Aranea Rules

For two players only. 

Objective

To become the first player to achieve three playing stones in a continuous straight or diagonal line on the rectangle in the center of the web, or to achieve five playing stones total in any arrangement on the web center, whichever comes first.

  

Amber wins, three in a row.

  

Blue wins, five stones total.

 

Player’s Turn

Each player rolls two dice once per turn.  The sum of the two dice is the number that is used for the turn with the exception of a 3-4 combination.  A 3-4 combination is used as a one.  This is how we get the numbers 1 through 12 out of two dice which normally only roll totals of 2 through 12.

 

Beginning Play

Each player rolls two dice.  The player who rolls the largest total goes first.  Remember, a roll of a 3 and a 4 is a total of one.  In subsequent games, the loser of the prior game goes first.

 

Stone Placement Options

There are three rings on the web, each containing 12 squares.  Inside the three rings is a center rectangle containing 12 squares.  Each square is numbered.  A player may do one of two things with the total rolled by the dice on their turn:

  1. 1. Place a stone from their stockpile onto the outermost ring of the web on the square with the same number, or
  2. 2. Move any of their stones already on any ring of the web clockwise that number of squares, but staying in the same ring it is in.
  3. (3. Clash mode is an alternative to rule 2 above.  In clash mode the player going first may move any of their stones already on any ring clockwise per rule 2 above but the player going second must make such ring moves in a counter-clockwise direction.)

 

Any stone that has achieved the center rectangle of the web may not be moved.

For example, a roll with a total of four (i.e. 3-1, 2-2) may be used as:

 

 

1. Add one to the outermost ring on the four.

  OR  

2. Move one clockwise four spaces.

 

Stone Conflict

When a stone put on the web from the stockpile or moved clockwise on a ring of the web lands on a square that is occupied by another stone:

  1. 1. If the existing stone is that of the opponent’s, the opponent’s stone is removed from the web and replaced by the stone in play.
  2. 2. If the existing stone is that of the current player, the stone in play goes directly inward to the next innermost ring of the web.  If a move of this type is in the innermost ring, the stone in play goes to the rectangle in the center of the web, to the square of the same number that it came from.  If that square in the web center is already occupied, regardless of which player owns it, then this move cannot be completed and the player must return the stone being played to its original position and make a different move instead.  Any stone that has achieved the center of the web may not be moved or replaced.

 

 

1. Amber knocks Blue off the board.

 

2. Blue lands on own stone and moves inward.

 

Sequential Stone Conflict

If any stone in play moves to the next innermost ring by Stone Conflict rule 2 above, and that next innermost square is occupied by another stone, then the Stone Conflict rules above are applied here too.  In other words, if the stone on that next innermost square is the opponent’s, it is removed from the web and replaced.  If it belongs to the current player, then the stone in play goes to the next innermost position after that while still following established rules regarding the center of the web.  Again, if an existing stone in the web center blocks this move, then the stone being played must be returned to its original position and the player must make a different move instead.

 

 

1. Before the move…

2. Blue rolls a two (1-1), knocks Amber off the board.

 

1. Before the move…

2. Amber rolls a two; the stone goes to the center.

 

 

1. Before the move…

2. Amber rolls a four but cannot complete this move.  The two in the center rectangle is already occupied.  Amber must do something else with the four.