PRINTING GUIDE

DON’T PRINT THIS SHEET!

For the time being, all sheets are separate files within
zipped folders to simplify revisions. Both color and
low-ink versions are available.

All cards are “domino” size: 1.75” x 3.5” (44.5mm x

89mm). Color versions are double-sided, primarily for
thematic design. Low-ink are single-sided.

All tokens are 0.75” x 0.75” (19mm x 19mm). They

may be printed and folded to create double-thickness
tokens, or kept as single-thickness pairs. Shooting star
/ cloud tokens need distinct “sides” for gameplay;
bonus tokens do not.

To properly fit the rules into a mint tin, you will need
to print on both sides of a single sheet and trim
margins along crop marks before folding. Use the
diagram at right for a suggested folding method.

TIN-SIZED COLOR VERSION

Cards composed of two 75 gsm printed paper sheets

adhered to 218 gsm card stock should fit snugly within
a standard mint tin.

Tokens may be printed in the same manner, then

creased, folded, and glued on the inside for suitable
heft. Or, if using the front and back tin covers, print
onto full-sheet adhesive labels, trim, and mount to
double-thickness card stock.

Rules are best printed on both sides of a single sheet of

75 gsm paper, then trimmed and folded into 12 panels
to fit within the tin.

CERTAIN STARS
Created by Brian Garthwaite
Print and Play – First Edition
1-2 players – 15-20 minutes
Overview
Certain Stars is a light tile-placement and pattern-
matching game for 1 or 2 players. While out camping,
the kids want to learn the constellations, but you’ve
forgotten your star guide. As the stars begin to twinkle,
can you point out just enough bogus yet believable sky
shapes to keep them entertained?
Components
• 24 sky cards
• 11 constellation / horizon cards
• 5 double-sided shooting star / cloud tokens (shooting
star on one side, cloud on the other)
• 5 bright star bonus tokens
• 1 rule sheet
• 1 mint tin
Ways to Play
The standard game of Certain Stars is a 2-player
cooperative puzzle, but it includes simple rules changes
to adapt play to a competitive version. Solo players may
also play the game with only minor adjustments. Rules
variations are discussed on the second page.
Cooperative Play Summary
Players sit opposite each other with an empty night sky
between them. Taking turns, they place tiles into a
growing grid, attempting to build constellations and
score points. Shooting stars and clouds alter the visible
sky, and bright stars offer bonuses. A successful game
is when you score more points than are left unclaimed.
Setup & Gameplay
Both players sit opposite each other; the night sky
between you appears upside-down to your partner.
Shuffle the star cards into a pile, star-side down.
Randomly give each player one 2-point and one 3-point
constellation, and set out the 1-point constellations and
tokens where both players can see and reach them. In
standard play, the high-value constellation cards may
only be scored by the player who holds them, but
should remain visible to both. (See More Challenge!
for other options.)
The night sky is all that’s visible above the treetops
from your campsites. It is composed of a grid, 8 spaces
wide and 6 spaces tall, onto which players reveal the
stars. Each star card occupies 2 spaces, horizontally or
vertically. The edges of the night sky are defined when
1) sufficient cards have been placed to reach opposite
edges without extending beyond, or 2) when placing
the first horizon card. (See below.) Until then, a card’s
place in the night sky is related only to the other cards,
i.e., you can expand in any direction.
Once an edge is defined, no card may cross it. It is
possible to leave gaps unfilled along the edges, which
count as neither stars nor empty space, and thus can’t
be used. Players may not place cards to create blank,
single-space gaps in the interior of the night sky.
The player who most recently made s’mores plays first,
then turns alternate. You may do one of the following:
1) Draw and place a star card. Excepting the first, all
cards must be laid adjacent to another within the
spacing of the grid, not diagonal. Either the star side or
the empty (back) side may be used. (See Types of
Stars for more detail.)
2) Place a shooting star / cloud token, at the cost of a
point at game end. The token must be set on a star
card. Shooting stars may be placed on dark sky to make
a single star, or on a single star to create a double. A
cloud may be placed atop a single star to change it to
dark sky, or on a double to reduce it to a single star.
Tokens may not be placed on the moon or bright stars.
A shooting star may be used to remove a cloud, and
vice versa.
After placing a card or token, a player may claim one
complete constellation currently visible from their side.
Flip the card over to its horizon side, so that it may not
be collected twice. Place the card on the horizon line; if
this is the first, it must be adjacent to a star card and
defines the top/bottom edges of the night sky.
Horizon cards need not be fixed left-to-right, and do
not define the side edges of the night sky.
If the second player collects a constellation before the
full 6 vertical rows have been filled, set this card where
the player’s horizon will eventually settle.
The game ends when:
1) Players have placed all star cards and all shooting
star / cloud tokens, as desired, or
2) When all constellations have been claimed, or
3) When no more constellations may be completed,
even if the night sky remains unfinished.
Types of Stars
Stars come in different flavors. Each square of sky is
defined by what’s in it:
Single star: Most of the night sky, and the
basic building block of all constellations.
Double star: Essential for some
constellations. May also act as a single star.
Its role may change between constellations.
Bright star: An intensely bright single star. A
constellation with one or more of these
gains a bonus token.
The moon: A wild card; it could be blocking
anything. The moon may act as a single star,
a double star, or as dark sky. Its role may
change between constellations.
Dark sky: No stars. An essential part of
every constellation. Unrevealed sections of
night sky do not count as dark sky.
Shooting star: May be played on dark sky to
create a single star. If played on the same
space as a single star, creates a double. May
be used to remove a cloud.
Cloud: May be played over a single star or
half of a double star. Cannot cover a bright
star or the moon. May be used to remove a
shooting star.
Constellations & Scoring
Each constellation card includes a diagram that must
match your night sky to collect, such as:
From your perspective, with text left-to-right, all star
types and dark sky spaces must match. Adjacent,
unmarked spaces may be anything or nothing.
A player may collect up to one constellation per turn,
assuming it is visible in the night sky from their
perspective. It is then no longer available to the other
player. A constellation from your vantage point will be
useless to your partner, and vice versa. Once you have
collected a constellation, the points are yours, even if
the night sky changes.
In standard play, 2- and 3-point constellation cards may
only be scored by the player who holds them, i.e., they
may only be collected in a single, fixed orientation.
Each constellation is marked with its point value, which
players add to determine end-game score and success.
Constellations which include one or more bright stars
collect a single token worth 1 additional point. Once all
five are taken, no more bonuses may be collected.
To win the game, your total score must be greater
than the number of points left unclaimed. Your
total score is the sum of all constellation points, plus
bonus tokens, less a point for each shooting star or
cloud used. Ignore any uncollected bonus tokens. Now
make those s’mores and put the kids to bed.
More Challenge!
Challenging: Choose 9 constellations at random, available
for both players to collect.
Extra-challenging: All 11 constellations are available for
both players to collect.
2-Player Competitive Rules
Use the standard rules, with the following changes:
- Each player takes a single shooting star / cloud token
at the start. When a player collects a constellation, their
opponent takes one of the remaining tokens. Tokens
do not affect final score.
- Players tally individual scores, and the highest score
wins. In the event of a tie, the player with more
constellations wins.
Solo Play
Use the standard rules, with the following changes:
- Build a night sky grid no greater than 8 squares wide
by 5 squares tall; 20 card maximum.
- Play with as many constellations as you can handle.
Recommended starting point: two constellations at
each point value. A successful game scores more points
than are left unclaimed.
Rules – First Edition
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of
this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866,
Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.