Instructions Der Schwarm

Objective of the Game

Der Schwarm is a cooperative board game based on the novel of the same name by Frank Schätzing. Players work together to combat a threat from the ocean depths. The aim is to solve various crises caused by intelligent marine organisms before humanity is permanently damaged.

Game Components

• Game Board: Displays a world map with oceans and land masses.
• Player Pieces: Represent the players acting as scientists, military personnel, or other experts.
• Event Cards: Determine randomly occurring events that need to be solved in the game.
• Technology Cards: Can be acquired to expand the players' options.
• Crisis Tokens: Indicate the progress and intensity of the problems caused by the swarms.

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Each player chooses a player piece and places it on the corresponding start space.
3. Shuffle the event cards and place them face down on the board.
4. Place the technology cards and crisis tokens within reach of all players.

Gameplay

The game proceeds in rounds, each consisting of several phases:

1. Event Phase: Draw an event card and execute the action described on it. This could involve the emergence of new threats or the intensification of existing crises.

2. Action Phase: Each player may perform two actions during this phase. The available actions are:

3. Move: Move the player piece to an adjacent area.
4. Research: Buy or develop a technology card.

5. Resolve Crisis: Address an existing crisis in the area where the player is located. A successful dice roll and the presence of necessary technology cards are required.

6. Crisis Phase: Each active crisis receives another crisis marker. If the markers in a crisis exceed the critical value, it has negative effects on the game (e.g., loss of resources or restrictions on player actions).

End of the Game

The game ends when: - All crises have been successfully resolved: The players win! - A crisis exceeds the critical point without being resolved: The players lose and the swarm prevails!

Strategic Tips

• Communication: Since the game is cooperative, players should coordinate their actions well.
• Resource Management: Consider when and how much to invest in research so as not to become incapacitated when a crisis emerges.
• Set Priorities: Not all crises can be handled simultaneously. Choose those that pose the greatest danger.

These rules provide a basic overview of how "Der Schwarm" works and help new players quickly get into the game.