Let's Dig for Treasure
Let's Dig for Treasure Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Set-Up
Shuffle all of the cards, then divide them into 3 roughly equal Dig Stacks.
The dirtiest player digs 1st! Take turns clockwise after that.
On Your Turn
- DIG UP the top card of any Dig Stack: Reveal it so everyone can see, and set it aside next to any other cards you've DUG UP so far this turn.
- You may now quit digging and SCORE each card you've DUG UP so far… or you may "keep digging" (repeat Step 1).
BUT BE CAREFUL!
If you DIG UP an EVIL SKELETON—or a 2nd WORMS card in a single turn—your turn will end instantly and you'll score NOTHING that turn. Plus, you discard all cards you DUG UP that turn!
It's up to you to determine when to play it safe and score what you've DUG UP so far, or push your luck and keep digging!
Scoring Cards
When you choose to stop digging and end your turn, you SCORE each card you've DUG UP this turn. Simply put each of those cards in your "SCORE PILE." You can look at or organize your score pile at any time.
Winning / Game End
Once any Dig Stack is entirely empty, the game is over at the end of that turn. Each player adds up the total POINTS value of every card in their score pile. Most POINTS wins! In case of a tie, the victory is shared!
Be sure to check for special rewards on your "WHEN SCORING AT GAME END" cards!
Types of Cards
Many cards—such as DIRT, or BOATMAN's COINS—are simply worth the number of indicated POINTS at the end of the game.
However, there are also 3 types of special cards in Let's Dig For Treasure, and it's important to tell them apart:
"WHEN SCORING AT GAME END"
These cards have an effect only at the very end of the game, and may generate bonus POINTS.
"WHEN YOU SCORE THIS"
These cards have a special effect the moment you SCORE them (not the moment you dig them up, and not if they get discarded instead of scored).
"WHEN YOU DIG THIS UP"
These cards have a special effect immediately when you dig them up (not when scored). This includes all of the cards you DON'T want to see, such as WORMS, EVIL SKELETONs, and RADIOACTIVE WASTE!
General Clarifications / Gameplay Tips
Literal Interpretations:
We try to make the text on the cards tell you EXACTLY and literally how they work. If it says "another player," you can safely assume you can't choose yourself. If it says "you may," then you can assume you have an option.
Score Pile Viewing:
To keep gameplay brisk, the default rule is not to allow other players to view your score pile (or know scores) except while playing a PIRATE HAT.
TIP: If you think you're behind, consider stalling the game by digging in taller stacks!
TIP: Each time you DIG UP a card, you have:
- 25% chance to draw a WORMS
- ~10% chance to draw an EVIL SKELETON/RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Card Clarifications
GRANNY GRUPPO'S GINGERBREAD COOKIES / OLD MAN MURRAY'S MILK:
Each MILK or GINGERBREAD COOKIES must be paired with its own individual partner card to get the bonus POINTS.
- GRANNY GRUPPO'S GINGERBREAD COOKIES — WHEN SCORING AT GAME END: You can pair this with a MILK card and it's worth 5 POINTS INSTEAD!
CROWN OF THE LICH LORD / NARCO DRUG STASH
It's possible to end up taking more than 2 consecutive turns—either by scoring 2 of these in the same turn, or by scoring an additional 1 in your extra turn... essentially, the "extra turns" owed to you stack!
- CROWN OF THE LICH LORD — WHEN YOU SCORE THIS: You may discard the top 5 cards of any Dig Stack. If there was at least 1 EVIL SKELETON discarded, take another turn.
CURSED FAMILY HEIRLOOM
This card may be a bit confusing—digging this up means you have to choose another player to HELP!
- CURSED FAMILY HEIRLOOM — WHEN YOU DIG THIS UP: You MUST immediately give it to another player to score!
LOYAL DOG
Whether or not you ever used your DOG's ability to negate an EVIL SKELETON, he'll score you 5 POINTS at the end of the game. LOYAL DOG ONLY guards against EVIL SKELETON cards.
- LOYAL DOG — WHEN YOU SCORE THIS, LEAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU: While this is in front of you, you may move it to your score pile to DISCARD an EVIL SKELETON you DIG UP! (It doesn't affect you.)
TREASURE MAP
If you score a "WHEN YOU SCORE THIS" card off of a TREASURE MAP, you will resolve it right away as if you had scored it "normally."
- TREASURE MAP — WHEN YOU SCORE THIS: Look at the top 4 cards of any Dig Stack. Score 1 of those cards immediately and return the rest in any order you want.
PIRATE HAT
"Stealing" a card is not technically "scoring" or "digging up" a card. So "WHEN YOU SCORE THIS" and "WHEN YOU DIG THIS UP" abilities will have no effect when you steal them. Instead, look for cards worth a lot of POINTS!
- PIRATE HAT — WHEN YOU SCORE THIS: Choose any player, then steal any card from their score pile.
LOTTERY TICKET
The turn you score it must truly be the last turn anyone takes—it can't just be YOUR last turn.
- LOTTERY TICKET — WHEN SCORING AT GAME END: If you scored this on the very last turn of the game, this is worth 50 POINTS (INSTEAD OF 0).
LAND MINE
This card has the potential to really extend the game length, if it destroys the shortest Dig Stack. Players wishing to make the game a little faster may remove this card.
- LAND MINE — WHEN YOU SCORE THIS: Discard an ENTIRE Dig Stack. This does not cause the game to end as it normally would.
Team Variant Rules
All of the rules for teams are the exact same EXCEPT as stated below:
- Always remember to interpret the cards literally, as mentioned above–certain cards may function a little differently!
- You must always sit diagonally opposite from your teammate, so teams alternate turns.
- SHARE a single score pile with your partner! This has many ramifications. For example, if they score a MILK and you score a GINGERBREAD COOKIES, they can be paired at GAME END.
- TREASURE MAP, SLEEPY GRAVE DIGGER, etc: You can communicate secretly or publicly with your teammate, but be careful you don't give intel to the other team!
Full Card List (120 Total)
- 25x Dirt
- 30x Worms
- 10x Evil Skeleton
- 7x Boatman's Coins
- 7x Granny Gruppo's Gingerbread Cookies
- 7x Old Man Murray's Milk
- 3x Sewer Line
- 3x Wedding Ring
- 3x Sleepy Gravedigger
- 3x Loyal Dog
- 3x Treasure Map
- 3x Crown of the Lich Lord
- 3x Cursed Family Heirloom
- 1x Radioactive Waste
- 1x Treasure Chest
- 1x Leprechaun's Gold
- 1x Ark of the Covenant
- 1x Pirate Hat
- 1x Pirate Sword
- 1x New Kid
- 1x Board Games!
- 1x Lottery Ticket
- 1x Skwirmz the Worm God
- 1x Wedding Dress
- 1x Land Mine
- 1x Narco Drug Stash
Credits
Game Design: Ben Stoll Graphic Design: Larry Renac Editing: Shahriar Fouladi Playtesters: Brenda Gutierrez, Kimberly Meza, Cory Jones, Holiday Jones
Cryptozoic Entertainment
CEO & Founder: John Sepenuk Founder: John Nee Founder: Cory Jones Director, Product Development: Eric Moss Director of Operations: Ming Wan Special Thanks: Rumi Asai, Amanda Barker, Javier Casillas, Matt Hoffman, Jason Lim, Joshua Moran, Hudson Mullar, Sophia Shimamura, Shane Smith, John Vineyard, MaryCarmen Wilber
© 2022 Steven Rhodes. © 2022 Cryptozoic Entertainment.