Bullet♥︎

2021

In Bullet♥ï¸Ž, players become powerful heroines using abilities to manipulate bullets and outwit opponents in thrilling puzzle battles!

20
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

13+

Medium

About the game

Bullet♥︎ is an exquisite board game that blends strategy, skill, and a touch of luck. This thrilling game is not just about winning; it’s about outsmarting your opponents with every move, immersing yourself in an engaging storyline, and most importantly, having fun.

Set in the intriguing world of Earth in the near future, Bullet♥︎ introduces a thrilling scenario where heroines from the four corners of the world compete against each other, demonstrating their unique abilities and tactics. Each heroine is endowed with special powers and abilities, which they use to defend their homeland from a myriad of threats.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Bullet♥︎ is a fast-paced, anime-themed board game that involves pattern recognition, hand management, and real-time strategy components. The game includes the following components:

1. Heroines: These are the characters that players will control throughout the game. Each character has a unique ability represented by the character’s pattern card. The heroines interact with the game by manipulating the bullets in different ways depending on their unique abilities.

2. Pattern Cards: Each heroine has a set of pattern cards that depict the unique ways they can manipulate bullets. These patterns can be used to clear bullets from the player’s board. The interaction of these cards with the game depends on the specific patterns on the cards and the current layout of bullets on a player’s board.

3. Bullet Tokens: These are the primary objects that players will be manipulating throughout the game. They represent threats that must be eliminated or managed. Bullets interact with the game by moving down the player’s board each turn, and if they reach the bottom, they can cause damage to the player.

4. Player Boards: Each player has a board where they will place and manipulate bullet tokens. The player board also has a track for health and a track for action points. The board interacts with the game by providing a space for players to manage their bullets and track their health and actions.

5. Boss Cards: These cards represent the bosses that players will face in the boss mode of the game. Each boss has a unique set of abilities and patterns that they use to send bullets towards the players. Boss cards interact with the game by providing a unique challenge for players to overcome.

6. Action Point Tokens: These tokens represent the actions that a player can take during their turn. Players spend these tokens to use their heroine’s abilities, clear bullets, or perform other actions. Action point tokens interact with the game by limiting the number of actions a player can take each turn.

7. Life Point Tokens: These tokens represent the health of a player’s heroine. If a player loses all of their life points, they are out of the game. Life point tokens interact with the game by providing a measure of a player’s remaining health.

8. Power Up Tokens: These tokens are used to enhance a heroine’s abilities. They can be gained by clearing bullets or through certain heroine abilities. Power up tokens interact with the game by providing a way for players to increase their character’s power.

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

The game of ‘Bullet♥︎’ is an exciting, action-packed board game that is perfect for those who love strategy and competition. In this guide, we will walk through the steps to correctly set up the game, including player roles, board placement, initial resources, and the random elements that make each game unique.

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player in ‘Bullet♥︎’ takes on the role of a hero. There are eight heroes in total, each with unique abilities. Before starting the game, each player should choose a hero. If this is your first time playing, it might be best to assign heroes randomly to get a feel for the different play styles.

Step 2: Board Placement

Each hero comes with a player board showing their special abilities. Place the player boards in front of each player. Then, place the main board in the center of the table where all players can easily reach it. The main board is where the bullets will be placed during the game.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player starts with a supply of bullets (represented by tokens) and a deck of pattern cards. The number of bullets each player starts with depends on the hero they have chosen. The pattern cards are used to manipulate the bullets during the game. Shuffle your deck of pattern cards and draw a hand of five cards to start.

Step 4: Random Elements

In the game of ‘Bullet♥︎’, there are several random elements that can alter the course of play. At the start of each round, players draw bullets from the bag and place them on their board. The color and number of the bullet determine how it moves during the game. This random draw adds an element of surprise and unpredictability to each round.

Step 5: Starting the Game

Once all players have chosen their heroes, placed their boards, gathered their initial resources, and understood the random elements, you’re ready to start the game. The player who most recently watched an action or superhero movie goes first.

Now that you’re all set up, you’re ready to dive into the action-packed world of ‘Bullet♥︎’. Remember, the goal of the game is to be the last hero standing, so plan your moves carefully and use your hero’s abilities to the fullest. Happy gaming!

Game flow Round and round we go

Bullet♥︎ is a frenetic, real-time board game where players take on the role of heroines who use their unique abilities to defend Earth from various threats. The game is played in a series of rounds, each divided into several phases: the Draw Phase, the Action Phase, and the End Phase.

1. Draw Phase:

Each player begins by drawing bullets from their bag, equal to the current intensity (usually starting at 7).
They then place these bullets into their incoming area.
Players must be mindful to only draw one bullet at a time, placing it in the lowest available space in their incoming area.
Once the incoming area is filled, players move to the next phase.

2. Action Phase:

During the Action Phase, players simultaneously perform actions to manage the bullets in their play area. Actions include:

Place: Move a bullet from the incoming area to the play area, placing it in the column matching its number.
Clear: If a column in the play area has bullets arranged from top to bottom in ascending order, they can be cleared.
Pattern: Use one of the patterns from your heroine’s patterns cards to manipulate bullets in your play area.
Power Up: Discard patterns to gain stars, which can be used to trigger your heroine’s special abilities.

This phase continues in real-time until all players have cleared their incoming areas and chosen to end their action phase, or until the timer runs out.

3. End Phase:

During the End Phase, players resolve the bullets left in their play area.
Any bullet that has reached the bottom of a player’s play area is a hit and is moved to their life area, reducing their life points.
After resolving hits, players increase their intensity by the number of bullets left in their incoming area, then refill their incoming area with bullets for the next round.
If a player’s life points reach zero, they are out of the game. If all players but one have been eliminated, the surviving player is the winner.
If no player has been eliminated after four rounds, the player with the most life points remaining is the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Bullet♥︎ is a fast-paced, shoot-’em-up style board game where players control heroines tasked with defending Earth from various threats. Here is a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

1. Draw Phase:

Draw bullets: At the start of each turn, the player draws a number of bullets from their bag equal to their current intensity (starting at 1). This is the main way to get bullets into play.
Strategic choices: Players must consider what patterns they can form with their existing bullets and what new bullets they might draw. If they draw too many bullets, they may not be able to handle them all and could take damage.

2. Action Phase:

Play bullets: Players place the bullets they drew on their board. They must place bullets starting at the top row and working their way down. Bullets of the same color can be placed in the same column.
Manipulate bullets: Players can use their heroines’ unique abilities or pattern cards to manipulate the bullets on their board. These abilities can move bullets, remove them, or otherwise change the game state in the player’s favor.
Strategic choices: Players must think carefully about how to use their abilities and pattern cards. They need to manage their bullets effectively to avoid taking damage. Also, they must consider what their opponents are doing and how they can best respond.

3. End Phase:

Check for damage: If any bullets have reached the bottom row of the player’s board, they take 1 damage for each bullet. If a player’s life reaches 0, they are out of the game.
Decrease intensity: The player decreases their intensity by 1, to a minimum of 1. This makes it less likely that they will draw too many bullets on their next turn.
Strategic choices: Players must consider their health, the state of their board, and their current intensity when planning for their next turn. They might need to take risks if they are low on life, or play conservatively if they are in the lead.

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

Bullet♥︎ is a high-energy board game that requires players to continually strategize and adapt. The game ends under specific conditions, which are tied to the game’s overall victory criteria. Here’s a detailed look at those conditions and the necessary actions players must complete before final scoring.

Firstly, the game ends immediately if any player’s life drops to 0 or below. This could happen due to receiving hits from bullets that aren’t blocked. If a player’s life reaches 0, the game concludes, and that player loses, regardless of the number of points they have accumulated. All other players then calculate their scores to determine the winner.

Secondly, the game concludes when the bullet deck runs out. If this occurs, the current round is completed, and then players count their points to determine the winner. Unlike the first condition, in this scenario, all players get a chance to calculate their scores.

Actions Before Final Scoring

Before final scoring, players must complete a couple of actions:

First, players must clear their current pattern cards of any bullets. These must either be shot or cleared using the pattern. Any bullets that are not cleared count as hits against the player.
Next, players count the number of pattern cards they cleared during the game. Each cleared pattern card counts towards their final score.
Finally, players should subtract their hits (if any) from their score. A player’s final score is their total points from cleared patterns minus their hits.

Victory Conditions

There are two main victory conditions in Bullet♥︎:

The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner. If the game ended because a player’s life dropped to 0, that player cannot win, even if they have the highest score.
If there is a tie for the highest score, the player with the fewest hits wins. If there is still a tie, the player who went later in the turn order during the first round of the game is the winner.

Remember, the key to winning Bullet♥︎ is not just about surviving, but about managing your patterns and bullets effectively to maximize your score and minimize hits.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Bullet♥︎’, the scoring system is based on successfully managing your Bullets and defeating Bosses. Let’s explore this in detail.

Basic Scoring:

At the end of each round, players score points based on the number of bullets they have successfully managed to clear from their board. This is calculated as follows:

1 Point for every bullet cleared from the Sight area.
2 Points for every bullet cleared from the Incoming area.

Boss Scoring:

Points are also awarded for defeating Bosses. This is done by clearing all bullets from the Boss’s board. The points awarded are:

5 Points for each Boss defeated.

Bonus Points:

Bonus points can be earned by performing special moves or combos during the game. These include:

3 Points for performing a chain combo of 5 bullets or more.
2 Points for clearing a bullet that matches the colour of the Pattern card used.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In case of a tie, the following tie-breaking rules are applied in the order listed:

The player who has the least amount of bullets remaining on their board wins.
If the tie persists, the player who has defeated more Bosses wins.
If the tie still persists, the player who achieved the highest single-round score wins.

Remember, the player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Bullet♥︎ is a board game full of unique rules, exceptions and special circumstances. Below are some of the most critical aspects to keep in mind while playing.

1. Pattern Cards:

Each heroine has her own unique set of pattern cards. These are not interchangeable between heroines, and no player can use another’s pattern cards.
Pattern cards are used for clearing bullets from the board. They can only be used once per turn, unless a player uses a special ability to reset them.

2. Star Bullets:

Star bullets are not cleared in the same way as other bullets. Instead, they are cleared by being in a pattern that also includes a bullet of the player’s current number.
If a Star bullet reaches the bottom of the board, the player does not automatically lose. However, if there are no other bullets on the board, the player loses.

3. Bullet Clearing:

Clearing bullets is not mandatory each turn. A player can choose to not clear bullets on their turn.
If a player cannot or does not want to clear any more bullets, they must declare the end of their turn. They cannot take any other actions until their next turn.

4. Special Abilities:

Each heroine has unique special abilities. These abilities can only be used once per game, and the player must announce their use before they take effect.
Using a special ability does not count as a turn. The player can still take their normal actions after using a special ability.

5. Number of Players:

While the game is designed for up to 4 players, it can also be played with fewer. In a single-player game, the player must clear all bullets from the board to win.
In a 2-player game, players take turns as normal, but they can also choose to play cooperatively against the game itself.

6. End of the Game:

The game ends when one player has no bullets left on their board, or when all players have been hit by a bullet.
The player who clears all bullets first is the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the least number of hits is the winner.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Bullet♥︎ is an intense, fast-paced board game that involves pattern matching and strategic thinking. Here are some strategies, tips and common mistakes to avoid to optimize your gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Master the Heroines: Each heroine in Bullet♥︎ has unique abilities. Spend some time understanding each of their strengths and how best to use them in different situations. This will give you a significant advantage during the game.
Plan Ahead: It can be tempting to focus on the current round, but the best players are always thinking a few moves ahead. Try to anticipate where bullets will fall in future rounds and plan your moves accordingly.
Control the Chaos: Bullet♥︎ is a game about managing chaos. The more efficiently you can clear bullets from your board, the better. Consider using your actions to set up chains of bullets that can be cleared with a single move.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Basics: Before you jump into the game, make sure you understand the core mechanics. Spend some time reading the rulebook and watching tutorial videos online.
Start Slow: Don’t be discouraged if you find the game challenging at first. Start with the easier heroines and work your way up as you gain confidence.
Practice Makes Perfect: Like any game, the more you play Bullet♥︎, the better you’ll get. Don’t be afraid to lose – each game is an opportunity to learn and improve.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring Your Opponent: While it’s important to focus on your own board, don’t forget to keep an eye on what your opponent is doing. You can often anticipate their moves and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Overusing Abilities: While heroine abilities are powerful, using them recklessly can put you in a difficult position. Be strategic about when and how you use your abilities.
Rushing Through Rounds: Each round in Bullet♥︎ is crucial. Don’t rush through your turns – take your time to think through each move and make the best decision.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Set Up Chain Reactions: One of the most satisfying parts of Bullet♥︎ is setting up a chain reaction that clears multiple bullets at once. Look for opportunities to set these up whenever possible.
Manage Your Actions: Actions are a limited resource in Bullet♥︎. Make sure you’re using them effectively and not wasting them on unnecessary moves.
Adapt to the Situation: Bullet♥︎ is a game that can change quickly. Be flexible in your strategy and willing to adapt to the situation as it unfolds.