How To Play: AuZtralia

Overview

If you ever dreamed of fighting Cthulhu with a train and a bag of sheep, AuZtralia is your ticket! In this guide, I’ll break down the game rules—nice and easy, I promise. Then, I’ll share the best strategies that helped me survive (well, mostly survive) against those Old Ones. Grab your shovels, your wits, and maybe a spare sandwich. Let’s learn How To Play auztralia—and how to win!

What’s in the box

• 1 Main game board
• 4 Player boards
• 4 Player aid cards
• 4 Time tracks
• 4 Score markers (1 per player)
• 120 Wooden cubes (30 per player)
• 4 Wooden rails (1 per player)
• 36 Farm tokens
• 5 Port tokens
• 21 Personality cards
• 40 Old One counters
• 20 Revelation counters
• 5 Combat dice
• 51 Resource tiles
• 20 Survey tiles
• 1 Old One action board
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play AuZtralia: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, lay out the main board in the middle of the table. Make sure everyone can reach it—and no, elbows on the table won’t make you faster.
2. Then, each player picks a color and grabs the matching player board, cubes, port, and train cards. Yes, you can fight over who gets purple. Tradition.
3. Place your port on a coastal hex. If you pick the desert, I can’t help you.
4. Shuffle the Old Ones tiles, then deal them face-down onto the map in the monster zones. Don’t look! Unless you really want a shock (like I did).
5. Set up resources, military units, and farms within easy reach. Snacks are optional but recommended.
6. Give everyone 10 coal, 3 iron, 2 gold, and a few sanity points for good luck.

Gameplay

1. The person with the best Australian accent goes first. If you all stink, just pick randomly.
2. On your turn, use the action wheel to spend time and take actions. You can build rails, produce goods, trade, recruit, explore, or fight the Old Ones. Think of it like running errands, but with more tentacles.
3. After your action, move your player token on the time track. Then, check if the Old Ones get a turn. If their marker is ahead of yours, trust me, they’re coming for you.
4. Keep going in turn order. Every action costs time, so plan ahead or risk being overrun by monsters or bankrupt.

Winning

1. The game ends when everyone runs out of time or the Old Ones destroy too many farms. Whichever comes first—usually disaster, in my case.
2. Add up victory points from farms, gold, and Old Ones defeated. If you’re the richest and not hiding under the table, you win!
3. If the Old Ones score more points than any player, they claim victory. This is called Tuesday at my house.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some Old Ones retaliate when attacked, others lurk until disturbed. Read the tile before charging in like I did (spoiler: it was a disaster).
2. Sanity matters! If you run out, your troops run away or worse. Don’t be a hero with zero sanity like me—it never ends well.
3. Certain events can change rules, like zombie sheep. If you pull the card, don’t panic—just follow the instructions and maybe laugh nervously.

And that’s How To Play auztralia! After playing with friends, I can promise you’ll need a strategy, some luck, and a sense of humor to survive.

Best AuZtralia Strategies

Crush the Chaos: Mastering Resource Management in AuZtralia

Start With a Rock Solid Plan

Kicking off a game of AuZtralia, I learned fast that planning my resource use was make-or-break. Never jump in blind. Instead, think ahead about which resources you’ll need most and when. Here’s the best way to win:

1. Track your coal, iron, and gold constantly. Don’t let your stockpile run dry.
2. Balance spending and saving. Every nugget counts, especially when Old Ones wake up!
3. Plan builds around future threats, not just immediate needs. Delayed trains cost games.

Flexible is Better Than Stubborn

Always stay flexible. If you see another player hogging coal, change your tactic instead of trying to compete head-on.

Use Your Actions Wisely

Each action in AuZtralia eats up precious time. Plan your sequence to maximize returns and avoid waste.

For more detailed advice, check out our How To Play auztralia guide!

Crushing the Old Ones: Winning AuZtralia Battles

Combat in AuZtralia can get wild fast. You must plan, then adapt, because the Old Ones do not like to lose. Here’s my best advice after several tough games with my buddies. We learned the hard way, so learn from our hilarious mistakes.

Choose Your Heroes Wisely

1. Pick characters with strong combat skills.
2. Upgrade your military as early as possible.
3. Balance between soldiers and trains for flexibility.

Time Your Attacks

1. Strike Old Ones before they grow too powerful.
2. Use action economy to get in, attack, and get out quickly.
3. Watch for the right moment when the board suits your plan.

Use Allies For Backup

1. Recruit allies who boost your combat power.
2. Combine ally bonuses for surprise wins.

Every time we tried to solo Cthulhu, we ended up as snacks. So, focus on teamwork and keep the guns loaded! For more tips, search ‘How To Play auztralia’ and keep smashing those Old Ones.

Build Fast, Win Faster: Rail Network Tips in AuZtralia

Plan Your Route First

1. Pick starting spots that connect to resources and towns.
2. Always check what horrors might pop up along the way!
3. Avoid having to loop back—you’ll waste precious time and sanity.

Expand Before Others Do

1. Lay rails early to block rivals’ access to key regions.
2. Use turn order to your benefit, even if you have to eat a Vegemite sandwich as a dare.

Stay Efficient

1. Upgrade railways with cards for less resource drain.
2. Try linking rails to multiple resource spots for a bonus haul.

By focusing on these tips, you’ll master How To Play auztralia and steam past your buddies to victory. Trust me, my friends never saw it coming!

Last Thoughts Before the Cthulhu Hits the Fan

Alright, mates, that wraps up my best pearls of wisdom for How To Play auztralia and not end up as Old One chow! Whether you’re growing crops, building rails, or smacking Deep Ones with tanks, always keep your wits (and your sheep) about you. Play bold, plan ahead, and don’t panic when someone yells, “Shoggoth!” Most of all, have a laugh with your mates, even if a giant tentacle destroys your farm.

Remember, no two games end the same, and that’s what keeps me coming back for more sheep-based nightmares. Good luck out there, and may your rails never rust!

Want to know what we think of AuZtralia? Read our detailed review of AuZtralia here