World Championship Dodge Ball
World Championship Dodge Ball Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Object of the Game
The goal is to blast the opposing team with the ball. If you have the last teammate standing, you win. Low blows and fastballs are okay!
Setup
Before starting a game of World Championship Dodge Ball, you first need to separate the 24 teammate cards, mix them up, and place them face down in a pile. Each player then takes turns drawing six teammates, which form their dodge ball team. Four of the teammates are laid face up in front of the player, which signifies their side of the dodge ball court. The remaining two teammate cards are laid in a stack face down and they serve as the bench.
Then each player takes one Ball Card. Depending on how many players are playing there can be anywhere from two to four ball cards in play at one time. For example, if there are four players there are four balls in play. The number of balls will remain the same throughout the game, regardless how many players are knocked out. For example, let's say you start a game with four players and four Ball Cards. During the course of play, one team is eliminated, leaving only three teams standing. There are still four Ball Cards still in play.
The Throw and Dodge cards are then shuffled and placed faced down. These form the Draw Deck. Each player draws six cards from the Draw Deck, which forms their hand.
How to Play
World Championship Dodge Ball does not have turns, or an order of play. Instead, Ball Cards are pushed back and forth using Throw Cards to signify throws. Everyone acts at the same time, but you can only act when you have a Ball Card.
You start with by placing a Ball Card on one of your teammates. You then push the Ball Card across the court, placing it in front of one of your opponent's teammates. In conjunction with pushing the Ball Card you play a Throw Card from your hand.
Your opponent then tries to dodge the incoming ball. He does this by playing the Dodge Card that corresponds to the Throw Card you played. If he has the right Dodge Card your throw misses. Now the target character has the ball and can throw it back at you (or at another opponent).
If your target doesn't have the right Throw Card, the throw is not dodged and the opponent is hit. That teammate is removed from play. (Don't put his card in the Discard Pile; just take it out of play.) Play continues until one side has no more teammates in play.
For example, you push the Ball Card at one of your opponent's teammates and play a High Throw Card. If your opponent plays a Dive Dodge Card (this is the Dodge Card that corresponds to the High Throw), your throw misses and your opponent now has the ball. If your opponent does not have the corresponding Dodge Card, then their teammate is hit and is out of the game.
There are five different Throw Cards found in World Championship Dodge ball. Four of these Throw Cards can only be dodged by the corresponding Dodge Card. The remaining Special Throw Cards are unique, with their rules printed on the card.
Use the table below as a quick reference for which Throws can be dodged by which Dodges.
| Throw Card | Dodge Card |
|---|---|
| High Throw | Dive |
| Floor Skipper | Jump |
| Disco Inferno | Stage Dive Back Flip |
| Kung Fu Force Attack | New York Hustle |
Once you use a Throw Card or Dodge Card, it is discarded. For every card you discard, you draw a new card from the Draw Deck.
There are no limits to the number of balls that can be thrown at an opponent's teammates. As long as you have one Throw Card per Ball Card, you can throw at will.
Passing the Ball
A teammate can only throw the ball if they have it. Whoever you throw the ball at has to make the return throw – unless your opponent has a Pass Card. To pass the ball from one of your teammates to another, you need to play a Pass Card. Passing is a useful tactic because it allows you to give the ball to a stronger teammate to utilize.
Catching Incoming Balls
Besides dodging balls thrown at them, a teammate can catch a ball thrown at them. To catch the ball, you will need to play a Catch Card. Doing so allows you to catch ANY throw that is thrown at a teammate. That's right; a Catch Card counters any Throw Card – unless it's a Special Throw that indicates otherwise on the card.
A Catch Card gives you possession of the ball and allows you to throw it back to your opponent. Catching balls negates all effects of a throw and the teammate who is catching the ball is not considered hit.
Each teammate can only hold one ball at a time. For example, if two balls were thrown at a Tammy "Too Tall" White, she could only catch one. She has to dodge the other, even if she has two Catch Cards in her hand. If Tammy had possession of a ball from a previous throw, she couldn't play a Catch Card until she played a Throw Card, because her hands are full.
Drawing New Cards
You can never have more than six cards in your hand. You CAN have less than six cards. If your opponent hits you with a Throw Card and you have less than six cards in your hand (probably because you didn't draw fast enough after your last throw), YOU MUST DODGE WITH A CARD THAT'S ALREADY IN YOUR HAND. You can't take the time to draw a new card first. If your teammate gets eliminated because you don't have the right Dodge Card, well, too bad. Next time draw faster!
Follow the Ball
Remember that all the action follows the Ball Cards. If you need a breather, just get the balls on your side of the court and catch a breath while you're safe.
Substitutions
You can bring in a teammate from the bench when one of your teammates is knocked out. You can continue to do so as long as you have teammates in reserve.
The Discard and Draw Piles
If you run out of cards in the Draw Pile, take the Discard Pile and reshuffle it to form a new Draw Pile.
Ending the Game
Play proceeds until all your opponent's teammates are out of the game. Whichever player has the last teammate left standing is the winner.
Teammates
There are 24 teammates, which are used to form your team of six. All teammates have abilities that can be used while they are in play. Being on the bench does not count as being in play. As long as that teammate is standing, their ability can be used. Once the teammate is removed from the field of play, then whatever ability they had cannot be used.
Rules Principles
World Championship Dodge Ball is a fast and furious game. Because there is no turn order, it's easy to get lost in the back-and-forth shuffle. Use the following principle when evaluating game play: Evaluate cards in the order they're played. Whoever plays first has their card evaluated first. This sometimes means one of your teammates will get eliminated even though he "could have done something." Well, tough luck! You played that card too late. This ain't no sissy sport.
Tips
Unless your opponent has a Pass Card, whoever you throw the ball at has to make the return throw. Throw at the people you want to have throwing back at you.
If a teammate has possession of the ball, he can't play a Catch Card. If you know your opponent has a Catch Card, use this to your advantage.