Junk Art

2016

Junk Art is a unique board game where players craft artistic structures from colorful components. Challenge your creativity and strategy to build the tallest masterpiece!

30
minutes

2 - 6
player(s)

Medium Light

About the game

Welcome to the wonderful world of Junk Art, a game where creativity meets strategy! This game offers a unique blend of imaginative construction and competitive play, perfect for those who enjoy a challenge with a splash of creativity.

The premise of Junk Art is delightfully simple. Players are budding artists who, instead of traditional materials, use ‘junk’ to create their masterpieces. You might find yourself building a statue from discarded plumbing parts or a makeshift chandelier from old bicycle parts. The setting is as varied as the components, ranging from the bustling streets of New York to the vibrant city of Tokyo. Each city comes with its own rules and challenges, making every game an entirely new experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Junk Art is a fun and creative board game that involves building structures with various shapes. There are many components included in the game, each serving a unique purpose.

1. Wooden Pieces: (60 Pieces)

These are the main components of the game. The wooden pieces come in different shapes and colours (15 shapes, 4 of each).
Players use these pieces to construct their art based on the rules of each city (game round).

2. Player Boards: (4 Boards)

Each player gets a board that serves as the base for their structure.
It is where players will stack their wooden pieces.

3. Junk Art Cards: (60 Cards)

These cards determine which wooden piece a player must use on their turn.
Each card represents one of the wooden pieces, matched by shape and colour.

4. City Cards: (12 Cards)

Each city card represents a city that has its own unique rules and scoring system.
Each round, players will draw and play a city card, which will dictate the rules for that round.

5. F.A.R.T. Cards: (4 Cards)

These are rule summary cards (F.A.R.T. stands for “Frequently Answered Rules Topics”)
They provide a quick reference for players during the game.

6. Measuring Tape:

This is used to measure the height of the structures.
Some city cards require the structures to be a certain height for scoring.

7. Tokens: (15 Tokens)

These are used to keep track of a player’s score.
After each round, players will receive tokens based on their performance.

Each of these components interacts with the game differently, but all are integral to the overall structure and outcome of the game. The unique combination of components allows for a different game experience each time ‘Junk Art’ is played.

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

Junk Art is a fun and creative board game that challenges players to create sculptures from various pieces. Setting up the game is simple and straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Player Roles

There are no specific roles in Junk Art. Each player is an artist trying to create a unique sculpture. The player who can build the tallest sculpture that doesn’t fall over wins the game.

Step 2: Board Placement

Each player receives a base piece. This is the starting point of their sculpture. All players should place their base piece on a flat surface within their reach.

Step 3: Initial Resources

The game comes with many different pieces of various shapes, sizes and colors. These pieces represent the “junk” that players will use to create their sculptures. All of these pieces should be placed in the center of the table within reach of all players. This forms the “junk pile”.

Step 4: Card Distribution

The game comes with a deck of cards. Each card has a picture of a piece from the junk pile on it. Shuffle the deck and deal three cards to each player. Players should keep their cards hidden from other players.

Step 5: Random Elements

The objective of the game is to build a sculpture by stacking pieces from the junk pile. However, the order in which players can add pieces to their sculpture is determined by the cards they have in their hand. On their turn, a player can choose one of their cards to play and adds the corresponding piece from the junk pile to their sculpture. After the piece has been added, the player discards the card and draws a new one from the deck.

Step 6: Start the Game

After all the steps above have been completed, the game can begin. The youngest player goes first. On their turn, a player must choose a card from their hand to play, add the corresponding piece to their sculpture, discard the card, and draw a new one. The game continues in this way until all pieces from the junk pile have been used or only one player has their sculpture remaining.

Remember, the player who builds the tallest sculpture that doesn’t fall over wins the game! Enjoy playing Junk Art!

Game flow Round and round we go

Junk Art is a creative and competitive board game where players build structures using peculiar pieces. The game has a unique structure and is divided into different cities, each with its own rules and objectives.

The game starts with each player receiving a base piece and 10 random junk pieces. The game then proceeds to the city phase.

City Phase: The top city card is flipped from the deck, and the rules of that city are followed for the round. There are three types of cities:

Faid: Players all play simultaneously. They flip their top card and add the piece shown to their structure.
Indianapolis: Players take turns adding a piece to their structure, based on the card they draw. If they can’t place the piece, they must remove a piece from their structure and lose points.
Tokyo: Players take turns choosing a piece for another player to add to their structure. The goal is to force other players to topple their structures.

These city phases continue until all the city cards have been used. After each city phase, points are awarded based on the specific city rules, and players can also lose points if their structure falls apart.

End of the Game: After all city cards have been played and points have been awarded, the game ends. The player with the most points is declared the winner.

Throughout the game, players must balance the dual objectives of building a stable structure and gaining points. With every move, players need to consider the current city’s rules, the pieces they have available, and the structures their opponents are building.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

‘Junk Art’ is a creative and strategic board game where players build their own sculptures using various junk pieces. The game proceeds in turns, and each player’s turn involves a sequence of steps that can potentially change the structure of the game. Here is a detailed breakdown of a player’s turn in ‘Junk Art’:

Draw a Card: The player begins their turn by drawing a card from their deck. This card will depict a specific junk piece that the player must add to their sculpture. The card drawn can influence the player’s strategy as they need to think about the best position for the new piece.
Choose a Junk Piece: After drawing a card, the player picks up the respective junk piece from the pile of available pieces. Each piece is unique in shape, size, and color, and will require different placement strategies.
Place the Junk Piece: The player then places the junk piece onto their sculpture. They need to be careful and strategic about the placement as the piece should not topple the entire structure. The player can place the piece anywhere on their sculpture, but it must touch at least one other piece.
Check for Toppling: After placing the piece, the player checks to see if any pieces fall off their sculpture. If any pieces fall off, they are out of the game. This encourages players to think strategically and carefully about their placements.
End of Turn: Once the player has successfully added a piece to their sculpture and no pieces have fallen off, their turn ends. The next player then draws a card and the cycle continues.

In terms of strategic choices, players need to weigh the risk and reward of their moves. For instance, placing a larger piece might provide a sturdy base for future pieces, but it could also make the structure unstable. Similarly, a player might choose a risky move to add more height to their sculpture, knowing that a taller sculpture can garner more points at the end of the game. Thus, every decision a player makes in ‘Junk Art’ can significantly affect the course of the game.

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

Junk Art is a unique board game that ends when certain conditions are met. These conditions differ based on the city (game variant) being played. However, there are some common rules for ending the game and determining the winner.

Firstly, players need to remember that their objective is to construct an artwork from the random pieces available, following the rules of the particular city they are playing in. The game ends in one of the following situations:

A player has built a structure that matches the height requirement in the rules.
A player has used all of their pieces in their structure.
All players have had their structures topple over, ending the round.

Once the game ends, players need to follow certain steps before final scoring:

Count the number of pieces in your structure: Each player counts the number of pieces they have successfully placed in their structure. These contribute to the player’s final score.
Apply city-specific rules: Every city has specific scoring rules. For example, in some cities, players receive additional points for having the tallest structure or for using certain types of pieces.
Penalties: If any pieces have fallen off a player’s structure during the game, these are counted as penalties and points are deducted from the player’s final score accordingly.

The player with the highest final score, after all modifications, is declared the winner of the game. In case of a tie, the player who has used the most pieces in their structure wins. If there is still a tie, the player who caused the game to end is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Junk Art’, scoring is a crucial element. The player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner. Points are awarded differently depending on the city in which the players are playing.

Scoring in New York:

Upon completion of each round, the player with the tallest structure is awarded 3 points.
The player with the second tallest structure gets 2 points.
The player with the third tallest structure is awarded 1 point.

Scoring in Indianapolis:

Every player receives 1 point for each piece used in their structure.
Additionally, players get 3 extra points if they have the tallest structure at the end of the round.

Scoring in Tokyo:

In Tokyo, players are awarded points based on the number of pieces in their structure when it falls. The first player to have their structure fall gets 2 points, the second gets 4 points, and the third gets 6 points.
The last player standing with an un-fallen structure gets 0 points.

In case of a tie at the end of the game, the tie-breaker rules are as follows:

The player who won the most cities is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player who placed the most pieces in the final city is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player who did not trigger the end of the game in the final city is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player who was first in player order in the final city is the winner.

These rules ensure a dynamic and competitive gameplay in ‘Junk Art’, making every city a unique challenge.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Junk Art is an engaging and innovative board game that incorporates elements of creativity and strategy. Though the core rules are generally straightforward, there are several special rules, exceptions, and necessary clarifications that players should be aware of to ensure a smooth and enjoyable game.

Special Rules:

When playing in Tokyo, if two or more players have the same number of fans, the player with the tallest structure wins.
In New York, if a player knocks over another player’s structure, the player who caused the accident must give one of their fans to the affected player.
In a Paris game, if a player’s structure falls over, they are not out of the game. Instead, they rebuild their structure and continue playing with the next card.

Exceptions:

When playing in Indianapolis, the game does not end when the deck runs out. Instead, players continue playing until only one player has a standing structure.
In Amsterdam, a player cannot play a piece that causes the structure to exceed the height of the windmill. If all pieces in a player’s hand would cause the structure to exceed this height, the player skips their turn.

Rule Clarifications:

When a player’s structure falls over, the player should count the number of pieces that fell off the base, not the number of pieces that fell off the structure.
In Paris, if a player’s structure falls over, they should rebuild their structure using the same pieces, not new ones.
In Amsterdam, if a player cannot play a piece without exceeding the height of the windmill, the player should skip their turn, not draw a new piece.

By understanding these special rules, exceptions, and clarifications, players can fully enjoy the creative and strategic challenges that Junk Art offers.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies

Always pay close attention to your base. A solid foundation can make or break your structure in Junk Art.
Try to place heavier pieces lower in your structure. This will help to maintain balance and prevent unexpected toppling.
Pay attention to the shape and size of your upcoming pieces. Planning ahead can help you decide the best place to put them on your structure.

Beginner Tips

Start with simple structures. It’s tempting to try and create elaborate designs, but it’s best to start with simple shapes and gradually build up as you gain more confidence.
Take your time. Rushing can cause you to make mistakes. Remember, the goal is to keep your structure standing!
Learn from your mistakes. Every time your structure falls, try to understand why it happened and how you can prevent it in the future.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not considering the weight distribution. Placing heavy pieces on top or on one side can quickly unbalance your structure.
Ignoring the shape of the pieces. Each piece in Junk Art is unique, and their shapes can greatly affect the balance of your structure.
Getting too competitive. Remember, it’s just a game! The goal is to have fun, not necessarily to win.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Take turns slowly. This allows everyone to think through their moves and reduces the chances of knocking over their structure.
Try different strategies. Experiment with different placement techniques and see what works best for you.
Play with different numbers of people. The game changes significantly with different numbers of players, so try it with different group sizes to see how the strategies change.