WORDOS Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Objective
• Before Play
• Variations, Player Count & Points
  • To Each Their Own
  • You've Been Judged
• To Each Their Own
• You've Been Judged
• Letter Count
• Key Notes
• Tiebreakers
• Discarding and Stealing

Objective

1. Spell Words: Quickly, creatively, intelligently, weirdly, and everything in between.
2. Score Points.
3. Win.

Before Play

1. Shuffle letter decks extremely well.
2. Spread letter decks out into piles around the table for easy access to all players.
3. Pick your Meeple.

Variations, Player Count & Points

To Each Their Own

3 – 10 players. 1 point per letter card used.

• 3 players – 1st to finish receives points.
• 4 or 5 players – 1st and 2nd receive points.
• 6 or 7 players – 1st to 3rd receive points.
• 8 or 9 players – 1st to 4th receive points.
• 10 players – 1st to 5th receive points.

You've Been Judged

4 – 10 players. Any number of players (4-10).

• 1st choice receives 8 points.
• 2nd choice receives 6 points.
• 3rd choice receives 4 points.

To Each Their Own

Objective – Use your own letter to complete an answer as quickly as possible.

The printed numbering runs 1–7 and then restarts 8–17, so step 8 appears twice (the caller's "GO" step, and the simultaneous discard step). Numbering is kept as printed.

1. One player will flip over a Category Card and will read it aloud. This player is the "CALLER".
2. All players will then flip over 1 Letter Card from one of the letter decks.
3. Players will THINK of an answer (in own head) that must start with that letter, and pertain to the Category Card. MINIMUM 3 LETTERS
4. If a player is unable to think of an answer using the letter they flipped, that player is allowed ONE switch.
5. Answers can be as long or as short as you wish. 1 word, 2 words, a sentence, etc…
6. Once a player has thought of their answer, they will pick up the remaining number of letters needed in order to complete their answer. GAMEPLAY TO FOLLOW
7. Once all players have picked up their letters the round will begin.
8. The player that flipped over the Category Card will be the "caller" for the round. They will dictate the pace of play, and will begin each turn by shouting out "GO".
9. All players simultaneously must now discard 1 letter (which they do not need) FACE UP in front of them on the table.
10. All discarded letters are now available to be stolen.

IN ORDER TO STEAL A LETTER, A PLAYER MUST BE THE FIRST TO SHOUT OUT THE NAME OF THE LETTER. IF MORE THAN ONE PLAYER SHOUTS OUT FOR THE SAME LETTER AT THE SAME TIME, THIS CREATES A TIEBREAKER. (SEE ALTERNATE PAGE FOR TIEBREAKER RULES).

10. If a player does not wish to steal a discarded letter, that player must then pick up another letter from the various letter decks.
11. Players must maintain their correct number of cards in order to complete their answer.
12. Gameplay continues until 1 or more players are finished. (depends on number of players playing – see player count)
13. Once a player has finished their answer they reveal their answer to all other players.
14. The player(s) to finish will receive 1 point per letter used.
15. Re-shuffle all of the letters and continue to next round.
16. Play will move clockwise, and then next player becomes the caller.
17. First player to 30 points WINS!

You've Been Judged

Objective – Create an answer you think will be… "THE BEST!"

1. One player will flip over a category card and read it aloud. This player is the "Caller".
2. The caller will now decide how many letters all players receive for the round. (All players receive the same amount).
3. Recommended amount is 5 – 10 letters.
4. All players will now pick up the correct number of letters chosen by the caller.
5. Players will now decide what they want their answer to be (in own head).

THE ANSWER CAN BE ANY NUMBER OF LETTERS BETWEEN 3 AND THE AMOUNT CHOSEN BY THE CALLER.

THE ANSWERS CAN BE ANYTHING A PLAYER WISHES. IT DOES NOT NEED TO BEGIN WITH A CERTAIN LETTER.

6. Having all players collect the same amount of cards will help keep the answers completely anonymous.

GAMEPLAY IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS "To Each Their Own".

7. Players must maintain correct amount of letters throughout the whole round as indicated by the caller.

IN THIS VERSION OF PLAY, ALL BUT ONE PLAYER WILL COMPLETE THEIR ANSWER.

The printed numbering goes 1–7, then 11–17; steps 8–10 are not printed. Numbering is kept as printed.

Once a player has completed their answer, DO NOT REVEAL answer to anyone.

11. Place your answer pile (including letters which you have not used) FACE DOWN on the table in front of you, and allow play to continue for other players.
12. Play continues until all but ONE player has finished.

THE PLAYER THAT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR ANSWER WILL NOW BECOME "THE JUDGE".

13. The Judge will turn their head or close their eyes to allow all other players to assemble their answers.
14. Players with any unused letters in their pile will now remove and place those cards back onto the letter decks.

ALL PLAYERS WILL NOW PLACE ANSWERS FACE DOWN IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE, WITH THEIR TOP CARD BEING THE START OF THEIR ANSWER. (This makes it clear to the Judge when fanning open the answers).

15. The Judge will then reveal the answers one at a time, and will conclude by choosing their favorite answers. First place, second place and third place.
16. Reshuffle all of the letters and continue to next round.
17. First player to 30 points WINS,

Letter Count

A= 14 / B= 8 / C= 10 / D= 11 / E= 18 / F= 9 / G= 8 / H= 12 / I= 14 / J= 6 / K= 6 / L= 11 / M= 10 / N=13 / O= 14 / P= 9 / Q= 5 / R= 12 / S= 13 / T= 15 / U= 10 / V= 6 / W= 8 / X= 5 / Y=8 / Z=5

Key Notes

In ALL versions of play, players must complete an answer that is a minimum of 3 letters.

During play, if a player shouts out a letter they wish to steal, but then realize they do not need or want that letter, that player MUST still take it.

On that same token, if a player discards a letter and then realizes they actually needed it, that letter MUST stay discarded.

A player can change their answer at any time. HOWEVER, it must still begin with their original letter, and cannot be of a lesser amount. It can be LONGER, therefore the player would pick up ADDITIONAL LETTERS and add them to their hand.

Tiebreakers

1. A player not involved in the tiebreaker will flip over the top letter from a letter deck.
2. The players involved must then shout out a word that begins with that letter. The first player to do so wins the original letter being stolen.
3. Tiebreakers in all versions are played the same.

Discarding and Stealing

As long as a letter is on the top of a discarded pile, it can be stolen, regardless of when it was originally discarded.

After all players discard a letter, players can either steal 1 letter, or pick up 1 letter from the deck. Only 1 letter should be picked up and/or stolen each turn.

If another player wishes to steal the letter you have discarded, it is common etiquette to hand them the card.

ONCE AN ANSWER IS REVEALED, THE REST OF THE GROUP CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THE ANSWER IS SUFFICIENT AND IF THE PLAYER RECEIVES THEIR POINTS. IT CAN BE DICTATED IN REGARDS TO RELEVANCE, AND POSSIBLY IF MISSPELLED. GROUPS CAN DECIDE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME.