Perpetual Notion
Perpetual Notion Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components and Setup
What Do I Get?
Perpetual Notion word cards, 4 card racks, a card holder with card support, a game die, a label sheet, and instructions.
What Else Do I Need?
Paper and a pen(cil) to keep score.
How Do We Start?
Place the word cards in the card holder so that the backs (the sides that say "Perpetual Notion") are facing out. Put the card support in the card holder so that the flat side is against the last card.
Each player or team gets 28 cards for his rack. By moving cards over to the right slot located on the bottom of the card holder, you'll get 28 cards (or close to it).
Put four cards in each of the seven rows of your rack. As you put them down, read them to yourself.
Carefully place the labels on the game die.
There are two variations of game play: one using the die and one not. Rules for playing with the game die are at the end of these instructions.
How Do I Win?
Be the first player to get 25 points.
Can We Play Now?
Yes. One player starts the game by removing the first card from the card holder and placing it face up near the holder. This is the starter card.
The player now takes a card from his rack that, when used with the starter card, can be combined to describe a particular thing. (Put the card in front of your rack so all players can see it and so that you'll be able to keep track of your score.)
For example: The starter card is "FOUND IN THE KITCHEN". (Well, lots of things could fit that description!) You decide to put down "GREEN".
You may be thinking of several things that work with both FOUND IN THE KITCHEN and GREEN: peas, dishwashing liquid, celery.
You see, there is no one right answer! (Other players may be thinking spinach or a houseplant. But don't tell each other what you're thinking.)
As you lay down your card, it's a good idea to say the word(s) that's on it out loud.
Now the player to the left lays down a card from his rack. The card he chooses should be one that lets him think of something that works with both FOUND IN THE KITCHEN and GREEN. Let's say he puts down LEAVES A TRAIL. All the other players should also be thinking of something that now fits the three descriptions on the table.
Challenges
Any player can challenge another player... but you must announce your challenge as soon as the new card is played. In the above example, you may challenge the player who put down LEAVES A TRAIL as soon as he puts his card down. But you can't go back and challenge the players who put down FOUND IN THE KITCHEN and GREEN.
The challenged player must come up with something that has all the traits on the table. The player should go over each card to prove his answer works. (This player was thinking of a sponge: it can be found in a kitchen, many of them are green and they leave a (clean) trail when you use one!)
If the challenger does not accept the answer, all the players, except the one who was challenged, vote.
If the majority says the challenged player did come up with a good answer:
- The challenged player gets a point for each card the challenger played.
- The challenged player gets a point for each card he has played. (That's why you need to keep your cards in front of your card rack!)
- The challenger gets no points.
- All the other players get a point for each card they played.
If the majority thinks the challenged player's answer is not a good one (or if the challenged player is bluffing and doesn't have an answer):
- The challenger gets a point for each card the challenged player has played.
- The challenger gets a point for each card he has played.
- The challenged player gets no points.
- All the other players get a point for each card they have played during that round.
Passing A Turn
You may pass your turn, but once you do you are out of that round. You may not be challenged, nor may you challenge another player. At the end of that round, though, you will collect points for as many cards as you laid down before you passed.
Starting A New Round
As soon as there's been a challenge, regardless of what the outcome is, a new round begins.
Players replace whatever cards they've played with new cards from the card holder. (If you played 3 cards in the first round, take 3 new cards from the card holder.) Place the used cards off to the side.
The person to the left of the player who started now takes the front card from the card holder as the new starter card. Gameplay is the same as round one. The second round continues until there is a challenge, and so on.
Winning
The first player to get 25 points wins.
Playing With The Game Die
Before each turn, players roll the die. If it lands with "1" face up, that player has to play one card from their rack. If "2" comes up, you have to play two cards from your rack.