Miss Monster
Miss Monster Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 8 Frankies
- 80 monster cards
- 12 voting tiles
- 4 containers of modeling clay
- 4 sculpting knives
- 1 sand timer
- 4 attribute charts
Objective
Whoever makes the most beautiful monster, best creates that monster from the player's assigned monster attributes, and is the first to recognize attributes of the other players' monsters will receive points.
Preparation
Each player takes the clay, knife, and voting tiles of a single color, as well as an attribute chart. With 3 players, each takes tiles with the numbers 1 and 2; with 4 players, all 3 tiles in each color are used. The timer is placed in the middle of the table. The monster cards are sorted by color. Each deck is shuffled separately. Each player takes one card from each deck and places the cards in a stack in front of them face-down, without looking at them. The order of the cards does not matter.
The Monster Cards
Each monster card shows a particular attribute of a monster. The purple cards have attributes of heads, e.g. tusks, three eyes, nose, giraffe neck, or eyebrows. The green cards show what the monsters might have on their arms or legs, such as claws, a wooden leg, or shoes. The blue cards show things on the upper body of a monster, such as wings, a tortoise shell, or a hole in the stomach, and the orange cards show objects such as glasses, a belt, a cell phone, a tie, or a musical instrument.
Playing the Game
A game can last from two to five rounds. Each round consists of three phases:
Sculpt Monsters: Each player sculpts a monster figure with the four attributes shown on their cards.
Identify Attributes: Each monster is shown to the players in turn. The players try to recognize the four features of each monster as quickly as possible. Points are awarded.
Beauty Contest: Players vote on the monsters. The most beautiful monsters receives a bonus point.
1. Sculpt Monsters
When everyone is ready, the youngest player turns over the sand timer. Each player looks at their top card, making sure not to reveal it to the other players, and starts to knead their monster. Each player has one minute to make a monster exhibiting the attribute on their card. When the timer runs out, announce it so that all players hear and stop working on their monsters.
Then the youngest player turns the timer over again. Each player looks at their second card and tries to add this feature to their monster. The first attribute may be refined as well. This phase continues until the timer has been turned over four times and each monster has four attributes.
Suggestion: Young children may make basic monsters before the round begins. When the timer starts, they only have to add the four attributes.
2. Identify Attributes
The youngest player places their monster in the middle of the table (preferably on an attribute chart), takes their four monster cards in hand, and turns over the time. All the other players have until the timer runs out to identify the four features. Anyone who thinks that they recognize a feature names it out loud. A small tip: in the search for attributes the chart is helpful. If a player has correctly identified an attribute, the monster's creator gives them the corresponding card. Once the timer has run out, no more features may be named. The creator of the monster must keep any cards for attributes not identified by the other players. In clockwise order the other monsters are placed in the middle of the table and players have one timer's length to identify the attributes of each and gain points.
Once all monsters have had their turn, each player counts the monster cards they received by recognizing attributes (positive points). Then everyone checks how many cards of their own they did not get rid of (penalty points). The penalty points are deducted from the positive points. Each player keeps as many cards in front of them as they have net positive points.
Example: Anna guessed 3 attributes of her opponents' monsters. For this she has received 3 cards (positive points). Two attributes of her own monster were not guessed. She still holds these cards (penalty points) in her hand. She subtracts the penalty points from the positive points (3-2=1). She keeps one card to represent her positive points.
If a player ends up with a negative total after subtracting penalty points from positive points, they surrender all their cards and have zero points.
3. Beauty Contest
Now comes the high point in a monster's life. All the monsters are placed in the middle of the table to be examined, admired, and valued.
Each player places a voting tile face-down next to each of their opponents' monsters. The highest value is given to the monster that the player likes best. The second best monster receives the second highest tile, etc. A player may not give a tile to their own monster. After all votes are placed, they are turned over. Each player totals the votes their monster received. The player with the most votes adds a bonus point to their previously-awarded points (if any). If there is a tie, each tied player receives a bonus point. The other players applaud enthusiastically!
The player who has earned the most points receives a Frankie. If there is a tie, each tied player receives a Frankie. Frankies are placed in front of the winning players. All monster cards are placed under their respective decks.
Especially great monsters can now be quickly photographed before they are smashed in preparation for the next round.
Each player takes 4 new monster cards. The next round begins with phase 1 and proceeds as explained above.
Winning the Game
The game ends when one player has won two Frankies. He or she wins the game!