Pope or Nope
Pope or Nope Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 24 DEED cards
- 24 CROSS cards
- 20 ACTION cards
- 2 POPE cards
- 2 NOPE cards
- 1 INITIATIVE TOKEN
- 30 POINT TOKENS
Order of Play
Whichever player has arguably performed the "best good deed" in the past day is awarded the INITIATIVE TOKEN. Their turn will come first in the opening round. Pass the token clockwise at the end of each round.
Rounds
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Each player is dealt 5 cards.
EXCEPTION: In a 2-player game, deal 7 cards to each player.
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Players are given the opportunity to play a DEED from their hand by placing it face-down in front of them. Once all players have played a DEED (if able), all players flip their cards face-up. Subsequent cards played during the round will be played on top of these initial DEEDS.
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Players take turns playing one card at a time, starting with the player holding the INITIATIVE TOKEN, and continuing clockwise.
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When all players have passed in succession (or have run out of cards), the round ends. ALL cards from the round are discarded. The initiative token is passed clockwise. It is recommended that the deck be re-shuffled at the end of each round.
A player's turn consists of one of the following:
- SABOTAGE - play a matching CROSS card on another player's DEED
- REDEMPTION - play a DEED of the next level on a CROSS card
- USE OF AN ACTION CARD
- PASSING - out of necessity, or strategically
See reverse side for in-depth card descriptions.
Earning Points
At the end of the round, any DEED that is not CROSSED is worth 1 point to the player, regardless of its level.
Any DEED that is CROSSED or reduced to a level less than 1 is not worth a point.
Winning the Game
The first player to 5 points wins the game.
In the event of a tie, the player who performs a DEED of the highest level is the winner.
Team Play
Pope Peter II may have ideas about who should succeed him, but His Majesty King Carlos II has his own list of papabili. Work collaboratively to defeat the opposition.
This is only an option when playing with an even number of players. Players should arrange themselves such that team affiliation alternates. A → B → A → B etc.
Winning the Game
The first team to earn 7 points is the winner.
In the event of a tie, add up the values of each team's performed DEEDS for the round. The team with the highest total is the winner.
Card Reference Sheet
Deed Cards
Numbered I-IV, these cards represent "good deeds" that each cardinal may perform.
DEEDS can be sabotaged by CROSS cards of matching level.
The higher the level, the greater the DEED. Higher level DEEDS (and their corresponding CROSSES) are rarer, making them less likely to be sabotaged.
DEEDS are played to begin a round.
Throughout the round, DEEDS can be played on DEED or CROSS cards whose level is equal to one less than their own.
Deed card counts: Level I x9, Level II x7, Level III x5, Level IV x3.
Cross Cards
Numbered I-IV, these cards give each cardinal the ability to sabotage the DEEDS of another.
CROSS cards can only be played on DEED cards of the same level.
CROSS cards can be played on by a DEED of the next level.
Cross card counts: Level I x9, Level II x7, Level III x5, Level IV x3.
Action Cards
Action card counts: DRAW 2 x5, CANCELLO x5, REDUCO x5, OPPORTUNITAS x5.
DRAW 2: Discard this card to draw 2 additional cards to your hand.
CANCELLO: This card is used to "cancel" a card that is already in play. Cards that may be cancelled feature the CANCELLO stamp. Both cards are discarded.
REDUCO: Play this card on a DEED or CROSS card in play to "reduce" its level by 1. The card below remains in play, at its new level.
Multiple REDUCOS may be played on a single card.
When REDUCO is played on a Level I DEED, the player is thrust into Dante's Infernope. This DEED is now Level 0 and is not worth a point.
Illustration caption: This DEED now acts as a Level I DEED.
OPPORTUNITAS: When placed in front of a player, this card offers a new "opportunity" for the performance of a good deed. It takes one turn to place, but another turn to fill with a DEED.
An OPPORTUNITAS allows a player to potentially earn multiple points in a single round.
POPE: The POPE card represents a "wild" DEED. However, it cannot be played to begin a round or to fill an OPPORTUNITAS card. The POPE may not be reduced.
When the POPE is played on Level IV card, Papal Infallibility is invoked. This DEED can now only be sabotaged by a NOPE.
When the POPE is played on a DEED below Level I, he lifts the player out of Dante's Infernope and acts as a Level I DEED.
Illustration caption: Here, the POPE acts as a Level III DEED and can be sabotaged with a CROSS III.
NOPE: A NOPE card is the ultimate sabotage. NOPE can be played on any card in play and redemption is impossible.
Pope card count: 2. Nope card count: 2.