Fox & Chicken
Fox & Chicken Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Setting Up the Farmyard
First of all, choose someone in the group to be the Storyteller. They will be in control of the group and are responsible for the flow of the game, making sure that all rules are followed properly. Depending on how many people are playing, they take that number of role cards, shuffle them together and hand out one face down to each player – see the table at the end of the instructions for suggested sets depending on how many people are playing. If you are using any special roles (anything that isn't a normal Fox or Chicken) explain what their special abilities are BEFORE handing out the cards.
Once everyone has a card, give them a set amount of time to read through the text in secret, reminding the players that they MUST NOT REVEAL THEIR ROLE CARD UNTIL TOLD BY THE STORYTELLER. They can lie through their teeth about what they are or are not, but their card mustn't be flipped over unless ordered to. Now the game can begin with the Storyteller discovering who is who. We suggest you start the game by reading something like the following:
"Everyone, please close your eyes – I'm going to tell you a story. Down on the farm, something's happening. Something bad. The chickens normally have such a happy life scratching around for corn and laying the occasional egg. Now they've noticed that their numbers seem to be thinning out. Most nights, a chicken disappears without warning and no-one knows where they go. Well, no-one apart from the foxes who have just moved in to the woods just beyond the henhouse. Foxes, please open your eyes."
When you're satisfied that you know who the Foxes are, say the following:
"Foxes, please close your eyes. It's time for the story to begin..."
Game Start
The game takes place over alternating phases – Day and Night – until one side is victorious. The Storyteller explains that the Chickens are having a lovely time, scratching about in the yard. It seems that some of the newer Chicken arrivals are a little bit larger than the others and even look slightly different, but that doesn't matter... they're having a lovely time, remember? After a short while, where everyone should be trying to convince their friends that they are indeed chickens, the Storyteller decided that Night comes, and everyone must go to sleep.
Night Phase
Tell everyone to CLOSE THEIR EYES. The only sound is the occasional snore of a chicken. Once everyone's eyes are closed, say:
"Foxes, please open your eyes and SILENTLY show me which chicken you are going to eat."
The Foxes must decide together by pointing and gesturing at a SINGLE Chicken. If they are indecisive, give them a nudge – they only have a short time before the sun comes up! Once a decision has been made, say:
"Foxes, close your eyes. The sun is rising!" - Move on to the Day Phase.
Day Phase
Begin with the following:
"The next morning, as the henhouse awakens, the Chickens notice that one of their friends has disappeared leaving only a pile of feathers behind along with some suspicious pawprints... and that Chicken was ___________!"
Insert the player's name who was chosen by the Foxes. They must reveal their card to everyone and are now out of the game. They may not take any further action. After all, they've been eaten. How sad. Now though, the Chickens could possibly get their revenge. Say:
"It is obvious that there is at least one Fox hiding in the henhouse, but who could it be? If at least half of the Chickens can decide and vote for ONE SINGLE PLAYER who they think is the Fox, that player will be chased from the henhouse, regardless of them being Chicken or Fox. You have three minutes."
All players must now discuss amongst themselves who they believe is a Fox. Perhaps they heard a noise in the night or felt movement from somewhere? Chicken players must convince everyone that they are indeed what they say they are. Fox players should certainly lie about what they heard or felt – after all, they'd like another easy dinner... Once the time is up, say:
"Has a decision been made?"
If YES, the player who has been chased out of the henhouse MUST reveal their card immediately. They are out of the game. Move on to another Night Phase.
If NO, the game continues with no-one having been chased out of the henhouse. Move on to another Night Phase.
How the Game is Won
If the Foxes ever outnumber the Chickens, the FOX players immediately win the game – even if some of them have already been eliminated from play. They will be able to control all votes in the Day Phase, meaning that the Chickens will all end up eaten very quickly. Those poor, poor things.
If the Chickens manage to chase away every single Fox player, the CHICKEN players win the game, even if some of them have been eliminated from play. With no Foxes left in the henhouse, they get to live out their days pecking around at corn or interesting bits of gravel. It's not much of a life, but they seem happy enough.
Special Roles
Though we suggest you keep your early games simple by only using basic Fox and Chicken cards, some of the roles are a bit more complex and require some explanation on how they are used.
Chicken in a Fox Suit (Chicken): When the Foxes open their eyes during the Night Phase, so do you. You must help them decide which Chicken will be eaten. During the Day Phase, you may NOT explicitly say who the Foxes are as this will give you away, but should use what you know to help the other Chickens. The Foxes CAN vote to eat you during the Night Phase.
Den Mother (Fox): Once per game, you may choose to eat an extra Chicken on your own. Once the Foxes have decided on someone to eat during the Night Phase, the Storyteller will ask if you would like to eat your extra Chicken. If you would like to, silently point out your victim. If not, shake your head – the Storyteller will ask again during the next Night Phase.
Egg (Chicken): If the Foxes decide during the Night Phase that you will be their victim, the Storyteller must play as normal. However, when the Day Phase begins, the Storyteller must state that no-one was eaten during the night! You are protected by your hard shell. If the game ends with you and a single Fox player, your team wins – the Fox gets bored and wanders off to another farm in search of less indestructible treats!
Fox Cub (Fox): You work with the other Foxes during the Night Phase, but your excitement could cause problems. You MUST say the word 'Fox' THREE TIMES during the Day Phase. Failure to do so means that at the start of the next Night Phase, the Storyteller announces who you are to the whole group!
Little Chick (Chicken): You are the only Chicken player who is allowed to open their eyes during the Night Phase without being asked to. You don't have to open your eyes, but it could give you a clue as to who the Foxes are. However, if you are spotted, you are sure to be eaten...
Mother Hen (Chicken): During the Night Phase, the Storyteller will ask you to open your eyes before the Foxes. You will then be asked to choose ONE player then to close your eyes again. They will be protected by you. If the Foxes choose to eat that player (or you choose a Fox), the following Day Phase will begin with the Storyteller saying that no-one was eaten in the night.
Prize Chicken (Chicken): If you are chosen to be eaten by the Foxes during the Night Phase, time is running out. The Chickens will only have TWO more Day Phases to get rid of all of the Foxes. Failure to do so results in an immediate win for the Foxes.
Rooster (Chicken): During the Night Phase, the Storyteller asks you to open your eyes before the Foxes. You will then be asked if you wish to use your power. If YES, point at one player – at the start of the next Day Phase the Storyteller will tell the group that player has disappeared. If NO, close your eyes and play will continue as normal. However, if you chase away TWO Chickens, you will be eliminated from the game.