Who goes first in Die Zausel vom Zauberwald?
Zoch English rules
The player who most recently stumbled starts.
Rule details
The starter rolls the die and places a one-ring hat in the clearing of the rolled color. A star lets them choose any clearing.
During setup, each player puts a hatless Zausel in the hut. After the first hat is placed, turns proceed clockwise: move your Zausel first, then you may relocate a forest ghost.
The interruptions when the first two-ring and three-ring hats are placed rotate unoccupied trip traps; play then continues as usual. They do not select a new starting player.
The most-rings, then most-hats tie-break belongs to final scoring. It does not resolve a tie in the opening criterion.
These Zoch English rules cover two to four players.
Source & edition
- Die Zausel vom Zauberwald: Zoch English rules, article 601105206Zoch Verlag / Simba Toys GmbH & Co. KG · PDF page 3 (printed 8), opening hat placement, Game Play and setup; pages 1–2 (printed 6–7), player range and physical setup; page 4 (printed 9), Rotating the trip traps; page 5 (printed 10), Relocate a forest ghost, final scoring and article/publisher imprint. · Checked 2026-09-26Printed page references: 8, 6–7, 9–10
Image: © Zoch Verlag · Zoch Verlag
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
Into the BlueThe player who swam most recently starts the game.
IwariWhoever traveled most recently takes the first turn.
CanvasWhoever painted most recently goes first.
Love LetterThe player who most recently went on a date starts.
Forbidden IslandStart with whoever most recently visited an island.
Free game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.