Game Rules for the Elevenses for One Game

1. Objective: The objective of the Elevenses for One game is to create the best afternoon tea spread by strategically playing your tea cards.

2. Setup: Start by shuffling the tea cards and dealing yourself 11 cards. Arrange your cards face-up in front of you. Then, place the tea kettle card next to your deck.

3. Turn Structure: The game consists of a series of turns. Each turn, you will complete two steps: draw a card and play a card.

4. Draw a Card: Draw the top card from your deck and add it to your hand. You can only have a maximum of 5 cards in your hand at a time. If you have 5 cards in your hand already, skip this step.

5. Play a Card: Choose one card from your hand to play. There are several types of tea cards, each with its own effect. Here are the different types of tea cards:

• Recipe Cards: Recipe cards allow you to create a tea set. Each tea set consists of a cup, a saucer, and a teaspoon. To create a tea set, play a recipe card and place one of each matching teacup, saucer, and teaspoon in front of you. Tea sets are worth points at the end of the game, so try to create as many as possible.
• Tea Type Cards: Tea type cards represent different varieties of tea, such as Earl Grey, Darjeeling, or Green Tea. When you play a tea type card, you can add it to an existing tea set or start a new tea set with that type of tea. Each tea type can only be used once per tea set.
• Condiment Cards: Condiment cards enhance the flavor of your tea sets. When you play a condiment card, place it on top of one of your tea sets. Condiments can only be played on top of a tea set that already has a teacup, saucer, teaspoon, and tea type card. Each tea set can only have one condiment card.
• Event Cards: Event cards have special effects that can help or hinder you during the game. Some event cards allow you to draw extra cards, steal cards from other players, or force them to discard cards. Play an event card and follow its instructions.

6. End of the Game: The game ends when the tea deck runs out of cards. At the end of the game, count the points for each of your tea sets. Each complete tea set is worth 5 points, while incomplete tea sets are worth 1 point per card. The player with the most points wins the game. In case of a tie, the player with the most complete tea sets wins.

7. Solitaire Variant: If you prefer playing alone, you can play the Elevenses for One game as a solitaire variant. The rules remain the same, except you are trying to achieve the highest score possible without competing against other players.

8. Enjoy the Game: Have fun playing Elevenses for One! Sip your tea as you strategize your moves to create the perfect afternoon tea spread.

Welcome to Elevenses for One – a game just for you. Your objective is to load your Tea Trolley with everything you need for a delightful morning tea before 11 am!

You are Grosvenor, Lady Agatha Smythe’s personal maid. Lady Agatha is one of the wealthiest landowners in the district.

Today, she’s hosting a grand High Tea at 11 o’clock, but there’s a problem – you only have 15 minutes to prepare, and you can’t find the sugar! Being late would be disastrous for Lady Agatha’s reputation!

Components

• There are 11 Pantry cards.
• You’ll also find 2 time slider cards.
• Don’t forget to check the rulebook for instructions.

Object of the Game

The goal is to place all the cards from the Pantry onto the Tea Trolley in order from 1 to 11, before the timer reaches zero at 11 o’clock. If you can do this, you win the game.

If the timer reaches zero and you haven’t placed all the cards in order, you lose. You’ll have to try again to avoid losing your job.

Setup

First, take the clock card and put it on top of the timer card, making sure the number 15 is showing. This card represents the countdown to the end of the game.

Next, place the Tea Trolley card face up in front of you. This will serve as the starting point for your game.

So, here’s what you do next: grab those remaining 10 cards, numbers 2 to 11, and give them a good shuffle. Once they’re all mixed up, lay them out face-up in a row on the right side of the Tea Trolley. This row is your Pantry, where you’ll keep some extra cards handy.

If you don’t have enough room for all the cards in one long row, don’t worry! You can spread them out in multiple rows. Just make sure you remember which card comes first on the left and which one is the last on the right in your Pantry.

How to Play the Game

1. First, I shuffle the Pantry cards and lay them out in a line, face up.
2. If I want, I can take one of the face-up Pantry cards and put it at the front of the line in the Pantry. But if I do that, I lose one minute.
3. Next, I look at the first card in the Pantry and have three options: I can score the card, use the card, or discard the card.
4. If the card is face-up, I go to step 3.
5. If the card is face down, I repeat step 4.

If I reach the end of the Pantry, I go back to step 1.

About the Cards

Here’s a list of all the Pantry cards and what they do:

Tea Trolley

Hey there! Let me tell you about this cool card game that you’re gonna love. It’s called “Score It” and it’s super fun! So here’s how it goes: at the beginning of the game, you’ll take this special card and set it aside. The goal is to stack all the other pantry cards on top of it. Sounds simple, right? But don’t shuffle this card with the others, keep it separate. Trust me, it’ll make sense once we start playing.

Tea

When you use or score this card, you can pick any card that is already facing up in the pantry and turn it over so it’s facing down. Just remember, you can’t use the action on the card you flip. If there are no cards facing up, then there’s nothing to do.

Milk

When you use or score this card, you have the power to choose any two cards that are face-up in the Pantry and turn them face-down. You can do this without using their special abilities. However, if there is only one card that is face-up, you must choose and flip that one. But if there are no face-up cards at all, then there’s nothing for you to do.

The Sweetness of Sugar

When you use or score this card, there isn’t anything else you need to do. But, keep in mind that you have to subtract two minutes from your time instead of just one.

Cups & Saucers

Hey there! Let me tell you about this unique card called Fine China. It’s pretty special because once you use or score it, you don’t have to do anything else. It’s like a card that never goes away!

What’s really cool is that this card can’t be turned face down by any other cards. So even if you come across cards (2), (3), or (9), Fine China won’t be affected. It’s pretty resilient!

So, if you’re looking for a card that’s not only useful but also stays with you no matter what, Fine China is the way to go. It’s like having a loyal companion by your side throughout the game. So go ahead and give it a try!

Fine China

After you use or score this card, you gather all the cards in the Pantry (both face-up and face-down), and mix them together before proceeding to step 1 of the Game Chart.

Now, let’s talk about biscuits. Yummy! Biscuits are delicious treats that everyone loves. They come in different flavors and textures, making them a versatile snack. Whether you prefer soft and chewy biscuits or crispy and flaky ones, there’s a biscuit out there for you.

Biscuits are a staple in many cuisines around the world. They can be enjoyed on their own or used as an ingredient in various recipes. You can have biscuits for breakfast with a side of butter and jam, or as a snack with a cup of tea. They are also a popular choice for making desserts like pies and cobblers.

When it comes to choosing the right biscuits, there are a few things to consider. First, think about the flavor you want. Do you prefer sweet or savory biscuits? Are you in the mood for something plain or something with added ingredients like chocolate chips or nuts?

Next, consider the texture. Biscuits can be soft and tender, or they can be crispy and crunchy. Think about which one you prefer and go for it.

Lastly, don’t forget about the ingredients. Some biscuits are made with simple, wholesome ingredients, while others may contain additives and preservatives. If you’re conscious about what you eat, be sure to check the label and make an informed choice.

Now, let’s get to the fun part – enjoying your biscuits! You can eat them as they are, or you can get creative and use them in different recipes. Biscuit sandwiches, anyone? How about a biscuit topped with your favorite spread or filling? The possibilities are endless!

In conclusion, biscuits are a delightful treat that can be enjoyed in many ways. Whether you’re a fan of sweet or savory, soft or crunchy, there’s a biscuit out there for you. So go ahead, pick your favorite flavor, and savor the deliciousness of a freshly baked biscuit. Enjoy!

When you use or score this card, you can choose two other cards in the Pantry that are already face-up and swap their positions. Remember, the two cards you choose must remain face-up, and you can’t move any other cards. If there are only two face-up cards, you have to swap them. But if there are less than two face-up cards, don’t worry, you don’t need to do anything.

Let’s Talk About Sandwiches

When you use or score this card, you’ll want to grab the first card in the Pantry and move it to the end. This goes for all the cards, whether they are face-up or face-down. However, if the card you’re using or scoring happens to be the very first card in the Pantry, it will need to move itself to the end. It’s a little tricky, but it keeps things interesting!

Cakes

When I use either the ‘using’ or ‘scoring’ action on this card, I’ll flip the following card in the Pantry to the face-down side, but only if it’s not already face-down or if it’s not a card numbered 5. If the card numbered 9 is the last one in the Pantry, then I won’t do anything.

Servants

This card is special because it can never be thrown away. When I use this card, I have the option to take a card from my pile of discarded cards and put it right after card number 10 in the Pantry. It’s like having a helpful servant assist me! If I choose to do this, I flip card number 10 face-down, but I don’t lose any time. However, if I use this card and I can’t or don’t want to bring back a discarded card, I flip it face-down and lose a minute like usual, with no extra action. When I score card number 10, I lose a minute as usual. But, if card number 11 is currently thrown away, I must use this card’s action to bring it back to the Pantry and flip it face-up.

Elevenses

Notes

Sometimes, there are times when I can’t follow the instructions on a card. In those cases, there’s no action to take after choosing option 3A or 3B. However, I still have to flip the card face-down and lose a minute for “using” the card.

And remember, if you see instructions on a card, you have to follow them exactly. That is, unless you’re dealing with the Servants or Elevenses cards – those ones let you choose whether or not to follow the instructions.

Don’t forget, in order to score a card, it has to be the next number in line after the card at the top of the Tea Trolley.

Feel free to take a look at your discarded cards whenever you want. It’s a good idea to keep them face-up in a separate row from the Pantry. But remember, once a card is in the discard pile, it can’t go back to the Pantry unless a card specifically tells you to do so.

Oh, and don’t even think about shuffling your discards back into the Pantry. That’s a no-no.

Game Over

Once the game is over – whether you win by scoring all the cards before the timer runs out, or lose – I’ll rate your performance using this simple formula:

The number shown on the top card of the Tea Trolley, plus the number of minutes left on the clock.

How did you do?

• 0-7 points: Oops! You’re fired!
• 8-10 points: Oh no! Lady Agatha is disappointed. You might get replaced.
• 11 points: You did okay, but nothing exceptional.
• 12-13 points: Lady Agatha congratulates you and gives you a half-day off.
• 14-15 points: You’ve proven your worth! Lady Agatha gives you a raise.