CARD/ITEM DESCRIPTIONS
BETABOTZ
Robot Cards:
Betabotz is a multiplayer card game that involves a risky and fun bidding system. The
objective of the game is to collect as many chips as possible through the completion
of missions. Chips are used to purchase the initial robot, as well as upgrades that will
allow robots to accomplish certain missions with higher requirements. After ten rounds
of missions the player with the highest number of chips wins the game, but there’s one
small catch: the robot with the highest single attribute at the end of the game receives an
additional 15 chips.
Robot cards are the base character cards for each player. Players receive robot cards
during Phase 0 of game play (see Game Play section below). Robot cards remain with the
same player throughout the entirety of gameplay.
Robot Attributes – Each robot has 4 separate attributes: Agility, Stability, Firepower,
and Processor. Each attribute has a specified value. The attributes are used to complete
missions during game play. Component cards and code cards can enhance attributes
temporarily or permanently, see component and code cards below.
Mobilizations – Each robot has specific powers associated with each attribute. Powers are
CONTENTS OF THE BOX
Cards:
10 Robot Cards
8 Activated Power Cards
62 Component Cards
50 Code Cards
20 Tier 1 Mission Cards
24 Tier 2 Mission Cards
16 Tier 3 Mission Cards
1 Starter Chip *
7 Bidding Chips *
Bits/Currency *:
35 one bit chips
25 five bit chips
20 ten bit chips
20 twenty bit chips
1 Die *
* not included in beta set
indicated by the letter above each attribute, and are explained in detail on corresponding
mobilization card (see description below). Mobilizations are activated when the specified
attribute value reaches 13 or above. Robots cannot have the same activated power
as other robots in play. The first player to reach 13 on specified attribute retains the
mobilization for the remainder of the game, unless the attribute drops below 13 during
game play, in which event another player may retain the power by reaching 13 in the
needed attribute. If 2 or more players have attributes above 13, the player with the highest
attribute takes the power; if 2 or more players have attributes above 13 and are tied in
value, the first player to reach higher attribute value in subsequent game play receives
the power.
EXAMPLE: Mission Card
EXAMPLE: Robot Card
Mission Requirements
IRON
MINIMUM BID: 4 BITS
Robot Name
Minimum Bid Value
REWARD 10 BITS
Reward Value
SPECIALS: NO TEAMMATES
Special Conditions
Mobilizations
Robot Attribute Values
Mobilization Cards:
EXAMPLE: Robot Attribute Icons
Agility
Firepower
Mobilization cards are detailed descriptions of each mobilization. The first player to reach
13 in the specified attribute receives the corresponding mobilization card. Mobilizations
are used (and can only be used once, unless otherwise stated) during phases 2 and 3 of
gameplay, see Game Play section below.
Structure
Processor
EXAMPLE: Mobilization Card
Mission Cards:
Mission cards are used during phase 2 of game play, and are used to acquire reward bits.
There are three separate tiers of mission cards with increasing difficulty. Each mission
card contains attribute requirements needed to complete the mission. Robots must
achieve equal or greater value in each of the required attribute to successfully complete
the mission. Select mission cards contain special conditions or rewards as specified on
each card.
Reward: bits earned per team for completing mission (reward does not change with
regard to number of players on each team)
Mission Requirements
B-POWER MOBILIZATION
STEAL INSTANT CARDS BY ROLLING
HIGHER THAN 4 WITH A DICE. IF YOU
LOSE, DELETE 3 BITS.
Power Description
Component Cards:
Code Cards:
Components cards enhance Robot attributes permanently, and are purchased during
phase 1, the enhancement phase (see Game Play below). Certain component cards
contain special conditions or rewards when received; see individual cards for detailed
description. Each player can carry up to 5 component cards. Players can purchase
additional component cards but must choose to discard an existing component card if the
number of component cards exceeds the maximum.
Code cards are obtained at the beginning of the game and during the enhancement phase,
see Game Play below. Code cards can only be played during the mission phase. Any
number of code cards can be played at any time during the mission phase. Each player
can carry up to 4 code cards.
EXAMPLE: Code Card
EXAMPLE: Component Card
Component Icon
MINUS 2 TO
ANY TWO STATS
MINIMUM BID: 8 BITS
Action
Minimum Bid Value
SPECIALS: DRAW AN INSTANT CARD AND
PLAY IF YOU WIN THIS BID.
Starter Chip:
Enhanced Attribute Values
Indicates the first player to begin action during game play
Bits:
Currency used during game play
Bidding Chip:
Indication of player’s bid; place the bit amount used on top of bidding chip, then place
bidding chip on desired card to bid
GAME SETUP
GAME SETUP (continued)
Prior to the start of the game, shuffle each tier of mission cards separately. Select top
mission cards from each tier in order specified below and place face down in mission card
pile:
1. Select and arrange missions cards as indicated on previous page.
2. Shuffle robot and code cards and place in two separate piles face down.
3 - 5 Players
3. Shuffle and place all mobilization cards in a single pile face up.
6 - 7 Players
4. Distribute to each player
2 code cards
50 bits
1 bid token
4 tier 1 missions – Will be the first missions played during game play
2 tier 3 missions – Played subsequent to tier 1 missions
4 tier 2 missions – Last missions played
3 tier 1 missions
4 tier 3 missions
3 tier 2 missions
5. Place starter chip in front of youngest player.
You’re ready to play Beta Bots!
EXAMPLE: 3-5 Players Set Up
GAMEPLAY OVERVIEW
Objective: Acquire most bits at the end of 10 total missions
Gameflow (see specific instructions for each phase in following pages):
Tier 1 Mission Cards
Players take turns moving clockwise. There are three main phases in the game.
Phase 0: Robot Phase (completed once at the beginning of the game)
Tier 3 Mission Cards
Tier 2 Mission Cards
The following phases are repeated until 10 total missions are completed
Phase 1: Enhancement/Building Phase
- Bid to purchase component card
or
- Draw code card
Phase 2: Mission Phase
- Attempt mission individually or cooperatively
- Utilize code cards during mission
- Complete or fail mission
- Receive rewards/consequences
Repeat phase 1 and phase 2 for 10 total missions
Player with highest total bits win!
DETAILED GAMEPLAY
Phase 1: Enhancement/Building phase
Betabotz Bidding System
At the beginning of this phase, flip component cards face up equal to one less than the
number of players (i.e. in a 5 player game, 4 component cards are flipped face up).
Betabotz’ unique bidding system is the system used to acquire both player robot card
(during robot phase) and component cards (during enhancement/building phase)
Robot Bidding
Bidding starts from player with starter chip and proceeds clockwise. Each player
completes their bid by placing bit chips on top of their desired robot card, followed by
their bidding chip. The starting bid must be equal to or greater than the min bid amount
on the face up robot card (there are no maximum bids). Players can (and are encouraged)
to overbid previous players. In the event where the original player is overbid, he/she
receives back his/her bidding chip, and waits until his/her next turn, at which time he/
she is then free to bid on any face up robot card. Players cannot bid on other robots while
having the current high bid on a face up robot and must pass during his/her turn. Players
that are not current high bidders must place a bid on a face up robot card during each
turn. See bidding sample play in appendix for demonstration of bidding process.
Component Bidding
All rules in robot bidding apply, with the exception that players are not required to place
bids on a component card. Players have the option to draw a code card if desired (see
description of enhancement/building phase below)
Phase 0: Robot Phase
At the beginning of this phase, flip robot cards equal to the number of players face up.
Players attempt to acquire desired robot by utilizing the Betabotz bidding system. Bidding
continues until all players pass (all players are high bidders on his/her robot). Each player
then receives his/her robot, and will use it for the remainder of the game.
At the end of phase 0, rotate the starter chip clockwise to the next player.
Starting with the player with the starter chip, preceding clockwise, each player chooses 1
of 2 actions:
Bid on one component card utilizing the Betabotz bidding system
Or
Draw one code card
If the player chooses to draw a code card, his/her turn for the current enhancement phase
is over; he/she can no longer bid on face up component cards.
Robots can hold up to 5 total component cards (unless otherwise noted on individual
component cards). Players with max number of allowable component cards are not
prohibited from bidding on additional component cards. In cases where such player wins
the bid, he/she must choose to discard one of the existing component cards on his/her
robot and replace with the component card won.
Phase 1 continues until all players have received a code card or has the current high bid
on a component card. Players with high bids then receive their respective component
cards. Component cards are in play for the remainder of the game unless otherwise
indicated by a code card, mission card, or robot power.
All unused component cards are discarded. Rotate starter chip clockwise to the next
player.
Phase 2: Mission phase
At the beginning of this phase, flip the top mission card face up.
All players are required to attempt the mission (unless otherwise noted on mission
card) either individually or cooperatively. To complete the mission, players must fulfill
all attribute and other requirements stated on face up mission card with current robot
attributes, component cards, code cards, or robot powers (see card type/descriptions
above). Robot powers can only be activated once during phase 1 & 2, unless otherwise
stated on power card.
Individual Missions:
Players choosing to complete the mission individually must satisfy all mission
requirements with his/her robot attributes, component cards, code cards, and/or
robot powers. Players with no agreed upon teams must attempt to complete mission
individually.
Rewards – Players completing mission individually receives all rewards specified on
mission card
Special Conditions – Players completing mission individually must satisfy any special
conditions specified on mission card and receive applicable punishments if failed to
complete the mission
Team Missions:
Two or more players can choose to complete the mission cooperatively. Cooperative
teams must be formed with formal acceptance from all players on the proposed team
(i.e. handshake, specific verbal commitment, etc.). Teams cannot be dissolved once
agreed upon unless otherwise noted on code card (example: if player A and player B
decide to complete the mission together, and player C plays a code card that significantly
downgrades player A’s attributes, player B cannot decide to team up with player C or
complete the mission individually).
In cooperative missions, all attributes from cooperating players’ robots (with all
component cards) are combined to satisfy mission requirements (mission requirements
do not change based on the number of players cooperating).
Rewards – Reward amounts remain constant regardless of the number of players
on any given team. All conditions on reward distribution must be discussed prior to
forming cooperative teams.
Special Conditions – Special conditions are applied to each team member
individually. In cases where consequences exist for failure, ALL players on the failed
team receive the specified consequences (i.e. if consequence is to lose 2 components,
each player on failed team must lose 2 components).
Code Cards:
During the mission phase, players may choose to play any number of code cards at any
time prior to the end of the mission.
Mission Attempt:
The mission attempt is complete when all teams are formed and no more code cards are
played. Rewards, punishments, and special conditions are received as described above.
Repeat Phase 1 and Phase 2
At the end of each mission, Phase 1 and Phase 2 are repeated until all 10 missions have
been attempted.
Special Reward:
Highest single attribute: In addition to bits earned during missions and with code cards,
at the end of the 10th mission, the player with the highest single attribute receives an
additional 15 bits before the winner is declared. In the event where two or more players
are tied with the highest single attribute, each player receives 15 additional bits.
3. Player 3 overbids Player 1 for Robot 1 by
BIDDING SCENARIO
This a typical four player game setup which begins with the robot bidding process.
placing 5 bits and his/her player marker on
Robot 1. Player 1 takes back his/her chips and player marker and has to wait for his/her
turn to bid on another robot.
1. Player 1 places 4 bits and his/her player marker on Robot 1.
Play goes clockwise to Player 2
PLAYER 3 OUTBIDS PLAYER 1
AND MOVES HIS CHIPS AND MARKER
BITS
PLAYER 3
PLAYER MARKER
PLAYER 3
4 BITS (PLAYER 1)
ROBOT 1
5 BITS (PLAYER 3)
ROBOT 2
ROBOT 3
ROBOT 4
ROBOT 1
PLAYER 4
PLAYER 2
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
4 BITS (PLAYER 2)
ROBOT 2
ROBOT 3
PLAYER 4
PLAYER 2
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
GAME AREA
PLAY CONTINUES
CLOCKWISE
PLAYER 1
2. Player 2 places 4 bits and his/her player marker on Robot 2, play continues to
Player 3
ROBOT 4
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
GAME AREA
BITS & MARKER
RETURN TO PLAYER 1
PLAYER 1
4. Player 4 places 4 bits and his/her player marker on Robot 3. Play now continues
to Player 1
5. Since Player 1 was outbid on Robot 1, he/she must now (A) place a new, higher bid on
Robots 1, 2, or 3 or (B) place bits equal to the minimum bid on Robot 4.
If Player 1 chooses option A then Player 3 will be without a robot and the play will
continue to go clockwise. Any player who already has a robot is skipped. In this scenario
Player 2 and Player 3 are skipped.
If Player 1 chooses option B, all players will have robots and this phase of the game will
be complete. The game will move onto the mission phase.
PLAYER 3
5 BITS (PLAYER 3)
ROBOT 1
4 BITS (PLAYER 2)
ROBOT 2
4 BITS (PLAYER 4)
ROBOT 3
ROBOT 4
PLAYER 4
PLAYER 2
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
A
MIN. BID: 4 BITS
B
PLAYER 1’S TURN AGAIN
PLAYER 1
GAME AREA