Question: How can I differentiate my playing pieces from those of my opponents?
Answer: Each player has three green, three yellow, three blue and three red pieces. However, each player has a unique and distinct shape, which means that all of a player's pieces, or forces, have the same unique shape that is different from that of each other player.

Question: What is the basic objective of the Universal Forces™ game?
Answer: The basic objective is for you to get one each, of the four different forces onto their respective colour square on the home card. The first player to complete all four forces on their home card is the winner.

Question: Where is the home card located on the playing area?
Answer: There are four home cards outside the circular playing area. The symbols on the left show the strengths of each force in relation to the other forces. The home card that is closest to where you are sitting is the one you use.

Question: How do I move a force from the inner colour section of the centre circle to my home card?
Answer: First the force must sit on its respective unoccupied colour section in the center circle for one complete turn. On your next turn you may remove it from this location to the unoccupied same colour square on your home disk. For example, if your green mountain force is presently occupying the green sector in the inner circle, you may move it on your next turn to the green mountain spot (first left symbol) on your home card if it is unoccupied.

Question: Can I move another force, i.e. mountain to my home card, if a mountain force already occupies my home card square?
Answer: No. Only one of each different force can be put on each of the four squares (symbols running down the left of the home card). However, having this second mountain force in or near the center can be very effective as a strategy to deter your opponent’s wind and water forces from being able to achieve their objective.

Question: Can I move a force from one of my an occupied home card squares back into the circular playing area?
Answer: No. Once a force has been moved from the circular playing area to your home card, it can no longer be moved.

Question: Where do I put my forces that have not yet entered the round playing area?
Answer: On the outside of the round playing area, you will either have the words “Universal Forces” or four symbol squares in front of you. Normally, players will put their forces that have not yet been entered into the circular playing area in this area.

Question: Where do forces that have been taken in the game go on the board?
Answer: There is one small square on each of the edges of the four corners of the board outside of the circular playing area. Normally, players put a taken force upside down in the corner that is closest to where they are sitting. They are placed upside down to indicate that they can no longer be used in the course of that game.

Question: Where does a force enter the circular playing area?
Answer: On the outer coloured sectors, of which there are sixteen in all (four of each colour), only the correct colour force may enter the playing area on an unoccupied colour sector of the same colour. For example, a red fire force can only enter the playing area on an unoccupied red sector on the edge of the round playing area. The red fire force cannot enter this playing area on any green, yellow or blue sector.

Question: Can a force resting on the one of the four coloured sectors in the inner circle be taken?
Answer: Yes. Forces can be taken on any sector with the exception of the coloured entry sectors on the outer ring of the circular playing area. This is an important strategy of the game. Although the primary objective is to move your forces from the central sector in the inner circle and then to its respective coloured square on your home disk, you do not have to do this immediately. You can leave your force on the central coloured sector and have it wait in order to deter your opponent’s forces from getting to their respective coloured sector in the center circle.

Question: Can my force resting on one of the four entry sectors on the outside ring of the circular playing area be taken?
Answer: No. These sixteen coloured sections are protected and can only be occupied with the correct colour force from any player. A force cannot be taken while it rests on one of its corresponding coloured sectors.

Question: If all of the four outer colour sections are occupied, can I enter the circular playing area with a new force?
Answer: No. You must wait until one of the applicable coloured squares becomes unoccupied before you can start a new force on its respective coloured sector on the outside of the circular playing area.

Question: Can I move a force back off the circular playing area after I have entered it on its respective colour sector on the outside ring of the circular playing area?
Answer: No. Once a force has entered the circular playing area it cannot be moved off, with the exception of it being moved from its respective coloured sector in the central circle to its respective coloured home disk square if it is unoccupied.

Question: Do all forces always have to move towards the center circle? Where can I go if I am trying to run from an attack from another player?
Answer: Forces can move towards or away from the center circle. In fact, you could retreat a force all the way back to a protected unoccupied respective coloured sector on the outside ring of the circular playing area, or towards one of your own stronger forces than your opponent’s force that is chasing you.