Logjam Rules
These rules can be downloaded in ether MS Word format or Post Script format.
If you wish to construct your own Logjam game follow these
instructions.
See copyright information before copy or distribute Logjam.
Introduction
Logjam is a simple and exciting race game for two to six players. Each player tries to be the first to move all of his loggers through a treacherous maze of logs. The players build a different maze for each game, and all of the logs can move during play. Every game of Logjam provides a new challenge, and the winner is never certain until the very end. While a player moves his loggers through the logjam, he can also try to confound his rivals. With certain die rolls, he can move the logs to block his opponent ' s path and open new paths for himself. He may be able to squeeze an opponent's logger between two logs and make it start over. Strategy-minded players will try to position their loggers to take advantage of any number that they may roll. Others will enjoy raising havoc.
Equipment
The following equipment is required to play logjam:
Initial Setup
1. Each player rolls the die and the player with the highest number chooses a set of loggers. The other players choose sets of loggers in turn. Each player gets three, four or five loggers of the same color. More loggers make for a longer game.
2. Beginning with the first player, place the logs on the board one at a time. Follow these rules for placement of the logs:
a. Each log must be within the grid lines.
b. No part of a log may be in the two rows next to the back wall or in the row next to the open edge.
c. No log may touch another log (even at the corners), but the logs may touch the side walls of the game board.
d. If some logs do not fit, do not use them.
3. The player to the left of the last player to place a log begins placing his loggers. Loggers must start in the squares along the back wall. They are placed one at a time by each player in turn. Only one color can be in each square, but a player may put as many of his own loggers on the same square as he wants to.
Play of the Game
Each player takes a turn in clockwise order, starting with the player to the left of the last player to place a logger. During his turn, a player takes the following actions:
1. The player rolls the die.
2. If the die roll is a 1, 2 or 3, the player decides whether to take a special action. (See Special Actions.)
3. The player may either take a special action or move one of his loggers. Only one logger can be moved in a turn. The player is not required to take any action or move a logger. So, a player can decide to "do nothing this turn".
Moving a Logger
Moving a logger to an adjacent square counts as one move. In one turn a player can move a logger up to the number of times shown on the die roll. Loggers can go forward, backward or sideways on different moves during a turn. They can not move diagonally. A logger can not move onto or over a log. A logger can not move over a different-colored logger or end movement in the same square with one. Any number of same-colored loggers can share a square. The goal of the loggers is to move off the open edge of the board. It costs one move to exit the board from the last row.
Special Actions
If a player roles a 1, 2 or 3 then he can forgo normal movement and take one of the following special actions:
Rolling a One. If a player rolls a one, he may move a logger onto an adjacent square containing one or more of an opponent's loggers. He must then place these captured loggers on any starting-row squares that are unoccupied or occupied by same-colored loggers.
Rolling a Two. A player who rolls a two can 'push' an adjacent log with one of his loggers. He moves the log one square directly away from the logger, and he places his logger in the adjacent square where the log was. A log can not move diagonally, and only one log at a time can be 'pushed'. Logs can be moved into contact with each other but no log can be moved into a square that is already occupied by a wall or another log. Also, no log can be moved into the two back rows of squares. If any part of a log is moved over the open edge of the board then the log is removed from the board for the rest of the game. If a log moves into a square that contains loggers, it pushes them into the next space in the same direction. A log can push loggers off the open edge of the board. Any loggers 'crushed' into a wall, another log, or different colored loggers are removed. The moving player places these loggers on any starting-row squares that are unoccupied or occupied by same-colored loggers. See below for an example of pushing a log.
Rolling a Three. A player who rolls a three can move any log, even if he has no logger next to it. The log moves in the same manner as shown above except that it cannot be moved back toward the starting row. The player does not move any loggers except those pushed by the log.
Victory Conditions
The first player to move all of his loggers through the logjam and off the open edge of the board is the winner.
Example
Logger A rolls a 2, (s)he decides to use the "roll of 2 special action" and pushes the log, moving logger B and crushing loggers C and D. If loggers D and E were the same color then logger D would not be crushed. It would instead occupy the same space as logger E.
BEFORE
AFTER
The moving player places loggers C and D in the starting row.
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