Descent is played on a 4×4 board with the following setup:
The players have 3 units each. Neutral units represents unoccupied stacks. The various unit types represent different stack heights. These are shown in descending order below, from height 3 to height 0.
Every turn a player will a unit to an adjacent unoccupied square with a maximum height difference of 1.
After moving the player must on any unoccupied stack adjacent to the destination. Digging means lowering the stack height by 1. Level 0 stacks can never be dug.
See the scene to the left - b2 can't move to c2 since the height difference is 2. She also can't move to a1 or b3 since they are occupied.
To the right is the situation after Player 1 chose to ascend to b1. Now she can dig at a2, b2 or c1.
There are two win conditions:
madeline - you win
if you arrange all 3 units in a row (including diagonals), and they are
all on the same height.
starvation - you
win if your opponent does not have a valid
and
in her next turn.
Draws are not possible.