How to Play Patchwork if you hate rulebooks
I hate rulebooks! This condensed How to Play Patchwork rules help players get the essential instructions without having to trawl rulebooks.
The Patchwork overview page introduces you to the game through a summary of the gameplay and videos shared by other gamer.
Setup
- Each player takes a quilt board, a time token, and 5 buttons.
- Keep remaining buttons on the table within reach.
- Place the central time board in the middle of the table.
- Place time tokens on the starting space of the time board.
- The player who last used a needle begins.
- Arrange the regular patches in a circle or oval around the time board.
- Locate the smallest patch (size 1×2) and place the neutral token between this patch and the next one in clockwise order.
- Lay out the special tiles.
- Place the special patches on the marked spaces of the time board.
Gameplay
- Turns do not necessarily alternate; the player whose time token is furthest behind on the time board takes their turn.
- If both time tokens are on the same space, the player whose token is on top goes first.
- On your turn, choose one of the following actions:
- Advance and Receive Buttons
- Take and Place a Patch
Advance and Receive Buttons
- Move your time token to the space directly in front of your opponent’s time token.
- Receive 1 button for each space you moved your time token.
Take and Place a Patch
This action consists of 5 steps carried out in order:
- Choose a Patch
- Select from the three patches in front of the neutral token (in clockwise order).
- Move the Neutral Token
- Place the neutral token next to the chosen patch.
- Pay for the Patch
- Pay the depicted number of buttons to the supply.
- Place the Patch on Your Quilt Board
- Patches on your quilt board may not overlap.
- You may turn the patch any way before placing it.
- Move Your Time Token
- Move your time token by the number of spaces depicted on the patch.
- If your time token lands on the same space as your opponent’s, place your token on top.
The Time Board
- Always move your time token on the time board, regardless of the action taken.
- Resolve events when moving onto or past marked spaces:
- Special Patch:
- Take and place the special patch on your quilt board immediately.
- Special patches are the only way to “patch” single spaces on your quilt board.
- Button Income:
- Receive buttons according to the patches on your quilt board.
- Special Patch:
The Special Tile
- The first player to completely fill a 7×7 square on their quilt board receives the special tile, worth 7 points.
End of Game
- The game ends after both time tokens reach the last space on the time board.
- If a time token moves past the last space, it stops on the last space.
- For action A, receive buttons for the actual number of spaces moved.
Scoring
- Add the number of buttons you have left and the value of the special tile (if applicable).
- Subtract 2 points for each empty space on your quilt board.
- The player with the highest score wins.
- In case of a tie, the player who reached the final space of the time board first wins.