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The Playing Area
Choosing a Size:
Before constructing decks the players must decide on the exact size of the playing area to be used. This choice affects the minimum size of the decks and also determines the general length of the game and the complexity it may entail. The three standard game sizes are 10x10, 15x15 and 20x20. These values determine the Width and the Height of the Play Area, the region where cards are placed during play. The usual choice for a quick game is to play with a 10x10 Play Zone. However, players may choose to play games using odd-ly shaped Play Zones.
The Game Area Overall:
There are a number of main zones in the game. These are:
- The Play Zone
- The Discard Zone
- The Deck Zone
- The Hand Zone
The Play Zone:
The Play Zone is the zone where all cards played from the hand are placed. This Zone can be viewed as a grid of the size determined before deck construction. Each grid location can contain one card and one card only. Exactly what occurs when more than one card is placed in the same grid location is described further on in the rules. The Players of a game of Trees share one Play Zone.
The Discard Zone:
The Discard Zone is where cards that have been removed from the Play Zone or discarded from the Hand Zone are placed. Each Discard Zone contains a Face-up pile and a Face-down pile. Cards that enter this Zone from the Hand Zone are placed in the Face-down pile. Cards entering from the Play Zone which were Face-down when they were removed from the Play Zone are also placed in the Face-down pile. Finally, cards entering from the Play Zone that were Face-up when they were removed from the Play Zone are placed in the Face-up pile. In some cases cards from the Hand Zone may be placed in the Face-up pile. However, this is only done if the Effects text of a card states so. Each Player has their own Discard Zone. The Discard Zone is separate from the Play Zone.
The Deck Zone:
The Deck Zone is where the play deck is placed during a game. The play deck is placed Face-down in this zone and remains separated from the Play Zone and the Discard Zone. Only one play deck may be placed in each Deck Zone. Each Player has their own Deck Zone.
The Hand Zone:
The Hand Zone, better known simply as the Hand, is the region where cards drawn from the play deck are held. Cards in the Hand are not held openly and may not be viewed by the oppposing player. In some cases, the Effects text of a card may allow a player to view his or her opponent's hand. This is only done if a card's Effects text specifically states so. Each Player has their own Hand Zone.
