Setting up the Labyrinth game involves a few straightforward steps to prepare the board, distribute the essential treasure cards, and position player pawns, allowing you to dive into the shifting maze challenge.
Preparing the Game Board
The core of the Labyrinth game is its ever-changing maze. Setting up the board correctly ensures a dynamic and engaging experience.
- Place the Fixed Tiles: Begin by placing the fixed labyrinth tiles onto the game board. These are usually indicated by specific markings or colors on the board itself and form the permanent structure of the maze.
- Arrange Movable Labyrinth Tiles: Shuffle the remaining movable labyrinth tiles thoroughly. Randomly place these tiles into the empty spaces on the board. This creates the initial layout of the maze.
- Identify the Extra Tile: After placing all movable tiles, there will be one tile remaining. This extra tile is crucial for gameplay, as players will use it to shift the labyrinth during their turns. Keep it easily accessible next to the board.
Distributing Treasure Cards
Treasure cards represent the objectives players must reach. Their proper distribution is key to starting the game.
- Shuffle Treasure Cards: Shuffle all the treasure cards and form a single face-down draw pile.
- Deal Player Hands: Distribute a specific number of cards to each player based on the player count. For instance, in a three-player game, each player would typically receive eight cards.
- Maintain Secrecy: It's crucial not to look at these dealt cards initially. Instead, keep them in a face-down stack directly in front of yourself. These are your secret objectives, which you will reveal one at a time as you collect them.
- Form Draw Pile: Place any remaining treasure cards face down to form a general draw pile, which might be used during the game depending on specific rules or variants.
Player Setup and Starting Positions
Once the board and cards are ready, players can choose their game pieces and take their starting positions.
- Choose Player Pawns: Each player selects a pawn of their desired color.
- Place Pawns at Starting Positions: Players place their chosen pawns on the designated starting spaces on the game board. These spots are usually marked by matching colors to the player pawns.
Essential Setup Tips
- Confirm Tile Orientation: While placing movable tiles, ensure they are oriented in a way that creates a varied and challenging initial maze.
- Keep Cards Undisclosed: Always remember the rule to keep your dealt treasure cards face down and secret until it's time to reveal them. This maintains the element of surprise and strategy throughout the game.
For further details on gameplay and strategic insights, you can explore resources like the Labyrinth game page on BoardGameGeek.
