Gameboard 4 plastic mice 2 metal marbles Mouse Trap building parts and accessories Rubber band 52 cheese pieces If you find you are short any pieces, you might be able to improvise. It probably won’t matter if you are a couple of Cheese Pieces short. Die
Build Spaces. The Build spaces have numbers printed on them (2, 2-3, 2-3-4). When a mouse lands on a Build space and the number of players in the game matches any one of the numbers on the space, build one part of the Mouse Trap and collect one cheese piece from the cheese pile. In a 4-player game, you can build if you land on Build space 2-3-4. In a 3-player game, you can build if you land on Build space 2-3 or 2-3-4. In a 2-player game, you can build if you land on Build space 2, 2-3, or 2-3-4. Go Back & Move Ahead Spaces. If a mouse lands on one of these spaces move only the spaces indicated, but do not follow any instructions printed on that space and do not collect any Cheese pieces!. Take Cheese Spaces. When a mouse lands on one of these spaces, take the indicated number of cheese pieces from the cheese pile. If the cheese pile is empty, take the cheese pieces from the player with the most cheese pieces. If two or more opponents are tied for the most cheese pieces, the player whos’ turn it is can take them all the cheese pieces from one opponent or divide the amount between them. If a mouse lands on the space marked Take Three Pieces of Cheese From Rival With Most", do as it says, even if there are cheese pieces in the pile. If the player with the most cheese has less than three pieces, just take the number of pieces the opponent does have. If two or more opponents are tied for the most Cheese pieces, the player whose turn it is may take them all from one opponent or divide the amount between them. Lose Cheese Spaces. If a mouse lands on one of these spaces, return the indicated number of cheese pieces to the cheese pile. If this board-space says to return more pieces then the player has, the player must return as many as cheese pieces as they hold. Dog Bone Space. A player landing on this space does nothing The Loop. These are the six spaces at the end of the path beginning with the Safe space and ending with the Cheese Wheel space. This section of the path is called The Loop and it is where mice are captured. When players arrive at The Loop, they take turns circling it as many times as necessary until the Mouse Trap is completely built and only one mouse remains uncaptured on the gameboard. Cheese Wheel Space. Every time a mouse lands on the Cheese Wheel space, the player takes two cheese pieces from the cheese pile. If the cheese pile is empty, the player can take any pieces they are entitled to from the opponent with the most cheese pieces. If two or more opponents are tied for the most cheese pieces, the player may take them all from one opponent or divide the amount between players with equal numbers of cheese pieces.
In a 4-player game, you can build if you land on Build space 2-3-4. In a 3-player game, you can build if you land on Build space 2-3 or 2-3-4. In a 2-player game, you can build if you land on Build space 2, 2-3, or 2-3-4.
Whenever a mouse lands on a Build space that’s located on The Loop section of the game path, add two parts to the Mouse Trap and take two cheese pieces from the cheese pile. When the Mouse Trap is complete, players do nothing when their mouse lands on a Build space. Realize that in this game, trapping pieces on the board must be set up to create a chain reaction. If the game completes an incomplete chain reaction, you are missing something and play must continue until everything is set up.
If the trap doesn’t capture the mouse, the opposing player immediately moves his or her mouse to the Safe space. If more than one mouse is on the Cheese Wheel space, they may all be captured (or missed) together. If there is no opposing mouse (or mice) on the Cheese Wheel space, try to move one or more mice there. Mice can be moved - this procedure is covered in a later step.
Return a cheese piece to the pile. Select the opponent’s mouse you wish to move. Roll the die and then move the other players mouse the indicated number of spaces.
