Rorschach (2008)
Rorschach (2008) Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 64 tokens in 8 different colors
- Deck of 50 double-sided inkblot cards
- Deck of 50 question cards
- 7 tokens, numbered 1-7
- 8 8-sided dice in 8 different colors
- Rulebook
Game Setup
- Each player takes an eight-sided die.
- Set aside the tokens that match the colors of the selected dice, returning any remaining tokens and dice to the box.
- Shuffle the inkblots, and then deal face-up onto the table the inkblots you will use for this game. Deal one inkblot less than the number of players. For example, use 5 inkblots in a 6 player game.
- Place a number token next to each inkblot. Return any remaining number tokens to the box.
- Shuffle the question deck.
Round Order
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Any player draws the top card of the question deck, reads it aloud, and places it where everyone can see it.
"Which looks...?"
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Each player looks over the face-up inkblots and secretly chooses the one that best answers the question.
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Players use their 8-sided dice to indicate the inkblot that they choose. For example, place the '3' side of the die face-up to select the No. 3 inkblot. Hide your answers until all players have made their decision.
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When all players have selected a blot, everyone reveals their die.
Each player can get one or more tokens in each round. There are 2 ways to get tokens:
- Same answers: A player who chooses the same inkblot as another player gets a token of each matching player's color. For example, if the Red, Purple, and Green players all choose the same inkblot for a question, each would get 2 tokens:
- Red would get Purple and Green tokens,
- Purple would get Green and Red tokens,
- Green would get Red and Purple tokens.
- Unique answers: If any player is the only one to choose a particular inkblot, then they collect a token of their own color.
- NOTE: This is the ONLY way to collect a token of your own color!
(In order to collect your own token, you need to think differently than everyone else. Maybe selecting the inkblot that fits the question the least is the key?)
Players can't get more than one token of any color. You don't need multiples to win, so there's no point in getting a second token of any color. This means that there can be turns where no one collects a token.
Now is a good time for anyone to ask the players why they selected the inkblots they did. What do the shapes resemble? Animals, people, objects? The answers may prove useful when deciding how to play future rounds.
Winning the Game
To win the game, all you need to do is get one token of each color in the game.
Doing this may be pretty tricky, though. You'll need to match an answer with every player, and answer one question differently than the other players. You'll have to try to think like the other players to win, and it can be tough to get your final token.
If more than one player gets a token of each color at the same time, they all win!
Variants
Put a new spin on the game by adding in one or more of these variant rules:
- Speed rounds: If play goes for a round or two and no one collects a token, remove one of the blots to make it easier to win other players' tokens.
- Rotating blots: Choose a blot after every round to discard, and replace it with a new one from the deck.
Editor's note: the printed rulebook lists the "Rotating blots" variant twice; it is transcribed once here.
Quick Reminders (Reference Card)
This section is the rulebook's back-page reference card, reproduced as printed.
Each turn:
- Draw and read 1 question card.
- Place the question card faceup on the table.
- Think about which inkblot best answers the question.
- Secretly set your die to the number of the inkblot you chose. Remember to cover your die until everyone makes a selection.
- Everyone reveals their die at the same time.
- Take a token of the color of the other players that chose the same inkblot as you.
- Take one token of your color if no one else chose the same inkblot as you.
- If a player has a token of each color in play, they win!