Mopsen
Mopsen Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 56 pug and cat cards
- 5 bowl cards
- 4 order cards
You will also need a sheet of paper and a pencil (not included in the game).
Object of the Game
The player who plays the strongest card receives the number of bones shown on it. However, the player who plays the weakest card can not only beg for a treat but also change the order of begging for bones. A second ago one pug could beg, and now it is another's turn. Decide which pugs to help, and get the most bones over the three rounds of the game.
Setup
Each player takes a bowl card and places it in front of them.
Hint: note the sides of the card. One side is for playing with three players, the other for four or five players.
Choose a player who will record the results after each round: give them a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil.
Hint: you can download a bone-counting table at "vk.com/docs-147452506".
Shuffle the four order cards and lay them out in the center of the table. This is the begging queue. Its beginning is at the top and its end at the bottom. This order determines which of the pugs is currently closer to the master and attracts more attention. The cat has also squeezed into the queue. The cards with bones are the game deck: players will draw cards into their hands from it.
Important: at the start of the game the bowls are already slightly filled with bones. However, if you put a card into your bowl, the bones drawn on the bowl will not count at the end of the round.
How to Play
The game is played over three rounds. Each round consists of several "tricks" that the pugs show the master to beg for treats.
At the start of each round, shuffle the deck and deal 8 cards to each player. Place the unused cards in a pile next to the begging queue. Discarded cards go to the bottom of this pile.
The first player is the one who last played with a dog.
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The first player starts the trick. To do so, they play one card from their hand (a pug or a cat) and place it face up in front of their bowl.
Then, clockwise, the players each play one card of the corresponding color (the same as the one chosen by the first player).
Important: players must play a card of the same color as the first player if they can. If a player has no card of the required color, they may play a card of any other color.
Cats do not really follow the rules and go when and where they want. On your turn you may play a cat even if you have a pug of the required color in your hand.
Important: if a cat is played first in a trick, that trick has no color, and players may play any cards.
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Now compare the played cards. Card color takes priority over value. The closer the card's color is to the beginning of the queue, the stronger it is. Values are compared only to determine the strength of cards of the same color. The higher the value, the higher the rank of the card. This rule applies to both pugs and cats.
Important: the winner of the round is determined by the number of bones, and the card values determine only the strength of the trick!
Cards with a lower value usually give more bones than cards with a higher value.
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The tricks are done, and it is time to receive the reward! The player who played the strongest card showed the trick the master liked best (remember, a card's strength is determined first by color, then by value). This player takes the card they played and puts it in their bowl.
Important: if a player has at least one card in their bowl, the bones drawn on the bowl card are not counted (see Scoring).
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The pugs also beg for a reward: the player who played the weakest card (by color and value) receives one card into their hand.
In doing so:
a) the color of the card you played moves to the very beginning of the begging queue;
b) you discard the card you just played;
c) you take into your hand one of the cards played by the other players, and place the remaining played cards in the discard pile.
The player who showed the best trick (the one who put a card in their own bowl) becomes the new first player.
End of the Round
If at least one player is left without cards after the trick winner is determined and the begging reward is taken, the round ends. Record the number of bones the players received.
In the next round the first player is the one sitting to the left of the current first player. They shuffle the deck and deal 8 cards to each player. If the round is not over, the pugs continue performing tricks.
Scoring
Count the number of bones on the cards in each player's bowl.
Important: if a player's bowl contains at least one card, the bones drawn on the bowl card are not counted. However, if a player has not once during the round shown the master the best trick, and has no cards in their bowl, the bones from the bowl card go to them (in a three-player game, 7 bones; in a four- or five-player game, 5 bones).
At the end of the round, players also receive one bone for each card remaining in their hand.
End of the Game
The game ends after the third round. The player who has the most bones after the three rounds is declared the winner. If several players have the same number of bones, they all become winners.
Reminder
- Players play cards.
- The strongest card goes into its owner's bowl.
- The weakest card is discarded. Its owner takes into their hand one of the cards played by the other players.
The next trick is started by the player who took a card into their bowl.