the pieces that can be added to the dice. They come in different types providing different kinds of resources or points. Players purchase these faces from the Sanctuary using their resources and then “forge” them onto their dice.

4. Hero Inventory

Each player has a hero inventory that is used to keep track of their resources (gold, sun shards, moon shards) and their victory points. It also has a space to store extra dice faces that have been replaced.

5. Divine Cards

Divine cards represent various gifts from the gods that players can obtain. They provide unique abilities or bonuses, and players can purchase them using sun shards and moon shards. They are placed on the Islands on the game board.

6. Tokens

There are several types of tokens in Dice Forge. These include resource tokens (gold, sun shards, moon shards) and victory point tokens. Players receive these tokens based on the results of their dice rolls or through divine cards.

7. Pawn

Each player has a pawn which is used to mark their current location on the game board. Players move their pawn to different islands to purchase divine cards.

8. Round Tracker

The round tracker is used to keep track of the number of rounds that have been played. A game of Dice Forge lasts for 9 rounds.

9. First Player Token

This token indicates who the first player is. The first player changes every round, moving to the player on the left of the current first player. The first player begins the round by rolling their dice.

10. Chest

The chest is used to store the dice faces that are not currently in use. It helps players to easily access and replace their dice faces during the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Dice Forge is a strategic and interactive board game that involves players crafting their own pair of dice and gathering resources. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

1. Set Up the Game Board:

Place the game board in the center of the table. The board is divided into different sections that represent the Heavenly Portal, the Sanctuary, the Gardens, and the Store. Each section has a specific function in the game.

2. Organize the Dice and Cards:

Each player receives two dice. One die has a single sun shard face and the other die has a single moon shard face. The remaining faces on both dice are blank. Players should also receive a player aid and a reserve board. Prepare the deck of cards based on the number of players and shuffle them. Place the deck on the Heavenly Portal.

3. Prepare the Sanctuary:

Next, prepare the Sanctuary by placing the divine blessing die on the indicated space. The die is used to determine the first player. Also, place the divine blessing tokens in a pile next to the board. These tokens represent the number of divine blessings a player can perform during their turn.

4. Prepare the Store:

In the Store section of the board, place the gold, moon shards, and sun shards. These are the resources players will earn throughout the game. Each player starts with 2 gold, 1 sun shard, and 1 moon shard.

5. Determine the First Player:

Roll the divine blessing die to determine the first player. The player who rolls the highest number will go first. This player receives the starting player token.

6. Random Elements:

The game includes some random elements such as the faces of the dice and the cards in the deck. Players will not know what faces they will roll on their dice or what cards they will draw from the deck. This adds an element of unpredictability and excitement to the game.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to start playing Dice Forge!

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Dice Forge’ is a popular board game that revolves around the concept of crafting and upgrading dice to collect resources and earn victory points. The game progresses over a series of rounds, each of which is divided into four main phases. Below are the detailed phases and the actions performed by each player during those stages.

Phase 1: Divine Blessing

In this phase, all players simultaneously roll their dice. The faces of the dice indicate the resources they obtain, which can be gold, sun shards, moon shards, or victory points. Players immediately record their resources on their reserve track.

Phase 2: Call to the Gods

The active player may perform a Call to the Gods, spending their sun shards to move the pawn on the celestial track. The movement allows the player to receive the divine blessing of the Gods. If the pawn lands or passes an island with a divine blessing, the player can immediately perform the corresponding action.

Phase 3: Heroic Feat

The active player can perform a Heroic Feat, spending their moon shards to acquire new die faces or cards from the islands. New die faces replace existing ones on the player’s dice, and cards provide abilities and/or victory points. A player can only perform one Heroic Feat per turn unless they have a special ability that states otherwise.

Phase 4: End of Turn

The active player’s turn ends, and the player to their left becomes the new active player. The game continues in this manner until the end of the ninth round (in a 2 or 4 player game) or the end of the tenth round (in a 3 player game).

After the final round, players tally their victory points from cards, die faces, and leftover resources. The player with the most victory points wins.

Note: At any point during their turn, a player may choose to forge their dice, replacing old die faces with new ones they have purchased. This action does not require a specific phase and can be done as soon as the faces are acquired.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The game ‘Dice Forge’ is a strategic board game that revolves around dice crafting and heroic development. A player’s turn in this game is split into four main stages:

1. Divine Blessing:

At the start of each player’s turn, every player, including the one whose turn it is, rolls their dice. The faces of the dice determine what resources players receive. There are three types of resources: gold, sun shards, and moon shards. Gold is used to buy new faces for your dice, while sun and moon shards are used to perform heroic feats, which can earn you victory points or give you special abilities.

2. Call to Aid:

The player whose turn it is may call for aid from another player. This means they can choose another player to receive a divine blessing (roll their dice and gain resources), but the player whose turn it is also receives the same resources. This can be a strategic choice if the player needs more resources or wants to prevent an opponent from gaining a specific resource on their own turn.

3. Main Actions:

The player has two main actions they can perform on their turn: they can make an offering to the gods or perform a heroic feat. Making an offering means paying gold to replace a face on one of your dice with a new one, which can give you more resources or victory points when you roll that face. Performing a heroic feat means paying sun or moon shards to gain a bonus or ability, which can help you in future turns or earn you more victory points.

4. End of Turn:

At the end of their turn, the player checks to see if the end game condition has been met (all the rounds have been played), and if not, play passes to the next player.

Through these actions and strategic choices, players can shape their dice and their strategy over the course of the game. The player who makes the best use of their resources and manages their dice faces most effectively will typically come out on top.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Dice Forge is a strategic board game where players harness their powers and challenge the gods. The game ends after a specified number of rounds, which is determined by the number of players. The victory conditions and final scoring are as follows:

The game ends after:

9 rounds in a 2-player game
10 rounds in a 3-player game
10 rounds in a 4-player game

Victory Conditions:

The player with the most victory points (VPs) at the end of the game is declared the winner.
In the event of a tie, the player with the most leftover resources is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the winner is the player who rolled the dice fewer times during the game.

Actions Players Must Take Before Final Scoring:

All players complete any remaining actions on their turn before final scoring.
Players convert their remaining resources into victory points at the rate indicated on the game board (3 resources = 1 victory point).
Players add up their victory points from the cards they have acquired throughout the game.
Players add their victory points from their Heroic Feats (actions that provide victory points).

After all of these steps have been completed, players compare their total victory points to determine the winner of the game.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Dice Forge is an innovative and strategic board game that employs a unique dice crafting system. The ultimate goal of the game is to earn the most victory points. Here’s how the scoring system works:

1. During the Game:

Harvesting Dice: Each player rolls their dice at the beginning of their turn, harvesting resources according to the faces of the dice. While these resources (gold, sun shards, moon shards) are not directly worth points, they can be used to purchase cards or dice faces that will earn points.
Purchasing Cards: Players can use their resources to purchase cards which offer various benefits, including victory points. The number of points gained from each card is located at the top of the card.
Upgrading Dice: Players can also use their resources to purchase new faces for their dice. Some dice faces provide direct victory points every time they are rolled.

2. End of Game Scoring:

Card Points: At the end of the game, players add up the victory points from all their purchased cards.
Dice Points: Players also add any points gained from the faces of their dice during the final turn.
Remaining Resources: Finally, every three remaining resources (gold, sun shards, moon shards) a player has at the end of the game can be converted into one victory point. Leftover resources that don’t make up a set of three are not counted.

The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the player with the most remaining resources (gold, sun shards, moon shards) is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player who rolled the dice fewer times during the game wins. If there is still a tie after that, the victory is shared.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘Dice Forge’ is a strategic board game that involves dice crafting and heroic development. While the rules are generally straightforward, there are a few rare or special rules and exceptions that players should be aware of:

1. Extra Dice Rolls: Normally, players roll their dice only at the start of their turn. However, there are certain divine blessing cards that give players the chance to roll their dice outside of their usual turn. Remember to roll your dice immediately after you acquire these cards.

2. Use of the Hammer: The Hammer card allows you to perform a dice roll and then double the resources you gain. The rule clarification here is that if you gain a Sun Shard or Moon Shard, these are not doubled. Only gold, victory points, and fire rubies are doubled.

3. Card Limitations: There’s a limit to how many cards a player can own. A player cannot possess more than four cards of the same type. The only exception to this rule is the ‘Companion’ card, of which a player can have an unlimited amount.

4. Discard Rule: In a situation where a player’s reserve is full (12 resources) and they earn more resources, they must discard down to the maximum limit. They can choose which resources to discard.

5. Special Case with the ‘Hydra’ Card: The Hydra Card allows a player to steal resources from other players. If multiple players have the same amount of resources, the player with the Hydra Card chooses who to steal from.

6. End Game Scoring: At the end of the game, players convert any leftover resources (gold, sun shards, and moon shards) into victory points at a rate of 2 resources to 1 point. However, fire rubies are not converted into points.

Understanding these rules and exceptions makes the game of ‘Dice Forge’ more interesting and strategic. Happy gaming!

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Dice Forge is an engaging board game where players use dice to gather resources and buy cards that provide unique abilities or victory points. Here are some strategies, tips, and common mistakes to avoid in Dice Forge.

Advanced Strategies:

Optimizing your dice: The key strategy in Dice Forge is to optimize your dice as early as possible. This will allow you to gain more resources in the long run. Aim to upgrade the faces of your dice in the first few rounds.
Card balancing: Try to balance your strategy between buying cards that provide immediate benefits and those that provide points at the end of the game. Both are important in winning the game.
Resource management: Be mindful of your resources. It’s easy to focus on gold and forget about the other resources, but remember that Sun Shards and Moon Shards are also essential for buying cards.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the game mechanics: Familiarize yourself with the game rules, the different dice faces, and the cards. This knowledge will help you make better decisions during the game.
Upgrade your dice: Upgrading your dice should be your first priority. The sooner you do this, the more benefits you’ll reap in the later rounds.
Don’t forget the Sanctuary: Many beginners overlook the Sanctuary, which allows you to make additional upgrades to your dice. Make use of this whenever possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring dice upgrades: Neglecting to upgrade your dice early in the game can leave you at a significant disadvantage. Aim to do this in the early rounds.
Focusing only on one type of resource: It’s easy to focus on accumulating gold, but the other resources are equally important. Make sure to balance your resource collection.
Overlooking end-game points: Some players focus too much on the immediate benefits of cards and overlook those that provide points at the end of the game. Don’t forget about these cards – they can be the key to your victory.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan your strategy: Have a game plan before you start. Know which dice faces and cards you want to aim for, and make decisions that align with your strategy.
Balance your resources: Try to keep a balance of gold, Sun Shards, and Moon Shards. This will give you more flexibility when buying cards.
Adapt to the game: Be ready to adapt your strategy based on the game’s progression and your opponents’ actions. Flexibility can often be the key to winning in Dice Forge.