Exploding Pigeon
Exploding Pigeon Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 1 Pigeon Shaker
- 75 Cards
- 1 Dry Erase Marker
- 6 Reference Cards
Ages 7+. 3+ players. Playing time: 10 minutes.
Setup
First time players: see the Inserting the Batteries section below for help inserting batteries.
- Split into 2 teams, and sit on opposite sides of the table. It's fine if one team has more players than the other. For 3 players, finish reading these rules then see the 3 Player Game section.
- Place the Pigeon Shaker and Dry Erase Marker in the center of the table. Make sure there are no Dry Erase markings on the Pigeon Shaker.
- Choose 1 side of the cards to use for the whole game. Ignore the other side. Shuffle the cards and put them with the side you chose face down to form a Draw Pile. Leave some room for a Discard Pile as well.
- Pick a team (and a player on that team) to take the first turn.
Taking Your Turn
When it's your turn, push the button on the bottom of the Pigeon Shaker to start the timer (and the cooing). The Pigeon Shaker will coo between 45 and 120 seconds, and then explode. You do NOT want to be holding it when it explodes.
Next, shake the Pigeon Shaker and put it on the table. Whatever icon lands face up on the die is the challenge you must do before you're allowed to pass the Pigeon Shaker to the other team.
Challenges
For these, draw a card and then...
- One at a Time: Get your team to guess the word on your card using 1-word clues. You can give as many clues as you'd like, but your team must make at least one guess between each clue! You can't say the word on the card or any part/variation of the word.
- Pigeon Pictures: Get your team to guess the word on your card by drawing on the clear part of the Pigeon Shaker with the Dry Erase Marker. You can't write letters, numbers, etc. You are not responsible for erasing what you draw!
- Sitting Charades: Get your team to guess the word on your card by silently acting it out. You can't stand or form letters to spell the word.
For these, don't draw a card, just do the challenge.
- Shake Again: Shake the Pigeon Shaker again until you land on a different challenge. Then do that challenge.
- Gimme Wing: Everyone on your team must tuck their hands into their own armpits to form Pigeon Wings. Then quickly bump wings with the teammates to your left and right. Performed with your team.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors: Play "Rock, Paper, Scissors" against a player on the OTHER team. Keep playing until YOU win. They are not allowed to intentionally slow you down. Performed against the other team.
Remember: If it feels like cheating, it's cheating.
Skipping Cards and Breaking Card Rules
If you need to skip your card (i.e. your team can't guess the word) OR if you break the rules for your card, discard your card and draw a new one without re-shaking the Pigeon Shaker. Be careful! Each time this happens, you run the risk of the Pigeon Shaker exploding in your hands.
Completing Your Challenge
When you complete your challenge, quickly and gently(ish) slide the Pigeon Shaker to the other side of the table before it explodes! If you drew a card, put it in the Discard Pile.
When your team receives the Pigeon Shaker, make sure you give it to a player who hasn't had a turn yet. Everyone should take a turn before anyone takes a second turn, and so on.
Ending the Round
When the Pigeon Shaker explodes, if it is on your team's side of the table, your team loses! If you're given the Pigeon Shaker by mistake when it explodes, the team that handed it to you loses.
If you incorrectly pass the Pigeon Shaker for any reason and it explodes, your team loses.
Put a card from the Discard Pile in front of the team that won the round. That card is worth 1 Point. The team that won also begins the next round.
Winning the Game
The first team with 3 points wins!
3 Player Game
Play the game as normal, but with a few modifications:
Teams
All three players are on their own team and sit in a circle around the table.
Starting the Game
Pick a player to go first. Press the button on the Pigeon Shaker, and begin.
Challenges With Cards
As you perform, the other two players are trying to guess your word. The first player who correctly guesses your word gets the reward of NOT getting the Pigeon Shaker. Instead, pass it to the other player. They must immediately shake the Pigeon Shaker to start their turn.
Challenges Without Cards
- Shake Again: Shake the Pigeon Shaker until you land on a different challenge. Then do that challenge.
- Gimme Wing: Bump wings with the player of your choice, then pass them the Pigeon Shaker.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors: Play against the player of your choice. Play until you win, then pass the Pigeon Shaker to the player you just beat. When you choose a player, they are not allowed to intentionally slow you down.
Continue playing this way until the Pigeon Shaker explodes in someone's hands. Then, the OTHER two players both get to take a card from the bottom of the deck and put it face down in front of them as a point. Finally, pass the Pigeon Shaker to next player (clockwise from the player who exploded) to begin their turn.
Winning (3 Player)
The first player with 3 cards (points) in front of them wins!
Ties (3 Player)
- If two players guess the word at the same time, (you are the judge) pass the Pigeon Shaker to whichever player you'd like.
- If two players get their third point at the same time, keep playing until someone has more points than any other player.
Inserting the Batteries
The Pigeon Shaker takes 2 AAA batteries (batteries not included). Use a screwdriver.
- Remove the screw and the cover with a screwdriver.
- Insert 2 AAA batteries, observing the correct polarity (+ and − marked in the battery compartment).
- Close the cover and tighten the screw with a screwdriver.
To turn the Pigeon Shaker off, press and hold the button for 3 seconds.