/pic8035777.jpg)
SituationalHow we teach it and play it
Gnome Hollow
6.9/ 10- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Medium weight
- Ages 12+
- Best with 3 by BGG vote
How we teach it
Goal:
Score the most points by completing mushroom rings, collecting unique flowers, and selling mushrooms for treasure.
Setup:
Place the Stump tile in the center of the table.
Place the Pinwheel Market board nearby and stack the matching Market tokens beside each mushroom type (for 2 players, remove 1 token of each color except purple).
Place the Garden Tile board within reach. Put all Garden tiles in the bag, draw 8, and place them face-up on the Garden Tile board.
Draw 2 extra tiles per player and stack them unseen under the Sunset tile.
Create supplies of Mushroom tokens, Treasure tokens, and Flower tokens (number of each flower type equal to player count; place stacks on matching Wildflower tiles). Place Signposts nearby.
Each player takes a player board (basic side for first games), 2 Gnomes, 8 Ring Markers (placed on the track), and a player aid, all in their color.
Give the Red Cap (first player) token to the starting player.
Turn Structure:
Place Tiles -
Choose 2 tiles from the Garden Tile board and place them in the Garden (adjacent to the Stump or existing tiles). Paths and green edges must match. You may also place up to 2 tiles from your personal storage (max 2 stored tiles, only 1 of which may be a Wildflower). Refill the Garden Tile board by drawing from the bag. Permission is required to extend another player’s claimed path (except Wildflower tiles).
Resolve:
If you complete a continuous mushroom path ring, claim all mushrooms on it if you have a Gnome there (otherwise place them in the ring center). Move your leftmost Ring Marker to a matching size space on your board and gain any bonuses (including possible extra markers or flowers). Place any new unique Flower tokens on the leftmost empty flower slots of your board. Store excess tiles or mushrooms as allowed.
Move a Gnome (optional):
Move one of your Gnomes to a new location to take exactly one action -
Claim an unoccupied mushroom path (reserves it; others need permission to extend).
Collect a unique Flower from the market or available stacks.
Activate a Signpost on a completed ring for its reward.
Sell mushrooms at the Pinwheel Market for Treasure tokens (cover matching spaces).
Game End:
Triggered when a player collects their 8th unique Flower, moves their 8th Ring Marker, or the bag empties. Add the Sunset tiles to the bag, finish the round so all players have equal turns, then each player takes one final Gnome action. Score points from the rightmost empty Ring Marker space, rightmost Flower slot value, and all Treasure tokens. Highest total wins (unsold mushrooms are worth 0).
