SCOUT

2019

Immerse yourself in SCOUT, a captivating ladder-climbing game of strategy and wit! Play or scout with dual-indexed cards and outsmart your opponents to gather the most points.

15
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

Medium Light

About the game

SCOUT is an enthralling board game that transports you to the heart of an uncharted wilderness, where strategy, decision-making, and a bit of luck determine your fate as an adventurous explorer.

In the realm of SCOUT, you are not just a player but an intrepid scout who is entrusted with the task of navigating through an expansive, unpredictable landscape filled with captivating flora and fauna, treacherous terrains, and unseen challenges. Your mission is to establish new trails, discover hidden landmarks, and survive the unpredictability of the wild.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The ‘SCOUT’ board game includes several components, each with a unique role in facilitating the gameplay. Here’s a detailed description of each:

1. Game Board

The game board is a colorful, detailed map where the gameplay takes place. It features different terrains and paths that players’ scouts must traverse. The board also marks special locations where players can accomplish specific tasks or face particular challenges.

2. Scout Tokens

Scout Tokens represent the players in the game. Each player has a token, which they move around the board according to the dice roll. The position of the tokens on the board can influence the players’ strategy and the game’s outcome.

3. Dice

The game includes a six-sided dice. Players roll the dice to determine the number of spaces their Scout Tokens move on the game board. The dice add an element of chance to the game, ensuring that outcomes are unpredictable and exciting.

4. Challenge Cards

Challenge Cards are drawn when a player lands on a specific location on the board. These cards present a task or a challenge that the player must overcome. Successfully completing a challenge can offer rewards, while failing may lead to penalties.

5. Resource Cards

Resource Cards represent various tools and supplies that players can collect during the game. These resources can aid players in overcoming challenges or achieving their objectives more efficiently.

6. Objective Cards

At the start of the game, each player receives an Objective Card. This card outlines a unique goal that the player must work towards. The first player to achieve their objective wins the game.

7. Rulebook

The Rulebook provides detailed instructions on how to play the game. It explains the purpose of each component, the sequence of gameplay, and the conditions for winning. It is essential for players to refer to the rulebook to resolve any disputes that arise during the game.

The interaction between these components creates a dynamic, strategic, and fun gameplay experience. Players must navigate the game board, face challenges, gather resources, and strive to achieve their objectives — all while contending with the unpredictability of the dice and the strategies of their opponents.

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

SCOUT is an engaging board game that tests the players’ strategy and decision-making skills. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up ‘SCOUT’.

Step 1: Arrange the Board

Unfold the game board and place it in the center of the playing area. Make sure it’s accessible to all players. The board represents the terrain that the scouts will be exploring. Each square has different terrain types, such as forests, mountains, and rivers.

Step 2: Choose Player Roles

Each player chooses a role from the available options: Scout Leader, Mapper, Tracker, or Quartermaster. Each role has unique abilities that will influence the strategy of the game.

Scout Leader: The Scout Leader is responsible for making final decisions and keeping the team together.
Mapper: The Mapper has the power to predict the terrain type of the next square.
Tracker: The Tracker can trace back the team’s steps, allowing them to revisit any previously explored squares.
Quartermaster: The Quartermaster is in charge of managing resources and distributing them wisely among the team.

Step 3: Distribute Initial Resources

Each player starts with a set amount of resources. These resources include food, water, and tools, which are essential for survival and progress in the game. The Quartermaster will manage these resources for the team.

Step 4: Shuffle the Event Cards

Shuffle the event cards and place them face down next to the game board. These cards introduce random elements to the game, such as weather changes, animal encounters, or finding extra resources. They can either help or hinder the team’s progress, depending on the situation.

Step 5: Place the Scout Tokens

Each player places their scout token on the starting square of the board. The aim is to navigate the terrain, overcome challenges, and reach the destination square before running out of resources.

With these steps, you’re all set to start playing SCOUT. Remember, teamwork and strategic decision-making are key to winning the game. Good luck!

Game flow Round and round we go

The game of ‘SCOUT’ is an engaging and strategic board game that involves scouting territories, earning resources, and overcoming challenges. It’s a game that requires intelligence, strategy, and a bit of luck to win.

The game progresses in a series of rounds. Each round is divided into three main stages: Scouting stage, Action stage, and Resource Collection stage.

Scouting Stage

The game begins with the Scouting stage. During this stage:

Each player rolls a die to determine their scouting range for the round. The number rolled indicates the number of territories they can scout.
Players choose their territories by placing their scout markers on the game board within their scouting range.
Players may encounter challenges or rewards in the territories they scout. These are represented by cards drawn from the territory deck.

Action Stage

After scouting, the game proceeds to the Action stage. In this stage:

Players can perform one of three actions: claim a territory, trade resources, or overcome a challenge.
To claim a territory, players must expend resources equal to the territory’s cost. The territory then becomes part of their domain and can generate resources in future rounds.
Trading involves exchanging resources with other players. The terms of the trade are negotiated between the involved players.
Overcoming a challenge involves using resources or abilities to remove a challenge card from a territory. Successfully overcoming challenges often provides rewards.

Resource Collection Stage

The final stage of each round is the Resource Collection stage. Here:

Players collect resources from the territories they’ve claimed. The amount and type of resources collected depend on the specifics of each territory.
Collected resources are crucial for claiming territories and overcoming challenges in future rounds.

The game continues in this way, round by round, until one player meets the victory condition, such as claiming a certain number of territories or accumulating a certain amount of resources. The specifics of the victory condition can vary depending on the rules established at the beginning of the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the board game ‘SCOUT’, players navigate through a series of challenges and strategic decisions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

Start of Turn: At the beginning of their turn, a player must draw a card from the deck. This will either be a Scout, a Mission, or a Challenge card.

Scout Card: Scout cards represent different characters with unique abilities. Players can use these abilities to their advantage throughout the game.
Mission Card: Mission cards present certain tasks that players must complete. Successfully completing missions can provide players with points or other benefits.
Challenge Card: Challenge cards introduce various obstacles or events that players must overcome. These challenges can affect all players, not just the one who drew the card.

Action Phase: After drawing a card, the player enters the action phase. During this phase, a player can perform several actions:

Play a Scout: A player can place a Scout card from their hand onto the board. Each player can only have a limited number of Scouts in play at any given time.
Initiate a Mission: If a player has a Mission card, they can start the mission by placing the card face up in front of them. The player must then fulfill the mission’s requirements in subsequent turns.
Use a Scout Ability: If a player has a Scout card in play, they can use its ability. These abilities can have various effects, such as drawing extra cards, moving Scouts, or affecting other players.
Overcome a Challenge: If a player has a Challenge card, they can attempt to overcome it. This usually involves meeting certain requirements or making a successful roll of the dice.

End of Turn: After performing their actions, the player’s turn ends. They must discard down to their hand limit if necessary, and then the next player begins their turn.

Through strategic use of Scout abilities and careful navigation of Missions and Challenges, players can gain an edge over their opponents. However, the unpredictable nature of the draw deck adds a level of uncertainty that keeps the game exciting and unpredictable.

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

The game of ‘SCOUT’ ends when any player has achieved one of the several victory conditions. These victory conditions are designed to test the strategic and tactical abilities of the players, and can be achieved through a variety of means within the game.

Victory Conditions

Occupation Victory: A player achieves an Occupation Victory if they successfully have their scout units occupy all the terrains on the game board. They must maintain this occupation uninterrupted until the start of their next turn to claim victory.
Elimination Victory: A player achieves an Elimination Victory if they successfully eliminate all of the opposing player’s scout units from the game board. This involves tactical positioning and strategic use of the scout unit’s abilities.
Points Victory: A player achieves a Points Victory if they amass a set number of victory points, as determined by the game rules, before any other player. Victory points can be earned through a variety of actions, such as occupying certain terrains, eliminating opponent units, or achieving specific objectives.

End of Game Actions

Once a player has achieved a victory condition, they must declare it at the start of their next turn. At this point, all players should stop playing and begin the process of final scoring.

The victorious player should confirm their victory condition, showing evidence of their achievement (i.e., demonstrating that they have occupied all terrains, eliminated all opposing scout units, or amassed the required number of victory points).
Other players should confirm the victorious player’s claim. If there are any disputes, players should reference the game rules to resolve them.
If the victory condition is confirmed, all players should tally their final scores. This includes any remaining victory points, as well as bonuses for any unachieved objectives or remaining resources as dictated by the game rules.
The player with the highest score is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player who achieved their victory condition first is the winner.

It’s important to note that all players should respect the outcomes of the game, and treat each other with sportsmanship both during and after the game.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

SCOUT is an exciting board game where players use their cards to explore, track and score points. The scoring system in SCOUT is as follows:

Main Scoring:

For each Trail Card successfully played, the player scores 1 point.
For each Scout Badge earned by completing tasks, the player scores 3 points.
For each set of Wildlife Cards collected, the player scores 5 points. A set consists of one bird, one insect, and one mammal card.

Bonus Scoring:

If a player successfully plays all their Trail Cards before anyone else, they receive a 5-point bonus.
If a player collects more than one set of Wildlife Cards, they receive a 2-point bonus for each additional set.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

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

The player who has collected the most Scout Badges wins.
If still tied, the player who has played the most Trail Cards wins.
Finally, if there is still a tie, the player who finished playing their Trail Cards first wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘SCOUT’ is a challenging board game that tests the players’ strategic thinking and planning skills. While the game rules are generally straightforward, there are a few rare or special rules, exceptions, and important rule clarifications that players should be aware of to fully enjoy the game.

1. The ‘SCOUT’ Rule

In ‘SCOUT’, one of the distinctive rules is the ‘SCOUT’ rule. This rule allows a player to move their piece to any location on the board, provided that the location is not occupied by another player’s piece. However, this rule can only be used once per game, making it a strategic decision when to use it.

2. The ‘Blockade’ Rule

The ‘Blockade’ rule is another special rule in ‘SCOUT’. If a player has all of their pieces in a row, they can declare a ‘Blockade’. This prevents any other player from passing through or landing on any of the spaces occupied by the blockade for one round. However, the player who declares a blockade cannot move their pieces during their next turn.

3. Exceptions to Normal Movement

While most of the time, pieces move according to the number rolled on the dice, there are a few exceptions:

A player cannot move their piece to a space that is already occupied by another one of their own pieces.
A piece cannot be moved off the board or onto a space that is blocked by a ‘Blockade’.
If a player rolls a double, they can move any one piece the total of the two dice, rather than moving two pieces separately.

4. Rule Clarifications

There are also a few important rule clarifications that should be noted:

When using the ‘SCOUT’ rule, the player must announce that they are using it before they move their piece.
The ‘Blockade’ can only be maintained for one round. At the start of the blocker’s next turn, they must move at least one piece, breaking the blockade.
If a player cannot make a legal move with the number rolled on the dice, they lose their turn.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for ‘SCOUT’:

Understanding your opponents and their strategies is vital. Pay attention to their moves and try to predict their next ones. This will help you plan your actions accordingly.
Try to control the center of the board as it provides the most options for movement. This can give you a strategic advantage over your opponents.
Don’t use your scouts too early in the game. They are valuable resources and can be used strategically in the later stages of the game.

Beginner Tips for ‘SCOUT’:

Learn the rules thoroughly. Understand the game mechanics and how each piece moves and interacts with others.
Start by focusing on defense. It’s easier to learn how to protect your own pieces before learning how to attack effectively.
Play with experienced players. This is the fastest way to improve your skills and understanding of the game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in ‘SCOUT’:

Don’t rush your moves. Take your time to think about your strategy and possible outcomes of your actions.
Avoid using all your scouts at once. It’s crucial to have a balanced approach in deploying your pieces.
Never ignore your opponent’s actions. Always consider their strategy and anticipate their moves.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in ‘SCOUT’:

Practice regularly. Like any other board game, the more you play, the better you’ll become.
Explore different strategies. Don’t stick to one strategy. Experiment with different tactics to find the one that works best for you.
Stay focused during the game. Avoid distractions and keep your mind on the game.