Welcome to the FAQ for COMPILE.

( We based this translation on the French version of the game. If you notice any errors, please let us know.)

• PLay a card

• Card effect

Any text on a card is considered an effect, not a cost. If you can apply a card’s effect, you must do so. However, if you cannot apply a card’s effect(s) (for example, “Discard 1 card” when you have no cards in your hand), you may still play the card.

When one effect is conditional on another effect, you can only trigger the second effect if you were able to trigger the first one. For example, if you play the Fire 2 card: “Discard 1 card from your hand. If you were able to do so, return 1 card," you cannot return a card if you did not have a card in your hand to discard when you played it.

Process each sentence separately on a card, following the order in which they are read. In the case of Fire 4: “Discard 1 or more cards from your hand. Draw the same number of cards + 1. ” If your hand is empty, you do not discard any cards, but you must still draw 1 card, since the second effect is not contingent on the first one being carried out. The same logic applies to Plague 2.

Unless it specifies “you may,” the effect must be resolved to the greatest extent possible. For example, if you play the Water 4 card: “Return 1 of your cards,” and Water 4 is the only valid target, it returns itself. You must put it back into your hand.

If the game state can be changed by a played or triggered effect, it must be changed.

• Text to be used

When a card's text appears in play (via a card being played, flipped, or revealed), its owner must resolve its effect—either immediately if the effect is a secondary command, or at the time specified on the card if it is a primary or auxiliary command.

• Committed Cards

When a card changes zones (from the hand or draw pile to the Field for an action, from one row to another for a movement, or from the Field to the discard pile for a removal), it first leaves its current zone and is said to be “committed” to the new zone.

If the committed card reveals another card, all of the latter's revealed effects are immediately activated. Once these effects have been resolved, the committed card lands in the new zone. When a card is committed (that is, when it is in transit between two zones), it retains its orientation and cannot be affected by any other game effects.

Nothing can prevent a committed card from entering the destination zone. If the committed card were to cover a card with an effect that reads, “When this card is about to be covered or flipped over…,” the effect of the card about to be covered is resolved before the committed card covers it. If that effect were to trigger another effect, that effect would also be resolved before the c card reaches its destination, and so on.

A committed card is not considered “in play” until its commitment is complete. A committed card is therefore NOT a valid target. Multiple cards can be committed simultaneously to a line. They will enter the line in the order in which they were committed, one at a time.

• Targeting

By default, only face-up cards (the top card of each pile) can be the target of an effect. For example, “Turn over 1 card” should be interpreted as “Turn over 1 face-up card.”

Unless otherwise specified, your cards or your opponent's cards may be targeted. For example, an effect that says “Flip 1 card” can target one of your cards or one of your opponent's cards, but an effect that says “Flip 1 of your cards” can only target one of your own cards.

A card can target itself.

Covered cards can only be targeted by an effect that includes the words “covered” or “all.” For example, “Flip over 1 covered card” or “Remove all cards from a row.”

Cards that are not placed in the Field cannot be targeted. Therefore, a committed card CANNOT be targeted.

• Reorganization of Protocols

When reorganizing protocols, the final state must be different from the initial state. Control cards are not moved.

• Move a card

When a card is moved, it is moved to another row on the same side of the Field (it does not change owners). The card immediately below the moved card becomes the face-up card, its revealed effects are immediately activated, and the moved card is considered “committed.” The moved card cannot be targeted by any effects while it is engaged. If there is already a stack in the row to which it is moved, the moved card becomes the top card of that stack.

You can move a visible active card to a row that does not match its protocol.

• Start and End Effects

At the beginning of your turn, activate all “Start” effects visible on the cards in your stacks, in any order you choose. At the end of your turn, activate all “End” effects visible on the cards in your stacks, in any order you choose.

• Refresh

Draw as many cards as necessary to restore your hand to 5 cards. If the draw pile does not contain enough cards, shuffle the discard pile to form a new draw pile. In the rare event that the discard pile is empty and you do not have enough cards left in the draw pile to replenish it, draw as many cards as possible.

“Refresh” does not allow you to discard certain cards in order to draw more. You can only top up your hand to a maximum of 5 cards.

Effects that trigger when a card is drawn take place when you refresh.

• Public and Private Information

The order and contents of the decks are secret. Unless otherwise specified on a card, no player may look at their own deck or their opponent’s deck. The cards that make up a player’s hand are private information, known only to that player. All cards placed face up on the Play Area and those in each player’s discard pile are public information, accessible to every player, provided that the location and orientation of the viewed cards are preserved. At any time, each player may ask their opponent how many cards are in their hand or draw pile, but not what those cards are. However, cards placed face-down on the Play Area are all private information, viewable only by their owner. When an effect allows you to play a card from your draw pile face-down, you may not look at it beforehand.

• Cache 

Each turn, during your Cache phase, check to see if you have more than 5 cards in your hand. If so, discard the excess. This discard action is called “Clearing the Cache.”

• Compile

During the Compile phase, check to see if you have a total value of at least 10 in a stack. If this value is also greater than your opponent’s total value in that same row, you must compile. If these conditions are met in multiple rows, choose which row to compile. You can compile only one row per turn.

When you compile a row, flip your Protocol card for that row to the “Compiled” side. Next, all cards in the compiled row are removed (both yours AND your opponent’s). This is a “global” effect, so these removals occur simultaneously rather than sequentially; no card effects are triggered, unless otherwise specified on a card (for example, Speed 2 card).

When you compile, if you have the Control Module card, you must return it to its initial state (in the center of the table). You can then reorganize a player's protocols (either your own or your opponent's).

Once the compilation has begun, if—due to card effects—the stack's value is reduced to less than 10, or is lower than the opponent's value, the compilation is still resolved.

You may compile a protocol that has already been compiled. In that case, draw the top card from your opponent's draw pile. That card becomes yours.

• Change of Ownership

Cards may change owners during the game (recompiling a protocol is the most common method). These cards may be played face up on the corresponding protocol line, even if that protocol belongs to the opponent. Any card that has changed owners retains its new owner until the end of the game, even when it is discarded or shuffled into the draw pile, unless an effect causes it to change owners again.

• Control 

During the Control phase, check to see if you have a higher value than your opponent on at least two rows. If so, take the Control Module card.

If you have the Control Module card when you compile or refresh, you must place it back in the center of the table. Then, you can rearrange your protocols or your opponent's protocols.

• Effects that occur “after” another event

If a card’s effect triggers “after” another event (for example, “After discarding cards…” or “After your opponent’s compilation…”), that effect triggers after the triggering effect and all its consequences have been fully resolved. Thus, if a card’s effect triggers “After your opponent’s compilation:,” your opponent must first complete their compilation and all its stages (Check, removal, protocol flip) before your card’s effect occurs.

2. FAQ

• What does “Active side visible/Inactive side visible” mean?

A card is said to be active side visible when it is placed with the side showing the text of its effects facing up. When placed the other way, it is said to be inactive side visible.

These terms have nothing to do with whether or not a card is covered.

• What do “draw” and “discard” mean?

The “Draw X cards” effect listed on a card requires you to take the top X cards from your deck and add them to your hand.

The “Draw 3 cards” effect is different from “Draw 1 card, Draw 1 card, Draw 1 card.” In the first case, you draw all three cards, and then any effects triggered by the draw are resolved. In the second case, any effects triggered by the draw are resolved after each card is drawn (in this case, they will be resolved three times).

The “Discard X cards” effect listed on a card requires you to choose X cards from your hand and place them in your discard pile, active side visible.

The “Discard 2 cards” effect is different from “Discard 1 card. Discard 1 card.” In the first case, you discard 2 cards, and then any effects triggered by the discard resolve. In the second case, any effects triggered by the discard resolve after each card has been discarded (in this case, they will resolve twice).

• What does “Reveal” mean?

To reveal a card means to show both players the information on the card's active side, and then return it to its previous state. Revealing a card temporarily makes its active side visible to both players.

For example, the Light 2 card: “…Reveal 1 card that is inactive side visible. You may move it or flip it over.” This allows you to choose a non-covered card, reveal its active side to both players, and then return it face-down to its original position. Afterward, you may either flip it over, allowing its effects to take effect, move it to another row without flipping it over, or do nothing.

• Can a card with a primary ability be deleted if it is covered?

Yes. If a card with a primary command is to be moved or removed, it is moved or removed even if it is covered.

For example, if you trigger the effect of the “Death 1” card that says, “…then remove this card,” you must remove it, even if it is covered.

• Can I look at the cards I'm playing from my discard pile, face down, before putting them into play?

No. When you play the first card from your draw pile with its inactive side facing up, you may not look at its active side until it has been placed on the Field. Therefore, you won't know which card it is until it is fully in play. You may then look at it at any time.

• If an effect discards a card from a location other than my hand, does it trigger the effects of cards such as Plague 1 or similar cards?

Yes. If an effect triggers when you discard cards, this includes discarding from both your hand and your draw pile, unless otherwise specified. If the word “discard” is used, it refers to a discard effect.

• When you remove all the cards from a row or stack, do their effects trigger?

No. Whether as a result of a card's effect or a combination of effects, when all cards in a row or stack are removed, this removal occurs simultaneously. The effects of the removed cards are not resolved because the cards are not revealed.

• When can I reshuffle my deck?

Unless otherwise specified in a card's text, you may only restock your draw pile when it is empty and you need to draw a card. In that case, shuffle your discard pile to restock your draw pile.

Only effects that allow you to draw cards, or the Refresh action, let you replenish your draw pile if it is empty. Effects that discard, play, or reveal the top card of a draw pile have no effect if that draw pile is empty.

• Is zero an even number?

Yes, 0 is considered an even number.

• I can't compile, play cards, or refresh. What should I do?

This extremely rare situation can occur if you have placed all 18 of your cards on the Field but cannot compile because you are tied with your opponent on all lines. In this case, proceed directly to the “End” phase.

• What is the difference between “Line” and “Stack”?

A line is an area of the playing field that represents one-third of the Field. It is defined at its center by two Protocol cards—one for each player—which determine which cards may be played face up on that line. A stack is the set of cards belonging to one of the two players that are placed on a line.

• Are you required to use the Control Module if you have it and are compiling or refreshing?

No. However, when you compile or refresh and you have the Control Module card, you must always return it to its initial position, even if you choose not to reorganize any protocols.

• What is the difference between “All” and “Each”?

”All” means that the effect affects all cards that meet its criteria at the same time, whether they are covered or not.

“Each” does not affect covered cards (unless the effect explicitly states otherwise).

• If I can compile, should I do it?

Yes, if you meet the conditions, you must compile. In that case, you cannot play your Action phase and must proceed immediately to the Cache phase.

• If I meet the requirements, can I compile multiple lines?

No. Although “Compile” is mandatory, you can only compile one line per turn. Choose the one you want to compile this turn, and if you still meet the conditions to compile another line on your next turn, you will compile that one instead.

• Can I refresh when I have 5 or more cards in my hand?

No. When you refresh, you can't discard any cards, so you must have fewer than 5 cards in your hand to be able to do so.

• Is a Start/End effect revealed during the Start/End phase triggered immediately?

No. Only effects that are already in place at the start of the Beginning and End phases can be activated.

• Do the secondary and auxiliary commands of a covered card activate when that card is turned over so that its active side is visible?

No. Since the card is still considered covered, its secondary and auxiliary effects do not trigger.

3. CLARIFICATIONS AND ERRATA FOR THE CARDS

• LIFE 0: Playing cards from your draw pile is not the same as a “Draw” action, so it does not allow you to replenish your draw pile if it is empty. Too bad for you if your draw pile doesn’t contain enough cards to trigger the entire effect.

• LIGHT 0: Even if the selected card is removed from the game, it remains the target of the effect. For example, if you target Metal 6 with the Light 0 effect, you must first flip Metal 6 over, then remove it by placing it active side visible in the discard pile (reminder: all cards are always discarded active side visible). Next, check the value of Metal 6: this value is 6 since it is face-up in the discard pile. You therefore draw 6 cards.

• LIGHT 3: The cards moved by Light 3 retain their respective positions within their stacks and are all moved simultaneously to the same line.

• METAL 1: This effect does not prevent your opponent from playing a card or refreshing.

• METAL 6: When METAL 6 is removed as a result of being flipped, the “Flip” effect has already been resolved and therefore cannot target another card. In other words, Metal 6 is first flipped over before being removed, even though, when it is removed, you must discard it active side visible (since all cards must always be discarded active side visible).

• PEST 3: The effect only affects fully visible cards, since the text does not specify “all cards.”

• SPEED 2: Removing Speed 2 does not change the stack value and therefore does not prevent compilation.

• SPIRIT 0: When you refresh, if you have the Control Module card, you must return it to its original position. Then, you can rearrange your protocols or your opponent's protocols.

• WATER 1: As with Life 0, an effect that allows you to play cards from your draw pile does not allow you to replenish the draw pile if it is empty. Too bad if your draw pile doesn't contain enough cards to fully resolve the effect.

• LOVE 3: You can return the card you just took from your opponent to them.

• HATE 2: If multiple cards are tied for the highest value, choose one of them. If HATE 2 is the highest-value card you have, you must immediately discard it, in accordance with the first clause. Since the card is immediately discarded, its second clause is no longer in effect and does not trigger. In this case, you cannot discard one of your opponent’s cards.