Kalevala is a tile-laying game for two players inspired by the board game Völuspá by Scott Caputo.
Players take turns placing tiles from their hand on the board. A tile must be placed adjacent to an existing tile, and there cannot be more than 7 tiles in a horizontal or vertical line.
For example, this Väinämöinen tile can be placed anywhere above or below the existing line of tiles, but not to the left or right of them, because there are already 7 tiles in that row:
After you place a tile, you draw a new tile from the deck (if there are any tiles left in it).
If you can't place any tiles or you have none in your hand, your turn is passed. The game ends when neither player can place any more tiles.
After you place a tile, if it's the single highest-value tile in its row, you score points equal to the number of tiles in the row, and if it's the single highest-value tile in its column, you score points equal to the number of tiles in the column. You can score for a row, a column, both, or neither. Lines must have at least two tiles in them to earn points. Tying the highest value in a row or column doesn't earn you points.
For example, this Ukko tile scores 2 points, because it's the single highest-value tile in its column of 2 tiles, but there are no other tiles in its row (2 points for column + 0 points for row = 2 points total).
On the other hand, this Väinämöinen tile scores 3 points, because it's the single highest-value tile in its row of 3 tiles, but it's only tied for highest value in its column due to the other Väinämöinen there (0 points for column + 3 points for row = 3 points total).
Many of the tiles in Kalevala have special rules associated with them.
No special rules.
No special rules.
No other tiles may be placed next to a Kullervo, unless it is another Kullervo.
In this example, a Kullervo tile is able to be be placed next to another one, but no other tile could go there:
Käärme tiles may be placed on top of other tiles (except other Käärmes). If you place a Käärme on top of another tile, that tile is treated as though it's no longer on the board, and its special abilities no longer take effect. You can still place a Käärme tile normally.
In this example, a Käärme swoops in on top of a stubborn Väinämöinen to score 4 points (2 for the column + 2 for the row):
The value of a Joukahainen tile in a row or column is equal to the sum of all of the Joukahainen tiles in a row or column. This means that a Joukahainen tile may have a different value in its row and in its column. Joukahainen tiles that have an increased value in their row or column are indicated by a 4+ symbol.
Joukahainen tiles adjacent to Lemminkainen (1) tiles have zero value and don't contribute to the values of other Joukahainens in their row and column. (More on Lemminkainen later!)
In this example, the Joukahainen tile gains a value of 8 in its row when it's placed due to the other Joukahainen in its row, thus winning its row for 3 points. But it only has a value of 4 in its column (because the other Joukahainen in its column has zero value and doesn't contribute to it), so it doesn't score any points for its column:
Seppo Ilmarinen tiles may be exchanged for tiles on the board (except other Seppo Ilmarinens). If you choose to do that, place a Seppo Ilmarinen tile where another tile is already placed, and you will receive that other tile in your hand.
You can still place a Seppo Ilmarinen tile normally.
In this example, a Seppo Ilmarinen is exchanged for a Käärme tile on the board to both score 4 points and gain a useful Käärme tile. Way to go, Seppo Ilmarinen!
Louhi tiles can score a row or column automatically if there are Louhis at both ends of it.
In this example, a Louhi scores a row of 4 tiles because there's another Louhi at the other end of the row (even though they're not the highest-value tiles in the row):
All other tiles adjacent to Lemminkainen tiles have zero value (except other Lemminkainens).
In this example, a Lemminkainen scores 4 points (2 for its row and 2 for its column) by reducing all of its neighbors to zero value:
Kalevala was programmed by Alex Nisnevich and Greg Shuflin with art by Jordan Arnesen.
It's based on the board game Völuspá, designed by Scott Caputo and published by White Goblin Games. Völuspá supports up to four players and has many expansions that add new tiles - if you like Kalevala, you should check it out!