Gooseberry Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Contents
• Set Up
• Game Play
  • 1. Look at the dice and consult the code card to identify the secret subject.
  • 2. Prepare a ONE WORD clue related to the secret subject.
  • 3. Each player, without hesitation, says out loud the clue they have prepared.
  • 4. Discuss as required and then vote.
• Winning
• Create Your Own Topics
• Hints

Contents

• 2 Packs of code cards, Red and Green
• 4 Topic cards
• 3 Dice, Red & Green and Black
• 1 Pen & Rules

Set Up

Choose a Topic card, and place it in the center of the table. Alternatively create your own topic and subjects.

Choose a pack of code cards (Red or Green). Take one card per player. The "YOU ARE THE GOOSEBERRY" card must be included. Return unused cards to the box.

Take the Black dice and either the Red or Green dice as per the colour of the code cards chosen.

Shuffle and deal one card per person. Throw the two dice.

Game Play

1. Look at the dice and consult the code card to identify the secret subject.

The red or green dice provides the correct column and the black dice provides the final grid reference.

Find the subject on the Topic card that corresponds to that grid reference, then place your code card face down in front of you. The Gooseberry does not have a code and does not know the secret, so should pretend to consult their card while taking the opportunity to review all the subject choices.

Example: Finding the subject from the dice and code card. (A green die showing 3 selects the third column of the code card; the black die showing 8 selects row 8 of that column, which reads A1. A1 on the School topic card is Maths.)

2. Prepare a ONE WORD clue related to the secret subject.

Choose a clue that shows other players that you know the secret subject but is not so obvious that it reveals the secret to the Gooseberry. Wait until all players have prepared their clue and are ready before starting.

3. Each player, without hesitation, says out loud the clue they have prepared.

Start with the last Gooseberry, or if playing for the first time the person who last ate a gooseberry, and continue in clockwise order. No comments or questions are allowed until all players have said their clue. If by chance a player before you has said the same clue as you have prepared, just ignore it and say your clue regardless.

4. Discuss as required and then vote.

Players may discuss, question and accuse each other. When all players are ready, or after an agreed period of time, there is a simultaneous vote and everyone points at the person they think is the Gooseberry. The player who received the most votes reveals their code card. In the case of a tie both players reveal their card, provided they each received two or more votes.

Winning

The Gooseberry immediately wins if they have not been revealed. If they have been discovered, the Gooseberry now has another chance to win by correctly identifying the secret subject.

Create Your Own Topics

It is most fun creating your own topics. Most popular have been names of common Friends and Families, also Authors, Artists, Movies, Animals, Famous People and Historical Events.

Take the cards titled A, B, C and D and write out 16 subjects in whatever topic you like. (Each card is numbered 1 to 4 with a line per subject.)

Hints

Choose subtle clues with distant connections to the secret subject. You only need one other player to recognise the connection to endorse you as safe.

Beware revealing too much information in discussion.

If playing several times in a session change packs of cards so you do not accidentally remember codes.