Above and Below

2015

Above and Below is a unique blend of village-building and rich storytelling. Compete with friends, explore caverns, and create the strongest village!

90
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

13+

Medium

About the game

Above and Below is an enchanting board game that blends the elements of town-building, storytelling, and strategy into a unique gaming experience. The game invites players into a fascinating world of exploration, where they are tasked to build their own village above ground and explore the mysterious caverns below.

The theme of Above and Below revolves around a group of adventurers who, after their previous village was destroyed, are on a quest to start anew. The adventurers discover a network of caverns, rich with resources and potential dangers, and decide to build their village above these caverns. This sets the stage for the game, where players are tasked with building the best village and exploring the caverns below.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Above and Below is a board game that combines worker placement and storytelling elements. The game’s components each play a critical role in the gameplay. Below is a detailed list of these components and their specifics functions:

1. Game Board: This is the central component of the game, where players place their workers, build, and collect resources. It’s divided into sections representing the village and below ground areas.

2. Player Boards: Each player receives a board that represents their village. It’s used to track and manage villagers, buildings, and resources.

3. Villagers: These are represented by wooden figures in the player’s color. Players use them to perform various actions like building, exploring, harvesting, and resting.

4. Building Cards: These cards depict various structures that players can build in their village. Each building provides different benefits and resources.

5. Encounter Book: This is used during the exploration phase. It contains various stories and outcomes that are read out based on the players’ choices and dice roll.

6. Resource Tokens: These are the goods that players will accumulate throughout the game, including fish, apples, and ore. They are used for building structures and can also earn players points at the end of the game.

7. Reputation Track: This is located on the game board and it’s where players track their reputation score. Reputation can be gained or lost through various actions and affects the player’s final score.

8. Advancement Track: Also located on the game board, players move up this track by exploring and building. It determines the order of play and provides different benefits for each level.

9. Dice: The dice are used during the exploration phase to determine the outcome of the encounters.

10. Money Tokens: Represented as coins, these are used to purchase buildings and hire villagers. They can also be used to improve a player’s position on the advancement track.

11. Outpost Tokens: These are earned by exploring below ground and are used to claim special rewards or can be turned in for points at the end of the game.

Each of these components interacts with the game in a unique way, influencing both the strategy and the outcome. The player who best utilizes these components will likely come out on top.

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

Above and Below is a unique blend of town building and storytelling where you and up to three friends compete to build the best village above and below ground. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

1. Setting up the Game Board:

Place the main game board in the center of the table. It has spaces for the different cards and tracks for the round marker and journey marker. Then:

Place the round marker on the first space of the round track.
Place the journey marker on the first space of the journey track.

2. Preparing the Cards:

There are three types of cards in the game: Advancement cards, Villager cards, and Outing cards. To prepare:

Shuffle the Advancement cards and place them face down on the designated space on the game board.
Shuffle the Villager cards and place them face down on their designated space.
Shuffle the Outing cards and place them face down on their designated space.

3. Preparing the Buildings:

There are two types of building tiles: Regular and Special. To prepare:

Sort the Regular building tiles by type and place them in stacks next to the game board.
Shuffle the Special building tiles and place them face down in a stack next to the game board.

4. Setting up the Players:

Each player should choose a color and take the corresponding player board, villagers, and resources. Then:

Each player places their player board in front of them.
Each player places their villagers on the “ready” spaces of their player board.
Each player receives a certain amount of initial resources, determined by the player order.

5. Random Elements:

The game utilizes a story book for its random elements. When a player explores the caves below, they will draw a random encounter from the book and make choices that will affect their game. The following are steps to prepare the book:

Place the story book within reach of all players.
Decide who will be the first player. This player will be the first to read from the story book.

6. Starting the Game:

Once setup is complete, the first player begins the game by taking their turn. Above and Below is played over a series of rounds until the round marker reaches the end of the round track. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

Game flow Round and round we go

Above and Below is a game that combines town-building and storytelling elements. The game is played over several rounds, and each round consists of three phases: Assignment Phase, Action Phase, and Rest Phase.

1. Assignment Phase: In this phase, players assign villagers to perform tasks. Players can choose to assign their villagers to work, explore, or build.

Work: The player may choose to assign a villager to work for the round. A working villager can generate resources, such as gold, that can be used in later phases.
Explore: The player may choose to send a villager on an expedition. During such expeditions, the player will encounter various adventures which are resolved by making decisions and rolling dice.
Build: The player may choose to assign a villager to build a structure. Structures provide various benefits, such as increasing the player’s capacity to house more villagers, generate resources, or score victory points.

2. Action Phase: During this phase, players get to execute the actions they assigned to their villagers in the Assignment Phase.

Working: If a villager was assigned to work, the player collects the resources generated.
Exploring: If a villager was sent on an expedition, the player now resolves the adventure. This often involves making a decision and rolling dice to see what outcomes the decision has. Depending on the outcome, the player could gain various rewards or face penalties.
Building: If a villager was assigned to build a structure, the player now pays the necessary resources and places the structure in their town. The player scores victory points based on the structure’s value.

3. Rest Phase: In this phase, all villagers return from their tasks. Any villager who was assigned to work or build is now exhausted and cannot be assigned to perform a task in the next round. Villagers who went on expeditions do not become exhausted. Finally, players check if they have any income from buildings and collect it.

The game continues in this way until a set number of rounds have been played. At that point, the player with the most victory points is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The board game ‘Above and Below’ offers various actions and strategic choices during a player’s turn. Each action has its own unique impact on the gameplay. Here is a detailed breakdown:

1. Assign:

The first step of a player’s turn is to Assign. Every player begins the round with their villagers on their personal player board. They then assign these villagers to perform various tasks by placing them on the corresponding actions on the main board.

Harvest: A player can assign a villager to the harvest area to gain resources. The type of resources gained depends on the buildings the player has.
Build: A player may choose to send a villager to the build area. This allows the player to construct a new building if they have the required resources.
Train: Sending a villager to the train area allows the player to hire new villagers. New villagers have unique abilities and can enhance your workforce.
Explore: A player may choose to send their villager(s) on an exploration mission below ground. This requires a villager to roll dice and make choices based on the exploration book, which can yield rewards or penalties.

2. Labor:

The second step is to Labor. If a player has any villagers left unassigned, they can perform labor. This involves the villager either healing a wounded villager or gaining a gold coin.

3. Rest:

The final step of a player’s turn is to Rest. All villagers that were assigned to tasks are now considered tired. The player must now decide which villagers to rest and which to keep active. This decision can greatly affect the player’s strategy for the next round, as rested villagers can be used again while tired villagers cannot be used until they are rested.

In ‘Above and Below’, strategic choices are crucial. Players must balance their resources, manage their villagers wisely, and make decisions that will benefit them in the long run. Every action taken can alter the course of the game, making it a dynamic and engaging experience.

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

Above and Below is a unique blend of town building and storytelling where you and up to three friends compete to build the best village above and below ground. The game ends after a set number of rounds, and the player with the most victory points wins.

The game ends after the 7th round. At the end of this round, players should conduct the following steps:

Final Harvest: Each player receives resources from their beds, cider, and potions in their village.
Use Remaining Villagers: Any villagers that have not been used in the final round can be used to harvest resources, build, or train.
Final Conversion: Players may now convert their resources to coins at the usual conversion rates.

After the completion of these actions, players proceed to the final scoring. Victory points are scored in the following manner:

Coins: Each coin is worth 1 point.
Buildings: Each building has a point value shown on the top right corner of the card.
Advancement Track: Players score points based on their position on the Advancement Track.
Star Tokens: Any star tokens collected during the game are worth the displayed points.
Outpost Tokens: Any outpost tokens acquired during the game are worth 3 points each.
Key Tokens: Any key tokens acquired during the game are worth 2 points each.

The player with the highest total score is the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the most coins wins. If there is still a tie, the player who achieved their total score first is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Above and Below’, scoring is a crucial part of determining the winner. The scoring system is based on a variety of factors, and points can be gained in several ways throughout the game.

Scoring Points:

Here’s how points are awarded:

Buildings: At the end of the game, players earn points for all buildings they have built, both above and below ground. Each building has a specified number of points depicted on its card.
Goods: Players earn points for any goods they have at the end of the game. Each good is worth a set number of points, as indicated on the good’s card.
Advancement Track: Players gain points based on their position on the advancement track. The further along the track a player is, the more points they earn.
Story Points: During the game, players can earn story points through successful encounters. These points are totaled at the end of the game.
Money: Each coin a player has at the end of the game is worth one point.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the following rules are applied in order:

The player with the most leftover coins wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most goods wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most buildings wins.
If there is still a tie, the game is a draw, and the tied players share the victory.

Understanding the scoring system in ‘Above and Below’ is crucial to forming a winning strategy. Players must balance their resources and actions to earn points in a variety of ways, and every decision can have a significant impact on the final score.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘Above and Below’ is a unique blend of town-building and storytelling where you and up to four friends compete to build the best village above and below ground. In the game, you send your villagers to perform jobs like exploring the cave, harvesting resources, and constructing houses. Each villager has unique skills and abilities, and you must decide how to best use them. However, there are some rare or special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that might be important to note:

1. Exhaustion After Exploring: When a villager goes exploring, they become exhausted and must rest for a turn before they can be used again. However, if you have a bed available in your village, the villager can rest immediately after exploring.

2. Building Over Existing Buildings: Normally, you cannot build over existing buildings. However, there is an exception if you have a building card of the same type. For example, if you have a house card, you can build over an existing house. This does not apply to special buildings.

3. Training Villagers: When you train a villager, you pay the cost and add the villager to your available villagers. However, trained villagers cannot be used until the following round.

4. Cave Rewards: When a villager successfully explores a cave, you receive a reward. If you roll the exact number needed to explore the cave, you receive the reward twice.

5. Adventure Book: When exploring underground, you use the Adventure book to guide your exploration. It is important to note that you should not read ahead in the book. Only read the paragraph that corresponds to the number you rolled on the exploration die.

6. Buying and Selling Goods: You can buy and sell goods at the market. However, you cannot sell goods that you bought in the same round. Also, the price of goods changes depending on the current market conditions, which are determined by the market cards.

7. Scoring: At the end of the game, you score points for buildings, villagers, goods, and coins. However, you lose points for injured villagers. The player with the most points wins the game.

8. Tie-Breaker: In case of a tie, the player with the most coins wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most goods wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most villagers wins.

These special rules add depth and strategy to the game, making each play unique and exciting. With careful planning and a bit of luck, you can build the best village above and below ground.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Focus on Building: One of the most effective strategies in ‘Above and Below’ is focusing on building. Buildings not only provide beds for your workers to rest, but they also provide a variety of resources and benefits that can significantly boost your points at the end of the game.
Engage in Exploration: Exploring the caves might seem risky at first, but it is a risk worth taking. It provides unique opportunities to earn additional resources, and the encounter cards can offer powerful advantages that can turn the tide of the game in your favor.
Recruit Wisely: Pay attention to the abilities of the villagers available for recruitment. Some villagers have special skills or higher exploration values that can be a great addition to your team.

Beginner Tips:

Balance Your Actions: It’s important not to focus all your efforts on one aspect of the game. Try to maintain a balance between building, exploring, and recruiting to ensure steady progress.
Manage Your Resources: Always keep an eye on your resources. Running out of resources can significantly slow down your progress. Try to maintain a steady flow of all required resources.
Understand the Scoring: Points are awarded not just for buildings, but also for villagers, resources, and money. Understand how the points are scored to plan your strategy effectively.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring Exploration: While buildings are important, ignoring exploration entirely can put you at a disadvantage. Exploration offers many benefits and can provide you with resources and special abilities.
Not Using Villagers Effectively: Each villager has unique abilities and skills. Not using these abilities to their full potential can hinder your progress in the game.
Not Planning Ahead: ‘Above and Below’ is a game that rewards planning and strategy. Not planning your moves ahead can lead to wasted turns and lost opportunities.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Try to recruit villagers with high exploration values. They can be more effective during exploration and can help you earn more resources.
Always keep an eye on your opponent’s strategy and try to adapt your game plan accordingly. If you see them focusing on building, you might want to focus on exploration to gain unique advantages.
Use your resources wisely. Don’t spend all your resources on one aspect of the game. Instead, try to maintain a balance to ensure steady progress.