GOSU

About this board game

GOSU is a strategic card game for 2–4 players, with games lasting about 45 minutes. In a fantasy world ruled by goblins, players recruit armies of soldiers, heroes, magicians, and other classes before sending them into battle against rival warlords.

Five goblin clans are represented in the cards, and every goblin belongs to one of three ranks. Building an army is a careful progression: recruit level I goblins first, then add level II and level III goblins. Higher-level goblins can only be played when a lower-level goblin from the same clan supports them, encouraging players to specialize in clans whose abilities work well together.

On a turn, you may play a new goblin, activate one already in your army, draw cards, or pass. Activating goblins and drawing cards requires activation tokens, and each player starts a battle with only two. Many goblins have powers that trigger when they are recruited, attacked, removed from play, placed beside other goblins, or involved in other situations.

• Recruit across three ranks: develop your army from level I foundations to powerful level III goblins.
• Specialize by clan: combine related abilities and build a focused force.
• Manage limited actions: spend activation tokens carefully while choosing when to play, draw, activate, or pass.
• Plan between battles: cards remain in your hand from one battle to the next.

When every player has passed, the army with the greatest power wins the battle. However, committing all your forces too soon can leave you with few options in later battles. In GOSU, the first player to win three battles claims victory.