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Rules assistance for Hive: The Pillbug
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.
Rules assistant for Hive: The Pillbug
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hive: The Pillbug is an expansion for Hive released in 2013 for 2 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by John Yianni and its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Hive: The Pillbug is a new pair of tiles that can be added to Hive. The pillbug can move one space at a time OR it can move an adjacent unstacked piece (friend or enemy) two spaces: up onto the Pillbug itself, then down into another empty space adjacent to itself. Exceptions: The Pillbug CANNOT move the piece the other player just moved. The Pillbug CANNOT move any piece in a stack of pieces. The Pillbug CANNOT move a piece if it splits the hive (violating the One Hive Rule). The Pillbug CANNOT move a piece through a too-narrow gap of stacked pieces (violating the Freedom to Move Rule). Furthermore: Any piece just moved by the Pillbug CANNOT move OR be moved OR use its special ability on the next player’s turn. IN SUMMARY, when playing with the Pillbug, apply this simple rule of thumb: any piece physically moved is rendered immobile on the next player’s turn: it CANNOT move, OR be moved OR use its special ability. A Pillbug that has used its ability has NOT been physically moved, therefore it CAN be physically moved by the opposing Pillbug on the next player’s turn. The Mosquito can mimic either the movement OR special ability of the Pillbug, EVEN WHEN the Pillbug it is touching has been rendered immobile by the opposing Pillbug (as described above). A Pillbug under a Beetle (or Mosquito acting as a Beetle) CANNOT move OR use its ability, like any piece trapped under a stack.
Editions
- Hive Carbon: The PillbugenGen42 Games2020
- Hive Carbon: The PillbugenGen42 Games2016
- Hive: The PillbugenGen42 Games2016
- Hive: The PillbugenGen42 Games2014
- Hive: The PillbugenGen42 Games2013
- Hive Carbon: The PillbugenGen42 Games2013
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Gen42 Games
Questions and answers
Hive: The Pillbug supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Hive: The Pillbug is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Hive: The Pillbug for ages 9 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Hive: The Pillbug has a complexity rating of 2.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Hive: The Pillbug belongs to these categories: Animals, Abstract Strategy, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Hive: The Pillbug are: John Yianni. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Hive: The Pillbug as an expansion for Hive. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Hive to use it. Check that your edition of Hive is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.