Objective of the Game

Win 3 adjacent flags (breakthrough) or any 5 flags (envelopment). Winner gets 5 points, loser gets 1 point per flag.

Setup

Lay out 9 flags (chips / tokens or unused face down cards) between players. Shuffle the 6 suits together to form a face down soldier deck, and the 10 arcana (clubs, spades) together to form a face down tactics deck. Randomly determine first player, then deal seven soldiers cards to each player.

Gameplay

On their turn, each player plays one card (generally to a particular flag), then claim any number of flags (advanced rule: claim first then play!), and finally draws one card from either deck. Play alternates between players and continues until one player wins (even if the decks run out). Formations: Players may play up to 3 soldier cards inta a "formation" on their side of each flag. When two formations are in the same category, the one with the higher sum wins; if still tied then the last player to play their third card loses the flag. These formations are: • Wedge: consecutive cards of the same suit • Phalanx: same value • Battalion Order: same suit • Skirmish Line: consecutive values (any suit) • Host: any other group of three Tactics: A player cannot play more tactics than the number the opponent has played + 1. Tactics remain face up on the player's side of the battle line, often in the column of one flag. Discarded cards are placed face up near the game, visible to both players. The 10 Tactics Cards are mapped to major arcana thematically: • Emperor / Empress (Darius / Alexander) Play like a Soldier card; wild suit, wild value. One per player. • Strength (Cavalry) Play like a Soldier card; wild suit, value 8. • Magician (Shieldbearer) Play like a Soldier card; wild suit, value 1-3. • Fool (Fog) Disables formations; Flag is decided on the basis of the total value of cards on each side. • Priestess (Scout) Draw three cards (any combination). Then return any two cards from hand to the top of their deck. • Death (Deserter) Discard one soldier or tactics card from the opponents side next to an unclaimed flag. • Chariot (Redeploy) Move a soldier or tactics card from an unclaimed flag to another available slot or discard it. • Devil (Traitor) Move a soldier card from the opponents side of an unclaimed flag into any empty slot of your own. • Temperance (Mud) The claim for this Flag is now based on four cards on either side, with extended formations.

Rules Source: The Everdeck Companion Vol. 1