Star Cluster Ball Rules
Setup, scoring, fouls, match play, ball states, and official terminology.
Quick Rules Summary
Players
2 players or 2 teams compete using one ball colour each.
Rounds
Each game is played across two 6-minute rounds.
Goal
Score the most points by landing balls in Astrolabe Positions.
1. Equipment & Setup
- Tilted table with three Astrolabe Positions: Position 1, Position 2, and Position 3.
- Two colours of balls, with one colour per player or team.
- A clearly marked Play Line, also called the Foul Line.
- 2 players or 2 teams per match.
2. Core Gameplay
- The game starts with the player on the right-hand Side.
- Players roll or flick balls from behind the Play Line.
- A player continues taking shots while they score successfully.
- A turn ends when the player fails to score, produces a Grouping, or commits a foul.
- The furthest Astrolabe Position has the highest base score; the closest has the lowest.
- If any part of the body crosses the Play Line during a shot, the shot is void.
- The player or team with the highest total score at the end of the game wins.
3. Scoring
Base Scoring
| Position | Points per Ball |
|---|---|
| Position 3, furthest | 5 points |
| Position 2 | 2 points |
| Position 1, closest | 1 point |
Bonus Scoring
- Chaining / Stringing: balls must land in adjacent slots within the same Astrolabe Position. Only chained balls count for consecutive scoring.
- Position 1 Chain Bonus: +1 per additional chained ball.
- Position 2 Chain Bonus: +2 per additional chained ball.
- Position 3 Chain Bonus: +5 per additional chained ball.
- Grand Slam: filling an entire Astrolabe Position with your balls doubles the total points for that position.
- Combined Bonus: if a final ball completes both a chain and a Grand Slam, both bonuses apply.
4. Ball State Rules
Gutter
If a ball enters a Gutter, it is out of play and removed for the rest of the round.
Foul Balls
If the player crosses the Play Line during a shot, the shot is void and the ball is removed for the round.
Returned Balls
If a ball rolls back without entering a Gutter or leaving the Play Area, it remains in play.
Grouping
A ball or group of balls that comes to rest without scoring is Grouped. Grouped balls stay in play but do not score.
Returned Grouped Balls
If a Grouped ball returns to the Play Area and has not entered a Gutter, the player may return it to their hand.
Table Movement
Deliberately moving or striking the table is a foul. Affected balls may be removed from play.
5. Special Situations
Knocking an Opponent’s Ball
If a player’s shot causes an opponent’s ball to move into an Astrolabe Position, the shooting player scores any points earned with their own balls, then their turn ends. The opponent scores points from the displaced ball if it lands in a scoring position and then takes control.
If the opponent’s ball does not land in a scoring position and is simply returned to their hand or side, no foul is committed and the original player may continue.
Running Out of Balls
If a player has no balls remaining during their turn, their turn ends immediately. The opponent then chooses one of two options:
- Bank Points: end their turn and bank 1 point per ball in hand.
- Final Sequence: continue play using all remaining balls in their possession.
Remaining Balls
At the end of the round, a player scores 1 point per remaining ball. Grouped balls do not count toward this bonus.
6. Final Sequence
- The player may play all remaining balls, one at a time, until the round timer expires or all balls have been played once.
- Any balls returned to either player are discarded and removed from play.
- Both players may score from balls knocked into scoring Astrolabe Positions.
- If a foul is committed, including causing an opponent’s ball to score, the sequence ends immediately.
- All points scored up to that moment are counted.
- Any balls remaining in hand at the time of the foul do not score.
7. Competition Rules
- Fouls: interference, playing beyond the Play Line, or touching a moving ball results in a penalty.
- Tie Resolution: an additional 3-minute round is played; first to score wins.
- Etiquette: players must respect opponents, remain quiet during turns, and avoid deliberate fouls.
- Timekeeping: players must play in a timely manner and must not deliberately delay the game.
Alternative Match Play
- Games may be played to a target score agreed before the match, such as 50 or 100 points.
- Matches may follow a best-of format, such as best of 3 or best of 5 games.
- Each game ends when a player or team reaches the target score.
- The player or team winning the most games wins the match.
- Rounds remain limited to 6 minutes.
Optional Rules
- Grand Slam Finish: scoring a Grand Slam immediately ends the current round.
- Blocking: placing balls on both sides of an opponent’s ball within the same Astrolabe Position removes that ball for the round.
- Multiplier Zones: certain Astrolabe Positions may award 2× or 3× points.
- Dead Ball Rule: balls entering designated areas in the second half of a round may score no points.
- Optional rules are intended for advanced or alternative play formats.
Terminology & Definitions
- Astrolabe: the comb-like scoring section of the board that captures and holds balls.
- Ball: a round glass ball or marble.
- Chaining / Stringing: adjacent balls of the same colour within an Astrolabe Position.
- Displaced Ball: a ball moved by a player’s shot.
- Final Sequence: a special stage triggered when an opponent has no balls remaining.
- Game: a full match unit consisting of two rounds.
- Grand Slam: filling an entire Astrolabe Position with your balls.
- Grouping: a ball or group of balls that comes to rest without scoring.
- Gutter: an out-of-bounds area where balls are removed from play.
- Play Line: the boundary players must not cross when shooting.
- Round: a 6-minute period of play.
- Side: the assigned left or right playing position.
- Umpire: the official responsible for enforcing rules and scoring.