Crossword Pyramids
Crossword Pyramids Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Objectives
To score the most points by spelling words.
To remove as many pyramids from the board as possible.
To be the first player to use all of his or her colored pyramids.
Game Set Up
The game takes place on all 100 squares of the board.
Player Pyramids
There are four different colors of player pyramids: red, blue, green, and yellow. Each player chooses a pyramid color and sits at the corresponding side of the board. Each player begins with the same 30 letters. For example, all players will have two A s in their set with a point value of 1. The players randomly place a stack of five pyramids of their color on each of their six matching colored spaces. (Y R A M I D). All four colors are set up, even if fewer than four players are playing the game.
House Pyramids
36 of the 42 black house pyramids are randomly placed on the 36 inner spaces of the board. Each time you set up the house pyramids, you will have a different group of 6 left over. See diagrams below.
(Diagrams: "Coming Soon" on the source page. None are reproduced.)
Who Goes First?
Each player adds the point values on the tips of their six exposed player pyramids.
To break a tie, the players involved remove their top layer of six pyramids and re-count.
The player with the lowest total goes first and play continues clockwise around the board.
Game Rules
Word Placement
From the spelling players point of view, words must be spelled horizontally, from left to right; or vertically, from top to bottom. (The same as a crossword puzzle). Diagonal play is not allowed.
(see also Word Runway rule)
Letter Placement
On your turn, you can move player pyramids of any color and place them on top of any house pyramid, player pyramid, letter printed on the game board, or on the Word Runway (see below) to form a word. Only colored player pyramids may be moved. Black house pyramids never move.
Letter Choice
Players may choose from all 60 exposed letters to spell words. Players may use the letters on all pyramids (even other players pyramids!). As the game progresses, even the letters printed on the board can be used.
Each word must include at least one of his or her player letters and one black letter. The letters can be either pyramids or a printed letters visible on the board. Letters printed on the game board, when exposed, can be used to spell words, but a player does not receive points for using these letters.
Stealing
When spelling a word, players may use (steal) their opponents player pyramids.
Word Runway
The Word Runway is the outer ring of blank spaces. Players may extend their word into the Runway in either direction. This is the only place on the board that permits players to bend words. The Runway accommodates the placement of very long words.
See diagrams below for permitted moves.
(Diagrams: "Coming Soon" on the source page. None are reproduced.)
Uncovered Pyramids
When a player moves a colored player pyramid from a stack to spell a word, that player may not use the newly exposed pyramid in the same turn.
Unable to Complete a Word
A player cannot change their mind in the middle of spelling a word. If a player is unable to complete the attempted word, they forfeit their turn. All of the pyramids that were moved during that turn are returned to their original locations.
Completing a Turn
A player completes a turn by announcing their word aloud. This completes their turn. If the word is acceptable, or at least not challenged, that player removes all the pyramids (including the black House Pyramids) used in the word and sets them aside for counting at the end of the game. Each player keeps all collected pyramids separate from their opponents for individual scoring.
Challenging a Word
Acceptability
Players select a dictionary they want to use before the game starts.
A player may only challenge the acceptability of a word after the speller announces it aloud. Once the pyramids are removed, the right to challenge ends.
Words not in the chosen dictionary are not allowed. Prefixes, suffixes, abbreviations or other non-words as well as words that require punctuation or capitalization are not acceptable, and may be challenged.
Challenging
When a word is challenged, the dictionary is consulted. If the word is unacceptable, any player pyramids which have been moved are returned to their original locations and the player who spelled the word loses his or her turn. If the word is acceptable, then the player who challenged the word loses his or her next turn.
Ending the Game & Tallying Points
The game ends when all of any players colored pyramids have been removed.
Each player adds up the points engraved on the tips of their collected pyramids. Some players may wish to keep score throughout the game.
Any remaining player pyramids values are subtracted from their owners score. The player with the most points is the winner!
Please remember to have fun, but most importantly always spell to win.
Please consult our Website periodically for additional Crossword Pyramid play variations & tips on winning strategies.