Elemental Influence is a 3-5 player, hexagon-tile based game: A blend of dominos meets checkers meets civilization. A simple, portable game that starts quickly and cleans up easily into two small bags for tiles and dice. With games lasting 1-2 hours, this approachable and nuanced strategy game rewards diplomacy, long-term planning, and spur-of-the-moment decisions to produce a dynamic and balanced experience.

Players draw and match tri-coloured tiles to create a different board for every game, summoning Elemental dice that grow in strength as they control the board. Early game dominance can lead to victory, but long-term strategy may produce dramatic changes. Five colours and up to 5 players provide frequent opportunities to build and break alliances.

Players compete to create a favourable game board, playing and replaying tiles, gaining influence over the Elementals on the board -- growing in power to control the greatest army at the time the last tile is played!

GAMEPLAY OVERVIEW

The game consists of 1 white tile, 50 tri-coloured tiles which form the board, and 5 sets of 5 coloured dice, used as your Elemental game pieces. Elemental dice increase in level as you expand territories of your colour. Your goal during the game is to control the largest total level of Elementals on the board by the time the last tile is played, while preventing your opponents from doing the same.

Players take turns playing tiles, placing dice, moving their Elementals and influencing the game, achieving victory by controlling the greatest total levels of Elementals at the time the last tile is played.

HOW TO PLAY

Each player chooses a colour (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Black) and the 5 dice of their colour. These dice are used as Elementals. Starting from the white tile, players draw and play tiles each turn, creating a unique board every game. Each tile has 3 of the 5 colours, printed in reverse on the opposite side. Tiles must be played to match the colours already on the board, creating zones of colour or territories extending across tiles.

Each turn, players summon Elemental dice onto territories of their colour to explore and control the board. The number on the die represents the level of the Elemental, which can be increased by occupying larger territories or devouring weaker elementals. Players work to increase and secure their Elementals to create the most powerful army by the end of the game!

Completing solid single-colour hexagons grants temporary influence over an Elemental of that colour, or an elemental occupying a territory of that colour, moving them or altering their level. Players have the choice to help themselves or hinder the plans of others.

Elementals are leveled up by occupying larger territories of their colour, granting them more dominance on the board, or by devouring smaller elementals, growing in strength while temporarily frustrating other players.

Any time an Elemental occupies a territory of its colour, its level is set equal to the size of that territory! Large territories become sources of power, generating high-level Elementals. Small territories may act as refuge against stronger Elementals. If an Elemental occupies a smaller sized territory of its colour, it will be reduced to that level, so players must be cautious when moving their Elementals across the board. Gaining influence at the right time can allow players to bring down even high-level Elementals.

An Elemental may devour those of lower levels, growing in strength. But unexpected shifts in the board or well-timed influence can turn the tables on those in the lead. Territories must be defended! Players may replay ‘free’ tiles to new locations on the board, breaking large territories into smaller fragments. Players have a constant choice: whether to hunt down other Elementals and devour them or to secure their fortress and preserve their powerful army.

With heartfelt thanks to all the playtesters and editors that helped to bring this game into being!

Sheena and the Lamberts, Darren, Julie, Adrian, James, Andi, Riley, Serena, Adam, Eben, Caroline, Andrea and many more...