Leaf My Giraffe Alone

Setup

All players receive a random “giraffe body” (big domino-sized tile) and a “giraffe head” to make a tiny giraffe.

Create a random tree in the center of the table.

Create a column of 10 random “branch tiles”
Each branch tile states how many leaves it wants on each side: add those “leaf tiles” as required.

Objective

The game ends when the entire tree has been eaten ( = all leaf tiles have been taken). The player with the most points wins.

Gameplay

Begin with the start player, then take clockwise turns until done.

On your turn,

Change: each giraffe you have gives you 1 action.
Eat: exactly 1 of your giraffes must eat.

You must take all the actions you have, but it doesn’t matter to which giraffe you apply the action.

You can either take a special action from a giraffe (written on their body card)
Or you can discard a Leaf Tile (which you ate earlier) to use its action.

Crucially,

A giraffe can eat from a branch at the same height as them ( = number of neck tiles + head), picking either the left-most or right-most tile.

If you can’t eat, you lose a giraffe. You can’t lose your final giraffe.

@IDEA: Neck tiles can also contain actions or restrictions?

Leaf Tiles

Leaf tiles either have an action or a scoring rule.

Actions can be used on your turn, during the game, but are worth nothing at the end. Scoring tiles are worth nothing during the game, but determine your entire score when the game is over.

Scoring

Possible scoring tiles are:

Raw numeric value
Multiplier (if you have 2, each is worth 2, if you have 3, …)
If you have the MOST of this type, you get X points.
Worth as many points as the number of giraffes you have.
Worth as many points as the height of your tallest/shortest giraffe.
Worth X points for each Leaf Tile with action X that you have.

All of these can be POSITIVE or NEGATIVE.

Actions

Possible actions are:

Grow/Shrink neck by X.
Grow/Shrink the neck of another player’s giraffe by X.
Gain a new giraffe.
You may eat X lower/higher than usual.
You may pick any leaf tile from the left/right side of your branch.
Move Leaf Tiles around.
Regrow an empty branch.

I probably need a clear icon/color that indicates “this only applies to you” and “this only applies to other players”

Expansion: Leggy

The giraffe bodies now have space below them to add 2 leg tiles. You need two (on both sides) to raise one level. They are cheaper to get or lose, but if the sides are unbalanced this giraffe can’t eat.

Expansion: Foresty

Create 2 or 3 trees on the table.

All giraffes must also place a number tile next to them which indicates at which tree they currently are. You can only eat from your current tree, of course.

New actions:

Move a giraffe to a new tree.
Move an opponent’s giraffe to another tree.

@IDEA: Can this be a simultaneous game? I prefer that whenever possible.

The issue with that is that actions will always need to be on cards or tiles, so players can decide them beforehand.
And then some order needs to be established anyway, because branches can run out of leaves.

@IDEA: Besides an action, giraffes might also simply have a random permanent property. Like:

This giraffe can also eat from a branch one higher.
This giraffe can always grow double the amount an action indicates.
This giraffe starts with 2 neck tiles already.
Etc.

## Setup All players receive a random "giraffe body" (big domino-sized tile) and a "giraffe head" to make a **tiny giraffe**. Create a random tree in the center of the table. * Create a column of 10 random "branch tiles" * Each branch tile states how many leaves it wants on each side: add those "leaf tiles" as required. ## Objective The game ends when the entire tree has been eaten ( = all leaf tiles have been taken). The player with the most points wins. ## Gameplay Begin with the start player, then take clockwise turns until done. On your turn, * **Change**: each giraffe you have gives you 1 action. * **Eat**: exactly 1 of your giraffes must eat. You must take all the actions you have, but it doesn't matter to which giraffe you apply the action. * You can either take a **special action** from a giraffe (written on their body card) * Or you can **discard a Leaf Tile** (which you ate earlier) to use its action. Crucially, > A giraffe can eat from a branch at the same **height** as them ( = number of neck tiles + head), picking either the left-most or right-most tile. If you _can't eat_, you lose a giraffe. You can't lose your final giraffe. **@IDEA: Neck tiles can also contain actions or restrictions?** ## Leaf Tiles Leaf tiles either have an action or a scoring rule. Actions can be used on your turn, during the game, but are worth nothing at the end. Scoring tiles are worth nothing during the game, but determine your entire score when the game is over. ### Scoring Possible scoring tiles are: * Raw numeric value * Multiplier (if you have 2, each is worth 2, if you have 3, ...) * If you have the MOST of this type, you get X points. * Worth as many points as the number of giraffes you have. * Worth as many points as the height of your tallest/shortest giraffe. * Worth X points for each Leaf Tile with action X that you have. All of these can be POSITIVE or NEGATIVE. ### Actions Possible actions are: * Grow/Shrink neck by X. * Grow/Shrink the neck of _another player's giraffe_ by X. * Gain a new giraffe. * You may eat X lower/higher than usual. * You may pick _any_ leaf tile from the left/right side of your branch. * Move Leaf Tiles around. * Regrow an empty branch. I probably need a clear icon/color that indicates "this only applies to you" and "this only applies to other players" ## Expansion: Leggy The giraffe bodies now have space below them to add 2 leg tiles. You need _two_ (on both sides) to raise one level. They are cheaper to get or lose, but if the sides are _unbalanced_ this giraffe can't eat. ## Expansion: Foresty Create 2 or 3 trees on the table. All giraffes must also place a **number tile** next to them which indicates at which **tree** they currently are. You can only eat from your current tree, of course. New actions: * Move a giraffe to a new tree. * Move an opponent's giraffe to another tree. **@IDEA: Can this be a simultaneous game? I prefer that whenever possible.** * The issue with that is that actions will always need to be on cards or tiles, so players can decide them beforehand. * And then some _order_ needs to be established anyway, because branches can run out of leaves. **@IDEA: Besides an action, giraffes might also simply have a random permanent property.** Like: * This giraffe can also eat from a branch one higher. * This giraffe can always grow _double_ the amount an action indicates. * This giraffe starts with **2 neck tiles** already. * Etc.