hardcore rulebook

# THE SKULL-BASH CODEX: CASUAL EDITION

*The Complete Wasteland Sport Rulebook - Streamlined for Fun*

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## WELCOME TO THE WASTELAND

In the dust-choked wastes of Raskol3000, there's only one law: entertainment. Welcome to the Bone-Crusher Cup, where two teams of Bashers clash in the Smasher-Pit for glory and scrap. Your goal is simple: get the Skull into the enemy's Goal-Spike by any means necessary.

Move fast, hit hard, and may the wasteland gods smile upon you.

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## WHAT YOU NEED

### Components

- **The Smasher-Pit**: A 5×5 grid (draw on paper or use a checkerboard)

- **10 Basher tokens**: 5 per team (coins, chess pieces, anything works)

- **1 Skull token**: The game ball (a different colored token)

- **2 Goal-Spike tokens**: Mark each team's goal

- **1 six-sided die (d6)**

- **Event Cards**: 15 cards that add chaos to the game

### Quick Setup

1. Draw a 5×5 grid between players

2. Each player places their Goal-Spike on the center square of their back row

3. Place your 5 Bashers on any squares in your back row

4. Put the Skull in the exact center of the grid

5. Shuffle the Event Cards and place them nearby

6. Roll a die - highest roll goes first

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## YOUR TEAM OF BASHERS

Each team has 5 unique Bashers with special abilities:

| **Basher Type** | **Special Ability** |

|---|---|

| **Ruckman** | Moves 2 squares instead of 1 |

| **Gunner** | Can throw the Skull 4 squares instead of 3 |

| **Blaster** | Gets +1 on attack rolls |

| **Sprinter** | Can move through squares occupied by other Bashers |

| **Finisher** | When throwing at the enemy goal, never scatters (always hits target) |

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## HOW TO PLAY

### Turn Sequence

On your turn, do these steps in order:

1. **Pick a Basher**: Choose one of your standing Bashers to activate

2. **Draw Event Card**: (Starting turn 2) Draw and resolve immediately

3. **Take One Action**: Move, Attack, Grab, or Throw

### The Four Actions

#### MOVE

- Move 1 square in any direction (including diagonally)

- **Ruckman** moves 2 squares

- **Sprinter** can move through squares occupied by other Bashers

- Carrying the Skull? You can only move 1 square

#### ATTACK (BASH)

- Target an enemy Basher in an adjacent square

- Roll a d6. On 4+, they get knocked down (Prone)

- **Blaster** gets +1 to this roll

- Prone Bashers automatically stand up at the start of their next turn

#### GRAB

- Pick up the Skull if it's in your square and no one else has it

- A Basher carrying the Skull can only Move or Throw

#### THROW (HURL)

- Must be carrying the Skull

- Pick any empty square within 3 squares (**Gunner** can throw 4 squares)

- Roll a d6:

  - **4-6**: Success! Skull lands exactly where you aimed

  - **1-3**: Scatter! Skull bounces to a random adjacent square

- If the Skull hits any Basher, they get knocked down

- **Finisher** when throwing at the enemy goal, never scatters (always hits target)

### Special Rules

#### The Wasteland Gods Are Fickle

Whenever you roll a natural 6 on any action, your opponent draws an Event Card and plays it immediately. The wasteland doesn't like showoffs.

#### Basher States

- **Standing**: Normal state, can do anything

- **Prone**: Knocked down, can't be activated this turn, automatically stands up next turn

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## HOW TO WIN

**Score a goal!** Get the Skull onto your opponent's Goal-Spike square and you win immediately. It's that simple.

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## EVENT CARDS (15 Cards)

*Cut these out or write them on index cards*

### 1. DUST STORM

*A blinding cloud reduces visibility*

**Effect**: All throws this turn automatically scatter (treat rolls of 4+ as scatter too)

### 2. ADRENALINE RUSH

*Your team finds some old-world stims*

**Effect**: All your attacks this turn get +1 to hit

### 3. PIT TRAP

*The ground gives way!*

**Effect**: Pick any square. Next Basher to enter it gets knocked Prone

### 4. CROWD FAVORITE

*The fans love a good show*

**Effect**: Your next successful attack knocks the target back 1 square too

### 5. EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION

*Something breaks at the worst moment*

**Effect**: Target opponent's Basher loses their special ability until your next turn

### 6. LUCKY BOUNCE

*Sometimes the wasteland helps*

**Effect**: If the Skull scatters this turn, you choose which adjacent square it lands in

### 7. BRUTAL HIT

*That one's gonna leave a mark*

**Effect**: Your next attack knocks the target Prone and they cannot act on their next turn

### 8. SECOND WIND

*A surge of energy at the perfect moment*

**Effect**: One of your Prone Bashers immediately stands up and can act this turn

### 9. WILD THROW

*The Skull goes flying!*

**Effect**: The Skull immediately moves 2 squares in a random direction

### 10. REFEREE DISTRACTION

*The ref's looking the other way*

**Effect**: You can attack and move with the same Basher this turn (in either order)

### 11. SLIPPERY CONDITIONS

*Oil makes everything harder*

**Effect**: All movement this turn is reduced by 1 square (minimum 1)

### 12. CROWD SURGE

*Fans rush the field!*

**Effect**: All Bashers move 1 square toward the center of the field

### 13. POWER PLAY

*Time to show off*

**Effect**: You may immediately activate a second Basher this turn

### 14. EQUIPMENT UPGRADE

*Found some better gear*

**Effect**: Choose one of your Bashers. They get +1 to all rolls for the rest of the game

### 15. CHAOS REIGNS

*Everything goes wrong at once*

**Effect**: Every Basher on the field (including yours) rolls a d6. On 1-2, they get knocked Prone

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## QUICK REFERENCE

### Actions Summary

- **Move**: 1 square any direction (Ruckman: 2 squares, Sprinter: through enemies)

- **Attack**: Adjacent enemy, roll d6, 4+ knocks Prone (Blaster: +1)

- **Grab**: Pick up Skull in your square

- **Throw**: 3 squares, roll d6, 4+ hits target (Gunner: 4 squares, Finisher: never scatter at goal)

### Key Rules

- One action per turn

- Prone Bashers can't act, stand up automatically next turn

- Roll 6 = opponent draws Event Card

- Carrying Skull = can only Move or Throw

- Win by getting Skull on enemy Goal-Spike

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## STRATEGY TIPS

- **Protect your Finisher** - They're your best goal scorer

- **Use your Ruckman** - Great for grabbing the Skull quickly

- **Don't bunch up** - Event Cards can hurt multiple Bashers

- **Control the center** - Easier to score from there

- **Time your attacks** - Knocking someone Prone at the right moment wins games

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*Welcome to the pit, Basher. Make it count.*