Saboteur rules of the game. Board game "Gnomes-pests

30.08.2021

Greetings to all readers of my beloved mysku!
I would like to share with you the joy of purchasing an exciting board game - Saboteur. Sometimes the game can be found in stores under the names: Gnomes, pests, saboteur. The game is designed for ages from 8 to 99 years and the number of players: from 3 to 10. I really like unusual board games, and I noticed this one for a long time, but it was a pity to give $ 13.5 per game, which essentially consists of 110 cards and instructions ... But recently I noticed it on tmart at a price 2 times lower and immediately ordered

Colorful description of the game

Gnomes, dwarfs, zwergs - no matter how they call these short stalwarts, they all have one thing in common - the unbridled passion of searching for precious stones and metals. Armed with only primitive tools - a pickaxe, a trolley and an oil lamp - they are capable of tunneling huge, many kilometers of tunnels in the hardest rocks just to get to a single nugget. And no one can stop their unbridled zeal. Nobody ... except for other dwarfs of the same kind! These renegades of the underworld have chosen a different, easier path of profit. Their motto is: “Let others dig and tear their backs, and we will always seize the gold due to us”. The diligent, hardworking gnomes do not really like such dishonest colleagues and call them a word that is abusive to their people: "Pests". And there is no more shameful stigma for real diggers, because working in tunnels is a matter of their whole dwarven life.

In essence, this is a simple game for a fun company in which several players will have to play the role of good gnomes or the role of "good" saboteurs.

The essence of the game is as follows: all players are dealt cards - roles (closed) in order to divide the workers playing on the gnomes and the gnomes - saboteurs. The roles remain unknown to other players until the end of the round. Also, players receive cards in their hands - tunnels, dead ends and actions. A starting card is placed in the center of the table, face down treasure cards on three sides. The task of the gnome players is to pave the way from the starting card to three treasure cards (the treasure is only in one of the three options). The task of the gnomes - saboteurs - is to prevent them from doing this.

Let's take a closer look at it. In a small but dense cardboard box we will find 2 sealed decks of cards and a color instruction in English.

The printing of the box is at the highest level, the creator of the game is indicated on top

On the back there is information about the game and the publisher.

The decks are sealed, in total in 2 decks - 110 cards, 55 in each.

Also enclosed is an instruction made of thick colored paper with detailed instructions in Chinese and English. The paper is stylized as an old parchment, it looks very interesting.

If you suddenly do not know English, it doesn’t matter, there are rules in Russian on the Internet. For those who are too lazy to look, I post it here.

Rules in Russian

One of the huge advantages of this game is that there can be 10 treasure hunters! And, accordingly, the more players, the more saboteurs can be, which makes the game quite confusing and, one might even say, detective. One party does not last long, about 20 - 30 minutes, but it brings untold pleasure. The Saboter game is a great option for playing with a large company.

The cards are made of cardboard and laminated. The workmanship is good, the printing is normal, all the drawings are well drawn, the colors are bright. There is no marriage. The level of detail is average, in the original maps it is slightly higher, but not by much.
Next, there will be photos of different cards.
- start map

Special Tunnel Cards Back

Tunnel special cards

Normal Tunnel Cards Back

Examples of tunnel maps

Tunnel maps during the game

Some Action Cards

Loot cards

Harvester and Pest Cards

I plan to buy +91 Add to favourites I liked the review +54 +122

Click on images to enlarge

Cheerful, perky, sociable - with these epithets I will award the wonderful board game "Gnomes-pests", in the original "Saboteur". We call this game shortly - "Sabotagers". Today I will review this exciting game.

First, briefly about the general data: Game author - Frederic Moyersoen, artist - Andrea Boekhoff; the age of the players is from 8 years old, the number of players is from 3 to 10 (!). It is because of this that I awarded the "Dwarfs" with the epithet "companionable." Not all games can gather a dozen people at one table and have fun throughout the entire game; the length of the party is 30 minutes, well, it is always and everywhere in a different way.

Game package

I must say right away that at the moment there are 2 parts of this game, respectively, "Saboteur" and "Saboteur 2". A small box from the German publisher "Amigo" has settled on my play shelf, in which there is only the first part. I will review only her.

This game, along with the box and instructions, consists of several decks of cards:

44 Tunnel Maps
- 28 cards of gold bars;
- 27 action cards;
- 11 role cards;
- 3 goal cards.

All these cards, one way or another, will be used by us during the game. We will dwell on them in more detail below.

Differences between the game "Saboteur" and "Saboteur 2"

The differences between the first and second parts are that "Saboteur 2" is supplemented with various new characters and some other properties. However, if you are playing for the first time, if you are new to board games, if you play Sabotage no more than a few times a week, then the first part will be more than enough for you. It is already oversaturated with emotions and game mechanics to make you immerse yourself in the gameplay. Therefore, do not fill your head with unnecessary thoughts, just play. And if you are the owner of both parts, then congratulations!

The great advantage of the "Amigov" version of the game is that it is maximally reduced in size and absolutely transportable to any place and at any time, box dimensions are 95 × 120 × 20 mm- this is a little more than an average smartphone or a little more cards from "", by the way, I reviewed it here: The first part of "Gnomes" is easier to learn and can easily go to any company - there is no need to tire newcomers and guests with overloaded rules from the second part ... They just sat down, listened to the basic principles of the game and went to play. For that, I love my little box of Saboteurs.

Rules and purpose of the game

The goal of the game is extremely simple - to get more gold than your companions in the game, regardless of whether he is a pest or a normal gnome. Saboteurs receive gold if normal gnomes fail to dig a tunnel to the gold bar by the end of the round. Normal gnomes get gold for digging a tunnel down to a bar of despicable metal, before the deck of cards runs out. Next comes the carve-up. The game usually consists of 3 rounds.

The rules of the game are also extremely simple: each player gets a role, a certain number of cards, depending on the number of players, and starts the game. Normal gnomes use tunnel maps to dig tunnels to target maps. In some of them - gold. Dwarf pests are doing their best to thwart them. All have the option to use "action cards", 1 move - 1 card. If a player cannot or does not want to play any card, he discards it. Try not to show the cards that you are sending to the discard so that those around them cannot be seen, otherwise they may guess about your role.

Map overview

Let's take a closer look at the meaning of the cards. Cards are the main tool here, especially since there are no other game components here, everything is built purely on the card mechanism.

- role cards;

At the beginning of the round, role cards are dealt to all players (hello Mafia!). There are 2 roles in total in the game: an ordinary gnome (7 cards), who digs a tunnel for gold mining, and - gnome-pests (4 cards), they, in turn, in every possible way prevent normal gnomes from fulfilling their gnome dream - to get all the gold on this light.

Each player, after receiving a role card, looks at it and does not show it to anyone. From this moment until the end of the round - everything is decided for you.You can talk, talk, bluff about your role, but in no case show your card so that no one knows 100% about your intentions.

- maps of tunnels;

The largest number of cards in the game are tunnel cards. These cards are laid out to each other so that the moves fit together correctly. Thus, we will dig a path to our gold. Do not lay cards so that the tunnel is interrupted! Tunnel maps are always laid out vertically, you can rotate 180 °.

- goal maps;

There are only 3 goal cards in the game, namely, to them we will dig tunnels. Two cards - with empty ore (stones) and one card - with gold, our cherished goal.

- action cards;

The game has cards, the so-called. "Actions", they are mixed into one common deck along with the tunnel cards. As the name implies, action cards carry any actions, for example, if the card shows a broken lantern or a broken pickaxe, then you can play this card on your opponent and break his lantern or break a pickaxe (I remind you that 1 card is played per turn, then gets from the deck). A player with broken tools will not be able to dig further, but he will be able to use action cards.

Along with breakdowns (red icons), there are also repairs (green icons), with them, on your turn, you can repair broken items for yourself and other players. Of course, you need to break and repair carefully, suddenly harm your own kind or, conversely, help your opponent.

The deck contains, the so-called. "Map cards", tautology Ie. using the "card of cards" you can carefully, without showing anyone, spy on one of the target cards and try to determine where the gold is hidden. Further, depending on your role, you can build further tactics: either drive all the gnomes to the discovered gold, or bluff if you are a pest.

I remind you! Do not show goal cards to anyone, but you can openly recite, let them wonder whether you are telling the truth or bluffing. This is the beauty of Saboteurs.

The deck also contains landslide cards. Pests use them to collapse good moves, ordinary gnomes destroy dead ends and other travel squiggles that interfere with a direct passage.

- cards of gold bars;

From the newly acquired - "Gnomes pests". I took it for a test, rather out of curiosity than out of necessity. The card on Tesera, in the section similar games, read ““. The love for "Something" in our game cell is fanatical and if somewhere something is mentioned as close, then this something is grabbed instantly.

Saboteur (Gnomes pests)

In fact, for the Thing fan, there is no resemblance at all 🙁. Nevertheless, the game is noteworthy.

The camera glitches - as if gold is blinding. Saboteur

I took a deluxe edition - in a hard box, with a velvety organizer and specially made linen cards. In due time I changed "" from usual to luxury and made sure that the decision was correct. Tactile sensations work wonders.

Card game. You need to build a mine from the starting point to the intended nugget. From your hand you lay out a card-continuation of the mine or block the move of your opponents - breaking his tool. Opponents can also interfere with moving forward, which forces you to periodically repair the tool and coordinate the route.

The intrigue is that the players are secretly divided into 2 teams - some have to find gold, others to prevent them from doing this, diverting their way to the side or to a false goal. Simple, but funny. Especially starting from the middle of the game, when everyone roughly guesses which of the players has what intentions and unite in teams (of course, it is impossible to reveal roles).

The box contains an addition that most of them did not like right off the bat. Roles are mixed into the game - Dealer (does not belong to any team, but always gets some crumbs, Boss, etc.). There are no "pests" now - there are 2 competing teams that are trying to be the first to come to the nugget. The teams are of different colors and can block competitors by installing doors. For some reason, the supplement did not work, it seemed more fun with saboteurs.

In general, the game is good, but it did not cause any particular delight in anyone. Probably they could not "forgive" that she decided to stand in a row with "Something" 🙂

Caverna: The Cave Farmers

We continue to enjoy the great game. Experimenting with different strategies. There is a direct clue in the rules - develop what others do not develop. I decided to take advantage of this when I saw that no one went hiking. He began to pump the gnomes hard and immediately faced the problem that the pursuit of trophies of war did not improve the demographic situation. At the end of the game there were only three gnomes, and they only pumped up to the moment when the game was already over.

Dwarf warriors. Professionals.

If I had not had time to rebuild the "Food warehouse" and "Weapon warehouse", then the whole thing turned out to be seams. The three, albeit well-armed, gnomes and the complete absence of competitive rivalry in military affairs did not bring victory.

Food Warehouse and Arms Warehouse - saved from shame, but did not bring victory

The rest took a different path. From the very first moves Julia rebuilt the "Cook's Cave", which freed her hands and allowed her not to pay attention to the problems with the harvest. In "Cavern" there is no such fear of hunger as in "Agricola", but you still have to be distracted by feeding. With the "Cave of the Cook" the issue is finally resolved.

The chef's cave - how to get dumplings from the fridge

But things did not work out here either - a little of everything, but there is no main profitable place and if it were not for the "Ore Warehouse", it would be completely sad. Reducing the cost of food in Cavern does not yet grant victory - this statement is more likely true for Agricola.

The ore warehouse (pictured below) in such a situation turned out to be insufficient, it was necessary to look for more ways of income.

Ore warehouse.

In the end, the most peaceful, but the most numerous gnomes won. 6 dwarfs brought Irka a landslide victory.

Sixth Dwarf Token

A strong economy, rich rooms, the most mastered tablet gave a total of a decent number of software. The party has proved that victory can be achieved peacefully, increasing your family and generally not taking up arms at the same time.

The six dwarfs managed to do a lot during the game - they were hardworking.

"Cavern" pleased me again - 2 hours in one breath and a pleasant, gambling desire to start again. One of the best acquisitions of the past year.

The cavern is good

Sobek

We played for the first time for four. Unfortunately, with such a composition, she completely lost her charm - the calculation and bluff replaced nonsense. It became impossible to plan your own and calculate the actions of other participants, you just wait for the right moment to "catch" and lay out the set. There is no point in recruiting corruption - the risk is enormous, the jackpot is negligible. The game, in fact, pulls with itself, not giving the players initiative. Boring. I didn't like it for four. 🙁

Opinion

Saboteur (Gnomes pests) - not happy, it was very cool in our company. 7/10
Caverna - every game is a holiday! 6 peaceful dwarfs defeated three armed 🙂. 10/10

Sobek (Sobek) - turned out to be boring for four - there is no way to plan, it became pointless to gain corruption. 5/10

Do you hear someone knocking in the tunnel? This gnome roams the dungeons in search of gold.
The main goal of the game: get more gold nuggets than other gnomes. The winner is determined based on the results of the round when all playing cards run out.
Players will play the role of gnomes, and not only kind and honest, but also harmful. Each gnome has its own goal: hard workers need to build a tunnel, and pests, on the contrary, destroy it. Completing his task, each dwarf is awarded gold nuggets, which decides the outcome of the game.

Who will be interested?

The game Gnomes Pests is an exciting card game for a large company of 3 to 10 players. Thanks to the clear rules, it is quite easy to play. Moreover, it is convenient to take it on the road or on vacation. An exciting storyline and many obstacles make the game dynamic and vivid. Trying on two roles of a gnome at once during the game: harmful and honest, you will feel a lot of emotions. This game will be a great gift for both a child and an adult.

Game Gnomes Pests - rules

The game takes place in 3 rounds. Before the start of the game, all Dwarf cards are shuffled and dealt to the players blindly. Thus, it turns out that every player, at least once in the whole game, will be in the role of a harmful gnome. During the game, the gnome-gold digger needs to build a tunnel, and the pest needs to do everything to destroy it. For this, the gnomes receive gold nuggets.
Each player performs the following actions: plays a card from his hand (you can play a tunnel card or play an action card). Next, you need to take a card in your hand and pass the move to another player.
The player has the right to skip the move. The intrigue is that it is not known who the pest is until you feel it on your own skin. At the end of 3 rounds, the total number of nuggets for each gnome is calculated and the one with the most wins.

Also check out the game for 1-2 players!

We offer you to buy the board game "Gnomes-saboteurs" with delivery in Moscow in the Game House online store. Detailed rules, a description of the game and customer reviews will help you decide on a purchase. Place your order now!

Video review

The game "Gnomes-pests" will allow your company to visit the skins of the gnomes, leading tunnels through the thickness of the earth to the place where the coveted gold awaits them. After all, as you know, do not feed the gnomes with bread, but let them dig up some shiny thing.

But strange things are happening in the mine: either the tunnel, on which so much effort was spent, unexpectedly ends in a dead end, then the props break and the collapse destroys part of the course, then it turns out that the mining tools have been spoiled by someone's treacherous hand ...

It's just that some of the gnomes believe that gold is unimportantly divided into such a large crowd and by all means try to direct their gullible friends along the wrong route, so that later they can lay that same insidious hand on the gold.

The game was invented by a man named Frederick Moerson. It was released under the name Saboteur in 2004, and seven years later acquired an add-on called Saboteur 2.

The first part, entitled "Pest", was previously published in Russian, but passed me by. I got acquainted with this game at boardgamearena.com, where its online version is presented.

Now I have at my disposal a publication called "Dwarf Pests" and includes the base game along with the expansion. But since we have not yet mastered the add-on, in this review I will consider the basic version.

The Gnomes Pests are housed in a neat box with a handy organizer that allows you to compactly store four base and expansion decks without mixing them together.

In addition to the cards, the box contains two sheets with the rules for the basic version and the expansion, as well as a small cardboard form with gold tokens.

The main Saboteur decks contain action cards, player roles and gold nuggets, as well as tunnel cards, among which are the entrance to the mine and three gold veins.

At the beginning of the game, an entrance card is laid out on the table, and at some distance from it - three core cards, which lie face down. There is gold under one of these cards, and lumps of coal under the other two. Nobody knows exactly where the precious metal is.

Players receive role cards, among which there are both ordinary gnomes and pests. There is one interesting point here: the number of role cards dealt is one more than the number of players. The extra card is out of the game until the next round and is not shown.

Thus, the number of "dispatched Cossacks" with the same composition of players can change. For example, if seven gnomes are gathered at the table, then there are two or three saboteurs among them. Even they themselves cannot say for sure, because, unlike the "Mafia" and, in the "Gnomes-saboteurs", traitors do not get to know each other, and just like hardworking miners, they have to figure out "friends" in the course of the game.

The task of the gnomes is to build a tunnel from the entrance to the correct vein. As already mentioned, in which vein there is gold is still unknown, but occasionally the gnomes come across secret cards. Having played one of them, the player can look at any of the veins and tell others what he saw there. Naturally, the pest can lie and immediately direct the tunnel as far as possible from the right place.

The key to successful work is working tools. Each gnome has three of them: a pickaxe, a lamp and a mine cart. If at least one of them is disabled, the miner will not be able to continue digging the tunnel. Players can use special action cards to break each other's tools. Pests do this to prevent miners from continuing to work. Ordinary gnomes spoil the belongings of the exposed pests so that they do not twist the hard-built tunnel into an intricate fig, which will go to the working people instead of gold nuggets.

That's all for now. I'll write about the features of the add-on when I play it properly.