Smash Up Bigger Geekier Box Rules
Smash Up Bigger Geekier Box Rules
The Bigger Geekier Box is a storage product, a comprehensive rules reference, and the home of two factions: Smash Up All Stars and Geeks. AEG's current online comprehensive rulebook has continued to evolve beyond the printed Bigger Geekier Box booklet, so current online errata is included here.
Core comprehensive-rule reminders
Play, move, place, return, discard, and destroy are different game terms. Moving a minion does not play it and therefore does not repeat its on-play ability. Destroying removes an in-play card to the appropriate discard pile. Discarding normally moves a non-play card, or cards being cleared after scoring, to a discard pile.
Ownership and control are different. A card normally belongs to the player whose deck it came from, even when another player controls it. Certain special mechanics temporarily treat another controller as owner, such as Madness while controlled. When a card changes zones, follow the ownership rule for its destination.
Power and breakpoint calculation: Start with printed value unless an ability resets the starting value. If several effects try to set the same starting value, the current player chooses which reset applies. Then add/subtract all modifiers and counters. Final power or breakpoint cannot be below zero.
Scoring: Once a base has been selected to score, complete the scoring process even if power later drops below its breakpoint. Resolve before-scoring abilities, award VP based on final power totals, resolve after-scoring abilities, handle special rewards such as Treasures, discard remaining cards/base, and play the replacement base before checking for another base to score.
Special abilities: Specials happen at the unusual timing printed on them and do not use your normal free card play. When several abilities can happen at the same timing, follow the current comprehensive timing rules and allow players a reasonable chance to use reactions before continuing.
Smash Up All Stars
All Stars contain 20 different cards drawn from many earlier factions, so their main challenge is recognizing how those familiar abilities interact when collected in one faction.
Imperial Dragon: It triggers when another player's minion moves to its base, not away. Moving Imperial Dragon itself does not stop its ability from seeing the relevant arrival if timing permits.
Ensign: It can redirect a newly generated eligible effect that directly affects another of your minions at its base. It can take compatible Ongoing or Special effects being created now, but cannot steal an effect that has already resolved or simply exists from an earlier card. Ensign may substitute even when it does not satisfy the original target description, and it can accept an Action that otherwise would have been played on another minion.
Servitor of Cthulhu: Protection preventing its destruction does not prevent the rest of its ability from placing an Action from discard onto the deck. A single destruction cannot count simultaneously for both Servitor and R'lyeh's separate destruction choice.
Sprout: Use the current AEG text. It cannot use its start-of-turn self-destruction on the same turn it was first played because that start-of-turn window has already passed.
It's Astounding: Play the selected Action from the discard pile immediately before It's Astounding finishes resolving.
Non-Infinite Loop: Use AEG's functional errata. The extra standard Action is played immediately; if an Action has play conditions that are not met, its ability has no effect even though the card can return to hand according to Non-Infinite Loop.
Prepare for Battle: Use the current functional wording: reveal the top three cards, take two, and return the third to the top or bottom as specified.
Geeks
Geeks specialize in interrupting opponents, changing control, canceling Actions, and using precise reaction timing.
Banned List: If a player cannot remember an exact card name, AEG explicitly allows a friendly game to identify the intended card through recognizable power, ability, or art description.
Control Minion: When used as a Special as an opponent plays a minion, it changes control but does not let you change the base where that minion was originally played. Because this is a reaction, players should allow a reasonable reaction window and be willing to back up an overly fast resolution.
Force of Wil and Wil Wheaton: These trigger after an opposing Action card has been played but before that Action's ability is carried out. The Action is discarded and its ability has no effect. Again, allow a reasonable reaction window.
Felicia Day: All affected minions move as one group. Movement reactions among the minions inside that same group do not trigger merely from one another's simultaneous movement; Felicia Day's controller is the player who moved the group.
Griefer: You choose the listed penalty independently for each opponent; all opponents do not have to receive the same choice.
Accessibility Notes: Advanced Timing Practices
Before resolving any interruptible play, announce the card name and pause for Specials. For example: “I play an Action, Force of Wil/Wil Wheaton window.” This is particularly important in an accessible game because sighted players can otherwise react to the physical card before a blind player knows which card was played.
When a card changes control, state both the true owner and current controller. When a group moves simultaneously, announce the entire group and destination before resolving any after-move triggers. When a base begins scoring, state its breakpoint and each player's current total power, then repeat totals after all before-scoring Specials are finished.
Current rules supersede the printed booklet
AEG's official online comprehensive rulebook is maintained as a living rules source and includes errata and later mechanics that were not present when the Bigger Geekier Box was printed. When this page and an older physical card/booklet differ, use the current AEG online wording unless your group has deliberately chosen to play an older edition.