Micropul

Overview

Micropul is a tile-laying game for 1-2 players. Players place tiles featuring micropul (circles) and catalysts (dots/crosses) onto a growing grid, activating catalysts to draw new tiles. Players claim groups of same-colored micropul with stones, scoring points for closed groups at game’s end. The goal is to collect the most tiles while using the fewest, and to claim valuable closed groups of micropul.

Components

• 48 different tiles (including 1 starting tile with 4 micropul)
• 6 stones in 2 colors (3 per player)

Setup

1. Place the starting tile (the one with 4 micropul: 2 black, 2 white) in the center of the table.
2. Shuffle all remaining tiles face down and form small stacks called “the core.”
3. Each player draws 6 random tiles from the core into their hand (tiles can stand on their side to stay hidden).
4. Each player takes 3 stones of one color.
5. Determine the first player.

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns. On your turn, you must perform exactly one of these three actions:

1. Lay a tile from your hand into play.
2. Take a tile from your supply to your hand.
3. Put a stone on a group of micropul.

You cannot pass.

Actions

Action 1: Lay a Tile

Place one tile from your hand adjacent to tiles already in play, following these rules:

Rule 1 – Attachment: At least one micropul on the new tile must be adjacent to a micropul on an existing tile.

Rule 2 – Color Matching: A black micropul can never be adjacent to a white micropul (and vice versa). Catalysts (dots/crosses) have no such restriction and can be adjacent to anything.

After placing, check for catalyst activation:

• A catalyst is activated when it becomes adjacent to a micropul (either the catalyst on an existing tile touches a micropul on the new tile, or vice versa).
• A single dot catalyst: draw 1 tile from the core to your supply (face down).
• A double dot catalyst: draw 2 tiles from the core to your supply.
• A cross (+) catalyst: draw tiles as above AND play another turn immediately.
• Catalysts activate only once per turn but can re-activate on subsequent turns.

Action 2: Take a Tile from Supply

Draw 1 tile at random from your face-down supply stacks and add it to your hand.

• You cannot have more than 6 tiles in your hand. If full, this action is unavailable.

Action 3: Claim a Group

Place one of your 3 stones on any micropul of a tile in play to claim that group.

• A stone cannot be placed on a group already owned by any player.
• You may claim a group that is already closed.
• You cannot take this action if you have no remaining stones.

Groups of Micropul

A group is any number of same-colored micropul connected by adjacency.

• Open group: Can still grow (has micropul at the edge of the playing area where new tiles could extend it).
• Closed group: All micropul are fully surrounded; no new micropul can be added.
• Big micropul: Four tiles feature a “big micropul” which acts as 4 same-colored micropul on one tile, plus one catalyst activatable from any side.

If two separately claimed groups merge (by a connecting tile), that merged group scores zero points.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The game ends when the last tile is drawn from the core.

Remove stones from groups that are still open or have more than one stone on them (these score 0).

Scoring:

• Each closed group you own: 1 point per micropul in the group (big micropul = 1 point)
• Each tile remaining in your supply: 2 points
• Each tile remaining in your hand: 1 point

The player with the most points wins. No tiebreaker.

Solitaire: Try to maximize your score; there are no stones/claiming – just score tiles in supply/hand plus closed groups.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• If you have no tiles in hand AND no tiles in supply, you lose immediately.
• A player must always take exactly one action per turn – passing is not allowed.
• Catalysts are not used for attaching tiles; only micropul-to-micropul adjacency attaches tiles.
• Two groups claimed separately that merge into one group score 0 points for both claimants.
• Core tiles drawn go to your supply (face down), not your hand.

Player Reference

Turn options (choose 1): Lay tile

Take from supply to hand

Claim a group with stone

Catalyst effects: Single dot = draw 1

Double dot = draw 2

Cross = draw + extra turn

Tile limits: Max 6 in hand

Supply is unlimited face-down tiles

Scoring: Closed owned groups (1pt/micropul) + supply tiles (2pt each) + hand tiles (1pt each)