Völuspá - General game info
Völuspá
2-5 players, 45 minutes, 10 years and older
AuthorScott Caputo
IllustratorPierre Lechevalier
Published byWhite Goblin Games
Stronghold Games
Online since 2013-10-18
Developed by (Stonecrusher)
Boardgamegeek128554
Yucata.de owns a license for the online version of this game. A big "thank you" to the copyright owners (publisher and/or author and illustrator) who make it possible to have this game for free online here!
Völuspá - Rules

Völuspá on Yucata.de

The game has been implemented in accordance to the latest version of the game manual and the official FAQ.

Changes with regard to the real game

  • The tile that the Dragon Dragon icon , the Lightning Bolt Lightning Bolt icon , the Raven Raven icon or the Hel Hel icon tile is played upon doesn't stay in the area of played tiles but is placed on the discard pile. This has no effect on the game.

The play variant "No late Hel ":

From a strategic point of view it makes sense to keep the Hel Hel icon tiles until the game end is close. When there are no tiles left in the draw deck, every player will place his 5 hand tiles giving him 5 remaining turns. If he has one or several Skadi Skadi icon tiles left, he will also have additional turns, but the placement of Skadi usually yields no or only a few points.
But if a player has kept his two Hel tiles (or one Hel tile in case of more than two players) until the end, he will still have two additional turns because he actually has seven (or six in case of more than two players) remaining turns instead of five.
Therefore usually all players will play their Hel tiles when the game end is close, which however will make the interesting gap function of Hel irrelevant.
For this reason it's recommended to use this variant that only allows to play Hel tiles as long as the draw deck still contains tiles. If a player keeps them for too long, he cannot place them any more.
Implementation of this variant: Right after drawing the last tile from the draw deck, all remaining Hel tiles of all players will automatically be removed from the game.

INTRODUCTION

In the oldest poem of Norse Mythology, the Völuspá tells the story of the endless struggle of powerful gods, dangerous creatures, and forgotten races. Which beings will dominate each other? Will the Valkyries overtake Thor? Will Odin survive the challenge of the trickster, Loki? Every time the story unfolds differently, a new force rises in dominance.

OBJECTIVE

The players play tiles with different characters and creatures of Norse Mythology. They try to dominate other tiles and scores points this way. The players who scores the most points by dominating other tiles wins the game.

COMPONENTS

60 tiles of the base game
Odin Tile
6x Odin
Thor Tile
8x Thor
Troll Tile
6x Troll
Dragon Tile
8x Dragon
Fenrir Tile
8x Fenrir
Skadi Tile
9x Skadi
Valkyrie Tile
9x Valkyrie
Loki Tile
6x Loki
25 tiles of the expansion Saga of Edda
Hel Tile
5x Hel
Hermod Tile
8x Hermod
Jotunn Tile
6x Jotunn
Sea Serpent Tile
6x Sea Serpent
25 tiles of the expansion Order of the Gods
Dwarf Tile
6x Dwarf
Freya Tile
8x Freya
Raven Tile
6x Raven
Niohoggr Tile
5x Niohoggr
6 tiles of the expansion Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt
6x Lightning Bolt
Score Markers

5 score markers

(1 for each player)

Point Tokens

5 "+50/+100"-tokens

(front and back)

booster tokens

16 booster tokens

(2 each of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 1 each of 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12)

zero tokens

20 zero tokens

Score Track
score track
Rulebook
rulebook

SETUP

  1. Shuffle all tiles face-down. Place all tiles in piles on the table.
  2. Each player draws five tiles and takes these in his hand.
    Don't show the tiles in your hand to the other players.
  3. Draw one tile and place it face-up in the centre of the table. If this is a Troll, return it and draw another tile (repeat this until you don't draw a Troll). Shuffle the returned tile in a pile of choice.
  4. Each player chooses a colour and places his score marker next to the score track.
  5. Randomly choose a start player. He'll take the first turn.

GAME SEQUENCE

The game is played in turns. Players take turns in clockwise order. Each turn the active player performs the following actions in this order:
  1. PLAY ONE TILE
    Board Example
    Example game area during the game.
    Choose one tile from your hand and place it in the game area following these rules:
    • Each tile must touch at least one side of another tile already on the table.
    • Each individual line of tiles (horizontal or vertical) cannot exceed seven.
    Note:
    Many tiles have special powers. See "Overview of tile powers" for a list and description.
    or DISCARD ONE TILE
    If you cannot play any of your tiles (which is very unlikely), you must discard a tile. Remove this tile from the game and put it back in the box.
  2. SCORE POINTS
    Score Points A
    Peter places the Odin tile and scores 4 points.
    A line of tiles is always dominated by one or more tiles. In most cases the dominating tiles are those with the highest value. For example in the line
    Skadi Tile
    Valkyrie Tile
    Thor Tile

    the Thor Thor icon tile dominates the line because of its value of 7 which is the highest in the line.
    The tile that you place during your turn will score a line if it breaks the current domination of that line and becomes the new dominator of that line. To break the current domination of a tile that has the highest value in that line, tying its value is not sufficient.
    If in the above example you place an Odin Odin icon like this:
    Odin Tile
    Skadi Tile
    Valkyrie Tile
    Thor Tile

    then you will score this line because Odin's value of 8 is higher than the current dominator's value of 7 (Thor Thor icon ).

    Placing a tile can score the column or the horizontal line it is placed in, or both (see the example in the box where Bart scores 6 points for placing Thor Thor icon ). Column and the horizontal line are both checked separately for new domination and scoring.
    You score an amount of points equal to the number of tiles in that row and/or column.
    Important:
    To score a line it must consist of at least two tiles.
    Note:
    • Beside having the highest tile value there is another way to dominate a line: see the special ability of the Valkyrie Valkyrie icon tiles below.
    • If you have discarded a tile this turn, you won't score points.
    Special Case:
    • Some tiles may be placed on top of other tiles replacing them on the board (see the chapters about Dragon Dragon icon , Skadi Skadi icon , Hel Hel icon , Lightning Bolt Lightning Bolt icon and Raven Raven icon ). If the only tile on the board is the start tile and you place a Dragon, Skadi or Lightning Bolt tile on top of it, you'll score 1 point. If you place your Hel tile on such a start tile you'll score zero points.
    Score Points B
    Bart places the Thor tile and scores 6 points.
    His tile is the highest value in both lines.
    Score Points C
    Tom places the Troll tile and scores no points.
    The value of his tile ties with the highest value in this line.
  3. DRAW A TILE
    Refill your hand to five tiles by drawing a tile from a pile.
    Note:
    If you played a Skadi this turn to capture a tile, you don't draw a new tile.

END OF THE GAME

The game ends when all tiles are drawn and every player has no tiles left.
Note:
After the draw pile is empty it may occur (because of Skadi and Hermod) that some player still has tiles on her hand while others already have empty hands. In this case the player has several turns in a row, laying out his remaining tiles, while the other players must pass.

The player with the highest score wins. In case of a tie, the player who reached the highest score first wins the game.

Tiebreaker Display

In the implementation of Völuspá at Yucata.de this tiebreaker rule is always directly visible in the player info:
Whenever two or more players have equal number of points, the point display for those players changes from single integer number to two integer numbers that are separated by a point ("."). Now the number to the right of the point is the tiebreaker value. For example, if you have reached the 9 points EARLIER than your opponent then your point display is "9.2" while it's "9.1" for your opponent. If you see this points-display as a decimal number then 9.2 > 9.1. Therefore it's always true that the higher the (point-separated) number, the higher the player ranking.
Example: In a 5-player-game it can come to the following point/tiebreaker display.
Player 1: Points 9.2
Player 2: Points 11.1
Player 3: Points 9.1
Player 4: Points 11.2
Player 5: Points 9.3
Now if player 2 scores three points, then the point and the number to the right of it (=Tiebreaker) disappear again for player 2 and 4 because now both have a different number of points and a unique ranking for both players can be derived from their number of points without tiebreaker value.

OVERVIEW OF TILE POWERS

Many tiles have special powers. Some powers affect scoring points, while other powers affect playing other tiles.
The special powers of the tiles remain active throughout the game.

ODIN (6x)

Odin Tile
Father of all Gods
No special power.

THOR (8x)

Thor Tile
God of Sky and Thunder
No special power.

TROLL (6x)

Troll Tile
Board example for Troll
Red fields are blocked for non-Troll tiles.
Green fields are still available.
Foul and fierce creature
No other tile (except Trolls and Dwarfs Dwarf icon ) may be placed adjacent (horizontal or vertical) to this tile after it's been placed.

DRAGON (8x)

Dragon Tile
Board example for Dragon
The Dragon is placed on top of Thor and scores 4 points.
Dangerous flying creature
Place this tile the normal way or on top of another tile. Any powers of the covered tile are nullified.
  • You cannot place a Dragon on top of a tile next to a Troll Troll icon .
  • You can place a Dragon on top of a Troll.
  • You cannot place a Dragon on top of a Dragon.

FENRIR (8x)

Fenrir Tile
Board example for Fenrir
The value of the Fenrir is 12 (3x 4). It scores 5 points.
Wolf: Monstrous son of Loki
The value of this tile is the sum of all Fenrir tiles in the same row or column, depending on whether you check the row or column for scoring. This means that for example the row value of a lone Fenrir is 4 points, even if there are more Fenrir tiles in its column.
  • Fenrir tiles next to Loki Loki icon tiles are worth zero and do not contribute to the value of other Fenrir tiles.
  • After placement Fenrir tiles continue to be worth the sum of the Fenrir tiles in the line. Therefore, for example in a line that contains only three Fenrir tiles in it (and no Loki tile next to the Fenrir tiles) each of these Fenrir would have a value of 12.
  • A newly placed Fenrir in a line where one or more Fenrir are already placed, has a higher value than the other Fenrir at the moment the new Fenrir is placed. After placing this Fenrir, all Fenrir in this line take on the same value as the newly placed Fenrir. Another way to think of this is that all Fenrir tiles in a line work together as a pack. So for example, given the Fenrir dominate a line, then as long as placing another Fenrir tile in that line increases the value of all Fenrir tiles in the pack, you score.
Example:
Here Odin Odin icon scores because the row value of the Fenrir below the Skadi Skadi icon is 4 (= 4 + 0).
Skadi Tile
Loki Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile
Odin Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile

But here Odin Odin icon does not score because the column value of the Fenrir below the Skadi Skadi icon is 12 (= 4 + 4 + 4).
Odin Tile
Skadi Tile
Loki Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile

SKADI (9x)

Skadi Tile
Board example for Skadi
The Skadi replaces the Dragon and scores 3 points (Loki nullifies Odin).
Goddess of Hunting and Winter
Place this tile the normal way or exchange a tile on the table with the Skadi and add the exchanged tile to your hand.
  • You can't capture a tile next to a Troll Troll icon .
  • You may not use Skadi to take a Skadi.
  • You can choose a Dragon Dragon icon . The tile covered by the Dragon is removed from the game while you take the Dragon to your hand.

VALKYRIE (9x)

Valkyrie Tile
Board example for Valkyrie
The Valkyrie dominates the line and scores 5 points.
Angelic guides to Valhalla
Like the other tiles, the Valkyrie can dominate a line by its value (2). Additionally, when you place a Valkyrie at the one side of a line so that line begins and ends with a Valkyrie, you'll dominate and score that line.
  • If two Valkyries dominate a line by bookending it, their domination cannot be broken by placing a tile with higher value (a Dragon Dragon icon , Skadi Skadi icon or Raven Raven icon ) between them. It's because they still bookend the line and therefore keep on dominating it.
  • Loki Loki icon tiles change the value of Valkyrie to "0", but doesn't prevent them from scoring when placed at the end of a line.

LOKI (6x)

Loki Tile
Board example for Loki
The value of both Odin and the Dragon is 0. The Fenrir is not affected by Loki.
Trickster God
Tiles adjacent (horizontal and vertical) to Loki have a value of "0" (except other Loki tiles).

EXPANSION MODULE "SAGA OF EDDA"

SETUP

The setup is equal to the base game with the following exceptions:

  • Separate out the five Hel Hel icon tiles. Each player gets one Hel tile. All unused Hel tiles are removed from the game and returned to the game box.
    Important:
    In a two player game, each player gets two Hel tiles.
  • Shuffle the new tiles with the base game tiles.
  • Deal five tiles to each player.
The rules are the same as in the base game.

OVERVIEW TILE POWERS "SAGA OF EDDA"

HEL (5x)

Hel Tile
Hel Tile Backside
Board example for Hel
Hel scores 4 points. The top row is now divided in two separate lines.
Goddess of the Dead
This tile must be placed (face down Hel icon ) on top of another tile (not Hel). Any powers of the covered tile are nullified.
Hel is treated as a gap in a line. Lines up to seven tiles may form in all four directions from the Hel tile.
Score one point for each tile adjacent (horizontal, vertical and diagonal) to this tile.
  • Hel tile doesn't count toward the five-tile hand limit.
  • You don't draw a replacement tile after playing a Hel tile.
  • You may play Hel next to a Troll Troll icon .
  • No other tile can be placed on top of this tile.
  • Skadi Skadi icon cannot capture a Hel tile.
  • You may place a tile adjacent to only a Hel tile. This will start a new line of one and scores 1 point.
    Sea Serpent Sea Serpent iconis the only exception to this rule because for it the following has to be considered: In order to dominate and score, it must still be the highest in its row or column. If it isn't it doesn't score.
    Example:
    Sea Serpent won't score here, not even 1 point.
    Thor Tile
    Thor Tile
    Odin Tile
    Thor Tile
    Thor Tile
    Thor Tile
    Hel Tile
    Sea Serpent Tile
    On the other hand, on a board that consists only of the following two tiles, it will score the 1 point:
    Hel Tile
    Sea Serpent Tile
  • If you place a Niohoggr Niohoggr icon tile adjacent to only a Hel tile you score 3 points: 1 point + the 2 extra bonus points of the Niohoggr.
  • If you place a tile adjacent to several Hel tiles, but only Hel tiles, that play also scores only 1 point.

JOTUNN (6x)

Jotunn Tile
Board example for Jotunn
The Jotunn bumps Thor and scores 8 points: vertical column 3 points and horizontal row 5 points (Thor is nullified by Loki).
Giant: Ancient race of enormous beings
Place this tile the normal way or you may bump any tile (except Hel Hel icon) to either end of its line. If you do, put the Jotunn in its place.
  • You don't score the bumped tile.
  • When you bump a Dragon Dragon icon, both the Dragon and the tile underneath it are bumped.
  • You can bump a Troll Troll icon .
  • A non-Troll tile cannot be bumped next to a Troll.
  • Whether the Jotunn is bumping or placed the normal way, it may not end placed next to a Troll.
  • You may not create a line longer than seven tiles.
  • The bumped tile cannot pass any gaps (including Hel tiles).

SEA SERPENT (6x)

Sea Serpent Tile
Board example for Sea Serpent
The Sea Serpent scores 4 points.
Monstrous son of Loki
The Sea Serpent only scores when it has the highest value among all tiles in its row/column including tiles across gaps (including Hel Hel icon tiles). The score is based on all tiles and gaps in this row or column (and may exceed seven).
  • You can only score one column or row. You choose which one is scored.
In the implementation at Yucata.de the column / row that would score more points is automatically chosen.

HERMOD (8x)

Hermod Tile
Board example for Hermod
Hermod scores 2 points. Then a Troll is played and scores 3 points. The player scores a total of 5 points.
Messenger of the Gods
After placing Hermod, you may immediately place another tile in the same line as Hermod is placed.
At the end of your turn refill your hand up to five tiles.
  • You can play multiple Hermods on the same turn.
  • After placing Hermod, you may place another tile (Dragon Dragon icon , Skadi Skadi icon , Jotunn Jotunn icon , Lightning Bolt Lightning Bolt icon or Raven Raven icon ) on top of the Hermod just played.
  • You may play a Hel Hel icon tile, as long as it is adjacent (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) to or on top of the Hermod just played.
  • Score each tile immediately after playing.
  • If you cannot play any of your tiles after playing Hermod, you must discard a tile. Remove this tile from the game and put it back in the box. This happens very rarely.

EXPANSION MODULE "LIGHTNING BOLT"

INTRODUCTION

The power of the gods is in your hands with the addition of the Lightning Bolt tile that can zap any tile and score any line.

SETUP

The Lightning Bolt expansion can be played with the base game and any other expansion (or recommended tile set listed in the Order of the Gods expansion). The rules and setup for the tiles from the base game and its expansion remain the same.

OVERVIEW TILE POWERS "LIGHTNING BOLT"

LIGHTNING BOLT (6x)

Lightning Bolt Tile
Board example for Lightning Bolt
The Lightning Bolt scores 2 points.
Power of the Gods
Place the Lightning Bolt on top of another tile. The Lightning Bolt scores the shortest of the two lines it is in (lightning always takes the shortest path to the ground) even if this tile does not have the highest value in that line. The shortest possible line is two tiles. For example in the following line:
Troll Tile
Skadi Tile
Dragon Tile
Thor Tile
When you place a Lightning Bolt like this:
Troll Tile
Skadi Tile
Dragon Tile
Lightning Bolt Tile
then you will score 4 points.
Exact scoring definition:
Look at the horizontal and vertical line the target tile is in, and among them check those that have a length of two or more. Score an amount of points as high as the number of tiles in the shortest of those lines.
In the rare case where a Lightning Bolt is placed on top of the solitary start tile, or on a solitary tile adjacent to only a Hel Hel icon tile, you score 1 point.
  • You cannot place a Lightning Bolt on top of a Lightning Bolt, Hel tile, or on top of a tile next to a Troll Troll icon .
  • You can place a Lightning Bolt on top of a Raven Raven icon or Dragon Dragon icon .
  • If both lines are the same length, choose which line to score. This matters when there are Niohoggr Niohoggr icon tiles (+2 points) in the lines.
  • A Lightning Bolt scores 2 extra points if placed on top of a Niohoggr tile.
  • A Lightning Bolt scores even if it is placed upon a tile in a line that is bookended by two Valkyries Valkyrie icon.
In the implementation at Yucata.de, in case both lines are the same length, the line that would score more points is automatically chosen.

EXPANSION MODULE "ORDER OF THE GODS"

INTRODUCTION

The balance of power is shifting among the order of the gods! The goddess Freya can permanently increase the value of other beings. The resourceful Dwarf taps the power of neighboring gods. The monstrous Niohoggr hoards extra benefits for anyone brave enough to defeat it and the quickly flying Raven can score twice in the same turn!

SETUP

The tiles in this expansion can be combined with the base game and the Saga of Edda expansion. To maintain a reasonable game length, it is recommended that you not play with all of the tiles in one game.
The rules and setup for the tiles from the base game and its expansion remain the same. When playing with Freya from this expansion, place the booster tokens number-side up in a supply next to the tiles.

RECOMMENDED SETS

ORDER OF THE GODS

Use the following tiles:
  • All tiles from the Völuspá base game
  • All tiles from this expansion
This set is highly recommend for your first play with this expansion to get to know all new powers.

KING OF THE GIANTS

Use the following tiles:
  • All tiles from the Völuspá base game
  • Hermod and Jotunn tiles from the Saga of Edda expansion
  • Freya and Niohoggr tiles from this expansion

RISE OF THE SERPENTS

Use the following tiles:
  • All tiles from the Völuspá base game
  • Sea Serpent and Hel tiles from the Saga of Edda expansion
  • Freya and Dwarf tiles from this expansion

MASTER OF RAVENS

Use the following tiles:
  • All tiles from the Völuspá base game
  • Hermod and Hel tiles from the Saga of Edda expansion
  • Raven and Niohoggr tiles from this expansion

OVERVIEW TILE POWERS "ORDER OF THE GODS"

DWARF (6x)

Dwarf Tile
Board example for Dwarf
The Dwarf scores 3 (Thor) + 4 (Fenrir) = 7 points.
Race of short but sturdy beings
When you place this tile, sum the values of all adjacent tiles and score half of that sum rounded down.
  • The Dwarf only scores this described way. It never (also) scores lines.
  • Keep in mind that the actual value of a Fenrir Fenrir icon tile in a line is the sum of all Fenrir tile values in that line: Add the Fenrir column value if it's north or south of the Dwarf, add its row value if its west or east of the Dwarf (see the Fenrir rules of the base game). Fenrir tiles next to a Loki Loki icon tile have a value of "0".
    Example:
    Fenrir Tile
    Fenrir Tile
    Fenrir Tile
    Loki Tile
    Dwarf Tile

    While the face value of the Fenrir tile next to Loki is zero, it still has a final strength of 8 due to the other Fenrir tiles in the line, so the Dwarf would score like this:
    0.5 * ((4 points for the top Fenrir) + (4 points for the middle Fenrir) + (0 points for the Fenrir next to Loki))
    = 4 points.
  • Loki doesn't affect a Dwarf's scoring ability. But its value will change to "0" (important when another Dwarf is placed next to it).
  • You can place a Dwarf next to a Troll Troll icon .

FREYA (8x)

Freya Tile
Board example for Dwarf
The Dragon is boosted by 2 Freya tiles. A booster token with value 7 (5+2) is placed on the Dragon. It now has the highest value and scores 4 points.
Goddess of Fertility
Place this tile the normal way or discard Freya to immediately play another tile from your hand and place a booster token on it that is one higher than the tile value. At the end of your turn refill your hand up to five tiles.
  • Discard multiple Freya tiles in the same turn to boost a tile multiple times.
  • Boosted tiles adjacent to Loki Loki icon still have a value of "0".
The booster token remains on top of its tile for the rest of the game, with some exceptions:
  • If the boosted tile is covered up by a Dragon Dragon icon, Raven Raven icon , Lightning Bolt Lightning Bolt icon or Hel Hel icon tile, the booster token is returned to the supply.
  • If a boosted tile is taken by a Skadi Skadi icon , gain the tile plus a number of Freya tiles from the discard pile equal to the number of times the tile was boosted and put the booster token back in the supply. Discard down to 5 tiles by the end of your turn.

RAVEN (6x)

Raven Tile
Board example for Dwarf
First, the Raven is placed on top of the Fenrir. Then it is placed on top of the Dragon. The Raven scores a total of 6 + 3 = 9 points this turn.
Companion of Odin
You may place the Raven twice in the same turn, scoring points for each placement. Each placement must be unique. The Raven remains in the second placement.
  • Place the Raven the normal adjacent way or place it on top of another tile, following the same placement rules as the Dragon Dragon icon . You may cover up a Dragon, but not another Raven.
  • When you bump (with Jotunn Jotunn icon ) a Raven, both the Raven and the tile underneath it are bumped.
  • If a Skadi Skadi icon takes a Raven, any tile(s) underneath the Raven are discarded.
  • If you boost the Raven using Freya Freya icon it has this boosted value in its first and second placement.
  • The second placement of the Raven is optional.

NIOHOGGR (5x)

Niohoggr Tile
Board example for Dwarf
The value of the Fenrir is 8. Now it dominates the line and scores 7 (5 + 2) points.
Monster from the World of the Dead
When you score a line with one or more Niohoggr tiles in it, you score two extra bonus points per Niohoggr in the line.
  • If you cover up a Niohoggr with a Dragon Dragon icon or Raven Raven icon tile, you score the two extra points only if you score the line.
  • If you kill a Niohoggr with a Hel Hel icon tile, you get the extra 2 points.
  • You still score two extra bonus points if Loki Loki icon is next to a Niohoggr.
  • If you place a Niohoggr and it scores a line you get its 2 extra points.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) AND SPECIAL CASES

Q1: When are the tile powers active? Is it only when placed initially or ongoing throughout the game?
A: The tile powers are active throughout the game. The Loki Loki icon tile continues to make adjacent tiles worth zero. The Troll Troll icon tile continues to block non-Troll tiles from being placed adjacent to it. Fenrir Fenrir icon tiles continue to be worth the sum of the Fenrir tiles in the line. Therefore, a line with three Fenrir tiles in it would have a top value of 12, and placing an Odin Odin icon (8) tile in that line would not be sufficient to win that line. If a line begins and ends with Valkyrie Valkyrie icon tiles, those Valkyrie tiles continue to dominate the line until they no longer bookend the line. For example, if a line has a Valkyrie, Odin, and Valkyrie, placing a Dragon Dragon icon tile on top of the Odin would not dominate the line since the Valkyrie tiles still bookend the line.

Q2: What happens if I place a Valkyrie Valkyrie icon tile next to a Loki Loki icon tile? Does the special power of the Valkyrie still work?
Valkyrie Tile
Loki Tile
Valkyrie Tile

A: Yes. If a line begins and ends with Valkyrie tiles, then the Valkyrie tiles automatically dominate all other tiles in the line. This bookending power of the Valkyrie still works even if one or both Valkyries are next to Loki tiles. However, the value of a Valkyrie tile next to a Loki tile is zero.

Q3: What happens if I place a Fenrir Fenrir icon tile next to a Loki Loki icon tile? What is the value of a Fenrir tile next to a Loki tile?
A: The value of a Fenrir tile is the sum of its face value plus the face value of all other Fenrir tiles in the line. However, if a Fenrir tile is placed next to a Loki tile, its face value is changed to zero. Therefore, when a Fenrir tile is placed next to a Loki tile, its value is simply the sum of all other Fenrir tiles in the line. Since this Fenrir tile only ties previously placed Fenrir tiles, this Fenrir tile does not dominate the line and does not score.

Example:
Thor Tile
Thor Tile
Loki Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile
Now if another Fenrir is placed like this:
Thor Tile
Thor Tile
Loki Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile

Then this Fenrir doesn't dominate the line and therefore doesn't score.

Q4: Does Sea Serpent Sea Serpent icon score with Hel Hel icon as only line end?
When I lay Sea Serpent with the only other tile across a gap being Hel, does Sea Serpent score for the gaps in that row? For example, when I lay Hel like shown in the following constellation, may Sea Serpent score 6 points?
Thor Tile
Sea Serpent Tile
Fenrir Tile
Fenrir Tile
Dragon Tile
Fenrir Tile
Dragon Tile
Hel Tile
A: No. Once a Hel tile is played, it's considered a gap.

Q5: Does a Hel tile beside a Hel tile increase the score?
If I place a Hel Hel icon tile beside another Hel Hel icon tile, does the Hel tile already on the table increase the score I get for laying my Hel tile?
Example:
Odin Tile
Thor Tile
Odin Tile
Thor Tile
Hermod Tile
Hel Tile
Odin Tile
Thor Tile
Odin Tile

Now when I place a Hel Hel icon tile over Hermod Hermod icon , do I get 8 Points, meaning Hel Hel icon tile on table counts, or only 7?
A: No, a Hel tile beside a Hel tile doesn't increase the score. Once a Hel tile is played, it's considered a gap.

Q6: Does Sea Serpent Sea Serpent icon score a line bookended by Valkyries Valkyrie icon ?
Can a Sea Serpent score a column in spite of the column containing a line where Valkyries are dominating?
For example:
Valkyrie Tile
Hermod Tile
Valkyrie Tile
Hel Tile
Now I place Sea Serpent below Hel Hel icon like that:
Valkyrie Tile
Hermod Tile
Valkyrie Tile
Hel Tile
Sea Serpent Tile
Can my Sea Serpent score 5 points because it has the highest value in the column in spite of the Valkyries dominating the line?
A: The Sea Serpent would score 5 points. It is the highest value in the column.
The Sea Serpent would not score if it were in between the two Valkyrie on a connected line like the following:
Valkyrie Tile
Sea Serpent Tile
Valkyrie Tile
Hel Tile
Hermod Tile
In that case, the Valkyries are the highest.
There may also occur the following situation:
Valkyrie Tile
Hel Tile
Sea Serpent Tile
Valkyrie Tile

In this case, the Sea Serpent would score since the power of the Valkyries only works on a connected line and the Hel tile starts new lines in all directions.

Q7: Can the special power of the Dwarf Dwarf icon score the 2 bonus points of a Niohoggr Niohoggr icon ?
A: The Dwarf does not get the extra points for the Niohoggr. The Niohoggr +2 points is only for scoring a line with a Niohoggr in it. The Dwarf does not score lines.

Q8: Does Raven Raven icon take away booster tokens already in its first placement?
If Raven is first placed upon a boosted tile will this booster token be removed from the game?
A: The Raven takes away the booster tokens during its first placement as well as during its second and final placement. However zero tokens remain on the tiles; the reason is because as long as Loki Loki icon is adjacent to a tile, that tile's value remains zero.

Q9: Can Sea Serpent Sea Serpent icon get the 2 bonus points from Niohoggr Niohoggr icon ?
Niohoggr Tile
Loki Tile
Hel Tile

If the Sea Serpent is placed below Hel Hel icon does it get 4 or 6 points? (Notice the line is separated via Hel)
A: When the Sea Serpent scores, the scoring tiles are considered a "line", so yes, in the example, the Sea Serpent would get the two extra points.

Q10: Does Skadi Skadi icon get the two extra points when placed on top of Niohoggr Niohoggr icon ?
Imagine Skadi being placed on top of Niohoggr scoring a line. Does Skadi get the 2 extra points from the Niohoggr like the Dragon Dragon icon would get them in this case?
A: Skadi is not placed on top of a tile. It swaps with another tile, so, no, it would not get the bonus 2 points.

The above questions and answers have been taken from the official FAQ or have been clarified with the designer of the game.
My aim for this page was to present all the main rules of the game. When I implemented this game for Yucata I came across several rare and very special rules questions. In order to clarify them I created BoardGameGeek.com threads:
  1. Base game, Saga of Edda
  2. Lightning Bolt, Order of the Gods
If you cannot find an answer to your rules question here on this Yucata page, try these threads. If you cannot find the answer in these threads then try to find it in another thread on that BoardGameGeek gamepage. If you still don't find an answer to your question you may post it in a new thread there. Scott Caputo, the designer of Völuspá is reading those threads and may answer you. If you find an inconsistency with the rules you may post it in the forum here at Yucata.de so it can be corrected.
Many thanks to Scott Caputo who helped clarifying all the rules questions I came across during implementation of his game at Yucata!
 
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