How to Play Patchwork
Setup
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Each player takes a 9x9 quilt board, a time token (placed at start of the central time track), and 5 buttons.
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Lay the 33 patches in a circle around the time board; place the neutral token next to the smallest patch (clockwise side).
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Place the +7 special bonus tile ready to award.
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Place the five 1x1 special patches on the time track at their printed spaces.
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Last player to use a needle goes first.
Turn structure
The player whose time token is furthest behind acts. (If both are on the same space, the one on top acts.) Choose one of two actions:
Action 1: Advance and earn buttons
Action 2: Take and place a patch
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Choose one of the three patches clockwise from the neutral token.
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Move the neutral token to the slot you took.
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Pay the patch's button cost.
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Place the patch on your 9x9 board (rotation and flipping allowed).
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Move your time token forward by the patch's time cost.
Special triggers on the time track
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Button spaces: when you pass or land on a button icon, gain 1 button per button-symbol on your placed patches (income engine).
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1x1 patch spaces: the first player to pass a 1x1 patch space takes it for free and places immediately.
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+7 special bonus tile: the first player to completely fill any 7x7 region of their quilt board claims the +7 tile.
End condition
The game ends when both time tokens reach the final space of the time track.
Final scoring
Score = (buttons in hand x 1) + 7 (if you have the +7 special tile) - 2 x (number of empty squares on your 9x9 quilt board).
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Higher score wins.
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Negative scores are possible.
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Ties: first player to reach the final space wins; if both reached simultaneously, the tie stands.
