Eleusis Express

Rules to Play Eleusis Express

Game Objective

Discover Nature's secret rule by observing which cards can be played on the mainline (correct plays) and which end up in the sideline (incorrect plays).

Game Setup

• 1 researcher (you) vs Nature by default, or add more researchers
• Each researcher starts with 12 cards
• Nature selects a secret rule from 5 possible patterns

Gameplay

• On your turn, select 1-5 cards from your hand to play
• Click "Play Selected" to attempt playing them to the mainline
• If all cards follow the secret rule, they stay on the mainline
• If any card breaks the rule, the whole group moves to the sideline
• When you play incorrectly, you draw penalty cards equal to cards played

Special Actions

• Declare No Valid Play: If you believe you can't play any card from your hand
  If correct: You earn the right to guess and your hand is reshuffled (minus 1 card)
  If wrong: Nature plays a valid card from your hand and you draw a penalty
• Guess the Rule: Available after making a correct play or correct "no play" declaration
  Correct guess: You win immediately
  Wrong guess: You draw a penalty card

Winning Conditions

• Correctly guess Nature's secret rule
• Play all cards from your hand (empty your hand)

Scoring

• Base score: 12 minus cards left in hand
• +6 bonus for winning by correct rule guess
• +3 bonus for winning by emptying your hand
• Nature scores equal to the highest player score