The object of the game is to capture your opponent's Flag.   

Each Country is allocated 18 player pieces (2 Marines, and one of each of the following: Flag, President, Vice President, Army, Aircraft Carrier, Submarine, Jet, Helicopter, Coast Guard, Reserve, Diplomat, Religion, Child, Mover, Media, and Nuke..  Each player piece has a 'Duty' and certain 'skills' (movement) and 'abilities' (powers) to achieve said duty.  The Player's Handbook explains everything in detail.  

Once the game board is aligned 'diamondly' with water masses away from the players, a Set-up Player (selected by coin flip) will set-up as he/she chooses given the following guidelines:

1. Place Flag in corner space directly in front of player,
2. Place Reserve in space adjacent to, or in front of, Flag,
3. Place Mover 1 or 2 spaces away from coastal waters within set-up zone, 
4. Arrange pieces contiguously (without holes), not to exceed 6 spaces in any direction. 

The opponent's set-up must be identical to first set-up, after which the opponent chooses to move first or switch board position; if the opponent chooses to switch board position then the set-up player would move first. 

How to set-up Armis (30+ secs): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0tSwMmPCUM

Various pieces are able to move different ways throughout the game, most are able to move as long as they have space to move, others, such as the sea vessels must rely on the Mover to get them where they need to be in order to move on their own, and one that can't move until each of his military buddies have made an initial move -- the Reserve. 

Here are just a few movement examples: the President is able to move an unlimited amount of spaces in any uninterrupted straight-line direction on land; the Submarine, after being towed by the Mover to coastal waters, can move 1 space on coastal waters or up to 2 straight-line deep water spaces; the Marine is able to climb 1 or 2, of its 3 multi-directional spaces on land and/or coastal waters, it can also board any sea vessel; however the Flag's can only travel 1 space at a time on land. 

Player Piece Movement

Armis Player Piece Movement (4mins): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4F6iHjEfDY

Even the powers are complex, for example:  the Army can take the Vice President but not the Diplomat; the Vice President can take the Diplomat but not the Nuke; the Diplomat can take the Nuke but not the Reserve; the Nuke can take the Reserve AND EVERYONE ELSE  (including itself) but not its own Flag!   

The Unconditional Offensive pieces start with, and maintain, their respective powers throughout the game, they are: the President, Vice President, Army, Jet, Helicopter, and Marines.

The Conditional Offensive pieces receive power based on satisfaction of specific conditions, they are: the Coast Guard, Aircraft Carrier, Submarine, Nuke, Reserve, and narrowly** the Child and the Diplomat.       (**can only take the Nuke)

Here are some special conditions that add complexity to the game: 

• the Vice President becomes the President upon assassination of the President 
  
• if the Reserve is next to its Flag under attack, the Reserve is sacrificed 
  
• the player who captures opponent's Child loose their own Diplomat and Religion 
  
• if you activate your Nuke you loose your Diplomat and Religion 
  
• Friendly-fire may be necessary  
  
• The Flag is immobilized if no President presides 
  
• the Media is forfeited if it is not next to any other piece