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Copyright 2011, Phil Leduc
Acquisition is an abstract strategy game of tile placement for two to four players in which players construct buildings and buy out opponents in the center of a metropolis. The player who constructs the most, large (size 3) buildings wins the game. The inspiration for this game was Sid Sackson's Acquire.
Components
Components
6 green park tiles,
40 brick red, 40 steel blue, 27 concrete gray and 20 glass cyan building tiles. For a two player game, players use 40 building tiles each. For a three player game, players use 27 building tiles each. And for a four player game, players use 20 building tiles each. Player can agree to use fewer tiles but this will require a close watch on tile reserves in the end game. Leaving a potentially large building unfinished could lose the game.
12 x 12 square cityscape board.
Setup
Setup
Players determine turn order. Then, players take turns distributing the park tiles one at time. Six are distributed in the two and three player games and four are distributed in the four player game. A park tile may be placed on any empty space but when all park tiles are placed the end result must be an asymmetrical distribution. Park tiles are never part of any building. See figures 1 and 2.
Figure 1. Asymmetric Setup: The last of the six park tiles can go on any empty space except d2. D2 would complete horizontal symmetric across the vertical center line.
Figure 2. When placing park tiles there are four lines and a center point about which symmetry can occur. Here play at e1 would complete point symmetry and is inappropriate.
Game Play
Game Play
Starting with the first player and then in turn order, players perform the following actions.
On a turn, a player must place a building tile on any empty space. The only restriction is that the tile may not create an orthogonally connected building group of size greater than three in any combination of building tiles. Tiles may be placed next to park tiles which are never part of a building group. See Figure 3.
Figure 3. Placement restrictions: No player can place a building tile on the x-squares since doing so would create a group of size greater than three. F4 would create a size four group. B3 would create a size six group. Green park tiles are never part of any building group.
When a large building group of size three is created, a buyout may occur using the following rules.
If the current player owns all three tiles, the current player is the proud owner of a magnificent landmark structure. There is no need for a buyout.
If a player, not necessarily the current player, owns two of the three tiles, that player may, if possible, claim total ownership of the group by replacing the non-owned tile with an owned tile. This is a buyout. The replaced tile is returned to its owner and can be used later in the game. See Figure 4, building group b4-b3-b2.
If the player chooses not to buyout the minority holder or does not have a replacement tile, the group structure will remain as is for the rest of the game. At the end of the game, if the majority holder's tiles are adjacent they will be counted as a medium building of size two, otherwise the majority holder will count the tiles as two separate small buildings of size 1. Buildings always have tiles consisting of one color. Build groups may have tiles of multiple owner.
Figure 4. Buildings. These four shapes represent the only legal shapes for building groups. Groups can have tiles of different colored tiles. Buildings always have tiles of one color. B4 to b2 is a group of size three with two buildings. There are four building groups with four red buildings and two blue buildings. When building group b4 to b2 was completed, Blue had the option to buyout Red's b2. Building groups of size two, for example d6-e6, do not trigger a buyout.
Note that buyouts sometimes occur due to careless play or if a player is forced to complete a group of three tiles since players may not pass a turn. Occasionally in the end game, it may be a good idea to sacrifice a building tile, if by doing so you disrupt another player’s plans to build two large size 3 structures. See Figure 5.
In a three or four player game, if three players share ownership, the current player may claim full ownership by replacing the two opponent tiles with two owned tiles. Replaced tiles are returned to their respective owners for reuse later. If the current player chooses not to buy out the minority players or does not have two replacement tiles, the group structure remains as is and later during scoring the tiles will count as small buildings for each of the three players.
Figure 5. Forced merger. Here red has the potential to build two large buildings, or one large building and two small buildings. Blue could force the latter by playing on the x-square. Assuming a buyout, blue would sacrifice a tile placement to reduce red’s large building count. Keep in mind this also reduces red’s reserve of tiles.
Figure 6. Zones of influence. The c3 red building tile exerts influence over the x-squares. If an opponent plays on any of these squares, the red player could complete a group of three and then buy out the opponent’s tile. Some examples, in pale hues, are given.
Winning the game
Winning the game
The game is over when a player can not make a legal tile placement. This happens when a player does not have a tile to place or if there is no legal space left on the board. At the end of the game, the player who owns the most buildings of size three wins the game. If there is a tie, of the tied players, the player who owns the most buildings of size two wins the game. If there is still a tie, of the remaining tied players, the player who owns the most buildings of size one wins. Finally, if still tied, the game is declared a tie.
Copyright (c) 2011, Phil Leduc
Copyright (c) 2011, Phil Leduc
Please note that these game rules may be duplicated and distributed via the web but the rules may not be altered and full credit must be given to the designer, Phil Leduc. Otherwise, all rights are reserved. Those that wish to program or sell this game in any form should contact the author at philleduc.pled@gmail.com for permission or a license to do so.
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