Subtext Game Rules

Hey there! So, I wanted to talk to you about this game called Subtext. Have you heard of it before? If not, no worries! Let me explain it to you.

Subtext is a really fun game that is easy to play, and it can be played anywhere, anytime. It’s all about communication and trying to understand what someone is really saying.

Here’s how it works. One person will say something, but they won’t say exactly what they mean. Instead, they will give you clues and hints in their words and body language. It’s your job to try and figure out what they really mean. It’s like a puzzle!

Let me give you an example. If someone says, “I’m fine,” but they’re crossing their arms and avoiding eye contact, you might think that they’re not really fine. They might be upset or angry about something.

See how it works? It’s all about paying attention and picking up on those little clues. The more you play, the better you’ll get at understanding the subtext.

Now, there’s a couple of things you need to keep in mind when you’re playing Subtext. First, be respectful. It’s important to remember that sometimes people use subtext to communicate when they don’t feel comfortable saying things directly. So, try not to push too hard if someone doesn’t want to talk about something.

Second, have fun! Subtext is a game, after all. It’s a chance to challenge yourself and have a good time with your friends or family. So, don’t take it too seriously and just enjoy the process of figuring out the hidden meanings.

And finally, remember that Subtext isn’t just a game. It can also be a useful skill to have in real life. Being able to pick up on those subtle clues can help you understand people better and improve your communication skills.

So, why not give Subtext a try? You never know what hidden meanings you might uncover!

• 1 Game Board
• 56 Guessing Tokens
• 8 Pencils
• 8 Point Tokens
• 115 Word Cards
• 8 Player Figures
• 5 Number Cards
• 1 Block of Paper
• 8 Plastic Standees
• Instructions

Let’s Get Ready to Play!

We’ve got all the game pieces you need to get started. Just unwrap everything and set it up according to the instructions. You’re almost ready to dive into the game!

Now, let me explain how this game is played. Each round, we each get a hint for a secret word. But don’t worry – you don’t have to be an artist to win! Just put on your thinking cap and get ready to use your cleverness.

Here’s the twist: the Dealer and another player – who remains a mystery – will also have hints for the same secret word. Your job is to figure out who that other player is and guess the right word.

If you’re able to read between the lines and make the perfect guess, you’ll earn points. The player with the most points at the end of the game will be the winner!

Getting Set Up

Okay, here’s what you need to do before you start playing the game. First, take the Player Figures and put them in the Plastic Standees. You’ll also want to place the Game Board in the center of the table. Make sure it’s nice and visible for everyone to see. Now, it’s time to shuffle the Word Cards and create a face down Deck right next to the Game Board.

Next, you’re going to choose a Number Card. Take that chosen Number Card and place it on its marked spot at the top of the Game Board. For your first game, you’ll be using Number Card I. Remember that for future reference.

Oh, and here’s a little tip for you: before you start tackling the tricky V words, try finding some hints. Get a feel for the other words and gain some experience before you take on the challenge of V.

Now, every player should grab a few sheets of paper from the block, along with a pencil. And don’t forget to pick out the Player Figure in your favorite color. It’s time to bring a little personal touch to the game!

#image.jpg Player Figures

When it comes to playing this game, the number of Guessing Tokens you need will depend on how many people are playing. To figure out how many Guessing Tokens you should have, simply subtract 1 from the total number of players. For example, in a game with 4 players, you would need three Guessing Tokens: A, B, and C. If you have more than 4 players, just add more Guessing Tokens in alphabetical order.

Each player will also need Point Tokens in their chosen color. Make sure to place them near the Game Board.

Once you have everything set up, return any unused components back to the box. Now it’s time to choose a Dealer for the first round.

Let the Game Begin

The game will continue for a set number of rounds. In each round, a different player will take on the role of the Dealer. If you have a small number of players, each player will be the Dealer twice. But if you have more players, each player will only be the Dealer once.

• If you’re playing with 4 players, you’ll play 8 rounds in total.
• For a 5-player game, you’ll play 10 rounds.
• In a 6-player game, I play 6 rounds.
• In a 7-player game, I play 7 rounds.
• In an 8-player game, I play 8 rounds.

Note: Of course, you can change the number of rounds played as you wish after the first game.

Each round consists of two different phases: The Drawing Phase and the Guessing Phase.

The Drawing Phase

During Set-up, I choose a Number Card. I will only use the words under the chosen number during that game. The Number Card stays at the top of the Game Board as a reminder.

When I am the Dealer, I take a Word Card. I look at the word underneath the chosen number and memorize it. I take player count minus 2 additional Word Cards without looking at them.

To start the game, make sure everyone has a Word Card, including yourself. Shuffle all the Word Cards and then hand them out to each player. One of the players, chosen at random, will receive the same word that you have. This player will be your Partner for the game.

Hey there! It’s my turn to be the Dealer in this round. The word I need to remember is “PLANE.”

Since we’re playing with six people, I grab four more Word Cards and shuffle them in with my own.

Now it’s time to give each of the other five players a Word Card.

Once everyone has their Word Card, including me as the Dealer, we all draw a hint for our word.

Remember, no numbers or letters in the hint drawings!

Note: It’s important to remember that only the person who had the same word as you will understand your hint.

Once we’ve all finished our drawings, I’ll place my drawing on the left side of the Game Board. Then, I’ll put everyone else’s drawings on the right side of the Game Board. We’ll start at the top of the Game Board next to the space marked with A and continue down to the bottom.

The Guessing Phase

Now it’s time for the Guessing Phase. Take your Guessing Tokens and place them face down in front of you with the broken pencil side showing. Look at the drawings on the right side of the Game Board and compare them to my drawing.

#image.jpg Guessing Tokens

Can you guess which drawing represents the same word as the Dealer’s drawing? When you’re ready, put your Guessing Token on the table, close to the center, but don’t show the letter to the other players.

Even the Dealer doesn’t know who the Partner is, so they also put their Guessing Token down.

Once everyone has placed their Guessing Tokens, flip them over. The Dealer says their word, and the Partner points to their drawing. Any Guessing Tokens that have a different letter than the Partner’s drawing are incorrect. Flip those wrong guesses back over, with the pencil side up.

You only score points if you guessed correctly.

The Dealer and Partner only score points if they both guessed correctly. They get 1 point for each wrong guess.

Attention: If either the Dealer or the Partner makes a correct guess, neither of them will be awarded any Points. However, if you are not the Dealer or the Partner, you will receive 1 Point for each incorrect guess you make, plus an additional Point.

So, here’s the scoop: Clarke, Nina, and Betty all got it right! Oh, and by the way, Nina was Clarke’s partner. What a great team! Since they guessed correctly, both Nina and Clarke earned themselves 3 points each.

But wait, there’s more! Betty had a different word, but she still managed to find the right drawing. Talk about impressive! As a reward, she not only gets 3 points, but also an extra point for her amazing skills. That’s a total of 4 points for Betty.

Now, let me fill you in on what you didn’t see: In the next round, only Judy and Leo guessed correctly. Judy was the dealer, but her partner Chris didn’t quite hit the mark. Unfortunately for Judy and Chris, they don’t get any points this time. However, Leo really nailed it and earned himself 5 points. Four of those points are for guessing wrong answers, but he also gets an extra point for being so on point. Nice job, Leo!

So, here’s the deal: If everyone guesses correctly, the dealer and their partner don’t get any points because there were no wrong guesses. But, don’t worry, the other players still get 1 point each as a bonus for their correct guesses.

Now, pay attention: If the dealer and his or her partner get it wrong, and all the other players also miss the mark, then nobody gets any points. It’s like starting from scratch. Tough luck, huh?

Hey there! Guess what? You can track your points in this super cool game by moving your player figure on the game board. It’s pretty neat, right? When you have more than 12 or 24 points, just grab your point token and put it in front of you with the right side up. Make sure you start tracking your points from the bottom of the game board.

After the guessing phase is all done, the player who’s next in line, going clockwise, becomes the dealer, and a whole new round begins. Keep going like this until it’s game over.

The game ends

Once you’ve played all the rounds, the player with the most points wins the game! So, make sure you try your best to rack up those points. But wait, what if there’s a tie? Well, in that case, the players who are tied actually share the victory. Isn’t that pretty cool?