# Hive: The Pillbug ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2013 - **BGG Rating**: 7.7 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 20 min - **Weight**: 2.40 / 5 - **Designers**: John Yianni - **Artists**: John Yianni - **Publishers**: Gen42 Games - **Categories**: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Expansion for Base-game - **Mechanics**: Grid Movement, Tile Placement ## Verdict Perfect for Hive enthusiasts looking for more strategic layers and piece manipulation.Adds significant tactical depthInnovative movement mechanicCompact and easy to carryIncreases rule complexityRequires base game to playRECOMMENDED ## Description If you've already mastered the Hive, it's time to introduce a new member: the Pillbug. This expansion adds a pair of tiles that completely shake up the game's positioning dynamics, introducing a manipulation capability that can either save your skin or wreck your opponent's plans. The Pillbug isn't just another piece; it's a movement facilitator. Basically, the Pillbug can move normally, one space at a time. But the real trick lies in its special ability: it can take any adjacent piece (friend or foe) and 'jump' it over itself into an adjacent empty space. It's like giving a strategic nudge to reorganize the battlefield. But hold on, it's not all fun and games! There are strict rules to prevent abuse: it cannot move the piece the opponent just moved, nor can it move pieces that are already part of a stack. Furthermore, the move cannot break the fundamental 'One Hive' rule or violate the 'Freedom to Move' rule. The most critical detail is the post-move 'paralysis': any piece physically moved by the Pillbug becomes immobile on the next player's turn. It cannot move, be moved again, or use its special ability. That's the price for the free ride! For those who love chaos, remember that the Mosquito can mimic the Pillbug's abilities, even if the Pillbug itself has been rendered immobile. If the Pillbug is pinned under a Beetle, it remains trapped just like any other piece. It's the perfect dose of extra complexity for those looking to deepen the base game's strategy. ## How to Play Goal of the Game Consult the manual for details regarding this section. Setup Consult the manual for details regarding this section. Gameplay Flow Consult the manual for details regarding this section. Actions and How to Play In this expansion, the Mole introduces new movement dynamics and a special ability that alters the pace of the match: Mole Movement The Mole moves one space at a time. Mole Special Ability Instead of performing its standard movement, the player may choose to use the Mole Special Ability. This action allows the Mole to move an adjacent piece (which can be of your color or your opponent's color) two spaces: one space above itself and one space below, into an adjacent empty space. Special Ability Restrictions: The Mole cannot move the piece that was just played by the opponent. The Mole cannot move any piece that is in a stack. The Mole cannot move a piece if it violates the single Hive rule (breaking the Hive). The Mole cannot move a piece through a space that is too narrow to move a piece (violating the Freedom of Movement rule). A piece moved by the Mole cannot be moved (directly or by the Mole itself) on the following turn. Interaction with the Mosquito: The Mosquito has the ability to copy the Mole's movement or the Mole's special ability, even if the Mole is immobilized. End of Game and Scoring Consult the manual for details regarding this section. Tips for Winning Consult the manual for details regarding this section. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes! This is an expansion. You need the original Hive to use the Pillbug pieces. ### How many players can play? Hive is a duel, so it remains exclusively for 2 players. ### Does it make the game much harder? It adds new tactical possibilities and some movement restrictions, so the learning curve goes up slightly, but nothing overwhelming. ### What's inside the box? Just the two Pillbug tiles and the instruction sheet. ### How long does a game with the Pillbug take? The average time remains around 20 minutes, although move analysis might take a bit longer. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 6.54 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2104099&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 6.54 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3875149&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 6.60 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2089044&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 7.16 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2089043&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 7.27 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2419227&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 7.72 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3346104&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 7.98 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6783912&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 8.15 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3436191&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 8.15 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3436194&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 8.15 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3436197&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/7374/hive-the-pillbug?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com