Hidden Panda
Hidden Panda Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Teams
The Bandit Team consists of all the Bandits. The goal of the Bandit Team is to collect more cubs than the Rescue Team OR to net all the Panda players.
The Rescue Team consists of Grandma, the Keepers, and the Pandas. The goal of the Rescue Team is to collect more cubs than the Bandits while hiding the Panda players.
Roles
Play as a Bandit: Catch those sneaky Pandas, while stealing as many panda cubs as you can.
Play as Grandma: Lead the team, help the Pandas, and hand out tea!
Play as a Keeper: Protect the Pandas and rescue the cubs! There aren't many left!
Play as a Panda: Sneak into the Bandit Camp and get your cubs back without getting caught.
Components
- 8 Role cards:
- 3 Bandits: trying to nab the panda cubs
- 2 Pandas: trying to rescue the cubs
- 2 Keepers: trying to protect the Pandas
- 1 Grandma: trying to misdirect the Bandits
- 45 Panda cub tokens:
- 42 panda cub x1 tokens, which are the cutest dang things ever
- 3 panda cub x5 tokens, because they just love to cuddle. Use these to make change!
- 20 Net tokens
- 1 Cup of tea token
- 2 double-sided player count cards
- 1 Script card
How to Use the Player Count Cards
Players may refer to this card at any time, to see which roles are in the game.
- Number of players: Select the player count card that matches the number of players in your game.
- Number of role cards: The card lists the roles to use. For example, in an 8 player game there will be: 2 Pandas, 1 Grandma, 2 Keepers, 3 Bandits.
- Number of panda cub 1x tokens in Bandit Stash at the start of the game: Place the listed number of 1x panda cub tokens on this card to start the Bandit Stash. In an 8 player game 2 panda cub 1x tokens would be put on this card.
- Bandit Stash: All Panda Cub tokens remaining in the Bandit stash count as being held by the Bandits at the end of the game.
Setup
- Place the appropriate player count card face-up in the middle of the table.
- Put the 1x and 5x panda cub tokens, and the net tokens in the middle of the table. This is the supply.
- Place the listed number of 1x panda cub tokens onto the player count card. This is the Bandit Stash. At the end of the game, these will be added to those collected by the Bandits team.
- Shuffle the roles listed on the player count card. Deal one face-down to each player. Each player looks at her card, but does not show anyone else. This is your role card. Place it face-down in front of you.
- Everyone opens their eyes and Grandma reveals her role. She takes 3 nets, the cup of tea and moves a 5x panda cub token onto her card. Everyone else closes their eyes.
- Grandma takes the script card and reads the steps out loud:
- a. Keepers open their eyes so that they can see each other and Grandma can see them. Keepers close their eyes and Grandma turns away.
- b. Pandas open their eyes, look at each other, then close their eyes.
- c. Bandits open their eyes, look at each other, then close their eyes.
- d. Grandma turns back. Everyone opens their eyes.
The printed example of play (EXAMPLE: 8 player game in progress, page 7) is a set of numbered diagrams and is not reproduced in text.
Gameplay
Hand Out Panda Cub Tokens
The active player will take 3 panda cubs from the supply and hand them out: they must give 2 panda cubs to 1 player, and 1 panda cub to another.
Note: They cannot keep any or give them to Grandma or other netted players.
At the end of the game, the team with the most panda cubs will win the game. You want to give them to players you think are on your team, or players whose trust you want to gain.
Play a Net
After handing out panda cub tokens, the active player must take a net from the supply and place it on another player's role card. This is your way of telling everyone that you think this player is a Panda.
Tip: If you are on the Rescue Team, use this to misdirect the Bandits.
Note: This may be a player you gave panda cubs to, or a different player. Grandma cannot be given a net. She's already been netted!
Voting
At the end of any turn when a player receives a third net, the other players will vote on whether or not she keeps the nets or returns them to the supply.
Tip: If you're a Bandit, you want to try to net Pandas.
Tip: If you're a Grandma or a Keeper, you want to avoid Pandas being netted (and, ideally, net Bandits!).
Starting to the left of the player being voted on and going clockwise, all players (including Grandma) will vote one at a time by holding their thumb up or down in front of them. The player being voted on does not vote.
- a. If more than half of the voting players put their thumb up, the player who was voted on is now netted. They keep their net tokens and must give all their panda cub tokens to a player of their choice. They cannot choose a player who's netted (including Grandma).
Players with 3 net tokens cannot be given panda cub or net tokens for the rest of the game, but otherwise play as normal - they still hand out nets and panda cubs on their turn, and do not reveal their role.
If the vote fails (if half or less of the voting players put their thumb up), take all the panda cubs from the player who called the vote (the player who last had a turn). Place them in the Bandit Stash. At the end of the game, these will count as being held by the Bandit Team.
Cup of Tea
On Grandma's first turn, she hands out a net like everyone else after giving out panda cubs.
On her second turn, Grandma places the cup of tea on another player's card after giving panda cubs.
The cup of tea is worth 2 nets. If the player Grandma gives it to already has 1 or 2 nets, she is immediately voted on. If not, she only needs one more to trigger a vote. If the vote passes, remove the cup of tea from the game and replace it with 2 net tokens.
Game End
The game ends in one of two ways:
When all Panda players have at least 3 nets on them
If all Panda players are netted, everyone reveals their roles, and the Bandit team immediately wins.
Note: There is 1 Panda player in a 5-6 player game, and 2 in a 7-8 player game.
OR when each player has had two turns
When the player to the right of Grandma has taken her second turn, the game ends.
Everyone reveals their roles and the teams count up their panda cubs. The Bandit team also add the Bandit Stash to their collection.
- If the Bandit Team has more panda cubs, they win!
- If the Rescue Team has more panda cubs, they win!
Note: In the case of a tie, you've lost one somewhere. Check your pockets!
Remember: If all Pandas are netted, the Bandit Team immediately wins!