Summary

Tock is a card-and-board game for 2 to 6 players. With 4 or 6 players, it is possible to create two or three teams of 2 players, sitting opposite of each other.

The game concept is the same as Ludo, Sorry! or Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Each player owns 4 pawns, has to bring them out of their start area into the game circle, and then race them into their home zone.

The difference is that the players don't roll a die. Instead, standard playing cards (like those used in Bridge or Rummy) are dealt to the players, and they can choose to play one of their cards to move a pawn.

Object of the game

In single player games (no teams), the winner is the player who is first to get all 4 pawns into their home.

In team games, the winner is the team that is first to get the pawns of both players into their corresponding homes. After the first player of a team has brought all of their pawns into their home, both players continue to play with the remaining color.

Setup of your game on Board Game Arena

Game Type

You can choose between three game types.

Free-for-all: This is the single player game, everyone fights for themselves, no mercy, no friends, just run and eat every pawn that has the wrong color.

2 vs 2: When you get 4 players at your table, there will be two teams with two players. Assuming that players A1 and A2 belong to team A, and B1,B2 to team B, then the turn order will be A1, B1, A2, B2. With any other number of players, you will play Free-for-all.

2 vs 2 vs 2: When you get 6 players at your table, there will be three teams with two players each. The turn order will be A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2.

When you choose team game (2 vs 2, or 2 vs 2 vs 2) new options appear which enable you to set the teams. Default is random. Note: the team games options are still selectable with the wrong number of players so that not to jam the interface. However, if the option is still on with the wrong number of players, it would be free-for-all by default.

Game Variants

If you are a new player, it is suggested to start with the base game (no variants) -- then you can skip to the "Playing a hand of cards" section below.

Details below. I.e., because it can be frustrating when the game starts and you don't have any card to let you start, there is the "start configuration" variant that allow you to place your first pawn on your start space before the game starts (Fast Start).

• Use variants? Yes / No

If you choose no, the game is played without any variant. After choosing yes you now have to select which variants you want to add among the options which now appear. All variants are compatible with each other. This two-step system has been chosen in order not to spam the interface to new-commers who should start with basics.

All options for variant default on base game, so if you just choose "yes" for the option "Use variants?" and change nothing else before launching, you still have the base game without variants. For each drop-down list, variant options are marked with a * symbol between brackets.

Bold = the title above the drop-down list

Italics = the option to choose for that variant.

• Start configuration: Fast start: one pawn in play

You start with a pawn already in play on the starting of your color. The other three pawns are still to be put in play later using an Ace or a King.

This pawn is a blocker while it does moves from its field, as if it was freshly put in play.

This option is useful to shorten the game a bit and to soften luck at start

• Charity mode: 1 turn without playing (aggressive)

This variant brings a potential compensation for a player who spent 1 whole round without playing, which can give another chance to an unlucky player.

This is the situation where the player had to discard each card of their hand one-by-one.

A counter in the player panel indicates all player status for that matter (the one illustrated with an arrow and a trash icon).

In that case, the player has to demand a card he wishes from opponents in the beginning of the next round, after each player see their hand and before the exchange for team games. This is called a charity turn.

To do so, he must call any value (numerical or figure). All eligible opponents beginning by the left of the demanding player now must say one-by-one if they own the demanded card or not, until the card is found or all involved opponents have been interrogated.

An opponent is eligible only if he could play at least one card during the last round. If he is not (and so is eligible to demand a card in this variation), he must not answer.

In team game, the teammate is never eligible and must not answer too.

In this BGA adaptation, the answering is managed automatically by the system.

-If one eligible opponent holds the card in their hand, the answering turn stops. The demanding player must now select a card in their own hand to exchange with the card is demanded. This card remains secret for the other players.

-If no eligible opponent has the card, nothing else happens; the demanding player have just missed the opportunity.

Note 1: if the answering opponents holds several copies of the demanding card, he just gives one which is randomly selected by the system.

Note 2: if there is no eligible opponent at this moment, the player misses the opportunity and does not call any card. If it is not the case, demanding a card is mandatory.

Note 3: if there are several eligible players to demand a card, their charity turns are processed in the round order beginning with the firstmost.

Note 4: When you play with a variant for the effect of the 5, playing a 5 to move another player pawn (see variants for 5) is considered the same as discarding so you may still be eligible to demand a card.

• Charity mode: 2 turns without playing (moderate)

This is the same as the previous variant but now a player gets a charity turn only if he spends two consecutive turns without playing.

The eligible opponents are still those who could play at least once during the previous round (their counter must show zero).

The counter in the player panel helps to keep track. It resets to zero immediately when the player effectively plays or after all charity turns if he had one, successful or not.

The counter also resets even if the player got an aborted charity turn because there was no eligible opponent.

• Charity mode: 3 turns without playing (moderate)

Same as before but with three consecutive turns.

So, this would occur even more rarely than with 2 turns and have less impact on the game.

• Effect of the Ace: Put a pawn in play or 1 or 11 forward

Self-explanatory. With an Ace you get a third option to move forward by eleven. So, sheltering 11 fields ahead an opponent pieces is no longer a viable strategy.

• Effect of the 5: 5 forward, other player pawns only

Without variant, the 5 is not a special card. With that option it can be used to move other player pawns by 5, but it is no longer usable on their own pawns.

A blocking pawn on its starting field can be targeted to force it to free the other pawns behind it.

It can be used to force an opponent to miss their home entrance too.

It is possible to make that pawn eat another if it lands on it directly.

In a team game, it can be used to move the pawns of the teammate. But when one play with the pawns of their teammate after he managed to enter their four own, it cannot be used anymore on these pawns, only on opponents'.

It is possible to use it to make a pawn enter its home.

• Effect of the 5: 5 forward, all player pawn including own

Same as before but now it is possible to move any possible pawn including their own.

Any pawn (allied of foe) that can be move legally by 5 can be chosen.

• Effect of the 7: 1 to 7, no split, eating on the way

With this variant, it is no longer possible to move several pawns with one 7. Instead, the chosen pawn can be moved 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 fields forward. It still eats any pawn on the way.

This variant makes the entrance in home easier when one has no other pawn in play. However, tidying one's home can now take more turns.

This can also speed up the last phase of the game, easing the entrance of the last pawn.

• Effect of the Ten: 10 forward, no discard

With this variant, the 10 becomes a normal card. It loses its discard effect whether it is played or discarded.

• Effect of the Jack: usable on own starting pawn? Yes

With this variant it is now possible to select one freshly put-in-play pawn for the swap, without having to move it from its starting field first.

It is still not possible to select another blocking pawn though.

An opponent swapped pawn that land on that starting field that way is now threatened if it is not move just after that.

Playing a hand of cards

One of the players takes the role of the dealer and deals three to five cards to each player. The exact number of cards dealt depends on the number of players, and varies so that the 52 cards of the deck can be distributed evenly. For example, in a 2-player game, the first two hands contain 5 cards, followed by four hands of 4 cards. Don't worry, the game takes care of this automatically. After all cards of a hand are played, the role of the dealer moves to the next player.

The player following the dealer gets the first turn. In each turn, a player plays one of their hand cards and moves one or more pawns. The played card determines which move is possible. Then the next player takes their turn. This continues until all hands are empty, then the role of the dealer moves the player following the previous dealer, new hands are dealt from the remaining deck and the next round begins. And yes, you're right, this means that the dealer misses a turn.

When all cards of the deck have been dealt and played, they are shuffled as the new deck and the game continues.

Exchanging of cards

In team games, after dealing, each player exchanges one card with their team partner. Both partners choose a card, then the cards are exchanged. It is important to choose a card that is most useful for the team partner.

In team games there can be no discussion between partners about what cards are held, or suggestions/requests about how or what to play. In reply to a recent question for clarification, Woodruff (who introduced and designed the game here) wrote:

"You're right, talking is not allowed between teammates, that is an implicit rule, as for many games like this (Belote, Scopa, Tarot)"

Start Space

Each player has a start zone, where their pawns are placed at the beginning of the game. Near the start zone, a space in the game circle is marked in the player's color. This is the start space. When a pawn is brought into play (see Ace or King), it is placed on that start space. Pawns are protected on that start space. They cannot be eaten, they cannot be skipped, and they cannot be swapped by a Jack. Once a pawn leaves the start space, the protection ends, even if it returns to it!

Eating and Skipping

When a pawn is moved so that it stops on a space that is occupied by another pawn, that pawn is eaten (or thrown). It is removed to its start zone. Outside of the home zones, it is possible to eat ANY pawn, even your own or those of your team partner. If your start space is occupied by the pawn of another player, and you play a start card (Ace or King), that pawn is eaten, too. If you can't play any other card, you may even be forced to eat yourself.

Normally, it's no problem to overtake other pawns, just count the space where they are standing as any empty space and hop along. There are three exceptions. (1) The Start Space (see above), (2) the Seven (see below), (3) the home zone. You cannot skip pawns in the home zone. So, if using a card requires a pawn to skip other pawns, but they can't be skipped, the card cannot be used for that pawn.

Entering the home zone

You may enter the home zone on space 16. When you want to enter your home zone, the played card must fit. You must use the complete movement that a card provides. If that movement goes too far, you cannot enter the home zone, but must continue on the circle.

To play or not to play - being blocked

As long as you can play a card that lets you make a allowed move, you must play. If that's not possible, you must discard one card. There are three situations that can force you to discard: (1) All your pawns are in your start zone, and you have neither Ace nor King. (2) You queue up behind a blocking pawn (an obstinate pawn that won't leave its Start Space). (3) Your predecessor played or discarded a Ten (see below).

Effects of cards

Playing a card allows you to move pawns by one or more spaces. You can move pawns along the ring of spaces, and you can move pawns into their own home zone. Cards that are not mentioned simply move one pawn by the number of spaces given by the value of the card.

The color (or suit) of the cards has no meaning in Tock.

Ace

Bring a new pawn from your start zone to the start space, or move one pawn that is already in the game forward by one space.

4

Move one of your pawns 4 spaces backwards! It is not possible to move backwards into the home spaces. And it's not possible to back out of your home zone to go on a quick hunt. Home is Home!

5 [variant]

Move any pawn on the board 5 spaces forward, either one of yours or an opponent's pawn.

7

You can choose between two options.

• 7 split: you get seven one-step moves. You can do them with one pawn, or distribute them between your pawns. But you must play them all, even if it hurts. Since the pawns do single steps, all other pawns on their way are eaten. There is one restriction: you cannot use a 7 to move your last pawn into your home and continue to play with the pawns of your team partner. You must complete your move before you can start helping your partner.
• 1-7 no split: you get up to seven one-step moves. You must do them with one pawn, but you can forfeit some of them if you want.

10

You move one of your pawns forward by 10 spaces. Additionally, this forbids the next player all movement, so they have to discard one of their cards. The Stop Moving function of the 10 is always active, even when a 10 is discarded! There's one exception: The effect of a 10 does not carry over to the next hand, so when you play a 10 and the next player has an empty hand, there is no forced discard.

Pay attention! Normally, when you click on a card, you just select it for movement. But if your predecessor played a 10, the function of a click changes to Discard, and the clicked card is discarded at once. This is evil by design, not a bug!

Jack

Exchange one of your pawns with any other pawn that's on the ring of spaces. Pawns that are standing on their start space cannot be exchanged! You are allowed to exchange two of your own pawns, which has no effect at all. But sometimes, that's just what one needs.

Queen

Move one of your pawns by 12 spaces.

King

You can move one of your pawns by 13 spaces, or bring a new pawn from your start zone to the start space.

Note: in case one player quits the game

Automatic actions performed when it should be their turn:

• If that player would play or discard, a card from their hand is chosen randomly by the system to be discarded (no pawn will be moved. Note: if a 10 is discarded that way, the next player would not be forced to discard because of that card no matter what.

• If that player would choose a card to be exchanged, it is once again picked randomly by the system.

• If that player has left having started a move of decomposing 7, that move stops immediately and it is now the next player turn.

• If that player would have to take any other action, nothing happens.

In addition, if that player got a blocking pawn before leaving (a pawn on the player's start space), that pawn is unlocked immediately if it is the player turn when they leave, or as soon as it would have been their turn to play again. That makes that pawn vulnerable from passing, eating and exchanging, the same as if it has moved.