Truffle Shuffle
Truffle Shuffle Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Components
- Setup
- Gameplay
- Taking Cards
- Fulfill an Order
- End of a Round
- End of the Game
- Explanation of Orders
- One of Each Color — $3
- Four of One Color — $3
- Small Straight — $4
- Small Straight Flush — $6
- Large Straight — $6
- Large Straight Flush — $9
- Set of One 1 — $1
- Set of Two 2's — $2
- Flush Set of Two 2's — $4
- Set of Three 3's — $3
- Flush Set of Three 3's — $6
- Set of Four 4's — $4
- Flush Set of Four 4's — $8
- Set of Five 5's — $5
- Flush Set of Five 5's — $10
- Explanation of Cards
- Fulfilled Order Example
- Quick Reference
- Credits
Components
Your game of Truffle Shuffle should include the following. If it does not, contact [email protected] for assistance.
- 117 Truffle Cards
- 36 Coin Tokens
- 10x $1
- 10x $2
- 6x $5
- 6x $10
- 4x $20
- 4 Reference Cards
- 1 Rulebook
Setup
1. Set Up Bank
Place the coins in a central location where all players can reach them. This forms the bank.
2. Set Up Tableau
Shuffle the deck of cards face-down and deal 39 cards into a tableau, with each row partially covering the row above it, according to the following pattern:
- 4 cards face-up
- 5 cards face-down
- 6 cards face-up
- 7 cards face-down
- 8 cards face-up
- 9 cards face-down
Place the remaining cards to the side of the play area, this draw deck will be used to create the tableau in future rounds.
3. Set Up Bonus Coins
Depending on the number of players, place coin tokens below the tableau of cards, in the following order:
- 2 players: $2, $1, $1
- 3 players: $2, $2, $1, $1
- 4 players: $2, $2, $1, $1, $1
These are bonus coins awarded to the first player(s) who fulfills orders (complete sets) that require at least four truffles (cards) during each round (see Fulfill an Order for more information).
4. Determine Starting Player
Take a number of reference cards equal to the number of players and be sure to include the card with the starting player symbol.
Each player takes one reference card at random and turns it over. The one with the starting player symbol becomes the starting player. Players are now ready to begin the game!
Example Four Player Setup
An example setup includes the Bank, the Draw Deck, the Tableau, the Bonus Coins, and each player's Reference Card.
Gameplay
During your turn, you must perform one (and only one) of the following actions:
Take a Card
Take one available card from the tableau and add it to your hand.
Play a 'Take 2' or 'Skip' Card
The Take 2 and Skip cards allow you to perform an alternative action on your turn.
If you have a Take 2 card in your hand, you may discard it to take two cards (one-at-a-time).
If you have a Skip card in your hand, you may place it face-up in front of you. This essentially skips your turn without taking any cards, and you may not fulfill an order. During your next turn, you take three cards (one-at-a-time) instead of your normal action, then discard the Skip card in front of you. You may fulfill an order during that turn.
Taking Cards
Players can only take a card in the tableau that does not have another card overlapping it.
There is no limit to the number of cards a player may hold in their hand during a turn, but at the end of the round players must discard down to a number of cards equal to the number of players in the game (2, 3, or 4).
When a player takes a face-down card from the tableau, they may look at it in their hand but should be careful to only reveal the card's back to the other players. Only the card backs in a player's hand are public information to other players.
Fulfill an Order
Once per turn, after you have completed taking an action, you may fulfill an order listed on your reference card. Fulfilling an order is always optional.
Note: If you have just played a Skip card, you may not fulfill an order this turn.
To fulfill an order, play the necessary cards (and any special abilities that modify your truffles — see Explanation of Cards) face-up. After the order is confirmed by other players, you must discard your played cards and take the corresponding value of coins from the bank along with any bonus coins earned (see Bonus Coins below). Any cards not used to fulfill the order remain in your hand.
After you have taken an action, and fulfilled an order (if you chose to do so), your turn is finished. The next player clockwise around the table takes a turn.
Bonus Coins
The first few orders fulfilled each round also award bonus coins. These are taken from the coins placed below the tableau during the setup of each round. Players must take these coins in descending order of value from left to right, with the first players completing orders awarded $2, later players awarded $1, and even later players receiving no bonus.
Note: These bonuses are only awarded for orders requiring four or more truffles.
End of a Round
When the last card has been taken from the tableau, the round ends after the player who took the last card finishes their turn.
If any player has more cards in their hand than the number of players in the game, they must discard down to the number of players in the game (2, 3, or 4). Players do not discard at the end of the third and final round.
Note: Players cannot fulfill orders at the end of the round; they must do so during their turns.
After the first and second rounds, the next round is set up with a tableau of cards from the draw deck (repeat Set Up Tableau, but use only cards from the remaining draw deck and do not reshuffle cards from the previous rounds) and bonus coins (repeat Set Up Bonus Coins) following the setup rules. When setup is finished, play proceeds with the player to the left of the player who had the last turn in the previous round.
End of the Game
A game of Truffle Shuffle is played over three rounds. Building three rounds of tableaus of 39 cards each will use all 117 cards.
Each player counts the total value of coins that they have earned during the game and the player with the most money is the winner! If two or more players are tied, the player with the most cards left in their hand wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who went later in the turn order is the winner.
Explanation of Orders
The following are explanations of the different orders players can fulfill:
One of Each Color — $3
A set of four truffles of any numbers (or special ability/action), one card in each of the four colors.
Four of One Color — $3
A set of four truffles of any numbers (or special ability/action) of the same color.
Small Straight — $4
A set of four truffles in numeric order (from 1–4 or 2–5) of any colors.
Small Straight Flush — $6
A set of four truffles in numeric order (from 1–4 or 2–5) of the same color.
Large Straight — $6
A set of five truffles in numeric order (from 1–5) of any colors.
Large Straight Flush — $9
A set of five truffles in numeric order (from 1–5) of the same color.
Set of One 1 — $1
A set of a single number 1 truffle of any color.
Set of Two 2's — $2
A set of two number 2 truffles of any colors.
Flush Set of Two 2's — $4
A set of two number 2 truffles of the same color.
Set of Three 3's — $3
A set of three number 3 truffles of any colors.
Flush Set of Three 3's — $6
A set of three number 3 truffles of the same color.
Set of Four 4's — $4
A set of four number 4 truffles of any colors.
Flush Set of Four 4's — $8
A set of four number 4 truffles of the same color.
Set of Five 5's — $5
A set of five number 5 truffles of any colors.
Flush Set of Five 5's — $10
A set of five number 5 truffles of the same color.
Explanation of Cards
Special Numbers
These cards play like numbered cards with special qualities.
Rainbow — This card is considered to be any one color of your choice (green, purple, orange, or pink).
Any Number (#) — You can choose what number this card has (from 1 to 5). This card remains the same color; only the number of the card is modified.
Duplicate (=) — This card is considered to be the same number as one other numbered card played to fulfill this order. This card remains the same color; only the number of the card is modified.
Special Modifiers
When playing numbered cards to fulfill an order, you may also play special modifiers that modify your truffles.
Color Change — You can change the color of another one of your cards to any color. The card remains the same number; only the color of the card is modified. The Color Change card is discarded immediately after its ability has been used.
Number Change — You can change the number of any one of your cards to any other number (1–5). The card remains the same color; only the number of the card is modified.
Special Actions
Instead of just taking a card for your action, you may instead play one of these special actions from your hand.
Take 2 — Take two cards from the tableau (one-at-a-time).
Skip — Play the card face-up in front of you and don't discard it at the end of your turn. You cannot take any cards during the turn that you play a Skip, and you may not fulfill an order this turn.
During your next turn, you take three cards (one-at-a-time) instead of your normal action, then discard the Skip in front of you. You may still fulfill an order during this turn.
You must take three cards, if able: you cannot choose to only take two cards, for example. If there are not enough cards remaining in the tableau, you must take as many cards as you can.
If the game ends before you get another turn, then the Skip has no effect.
Fulfilled Order Example
In this example, Charlie will be fulfilling an order with a more complicated hand of cards: a Rainbow, a Green 2, a Purple Duplicate, two Color Change cards, two Number Change cards, and an Orange 5, among others.
With these nine cards, the most valuable order Charlie could fulfill is a Large Straight Flush (Cards 1–5 of the same color), worth $9.
Charlie plays their Rainbow 1 as a Green 1.
Their Green 2 doesn't need any modifiers.
Charlie uses a Purple Duplicate as a Purple 2 and then a Number Change to turn it into a Purple 3. Finally, they use a Color Change to turn the Purple 3 into a Green 3.
They use a Number Change on their Green 2 to turn it into a Green 4.
They use their remaining Color Change to turn their Orange 5 into a Green 5.
Finally, they place their played cards into the discard pile and take $9 (along with any bonuses) of chocolate coins from the bank.
Quick Reference
Setup
- Set up Bank
- Set up Tableau
- Bonus Coins
- 2 Players: $2, $1, $1
- 3 Players: $2, $2, $1, $1
- 4 Players: $2, $2, $1, $1, $1
- Determine Starting Player
On Your Turn
- Take a card from the tableau -or- Play a 'Take 2' or 'Skip' card
- May fulfill an order (unless you play a 'Skip' card).
Orders
- One of Each Color — $3
- Four of a Color — $3
- Small Straight (1+2+3+4 / 2+3+4+5) — $4
- Small Straight Flush (1+2+3+4 / 2+3+4+5, same color) — $6
- Large Straight (1+2+3+4+5) — $6
- Large Straight Flush (1+2+3+4+5, same color) — $9
- Set of One 1 — $1
- Set of Two 2's (2+2) — $2
- Flush Set of Two 2's (2+2, same color) — $4
- Set of Three 3's (3+3+3) — $3
- Flush Set of Three 3's (3+3+3, same color) — $6
- Set of Four 4's (4+4+4+4) — $4
- Flush Set of Four 4's (4+4+4+4, same color) — $8
- Set of Five 5's (5+5+5+5+5) — $5
- Flush Set of Five 5's (5+5+5+5+5, same color) — $10
Credits
Designers: Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, Shawn Stankewich Director of Projects: Nicolas Bongiu Production: Dave Lepore Development Lead: John Goodenough Creative Direction: Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, Shawn Stankewich, John Zinser Graphic Design and Illustration: Dylan Mangini Editing: Nicolas Bongiu, Richard A. Edwards, Kaz Nyborg-Andersen, Josh Wood
The designers would like to thank: The Seattle Area Tabletop Game Designers, Playtest Northwest, Jolie Patterson, John Zinser, John Goodenough, and the entire AEG team.
© 2020 Alderac Entertainment Group. Truffle Shuffle and all related marks are ™ and © Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc. All rights reserved.