Le Docte Rat Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• The Game
• Components
• Question Cards
  • Petite Colle and Érudition
  • Mini-Test
  • Bon Mot
• Game Board
• Gameplay
  • 1. Number of Players
  • 2. "Que fais-je?" ("What Do I Do?")
  • 3. How to Ask Questions
  • 4. Interpreting Spaces
  • 5. How to Earn Points
• Course of the Game
  • 1. Start of the Game
  • 2. On the Schoolchildren's Path
  • 3. At Saint-Lauréat College
  • 4. At the University of Brilliant People
• Additional Remarks
  • 1. Shortened Game
  • 2. Cheating
• Game Guide

The Game

A little scholarly rat (scientific name Ratus Bibliothecus) wanders the paths of knowledge and challenges you to match it. To become a "Docte Rat" (Learned Rat), you must successively reach the goals of the three tracks on the game board (Schoolchildren's Path, Saint-Lauréat College, University of Brilliant People), by answering the questions that correspond to them. Depending on the circumstances, our learned mascot encourages you to answer questions with bonuses, moves you forward, or puts you on forced rest. Sometimes, not knowing quite what to make you do, it has you draw "Que fais-je?" ("What do I do?") cards, or eccentric teachers plunge you into unexpected situations. If, despite all these rat traps, you are the first person (or team) to succeed at the University of Brilliant People, you win the game and earn the title of Docte Rat.

Components

• 1 game board showing the three paths (or levels of knowledge) to travel
• 2 small boxes
• 6 pawns
• 2 dice
• The rules
• 1 notepad (Bulletin) for recording points
• Over 1,000 questions
• 24 "Que fais-je?" ("What do I do?") cards
• 4 Bookmark cards (Signet)

Question Cards

The Docte Rat game contains four series of question cards. Each series has a name and a colour identical to certain spaces on the game board. Each series of cards has its own characteristics:

Series	Colour	Subject	Points
Petite Colle (Little Stumper)	Yellow	General knowledge	5
Érudition (Erudition)	Red	General knowledge	10
Mini-Test (Mini-Quiz)	Blue	General knowledge	15 (maximum)
Bon Mot (Witty Remark)	Orange	French language	5 or 10

Petite Colle and Érudition

A Petite Colle always contains a single question worth invariably 5 points. An Érudition also contains a single question, worth always 10 points when answered correctly. This value can change only if the game board indicates so (e.g., bonus of 5, double the value, etc.).

Mini-Test

A Mini-Test is usually a short quiz on a specific theme (theme card); it can never be worth more than 15 points. If, exceptionally, a Mini-Test contains only one question, that question is worth 15 points. If, as often happens, a Mini-Test is made up of several questions, the score attached to each of them (5 or 10 points) is always indicated at the beginning. When a Mini-Test is titled "Question à indices" (Question with Clues) or "Charade," one earns 15 points for finding the answer at the first clue, 10 points at the second, and 5 points at the third.

Bon Mot

A Bon Mot is a question related to the French language (spelling, grammar, vocabulary, word association, etc.). If the question is answered correctly, one earns 5 or 10 points, as indicated at the beginning of the question. Certain spaces on the game can double this value (e.g., Loto-didacte). Note that for a spelling question, the disputed word is printed in italics and is often written incorrectly, so that the answer is not automatically given to the person reading the question.

Game Board

The Docte Rat board has 77 spaces arranged in three tracks (or levels of knowledge).

The first track, called the Schoolchildren's Path (Chemin des écoliers), consists of the circuit where yellow spaces (Petite Colle) predominate. The goal of this track, as shown on the Start space, is to accumulate 25 points to advance to the second level.

The second track, called Saint-Lauréat College (Collège Saint-Lauréat), is formed by the inner circuit where red spaces (Érudition) predominate. The goal of this level, as shown on the Entrance arrow, is to accumulate 50 points to reach the third level.

The third track, called the University of Brilliant People (Université Gens-Brillants), is formed by the inner circuit where blue spaces (Mini-Test) predominate. The goal of this track, as shown on the Entrance arrow, is to accumulate 75 points to reach the rank of "Docte Rat" and win the game.

In the centre of the game board, a rectangular space is provided for placing the stack of "Que fais-je?" cards.

Gameplay

1. Number of Players

Le Docte Rat can be played individually or in teams. If you want to play individually, up to six people may compete. If you play in teams, it is recommended to form groups of two (duo) or three (trio). Each duo or trio then has only one pawn on the board and only one answer. After consultation, either member of a team gives an answer on behalf of the group. Team play can be a way to involve young people under 14, provided that they are not given partners from the same age group.

If there are many of you or you have limited time, you may also consider playing a shortened game (see the section Additional Remarks).

2. "Que fais-je?" ("What Do I Do?")

The "Que fais-je?" stack must be shuffled and placed on the board in the space provided for it. When your pawn stops on a space of this name, take a card from the top of the stack and follow the instructions written on it.

3. How to Ask Questions

Distributing the cards. Start by dividing the two boxes of question cards among yourselves. Check whether all the cards of the same series are on the same side (A or B). Then take the Bookmark card included in each series and place it (if not already done) at the start of the row: it will serve to separate the cards already used within the same series. When you must ask a question, choose a card at random from the series concerned. Exhaust side A of all the cards in a series before moving to side B. Before reading the question itself, always announce its title and the points it is worth. Certain features of the game require a fairly strict approach to how questions are asked and answers checked.

How to ask a Petite Colle, an Érudition and a Bon Mot. One of the peculiarities of Le Docte Rat is the "Appel à tous" (Call to All) procedure, which comes up very often on the board. It allows the other players to earn points when someone misses a question. It must still be the case that the answer has not been disclosed. The Call to All applies only to series whose cards contain a single question, namely Petite Colle, Érudition and Bon Mot. For these three series of question cards, we recommend always asking questions in the following way: the person asking the question (to themselves or to someone else) draws a card from the box, taking care not to go past the honesty line. This horizontal line protects the confidentiality of the answers in case there is a Call to All. It also allows you to ask yourself a question at any time, safely.

It goes without saying that, when there is a Call to All, only the person being questioned must check the validity of their answer. When there is no Call to All, the person asking the question may check the validity of an answer themselves.

How to take a Mini-Test. Mini-Tests, which most often contain several questions and answers, cannot be the subject of a Call to All. Nor do they allow a person to question themselves and check their own answers.

For this series of question cards, we recommend always proceeding as follows: no person (or team) asks a Mini-Test of themselves.

Reminder. To help you remember how to ask questions, keep in mind the following rule, which sums up quite well what to do: Watch your line (of honesty!), except for Mini-Tests, whose questions will be asked to you by someone else.

4. Interpreting Spaces

As you move your pawn across the game board, you will encounter a fairly varied set of spaces. Some are explicit, others less so. As a general rule, coloured spaces refer to a question card of the matching colour, whereas white spaces usually mean resting for one turn. For any question about the meaning of a space, refer to the Docte Rat Game Guide (at the end of this booklet), which is an abridged table of the rules to follow for the main spaces of the game. Keep it within reach; it will be very useful for quickly checking the rules of the game.

5. How to Earn Points

Essentially, points are earned by answering questions correctly. Points can also be earned through bonuses shown on certain spaces or on "Que fais-je?" cards. In some cases, points may also be lost for failing a question, but this remains exceptional.

Validity of an answer. To earn points, the person (or team) being questioned must give the answer printed at the bottom of the question card in full. When a parenthesis accompanies an answer, it is most often additional information: for example, the publication date of a work, the lifespan of a personality, a first name, etc. Sometimes the parenthesis gives another answer considered acceptable (a synonym, for example); in that case, the parenthesis begins with "ou" (or). It goes without saying that the content of a parenthesis added to an answer is never required in order to earn the points. If someone considers the answer given on a card to be false or incomplete (which is possible, since error is human), it is up to them to prove their claim and the validity of their own answer. The matter will then be settled by a recognised dictionary, or by a trustworthy reference work.

Course of the Game

1. Start of the Game

Each player (or team) chooses a pawn and places it on the Start space. In turn, dice are rolled to determine who obtains the lowest number and may begin the game. Once this person (or team) is designated, each will play in turn, clockwise. Unless otherwise indicated (e.g., Duo, Quitte ou double, "Que fais-je?" card), a normal turn consists of a single pawn move, and you may answer no more than one question card per turn.

2. On the Schoolchildren's Path

To advance on this path, use the dice in the usual way, that is, by moving your pawn by the total of the two dice. Since you are not playing Monopoly, do not try to take a second turn when you roll doubles. During this first stage, you must earn the 25 points that will allow you to move on to Saint-Lauréat College. Stay on the Schoolchildren's Path until you have reached this goal. As soon as you have reached it, immediately place your pawn on the Entrance arrow of Saint-Lauréat College. Wait for your normal turn before starting this new path. You have no interest in exceeding your goal, because points earned on the Schoolchildren's Path cannot be carried over to the College. So do not seek (even if a space would entitle you to it) to answer additional questions once your goal has been reached. The lower level serves, in fact, only to qualify you for the higher level. That is why your Bulletin must return to zero when you start a new track.

3. At Saint-Lauréat College

To advance on this path, use the dice in a "gentle trot" manner, that is, by moving your pawn by the number obtained by subtracting the two dice. If you roll doubles, you have a choice: either you stay where you are and once again meet the requirements of that space, or you advance by the number shown on one die only. During this second stage, you must earn the 50 points that will allow you to move on to the University of Brilliant People. Stay at Saint-Lauréat College until you have reached this goal. As soon as you have reached it, immediately place your pawn on the Entrance arrow of the University of Brilliant People. Wait for your normal turn before beginning this track. Do not forget to bring your Bulletin back to zero when you move to this level. Also, if you reach the end of the College track and your pawn passes over or beyond the Exit space, you find yourself outside the College. This means you were unable to reach the goal set at the entrance of this track, and you repeat the year. You must then place yourself again on the Entrance arrow of Saint-Lauréat College, and reduce your Bulletin by 5 points. You do, however, have the privilege of rolling the dice again immediately.

4. At the University of Brilliant People

To move on this track, again use the subtraction method, which lets you "stick" longer to the University. During this third stage, you must earn the 75 points that will entitle you, if you are the first person (or team) to reach this goal, to the title of Docte Rat. As soon as a player (or team) has obtained this rank, the game ends.

Likewise, if you reach the end of the University track and find yourself outside it, you repeat the year in the same way as at the College.

Additional Remarks

Here, to conclude, are some suggestions regarding problems frequently encountered when playing in company.

1. Shortened Game

Whether because of the number of people who want to play or the limited time available, you may not want to play a full game. It is then suggested to play a shortened game by reducing the goal to reach on each track: for example, 20 points on the Schoolchildren's Path, 30 points at Saint-Lauréat College, 40 points at the University of Brilliant People. This formula is preferable, because it respects the very principle of the game, which is the increase in difficulty encountered. Any other formula, for example a time limit, could have the effect of drawing only the question cards of the first two tracks, to the detriment of the Mini-Tests, which are concentrated in the last track.

2. Cheating

There are people in company whose brains are only active when finding ways to circumvent the established rules in order to win more quickly and more easily than honest people (who are obviously in the majority). Taking advantage of the presumption of innocence, these individuals will surely find some tricks to distort the normal course of a game of Docte Rat: for example, selecting question cards "tailored" to the person being questioned, whispering an answer to someone or giving them an extra hint, revealing an answer when there is a Call to All, etc. Faced with this kind of "error," the group must adopt a vigilant attitude. Since tar and feathers are not always within reach, we suggest the following procedure in case of a breach of the rules:

• For a first infraction, whether intentional or not: a simple warning.
• For any additional infraction, whether intentional or not: loss of one normal turn.

Finally, if this method proves ineffective, nothing prevents you from making a dunce cap or setting up a detention room that really "detains"...

Game Guide

If your pawn stops on a space called:

Space	Effect
Petite Colle	You must answer a Petite Colle (yellow card).
Érudition	You must answer an Érudition (red card).
Mini-Test	You must answer a Mini-Test (blue card). You are entitled to all the questions on the card even if you fail the first one.
Bon Mot	You must answer a Bon Mot (orange card).
Appel à tous (Call to All)	You must answer a question chosen from the series of the same colour as the space. If you fail, a round of the table is made, starting with the person to your right or to your left, as indicated on the space. As soon as someone succeeds, they record the points on their Bulletin, whichever track they are on.
Carte blanche (Blank Card)	You are free to choose the series from which the question card will be drawn. No penalty if you fail.
Duo	You must succeed, in order, at a Petite Colle and an Érudition. If you miss the Petite Colle, you are not entitled to the Érudition. You earn 15 or 0, even if this takes you past your goal.
Dilemme (Dilemma)	You choose either a Petite Colle or an Érudition. If you succeed, you earn the points allotted to the question; if you fail, you subtract those points from your total.

Note: in the original Guide, the last two rows sit beside a vertical side label reading "Informations à conserver" (Information to keep).