STAQS 2024

STAQS is a strategic two-player board game played on a 5x5 grid. Each player has four stackable pieces of their color (blue or white), which they place and move on top of 25 neutral stackable pieces. Players take turns moving their stacks one step at a time, aiming to create the tallest stack on the board. The game combines elements of territory control and vertical stacking, challenging players to outmaneuver their opponent through clever positioning and stack building. The game ends when no more moves are possible, and victory goes to the player who controls the tallest stack, with tiebreakers based on the number and height of secondary stacks.

Overview STAQS is a two-player game played on a 5x5 grid. The goal is to own the tallest stack when there are no moves left.

Components - 25 stackable neutral pieces - 4 blue stackable pieces - 4 white stackable pieces

Setup 1. Arrange the 25 neutral pieces into a 5x5 grid. 2. Players choose a color (blue or white). 3. Starting with blue, players alternate placing one of their pieces on top of a neutral piece.

Gameplay 1. On your turn, move one of your stacks (including any neutral pieces in the stack) one step onto another neutral piece. 2. Stacks cannot jump over other stacks or move over empty spaces. 3. If a player is unable to move, they must pass. 4. If both players pass consecutively, the game ends.

Winning The winner is determined in the following order: 1. The player with the tallest stack wins. 2. If players have stacks of equal height (n), the player with the most stacks of height n wins. 3. If still tied, compare the next tallest stacks or most stacks of equal height until a winner is determined.