Poetry for Neanderthals: Pop Culture Edition
Poetry for Neanderthals: Pop Culture Edition Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- Poetry Cards (200)
- NO! Stick (1)
- Repair Patch (1)
To play this game, you'll need a phone, or an egg timer, or anything else that can keep track of 60 seconds and makes a loud noise (or vibrates)!
Why isn't there a timer in the box? Chances are good that you already have something that keeps time, and by using what you have, we can reduce the production of unnecessary plastics!
Goal
Score the most points by correctly interpreting words and phrases.
Setup
- Form two teams (Team Rock and Team Star). It's ok if one team has more players than the other.
- Sit around the table in alternating team positions (someone from your team, then their team, etc.).
- Place a phone in the middle of the table. This will be your timer.
- Team Rock goes first and picks a player from their team to be the first Poet.
- The Poet chooses which color side of the Poetry Cards (red or white) all the players will read from for the whole game. Put the Poetry Cards in a stack on the table with that color face down.
- A player from Team Star sitting next to the Poet gets the NO! Stick, and will be the first Judge.
- Set up the table like this (the printed diagram places the Judge with the NO! Stick, the Poet, the Phone Timer, the Poetry Cards, and a Point Pile for each team: Team Rock Point Pile and Team Star Point Pile).
2 or 3 players: read these instructions, then see the section "Playing with 2 or 3 Players".
Gameplay
If you're the Poet, the opposing team starts a 60-second phone timer while you take the first Poetry Card. Begin trying to get your team to say the word on the card using only one-syllable words.
Everyone on your team can shout out as many words as they'd like, all at the same time, when trying to guess the word or phrase. When someone is correct, say "Yes!" and put the card in your team's Point Pile.
Skipping: If you want to skip a card before earning a point, you can say "Skip!" and put the card in the other team's Point Pile (giving them a point).
In either case, the same Poet keeps drawing new Poetry Cards to continue playing until the phone timer runs out.
You Can
- You can only speak using words with one syllable.
You Can't
- You can't say the word, part of the word, or any form of the word your teammates are trying to guess.
- You can't use gestures/charades.
- You can't use "sounds like" or "rhymes with."
- You can't use initials or abbreviations.
- You can't use other languages.
We're sure there's more that we just didn't think of, but just remember: If it feels like cheating, it's cheating!
The NO! Stick
When it's the other team's turn, a player on your team will be the Judge. If you're the Judge, grab the NO! Stick and stand beside the Poet. If they violate any of the rules above, shout "NO!" and hit them gently(ish) with the NO! Stick. Then, you get to steal that card and put it in your team's Point Pile.
Any mistakes or skipped cards are handed to the Judge.
Ending Your Turn
A Poet's turn continues until the phone timer runs out. It's now the other team's turn.
Winning
When both teams have had 3 turns, count up the cards in each team's Point Pile. The team with the most points wins!
Ties
In the event of a tie, play one more round. Repeat as necessary.
Challenges
If the Poet feels they were penalized incorrectly, they shout "Wait!" and pause the phone timer. Decide as a group if the challenge is valid. We're not going to give you a lot of rules here... but as you aggressively debate about personal pronunciation, accents, and that one rule about syllables you learned in school, please try to remember that this is just a game and really probably not that important.
If you're one of those people who MUST HAVE the official answer, head over to How Many Syllables™: www.HowManySyllables.com
Example
Now you know all the rules, but before playing, try one practice round! The example below uses the card "Lord of the Flies."
- You say: "Plane crash on small land in sea. Guy blow on shell."
- Your teammates shout: "Lost!"
- So you say: "No, this book. Kids get big mad and kill Pig."
- Your teammates shout: "Lord of the Flies!"
- You say: "Yes!"
Then, put the card in your team's Point Pile and draw another card to continue.
! PRO TIP ! Avoid saying single words and then waiting for your team to guess! Instead, try speaking in full sentences like the example above.
Playing with 2 or 3 Players
2 Players
Both players are on the same team and switch off being the Poet and Guesser. Put any cards guessed correctly in a Point Pile to your RIGHT. If you broke any rules or skipped a card, put those cards in a Discard Pile to your LEFT.
After each player has been the Poet 3 times, add up both of your points:
- 10 points or less: This Team Bad
- 11-20: Team is So-So At Make Words
- 21-30: Team Have Much Big Brain
- 31-40: A Stunning Evolutionary Exemplar
3 Players
Each player's individual score is tracked on a piece of paper, and the players rotate between three roles: Poet, Guesser, and Judge. The Poet and Guesser have a shared Point Pile. They cooperatively earn points and add cards to this Pile. The Judge makes sure no rules are violated and uses the NO! Stick.
Any mistakes or skipped cards are handed to the Judge.
When the phone timer runs out, the Poet and Guesser add up the points in the Point Pile and record the same number of points for each of them on the score sheet. Any cards handed to the Judge are added to the Judge's score on the score sheet.
Next, discard all used Poetry Cards into the box, rotate each player's role, and start the next round. After each player has been the Poet twice, the player with the most points on the score sheet wins!