Raptor

2015

Raptor is a captivating card-driven board game where scientists and raptors face-off in a tactical battle. Utilize unique abilities and clever strategies to secure victory.

30
minutes

2 - 2
player(s)

Medium

About the game

Welcome to the thrilling world of Raptor, an immersive board game that pits scientific ingenuity against primal instinct in a battle for survival. In this game, you will either step into the shoes of a team of scientists, or assume the role of a mother Velociraptor and her offspring, each side struggling to achieve their respective goals.

The game is set on an undisclosed island, the perfect backdrop for a heart-pounding hunt. The dense jungle, laden with obstacles, provides a fitting environment for the prehistoric struggle. The richly detailed game board brings this setting to life, making you feel like you’re right there in the thick of the action.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Raptor is a board game that comes with a variety of components, each having a specific purpose and interaction with the game. The components include:

1. Game Board: This is the main component of the game, where all the action takes place. It is a modular board, consisting of six double-sided tiles, which can be arranged in different configurations for each game. The game board depicts a jungle environment, full of hiding places for the raptors and paths for the scientists.

2. Raptor and Baby Raptor Miniatures: The game includes one raptor mother miniature and five baby raptor miniatures. The raptor mother protects her babies and tries to help them escape from the scientists. The baby raptors are the targets of the scientists, who try to capture them or put them to sleep.

3. Scientist Miniatures: There are ten scientist miniatures, representing the team trying to capture the raptors. Scientists have different abilities, including putting baby raptors to sleep with tranquilizers, capturing sleeping baby raptors, and blocking the raptor mother.

4. Action Cards: Each player has a deck of nine action cards, numbered from 1 to 9. These cards determine the turn order and give players special abilities for the round. Lower numbered cards give the right to perform actions first but provide fewer action points than higher numbered cards.

5. Sleep Tokens: These tokens are used to mark baby raptors that have been put to sleep by scientists. A sleeping baby raptor can be captured by a scientist or woken up by the raptor mother.

6. Fire Tokens: Fire tokens are used by scientists to block paths and control the movement of the raptors. However, the fire can spread and become a threat to the scientists as well.

7. Lethargy Tokens: These tokens are used by scientists to slow down the raptor mother. A raptor mother with a lethargy token can perform fewer actions.

8. Fear Tokens: Fear tokens are used to scare scientists away, reducing their effectiveness. These tokens are used by the raptor mother to protect her babies.

Each component in Raptor plays a crucial role in determining the strategy and outcome of the game. The balance between the abilities of the raptor mother and the scientists, the use of action cards, and the placement of tokens all contribute to the dynamic and suspenseful nature of the game.

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

Raptor is a strategic board game that pits one player as a mother velociraptor and her babies against a team of scientists trying to capture them. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game.

Step 1: Choose Player Roles

One player assumes the role of a team of scientists. The other player steps into the role of a mother velociraptor and her babies.

Step 2: Arrange the Game Board

The game board consists of six island tiles, each of which has a specific orientation. Place the tiles in a 2×3 grid, ensuring that the arrows on the tiles are facing the correct way. Make sure the symbols on the tiles are visible.

Step 3: Place the Figures

The player playing the role of the mother velociraptor places their mother velociraptor figure on the island tile of their choosing. They then place the five baby velociraptors, one on each of the remaining tiles. The scientist player places their figures on the tiles as follows:

One scientist on the tile with the mother velociraptor.
One scientist on each of two tiles not occupied by a baby velociraptor.
Two scientists on any one tile not occupied by a dinosaur.

Step 4: Prepare the Cards

Each player shuffles their deck of nine action cards and draws three to form their starting hand. Players should keep their cards hidden from their opponent.

Step 5: Set Up Resources

Each player starts the game with a set number of resources. The scientist player starts with 10 sleep tokens, while the raptor player starts with 15 life points. These resources are used to track progress and health throughout the game.

Step 6: Random Elements

The game includes certain random elements. During setup, each player shuffles their deck of cards. The order in which the cards are drawn and played adds an element of uncertainty to the game. The placement of the figures at the start of the game can also vary, leading to different strategic possibilities.

Now that you’ve set up the game, you’re ready to start playing! Remember to refer to the rulebook for the specifics of gameplay and enjoy the strategic battles of Raptor.

Game flow Round and round we go

Raptor is an intense and strategic board game where two players compete against each other in the roles of a scientist team and a mother raptor, each aiming to meet their own objectives. The game proceeds in rounds, with each round comprising of several phases. Here’s a detailed description of the game’s structure and the actions players perform at each stage:

At the start of each round, both players simultaneously play one of their action cards.

Card Comparison: The player with the lower card number executes the action on their card. The difference in card numbers determines the number of action points for the player with the higher card number.
Action Execution: Depending on the result of the card comparison, players can perform a variety of actions. The scientist player can capture baby raptors, put the mother raptor to sleep, or call reinforcements. The raptor player can move the mother raptor or baby raptors, eat scientists, or wake up if put to sleep.
End of Round: If the mother raptor and all baby raptors are asleep or if all scientists are neutralized, the round ends. Alternatively, the round also ends if either player has no more cards to play.

After the round ends, players pick up their cards, and a new round begins with the same steps. The game continues until one player meets their winning conditions: either the mother raptor escapes with a certain number of babies (for the raptor player) or the scientists capture a certain number of baby raptors (for the scientist player).

Note: The game’s strategic depth stems from the dual-purpose cards and the need to balance immediate gains with long-term strategy. The simultaneous card play introduces an element of uncertainty and the potential for bluffing, adding another layer of excitement to the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The board game ‘Raptor’ is a strategic game that pits scientists against a mother raptor and her babies. Each side has different abilities and goals, making every turn a critical part of the game. Here’s a detailed breakdown of possible actions and strategic choices during a player’s turn.

Scientist’s turn:

As a scientist, your goal is to capture three baby raptors or sedate the mother raptor. You have four possible actions on your turn. You can:

Move a scientist: You can move one of your scientist figures. The number of spaces you can move depends on the difference in the values of the cards played by you and your opponent.
Put a baby raptor to sleep: You can put a baby raptor to sleep if your scientist is in an adjacent space. This baby raptor can then be captured on a subsequent turn.
Capture a baby raptor: If a baby raptor is asleep and your scientist is in the same space, you can capture it.
Shoot the mother raptor: If your scientist has line of sight and is within range, you can shoot the mother raptor. This reduces her action points.

Raptor’s turn:

If you’re the raptor, your goal is to ensure three of your babies escape, or you eliminate all scientists. On your turn, you have three possible actions:

Move the mother raptor: You can move the mother raptor. Like the scientist, the number of spaces you can move is determined by the difference in card values.
Move a baby raptor: Each baby raptor can move one space on your turn. They cannot move to a space with a scientist.
Attack a scientist: If the mother raptor is in the same space as a scientist, she can attack and eliminate the scientist from the game.

Strategically, it’s important to consider how you use your cards in ‘Raptor’. The cards not only determine who goes first in a round, but the difference in card values can provide extra moves or actions. So, carefully choosing which card to play, considering not only its value but also the special actions associated with it, is a crucial part of the strategy in ‘Raptor’.

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

The game of Raptor ends when one of the players fulfills specific victory conditions. The game is a strategic, asymmetrical board game where one player takes on the role of a team of scientists, and the other controls a mother raptor and her babies. The objectives are different for each player and thus the victory conditions vary accordingly.

For the Scientist Player:

Capture 3 Baby Raptors: The game ends immediately in favor of the scientist player if they succeed in capturing three baby raptors. The scientist player captures a baby raptor by moving a scientist onto its space.
Neutralize the Mother Raptor: The game also ends immediately in favor of the scientist player if they manage to shoot the mother raptor five times. Each shot puts the mother raptor to sleep, and a sleep token is placed on the mother raptor card each time she is shot. If five sleep tokens are placed, the scientist player wins.

For the Raptor Player:

Escape with 3 Baby Raptors: If the raptor player can get three baby raptors off the board via the escape spaces, they immediately win the game.
Eliminate the Scientists: If the mother raptor eliminates all of the scientists from the board, the raptor player immediately wins the game. The mother raptor can eliminate a scientist by moving into their space.

There are no actions that players must take before final scoring. The game ends immediately when one of the victory conditions is achieved and there is no need for a final scoring phase. The player who fulfills any of the above conditions first is declared the winner of the game.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Raptor’ is a unique strategic board game that pits scientists against a mother raptor and her babies. The scoring system is simple yet encourages strategic gameplay. Points are awarded based on different objectives that each side seeks to achieve.

The Scientist’s primary objective is to capture the raptor babies or put the mother raptor to sleep. In contrast, the Raptor’s goal is to safely get her babies off the board or eliminate the scientists. Each side scores points as follows:

Scientists:
1. Each captured baby raptor gives them 1 point.
2. If they manage to put the mother raptor to sleep, they score 5 points.
Raptor:
1. Each baby raptor that safely exits the board scores 1 point.
2. Eliminating all scientists from the board scores 5 points.

The game ends when one side meets their primary objective. However, if both sides meet their primary objectives in the same round, the side with the most points wins. If there is still a tie, the following tie-breaking rules are used in order:

The side that completed their primary objective first.
The side that has the most secondary objective points.
If there is still a tie, the game is declared a draw.

Therefore, ‘Raptor’ requires both strategy and quick decision-making, as players must balance their primary objectives with the opportunity to score points through secondary objectives.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Raptor is a strategic board game where one player controls a team of scientists, and the other controls a mother raptor and her five babies. While the game mechanics are generally straightforward, there are some rare or special rules and exceptions that players should be aware of.

Scientist Actions: As the scientist player, you have four different actions you can perform with your pieces. However, these actions are subject to a few special rules:

Scientists can only put a baby raptor to sleep if they are on an adjacent square and there are no other raptors (mother or baby) on nearby squares.
The action of capturing a baby raptor can only be performed if the baby is asleep. Also, the scientist needs to be on the same square as the baby raptor.
Scientists can scare a baby raptor, but only if there are no other raptors on the adjacent squares.
While scientists can shoot at the mother raptor to put her to sleep, they cannot do so if there is a baby raptor on an adjacent square. Additionally, the scientists need to be on a straight line from the mother raptor, with no obstacles in between.

Raptor Actions: The raptor player also has four different actions. The special rules for these actions are as follows:

The mother raptor can devour scientists, but only if they are on the same square or an adjacent square.
While the mother raptor can call her babies, this action only affects baby raptors that are awake. Also, the baby raptors can only move towards the mother if there are no scientists on the path.
The mother raptor can disappear and then reappear at any location on the board. However, she can’t reappear on a square with a scientist or a baby raptor. Also, she can’t perform this action if she is asleep.
Baby raptors can move, but they can’t move onto a square with a scientist. Also, they can’t move if they are asleep.

Game End Scenarios: The game can end in several ways, each with its own special rules:

The scientist wins if they manage to capture three baby raptors. However, they have to ensure that the babies are asleep before capturing them.
The scientist can also win by putting the mother raptor to sleep using five sleep tokens.
The raptor wins if three baby raptors escape off the board. However, the babies can only escape from the edge of the board and only if there are no scientists on the escape path.
The raptor can also win by eliminating all scientists from the board.

These rules, exceptions, and clarifications can greatly influence the strategies used by both players during the game.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

‘Raptor’ is an exciting board game that requires strategic thinking and careful planning. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

As the scientist, try to put the raptor to sleep as much as possible. This allows you to move more freely and capture baby raptors without interruption.
As the raptor, it’s better to keep your babies close together. This makes it harder for the scientist to capture them and provides you with better opportunities to protect them.
Utilize your cards wisely. Both the raptor and the scientist have powerful cards that can significantly influence the game if used at the right time.

Beginner Tips:

Always remember the objectives of the game. As the scientist, your job is to neutralize the mother raptor or capture baby raptors. As the raptor, you need to protect your babies or eliminate the scientists.
Don’t be afraid to use your high value cards early in the game. These can give you a significant advantage and help you gain control of the board.
Pay attention to your opponent’s actions. By understanding their strategy, you can anticipate their moves and counter them effectively.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don’t forget about the mother raptor’s ability to scare scientists. This is a powerful tool that can disrupt the scientist’s plans and buy you some time.
Avoid focusing too much on one strategy. The game is dynamic and requires you to adapt to the current situation. If your initial strategy isn’t working, don’t hesitate to change it.
Don’t underestimate the importance of positioning. Whether you’re playing as the scientist or the raptor, the position of your pieces on the board can have a big impact on the game.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Try to control the center of the board. This gives you more options for movement and makes it more difficult for your opponent to bypass your pieces.
Make use of all your actions. Each turn, you have a certain number of actions based on the difference between your card and your opponent’s card. Try to use all these actions to their fullest extent, whether it’s moving, attacking, or using a special ability.
Think ahead. Try to plan your moves a few turns in advance. This will allow you to set up traps and strategies, and respond more effectively to your opponent’s actions.