Dual
Dual Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. Goal
Score the most points after 5 rounds.
B. Celestial Cards
Each card has two suits, or spirits, with different values. The top and bottom value always equal 10.
When in hand, the top suit is considered Awake, while the bottom/hidden is Asleep.
Along with their spirit value, cards also have Stars, ranging from 1 to 5. This is used when playing off suit, or as a scoring tie breaker.
The back of the cards informs other players which Awake suits you have (top of cards). It is important that this information be available to all.
IMPORTANT: Card orientation is very important. DO NOT reorient your cards unless instructed to do so.
C. Set up
To start the game, set up all score tokens nearby.
The oldest player takes the deck and shuffles the 18 cards. Cut the deck in two and rotate one half 180 degrees. Then shuffle the whole deck together again. This is so not all cards have the same orientation.
D. Game Play
To start the round, deal out the whole deck equally to all players.
After players take their cards into their hand, flip one card upside down to switch its Awake/Asleep suit.
Be sure to maintain the orientation of your cards in hand.
When playing a card, place it on the table so that the Awake suit is facing the center of the playing area.
The player to the left of the dealer is the Starting player.
1. Starting Suit
Starting with the first player, each player plays one card from their hand. The Awake suit of the first player's card is the Starting suit. All other players must play this suit if possible.
2. Breaking Suit
If a player does not have an Awake card matching the Starting suit, they may play any card.
3. Star Suit
If only the Starting player has played the Starting suit, the round is judged by the Stars and not spirit value/suit. If Stars are tied, the earlier card played is considered higher.
4. Wind Power
The player who played the lowest card may decide to designate any player or themselves to flip ALL their cards in hand upside down, converting their Awake suits for their Asleep suits. The lowest card played is assessed in the following way:
- If all cards followed the Starting suit, it is the lowest Awake value card.
- If Stars used, it is the least Stars.
- If a player was the only one to not follow the Starting suit, that is the lowest card (3-players only).
5. Next Round
The player with the highest card played takes all the cards on the table and sets it as their "winnings" pile. Then they become the Starting player. Continue play until all cards have been played, cycling dealer each round clockwise.
E. Scoring
When all cards have been played, count your "winnings," and resolve in this order:
- CUBE - The player to win the last round earns a Cube. Place it in a Coin if/when possible.
- COIN - The player with the most cards won earns a Coin. Ties go to the player with the most Stars icons.
- STAR - For each #5 won, earn a Star.
F. Game End
When all five Coins have been won, tally up the scores as follows:
- 2 pt per lone Coin
- 1 pt per lone Cube
- 4 pts per Coin/Cube combo
- 1 pt per two Stars
Game Play Examples
Following Suit
Player A starts the round with the Blue 6 Awake.
You must play Blue if possible. You have two Awake Blue cards: the 5 and 7. Play either card.
Resolve: If you play the Blue 5, you lose the round because it does not beat a 6. You gain Wind Power for the round and Player A will earn a Star token at scoring for winning the #5.
Resolve: If you play the Blue 7, you win the round and take both played cards to your "winnings" pile. Your opponent will gain Wind Power.
Stars Suit
Player A starts the round with the Red 4. Player B does not have any Awake Red, so they play the Purple 8.
Player C also does not have any Awake Red, so they play the Blue 5.
Resolve: Because only one player has played the Starting Suit, Star icons will be used to assess the winner. Player C wins the round with 5 Stars.
Wind Power
You lost this round, so you have Wind Power. You may choose for your opponent to flip their hand, flip your hand, or neither.
Since you have low cards, you choose to flip your hand. This will also Awaken your Yellow card to possibly respond if your opponent plays Yellow.
(Example: the Opponent holds 4 cards.)
Scoring
Player A won the last round and the Yellow/Blue 5 so they win a Cube and a Star. Player B won the most cards and the Red/Purple 5, so they win the Coin and a Star.
Resolve: Player A earns a Cube and a Star. Player B earns the Coin and a Star.
(Example hands: Player A 4 cards, Player B 14 cards.)
Scoring (second example)
Player A won the most cards including the last round, so they win the Coin and Cube. Player C won the Red/Purple 5 so they win a Star. Player B won the other 5 and earns a Star.
Resolve: Player A earns the Coin and Cube. Player B earns a Star. Player C earns a Star.
(Example hands: Player A 9 cards, Player B 3 cards, Player C 6 cards.)
End Game Scoring
Player A's final score is 11 points, Player B earns 3 points, Player C finishes the game with 8 points.
(The printed End Game Scoring diagram shows each player's Coins, Cubes and Stars with their point values; the values are as printed in the diagram.)