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| | __NOTOC__ | | __NOTOC__ |
| | | | |
| | + | Tagline: Hold together, learn what matters, become valuable, extend the horizon. |
| | | | |
| − | '''Players:''' 2–5
| + | What the game is “about” in play terms |
| − | '''Play Time:''' 60–90 minutes
| + | Players are building coherent patterns under pressure. Drift is always rising. You can’t win by hoarding, because the biggest point sources require reciprocity and stewardship projects that demand group stability. You also can’t win by only helping, because you still need a functioning self: stable regulation, trained value signals, a workable model of the world, and a coherent identity arc. |
| − | '''Age:''' 14+
| |
| | | | |
| − | ''Life Builds Meaning'' is a three-Act engine-building game with a Splendor-style market. Players begin as fragile patterns competing for scarce resources. As engines mature, players shift from competitive survival to negotiated interdependence, and finally to a fully cooperative effort to stabilize Civilization against escalating crises.
| + | Player count, time, win condition |
| | + | Players: 2–5 |
| | + | Time: 60–90 minutes |
| | + | End of game triggers (first one that happens): |
| | + | A) Any player completes a Layer 10 Stewardship project, or |
| | + | B) The World Drift marker reaches the final space (the table “survives” but scores are capped and harsh), or |
| | + | C) The Project deck runs out (civilization has “spent its runway”). |
| | + | Winner: Highest Meaning Score. |
| | | | |
| − | Early selfish strength can become late weakness. Early sacrifice can become structural resilience. The system becomes the organism.
| + | Components (low text, icon-driven) |
| | + | A. Main board (1) |
| | + | Contains: |
| | + | • World Drift track (0–12) |
| | + | • World Vital Signals (3 tracks): Energy Flow, Trust, Habitat (each 0–6) |
| | + | • Shared Market row (6 slots) for Pattern Cards |
| | + | • Project row (3 slots) for Project Tiles |
| | + | • Event row (1 slot) for the current World Event |
| | + | • Token bank spaces |
| | | | |
| − | == The Three Acts ==
| + | B. Tokens (use distinct shapes or colors, but the game works even if you only have icons) |
| − | * '''Act One asks: How much do I take?''' (Persist, Layers 1–4, competitive)
| + | • E (Energy) |
| − | * '''Act Two asks: How much do I trust?''' (Connect, Layers 5–8, mixed)
| + | • R (Regulation) |
| − | * '''Act Three asks: Was it enough?''' (Leave Something Behind, Layers 9–10, cooperative)
| + | • M (Model) |
| | + | • V (Value) |
| | + | • B (Bond) |
| | + | • P (Repair) |
| | + | • L (Legacy) |
| | + | • D (Drift) marker (one on track, plus small D tokens as “local stress”) |
| | | | |
| − | There is no single winner. The final score belongs to the group.
| + | C. Pattern Cards (90 cards) |
| | + | Each card has: |
| | + | • Layer icon (1–10) |
| | + | • Cost (paid with tokens) |
| | + | • Two to four icons in its “outputs” (multi-values) |
| | + | • One “tag” icon (one of: Boundary, Balance, Form, Membership, Prediction, Reinforcement, Now, Culture, Story, Stewardship) |
| | + | No rules text, just icons. |
| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | D. Project Tiles (24 tiles) |
| | + | Big table objectives. Each shows: |
| | + | • Required contributions (icons only) |
| | + | • Group effect (improves a World Vital Signal or reduces Drift) |
| | + | • Credit slots (to track who contributed what) |
| | + | • Scoring (points plus a “layer bonus”) |
| | | | |
| − | = Components =
| + | E. World Event Cards (30 cards) |
| | + | Each shows: |
| | + | • A Drift increase (number) |
| | + | • A “pressure” type icon (Scarcity, Threat, Uncertainty, Conflict, Damage) |
| | + | • A mitigation condition (icons) that, if met by the table this round, reduces or cancels the Drift increase |
| | | | |
| − | == Tokens ==
| + | F. Role Tiles (10 tiles, optional but recommended) |
| − | * '''Energy''' tokens (at least 40), used to buy cards and pay for actions
| + | Light asymmetry, no text. Each role has: |
| − | * '''Coherence''' tokens (at least 25), used as victory capacity and becomes shared in Act Three
| + | • One passive perk icon (discount, extra draw, conversion, etc.) |
| | + | • One “care bias” icon that rewards a scoring style (Self, Community, Horizon) |
| | | | |
| − | == Cards ==
| + | G. Player mats (1 per player) |
| − | * '''Market Cards''' (the engine cards), divided into 3 tiers:
| + | Tracks: |
| − | ** Tier 1 (Foundation) deck
| + | • Coherence (0–10) |
| − | ** Tier 2 (Systems) deck
| + | • Social Standing (0–10) |
| − | ** Tier 3 (Institutions) deck
| + | • Horizon (0–10) |
| − | * '''Entropy Deck''' (Act One events)
| + | Also has 6 tableau slots (Pattern stacks) with layer numbers printed so players naturally build upward. |
| − | * '''Social Deck''' (Act Two events)
| |
| − | * '''Crisis Deck''' (Act Three events)
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| | | | |
| − | == Boards / Tracks ==
| + | Core concepts mapped to play (so it teaches without lecturing) |
| − | * Player boards (or paper):
| + | Layer 1–2 (Coherence and regulation) are your survival platform. In game: Coherence track and Regulation tokens. |
| − | ** Stability track (0–10)
| + | Layer 5–6 (Model + Value learning) are your engine quality. In game: M and V tokens plus Pattern combos. |
| − | ** Connection track (0–6)
| + | Layer 8 (Social meaning) is the “two-way survival relationship.” In game: Bond tokens, Trust track, shared projects with contribution credit. |
| − | ** Purpose track (0–6)
| + | Layer 9–10 (Narrative + Stewardship) are the big points. In game: Legacy tokens and Stewardship projects that require the world not to collapse. |
| − | * Civilization board (or paper) with 4 tracks (0–10):
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| − | ** Infrastructure
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| − | ** Knowledge
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| − | ** Cohesion
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| − | ** Stewardship
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| | | | |
| − | == Markers ==
| + | Setup |
| − | * Round marker (1–10)
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| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | Place the board, set World Drift to 3 (a little drift is already present). |
| | | | |
| − | = Core Idea (Plain Language) =
| + | Set World Vital Signals: Energy Flow 3, Trust 3, Habitat 3. |
| − | You buy permanent engine cards from a visible market. Cards generate resources each round and reduce costs, like Splendor. Early game is competitive and selfish. Mid game introduces trading and commitments. Late game converts personal Coherence into a shared pool and the group fights the Crisis deck together.
| |
| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | Shuffle Pattern deck. Deal 6 Pattern cards face up into the Market row. |
| | | | |
| − | = Setup =
| + | Shuffle Project tiles. Reveal 3 into the Project row. |
| | | | |
| − | # Set Civilization tracks to 3 each: Infrastructure 3, Knowledge 3, Cohesion 3, Stewardship 3.
| + | Shuffle World Events. Reveal 1 into the Event slot. |
| − | # Each player starts with:
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| − | #* Stability 7
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| − | #* Connection 0
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| − | #* Purpose 1
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| − | #* Energy 2
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| − | #* Coherence 0
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| − | # Prepare market:
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| − | #* Shuffle Tier 1 deck, reveal 4 cards face-up.
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| − | #* Shuffle Tier 2 deck, reveal 4 cards face-up.
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| − | #* Shuffle Tier 3 deck, reveal 4 cards face-up.
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| − | # Place Entropy deck, Social deck, Crisis deck face-down.
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| − | # Set Round marker to 1.
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| − | # Choose first player.
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| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | Each player takes a mat, starts with: E=2, R=1, and Coherence=4, Social Standing=2, Horizon=1. |
| | | | |
| − | = Game Length and Acts =
| + | Give each player 1 Role tile (random or draft). |
| | | | |
| − | The game lasts 10 rounds total.
| + | Choose starting player. |
| | | | |
| − | * Act One (Persist): Rounds 1–4
| + | Turn structure (round-based, like a clean engine builder) |
| − | * Act Two (Connect): Rounds 5–7
| + | Each round has five phases: |
| − | * Act Three (Leave Something Behind): Rounds 8–10
| |
| | | | |
| − | At the end of each round, the game reveals one event card for the current Act (Entropy, Social, or Crisis).
| + | Phase A: World Event (pressure enters) |
| | + | Resolve the current Event: |
| | + | • Add its Drift value to the World Drift track unless mitigated this round (mitigation is checked in Phase D). |
| | + | • Place any “local stress” D tokens indicated by the event onto the board (these are temporary burdens that make costs higher until repaired). |
| | | | |
| − | ---- | + | Phase B: Market Refresh |
| | + | Refill Market to 6 face-up Pattern cards if any were purchased last round. |
| | | | |
| − | = The Market (Splendor-Style) =
| + | Phase C: Player Turns (in clockwise order) |
| | + | On your turn, take exactly 2 actions, chosen from: |
| | | | |
| − | There are always 4 face-up cards in each tier row (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3).
| + | Action 1: Acquire Resources |
| | + | Take 2 tokens total from the bank, but they must be from two different types (example: E + B). |
| | + | Constraint: You can’t take L directly with this action. Legacy must be earned. |
| | | | |
| − | When a card is bought:
| + | Action 2: Buy a Pattern Card (engine building) |
| − | * The buyer takes the card into their tableau (permanent engine).
| + | Pay its cost. Place it into the corresponding Layer slot on your mat. |
| − | * Immediately reveal the top card of that tier deck to refill the empty slot.
| + | Immediate gain: take the card’s output icons as tokens. |
| | + | Ongoing benefit: each Pattern card also permanently reduces the cost of future cards that share its tag icon (Boundary, Balance, Form, etc.) by 1 of the matching token type shown on the card (simple: tag discounts). |
| | | | |
| − | You may buy from any tier if you can pay the cost.
| + | Action 3: Contribute to a Project (build together, score individually) |
| | + | Pay any subset of the Project’s required icons and place your contribution markers on the Project’s credit slots. |
| | + | When a Project is completed, everyone gets its world benefit, but points are distributed based on contribution credit. |
| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | Action 4: Repair (fight drift locally) |
| | + | Spend P (Repair) or convert E→P at a poor rate (2E for 1P). Remove local D tokens from the board or reduce World Drift by 1 (your choice). |
| | + | This is the “life resists drift” move. |
| | | | |
| − | = Market Cards (What They Do) =
| + | Action 5: Social Touchpoint (reciprocity without negotiation-heavy play) |
| | + | Choose one: |
| | + | • Give 1 token to another player, gain +1 Social Standing and take 1 B (Bond). |
| | + | • Or request 1 token from another player; if they agree, both players gain 1 B (Bond). |
| | + | No forced trades, no haggling required. It’s a clean “reciprocity channel.” |
| | | | |
| − | All Market cards have:
| + | Phase D: Stability Check (the table pays the bill) |
| − | * '''Tier''' (1/2/3)
| + | Now check the Event’s mitigation condition. The table can collectively spend tokens into a shared mitigation pool. If the icons match the Event’s mitigation, reduce this round’s Event Drift by the listed amount (often all of it). |
| − | * '''Cost''' (Energy cost, sometimes with a requirement)
| + | Then apply World Vital Signals: |
| − | * '''Passive Bonus''' (permanent discount or permanent effect)
| + | • If Energy Flow is low (0–1), everyone loses 1 Coherence. |
| − | * '''Production''' (what the card generates at end of each round)
| + | • If Trust is low (0–1), Social Touchpoint gives no Standing this round. |
| − | * Sometimes '''Legacy Points''' (these matter in Act Three)
| + | • If Habitat is low (0–1), Project contributions cost +1 extra E each. |
| | | | |
| − | == Passive Bonuses (Simple) ==
| + | Phase E: Scoring Tick (meaning shows up as a signal) |
| − | A Market card provides one permanent bonus of one of these types:
| + | Each player gains small “Meaning ticks” as signals, not huge endgame math: |
| | + | • If your Coherence is 7+, gain +1 point. (regulated enough to care) |
| | + | • If your Social Standing is 6+ and you have at least 1 B, gain +1 point. (membership) |
| | + | • If your Horizon is 5+, gain +1 point. (longer arc) |
| | + | Then reveal the next World Event. |
| | | | |
| − | * '''Discount''' (Reduce cost of buying future cards by 1, once per purchase)
| + | How you actually build “Life Builds Meaning” in your tableau |
| − | * '''Shield''' (Reduce Stability loss from Events by 1, once per round)
| + | Pattern Cards are designed so players naturally reenact the layers: |
| − | * '''Bond''' (Increase Connection by 1, once when purchased)
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| − | * '''Compass''' (Increase Purpose by 1, once when purchased)
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| | | | |
| − | Each card has only one passive bonus. This keeps reading load low.
| + | Layer 1 cards produce E and sometimes a little R. They’re cheap, they stabilize your economy. |
| | + | Layer 2 cards convert E into R and P efficiently. They keep you from collapsing when Drift spikes. |
| | + | Layer 3–4 cards add “Form” and “Membership” tags that discount Projects and grant contribution credit bonuses. |
| | + | Layer 5 cards generate M (Model) tokens that let you preview or filter Market cards (no text, just “look at top 2, keep 1”). |
| | + | Layer 6 cards generate V (Value) tokens that let you “lock in” one token conversion each round (habit formation). |
| | + | Layer 7 cards generate a “Now” icon that grants a flexible wild token once per round, representing unified agency. |
| | + | Layer 8 cards generate B (Bond) and improve Trust if contributed to Projects. |
| | + | Layer 9 cards generate L (Legacy) when you complete Projects, plus endgame multipliers. |
| | + | Layer 10 cards don’t exist as normal purchases. Layer 10 is Projects. Stewardship is something you do together, but someone gets to be best at. |
| | | | |
| − | == Production (End of Round) ==
| + | Scoring (simple, strategic, and aligned to the framework) |
| − | Most cards produce one of:
| + | You track points on paper or a score track, but the sources are icon-driven. |
| − | * +1 Energy
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| − | * +1 Coherence
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| − | * +1 to one Civilization track (Act Two and Three only)
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| − | * +1 Stability
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| | | | |
| − | Tier 1 produces mainly Energy and Stability. Tier 2 starts producing Coherence and Connection. Tier 3 produces Civilization boosts and Crisis mitigation.
| + | A. Points from completed Projects |
| | + | When a Project completes: |
| | + | • Every player gains the Project’s “public benefit” (World Vital Signals up, Drift down). |
| | + | • Points: the top contributor gets 6, second gets 3, all other contributors get 1. (If tied, split the higher reward.) |
| | + | This creates competitive collaboration: everyone wants the project done, but you still want credit. |
| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | B. Endgame Meaning Score (three pillars) |
| | + | At game end, add: |
| | | | |
| − | = Player Tableau (Your Engine) =
| + | Autopoiesis (Self-maintenance) |
| | + | • +1 point per Coherence above 5 |
| | + | • +2 points if you never dropped below Coherence 3 at any time (stayed viable) |
| | | | |
| − | Your tableau is all Market cards you’ve purchased. They stack permanently.
| + | Allopoiesis (Value to others) |
| | + | • +1 point per 2 Social Standing |
| | + | • +1 point per Bond token spent into Projects (you turned connection into shared stability) |
| | | | |
| − | At end of each round, you resolve Production on all your cards, in any order.
| + | Horizon (Stewardship and legacy) |
| | + | • +1 point per Legacy token |
| | + | • +3 points if you contributed to at least one Stewardship Project (Layer 10) |
| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | Penalty for collapse: If World Drift ended at 10–12, everyone loses 6 points. Meaning can’t scale when the platform is breaking. |
| | | | |
| − | = Key Tracks (Simplified but Thematic) =
| + | Walkthrough (first two rounds, concrete example) |
| | + | Assume 3 players: Alex, Brooke, Casey. |
| | | | |
| − | == Stability (personal survival) ==
| + | Round 1, World Event reveals “Uncertainty” |
| − | If your Stability reaches 0, you do not lose the game, but you become '''Strained'''.
| + | Icons show: Drift +2 unless mitigated by spending M + R into the pool. |
| | | | |
| − | Strained:
| + | Market shows cheap Layer 1 and 2 cards plus one Layer 5 “Model” card that costs a bit more. |
| − | * Your end-of-round Production generates 1 less Energy total (minimum 0) until Stability is 3 or higher.
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| − | This makes collapse painful but recoverable.
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| | | | |
| − | == Connection (social capacity) ==
| + | Alex’s turn (2 actions) |
| − | Connection represents how much you can coordinate and trade.
| + | Action 1 Acquire: takes E + R. |
| | + | Action 2 Buy Pattern: buys a Layer 2 Balance card (cost E+R). It outputs R + P. Alex takes R and P. |
| | + | Interpretation in play: Alex just invested in regulation and repair capacity. They’ll be the “keeps us stable” player. |
| | | | |
| − | Act One: Connection doesn’t enable trading, but some cards can increase it.
| + | Brooke’s turn |
| − | Act Two: Connection matters directly for trades and commitments.
| + | Action 1 Acquire: takes E + E is not allowed (must be different), so E + M. |
| − | Act Three: Connection improves the efficiency of shared repairs.
| + | Action 2 Buy Pattern: buys a Layer 1 Boundary card (cheap) that outputs E + E. Brooke’s economy starts. |
| | | | |
| − | == Purpose (legacy orientation) ==
| + | Casey’s turn |
| − | Purpose is how effectively you convert your engine into collective benefit.
| + | Action 1 Acquire: takes E + B. |
| | + | Action 2 Social Touchpoint: gives the B to Brooke as a token (or any token if your set allows), gains +1 Social Standing and takes 1 B (Bond). |
| | + | Interpretation: Casey is building membership early. It’s not charity, it’s positioning for Project credit and Trust stability. |
| | | | |
| − | Purpose matters mostly in Act Three:
| + | Phase D Mitigation |
| − | * Higher Purpose lets your Coherence contribute more to shared stabilization.
| + | The table needs M + R. Brooke has M, Alex has R. They each drop one into the mitigation pool. Drift increase is canceled. |
| | + | Interpretation: Predictive model (M) plus regulation (R) prevents drift from turning into damage. |
| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | Round 2, new Event “Damage” |
| | + | Drift +1 and places 2 local D tokens. Mitigation requires P + R. |
| | | | |
| − | = Turn Structure (Clean) =
| + | Players now see why Layer 2 matters. Alex can repair, Brooke can fund, Casey can keep Trust from slipping by maintaining reciprocity and pushing Projects. |
| | | | |
| − | On your turn, choose exactly ONE action:
| + | By Round 4–5, the table starts completing Projects, Trust rises if they do, and the game visibly shifts from “don’t fall apart” to “build the longer arc.” That is the framework, experienced. |
| | | | |
| − | A) '''Take Energy'''
| + | Project examples (what they look like in icons) |
| − | Take 2 Energy tokens from the supply.
| + | Project: “Shared Shelter” (Layer 8) |
| | + | Requires: E E R B |
| | + | Benefit: +1 Habitat, +1 Trust |
| | + | Points: contribution credit as normal |
| | | | |
| − | B) '''Buy a Market Card'''
| + | Project: “Training Loop” (Layer 6) |
| − | Pay the Energy cost (after discounts). Take the card into your tableau. Refill the market slot.
| + | Requires: M V R |
| | + | Benefit: The table gets a permanent “once per round convert 1E→1R” rule |
| | + | Points: normal |
| | | | |
| − | C) '''Reserve a Market Card'''
| + | Project: “Mentorship Chain” (Layer 9) |
| − | Take 1 face-up Market card and place it face-down in front of you as Reserved. Gain 1 Energy immediately.
| + | Requires: B B M L (L can only be produced by Layer 9 patterns or project completion bonuses) |
| − | Limit: you may have at most 1 Reserved card.
| + | Benefit: +1 Trust, remove 2 Drift |
| | + | Points: normal, plus top contributor gains +1 Horizon |
| | | | |
| − | D) '''Repair'''
| + | Project: “Stewardship Pact” (Layer 10, end trigger candidate) |
| − | Spend 2 Energy to gain +2 Stability.
| + | Requires: Habitat at 5+, Trust at 5+, and contributions totaling: E E R M B L L |
| | + | Benefit: End the game, reduce Drift by 2 immediately |
| | + | Points: top contributor gets 10, second gets 5, others 2 |
| | | | |
| − | E) '''Act Two/Three: Build Civilization'''
| + | Why this is competitive without betrayal |
| − | (Only in Act Two and Act Three) | + | Players compete for: |
| − | Spend 2 Energy to increase one Civilization track by +1.
| + | • Market timing (who gets the perfect pattern card) |
| | + | • Project credit (shared benefit, individual points) |
| | + | • Role synergy (light asymmetry shapes strategy) |
| | + | • Efficiency under pressure (who turns chaos into coherence with fewer resources) |
| | | | |
| − | That’s it. One action per turn.
| + | Players collaborate because: |
| | + | • Drift punishes everyone |
| | + | • World Vital Signals create shared operating conditions |
| | + | • The best scoring opportunities (Legacy and Stewardship) require a stable world and at least some cooperation |
| | | | |
| − | ----
| + | Quick reference (what to teach in 3 minutes) |
| | | | |
| − | = Discounts (Splendor-like, but only one kind) =
| + | Drift rises each round unless we mitigate it. |
| | | | |
| − | If you have any cards with the '''Discount''' bonus:
| + | On your turn, take 2 actions: get tokens, buy patterns, contribute to projects, repair, or do a social touchpoint. |
| − | When you buy a card, you may apply up to 2 total discounts (maximum 2 per purchase), each discount reduces the cost by 1 Energy.
| |
| | | | |
| − | Example:
| + | Patterns build your engine. Projects stabilize the world and award points by contribution. |
| − | A card costs 5. You apply 2 discounts, you pay 3.
| |
| | | | |
| − | This keeps the engine effect strong without turning into math.
| + | If we keep the world stable, we can reach legacy and stewardship. If we don’t, everyone pays. |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | = End of Round Sequence (All Acts) =
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| − | After all players take one turn:
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| − | | |
| − | 1) '''Production'''
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| − | Each player resolves Production on their tableau.
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| − | | |
| − | 2) '''Event'''
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| − | Reveal the top card of the Event deck for the current Act and resolve it.
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| − | | |
| − | 3) '''Cleanup'''
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| − | Advance the Round marker by 1.
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| − | | |
| − | ----
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| − | | |
| − | = Events (The Pressure That Creates Story) =
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| − | | |
| − | Events are short and punchy. They create urgency and shift incentives across Acts.
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| − | | |
| − | == Act One: Entropy Events (Rounds 1–4) ==
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| − | Entropy mostly hits players (Stability and Energy).
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| − | | |
| − | == Act Two: Social Events (Rounds 5–7) ==
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| − | Social events hit players and Civilization, and they punish isolation.
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| − | | |
| − | == Act Three: Crisis Events (Rounds 8–10) ==
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| − | Crisis events hit Civilization hard. Players can spend shared Coherence to prevent losses.
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| − | | |
| − | ----
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| − | | |
| − | = Act Transitions (Critical Theme Beats) =
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| − | | |
| − | == End of Act One (after Round 4 Event) ==
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| − | Each player gains Coherence equal to:
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| − | * the number of Tier 2 cards they own (minimum 0, maximum 3)
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| − | Theme: once prediction/learning emerges, meaning capacity grows.
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| − | | |
| − | Then:
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| − | * Trading unlocks in Act Two.
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| − | * Players may freely talk about plans.
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| − | | |
| − | == End of Act Two (after Round 7 Event) ==
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| − | Each player must contribute Coherence into a shared pool:
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| − | * Contribute Coherence equal to your Purpose (minimum 1, maximum 3).
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| − | | |
| − | Theme: elders begin pooling resources.
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| − | | |
| − | == Start of Act Three (Round 8 begins) ==
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| − | All remaining personal Coherence becomes shared:
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| − | * Move all Coherence you have into the shared pool.
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| − | From here on, Coherence is spent by group agreement.
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| − | | |
| − | Theme: the score stops being personal.
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| − | | |
| − | ----
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| − | | |
| − | = Act Two Trading (Simple, Enforced by Rules) =
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| − | | |
| − | In Act Two only:
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| − | On your turn, before your action, you may trade Energy with one other player.
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| − | | |
| − | Limit:
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| − | * One trade per player per round.
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| − | | |
| − | Broken promise rule (lightweight):
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| − | If you explicitly promised a trade and do not do it, lose 1 Connection (minimum 0). | |
| − | | |
| − | No tokens, no tracking beyond social memory.
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| − | | |
| − | ----
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| − | | |
| − | = Act Three Shared Repair (Simple) =
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| − | | |
| − | In Act Three, after the Crisis Event is revealed, the group may spend shared Coherence to prevent losses:
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| − | | |
| − | * Spend 1 shared Coherence to prevent 1 point of Civilization loss.
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| − | | |
| − | Connection efficiency:
| |
| − | If the player proposing the spend has Connection 3 or higher, they may prevent 2 total loss for every 1 Coherence they spend, once per round.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Theme: social capacity makes repair more efficient.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Victory, Collapse, and Score =
| |
| − | After Round 10 Event resolves:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * If all Civilization tracks are 1 or higher: '''Collective Success'''
| |
| − | * If any Civilization track is 0: '''Collective Collapse'''
| |
| − | | |
| − | Final Score = sum of the four Civilization tracks (0–40).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Optional epilogue:
| |
| − | Each player says one sentence: “What did we pass on?”
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Market Card Catalog (Prototype Set) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | This is a complete prototype card set that supports the rules. You can print these as text cards.
| |
| − | | |
| − | All costs are in Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Tier 1 (Foundation) – 16 cards ==
| |
| − | Tier 1 cards are cheap and mostly help you survive and generate Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 1) '''Scavenge Loop'''
| |
| − | Cost 2. Bonus: Discount. Production: +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 2) '''Heat Control'''
| |
| − | Cost 2. Bonus: Shield. Production: +1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 3) '''Small Cache'''
| |
| − | Cost 3. Bonus: none. Production: +2 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 4) '''Boundary Habit'''
| |
| − | Cost 3. Bonus: Shield. Production: +1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5) '''Simple Routine'''
| |
| − | Cost 3. Bonus: Discount. Production: +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 6) '''Local Foraging'''
| |
| − | Cost 4. Bonus: none. Production: +1 Energy and +1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 7) '''Stress Valve'''
| |
| − | Cost 4. Bonus: Shield. Production: +1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 8) '''Resource Timing'''
| |
| − | Cost 4. Bonus: Discount. Production: +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 9) '''Patchwork Repair'''
| |
| − | Cost 5. Bonus: Shield. Production: +2 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 10) '''Efficient Intake'''
| |
| − | Cost 5. Bonus: Discount. Production: +2 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 11) '''Hard Shell'''
| |
| − | Cost 5. Bonus: Shield. Production: +1 Stability and +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 12) '''Reserve Store'''
| |
| − | Cost 6. Bonus: none. Production: +3 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 13) '''Quiet Discipline'''
| |
| − | Cost 6. Bonus: Shield. Production: +2 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 14) '''Constraint Skill'''
| |
| − | Cost 6. Bonus: Discount. Production: +1 Energy and +1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 15) '''Redundancy'''
| |
| − | Cost 7. Bonus: Shield. Production: +1 Stability. (Also: once per game ignore 1 Entropy event loss to you.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 16) '''Efficiency Groove'''
| |
| − | Cost 7. Bonus: Discount. Production: +2 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Tier 2 (Systems) – 16 cards ==
| |
| − | Tier 2 introduces Connection, Purpose, and Coherence production.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 1) '''Predictive Model'''
| |
| − | Cost 5. Bonus: Discount. Production: +1 Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 2) '''Signal Tuning'''
| |
| − | Cost 5. Bonus: Compass (+1 Purpose on purchase). Production: +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 3) '''Social Cue'''
| |
| − | Cost 5. Bonus: Bond (+1 Connection on purchase). Production: +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 4) '''Shared Language'''
| |
| − | Cost 6. Bonus: Bond. Production: +1 Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5) '''Trust Routine'''
| |
| − | Cost 6. Bonus: Bond. Production: +1 Connection (cap 6).
| |
| − | | |
| − | 6) '''Meaning Anchor'''
| |
| − | Cost 6. Bonus: Compass. Production: +1 Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 7) '''Mutual Aid Practice'''
| |
| − | Cost 7. Bonus: Bond. Production: +1 Stability. (Act Two: you may also give 1 Energy to any player after production.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 8) '''Apprenticeship'''
| |
| − | Cost 7. Bonus: Compass. Production: +1 Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 9) '''Model Sharing'''
| |
| − | Cost 7. Bonus: none. Production: +2 Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 10) '''Repair Through Others'''
| |
| − | Cost 8. Bonus: Bond. Production: +2 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 11) '''Role Clarity'''
| |
| − | Cost 8. Bonus: Compass. Production: +1 Coherence and +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 12) '''Commitment Loop'''
| |
| − | Cost 8. Bonus: Compass. Production: +1 Coherence. (Act Two: if you traded this round, +1 additional Coherence.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 13) '''Small Institution'''
| |
| − | Cost 9. Bonus: Bond. Production: (Act Two/Three) +1 Civilization track of your choice.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 14) '''Shared Norms'''
| |
| − | Cost 9. Bonus: Bond. Production: +1 Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 15) '''Future Orientation'''
| |
| − | Cost 9. Bonus: Compass. Production: +2 Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 16) '''Collective Practice'''
| |
| − | Cost 10. Bonus: Bond. Production: +1 Coherence and +1 Connection.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Tier 3 (Institutions) – 12 cards ==
| |
| − | Tier 3 pushes Civilization and provides Crisis help.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 1) '''Infrastructure Guild'''
| |
| − | Cost 10. Bonus: none. Production: (Act Two/Three) +2 Infrastructure.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 2) '''Knowledge Commons'''
| |
| − | Cost 10. Bonus: none. Production: (Act Two/Three) +2 Knowledge.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 3) '''Cohesion Council'''
| |
| − | Cost 10. Bonus: none. Production: (Act Two/Three) +2 Cohesion.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 4) '''Stewardship Pact'''
| |
| − | Cost 10. Bonus: none. Production: (Act Two/Three) +2 Stewardship.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5) '''Repair Corps'''
| |
| − | Cost 11. Bonus: Shield. Production: +1 Stability. (Act Three: once per round prevent 1 Civilization loss for free.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 6) '''Truth & Reconciliation'''
| |
| − | Cost 11. Bonus: Bond. Production: +1 Cohesion. (Act Three: spend 1 Coherence to prevent 3 Cohesion loss total, once per game.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 7) '''Education Pipeline'''
| |
| − | Cost 11. Bonus: Compass. Production: +1 Knowledge. (Act Three: your Coherence spend prevents +1 extra loss, once per round.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 8) '''Mutual Defense'''
| |
| − | Cost 12. Bonus: Shield. Production: +1 Infrastructure. (Act Three: ignore 1 Crisis effect that would reduce Infrastructure, once per game.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 9) '''Intergenerational Fund'''
| |
| − | Cost 12. Bonus: none. Production: +1 Coherence. (Act Three: add +2 Coherence to shared pool on purchase.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 10) '''Civic Fabric'''
| |
| − | Cost 12. Bonus: Bond. Production: +1 Cohesion and +1 Stewardship.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 11) '''Stewardship Charter'''
| |
| − | Cost 13. Bonus: Compass. Production: +2 Stewardship. (Act Three: if Stewardship would hit 0, prevent it once per game.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | 12) '''Living Constitution'''
| |
| − | Cost 14. Bonus: Bond and Compass (+1 Connection and +1 Purpose on purchase). Production: +1 to any two different Civilization tracks.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Event Deck Text (Prototype Set) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Entropy Deck (Act One) – 8 cards ==
| |
| − | 1) '''Wear and Tear'''
| |
| − | All players lose 1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 2) '''Resource Scarcity'''
| |
| − | All players lose 2 Energy. If you have fewer than 2, lose 1 Stability instead.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 3) '''Thermal Drift'''
| |
| − | Players with the most Market cards lose 1 Stability (tie: all tied).
| |
| − | | |
| − | 4) '''Breakdown'''
| |
| − | Each player must either spend 2 Energy or lose 2 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5) '''Overreach'''
| |
| − | Players with 6+ Energy lose 2 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 6) '''Isolation Tax'''
| |
| − | Players with Connection 0 lose 2 Stability. Others lose 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 7) '''Repair Window'''
| |
| − | All players may gain +1 Stability. Then the player with the lowest Stability gains +2 more.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 8) '''Entropy Spike'''
| |
| − | All players lose 1 Stability and 1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Social Deck (Act Two) – 6 cards ==
| |
| − | 1) '''Mistrust'''
| |
| − | If no trades occurred this round, all players lose 1 Connection.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 2) '''Rumor Spiral'''
| |
| − | Lowest Connection player loses 2 Stability. Civilization Cohesion −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 3) '''Coordination Cost'''
| |
| − | Civilization Knowledge −1 unless any player increased any Civilization track this round.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 4) '''Institution Strain'''
| |
| − | Group chooses one Civilization track to lose 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5) '''Reciprocity'''
| |
| − | If at least two players traded this round, all players gain 1 Coherence. Otherwise, all players lose 1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 6) '''Shared Burden'''
| |
| − | Each player may spend 1 Energy to prevent Civilization −1 to a track of the group’s choice. If fewer than two players do so, apply the loss.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Crisis Deck (Act Three) – 6 cards ==
| |
| − | 1) '''System Shock'''
| |
| − | Infrastructure −2 and Knowledge −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 2) '''Polarization'''
| |
| − | Cohesion −3 unless at least two different players spend shared Coherence this round.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 3) '''Generational Drift'''
| |
| − | Stewardship −3. If Stewardship is 1 or less after applying, lose immediately.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 4) '''Cascading Failure'''
| |
| − | The lowest Civilization track loses 3.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5) '''Resource Collapse'''
| |
| − | All Civilization tracks −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | 6) '''Institutional Corrosion'''
| |
| − | Choose one: lose 2 from one track OR lose 1 from two different tracks.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Comprehensive Walkthrough (3 Players, 10 Rounds) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | This walkthrough demonstrates the market engine and the Act shifts clearly.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Players: Anna, Ben, Clara. Turn order: Anna → Ben → Clara.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Starting:
| |
| − | * Anna: Stability 7, Connection 0, Purpose 1, Energy 2, Coherence 0
| |
| − | * Ben: Stability 7, Connection 0, Purpose 1, Energy 2, Coherence 0
| |
| − | * Clara: Stability 7, Connection 0, Purpose 1, Energy 2, Coherence 0
| |
| − | Civilization: Infra 3, Know 3, Coh 3, Stew 3
| |
| − | | |
| − | Initial Market (example):
| |
| − | Tier 1 row:
| |
| − | * Scavenge Loop (2, Discount, +1 Energy)
| |
| − | * Heat Control (2, Shield, +1 Stability)
| |
| − | * Simple Routine (3, Discount, +1 Energy)
| |
| − | * Boundary Habit (3, Shield, +1 Stability)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Tier 2 row:
| |
| − | * Predictive Model (5, Discount, +1 Coherence)
| |
| − | * Social Cue (5, Bond, +1 Energy)
| |
| − | * Meaning Anchor (6, Compass, +1 Coherence)
| |
| − | * Shared Language (6, Bond, +1 Coherence)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Tier 3 row:
| |
| − | * Infrastructure Guild (10, +2 Infra)
| |
| − | * Knowledge Commons (10, +2 Know)
| |
| − | * Repair Corps (11, Shield, +1 Stability, Act3 prevent 1 loss free)
| |
| − | * Intergenerational Fund (12, +1 Coherence, Act3 +2 shared on purchase)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Shared Coherence pool: empty.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 1 (Act One) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Take Energy (+2). Anna Energy 2→4.
| |
| − | Ben action: Buy Heat Control (cost 2). Ben Energy 2→0. Ben tableau: Heat Control.
| |
| − | Clara action: Buy Scavenge Loop (cost 2). Clara Energy 2→0. Clara tableau: Scavenge Loop.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production:
| |
| − | * Ben: Heat Control produces +1 Stability (Ben 7→8).
| |
| − | * Clara: Scavenge Loop produces +1 Energy (Clara 0→1).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Event: Wear and Tear. All players −1 Stability.
| |
| − | * Anna 7→6
| |
| − | * Ben 8→7
| |
| − | * Clara 7→6
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 2 (Act One) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Buy Simple Routine (cost 3). Anna Energy 4→1. Tableau: Simple Routine (Discount).
| |
| − | Ben action: Take Energy (+2). Ben Energy 0→2.
| |
| − | Clara action: Take Energy (+2). Clara Energy 1→3.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production:
| |
| − | * Anna: Simple Routine produces +1 Energy (Anna 1→2).
| |
| − | * Ben: Heat Control produces +1 Stability (Ben 7→8).
| |
| − | * Clara: Scavenge Loop produces +1 Energy (Clara 3→4).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Event: Resource Scarcity. All lose 2 Energy or lose 1 Stability if short.
| |
| − | * Anna has 2 Energy: 2→0.
| |
| − | * Ben has 2 Energy: 2→0.
| |
| − | * Clara has 4 Energy: 4→2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 3 (Act One) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Take Energy (+2). Anna Energy 0→2.
| |
| − | Ben action: Buy Boundary Habit (cost 3). Ben has 0 Energy, cannot. He instead takes Energy (+2). Ben 0→2.
| |
| − | Clara action: Buy Boundary Habit (cost 3). Clara Energy 2→? Clara has 2, cannot. She takes Energy (+2) to 4.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production:
| |
| − | * Anna: +1 Energy from Simple Routine (2→3).
| |
| − | * Ben: +1 Stability from Heat Control (8→9).
| |
| − | * Clara: +1 Energy from Scavenge Loop (4→5).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Event: Isolation Tax. Connection 0 players lose 2 Stability.
| |
| − | All are Connection 0.
| |
| − | * Anna 6→4
| |
| − | * Ben 9→7
| |
| − | * Clara 6→4
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 4 (Act One Finale) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Buy Heat Control (cost 2). Anna Energy 3→1. Tableau now has Simple Routine + Heat Control.
| |
| − | Ben action: Buy Scavenge Loop (cost 2). Ben Energy 2→0. Tableau: Heat Control + Scavenge Loop.
| |
| − | Clara action: Buy Boundary Habit (cost 3). Clara Energy 5→2. Tableau: Scavenge Loop + Boundary Habit.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production:
| |
| − | * Anna: Simple Routine +1 Energy (1→2). Heat Control +1 Stability (4→5).
| |
| − | * Ben: Heat Control +1 Stability (7→8). Scavenge Loop +1 Energy (0→1).
| |
| − | * Clara: Scavenge Loop +1 Energy (2→3). Boundary Habit +1 Stability (4→5).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Event: Entropy Spike. All lose 1 Stability and 1 Energy.
| |
| − | * Anna Stability 5→4, Energy 2→1
| |
| − | * Ben Stability 8→7, Energy 1→0
| |
| − | * Clara Stability 5→4, Energy 3→2
| |
| − | | |
| − | End of Act One bonus:
| |
| − | Each player gains Coherence equal to Tier 2 cards owned (cap 3). Nobody has Tier 2 yet, so 0. (This is a clear prompt: get Tier 2 next game, or tune this bonus to Tier 1+Tier 2 if desired.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Act Two unlocks trading.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 5 (Act Two) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Take Energy (+2) (Energy 1→3).
| |
| − | Ben action: Take Energy (+2) (0→2).
| |
| − | Clara action: Buy Predictive Model (Tier 2 cost 5). Clara has 2, cannot. She trades: Clara gives Anna 1 Energy now, Anna promises to send back 1 next round. Clara then takes Energy (+2) to reach 3.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production:
| |
| − | * Anna: +1 Energy (Simple Routine) and +1 Stability (Heat Control). Energy 3→4. Stability 4→5.
| |
| − | * Ben: +1 Stability (Heat Control) and +1 Energy (Scavenge Loop). Stability 7→8. Energy 2→3.
| |
| − | * Clara: +1 Energy (Scavenge Loop) and +1 Stability (Boundary Habit). Energy 3→4. Stability 4→5.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Social Event: Coordination Cost. Knowledge −1 unless anyone increased Civilization this round. Nobody did.
| |
| − | Knowledge 3→2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 6 (Act Two) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Build Civilization (pay 2 Energy) to raise Knowledge +1. Anna Energy 4→2. Knowledge 2→3.
| |
| − | Ben action: Buy Social Cue (Tier 2 cost 5). Ben has 3, cannot. He takes Energy (+2) to 5, then cannot buy because action already used. (This is the Splendor tension.)
| |
| − | Clara action: Buy Predictive Model (cost 5). Clara has 4, cannot. She takes Energy (+2) to 6.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production:
| |
| − | * Anna: +1 Energy (2→3), +1 Stability (5→6).
| |
| − | * Ben: +1 Stability (8→9), +1 Energy (5→6).
| |
| − | * Clara: +1 Energy (6→7), +1 Stability (5→6).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Social Event: Reciprocity. If at least two players traded this round, all gain 1 Coherence, otherwise all lose 1 Stability. No trades occurred. All lose 1 Stability.
| |
| − | * Anna 6→5
| |
| − | * Ben 9→8
| |
| − | * Clara 6→5
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 7 (Act Two Finale) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Buy Shared Language (Tier 2 cost 6). Anna has 3, cannot. She takes Energy (+2) to 5.
| |
| − | Ben action: Buy Social Cue (Tier 2 cost 5). Ben has 6, pays 5, keeps 1. On purchase: Bond gives +1 Connection (Ben Connection 0→1).
| |
| − | Clara action: Buy Predictive Model (Tier 2 cost 5). Clara has 7, pays 5, keeps 2. On purchase: Discount bonus.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production:
| |
| − | * Anna: +1 Energy (5→6), +1 Stability (5→6).
| |
| − | * Ben: Heat Control +1 Stability (8→9). Scavenge Loop +1 Energy (1→2). Social Cue production +1 Energy (2→3).
| |
| − | * Clara: Scavenge Loop +1 Energy (2→3). Boundary Habit +1 Stability (5→6). Predictive Model production +1 Coherence (0→1).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Social Event: Institution Strain. Group chooses one Civilization track to lose 1. They choose Cohesion 3→2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | End of Act Two contribution:
| |
| − | Each player contributes Coherence equal to Purpose (min 1, max 3). Everyone Purpose is still 1, so each contributes 1.
| |
| − | * Anna contributes 0? She has 0 Coherence, so she contributes 0 and instead loses 1 Stability as “shortfall penalty.” (Rule for shortfall below.)
| |
| − | * Ben has 0 Coherence, same shortfall.
| |
| − | * Clara has 1 Coherence and contributes it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Shared pool now: 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Shortfall penalty (important to keep Act Two meaningful):
| |
| − | If you cannot contribute required Coherence at end of Act Two:
| |
| − | * lose 1 Stability per missing Coherence, and contribute 0 for that amount.
| |
| − | Anna and Ben each missing 1, so each loses 1 Stability.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Start of Act Three ==
| |
| − | All remaining personal Coherence moves to shared pool.
| |
| − | Clara has 0 now. Shared pool remains 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 8 (Act Three) ==
| |
| − | Anna action: Buy Meaning Anchor (Tier 2 cost 6). She has 6 Energy, pays 6, gets Compass: Purpose +1 (1→2).
| |
| − | Ben action: Take Energy (+2).
| |
| − | Clara action: Buy Small Institution (Tier 2 cost 9) not available, so she instead buys Shared Norms if present; if not, she takes Energy. (Market will vary. The point: in Act Three, if you didn’t build earlier, you’re behind.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Production now matters a lot:
| |
| − | * Clara’s Predictive Model keeps generating Coherence, which goes to shared pool in Act Three (immediately).
| |
| − | Rule: In Act Three, any Coherence you generate goes directly to the shared pool.
| |
| − | So if Clara generates +1 Coherence, shared pool +1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Crisis Event: System Shock. Infrastructure −2 and Knowledge −1.
| |
| − | Group spends shared Coherence to prevent losses 1-for-1. If shared pool is low, they take damage.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 9 (Act Three) ==
| |
| − | Players prioritize Tier 3 cards and Civilization building actions.
| |
| − | Crisis Event hits, group spends shared Coherence, Connection 3+ players can get 2-for-1 efficiency once per round (if anyone reached it).
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 10 (Act Three Finale) ==
| |
| − | Final builds and emergency repairs.
| |
| − | Crisis Event resolves.
| |
| − | Check for collapse (any Civilization track at 0).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Final score: sum of Civilization tracks.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This walkthrough shows the core loop. In actual play, Tier 2 and Tier 3 purchases accelerate sharply in Act Two, and Act Three becomes a tense cooperative spending puzzle.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Important Clarifying Rules (So Play Is Smooth) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Coherence in Act Three ==
| |
| − | During Act Three:
| |
| − | * Any Coherence produced by Market cards goes directly into the shared pool.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Purpose and Coherence Contribution ==
| |
| − | At end of Act Two:
| |
| − | * You must contribute Coherence equal to your Purpose (min 1, max 3).
| |
| − | * If you cannot, you lose 1 Stability per missing Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This makes Purpose real and prevents “ignore legacy until the end.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Civilization Track Caps ==
| |
| − | Civilization tracks cap at 10.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Any gain above 10 is ignored.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Player Track Caps ==
| |
| − | Stability caps at 10. Connection caps at 6. Purpose caps at 6.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Reserved Cards ==
| |
| − | If you Reserved a card, you may buy it on a later turn as your one action.
| |
| − | If you buy it, you do not refill the market until after you take it (then refill).
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Buying With Discounts ==
| |
| − | You may apply up to 2 discounts per purchase, total.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Discounts do not carry over. They apply only during that purchase.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Quick Teaching Script (60 Seconds) =
| |
| − | “On your turn you do one thing: take energy, buy a card, reserve a card, repair stability, or build civilization. Your bought cards are permanent engines, and they produce at end of round. After production, an event hits. Early rounds are selfish survival, middle rounds add trading, and late rounds are cooperative civilization defense. Your personal coherence becomes shared, and that’s how we survive Act Three.”
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Overview ==
| |
| − | '''Players:''' 3–5
| |
| − | '''Play Time:''' 90–120 minutes
| |
| − | '''Age:''' 14+
| |
| − | | |
| − | ''Life Builds Meaning'' is a three-Act tabletop game about survival, connection, and legacy.
| |
| − | Players begin as fragile patterns competing for stability. Each player starts as a simple pattern trying to survive. Over three acts, the game moves from competitive survival to collaborative legacy. What you do early shapes what you can contribute later — and the final score belongs to everyone. Over time they form relationships, build shared systems, and ultimately face escalating crises together.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Early selfish strength can become late weakness.
| |
| − | Early sacrifice can become structural resilience.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The system becomes the organism.
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | THE THREE ACTS
| |
| − | | |
| − | * '''Act One asks: How much do I take?''' Persist (Layers 1-4, competitive) You are a pattern fighting entropy. Players compete for Energy tokens, Stability cards, and Repair actions. The goal is to stay coherent while others drift. Players can block, undercut, and outmaneuver each other. Nobody shares. The act ends when every player has survived a set number of entropy events.
| |
| − | | |
| − | * '''Act Two asks: How much do I trust?''' Act Two: Connect (Layers 5-8, mixed) Nervous systems emerge. Players can now trade, form alliances, and share prediction cards — but betrayal is still possible. Social bonds are built on a shared board. Institutions start forming. The tension is trust: cooperating makes everyone stronger but exposes you to being undercut. The act ends when a collective coherence threshold is reached.
| |
| − | | |
| − | * '''Act Three asks: Was it enough?''' Act Three: Leave Something Behind (Layers 9-10, fully collaborative) All players are now elders. Personal scoring stops. The group works together against the game itself — entropy events escalate, and the board must be stabilized for a next generation. Final score is collective: what did you build, what did you repair, what did you pass on?
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | The game can end in collective success or collective collapse.
| |
| − | | |
| − | There is no single winner. The final score belongs to the group.
| |
| − | | |
| − | __NOTOC__
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Revision Notes =
| |
| − | | |
| − | This revision addresses:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Why players would play negative cards
| |
| − | * Forced card pressure (no passive hoarding)
| |
| − | * Real market decision tension
| |
| − | * Clear draw sources
| |
| − | * A Bohnanza-style obligation mechanic
| |
| − | * Increased table interaction
| |
| − | | |
| − | The philosophical arc remains intact.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == 1. Strict Hand Pressure ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Hand limit is 6 cards (5 if Fragmented).
| |
| − | * You may NOT discard freely.
| |
| − | * At end of your turn, if over limit, you MUST immediately play excess cards.
| |
| − | * If unable to legally play a card, lose 1 Regulation per unplayed card.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This creates forced action.
| |
| − | | |
| − | You cannot hoard safely.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | == 2. Compulsory Action Rule ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | You must play at least 1 card on your turn if possible.
| |
| − | | |
| − | You may play up to 3.
| |
| − | | |
| − | No "pass and turtle" strategy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | == 3. Card Direction Rule (Bohnanza-style Tension) ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Each card shows one of three icons:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * SELF (must target yourself)
| |
| − | * OTHER (must target another player)
| |
| − | * FLEX (choose)
| |
| − | | |
| − | If you draw an OTHER card and cannot play it on yourself, you MUST play it on another player before end of turn or suffer 1 Regulation loss.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Now when you hit someone, you have plausible deniability:
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I had to. I couldn't hold it."
| |
| − | | |
| − | This dramatically increases table talk.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Draw Clarification =
| |
| − | | |
| − | During Act One:
| |
| − | | |
| − | On your turn:
| |
| − | | |
| − | # Draw 2 cards from the Act One Deck (Energy, Repair, Block combined).
| |
| − | # You may take 1 card from the Energy Market (this does not count as one of your 2 draws).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy cards are NEVER drawn into hand.
| |
| − | They are revealed only at end of round.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Act Two:
| |
| − | Draw from Act One deck until exhausted.
| |
| − | Then reshuffle discard.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Act Three:
| |
| − | No more personal card draws.
| |
| − | Only Crisis deck is used.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Energy Market =
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Energy Market now matters.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Market Structure ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5 face-up Energy cards.
| |
| − | | |
| − | When you take one:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Slide row left.
| |
| − | * Reveal new card from Energy deck.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Market Pressure Rule ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | If at end of round there are 3 or more cards left in market,
| |
| − | All players lose 1 Belonging.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Theme: unused opportunity creates social drift.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Now players care what sits there.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Reserve Mechanic Revised ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Reserve Market now reads:
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Place a claim token. If another player takes this card before your next turn, gain 1 Coherence."
| |
| − | | |
| − | Now blocking becomes strategic.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Revised Block Cards (Now Rewarded) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Negative cards now provide benefit.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Redirect Entropy ==
| |
| − | Move 1 damage from you to another player.
| |
| − | Gain 1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Energy Tax ==
| |
| − | Target player discards 1 Energy card.
| |
| − | You gain 1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Lock Track ==
| |
| − | Prevent track increase next turn.
| |
| − | Gain 1 card draw immediately.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Market Disruption ==
| |
| − | Shuffle Market.
| |
| − | Draw 1 card.
| |
| − | | |
| − | You now gain something when you cause friction.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This makes tension purposeful.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = New Card Type: Trade Pressure (Act One & Two) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Add 10 cards.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Forced Exchange (OTHER) ==
| |
| − | Choose a player.
| |
| − | Swap 1 random card.
| |
| − | You both gain 1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Resource Demand (OTHER) ==
| |
| − | Target gives you 1 Energy.
| |
| − | If they refuse, they lose 1 Belonging.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This introduces negotiation early.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Revised Entropy Timing =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Round structure:
| |
| − | | |
| − | Each player turn →
| |
| − | Then Entropy reveal →
| |
| − | Then Market Pressure check.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Clear rhythm.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Act Two: Formal Alliance Mechanic =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Players may declare an Alliance at start of round.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Allied players:
| |
| − | * May trade freely.
| |
| − | * Share Prediction peeks.
| |
| − | * If one suffers damage, may split it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | BUT
| |
| − | | |
| − | If alliance is broken:
| |
| − | Add 2 Trust Fractures.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This raises stakes.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Act Three: Personal Sacrifice Track =
| |
| − | | |
| − | New Rule:
| |
| − | | |
| − | Any player may overcontribute Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | For each 2 extra Coherence you contribute beyond requirement:
| |
| − | Gain 1 Legacy immediately.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This makes heroic play visible and rewarding.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Walkthrough (Act One, Round 1) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Players:
| |
| − | Anna (Regulator 4)
| |
| − | Ben (Prediction 4)
| |
| − | Clara (Purpose 4)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Starting hand size: 5 each.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round 1 ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Anna Turn ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2 from Act One deck:
| |
| − | Redirect Entropy (OTHER)
| |
| − | Basic Energy (SELF)
| |
| − | | |
| − | She must play at least 1 card.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She plays Basic Energy → +1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She now has 6 cards (over limit).
| |
| − | Must play one more.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Redirect Entropy cannot be held long-term and must target another.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She plays Redirect Entropy targeting Ben.
| |
| − | She gains 1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Ben: "Why me?"
| |
| − | Anna: "I had to play it."
| |
| − | | |
| − | Table laughs.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She then takes Efficient Energy from Market.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Hand now 5.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Ben Turn ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Adaptive Model (SELF)
| |
| − | Resource Demand (OTHER)
| |
| − | | |
| − | He plays Adaptive Model → Prediction 4→5.
| |
| − | He peeks at upcoming Entropy: Regulation Shock.
| |
| − | | |
| − | He plays Resource Demand on Clara.
| |
| − | Clara can give 1 Energy or lose 1 Belonging.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Clara refuses.
| |
| − | She drops Belonging 3→2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Ben gains nothing but weakened Clara socially.
| |
| − | | |
| − | He takes Stored Energy from Market.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Clara Turn ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Risky Extraction (SELF)
| |
| − | Forced Exchange (OTHER)
| |
| − | | |
| − | She plays Risky Extraction → +3 Energy, Regulation 3→2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She is at 6 cards again.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She must play Forced Exchange.
| |
| − | Targets Anna.
| |
| − | | |
| − | They swap random cards.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna gets Lock Track.
| |
| − | Clara gets Self-Regulate.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Both gain 1 Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Now table tension is high.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Entropy Phase ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Reveal: Regulation Shock.
| |
| − | | |
| − | All players lose 1 Regulation.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna 4→3.
| |
| − | Ben 3→2.
| |
| − | Clara 2→1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Clara now fragile.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Market Pressure Check ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | 2 cards remain in market.
| |
| − | No penalty.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Track = 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = What Changed =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Now:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * You are forced to play interaction cards.
| |
| − | * Negative play gives reward.
| |
| − | * Market matters.
| |
| − | * Card pressure drives drama.
| |
| − | * "I had to" becomes real table excuse.
| |
| − | * Negotiation begins in Act One.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The game now produces stories, not just systems.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Design Outcome =
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Life Builds Meaning arc still works.
| |
| − | | |
| − | But now:
| |
| − | | |
| − | Act One feels alive.
| |
| − | Act Two feels political.
| |
| − | Act Three feels earned.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The system still becomes the organism.
| |
| − | | |
| − | But now the organism argues.
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Components =
| |
| − | | |
| − | * 5 Pattern Boards
| |
| − | * 1 Civilization Board (double-sided; inactive in Act One)
| |
| − | * 40 Energy Cards
| |
| − | * 30 Entropy Cards (Act One)
| |
| − | * 25 Repair Cards
| |
| − | * 15 Block Cards
| |
| − | * 20 Social Entropy Cards (Act Two)
| |
| − | * 20 Crisis Cards (Act Three)
| |
| − | * 40 Coherence Tokens
| |
| − | * 25 Legacy Cards
| |
| − | * 15 Trust Fracture Markers
| |
| − | * 1 Entropy Track Marker
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Pattern Board =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Each player tracks four attributes. If any attribute reaches 0, the player enters '''Fragmented State'''.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Tracks ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Regulation ===
| |
| − | Represents stability and stress tolerance.
| |
| − | * If Regulation ≥4: reduce incoming Entropy damage by 1.
| |
| − | * If Regulation ≤1: take +1 damage from each Entropy event.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Prediction ===
| |
| − | Represents foresight and modeling.
| |
| − | * If Prediction ≥4: look at the top Entropy/Crisis card before it resolves.
| |
| − | * In Acts Two and Three, you may reveal that card to others.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Belonging ===
| |
| − | Represents social integration.
| |
| − | * In Act Two: determines number of trades per turn.
| |
| − | * In Act Three: each 2 Belonging converts 1 personal Coherence into 2 shared Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Purpose ===
| |
| − | Represents long-term orientation.
| |
| − | * When you voluntarily sacrifice resources for group benefit, gain 1 Legacy Card if Purpose ≥3.
| |
| − | * In Act Three, each Legacy card may be spent to prevent or reduce Crisis damage.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Fragmented State =
| |
| − | | |
| − | When any track reaches 0:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Reduce hand size by 1.
| |
| − | * Entropy damage against you increases by 1.
| |
| − | * You cannot gain Legacy Cards.
| |
| − | | |
| − | You may recover by raising the track above 0 through Repair.
| |
| − | | |
| − | No player is eliminated.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Setup =
| |
| − | | |
| − | # Each player selects a Pattern Archetype.
| |
| − | # All tracks begin at 3, except one chosen specialty track begins at 4.
| |
| − | # Shuffle Act One deck (Energy, Repair, Block combined).
| |
| − | # Place 5 Energy cards face-up in the Energy Market row.
| |
| − | # Shuffle Entropy Deck separately.
| |
| − | # Set Entropy Marker to 0.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Act Structure =
| |
| − | | |
| − | The game consists of three Acts:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * '''Act One – Persist'''
| |
| − | * '''Act Two – Connect'''
| |
| − | * '''Act Three – Leave Something Behind'''
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Act One – Persist =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Competitive survival phase.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Goal ==
| |
| − | Survive 6 Entropy Rounds.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Turn Structure ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | On your turn:
| |
| − | | |
| − | # Draw 2 cards.
| |
| − | # Play up to 3 cards.
| |
| − | # Take 1 Energy card from the Market (optional).
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Card Types ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Energy Cards ===
| |
| − | Fuel actions.
| |
| − | Cost: free to take from Market.
| |
| − | Use to:
| |
| − | * Increase a track (+1 Energy per increase).
| |
| − | * Activate certain Repair cards.
| |
| − | * Pay costs on advanced abilities.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Repair Cards ===
| |
| − | Restore 1–2 points to a track.
| |
| − | Some may target another player.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Block Cards ===
| |
| − | Moderate disruption. Examples:
| |
| − | * '''Reserve Market''' – Place marker on an Energy card. Only you may take it next turn.
| |
| − | * '''Redirect Entropy''' – Move 1 damage from you to another player.
| |
| − | * '''Lock Track''' – Target player cannot raise chosen track next turn.
| |
| − | * '''Market Disruption''' – Shuffle Market row.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Block cards cannot destroy a player.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Entropy Cards ===
| |
| − | Resolved at end of round for all players.
| |
| − | Examples:
| |
| − | * Resource Loss – Each player discards 1 card.
| |
| − | * Instability – All players lose 1 Regulation.
| |
| − | * Drift – Lowest Prediction loses 2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | After each Entropy resolution, advance Entropy Track by 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == End of Act One ==
| |
| − | When Entropy Track reaches 6:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Flip Civilization Board face-up.
| |
| − | * Each player contributes 1 Coherence to shared pool.
| |
| − | * Discard remaining Block cards from hands.
| |
| − | * Begin Act Two.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Act Two – Connect =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Mixed cooperation and competition.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == New Elements ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Social Entropy Deck replaces Entropy Deck.
| |
| − | * Civilization Board activates.
| |
| − | * Trust Fracture markers introduced.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Civilization Board Tracks ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Infrastructure
| |
| − | * Knowledge
| |
| − | * Social Cohesion
| |
| − | * Stewardship
| |
| − | | |
| − | All begin at 2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Turn Changes ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Players may trade cards up to Belonging value per turn.
| |
| − | | |
| − | If a player breaks a declared trade agreement, place 1 Trust Fracture marker.
| |
| − | | |
| − | If Trust Fractures ≥5 at any time:
| |
| − | * Increase all future Crisis damage by +1 in Act Three.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Social Entropy Examples ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Alliance Strain – All players with Belonging ≤2 lose 1.
| |
| − | * Institutional Decay – Infrastructure −1.
| |
| − | * Polarization – If any betrayal occurred this round, Social Cohesion −2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Collective Threshold ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | When total Civilization track sum reaches 12:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * All personal Coherence tokens move to center.
| |
| − | * Personal scoring ends.
| |
| − | * Replace Social Entropy Deck with Crisis Deck.
| |
| − | * Begin Act Three.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Act Three – Leave Something Behind =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Fully cooperative phase.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Structure ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | 5 Crisis Rounds.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Each round:
| |
| − | | |
| − | # Reveal 1 Crisis Card.
| |
| − | # Players may play Legacy cards or contribute Coherence to mitigate damage.
| |
| − | # Apply unresolved damage to Civilization Board.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Crisis Examples ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | * System Collapse – Lose 2 Infrastructure and 1 Knowledge.
| |
| − | * Cascading Failure – Reduce lowest Civilization track by 3.
| |
| − | * Generational Drift – If Stewardship ≤2, lose game immediately.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Legacy Cards ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Examples:
| |
| − | * '''Sacrifice''' – Prevent all damage to one track.
| |
| − | * '''Teach Forward''' – Restore 2 Knowledge.
| |
| − | * '''Institution Builder''' – Raise Infrastructure by 2.
| |
| − | * '''Reconciliation''' – Remove 2 Trust Fractures.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Legacy cards are public and single-use.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Conversion Rule ==
| |
| − | For every 2 Belonging:
| |
| − | You may convert 1 personal Coherence into 2 shared Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Victory and Collapse =
| |
| − | | |
| − | After 5 Crisis Rounds:
| |
| − | | |
| − | If no Civilization track is at 0:
| |
| − | * Collective Success.
| |
| − | * Score equals total Civilization track sum.
| |
| − | | |
| − | If any Civilization track reaches 0:
| |
| − | * Collective Collapse.
| |
| − | * The system failed to stabilize.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | __NOTOC__
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Starting Hand and Round Structure (Clarified) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Starting Hand ==
| |
| − | Each player:
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| − | | |
| − | * Draws 5 cards from the Act One deck.
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| − | * Hand limit: 7 cards (6 if Fragmented).
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| − | * If you exceed hand limit at end of turn, discard down.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Round Definition ==
| |
| − | A round consists of:
| |
| − | | |
| − | # Each player takes one full turn in clockwise order.
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| − | # After all players finish, reveal and resolve 1 Entropy (or Social Entropy / Crisis) card.
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| − | # Advance the appropriate track.
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| − | | |
| − | Act One lasts exactly 6 Entropy Rounds.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = ACT ONE CARD LIST (110 Cards Total) =
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| − | | |
| − | == Energy Cards (40) ==
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| − | | |
| − | Energy cards are not identical. They represent sources.
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| − | | |
| − | === 20 Basic Energy ===
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| − | Text: “Gain 1 Energy token.”
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| − | | |
| − | === 8 Efficient Energy ===
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| − | Text: “Gain 2 Energy tokens.”
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| − | | |
| − | === 6 Stored Energy ===
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| − | Text: “Place 2 Energy tokens on this card. At any future turn, reclaim them.”
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| − | | |
| − | === 6 Risky Extraction ===
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| − | Text: “Gain 3 Energy. Lose 1 Regulation.”
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| − | | |
| − | ---
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| − | | |
| − | == Repair Cards (25) ==
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| − | | |
| − | === 8 Self-Regulate ===
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| − | Restore 2 Regulation.
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| − | | |
| − | === 5 Adaptive Model ===
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| − | Restore 2 Prediction.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Reconnect ===
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| − | Restore 2 Belonging.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Recommit ===
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| − | Restore 2 Purpose.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Mutual Aid ===
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| − | Restore 1 track to yourself and 1 to another player.
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| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Block Cards (15) ==
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Reserve Market ===
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| − | Place marker on an Energy card. Only you may take it next turn.
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| − | | |
| − | === 3 Market Disruption ===
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| − | Shuffle the Energy Market row.
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| − | | |
| − | === 3 Lock Track ===
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| − | Choose a player. They cannot increase a chosen track next turn.
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| − | | |
| − | === 3 Redirect Entropy ===
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| − | After Entropy is revealed, move 1 damage from you to another player.
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| − | | |
| − | === 2 Energy Tax ===
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| − | Target player must discard 1 Energy card or lose 1 Regulation.
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| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Entropy Cards (30) ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 6 Resource Drain ===
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| − | All players discard 1 card.
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| − | | |
| − | === 6 Regulation Shock ===
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| − | All players lose 1 Regulation.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Cognitive Drift ===
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| − | Lowest Prediction loses 2.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Isolation Pressure ===
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| − | All players with Belonging ≤2 lose 1.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Aimlessness ===
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| − | All players with Purpose ≤2 lose 1.
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| − | | |
| − | === 6 Environmental Stress ===
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| − | Each player loses 1 from their highest track.
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| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = ACT TWO SOCIAL ENTROPY CARDS (20) =
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Alliance Strain ===
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| − | All players with Belonging ≤2 lose 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 4 Institutional Decay ===
| |
| − | Infrastructure −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 4 Polarization ===
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| − | If any betrayal occurred this round: Social Cohesion −2. Otherwise −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 4 Knowledge Fragmentation ===
| |
| − | Knowledge −1 unless at least one player has Prediction ≥4 and reveals warning.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 4 Stewardship Neglect ===
| |
| − | If no player sacrifices resources this round: Stewardship −2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = ACT THREE CRISIS CARDS (20) =
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 System Collapse ===
| |
| − | Infrastructure −2, Knowledge −1.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Cascading Failure ===
| |
| − | Lowest Civilization track −3.
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| − | | |
| − | === 4 Generational Drift ===
| |
| − | If Stewardship ≤2: lose immediately. Otherwise Stewardship −2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 4 Institutional Corrosion ===
| |
| − | All tracks −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 4 Trust Breakdown ===
| |
| − | If Trust Fractures ≥3: Social Cohesion −3. Otherwise −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = LEGACY CARDS (25) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Legacy earned in Act One and Two when:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * You voluntarily take damage for another player.
| |
| − | * You sacrifice 2 Energy to repair Civilization.
| |
| − | * You warn group of Entropy and reduce impact.
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| − | * You repair another player while gaining no personal benefit.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Requires Purpose ≥3.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 6 Sacrifice ===
| |
| − | Prevent all damage to one Civilization track this round.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 5 Teach Forward ===
| |
| − | Restore 2 Knowledge.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 5 Institution Builder ===
| |
| − | Raise Infrastructure by 2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === 4 Reconciliation ===
| |
| − | Remove 2 Trust Fractures.
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| − | | |
| − | === 5 Steward’s Gift ===
| |
| − | Convert 2 personal Coherence into 4 shared Coherence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Walkthrough (3 Players) =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Players:
| |
| − | Anna (Regulator 4)
| |
| − | Ben (Prediction 4)
| |
| − | Clara (Purpose 4)
| |
| − | | |
| − | All other tracks at 3.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Each begins with 5 cards.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | == ACT ONE – ROUND 1 ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Initial hands:
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna:
| |
| − | * Basic Energy
| |
| − | * Efficient Energy
| |
| − | * Self-Regulate
| |
| − | * Reserve Market
| |
| − | * Risky Extraction
| |
| − | | |
| − | Ben:
| |
| − | * Adaptive Model
| |
| − | * Basic Energy
| |
| − | * Stored Energy
| |
| − | * Lock Track
| |
| − | * Resource Drain (drawn mistakenly? No. Entropy deck separate. Remove.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Corrected Ben:
| |
| − | * Adaptive Model
| |
| − | * Basic Energy
| |
| − | * Stored Energy
| |
| − | * Lock Track
| |
| − | * Mutual Aid
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| − | | |
| − | Clara:
| |
| − | * Efficient Energy
| |
| − | * Recommit
| |
| − | * Market Disruption
| |
| − | * Basic Energy
| |
| − | * Risky Extraction
| |
| − | | |
| − | Energy Market row:
| |
| − | Basic / Efficient / Basic / Stored / Risky
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Turn 1 – Anna ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Basic Energy, Self-Regulate
| |
| − | | |
| − | Plays:
| |
| − | Efficient Energy → gains 2 tokens
| |
| − | Risky Extraction → gains 3 tokens, Regulation drops from 4 to 3
| |
| − | Reserve Market on Stored Energy
| |
| − | | |
| − | Total Energy: 5
| |
| − | | |
| − | Takes no market card.
| |
| − | | |
| − | End turn.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Turn 2 – Ben ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Basic Energy, Adaptive Model
| |
| − | | |
| − | Plays:
| |
| − | Stored Energy → stores 2 tokens
| |
| − | Basic Energy → +1 token
| |
| − | | |
| − | Uses Lock Track on Clara (cannot raise Purpose next turn)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Energy total: 1 stored, 1 active
| |
| − | | |
| − | Takes Efficient Energy from market.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Turn 3 – Clara ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Basic Energy, Self-Regulate
| |
| − | | |
| − | Plays:
| |
| − | Risky Extraction → +3 Energy, Regulation 3→2
| |
| − | Basic Energy → +1 Energy
| |
| − | Attempts Recommit but blocked (Lock Track)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Energy total: 4
| |
| − | | |
| − | Takes Stored Energy from market (breaking Anna’s plan).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna’s Reserve Market is wasted.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === End of Round 1 – Entropy ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Reveal: Regulation Shock.
| |
| − | | |
| − | All players lose 1 Regulation.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna: 3→2
| |
| − | Ben: 3→2
| |
| − | Clara: 2→1
| |
| − | | |
| − | Clara now at Regulation 1 (fragile).
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Track = 1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | == ACT ONE – ROUND 2 ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Turn 1 – Anna ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Self-Regulate, Basic Energy
| |
| − | | |
| − | Plays:
| |
| − | Self-Regulate → Regulation 2→4
| |
| − | Basic Energy → +1 token
| |
| − | Uses 2 Energy to raise Regulation to 5
| |
| − | | |
| − | She stabilizes aggressively.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Turn 2 – Ben ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Mutual Aid, Efficient Energy
| |
| − | | |
| − | Plays:
| |
| − | Efficient Energy → +2 tokens
| |
| − | Adaptive Model → Prediction 4→5
| |
| − | | |
| − | He now sees next Entropy card:
| |
| − | Resource Drain.
| |
| − | | |
| − | He says nothing (Act One, no cooperation).
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Turn 3 – Clara ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Draw 2:
| |
| − | Reconnect, Basic Energy
| |
| − | | |
| − | Plays:
| |
| − | Recommit → Purpose 4→5
| |
| − | Reconnect → Belonging 3→5
| |
| − | Basic Energy → +1 token
| |
| − | | |
| − | She builds internally, ignoring Regulation.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | === End of Round 2 – Entropy ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Resource Drain.
| |
| − | | |
| − | All discard 1 card.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Clara discards Market Disruption.
| |
| − | Ben discards Mutual Aid.
| |
| − | Anna discards Basic Energy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Track = 2.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | (Condensed but precise continuation)
| |
| − | | |
| − | Rounds 3–6 show:
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Clara enters Fragmented State after Environmental Stress drops Regulation to 0.
| |
| − | * Anna maintains high Regulation.
| |
| − | * Ben peaks Prediction to 6 and looks ahead repeatedly.
| |
| − | * Clara never sacrifices for others and earns no Legacy.
| |
| − | * Anna gains 2 Legacy (Mutual Aid used sacrificially later).
| |
| − | * Ben gains 1 Legacy by warning and taking extra damage voluntarily.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Entropy Track reaches 6.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = ACT TWO SNAPSHOT =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Civilization Board starts:
| |
| − | Infrastructure 2
| |
| − | Knowledge 2
| |
| − | Social Cohesion 2
| |
| − | Stewardship 2
| |
| − | | |
| − | Clara trades aggressively but betrays once → 1 Trust Fracture.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Ben warns about Knowledge Fragmentation and saves 1 point.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna sacrifices 2 Energy to repair Infrastructure and gains 1 Legacy.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Civilization total reaches 12.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Transition to Act Three.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = ACT THREE – ROUND 1 =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Crisis: System Collapse.
| |
| − | Infrastructure −2
| |
| − | Knowledge −1
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna plays Sacrifice → Prevent Infrastructure loss.
| |
| − | Knowledge still −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Ben converts 1 Coherence (Belonging 4) → adds 2 shared.
| |
| − | Clara has little to contribute.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Board after mitigation:
| |
| − | Infrastructure 2
| |
| − | Knowledge 1
| |
| − | Social Cohesion 3
| |
| − | Stewardship 3
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | Subsequent Crisis Rounds:
| |
| − | | |
| − | Round 2 – Trust Breakdown
| |
| − | Trust Fractures = 1 → minor loss.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Round 3 – Cascading Failure
| |
| − | Lowest track Knowledge −3.
| |
| − | Ben plays Teach Forward → restores 2.
| |
| − | Net −1.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Round 4 – Institutional Corrosion
| |
| − | All −1.
| |
| − | Group spends 3 Coherence to offset.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Round 5 – Generational Drift
| |
| − | Stewardship at 3 → drops to 1 but not 0.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Final totals:
| |
| − | Infrastructure 3
| |
| − | Knowledge 2
| |
| − | Social Cohesion 3
| |
| − | Stewardship 1
| |
| − | | |
| − | Collective Success.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ---
| |
| − | | |
| − | = Design Outcome Demonstrated =
| |
| − | | |
| − | Anna’s early Regulation → survival capacity.
| |
| − | Ben’s Prediction → mitigation leverage.
| |
| − | Clara’s selfish Act One → weak Act Three contribution.
| |
| − | | |
| − | No player eliminated.
| |
| − | System nearly failed due to Stewardship neglect.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Final score: 9.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Group survived, but barely.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The system became the organism.
| |
YouTube
... Quora
...Google search
...Google News
...Bing News
Tagline: Hold together, learn what matters, become valuable, extend the horizon.
What the game is “about” in play terms
Players are building coherent patterns under pressure. Drift is always rising. You can’t win by hoarding, because the biggest point sources require reciprocity and stewardship projects that demand group stability. You also can’t win by only helping, because you still need a functioning self: stable regulation, trained value signals, a workable model of the world, and a coherent identity arc.
Player count, time, win condition
Players: 2–5
Time: 60–90 minutes
End of game triggers (first one that happens):
A) Any player completes a Layer 10 Stewardship project, or
B) The World Drift marker reaches the final space (the table “survives” but scores are capped and harsh), or
C) The Project deck runs out (civilization has “spent its runway”).
Winner: Highest Meaning Score.
Components (low text, icon-driven)
A. Main board (1)
Contains:
• World Drift track (0–12)
• World Vital Signals (3 tracks): Energy Flow, Trust, Habitat (each 0–6)
• Shared Market row (6 slots) for Pattern Cards
• Project row (3 slots) for Project Tiles
• Event row (1 slot) for the current World Event
• Token bank spaces
B. Tokens (use distinct shapes or colors, but the game works even if you only have icons)
• E (Energy)
• R (Regulation)
• M (Model)
• V (Value)
• B (Bond)
• P (Repair)
• L (Legacy)
• D (Drift) marker (one on track, plus small D tokens as “local stress”)
C. Pattern Cards (90 cards)
Each card has:
• Layer icon (1–10)
• Cost (paid with tokens)
• Two to four icons in its “outputs” (multi-values)
• One “tag” icon (one of: Boundary, Balance, Form, Membership, Prediction, Reinforcement, Now, Culture, Story, Stewardship)
No rules text, just icons.
D. Project Tiles (24 tiles)
Big table objectives. Each shows:
• Required contributions (icons only)
• Group effect (improves a World Vital Signal or reduces Drift)
• Credit slots (to track who contributed what)
• Scoring (points plus a “layer bonus”)
E. World Event Cards (30 cards)
Each shows:
• A Drift increase (number)
• A “pressure” type icon (Scarcity, Threat, Uncertainty, Conflict, Damage)
• A mitigation condition (icons) that, if met by the table this round, reduces or cancels the Drift increase
F. Role Tiles (10 tiles, optional but recommended)
Light asymmetry, no text. Each role has:
• One passive perk icon (discount, extra draw, conversion, etc.)
• One “care bias” icon that rewards a scoring style (Self, Community, Horizon)
G. Player mats (1 per player)
Tracks:
• Coherence (0–10)
• Social Standing (0–10)
• Horizon (0–10)
Also has 6 tableau slots (Pattern stacks) with layer numbers printed so players naturally build upward.
Core concepts mapped to play (so it teaches without lecturing)
Layer 1–2 (Coherence and regulation) are your survival platform. In game: Coherence track and Regulation tokens.
Layer 5–6 (Model + Value learning) are your engine quality. In game: M and V tokens plus Pattern combos.
Layer 8 (Social meaning) is the “two-way survival relationship.” In game: Bond tokens, Trust track, shared projects with contribution credit.
Layer 9–10 (Narrative + Stewardship) are the big points. In game: Legacy tokens and Stewardship projects that require the world not to collapse.
Setup
Place the board, set World Drift to 3 (a little drift is already present).
Set World Vital Signals: Energy Flow 3, Trust 3, Habitat 3.
Shuffle Pattern deck. Deal 6 Pattern cards face up into the Market row.
Shuffle Project tiles. Reveal 3 into the Project row.
Shuffle World Events. Reveal 1 into the Event slot.
Each player takes a mat, starts with: E=2, R=1, and Coherence=4, Social Standing=2, Horizon=1.
Give each player 1 Role tile (random or draft).
Choose starting player.
Turn structure (round-based, like a clean engine builder)
Each round has five phases:
Phase A: World Event (pressure enters)
Resolve the current Event:
• Add its Drift value to the World Drift track unless mitigated this round (mitigation is checked in Phase D).
• Place any “local stress” D tokens indicated by the event onto the board (these are temporary burdens that make costs higher until repaired).
Phase B: Market Refresh
Refill Market to 6 face-up Pattern cards if any were purchased last round.
Phase C: Player Turns (in clockwise order)
On your turn, take exactly 2 actions, chosen from:
Action 1: Acquire Resources
Take 2 tokens total from the bank, but they must be from two different types (example: E + B).
Constraint: You can’t take L directly with this action. Legacy must be earned.
Action 2: Buy a Pattern Card (engine building)
Pay its cost. Place it into the corresponding Layer slot on your mat.
Immediate gain: take the card’s output icons as tokens.
Ongoing benefit: each Pattern card also permanently reduces the cost of future cards that share its tag icon (Boundary, Balance, Form, etc.) by 1 of the matching token type shown on the card (simple: tag discounts).
Action 3: Contribute to a Project (build together, score individually)
Pay any subset of the Project’s required icons and place your contribution markers on the Project’s credit slots.
When a Project is completed, everyone gets its world benefit, but points are distributed based on contribution credit.
Action 4: Repair (fight drift locally)
Spend P (Repair) or convert E→P at a poor rate (2E for 1P). Remove local D tokens from the board or reduce World Drift by 1 (your choice).
This is the “life resists drift” move.
Action 5: Social Touchpoint (reciprocity without negotiation-heavy play)
Choose one:
• Give 1 token to another player, gain +1 Social Standing and take 1 B (Bond).
• Or request 1 token from another player; if they agree, both players gain 1 B (Bond).
No forced trades, no haggling required. It’s a clean “reciprocity channel.”
Phase D: Stability Check (the table pays the bill)
Now check the Event’s mitigation condition. The table can collectively spend tokens into a shared mitigation pool. If the icons match the Event’s mitigation, reduce this round’s Event Drift by the listed amount (often all of it).
Then apply World Vital Signals:
• If Energy Flow is low (0–1), everyone loses 1 Coherence.
• If Trust is low (0–1), Social Touchpoint gives no Standing this round.
• If Habitat is low (0–1), Project contributions cost +1 extra E each.
Phase E: Scoring Tick (meaning shows up as a signal)
Each player gains small “Meaning ticks” as signals, not huge endgame math:
• If your Coherence is 7+, gain +1 point. (regulated enough to care)
• If your Social Standing is 6+ and you have at least 1 B, gain +1 point. (membership)
• If your Horizon is 5+, gain +1 point. (longer arc)
Then reveal the next World Event.
How you actually build “Life Builds Meaning” in your tableau
Pattern Cards are designed so players naturally reenact the layers:
Layer 1 cards produce E and sometimes a little R. They’re cheap, they stabilize your economy.
Layer 2 cards convert E into R and P efficiently. They keep you from collapsing when Drift spikes.
Layer 3–4 cards add “Form” and “Membership” tags that discount Projects and grant contribution credit bonuses.
Layer 5 cards generate M (Model) tokens that let you preview or filter Market cards (no text, just “look at top 2, keep 1”).
Layer 6 cards generate V (Value) tokens that let you “lock in” one token conversion each round (habit formation).
Layer 7 cards generate a “Now” icon that grants a flexible wild token once per round, representing unified agency.
Layer 8 cards generate B (Bond) and improve Trust if contributed to Projects.
Layer 9 cards generate L (Legacy) when you complete Projects, plus endgame multipliers.
Layer 10 cards don’t exist as normal purchases. Layer 10 is Projects. Stewardship is something you do together, but someone gets to be best at.
Scoring (simple, strategic, and aligned to the framework)
You track points on paper or a score track, but the sources are icon-driven.
A. Points from completed Projects
When a Project completes:
• Every player gains the Project’s “public benefit” (World Vital Signals up, Drift down).
• Points: the top contributor gets 6, second gets 3, all other contributors get 1. (If tied, split the higher reward.)
This creates competitive collaboration: everyone wants the project done, but you still want credit.
B. Endgame Meaning Score (three pillars)
At game end, add:
Autopoiesis (Self-maintenance)
• +1 point per Coherence above 5
• +2 points if you never dropped below Coherence 3 at any time (stayed viable)
Allopoiesis (Value to others)
• +1 point per 2 Social Standing
• +1 point per Bond token spent into Projects (you turned connection into shared stability)
Horizon (Stewardship and legacy)
• +1 point per Legacy token
• +3 points if you contributed to at least one Stewardship Project (Layer 10)
Penalty for collapse: If World Drift ended at 10–12, everyone loses 6 points. Meaning can’t scale when the platform is breaking.
Walkthrough (first two rounds, concrete example)
Assume 3 players: Alex, Brooke, Casey.
Round 1, World Event reveals “Uncertainty”
Icons show: Drift +2 unless mitigated by spending M + R into the pool.
Market shows cheap Layer 1 and 2 cards plus one Layer 5 “Model” card that costs a bit more.
Alex’s turn (2 actions)
Action 1 Acquire: takes E + R.
Action 2 Buy Pattern: buys a Layer 2 Balance card (cost E+R). It outputs R + P. Alex takes R and P.
Interpretation in play: Alex just invested in regulation and repair capacity. They’ll be the “keeps us stable” player.
Brooke’s turn
Action 1 Acquire: takes E + E is not allowed (must be different), so E + M.
Action 2 Buy Pattern: buys a Layer 1 Boundary card (cheap) that outputs E + E. Brooke’s economy starts.
Casey’s turn
Action 1 Acquire: takes E + B.
Action 2 Social Touchpoint: gives the B to Brooke as a token (or any token if your set allows), gains +1 Social Standing and takes 1 B (Bond).
Interpretation: Casey is building membership early. It’s not charity, it’s positioning for Project credit and Trust stability.
Phase D Mitigation
The table needs M + R. Brooke has M, Alex has R. They each drop one into the mitigation pool. Drift increase is canceled.
Interpretation: Predictive model (M) plus regulation (R) prevents drift from turning into damage.
Round 2, new Event “Damage”
Drift +1 and places 2 local D tokens. Mitigation requires P + R.
Players now see why Layer 2 matters. Alex can repair, Brooke can fund, Casey can keep Trust from slipping by maintaining reciprocity and pushing Projects.
By Round 4–5, the table starts completing Projects, Trust rises if they do, and the game visibly shifts from “don’t fall apart” to “build the longer arc.” That is the framework, experienced.
Project examples (what they look like in icons)
Project: “Shared Shelter” (Layer 8)
Requires: E E R B
Benefit: +1 Habitat, +1 Trust
Points: contribution credit as normal
Project: “Training Loop” (Layer 6)
Requires: M V R
Benefit: The table gets a permanent “once per round convert 1E→1R” rule
Points: normal
Project: “Mentorship Chain” (Layer 9)
Requires: B B M L (L can only be produced by Layer 9 patterns or project completion bonuses)
Benefit: +1 Trust, remove 2 Drift
Points: normal, plus top contributor gains +1 Horizon
Project: “Stewardship Pact” (Layer 10, end trigger candidate)
Requires: Habitat at 5+, Trust at 5+, and contributions totaling: E E R M B L L
Benefit: End the game, reduce Drift by 2 immediately
Points: top contributor gets 10, second gets 5, others 2
Why this is competitive without betrayal
Players compete for:
• Market timing (who gets the perfect pattern card)
• Project credit (shared benefit, individual points)
• Role synergy (light asymmetry shapes strategy)
• Efficiency under pressure (who turns chaos into coherence with fewer resources)
Players collaborate because:
• Drift punishes everyone
• World Vital Signals create shared operating conditions
• The best scoring opportunities (Legacy and Stewardship) require a stable world and at least some cooperation
Quick reference (what to teach in 3 minutes)
Drift rises each round unless we mitigate it.
On your turn, take 2 actions: get tokens, buy patterns, contribute to projects, repair, or do a social touchpoint.
Patterns build your engine. Projects stabilize the world and award points by contribution.
If we keep the world stable, we can reach legacy and stewardship. If we don’t, everyone pays.
