Stab A Panda
Stab A Panda Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 32 Player Cards (4 cards in 8 colors)
- 240 Description Cards
- 8 Player Tokens
- 1 Scoreboard
- 1 First Player Token
- 8 "+" Tokens
- 1 Rulebook
Game Setup
Each player picks a color and takes the Player Token and the 4 cards numbered 1-4 matching their color.
Place the scoreboard in the middle of the table. Each player places their Player Token just off the top of the scoreboard, before the 1. Place the Player Tokens and numbered cards for any unused colors back in the box.
Shuffle the main deck of cards (the Description cards) and put it where people can easily reach.
The person who most recently saw a panda takes the First Player marker and goes first. This person is the Panda. Each player will get a turn being the Panda. When each player has been the Panda once, the game ends.
Game End
When each player has been the Panda once, the game ends.
The player with the most points wins!
Playing Stab A Panda
Each turn, one player is the Panda and the other players have to guess how the Panda will rank their Description cards.
Draw Cards
Starting with the player to the left of the Panda, the first four players clockwise each draw the top 2 cards from the Description cards deck.
3 or 4 player game: The first two players clockwise each draw the top 4 cards from the Description cards deck.
Pick 1 for Panda
Each player with Description cards looks at those cards. Those players choose 1 Description card to give to the Panda face down. Discard the other Description card face up.
3 or 4 player game: Each player with Description cards chooses 2 cards to give to the Panda face down and 2 to discard face up.
Read Aloud
The Panda shuffles the 4 Description cards that they received. The Panda then reveals each Description card one at a time, reading it aloud for the other players and placing it face up in a row horizontally.
Description cards list things that most people would rather not do.
Rank Cards
The Panda places their numbered cards face down below their Description cards, secretly ranking them in the order they would prefer to do these activities. A "1" means that they would want to do this most, and a "4" means they want to do this least.
At the same time, each player who is not the Panda places their numbered cards face down in front of them, secretly ranking the Panda's 4 Description cards in the order they think the Panda would rank the activities.
Tip: Each player ranks their numbered cards so that their left is the Panda's left. Alternatively, the Panda can place their numbered cards face down below the Description cards, while all other players place their numbered cards face down above the Description cards (see photo).
Reveal
After everyone has placed their 4 numbered cards face down, the Panda reveals their numbered cards one at a time, from left to right. At the same time, each player reveals their numbered cards along with the Panda.
Score
A player gains 1 point for each numbered card that they match with the Panda. Players can score 0, 1, 2, or 4 points in a turn.
The Panda gains 1 point for each player who matched all 4 numbered cards exactly. This encourages the Panda to be honest with their answers.
Mark the points by moving the Player Tokens on the scoreboard.
Cleanup
After scoring, discard the 4 used Description cards. Each player takes their numbered cards back into their hand. The player to the left of the current Panda becomes the new Panda, and a new turn begins.
When each player has been the Panda once, the game ends.
The player with the most points wins!
Notes
For a longer game, play several rounds or play to a certain score. We recommend sticking to one round to keep the game light and short.
If a player scores more than 18 points, that player places their token back at the top of the scoreboard and takes a "+" token in their color.
Try to think like the Panda. What might be a "1" for you might be a "4" for the Panda, and vice versa.
When deciding which Description card to give the Panda, think about your options. Do you want to know how the Panda would rank a particular card? Do you want to give them a card you think is an extreme case (a "1" or "4")? Strategy can be key.
Some cards are intentionally left open to interpretation. Use the ambiguity as an opportunity to discuss your choices, or the Panda can clarify what the card means to them if they want.