Rulebook TABLE of CONTENTS
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Rulebook TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction . 4 7.6. Crew Tokens . 33 1.1. Player roles and the goal 7.7. The Captain’s cards . 33 of the game . 4 1.2. The companion app . 4 8. The First Officer ��������������������������������������������� 34 Willkommen an Bord, Herr Kaleun! 1.3. Difficulty levels ����������������������������������4 8.1. Companion app basics . 34 1.4. Real-time gameplay . 4 8.2. The First-Person View (FPV) 1.5. Learning how to play . 4 and visual identification . 35 8.3. Observers on the Bridge . 35 2. Component List . 4 8.4. Other orders featuring app Thank you very much for purchasing U-BOOT The Board Game. When functionality . 36 we started this project, we set ourselves a goal: to create the 3. Glossary of U-boat Terms . 9 8.5. Time compression ������������������������������ 36 first ever tabletop submarine simulator. A game that would let 8.6. First Aid ������������������������������������������������ 37 players experience World War II submarine warfare like no other 4. Gameplay Overview . 11 8.7. Event cards . 37 4.1. The goal of the game . 11 8.8. Wound cards . 37 game before it. One that would explore various aspects of liv- 4.2. Returning to base . 11 ing and fighting at sea, from dwelling inside an iron coffin to 4.3. Game modes ��������������������������������������������� 11 9. The Navigator . 38 playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the enemy. 9.1. Strategic navigation . 38 5. Setting Up the Game . 12 9.1.1. The Distance Ruler . 39 5.1. Choose roles . 13 9.1.2. The Sextant . 39 Now, after a lot of hard work and research, we are proud to 5.2. Prepare game components . 14 9.2. Tactical navigation . 39 present a game that redefines submarine board gaming, featuring 5.3. Choose game mode 9.2.1. Using the Attack Disk 39 and difficulty levels . 15 9.2.2. Updating true to life navigation, visual identification of targets, and 5.4. Read mission briefing . 15 the Tactical Map . 40 many other elements that you probably haven’t seen in a board 9.3. Observers on the Bridge . 42 game yet. This might seem daunting, but rest assured: the game 6. Core Rules ������������������������������������������������������������ 18 9.4. Food ������������������������������������������������������������ 43 comes with everything you need to become a U-boat ace in no 6.1. Player responsibilities . 18 9.4.1. Meal preparation . 43 6.2. Sailors . 18 9.4.2. Eating . 44 time. 6.3. Basic gameplay elements: 9.4.3. Food getting stale . 44 Mobilization Firstly, a separate Tactical Guide booklet. It lays out the and other orders ������������������������������ 18 10. The Chief Engineer . 45 6.4. Mobilization . 19 10.1. Engines . 45 most important dos and don’ts without getting into unnecessary 6.5. Carrying out orders . 20 10.2. Ballast tanks . 45 detail, so you should quickly get an idea of how to conduct 6.6. Activation ��������������������������������������������� 22 10.3. Repairs and resources ������������������ 45 combat. Secondly, player aids that summarize the most impor- 6.6.1. Excess activations . 22 10.3.1. Technical Conditions 46 6.7. Busy sailors . 23 10.3.2. Repairing Technical tant information for each role and, lastly, online videos that 6.8. The watch system ������������������������������ 23 Conditions . 46 teach you how to play. All of these will help you understand 6.9. Health . 25 10.3.3. The Chief the basics quickly. Once you do that, the rest will come with 6.10. KIA ������������������������������������������������������������ 26 Engineer’s cards . 47 experience. 6.11. Repairs . 26 10.3.4. Environmental 6.12. Resolving Crew damage ������������������ 27 Conditions . 48 6.13. Cigarettes ��������������������������������������������� 28 10.3.5. Dealing with And the experience that U-BOOT can deliver is truly unique. Ap- 6.14. Timing conflicts ��������������������������������� 28 Environmental proaching targets without getting detected, lining up perfect Conditions . 48 7. The Captain . 29 10.3.6. Hull Breach . 49 torpedo shots, and sneaking away from the escorts’ counterat- 7.1. Commanding the crew . 29 10.3.7. Sealing tack… Or getting pounded by relentless depth charge attacks. 7.2. The Order Track ��������������������������������� 29 a Hull Breach . 49 This game has it all and much more, so if you wish to savor it 7.3. The Morale Track ������������������������������ 30 10.3.8. Other rules related 7.4. Exhausted crew . 31 to Hull Breach ��������������� 50 to the fullest, be serious about your training. 7.5. Order list ��������������������������������������������� 32 10.3.9. Access to sections Trust us: it will be worth it. 7.5.1. Maneuvering . 32 that have been 7.5.2. Targeting, navigation cut off ��������������������������������� 50 and mission intel . 32 10.4. The Technical View . 51 7.5.3. Armament ��������������������������������� 32 Artur Salwarowski & Bartosz Pluta 7.5.4. Safety and crew 11. Closing comments . 51 management . 33 2 3 1. INTRODUCTION Hull section cards 1.1. Player Roles and the Goal that the game can be updated, improved, of the Game and balanced as it evolves. U-BOOT The Board Game is a cooperative game If, at any time, any rule in this rule- Captain for 1-4 players which lets players take on book contradicts a rule presented in the the roles of officers on board a German app, then the app always takes precedence. U-boat during the Second World War. Please make sure that you follow the most up-to-date difficulty level rules for the Section 6 Players assume the roles of the Captain, Section 8 best U-Boot experience. Aft Torpedo the First Officer, the Navigator, and the and E-Motor Room 6 Bridge First Officer Chief Engineer on board a Type VIIC U-boat. 106 108 They coordinate their actions to fulfill 1.4. Real-time Gameplay mission objectives issued to them by Ger- Because U-BOOT is app-driven and proceeds These cards constitute the Technical View man U-boat HQ. They are a crew, and they in real time, it is different from a typ- of the U-boat. They are placed on both all win or lose together. ical board game, as there are no defined player turns. Instead, the pace of the sides of the model to show section names Navigator and specialization icons indicating where 1.2. The Companion App game is dictated by the companion app and the Captain’s orders. particular orders are carried out. The game requires a free download- The app alerts players to new threats and able companion app. Please visit opportunities, and the Captain coordinates Player panels uboottheboardgame.com or your preferred the players’ responses. It is important to digital distribution platform (App Store, Chief Engineer make decisions quickly, while not losing Google Play, or Steam) and search for sight of objectives or urgent threats. for each sailor, as well as their spe- ‘U-BOOT The Board Game’ to download and cialization icons. The terms ‘Captain’, install the app on your device. 1.5. Learning How to Play The app is an integral part of U-BOOT and ‘First Officer’, ‘Navigator’ and ‘Chief Before reading on, you can watch our rules you cannot play the game without it. The Engineer’ are used throughout the rule- overview videos at uboottheboardgame.com. app provides real-time gameplay featuring book to refer to players playing these Once you have read and understood the rules, dynamic enemy A.I., as well as many other roles, but they also appear as individual it is time to prepare for your first game. Captain essential gameplay functions. These all sailors on these crew tiles. If you have already decided who is going to constitute a significant part of the expe- play as each role, we suggest the following: The Captain The First Officer The Navigator The Chief Engineer rience and are meant to immerse you even ORDER SECTION(S) REQUIREMENTS NOTES ORDER SECTION(S) REQUIREMENTS NOTES ORDER SECTION(S) REQUIREMENTS NOTES ORDER SECTION(S) REQUIREMENTS NOTES Technical condition: All sailors may move. Confi rm the new course with Activate the participating Only one repair Mobilization all sections none New Course 3 app repair menu No sailors are activated. the Navigator. Assign Max 6x sailors using tokens. may be carried out Environmental condition: per order. If repairing Observation 8 If there is at least one busy Repair any observer, then more can join +required supply token a technical condition, activate Functional up to 10 meters under New Depth Confi rm readiness with the Chief Sectors further in the role of a U-boat crew. Periscope 3 if activated. Hull Breach: participating sailors Engineer, and the depth the surface. & Dive/ 3 with tokens. Resurface with the Captain. Activate the sailor one Allows for locking onto Captain - read the Tactical Guide TDC (torpedo Allows for detecting and tracking additional time to swap Newtokens Speed When surfaced, use diesels torpedo targets if in fi ring arc 3 enemy vessels. Functional only or discard and replace a token 5 targeting) and range. Hydrophone 2 Prepare meal 4 - surfaced in section 5. • under the surface. on the Available Products pyramid. Flood Flooding any number of tubes New Speed When submerged, use e-motors Only one sailor per order can 6 1 and/or 6 requires only one activation. Reveals your Strategic Map - submerged in section 6. Torpedo Tubes be activated. He can decipher/ position. Functional only Make sure you download and install the app Enigma 2 encipher multiple messages. Each Sextant 8 if the sky is clear. More than one sailor can partic- message requires one activation. Used when crossing ipate. Activate a participating the waterline. Fire Torpedoes 1 and/or 6 The anti-aircraft gun.Dive / - go through the in-app sailor once for each torpedo fi red.