The Vault Guardian: Start here

1 November 2026



1. Start here



One adventure. Choose your format.

For one Guide and 2–4 Hero players. Extract the ZIP before opening files. You do not need to print everything.

Choose COLOR or BLACK_AND_WHITE, then either the Simple Starter or the Poker Card Alternative. Use one base format, not both. Each numbered folder contains the two color choices.



Find your files

01_SIMPLE_STARTER → your color folder → Starter_v9.pdf. Recommended for a first game: the all-in-one, whole-sheet route.

02_POKER_CARD_ALTERNATIVE → your color folder → Poker_Cards_v5.pdf + Guide_v8.pdf. Cards and Guide instead of the Starter.

03_OPTIONAL_FLOOR_TARGETS → your color folder → Floor_Targets.pdf. Full-size artwork. For household alternatives, read Starter pages 1–4 or Poker Guide page 4.

04_OPTIONAL_EXTRAS → your color folder → Optional_Extras.pdf. References, false paintings, reward fold-cards and labels.



Avoid duplicate printing

Print one set of Hero references, Defense pieces, clue paintings and relics from your chosen base format. Keep random-draw pieces uniform; do not mix poker cards with Starter squares.

The poker deck already includes the four Vault rewards. Extras pages 8–9 are alternative fold-cards, not extra reward copies.



2. Print your base pack



Check scaling first

Use US Letter and Actual Size / 100%. Turn off Fit, Shrink and borderless enlargement. Measure the printed 1-inch test square before the full run. Keep the original page order and sizes.



A · Simple Starter: 28 pages

Print single-sided. Pages 1–12 contain setup, shared rules and private Guide reference. Pages 13–20 are four two-page Hero references; keep each Hero’s pair together. Pages 21–26 are the six whole clue paintings.

Cut only pages 27–28: six relics and 68 equal Defense squares. Cut the squares, not their symbols. Keep relics as one flimsy ordinary-paper layer: no backing, lamination or stiffening. The paintings stay whole.



B · Poker alternative: cards + Guide

Poker_Cards_v5.pdf: 34 pages on 17 duplex sheets. Print Letter portrait, double-sided, flip SHORT EDGE, at 100%. Test pages 1–2 first. Check the matching back, orientation and alignment; a cut card must measure 2.5 × 3.5 inches. Then print the rest. There are 101 cards; one empty paired position is intentional.

Guide_v8.pdf: 20 pages, single-sided on ordinary paper. Pages 1–13 are rules and Guide reference; keep the six paintings on pages 14–19 whole. Cut only page 20’s six flimsy relics, with no backing or lamination.

No duplex printer? Print odd fronts and even backs separately at 100%. Cut individual cards, match each correct front and back, then join their blank sides. Do not glue whole sheets in same-cell orientation: back positions are reflected. All Defense cards need identical opaque backs, thickness and feel.



3. Optional printing



Large floor targets: 31 pages

Read pages 1–2. The remaining 29 tiles make all five targets. Print the Guardian and participating Heroes, single-sided at 100%. Allow portrait/landscape rotation without scaling. Every creature still needs a target; only the illustrated artwork is optional.

Guardian: pages 3–10 (8 sheets). Pippa: 11–15 (5). Orin: 16–20 (5). Virnoc: 21–26 (6). Mara: 27–31 (5). Guardian and Virnoc each include two landscape tiles.

Trim the dashed page-edge rectangles, match edge marks and artwork, butt edges together without gaps or overlap, and tape behind. Keep each assembled target whole and flat. Poker cards are references, not substitutes for the floor-target footprint.

Household targets and their HIT boundaries are explained in Starter pages 1–4 or Poker Guide page 4. Use your chosen base format’s instructions.



Optional Extras: 10 pages

Print only needed pages, single-sided, Letter, at 100%. Keep pages 1–7 whole: instructions (1), player references (2–3), private Guide references (4–5), and Stag/Spider paintings (6–7).

Pages 8–9 contain four reward fold-cards. Cut the outer rectangles; fold on the dashed center lines with blank sides together, then tape or glue. Finished size is 2.5 × 3.5 inches. Page 10 has optional setup labels to cut out.

Stag and Spider need extra pedestals if used. They have no matching relics and never count toward the six correct placements. Keep the original six required paintings and six relics.

For the Starter, rewards and false paintings are optional Extras. The poker Guide already explains its rewards. Use one matching reward per participating Hero, not duplicate poker and folded copies.



4. Before you play



Gather household supplies

For 2 / 3 / 4 Heroes, prepare 3 / 4 / 5 targets and separate READY supplies and USED places, including the Guardian’s. Bring pencils/erasers, scissors, tape, one rolled sock or loose paper ball, six reachable stable pedestals, a Vault spot and safe household treasure.

Recommended carry equipment: two 16 oz plastic cups per active carrier. Bags are optional; use a fair unseen Defense draw method from your base rules. Keep Defense pieces uniform, spares aside, and add TEMP only when the Hero’s rule says.



The Guide prepares the secrets

Guide preparation: read Starter pages 8–12 or Poker Guide pages 8–13 first; Extras pages 4–5 are also for the Guide. Set aside private Guide and puzzle-answer cards before handing out player cards. Never show answer keys or label pedestals with solutions.

Place the six whole paintings and scatter the six relics. Record original relic starts on the private Guide sheet. Keep real exits clear; mark the fictional exit separately. Sample layout: Starter page 2 / Poker Guide page 3. Setup: Starter page 3 / Poker Guide page 4.



Rehearse, then use the printed rules

Teach the carry test from Starter page 8 or Poker Guide page 8. Demonstrate it first; set equipment down safely to load or unload. Those rules explain touches, drops and the Guardian’s alert.

Try one soft toss and one carry. Clear people from targets and throwing paths. Never throw at people, animals or fragile objects; never run, climb or physically push anyone. Anyone may call Pause.

Follow the printed Hero traits, costs, limits and recovery. This file explains the download; your chosen base rules and selected Extras govern play. Do not import abilities from larger Hero kits.



© 2026 Spare-A-Game LLC. AnySpace Quest™. All rights reserved.

Visit AnySpaceQuest.com for game information and support materials.
https://www.anyspacequest.com/

Created by Scott Szparagowski. Published by Spare-A-Game LLC.

FREE-MATERIALS PERMISSION
The PDF download guide now has 6 pages; full permission appears on pages 5-6.
The same full permission is included as LICENSE.txt.

AnySpace Quest Free-Materials Permission
Version: November 1, 2026

Covered materials. This permission applies to the official free editions of the Vault Guardian Free Starter Pack, including all included components; ASQ Props & Materials Guide, color and less-ink editions; and ASQ Core Guide Handbook, when supplied with this notice or expressly identified as covered on the official website. It excludes paid products, Advanced materials, unpublished master content, and other materials unless expressly included.

Permitted play and instruction. You may download and print these materials for personal play, noncommercial groups, classroom instruction, and library activities. You may give participants printed copies without charging for the copies and make private adaptations for these activities, including accessibility changes. Printed adaptations may be shared with participants but not published or distributed publicly. A print service may produce your permitted copies.

Teachers and library staff may receive their normal pay. Ordinary school tuition does not disqualify instruction, provided there is no separate charge specifically for the ASQ game session.

Sharing. Share the official download link rather than redistributing or reposting digital files, unchanged or modified. Keep existing copyright, creator-credit, and permission notices where they appear. Identify your adaptations as unofficial and do not imply endorsement.

Photos, videos, and reviews. You may share photos and videos of your own play or setup, including printed materials visible in that context, and use excerpts reasonably needed to discuss or review the materials. This includes monetized reviews and gameplay videos. Do not distribute complete files, complete page scans, or collections of images or excerpts that substitute for the downloads. Do not imply endorsement.

Uses requiring written permission. This permission does not authorize selling copies or adaptations, incorporating protected material into paid bundles or merchandise, or reproducing, adapting, distributing, or publicly displaying protected material as part of separately charged ASQ game events. Other commercial reuse of protected material requires written permission, except for the instructional, print-service, and photo/video/review permissions above. This is not a restriction on merely playing a game or using unprotectable game mechanics.

Rights and exceptions. Spare-A-Game LLC grants permission only for rights it owns or is authorized to license. Separately identified third-party content remains subject to its own terms. This notice does not claim exclusive copyright over game ideas, methods of play, public-domain material, or other material that is not copyright-protected. It does not limit fair use or other rights and exceptions under applicable law, or revoke permissions previously validly granted.

Official downloads: https://www.anyspacequest.com/quickstart
Standalone support downloads: https://www.anyspacequest.com/game-details
Permission requests: https://www.anyspacequest.com/contact-us

© 2026 Spare-A-Game LLC.
