Rob the Nest is a fun and exciting strategy game for 2-4 players. The goal is to collect the most treasure gems from the nest while avoiding getting caught by the nest’s guardian. To play, you’ll need a game board, treasure gems, player pawns, and a guardian pawn. The rules are simple but allow for complex strategic gameplay. Read on to learn how to set up and play this great family game!
Game Setup
To begin, place the game board in the middle of the table. This board shows a nest with various rooms connected by pathways.
Scatter the colored plastic gems (the treasure) randomly throughout the rooms of the nest. The number of gems should equal 5 gems per player.
Each player chooses a pawn and places it on the starting space on the outside of the nest. These pawns represent the robbers.
Finally, place the guardian pawn in the central room of the nest. The guardian pawn will move around the nest throughout the game trying to catch the robbers.
Once all pawns are on the board, you are ready to start playing Rob the Nest!
Gameplay
Rob the Nest is played in turns, with the youngest player starting first. On a turn, a player must move their pawn up to 3 spaces. While moving, a player tries to collect gems from the rooms they move through while avoiding getting caught by the guardian.
Here are the details of gameplay:
– Moving: On your turn, you must move your pawn up to 3 spaces. You can move horizontally and vertically through the corridors of the nest, but not diagonally.
– Collecting Gems: If you end your move in a room that has gems, you may pick up 1 gem. Only 1 gem may be collected per turn, even if you move through multiple rooms.
– Avoiding the Guardian: If the guardian pawn is in the same room as you or moves into the same room during its turn, you get caught and must return your collected gems! You do not get to collect a gem if the guardian catches you.
– Guardian Movement: After each player’s turn, the guardian pawn moves 1 space in a random direction determined by a dice roll. If it enters a room with a player pawn, that player is caught.
– Exchanges: On your turn, instead of moving and collecting, you may initiate an exchange with another player in an adjacent space. You may exchange 1 gem or swap pawn positions with them.
– Winning: Once all gems are collected from the nest, the game ends. The player with the most gems wins!
That covers the basics of how to play Rob the Nest. The strategy comes in with how you move your pawn each turn to optimize gem collecting while avoiding the roaming guardian. Now let’s look at some strategic tips and tricks.
Rob the Nest Strategy Tips
Rob the Nest starts simple but offers many opportunities for strategic play. Here are some tips to improve your strategy:
– Move toward gems, but don’t get greedy. Only collect 1 gem per turn; don’t risk getting caught for an extra gem.
– Consider exchanging gems or swapping pawn positions with other players. This can get you out of a tough spot or closer to an unclaimed gem.
– Try trapping the guardian in a corner or dead-end corridor. This gives you a few turns to grab gems unhindered. But watch out, the guardian will eventually get free.
– Pay attention to where the guardian moves each turn. You may be able to predict and avoid its paths.
– Grab gems from the outskirts first, then work your way inward. The guardian usually starts in the center so you’re less likely to encounter it early on.
– Near the end of the game, you may need to take risks like dodging past the guardian to grab remaining gems. Make bold moves when necessary.
– If you have gems, try to block paths or force other players toward the guardian. Protect your lead at all costs!
Rob the Nest Variations
Part of the fun of Rob the Nest is trying variations on the rules. Here are some popular rule variations you can try:
– More Difficult Guardian: Allow the guardian to move up to 2 or 3 spaces per turn instead of just 1. This makes avoiding it more challenging.
– Room Actions: Assign special actions to certain rooms, like “Lose 1 Gem” or “Move Again.” This adds unpredictability.
– Booby Traps: Designate certain rooms as booby trapped. If a player ends their turn in one, they lose all their gems!
– Hideout: Choose 1 room to be a hideout where the guardian can’t go. This creates a safe haven.
– Passageways: For a longer game, use 2 nest boards connected by 1 or 2 passageways. Players can move between boards.
– Team Play: Play in teams of 2, taking turns on the same pawn. Teams try to collect the most gems together.
– Multiple Guardians: Add more roaming guardians to really up the challenge! With 2 or 3 guardians, players will need very careful movement.
Feel free to get creative and try inventing your own Rob the Nest variations! Custom rules keep the game exciting and unpredictable.
Rob the Nest Strategies for Different Numbers of Players
The number of players in Rob the Nest changes the dynamic significantly. Here are some tips on playing with different group sizes:
2 Players:
– There will be a lot more open rooms and paths with just 2 robbers. Focus on trap avoidance.
– You can more easily predict the other player’s possible moves and try to block them.
– Exchanges are very impactful. Use them to swap gems or positions and gain an advantage.
3 Players:
– Wait to see where other players move before choosing your path to reduce collisions.
– You have more blocking and trapping options against 2 rivals. Use this to impede their progress.
– With 3 pawns, the guardian has more targets making it harder for any one player to get caught.
4 Players:
– The board gets very crowded. Be aware of traffic jams in corridors as you all try to move.
– Protect your gems closely since there are more players trying to steal them by catching you with the guardian.
– Exchanges become harder to coordinate. Focus on your own path instead of exchanges with others.
No matter the number of players, the core gameplay remains the same. But adjusting your strategy based on player count will improve your odds of robbing the nest effectively!
Conclusion
Rob the Nest is an easy to learn but strategically deep game for families and friends. With simple rules but complex gameplay dynamics, it offers endless fun. Adjust your strategy based on the guardian’s position, the remaining gem locations, and the other players’ pawns. And don’t be afraid to take some risks! Bold moves can pay off big in this game.
With practice, you’ll be able to rob those gem-filled nests with ease. So grab some friends and give Rob the Nest a try. Just beware the guardian, and don’t get caught while going after those treasures! What strategy will you use to collect the most gems?