Mahjongg Pyramids: Game Description & Official Rulebook

Part I: Game Description

1.1 Overview and Lore

Welcome to Mahjongg Pyramids, an extraordinary fusion of ancient Egyptian architectural grandeur and timeless Chinese tile-matching strategy. Set along the sun-drenched banks of the Nile in the golden age of the Pharaohs, players take on the role of Royal Master Builders commissioned by the Divine Ruler to construct, dismantle, and decipher magnificent stone monuments across the desert sands.

In Mahjongg Pyramids, 1 to 4 players engage with three-dimensional multi-layered tile structures shaped like majestic royal tombs, step-pyramids, and sphinxes. The classical Mahjong tile set is transformed into heavy, carved limestone and sandstone blocks adorned with hieroglyphics, sacred scarabs, golden pharaoh crowns, lotus blossoms, and Egyptian gods (Anubis, Ra, Horus, and Isis). Unlike standard flat tile-matching games, Mahjongg Pyramids introduces realistic weight, elevation mechanics, and structural balance: removing a foundational stone higher up the pyramid can reveal hidden chambers below, unlock sacred burial vaults, or trigger dramatic structural shifts across the entire monument.

Combining spatial logic, long-term memory, tactical planning, and resource management, Mahjongg Pyramids offers a deeply satisfying brain-teaser for casual puzzle lovers and seasoned tabletop strategists alike. Will you carefully excavate the Pharaoh’s chamber stone by stone to claim eternal glory, or will a single reckless move trap the sacred relics beneath an avalanche of impassable granite?

1.2 Component Inventory

Every standard physical or digital interactive edition of Mahjongg Pyramids includes high-density, beautifully sculpted components designed for authentic tactile satisfaction and infinite replayability:

1 Central Nile Basin Board: A heavy-duty, grid-embossed slate canvas depicting Egyptian sands, river channels, and stone foundation markers.
144 Engraved Synthetic Limestone Tiles: Premium, weighted tiles divided into traditional Egyptian suits and hierarchy tiers:
- 36 Scarab Tiles (Equivalent to Suit of Circles, Values 1–9)
- 36 Papyrus Reed Tiles (Equivalent to Suit of Bamboo, Values 1–9)
- 36 Hieroglyphic Glyph Tiles (Equivalent to Suit of Characters, Values 1–9)
- 16 Deity Honor Tiles (Ra, Horus, Anubis, Isis - 4 of each)
- 12 Season & Element Tiles (Nile Inundation, Harvest, Oasis, Sun, Wind, Sandstorm)
- 8 Royal Treasure & Ankh Tiles (Golden Pharaohs, Sacred Scepters)
1 Pyramid Blueprint & Layout Book (50 Monument Scenarios): Blueprint guides ranging from The Step Pyramid of Saqqara to The Great Zenith Tomb of Giza.
4 Builder Reference Dashboards: Personal slates detailing tile match hierarchies, score trackers, and active scarab abilities.
20 Lapis Lazuli Scarab Tokens: Currency tokens spent to activate emergency excavation favors, tile reveals, or stone shifts.
1 Solar Barque Time Track: A visual timer track used for time-trial challenges and speed excavation bonuses.

1.3 Visual Aesthetics and Design

Mahjongg Pyramids boasts a rich, opulent visual design inspired by ancient tomb art, lapis lazuli inlays, weathered sandstone, and gleaming gold leaf. The game board is framed by intricate papyrus borders and desert sands, while each tile is crafted with heavy, matte-textured limestone finishes featuring deeply debossed, hand-painted hieroglyphic motifs. To ensure complete accessibility for color-blind and visually impaired players, every tile suit and deity tier pairs distinct Egyptian iconography with raised geometric edge marks (e.g., Scarabs = Circle Ring, Papyrus = Vertical Lines, Glyphs = Square Border, Deities = Sun Rays).

1.4 Core Objectives

The primary objective in Mahjongg Pyramids is to systematically match and clear unlocked tile pairs from the pyramid structure to earn the highest total Royal Architect Score (RAS) while unearthing hidden tomb chambers. Points are awarded through:

Pair Clearing: Matching and removing unblocked identical tiles from the monument structure.
Elevation Bonuses: Dismantling higher elevation layers of the pyramid.
Chamber Unlocks: Fully exposing sealed inner chambers located at the core of the monument layout.
Flawless Excavation Streaks: Clearing consecutive tile pairs without using hints, scarab favors, or undo actions.

Part II: Gameplay Instructions

2.1 Core Mechanics & Matching Rules

To successfully excavate a monument in Mahjongg Pyramids, players must adhere to strict structural accessibility principles governing tile removal.

Rule 1: The Unblocked Tile Rule (Accessibility)

A tile is considered Active and Unblocked (and therefore eligible to be selected, matched, and removed) only if it meets two strict structural criteria:

Top Freedom: No other tile is resting directly on top of it, even partially.
Side Freedom: At least one of its long side edges (Left or Right) is completely open with no adjacent tile touching it.

Rule 2: Valid Matching Conditions

Two accessible tiles may be matched and removed from the board if they satisfy one of three alignment conditions:

Exact Suit & Value Match: Two identical suited tiles (e.g., two 7-Scarab tiles or two 3-Papyrus tiles).
Deity Honor Match: Two identical Deity tiles (e.g., two Anubis tiles) or matching paired pantheons.
Seasonal / Element Wild Match: Any Season tile may match with any other Season tile, and any Element tile may match with any other Element tile, regardless of their specific iconography!

Rule 3: The Capstone & Chamber Mechanics

The Golden Capstone: Every pyramid features a single, highly valued Golden Capstone Tile sitting at its highest peak. Removing the Capstone immediately doubles all matching points earned for the next three turns!
Burial Vault Chambers: Special marked tiles at the base of the monument represent sealed vaults. Fully exposing all four sides of a vault awards instant bonus points and releases Lapis Lazuli Scarab Tokens into your reserve.

2.2 Game Setup

Select the Monument Blueprint: Choose a scenario card from the Pyramid Layout Book corresponding to the desired difficulty level (e.g., The Twin Pyramids of Dahshur).
Construct the Pyramid: Shuffle all 144 limestone tiles face-down. Following the grid pattern shown on the blueprint card, build the multi-tiered pyramid layer by layer (e.g., Layer 1 Base $\rightarrow$ Layer 2 Platform $\rightarrow$ Layer 3 Tier $\rightarrow$ Apex Capstone).
Prepare the Reserve & Tokens: Place the remaining Lapis Lazuli Scarab Tokens in a central bank beside the board. Set the Solar Barque Marker at space 0 on the time track.
Distribute Dashboards: Give each player a Builder Reference Dashboard and 2 starting Lapis Lazuli Scarab Tokens.
Determine the Lead Architect: The player who most recently visited a historical monument or built a tower goes first. Play proceeds clockwise.

2.3 Fundamental Tactics & Step-by-Step Play

Excavating complex, multi-tiered stone structures requires foresight rather than impulsive matching. Master builders utilize four primary tactical principles:

Technique 1: Top-Down Vertical Prioritization

Always prioritize matching tiles located on higher elevation tiers over tiles sitting on the ground floor. Removing top-layer tiles unblocks multiple lower tiles simultaneously, opening up exponential matching paths across the monument floor.

Technique 2: Clearing Side Columns & Long Walls

Long, horizontal rows of contiguous tiles on the base layer can trap dozens of inner tiles. Focus on breaking through the outer edge tiles (the end caps of long walls) early in the game to create side entries into the pyramid's core.

Technique 3: Quad-Tile Tracking

Every standard suit number contains exactly 4 matching tiles in the deck. When you spot a pair of open matching tiles, check the board to see if the other two matching tiles are exposed or trapped deep below. If the remaining two are deeply buried, clear the exposed pair immediately to free up space!

Technique 4: Scarab Favor Management

Save your Lapis Lazuli Scarab Tokens for structural deadlocks. Spending a Scarab Token allows you to perform an Anubis Shift (temporarily lifting a top tile to pull out an underlying trapped tile) or a Ra Sight (highlighting all currently valid unblocked matches on the board).

2.4 Structure of a Play Session

A complete match of Mahjongg Pyramids progresses through a continuous series of turns divided into four distinct phases:

Phase 1: Board Inspection & Scanning
- Examine the active pyramid structure to identify all currently unblocked (free) tiles along the edges and upper layers.
Phase 2: Pair Selection & Removal (Action Phase)
- Select two eligible matching tiles from the structure and remove them from the board.
- Place the removed pair into your personal score pile on your Builder Dashboard.
- Optional Action: Spend Lapis Lazuli Scarab Tokens to activate a divine favor or reveal hidden tiles.
Phase 3: Structural Reveal & Chamber Resolution
- Check newly exposed underlying tiles. If removing a pair frees lower-layer tiles, flip any face-down blueprint tiles face-up.
- If a Burial Vault Chamber is fully revealed, claim its listed scarab token or point bonus immediately!
Phase 4: Score Logging & Hand-Off
- Log base points, elevation multipliers, and combo bonuses on your tracker.
- Pass the turn clockwise to the next Royal Builder.

2.5 Monument Blueprint Tiers & Difficulty Ratings

Blueprint Layout	Total Layers	Tile Count	Structural Feature	Estimated Solve Time
Giza Step Ramp (Beginner)	3 Layers	72 Tiles	Wide base, shallow peaks, 1 Capstone	10 to 15 Minutes
Sphinx Guard (Intermediate)	4 Layers	108 Tiles	Dual peaks, narrow central corridor	15 to 25 Minutes
Pharaoh’s Tomb (Advanced)	5 Layers	144 Tiles	Deep central burial chamber, 2 Capstones	25 to 40 Minutes
Great Zenith Pyramid (Expert)	6 Layers	144 Tiles	High vertical density, hidden face-down tiles	40 to 60 Minutes

2.6 Game Modes

2.6.1 Standard Expedition (1 to 4 Players - Turn-Based Competitive)

The core tabletop experience. Players take turns selecting and removing valid matching pairs from a single shared pyramid structure. Points are awarded based on tile values, elevation heights, and chamber reveals. The player with the highest score when the monument is fully cleared wins!

2.6.2 Pharaoh’s Time Attack (1 Player - Solo Speed Blitz)

Race against the Solar Barque Time Track to dismantle a complete 144-tile Great Zenith Pyramid before the sun sets (15-minute countdown). Every unused Scarab Token remaining at the end adds 30 bonus seconds to your final score!

2.6.3 Architect Co-Op (2 to 4 Players - Collaborative Excavation)

Players work together as a team of royal engineers to clear a complex multi-pyramid complex. Players pool their Scarab Tokens and must coordinate pair removals to ensure neither player causes a structural lockout before all inner chambers are opened.

2.7 Completion & Final Scoring Matrix

Upon clearing the monument or reaching a lockout condition, overall performance is calculated using the Royal Architect Scoring system:

Standard Suit Pair (Values 1–9): 100 Base Points per pair.
Deity Honor Pair: 250 Points per pair.
Season / Element Pair: 300 Points per pair.
Royal Treasure / Ankh Pair: 500 Points per pair.
Elevation Tier Multiplier: Pair Points $\times$ Layer Height (e.g., Layer 4 match = Base Points $\times 4$).
Capstone Clear Bonus: +1,000 Points.
Burial Vault Unlocked: +750 Points per vault.
Unused Scarab Tokens: +200 Points per token remaining in your bank.

2.8 Game End & Victory Conditions

A match of Mahjongg Pyramids concludes under one of two conditions:

Total Monument Clearance: All 144 tiles are successfully matched and removed from the board.
Structural Lockout: No remaining valid matches exist among the unblocked tiles, and no player has remaining Scarab Tokens to force a tile shift or reshuffle.

The player with the highest overall Royal Architect Score (RAS) is declared the Master Builder of the Realm!

Tie-Breakers

If two or more players tie for total points, resolve the tie using the following criteria:

The player who removed the Golden Capstone Tile.
The player who unlocked the most Burial Vault Chambers.
The player who accumulated the most Deity Honor Pairs.

2.9 Rule Clarifications & Builder Etiquette

No Forced Removal: A player is never forced to make a match just because one is visible. You may choose to pass or wait for a better strategic alignment on a later turn.
Touch Rule (Physical Tabletop Play): A tile is not considered "selected" until a player explicitly lifts it off the board. Players may gently touch tile edges to check if a tile is laterally blocked without incurring a penalty.
Reshuffle Penalty: If the board reaches a complete lockout with trapped tiles remaining, players may pay 3 Lapis Lazuli Scarab Tokens to perform a Sandstorm Reshuffle, gathering all remaining locked tiles, shuffling them, and rebuilding the remaining pyramid layers.

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