Pass the Bomb: Party Edition
Pass the Bomb: Party Edition Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 275 playing cards, 55 cards in each of 5 question categories
- 2 special dice
- 1 electronic timer: the "bomb"
In addition, 2x 1.5 V AAA batteries are required (batteries not included). These must be inserted into the bomb before the first game (see the illustration on the last page).
The bomb is started by pressing the button on its underside. An electronic chip randomly controls the duration. The bomb ticks for between 10 and 60 seconds before it "explodes". After that it is restarted for the next round.
Object of the Game
The aim is to get rid of the bomb as quickly as possible, before it "explodes", by solving the task on the card. When the bomb "explodes", the card must be kept. Whoever has the fewest cards at the end wins.
The Game Material
The Cards
There are 5 packs of 55 question cards each:
- ORIGINAL
- ANGESETZT ("attached")
- GEFRAGT ("asked")
- BEKANNT ("famous")
- GESCHÜTTELT ("shaken")
The Dice
There are two different dice with symbols:
-
The category die: This die shows from which stack a card must be drawn. Its faces are: Bekannt, Angesetzt, Gefragt, Geschüttelt, Original and Joker.
Joker: Any one of the five categories may be chosen.
-
The Original die: This is only used when "Original" is rolled with the category die!
Preparation
The individual card packs are shuffled separately and placed face down in 5 separate stacks. The starting player is determined. He takes the bomb in his hand. Play proceeds clockwise.
Play
- The starting player rolls the category die.
- He starts the bomb.
- He quickly turns over the top card of the stack of the category rolled.
- Now the player must quickly name a word that fits the category:
Bekannt (Famous)
The card shows 2 letters. Famous personalities must be named whose first names begin with one of the two letters on the card. If a personality is named whose first and last names each begin with one of the letters, the player whose turn it is is safe for this round. The bomb may no longer be passed to him this round, but must instead be passed to the player on his left.
Example: "MP" – possible names are: "Paul", "Marianne", "Petra", "Marvin"; but if a player says, e.g., "Mary Poppins", he is safe this round!
Gefragt (Asked)
The card shows a question. Words must be named that fit the scenario asked about.
Example: "What do you find in a school?" – possible words are: "teacher", "pupil", "classroom", "chalk", etc.
Angesetzt (Attached)
The card shows a word. A word must be found that can be combined with the given word to form a compound.
Example: "Hase" (hare) – possible words are "Hasenfell" (hare fur), "Plüschhase" (plush bunny), "Angsthase" (scaredy-cat), "Hasenjagd" (hare hunt), etc.
Geschüttelt (Shaken)
The card shows the anagram of a compound noun. A word of at least 4 letters must be formed from the given letters.
Example: "PEISBTETRL" – possible words are "Seil", "Beil", "Brett", "Erbe", "Rebe", "Spiel", "Reise", etc.
If the player names a word that contains all the given letters – e.g. "Brettspiel" – he is safe for this round. The bomb may no longer be passed to him this round, but must instead be passed to the player on his left.
Original
The card shows a short combination of letters. Only in this category is the second die also used. It is rolled before the bomb is started. Its symbols mean:
- the letter combination must not be at the beginning of the word;
- the letter combination may be anywhere in the word;
- the letter combination must not be at the end of the word.
A word must be found in which the letter combination appears, in accordance with the die result.
Example: "ART" – possible words are: Karte, Artikel, Marter, Scharte, Bart, Start, etc.
Passing the Bomb
As soon as the player holding the ticking bomb names a suitable valid word, he immediately passes it to the next player, who in turn must say a new suitable word for the same card in order to be allowed to pass the bomb on, and so on.
Note: The next player must take over the ticking bomb immediately as soon as a valid word has been said!
Each word may only be said once in the same round. Once it has been said, the same word is invalid for the rest of this round. Any player may challenge a fellow player's invalid word, as long as the next player has not yet said a new word. After that, no more challenges may be made. (Valid and invalid words: see below.)
- Play continues around the table until the bomb stops ticking and "explodes". This ends the round.
- The player holding the bomb when it "explodes" must take the revealed card and keep it until the end of the game.
- That player then begins a new round. He rolls, starts the bomb and turns over a new card.
End of the Game
The game ends when the last card of one of the five stacks has been played. The player who had to take the fewest cards wins. If two or more players are tied for the fewest cards, those players continue playing on a knock-out basis until a winner is determined.
Valid and Invalid Words
-
Every word of the (German) language is allowed, including proper names and brand names, as well as foreign words that have been adopted into the language.
-
A word may only be said once in the same round. Each player must find a new word in a round; even if the plural or another grammatical form of the same word is named, it is invalid. New compound words are valid.
Example: "Spiele" (games) has already been said – so "spielen", "Spiel" or "gespielt" are invalid. "Kinderspiele", "Schauspiel" and "Spielverderber", however, are valid.
-
Bekannt: Any famous living or deceased personality may be named, including fictional persons from films, books or comics; e.g. "Mickey Mouse", "Peter Pan" or "Robin Hood" are valid.
-
Gefragt: Any word that can be understandably associated with the given question is valid. Words that do not fit the scenario are invalid. In case of doubt, all players vote.
Example: "What do you find in a teenager's room?" "Model aeroplane" is acceptable, whereas "aeroplane" may be challenged.
-
Angesetzt: Any compound word that is in common usage is valid.
-
Geschüttelt: If the named word contains an additional letter that is not given in the anagram on the card, the word is invalid.
Example: "PEISBTETRL" – "Speise" is invalid, because only one "S" is given in the anagram.
-
Original: The letters given on the card must be used in the given, contiguous combination.
Example: The card says "ART" – "Fahrt" or "Vorrat" are invalid.
Attention: Invalid words must be challenged immediately – at the latest before the next player has said a new word. After that, no more challenges may be made. If the word really was invalid, the player concerned must take the bomb back and say a new word.
Inserting and Changing the Batteries
"Tick Tack Bumm Party Edition" works with two 1.5 V AAA batteries (not included). Batteries should only be handled by adults and kept out of the reach of children. To change the batteries, unscrew the screw on the battery compartment cover on the underside of the bomb, open the compartment and insert each battery observing the polarity (see diagram). Then put the cover back on the battery compartment and tighten the screw.