Welcome to the World of Mascarade!

So you’ve heard about this intriguing game called Mascarade and you’re curious to learn more. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Let me guide you through the rules and get you ready to immerse yourself in the excitement of this unique game.

In Mascarade, each player takes on the role of a masked character, all gathered at a lavish masquerade ball. The goal? To be the first to accumulate a certain amount of wealth. Sounds simple, right?

But here’s the twist – throughout the game, your character’s identity will be shrouded in mystery. As the game progresses, you may regain or even lose your character’s special ability. The question is: will you be able to accurately remember who you are?

One of the appeals of Mascarade is its simplicity. With just a deck of character cards, gold coins, and a whole lot of bluffing, you’re ready to dive into the action. Each player starts with six gold coins, and the game begins!

On your turn, you have three options: exchange cards with another player, secretly peek at your own character card, or activate your character’s special ability. Each character has a unique ability that can aid you in your quest for wealth.

But here’s where it gets really interesting – the catch is that you’ll never know for sure if you’re using your own character’s ability or someone else’s. That’s right, all the character cards are shuffled and then randomly distributed at the beginning of the game. So, you might think you’re activating the ability of the King, but it could turn out you’re actually the Fool!

Throughout the game, players will attempt to gather wealth by collecting gold coins. However, the true identity of each character is a mystery, and players will bluff and deceive each other in order to accumulate as much wealth as possible. It’s all about careful observation, keen deduction, and strategic gameplay to come out on top.

So, there you have it – the world of Mascarade is both perplexing and exhilarating. It’s a game that keeps you on your toes, challenging your memory and your ability to read others. Will you be able to navigate this world of masks and mystery? The only way to find out is to join the masquerade yourself!

Hey there! Let me tell you about Mascarade, a super fun game where you have to bluff your way to victory! It’s a game for 2 to 13 players and everyone gets a mysterious Character card. But here’s the twist – you’ll be swapping characters with each other, so it’s never clear who has what card!

What’s the Goal?

The goal of Mascarade is to collect 13 gold coins using the special powers of the characters. But be careful! If anyone runs out of money, the game ends right away and the richest player wins.

If you’re new to the game, we recommend playing with 4 to 8 players at first. It’s the perfect number to get started without getting overwhelmed by the rules.

Game Components

Here’s what you’ll find in the box:

• 13 Character cards
• 1 blank Character card
• 1 Courthouse board
• Gold coins (with a total value of 194)
• 14 Character tokens, including one blank
• 5 Game aids

Before we get started, I want to remind you that the game should be played around an opaque table. Got it? Great!

Rules for 4 to 13 Players:

Setup – Let’s Begin!

Alright, let’s set up the game so we can get to the fun part.

First things first, each player starts with 6 gold coins. Make sure everyone can see how much money you’ve got throughout the game. Transparency is key!

Now, let’s talk about the money. Place the rest of the coins in the center of the table. That pile will be known as the bank. We’ll keep an eye on it!

When we’re playing with 4 or 5 players, we’ll need 6 character cards. For a game with 6 to 13 players, grab as many character cards as there are players. Any leftover cards can go back in the box.

Alright, now that everything is set up, we’re ready to start the game. Let the adventures begin!

So here’s how it goes: The Character cards are shuffled, and each player gets one, face up, in front of them. If there are 4 or 5 players, the rest of the cards are placed in the middle of the table, face up. Take a good look at the cards, and then turn them all face down.

Now, we need to keep track of which characters are in the game. We do that using character tokens. Just place them next to the courthouse. And guess what? The youngest player gets to start. After that, it’s your turn, and then we go around the circle, clockwise.

Other Choices for Characters

For your next games, you can mix it up and use different character combinations. But there are some restrictions you need to keep in mind:

The Judge has to be in play.

The Flow of the Game

The First 4 Turns:

The first four turns, which are the turns of the first four players, are all about getting things ready and adding a touch of mystery to the game. The first player, who is usually the youngest, and the three players next in line, go through the same action.

When it’s your turn, you take your card and another card of your choice. You can pick a card from another player or from the pile in the middle. Without looking at either card, you can keep them as they are or switch their places secretly under the table. Then, you put them back where they were.

A Game Turn

Starting from the fifth turn onwards, the real game begins. On each turn, every player is allowed to do just one action out of the following three:

I have a task for you – to rewrite this text in a unique and engaging way. But don’t worry, I’ll guide you through it. Remember to keep the original structure and HTML code intact while making it easier to understand for a 5th-grade reader. Use contractions and a conversational tone to keep it engaging. Ready? Let’s get started!

Imagine you’re playing a game and you have three options:

1. Swap your card secretly (without others knowing).

2. Have a sneaky peek at your card.

3. Make an announcement about your character.

Now, here’s an important warning! If you revealed your card during the previous player’s turn or if you were exposed by the Inquisitor, you can’t announce that you’re that character. Instead, you’ll be forced to swap your card with someone else’s – or decide not to swap at all.

Let’s talk about the first option – swapping your card. This action lets you secretly exchange your card with another player’s. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Hold your card in one hand without looking at it.

I’ll let you in on a little secret – a cool trick you can play at your next card game. Here’s how it works:

• First, grab a card from another player or from the middle of the table. But here’s the catch, don’t look at it!
• Next, go under the table where nobody can see you, and decide if you want to swap the cards or not. It’s totally up to you!
• Lastly, choose one of the two cards you have and give the other one back to the player you took it from or put it back in the middle of the table.

Now here’s the real challenge – both cards must stay face down the entire time. You can’t sneak a peek! And guess what? The player whose card you took can’t look at the card you returned either. Talk about suspense!

And here’s the best part – once you’ve done the trick, you might not even remember if you swapped the cards or not. It’s all part of the fun!

Picture this: I don’t have a clue who my character is anymore, but I can say with near certainty that I know Bruno’s. It’s my turn, and as I reach under the table, hidden from prying eyes, I swap Bruno’s card with mine. Sneaky, right? Then, I hand one card back to Bruno and keep the other for myself.

Give it a Sneak Peek

This move lets you take a sly look at your character card without anyone else noticing.

If you accidentally catch a glimpse of your card (like during a swap or for any other reason), you absolutely must perform this action on your turn.

Shout Out Your Character

This is the main event of the game! It’s when you announce your character and unleash their special powers.

When I announce that I am a character, you and the other players have the chance to call my announcement by claiming to be the same character. It starts with the player to my left and goes clockwise.

• If nobody else claims to be the character, I can use the power of that character without showing my card. This means I can use any character’s power in the game without actually being that character, even if I don’t know my own identity.
• If one or more players also claim to be the character, everyone who made a claim (including me) reveals their cards.
• If one of the players is indeed the announced character, they can immediately use the power of that character, even if it’s not their turn.

So here’s the deal: when the character is announced, I have to decide whether I’m going to lie and try to pass off as that character, or if I’m going to play it safe and just claim to be my actual character. It’s a tough call, because if someone catches me in a lie, I have to pay a fine to the courthouse. But if I manage to trick everyone, I get to keep my gold coin.

After everyone has made their choice, the courthouse takes a look at all the characters that were claimed. If someone was caught lying, they have to give up their gold coin. But if no one was caught, the courthouse looks at who claimed the actual character. Those players get a special reward – they get an extra gold coin!

Then, all the other players who had falsely claimed to be the announced character pay a fine of one gold coin to the courthouse. It’s a way of making sure that people don’t just lie all the time and try to get away with it.

Finally, all players turn over their cards so that they are again facedown. This is important because it keeps everyone on their toes. If you’re not paying attention, someone could switch characters on you and you wouldn’t even know it. So you have to stay alert and keep an eye on what everyone else is doing.



Example: Imagine this scenario during a game of cards: It’s my turn and I boldly proclaim, “I’m the King!” No one else challenges my claim, so without hesitation, I exercise the power of the King and help myself to three shiny gold coins from the bank. But what if things were different? What if Adele and Cedric both claimed to be the King as well? In that case, we would all have to expose our cards, and if none of us were actually the King, we would each have to pay a gold coin as a penalty.

1. Let’s say it’s my turn again, and once more, I proclaim, “I’m the King!” This time, Cedric calls my bluff and challenges my assertion by declaring, “No you’re not -1 am!” Now the tension rises as we reveal our cards. It turns out I am the Thief, and Cedric actually is the King. In this game of wits and deceit, the real King gets to claim those three gold coins from the bank while I suffer the consequences by paying a fine of one gold coin to the courthouse. Lesson learned!

I’m playing a game called “Who Am I?” and it’s super fun! The rules are simple. We each have a card with a character’s name on it, but we can’t see what’s written. One by one, we take turns revealing a little bit about our character. The catch is that we have to be careful not to make it too easy for the others to guess who we are. Cedric, for example, just revealed that he’s holding the King card, but he can’t simply say “I’m the King” because that would be too obvious. So instead, he has to decide whether to keep his card or swap it with someone else. It adds a cool element of mystery and strategy to the game.

Now, let’s talk about the different powers that each character can have. One of them is called the Spy. The Spy has a special ability that allows them to secretly look at someone else’s card without anyone knowing. This gives the Spy a huge advantage because they can gather information and make clever moves based on what they see. It’s like being a detective in the game!

I hope you’re as excited as I am about “Who Am I?” It’s a game that keeps you on your toes and makes you really think. If you enjoy games that challenge your strategy and deduction skills, then you’re going to love this one. It’s a blast to play with friends and family, and it’s guaranteed to spark some friendly competition. So grab a deck of cards, gather your pals, and let the guessing begin!



So here’s the deal: I’m a spy, and I’ve got a little trick up my sleeve. Before you go swapping cards with me, I sneak a peek at my own card and someone else’s. It’s a sneaky move, and it can really mess with your head.

Here’s an example to paint you a picture: let’s say my name’s Adele, and I’ve got a hunch that I’m the spy. I announce it to the group, but no one calls my bluff. So, I take a gander at my own card and pick someone else’s to snoop on. And then, the big moment comes – do I swap cards or keep everything as is? It’s a game of strategy and surprises, my friend. And once I’ve made my move, it’s the next player’s turn to deal with my trickery.

The Bishop

The Bishop is a real boss. They’re all about the gold. Specifically, taking two gold coins from the richest player at the table. If there’s a tie for the richest, the Bishop gets to choose who loses their gold. It’s all about that power move, baby.

The Fool



Imagine this: I’m given a shiny gold coin, a secret agent handling covert operations. My task is to exchange the cards of two other players without them knowing. It’s like a top-secret mission, but with a twist – I can’t even peek at the cards! How exciting!

The Curious Inquisitor



Imagine this: I’m the Inquisitor, and I have the power to make you second-guess yourself. Check this out: I point at you, and you have to confidently declare your character and show your card. But be careful! If you get it wrong, you owe me four shiny gold coins. However, if you guess correctly, my power is useless against you. Just remember, in order to bring the Inquisitor into the game, we need a minimum of eight players.

Example: It’s my turn to speak, and I confidently declare “I’m the Inquisitor!” But wait, Fran jumps in and claims to be the Inquisitor too. We can’t both be telling the truth, so we have to reveal our cards. I flip my card and, lo and behold, I am indeed the Inquisitor. Fran, on the other hand, is the Queen. Now it’s time for me to test someone’s knowledge. I choose Cedric and ask him what role he thinks he has. Cedric ponders for a moment before confidently saying, “I’m the Judge!” He flips his card, and to his surprise (and mine), he’s actually a Peasant. Cedric now owes me four gold coins, while Fran has to pay a fine of one gold coin to the courthouse for trying to deceive me. We put the cards back face down, and the game continues.

Note: If Cedric had said he was a Peasant, he wouldn’t have had to pay me anything.

Judge



So here’s the deal – the Judge is kind of a big shot in this game. They have this power where they get to take all the fines (which are like coins) that are on the courthouse board. Pretty sweet, right? Just remember, if someone falsely claimed to be the Judge and has to pay a fine, that gets taken care of after the Judge does their thing. So those fines won’t be taken by the Judge during that turn, got it?

Now, listen up, because this is important – the Judge is the one character that you have to include in every game. They’re like the star of the show, and you can’t play without them.

Let me give you an example to make things clearer. Imagine we have three players: Adele, Cedric, and David. Adele boldly declares, “I’m the Judge!” Cedric and David, not wanting to be left out, also claim to be the Judge. It’s a real Judge party. So they all show their cards, and lo and behold, Adele is the Witch, Cedric is the Judge, and David is the Spy. Cedric, being the real Judge and all, snatches up all the fines from the courthouse. Meanwhile, Adele and David each have to pay a fine of one gold coin. The cards go back face-down, and now it’s Bruno’s turn to play.

So that’s the Judge in a nutshell. But let’s talk about another character – the Peasant.

So, here’s the deal: I got this gold coin from the bank and let me tell you, it’s pretty sweet. But here’s the kicker – if both of us peasants show up at the same time, we both get two gold coins each. Now that’s what I call teamwork! From unity comes strength, my friend.

Now, before we get into how this all goes down, let me give you a heads up. The Peasants game requires at least 8 players and they always play in pairs. So grab a buddy and let the fun begin.

• Here’s how it goes: I go on and announce to everyone, “Hey, I’m a Peasant.” And you know what? No one suspects a thing. So I don’t have to reveal my card and I get a shiny gold coin from the bank. Not too shabby, huh?
• But hey, let’s say I’m feeling a bit bold. I announce that I’m a Peasant, and you chime in saying, “Hey, me too!” Well, guess what? We both show our cards and it turns out we’re both Peasants! So, we hit the jackpot and each get two gold coins from the bank. It’s like winning the lottery, my friend!
• Now, here’s where things get a bit tricky. I declare that I’m a Peasant, and you and another friend jump in and say, “We’re Peasants too!” So, we all reveal our cards. Turns out, you and I are indeed Peasants, but our other friend, well, they were actually the Spy all along! So you and I get two gold coins each, while our Spy friend has to pay up – they hand over one gold coin to the Courthouse. Tough luck for them, huh?

Queen

Hey there! I want to talk to you about an incredible band called Queen. You may have heard of them before, and let me tell you, they are truly amazing. Queen is a band that has made a big impact on the world of music, and their songs continue to inspire and captivate people to this day.

Now, I know that when you hear the word “Queen,” you might think of a royal figure, but this is a different kind of Queen. The band was formed in the 1970s and quickly rose to fame with their unique blend of rock and theatricality. Their music is infectious, and once you start listening, you won’t be able to stop.

One of the things that sets Queen apart from other bands is their incredible frontman, Freddie Mercury. Freddie had an extraordinary voice and a magnetic stage presence. He could effortlessly hit high notes and command the attention of everyone in the audience. The way he performed was electrifying, and it’s no wonder that he is often considered one of the greatest singers of all time.

But Queen isn’t just about Freddie Mercury. The band is made up of four incredibly talented musicians who all bring something special to the table. Brian May is a guitar virtuoso, and his solos are simply mind-blowing. Roger Taylor provides the driving rhythm on drums, and John Deacon lays down the groovy basslines that make you want to dance.

One of the things that I find so amazing about Queen is the diversity of their music. They can go from rocking anthems like “We Will Rock You” and “Another One Bites the Dust” to beautiful ballads like “Love of My Life” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Their songs are like a rollercoaster ride, taking you on an emotional journey that you won’t soon forget.

So, if you’re looking for some incredible music that will make you feel alive and want to sing at the top of your lungs, then you definitely need to check out Queen. Their music has stood the test of time and continues to resonate with people of all ages. They truly are one of the greatest bands that has ever graced the stage.



When I go to the bank, I get two gold coins. But you know what? The Queen gets two gold coins too! It’s interesting that the bank gives the same amount to both of us, even though I’m just a regular person and the Queen is, well, the Queen. I wonder why that is? If you think about it, it seems a bit unfair. Shouldn’t the Queen get more? After all, she’s the ruler of the country!

King

King: When the King goes to the bank, he gets three gold coins. Now that’s what I call a royal treatment! It makes sense though, since the King has more power and responsibility than the Queen. But still, it’s interesting how the bank decides on the amount of gold coins to give to different people. I wonder what criteria they use? Do they take into account the person’s position, their influence, or maybe something else entirely?

Witch



Hey there! Let me tell you about some exciting characters in the game. One of them is the Witch. The Witch has a very interesting power – she can exchange all her fortune with someone else’s fortune. Yes, you heard it right! She can choose any player and swap her wealth with theirs. It’s quite a fascinating ability!

But hold on, there’s a catch! If any player falsely claims to be the Witch, they have to pay a fine. And this fine is paid only after the Witch’s power has been used. So, no cheating allowed!

Now, let me introduce you to another intriguing character called the Cheat. The Cheat’s goal is simple – if they have 10 gold coins or more, they win the game! It’s that easy!

Imagine this scenario: Adele has 11 gold coins and confidently announces, “I’m the Cheat!” But Cedric, with 10 gold coins, doesn’t believe her. He also claims to be the Cheat. The tension rises as they reveal their cards. And guess what? Cedric turns out to be the real Cheat! He wins the game, and Adele is left stunned. What a turn of events!

But here’s the twist – if Cedric had less than 10 gold coins, Adele would have had to pay a fine to the courthouse, and the game would have continued. It’s all about timing and strategy! The Cheat is definitely a character worth considering.

Now, let’s talk about the Widow. The Widow has a unique ability. She receives coins from the bank to make her fortune reach a total of 10 coins. Isn’t that amazing? The bank supports her to ensure she has a fair chance in the game.

So, now you know about these fascinating characters. They each bring their own thrills and challenges to the game. Have fun exploring their powers and enjoy the game!

Note: If you already have 10 or more gold coins, you won’t get any more from the bank, but you won’t lose any either.

Example: Let’s say I have only one gold coin left and I claim to be the Widow. You call my bluff and also claim to be the Widow. We reveal our cards and it turns out that I’m the Queen and you’re the Widow. Since you have less than 10 gold coins, you’ll get more coins from the bank until you have a total of 10. I have to pay a fine of one gold coin, and since I’m bankrupt, the game ends and the richest player wins.

Thief



When playing a game called “The Thief,” I have the opportunity to get a little mischievous. As the game progresses, I get to take one gold coin from the player sitting to my left and another from the player sitting to my right. It’s a sly move that can give me an advantage on my quest to win the game.

Getting to the End

To reach the end of the game, one player must collect 13 or more gold coins. As soon as a player achieves this, the game comes to a close, and that fortunate player is declared the winner. It’s a thrilling moment when victory is within reach!

However, there is another way the game can end. If any player loses their last gold coin, the game is over. In this case, the player who has accumulated the most wealth becomes the champion. It’s possible for two players to have the same amount, resulting in a tied victory.