Rules question

[aslum]

I played the previous version quite a bit, but my friend who owned it moved away long ago. So of course I ordered the new version when it came out. I got my copy yesterday, and it's missing the rules. ): I remember it well enough, and the summeries should suffice that we can manage a game or two w/out too much problem until I get ahold of the rules (called wotc already), however to the best of my knowledge the Docking Bay wasn't in the previous version... I don't suppose someone could give me a brief summery of how it works to tide me over until I recieve the rules?

[iiiHuman]

Originally Posted by aslum

I played the previous version quite a bit, but my friend who owned it moved away long ago. So of course I ordered the new version when it came out. I got my copy yesterday, and it's missing the rules. ): I remember it well enough, and the summeries should suffice that we can manage a game or two w/out too much problem until I get ahold of the rules (called wotc already), however to the best of my knowledge the Docking Bay wasn't in the previous version... I don't suppose someone could give me a brief summery of how it works to tide me over until I recieve the rules?

Actually, the rulebook doesn't say much about the Docking Bay. It is used for starting bots instead of the old "Virtual" rules. Because of this change, there are other rules changes for when your bot dies during the race and is supposed to enter the game in the same place as another bot that also died. But, as for setting up the Docking Bay (which, you can either use a preset layout for one of the included courses or start it on any side you choose, here is how it works. After randomly determing who will go first, that player puts his or her Archive Marker and Robot onto Dock 1 of the Docking Bay with the robot facing the main board. Then, the player to the left of that player does the same with Dock 2, and so on in a clockwise order until all of the robots are on a dock. You may need to use dock assignments to determine priority for some things later in the game, so make a note of where you started.

There are additional rules for coming back in on an archive point of two robots come in on that archive point at the same time.


iiiHuman

[mk31bolo]

The elimination of virtual robots adds a new element later. Basically, if two or more robots re-enter the race on the same turn and space, they re-enter in the order they were destroyed. The first destroyed 'bot goes on the archive space, facing any direction. The next starts on an adjacent space (including diagonally adjacent), facing any direction, but with no robot in it's line of sight within three spaces. (Line of sight is the line of spaces extending directly ahead of the robot.) Ignore all board elements (except for pits) when placing on an adjacent space.

[puggimer]

All robots (even the first) must be placed so they are do not have line of site to any other robot (within three spaces).

[mk31bolo]

I'm afraid that's wrong. Here's a direct quote form page 9:

"Multiple Archive Markers On The Same Space

If two or more robots would reenter play on the same space, they're placed back on the board in the order they were destroyed.

The First robot that was destroyed gets the archive space, facing any direction that player chooses.

The player whose robot was destroyed next then chooses an empty adjacent space (looking orthogonally OR diagonally) and puts the robot on that space. That robot can face any direction that player chooses, except that there can't be another robot in it's line of sight 3 spaces away or closer.

Ignore all board elements except for pits when placing your robot in an adjacent space. You can't start a turn with your robot in a pit. They suffer enough as it is."

So the first robot has no facing restriction at all.

[puggimer]

I stand corrected.

[iiiHuman]

Originally Posted by mk31bolo

So the first robot has no facing restriction at all.

I just wanted to confirm this, since I hadn't realized it before. So, I wrote to customer service (www.wizards.com/customeservice) about this and they confirmed with the following statement:

"The first robot on the Archive does not have to adhere to the rule that disallows facing an enemy within 3 spaces, as this rule is only stated in accordance to the player who has to choose an adjacent square."


iiiHuman

[mk31bolo]

Well it makes a kind of sense, if you think about it. In earlier editions, there were no restrictions on facing, but the robots would be virtual and wouldn't affect each other. This rule prevents the second (or third, fourth, etc.) robot from setting up facing the first robot (or any previously placed robot) and requires at least one register phase to be played to affect other robots. So it has a similar effect to virtual robots without actually being virtual at all.