Magnetmen header

Magnetmen (Rules)

1

Setup

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Print a game board and hand out pens.

Each player picks one inventory at the edge of the board: that’s where you’ll track your collected Magnetmen.

2

Objective

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The game ends when nobody can take another move. Sum the values of all Magnetmen you collected: highest score wins!

3

Gameplay

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Take clockwise turns. On your turn, if possible, you must collect a square.

  • Pick an unused square. (Not destroyed, not collected yet.)
  • Cross it out
  • Draw the icon in an empty slot in your inventory.

Here’s the twist. The more often you possess a specific icon, the more you’re repelled by it.

  • You have an icon once? You can’t collect squares horizontally next to it.
  • You have an icon twice? You can’t collect squares horizontally and vertically next to it.
  • You have an icon thrice (or more)? You can’t collect any square next to it (horizontal, vertical or diagonal).
Visual illustration of the repel rule.
Example of applying the base rules to a turn.

That’s it!

The paper itself explains how each Magneeple scores you points. Or you can read the section on the Magnetmen.

4

Advanced Rules

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Once you’re familiar with the game, and start playing other sets, you can use the advanced rules. This introduces 2 rules changes.

On your turn, you can also pick the destroy action.

  • Pick an unused square.
  • Scratch it out entirely. (Make it unrecognizable.)
  • This icon is now simply removed from the board.

You don’t “get” the icon in your collection. But it can take away good squares from other players, or open up possibilities for yourself. (Because a destroyed icon is removed from the board, it’s not considered for the Repel rule.)

Secondly, if you collect any type 4 times, you take no more turns.

Example of executing the destroy action.
5

Magnetmen

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Below is an overview of all Magnetmen in the game.

Please note that there is slight randomization in the generator. Many of the Magnetmen have multiple variations on their power, with one picked at random. Only the most common one is explained below.

The base set contains …

Guitarist
Worth +1 points.
Ballerina
Worth +4 points if you have the most (out of all players), otherwise -4.
Athlete
Worth as many points as how many you have (of this type).
Baby
Worth as many points as your lowest scoring type.
Elderly Man
Worth as many points as your highest scoring type.
Knitting Lady
Worth +3 points if you have the least (out of all players), otherwise -3.
Explorer
When picked, destroy any square. (Make unrecognizable; it's not on the board anymore.)
Veterinarian
Worth +2 points.
Click a symbol to see its name / meaning.

The advanced set contains …

Astronaut
Worth +1 points. Ignore all crossed out icons when applying the Repel rule to this type.
Doctor
Worth +1 points. The Repel rule does not apply to this type until you have 3 (or more).
Firefighter
Worth -4 points, but you may pick 3 squares this turn. You can't pick another Firefighter.
Police
Worth +3 points. Can be picked twice. After the second time, destroy the square.
Baker
Worth +5 points if you have 3(+) of this type, otherwise -15.
Judge
Worth +3 points if you have 1, otherwise -3. Can't be destroyed!
King
Worth +12 points. Once taken, however, you never take another turn.
Mail Carrier
Worth +2 points. You may only pick this if an adjacent square is crossed out..
Click a symbol to see its name / meaning.

The expert set contains …

Painter
Worth +2 points for every square of this type that is not crossed out.
Photographer
Worth +1 points for every square of this type that is crossed out.
Hairdresser
Worth +1 points for every row / column that's completely crossed out.
Life Guard
Worth +3 points. You can't pick this if your left neighbor can't pick it.
Actress
The player(s) currently in the lead must destroy one icon from their collection.
Singer
Worth -5 points. Once crossed out, nobody may pick an adjacent square.
Taxi Driver
Worth as many points as the number of adjacent squares that are crossed out.
Pilot
Worth -2 points. Pick another square in the same row or column (ignoring all rules).
Click a symbol to see its name / meaning.