Magdar Rules.

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English Rules of Play • Boulder Tiles: These tiles represent the boulders that the dwarves are
mining.
COMPONENTS • Dwarf Tokens: These eight wooden tokens represent the players’ dwarven
miners.
• Magdar Die: This die is used each turn to determine which boulder tile is
removed from play (as explained later in these rules).
• Magdar: Magdar comes in three pieces: the Magdar counter, its flat base,
Gem Counters Mithril Wooden Dwarf Tokens and a plastic stand. Before playing the the first time, you will have to
Counters combine the pieces to assemble Magdar (as described in the “Assembly”
diagram).
• Cave Entrance: The cave entrance comes in three pieces: the cave
entrance counter, its flat base, and a plastic stand. Before playing the the
first time, you will have to combine the pieces to assemble the cave
entrance (as described in the “Assembly” diagram).
• Optional Counters: The Runic Circle, Lure, and Berserk counters are
Basic Boulder Tiles Cave Entrance Magdar only used in the optional advanced game (detailed at the end of these
rules). There are four of each counter.
• Special Boulder Tiles: The Adamantine Boulder, Gemstone Boulder,
Exploding Gem Boulder, and Salamander Nest Boulder are only used in
the optional advanced game (detailed at the end of these rules).
Cave Entrance Base Magdar Base
OPTIONAL COMPONENTS BASIC GAME SETUP
1. Shuffle the 32 basic boulder tiles together. Form the board by randomly
Adamantine Gemstone laying out the tiles face-up in a rectangle as illustrated in the “Setup
Boulder Boulder
Lure Example” diagram. The number and arrangement of tiles included in the
Counters Berserk board depends on the number of players:
Explosive Salamander
Counters
Crystal Nest
• Two players: lay out a rectangle of tiles 4 rows tall and 6 columns wide.
Runic Circle Counters
• Three players: lay out a rectangle of tiles 4 rows tall and 7 columns wide.
• Four players: lay out a rectangle of tiles 4 rows tall and 8 columns wide.

INTRODUCTION 2. Place any SETUP EXAMPLE

In Magdar, 2-4 players control teams of dwarves mining mineral-rich remaining tiles in This diagram shows the board set up for 2 players.
boulders along the Fire River, home of Magdar the lava demon. The dwarves a pile by the Rows
have accidentally awakened Magdar, so now you and your opponents must board. This is
mine the most valuable boulders before Magdar destroys them all.

Cave Entrance
called the rubble
pile. Columns
Magdar

Object of the Game 3. Once the tiles are

in place, move
The object of Magdar is to have the best selection of gems and mithril at
Magdar and the
the end of the game.
cave entrance so
You collect gems and mithril by mining the boulders in the Fire River and
that they are
bringing them back to the cave entrance. The best gems are found on the
touching the
boulders nearest Magdar, but since Magdar destroys a boulder each turn,
short ends of the
these boulders are the riskiest to mine. Motherlode
board (see the Rubble Pile
“Setup Example”
Components diagram).
• Gem Counters: These counters represent gems worth 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 4. Separate the mithril counters and the different types of gem counters into
points. piles and place them near the board. These piles are collectively called the
• Mithril Counters: These counters represent chunks of mithril. One side motherlode.
of each counter shows half a chunk (to show that it’s only half-mined), 5. Each player chooses a color, takes the two dwarves of that color, and
while the other side shows the whole chunk (to show that it’s completely places them on the cave entrance base.
mined).
PLAYING THE BASIC GAME
ASSEMBLY Randomly choose one player to take the first turn. When that player’s turn
Before playing the game the first time, you must assemble Magdar and the cave is over, play rotates clockwise.
entrance by following these steps: On your turn, you must perform two steps:

1. Gently press the Magdar counter into one of the plastic stands so that it may stand • Step 1: Dwarf Actions. During this step, you may give each of your
up on its own. dwarves one action to move (to any boulder tile or the cave entrance) or
2. Place Magdar in the center of the Magdar base. Magdar is now complete.
3. Gently press the cave entrance counter into the remaining plastic stand so that it
mine (either gems or mithril).
may stand up on its own. • Step 2: Magdar’s Wrath. During this step, you must roll the die to see
4. Place the cave entrance in the center of the cave entrance base. The cave entrance which of the boulder tiles is destroyed and removed from the game.
is now complete.
Magdar/Cave Entrance
Counter
Step 1: Dwarf Actions
During your turn, you may take two actions, one for each dwarf. You may
Plastic Stand choose to take fewer than two actions, but you may not take two actions with
one dwarf.
Magdar/Cave With one action, you may do one of the following:
Entrance Base

English Rules of Play 3

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• Move one of your dwarves to any boulder tile on the board. If there is a gem counter on the boulder tile, exchange that gem counter
OR for a gem counter of the next highest value.
• Mine mithril or gems Example: Eric is mining a boulder tile on which he has a dwarf and a 4-
OR point gem counter. He puts the 4-point gem counter back into the motherlode,
• Move one of your dwarves to the cave entrance. then takes an 8-point gem counter from the motherlode and places it on the
boulder tile.
The First Round Rule: At the beginning of the game, the first player Note that if there are no gem counters of the proper value left in the
may only take one action with one of his dwarves. motherlode, then you must place a gem counter of the next highest value
instead. In the example above, if there were no 8-point gems left in the
Action: Move to a Boulder Tile motherlode, then Eric would place a 16-point tile instead.
For one action, you may move one of your dwarves from its current If there are no gem counters in the motherlode with a value higher than
location on the board (either the cave entrance or another boulder tile) to any the gem counter already on the boulder tile you are mining, then you may not
boulder tile that is not currently occupied by another dwarf. mine this boulder tile. This means you may not mine a boulder tile with a 32-
When you move a dwarf from one boulder tile to another, any mithril or point gem counter on it (since there are no gem counters worth more than 32
gem counters left behind are returned to the motherlode. points).
Note: You may not mine for gems on a boulder with a mithril counter on
it.
Action: Mine for Mithril or Gems
For one action, you may mine a boulder tile occupied Action: Move to the Cave Entrance
For one action, you may move one of your dwarves from a boulder tile to
by one of your dwarves. You may mine for either mithril MITHRIL the cave entrance.
or gems.
COUNTER Your dwarf may carry either one gem counter or one finished mithril
Mining for Mithril counter with him to be scored. Scored counters are removed from the board
If there are no gem or mithril counters on the and placed in front of you.
boulder tile, take a mithril counter from the motherlode When you move a dwarf from a boulder tile to the cave entrance, any
Unfinished
and place it on the boulder tile where you just mined it. unfinished mithril counters left behind are returned to the motherlode.
Place it unfinished side up. Example: Kevin has a dwarf on a boulder tile with a 16-point gem
If there is an unfinished mithril counter on the counter. Kevin removes his dwarf from the boulder tile and places it on the
boulder tile, turn over the unfinished mithril counter on Finished
cave entrance. He also removes the 16-point gem counter from the boulder
the tile you are mining so that it is now finished side up. tile and places it in front of him. This gem counter has now been scored.
This is now a finished mithril counter.
Note: You may not mine for mithril on a boulder with a gem or finished
Step 2: Magdar’s Wrath
BOULDER TILE
mithril counter on it. This boulder tile can
Magdar does not like to be disturbed by dwarven
Mining for Gems be destroyed on a roll
miners. Every turn, Magdar has an opportunity to of 2, 3, or 4.
If there are no gem or mithril counters on the boulder tile, take a gem
destroy one of the boulder tiles in front of him,
counter from the motherlode and place it on the boulder tile where you just
eliminating any dwarf or counters on that tile.
mined it. The value of the gem counter is determined by by the number of
After you have taken your actions, you must roll
boulder tiles between Magdar and the boulder tile you are mining, as detailed
for Magdar, destroy a tile (if you can), then pass the
below:
die to the player to your left.
Number of Tiles Between 1. Roll for Magdar
Magdar and the Dwarf Value of Gem Roll the die and note the result. Die Results
0 8 2. Destroy a Tile
1 4 The lower corner of each boulder tile shows one or more die results.
2 2 After you roll the die, look at the boulder tiles closest to Magdar in each
3 or more 0 (You may not mine gems here) of the four rows (see the “Tile Destruction Example” diagram). Choose one
of these boulder tiles that shows a die result equal to what you rolled for
As you can see, the Magdar. This boulder tile is destroyed. (If there are no tiles with a matching
closer your dwarf is to
GEM MINING EXAMPLE die result, Magdar does not destroy a tile.)
Magdar, the more valuable When a boulder tile is destroyed, it is removed from the board and tossed
The following diagram shows the value of
the gem he will find. the gem you would receive for mining each onto the rubble pile. Any
However, the closer the tile (if the tiles have no gems on them counters on the boulder TILE DESTRUCTION EXAMPLE
dwarf is to Magdar, the already). The blank tiles are too far back—you tile are returned to the On a roll of 6, you are forced to destroy tile D.
greater the chance that his may not mine them for gems. motherlode. Any dwarf On a roll of 3, you must choose to destroy either
tile will be destroyed by (Note that some tiles in this diagram have on the boulder tile is tile A or B. On a roll of 5, no tiles are destroyed.
Magdar (as described under been destroyed by Magdar, as explained under returned to the cave No matter what is rolled, only the four darker tiles
“Magdar’s Wrath”). “Magdar’s Wrath.”) entrance. can be destroyed by Magdar this turn.
If there are three or more If you destroy the last
Cave Entrance

tiles between your dwarf remaining boulder tile in

and Magdar, you may not a column, slide Magdar
Magdar

Cave Entrance

mine that boulder tile for towards the cave entrance

Magdar

gems. until his base touches the

If there are no gem boulder tiles once more.
counters of the proper value
3. Pass the Die
left in the motherlode, then
After rolling for
you may place a gem counter of the next highest value instead.
Magdar and destroying a
Example: There are two tiles between Magdar and Brian’s dwarf. Brian
tile (if you can), you must pass the die to the player on your left. This signifies
mines for gems on his dwarf’s boulder tile. Normally, he would place a 2-
that your turn is over.
point gem counter on that boulder tile, but there are no 2-point gem counters
left in the motherlode. Therefore, Brian places a 4-point gem counter instead.
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GAME END AND SCORING
The game ends immediately when the last boulder in any row is destroyed
(that is, there is a straight line of empty spaces between Magdar and the cave
entrance).
You must now choose, from your scored gem counters, one gem counter for
each of your scored mithril counters. Set aside your unchosen gem counters.
The players now add up the values of all their chosen scored gem counters.
The player with the highest total value wins the game.
Example: Eric has scored three gem counters (worth 4, 8, and 16 points) and
two mithril counters. Because he has two mithril counters, he chooses to keep the
8-point and 16-point gem counters. Eric’s total value is 24 (8+16) points. If none
of his opponents have a higher total value, Eric wins.
If two or more players are have the same total value of gems, the tied
player with the highest total value of unchosen gems wins the game.
If even this is tied, the game ends in a tie.
ADVANCED OPTIONS
Once you’ve played the basic game a few times, you may wish to add some
or all of the following elements to the game to make it more exciting.
New Actions
Action: Draw a Runic Circle
For one action, you may have one of your dwarves place a runic circle on
the boulder tile the dwarf is currently occupying.
If a boulder tile with a runic circle on it is chosen to be destroyed by
Magdar, return the runic circle to the motherlode instead of destroying the
boulder tile.
There cannot be more than one runic circle on a single boulder tile. If
there are no runic circle counters in the motherlode, then you may not draw a
new runic circle. A runic circle counter remains in place if a dwarf leaves the
boulder tile (unlike gem or mithril counters). You cannot score runic circle
counters.
Action: Place a Lure
For one action, you may have one of your dwarves place a lure either on
the boulder tile that the dwarf is currently occupying, or any orthogonally
(non-diagonally) adjacent boulder tile—even if that boulder tile is currently
occupied.
Place a lure counter on the chosen tile. If a tile with a lure on it can be
chosen to be destroyed by Magdar, then it must be. If two or more tiles with
lures can be destroyed by Magdar, the active player chooses which is
destroyed.
Example: The board is set up as in the “Tile Destruction Example”
diagram. A player places a lure on tile C, then rolls a 2 for Magdar. On a roll
of 2, the player can choose whether to destroy tile A, B, or C—but because
the lure is on tile C, the player must destroy tile C.
There cannot be more than one lure on a single tile. If there are no lure
counters in the motherlode, then you may not place a new lure. A lure counter
counter remains in place even if a dwarf leaves it behind on a boulder tile
(unlike gem or mithril counters). You cannot score lure counters.
Action: Jump a Claim
For one action, you may have one of your dwarves attempt to claim-jump
any orthogonally adjacent boulder tile occupied by an opponent's dwarf.
To attempt a claim-jump, roll the die. If you roll a 5 or lower, your dwarf
fails the attempt and remains on his current boulder tile.
If you roll a 6, your dwarf successfully claim-jumps the adjacent boulder
tile. Return you opponent's dwarf to the cave entrance, but leave any counters
on that boulder tile where they are. Move your claim-jumping dwarf onto the
adjacent boulder tile.
Claim-jumping is useful to "steal" an opponent's mithril or gem counter.
While the odds of succeeding are poor, if your opponent has a 32-point gem
he's preparing to score, it can definitely be worth the attempt.
Action: Go Berserk
For one action, you may have one of your dwarves enter a berserker rage
in preparation for battle.
English Rules of Play
Place a berserk counter on the tile occupied by the dwarf going berserk. If,
on a later turn, a berserk dwarf attempts to claim-jump, it succeeds on a roll
of 4 or better, instead of just a 6. After your berserk dwarf attempts to claim-
jump (regardless of whether or not he succeeds), you must return the berserk
counter to the motherlode.
There cannot be more than one berserk counter on a single tile. If there are
no berserk counters in the motherlode, then you may not place a new berserk
counter.
Any berserk counters left behind when a dwarf moves are returned to the
motherlode, like mithril or gem counters. You cannot score berserk counters.
New Boulder Tiles
You may wish to shuffle one or more of the following special boulder tiles into
the pile when setting up the board. Each tile’s special rules are listed below.
Adamantine Boulder: When you mine for gems on the adamantine
boulder (and there are no gem counters on it already), there is
considered to be one extra tile between it and Magdar, reducing the
value of gems placed here. For example, if you are mining for gems
on an adamantine boulder tile one tile away from Magdar, you
would place a 2-point gem counter instead of a 4-point gem counter.
Gemstone Boulder: When you mine for gems on the gemstone
boulder tile (and there are no gem counters on it already), there is
considered to be one less tile between it and Magdar, increasing the
value of gems mined here. For example, if you mine for gems on a
gemstone boulder tile one tile away from Magdar, you would place an
8-point gem counter instead of a 4-point gem counter.
If there are no tiles between the gemstone boulder tile and Magdar,
you can mine a 16-point gem counter here.
Explosive Crystal: If Magdar destroys this boulder tile, all other tiles
in the same column are also destroyed. (They are tossed onto the
rubble tile, any counters on them are returned to the motherlode, and
any dwarves on them are returned to the cave entrance.) Slide the
remaining tiles (and Magdar) towards the cave entrance to close any
gaps caused in this fashion.
The Salamander Nest: The salamander nest is a source of constant
riches, but your dwarves will have to fight to collect them.
You may not move a dwarf directly onto the salamander nest. The
only way to move a dwarf onto the tile is to have the dwarf attempt to
claim-jump the tile from an orthogonally adjacent boulder tile.
At the beginning of any player’s turn, if there are no counters on the
salamander nest, place an 8-point gem counter on that tile. Any dwarf
on the tile with the gem counter may carry the gem counter back to
the cave entrance to be score. You may not mine the salamander nest.
CREDITS
Design: Kevin Wilson
Editing: Darrell Hardy, Christian T. Petersen, and Rob Vaughn
Graphic Design: Scott Nicely and Brian Schomburg
Cover Art: Jesper Ejsing
Component Art: Scott Nicely
Playtesting: Team XYZZY, Carl Hotchkiss and John Goodenough
Magdar is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. Copyright
©2003 Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this
product may reproduced without specific permission from the publisher.
www.fantasyflightgames.com
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