Moo'dal

This game was developed during, and for, the BigMode game jam, December 2023.

HOW TO PLAY

Moo'dal is a game for two to four players, or herds.

On each turn, a player draws a random hexagonal tile from the tile bag and must place it on the map given the following rules:

• It must be adjacent to at least one already played tile.
• It must adhere to rules regarding edge matching. Specifically, stick fences must be continued if they exist. Stronger, edge fencing doesn't require matching. Cattle grids may also be played against any other edge.

A player may also place one of their Mooples (small, plastic cows) on the tile they’re playing in one of the spaces between stick fences. However, they may only place a Moople in an area that is not currently joined to an occupied field (even if it’s occupied by their own herd).

Fields belong to the herd that has the highest (that is to say, the MODAL...) number of Mooples within it. If there is no one modal herd in a field, no-one owns the field.

Most tiles also have MILK CHURNS on them. Players should place tiles so that their fields contain as many of these as possible. Each churn is worth 1 point at the end of the game (as long as the field still belongs to them by then!).

If a field is completed - that is, completely fenced in with no edges that lead off the map - the milk churns in it are converted to 3 points and any Mooples in the field are returned to their owners.

During the game, the players’ scores are displayed thus:

Points gained from completed fields (+currently held churns)

Players hold a herd of three Mooples each.

The game ends when the tile bag is empty.

CONTROLS

At this time, the game can only be played with the MOUSE and KEYBOARD.

Move the map with WASD or MIDDLE MOUSE BUTTON

Rotate the map with Q & E

Zoom the map with the mouse’s SCROLL WHEEL

Select a Moople by CLICKING on it (deselect a Moople by clicking elsewhere on the tile).

Drop a tile with SPACEBAR, CLICKING the onscreen button, or DOUBLE-CLICKING a Moople or the tile.

To see the current ownership zones, press TAB or the MIDDLE MOUSE BUTTON.