Overview

Fireball Island is a 3D adventure board game for 2-4 players. Players are explorers racing to capture a jewel from the top of a volcanic island and be the first to escape with it to the Dock. The island features a menacing Idol (Vul-Kar) that launches actual fireballs (marbles) down trailways, knocking over playing pieces. Players use cards to move, roll fireballs, and interfere with opponents. The combination of the physical 3D board with marble-launching creates a chaotic, action-packed race.

Components

• 1 Gameboard (3D molded island with trails, bridges, caves)
• 4 Plastic playing pieces (explorers)
• 1 Three-piece Idol (Vul-Kar)
• 2 Two-piece bridges
• 1 Deck of 48 cards
• 4 Plastic tokens
• 5 Red fireball marbles
• 1 Red jewel
• 1 Die
• 1 Rulebook

Setup

1. Set the gameboard on a flat, level surface.
2. Assemble the Idol (Vul-Kar) and place it on the gameboard.
3. Assemble the two bridges and place them on the gameboard.
4. Place the 4 tokens in the Ruin space (stand them up against the inside wall).
5. Fit the jewel in the recessed circle next to the Idol.
6. Load the 5 red fireballs into the Idol’s mouth (loading hole on Vul-Kar’s forehead).
7. Shuffle the cards, then deal one card facedown to each player. Place the remaining cards facedown near the gameboard as the draw pile.
8. Look at your card but keep it secret from your opponents. All players do the same.
9. Choose a playing piece and place it on the Start Space. All players go on the same space.

Turn Structure

The highest roller goes first. Play continues to the left (counterclockwise).

Basic Turn

On your turn:

1. Roll and Move: Roll the die, then move your playing piece the full number of spaces rolled along the trails of the gameboard.
2. Play a Card (optional): You may play one card from your hand, following the card’s instructions. Some cards are played before movement, others after. After playing a card, draw a replacement from the draw pile.

You can also play cards on opponents’ turns (certain CANCEL and defensive cards).

Movement Rules

• Count each space as you move. Count every space whether it’s occupied or not.
• If you land on a space occupied by an opponent’s playing piece, move to the next open space.
• Move your playing piece the full count. You may have to stop short of your full count if you move onto a Special Space (see below).
• If you roll a “1” on the die, don’t move your playing piece along the trail. Instead, you are ROLLING A FIREBALL on page 9. (You may still play a card.)
• Move along the trails in any direction, as long as you don’t move along the same space twice during one move.

Actions

Special Spaces

Smolder Pit and Rock Chip Space: Whenever you land on (not just pass over) a Dark Pit space, take a card from the draw pile and add it to your hand. YOUR CARD LIMIT: You can have 4 cards. If it’s exactly 4, you must use at least one. Never draw a card if you already have 4.

Witchbrand Step and Dead Man’s Plateau: If you land on a Witchbrand Step or Dead Man’s Plateau space, you may move to the corresponding shortcut location shown on the gameboard.

Caves

There are six numbered caves on the gameboard. As an alternative to traveling along the trail, you may enter a cave, hoping for a shortcut or another start.

1. Counting the cave as a space on your die roll, move your playing piece into the cave from the trail space next to it. It is not necessary to land on a cave by exact count.
2. On your next turn, roll the die again, and move your playing piece into the cave that matches the number on the die. For example, if you roll “3,” move to Cave 3. If the cave you roll is occupied by your own playing piece or an opponent’s, leave your playing piece where it is — don’t roll on this turn.
3. Before rolling the die on your next turn, determine whether the cave is a dead end or connects to a trail. Cave 4 is a dead end — from Cave 4, you must roll the die to go to another cave.
4. If you wish to move to a new cave, repeat Steps 2 and 3. If you wish to move onto the trail, starting on the trail from the cave, move out.

Bridges

A Bridge counts as a space on your die roll. It is not possible to play on a bridge without making physical contact with it, so if no playing pieces are on the bridge, you must stop your playing piece on the bridge when you reach it.

The Dock

The Dock is the Finish Space. You don’t have to land on the Dock by exact count.

Rolling a Fireball

Whenever you roll a “1” on the die, you must roll one of the 5 fireballs down a trailway or rollway. (See the arrows in the figures for trailways and rollways leading from each of the 6 fireballs.) Any playing pieces hit on the result of the rolling fireball are penalized (see Getting Fireballed).

To roll a fireball, follow the rules below:

1. If possible, the fireball you roll must hit at least one target (playing piece) along a trail. If all playing pieces are on a safe zone/space or none are in your path, you may roll fireballs on the trails toward the Vul-Kar Point.
2. Lean and flick the fireball down a trailway or rollway that leads to your target. If you’re rolling the Vul-Kar fireball, turn Vul-Kar so that its mouth faces the chosen trailway or rollway. Then push the fireball through the tunnel, out of Vul-Kar’s mouth.

When the fireball stops rolling, return it to the nearest loading position.

Getting Fireballed

Getting Fireballed on a Trail: If your playing piece is knocked over by a fireball while standing on a trail, it is Fireballed. Move it to the penalty area shown on the Fireball Penalty chart:

1. Immediately place your playing piece on its side in the penalty area closest to where you were knocked over. (It should show which penalty area corresponds to each trail/bridge.)
2. On your next turn, place your piece upright in the nearest penalty space. It is now uncovered.
3. On your following turn, roll the die, then move your playing piece from the penalty space the full die count.

Fireballed on a Bridge: If your playing piece is knocked off a bridge, it is Fireballed! Move it immediately to the nearest penalty area.

Fireballed with the Jewel: If you own the jewel and are Fireballed on a bridge, place it on the bridge. The jewel is now uncovered, and the first player to move onto or pass where the bridge captures it.

Fireball Penalty Areas

Trail/Area	Penalty Location
Witchbrand Trail	Witchbrand Step
Smolder Pit	Smolder Pit
Skeleton Head Beach	Skeleton Head Beach
Highland Beach	Highland Beach
Fireball Chute	Fireball Chute
High Rock	High Rock
Thunder Alley	Thunder Alley
Low Road	Low Road
Either bridge	Either bridge

Capturing the Jewel from Vul-Kar

Counting Vul-Kar Point as a space on your die roll, move onto it and move your piece there — even if you haven’t moved your full die count. Then take the jewel off the gameboard and place it in front of you.

When you capture the jewel from Vul-Kar, you get a bonus:

1. Take enough cards from the draw pile to fill your hand to 4 cards.
2. Roll any fireball! (See Rolling a Fireball.)
3. Take 3 full turns in a row.

If you own the jewel and a Magic Talisman Token, it becomes much harder for opponents to separate you from them by trading in the appropriate cards. Only one player at a time can own the jewel. Each player can play a TAKE 1 CARD FROM ANY OPPONENT card on you!

Stealing the Jewel from an Opponent

You can steal the jewel by passing the owner on a trail or bridge. To steal the jewel, just take it from its owner as you pass.

Cards

Players can play cards any time during the game. Most cards can be played only on your own turn, unless specifically noted. Only one card can be played during a single turn. But remember: your opponents can play cards on your turn too!

FIREBALL!: Play this card any time on your own turn or on an opponent’s turn. Then roll a Fireball according to the rules.

FAKE JEWEL: Play this card only when an opponent tries to steal the jewel from you. You keep the jewel, and the opponent must move on — empty-handed!

CANCEL ANY CARD EXCEPT FIREBALL CARD: You may play this on top of a card just played — even another CANCEL card — to cancel its effect before any action is taken. EXCEPTION: The FIREBALL! card can never be canceled.

MAGIC TALISMAN: This card prevents you or an opponent from rolling any of the 5 fireballs. Play it when on any turn that a fireball is to be rolled. If a player rolls a “1” on the die, if your piece is in the clear, the Fireball is not rolled.

REROLL THE DIE: Play this card after you or an opponent rolls the die. The player who rolled must roll the die again. If the first roll was a “1,” a fireball is rolled again; if the first die roll was a “1” a Fireball is not rolled.

TAKE ANOTHER TURN AFTER YOUR TURN!: After any of your turns, play this card for an extra full turn.

TAKE 1 CARD FROM ANY OPPONENT!: Play this on your own turn or on an opponent’s turn. Take one card at random from any opponent’s hand.

MOVE AHEAD (1 SPACE, 3 SPACES, OR 6 SPACES) INSTEAD OF ROLLING DIE: Play one of these cards on your turn to move ahead the indicated number of spaces. Or play one on an opponent’s turn to force the opponent to move ahead the indicated number of spaces.

MOVE ANY OPPONENT BACK (1 SPACE, 2 SPACES, OR 3 SPACES): Play one of these cards on any opponent’s turn to move the opponent back on the trail the indicated number of spaces before the opponent rolls the die. The opponent must move back before rolling. If rolling a card causes the opponent to land on a Cave or Dead Man’s Plateau, the opponent is placed there.

NOTE: These cards do not move players out of caves, smolder pits, or the water (penalty area at the bottom of Great Sandy Bluff). If one of these cards moves an opponent back onto or to an uncovered bridge, the opponent must stop and hold the bridge on the next roll.

DOUBLE THE NEXT DIE ROLL: Play this card to double the next die roll. For example, a die roll “3” becomes a “6” — and a Fireball is not rolled.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Win: The player who reaches the Dock with the jewel wins the game.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Rolling a 1: Always triggers a fireball roll instead of normal movement.
• Card Limit: Maximum 4 cards in hand. If at 4, must use at least one before drawing.
• Jewel Capture Bonus: 3 full turns in a row, fill hand to 4 cards, roll a fireball.
• Stealing the Jewel: Only by passing the owner on a trail or bridge (not in caves or penalty areas).
• Safe from Fireballs: Some trails and spaces are not affected by rolls (dark gray trails and spaces).
• Bridge Contact: You cannot avoid landing on a bridge; it always counts as a space.
• Cave Dead End: Cave 4 is a dead end; you must roll to move to another cave.
• Fireball Cannot Be Canceled: The FIREBALL! card is the only card that cannot be canceled.

Player Reference

Turn Sequence

1. Roll the die (if “1,” roll a fireball instead of moving)
2. Move your playing piece along the trail
3. Optionally play 1 card (or play defensive cards on opponents’ turns)
4. Draw a card if you played one

Key Rules

• Steal the jewel by passing the owner on a trail/bridge
• Getting fireballed: move to penalty area, skip next turn
• Caves: roll die to determine which cave you exit from
• Dock: no exact landing required to win
• Maximum 4 cards in hand