Lost! in the Woods
Lost! in the Woods Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 1 large fantastical forest map
- 48 location cards
- 24 communication cards
- 1 digital timer (player supplied)
Setup
Separate the communication and location cards from each other, shuffle them separately, and place them in two facedown stacks.
Find a timer and unfold the map in the centre of the table. The player who most recently became lost is the lost player for the first round.
How to Play
Lost! in the Woods is played over 8 rounds. In each round, one player is the lost player. All other players form the search party.
The lost player must describe where they are without looking at the map, using only what they see on their location card for reference. Meanwhile, the search party asks them questions to try and locate them.
The communication cards place a strange and funny limitation on how players can communicate that may apply to the lost player, the search party, or all players. The lost player must describe their location for the search party to locate them before the time runs out!
Round Setup
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The lost player takes the top location card from the deck, and examines it.
Remember: The lost player must not look at the map, show their location card, or reveal its coordinates to the search party.
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A member of the search party takes the top communication card from the deck and reads it out loud: it describes a specific limitation to your communication for this round.
Remember: If the group doesn't like the communication card, feel free to discard it and draw until you find one that suits you better.
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Set the timer for 60 seconds.
Too difficult? If playing with younger players, or groups smaller than 4, a longer timer of 90 seconds can be used.
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Ensure each member of the search party can see the map. When you are ready to begin, start the timer!
Gameplay
Once the timer has started, the search party can look at the map and ask questions to the lost player about their location. The lost player should describe what they see on their location card, taking care to avoid looking at the map. All players must remember to follow the restriction on the communication card.
Once the timer runs out (or before, if the search party feels certain of the lost player's location), one member of the search party should place their finger on the map in the location they believe the lost player to be.
The lost player then reveals their location card, and all players use the coordinates on it to help find the correct area on the map. This doesn't need to be the exact coordinates square.
If the search party's guess matches the lost player's location card, all players win that round! If it doesn't match, all players lose. Players also lose if they break the rules of the communication card.
Communication Cards
After drawing a communication card, take a moment to interpret it with your team, and discuss what is, and isn't, allowed.
In general, unless a communication card permits you, no players can mime, nod or shake their head, or move their mouths to lip read.
Lost! in the Woods is meant to be played fluidly without spending too long debating the cards, so interpret the communication cards in the way your group would enjoy them most.
(The rulebook illustrates a sample communication card, "Singalong", with the text "All players must sing when they speak.")
Adjusting the Difficulty
Making it easier: If you're finding the game too difficult, you can increase the length of the timer or relax a card's limitation. For example, if you're worried that the Sending Spell card might be too difficult with a restriction of 10 words, increase it to 20 words instead.
Making it harder: If you're finding the game too easy, you can decrease the length of the timer or be stricter with a card's limitation. For example, if you might agree that the Tongue-Tied card allows miming, but not head shaking, nodding, thumbs-up or thumbs-down gestures, etc.
End of Round and Game
Once the round has finished, the role of the lost player passes clockwise.
Keep repeating until you have completed 8 rounds.
Scoring
Each time you win a round, you score a point!
When 8 rounds have passed, count your total points:
- 0-2: Lost Forever! Hopefully you'll find your way out soon with a little help... maybe...
- 3-4: Good Enough. You made it out, but you could have done better!
- 5-7: Very Good. Everyone escaped the woods, and you all get a (metaphorical) medal!
- 8: Perfect! The woods are now your second home.