Marital Bliss
Marital Bliss Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Competitive Rules
The original rules.
See the other side for cooperative rules.
1. This is YOUR Game; Have Fun!
You can always remove an unwanted card from the deck (there are usually a few). You can either review all the cards together now OR you can remove a card when it's drawn in steps 3 or 4 (this keeps the cards a surprise, but makes guessing more difficult).
2. Review and Shuffle
Separate the Reward and Mission cards into two separate decks and shuffle them. Shuffle very well or the points may not end up balanced.
Important Note! These rules are designed to help you learn the basics of the game, but there is always room for interpretation. We encourage you to make the game work for your unique relationship. Just like in real life, negotiation is a critical part of Marital Bliss!
3. Draw Your Reward
Draw five public reward cards and review. Each player chooses one. It is OK to choose the same reward.
Alternate Rule: Each player draws five reward cards in private and chooses one in secret... the winner will reveal their reward at the end.
4. Draw Your Missions
Draw seven secret mission cards per person. If you draw a "Strategy Card!" follow the rules as written.
Brownie Points: Most missions have an optional brownie point. Successful completion of both the mission AND the brownie point adds one point to the card's value. Example: a three point card with a successfully completed brownie point is worth four points.
5. Discard Tough Missions
Incomplete missions at the end of the round will count against your score!
After reviewing your secret missions, you can discard any that you do not think you can complete.
This is your only chance to discard missions! But if you discard too many missions, you may not end up with enough points to win.
6. You Have One Week!
Starting right now, you have one week to complete your missions... in secret!
Guessing: You can try to guess one of your partner's missions at any time. If you guess correctly, your partner must immediately discard that mission; it is now worth nothing. If you guess incorrectly, you lose one point.
Revealing: Do not reveal missions until the game ends. You have until the last day to try to guess missions!
7. Get Strategic
Better Marriages Through Subterfuge.™
Is your mission obvious? Throw your spouse off the trail by doing some fake missions. They won't know which one is the real mission.
Get creative. Sure, that card says you have to write a poem... but does it say you have to give it to your spouse right away?
8. Victory Dancing!
On the last day, reveal your missions and add up earned points, including brownie points.
Subtract points for incomplete missions and incorrect guesses. It may not always be clear. Be prepared to defend your case... negotiation is part of the fun!
The winner earns the reward card and holds on to it for as long as they want. Use it when the time is right. Now play again!
Cooperative Rules
Work together in a race against time.
See the other side for competitive rules.
1. This is YOUR Game; Have Fun!
These rules will help you learn the basics but there is always room for interpretation. Just like in real life, negotiation is a critical part of Marital Bliss!
2. Clean Up the Deck
Go through the mission deck and remove all of the strategy cards. You will not need them for this round.
You can always remove an unwanted card from the deck (there are usually a few). You can either review all the cards now as you are removing strategy cards, OR you can remove them as they are drawn in a later step.
3. Draw Your Rewards
Draw five reward cards, share, and review. Each player chooses one. It is OK to choose the same reward.
4. How Long is the Game?
Shuffle the missions then draw one card at random. The point value of this card equals the number of days in this round. Place the card back into the deck.
5. Draw Your Missions
Draw seven missions from the deck and show to your spouse. You must complete the missions for or with each other before the end of the round.
If you are playing for seven days, you must earn 25 points to win.
If you are playing for five days, you must earn 20 points to win.
If you are playing for three days, you must earn 15 points to win.
6. Reward Each Other!
At the end of the round, if you earn the points required to win, you both earn your rewards!
When you win, you earn the reward cards and can hold on to them for as long as you want. Use them when the time is right.
Now play again!