Welcome to CUTTLE!

I’m here to tell you all about this exciting combat card game made for two players. The whole objective of the game is to collect 21 points or more. If you’re the first player to achieve this, congratulations! You’ve won the game. Let’s dive right in!

Setting Up the Game

Let’s start by deciding who gets to be the dealer. You can do this by choosing a random player or by playing rock-paper-scissors. Once the dealer is selected, they will shuffle the deck and deal six cards to themselves. The other player will receive five cards. The rest of the cards will be kept in the center as the draw deck for the entire game. Make sure both players have their hands ready, and we can get started!

The Different Types of Cards and Their Values

In Cuttle, the cards are divided into three types: point cards, permanent cards, and one-time effect cards. Let me explain each of them and also tell you their values. How these cards will be used during the game will be explained in the next section, so don’t worry!

So, here’s the deal: When it comes to playing cards, each suit has its own ranking. The lowest suit is Clubs, followed by Diamonds, Hearts, and finally, Spades – the king of the suits.

Points Matter

Now, let’s talk about the point cards. These cards include Aces, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, and 10s. The cool thing is, their point values match their numeric values. For example, a 2 is worth 2 points, a 5 is worth 5 points, and so on. But here’s a twist: the aces are worth a mere 1 point each.

Special Powers

But wait, there’s more! Some cards have special powers that only work once. These are the Aces, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, and 9s. When you play one of these cards, it unleashes its unique effect.

Now, let’s talk about the aces for a moment. They are like magical erasers. When you play an ace, it wipes out all the points on the table – both yours and your opponents’. Talk about a power move!

Did you know that 2s can be used in two different ways? They are like a secret weapon that can give you an advantage in the game. First, you can play a 2 to scrap any permanent card on the table. This means that you can get rid of a card that your opponent played and don’t want anymore. Second, you can play a 2 to block a one-time effect card from taking place. This means that if your opponent tries to play a card that would have a big impact on the game, like stealing one of your cards or destroying something important, you can use a 2 to cancel it and stop it from happening. That’s pretty powerful, right? And here’s the cool part – you can even cancel another 2 with a 2! This means that if both players play a 2 at the same time, the first card becomes viable again and the second one is canceled out. It’s like a battle of 2s!

Now, let’s talk about 3s. 3s have a special ability too. When you play a 3, you get to look through the scrap pile and take a single card from it. The scrap pile is like a treasure trove of discarded cards, and you get to pick one and add it to your hand. But here’s the catch – once you take the card, the 3 that you played gets scrapped too. It’s a one-time thing, but it can be really useful if there’s a specific card you’re looking for.

Next up are 4s. Did you know that 4s can make your opponent discard cards? When you play a 4, your opponent has to take two cards from their hand, reveal them, and put them in the scrap pile. It’s like you’re forcing them to get rid of cards that they might have been saving for later. This can be a great way to disrupt your opponent’s strategy and make them lose valuable resources.

Now, let’s move on to 5s. 5s are all about drawing cards. When you play a 5, you get to draw the top two cards from the draw pile. It’s like a mini reward for playing a 5! Drawing cards is always a good thing because it gives you more options and can help you come up with new strategies. So, if you’re looking to expand your hand and get more cards to play, 5s are the way to go.

Finally, let’s talk about 6s. 6s are powerful cards that can scrap all permanents on the table, both yours and your opponents. Permanents are cards that stay on the table and have a continuous effect on the game. When you play a 6, you get to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. It’s like hitting the reset button and getting rid of everything that was on the table. This can be a game-changer and completely turn the tide in your favor.

In the game of 7s, when you play this card, you immediately draw another card. If there is a card on top of the draw pile that can be played, you must play it, even if it’s not in your favor. If there are no playable cards, the drawn card is discarded.

When you play a 9, you have the power to return one card from the table back to its owner’s hand. This gives you the ability to disrupt your opponent’s strategy.

Permanent Cards

Permanent cards in the game are 8s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings. These cards are played onto the table and their effects last as long as they remain on the table.

When you play an 8 as a permanent card, it needs to be placed sideways to differentiate it from a point card. As long as the 8 is on the table, your opponent is required to keep their hand exposed. This allows you to gain valuable insight into their possible moves.

When it’s time to take control of point cards, jacks come in handy. They allow me to assert my dominance by placing them on top of the card I want to take. This action not only claims the point card for me but also brings the jack to my side of the table. However, if the point card is removed or discarded, the jack goes with it. And here’s a neat trick: if I use a 9 on a jack, I can regain the point card that was taken away. But what happens if I have to play a jack and my opponent has no cards? In that case, I have to give away the jack by playing it on one of my cards, which then transfers it to my opponent’s side.

Now, let’s talk about the queens. They are like valiant defenders for my cards, standing tall and mighty. But here’s the catch: queens can’t defend themselves. However, as long as a queen is in play, my opponent can’t use any 2s, 9s, or jack effects on me. It’s like having a shield of protection. But be careful, 2s can still be used to remove the queens from the board, leaving my cards vulnerable. So, while queens are powerful, I need to be mindful and protect them from getting removed.

Did you know that owning kings in a game can actually make it easier for you to win? The more kings you have, the fewer points you need to be victorious. Let me break it down for you. One king reduces the points needed to 14 or more. If you have two kings, you only need 10 points or more. Three kings bring it down to 7 or more points. And if you’re lucky enough to have 4 kings, you’re looking at just 5 or more points to secure that win.

GAMEPLAY

Now let’s talk about how the game is played. It all starts with the dealer’s opponent. On your turn, you have a couple of options. You can either draw a card from the draw pile and add it to your hand, or you can play a card from your hand and see what happens. Once you’ve made your move, it’s time to pass the turn to the next player.

But what happens if the draw pile runs out of cards? Well, in that case, a player can choose to pass their turn. And if three consecutive turns are passed, the game ends in a draw.

Point Cards

When you play point cards, you place them faceup on your side of the table. These cards increase your score. You can also use them to Scuttle your opponent’s points. To Scuttle, you need to play a card that has a higher value or a card with the same value but a higher-ranked suit. Both cards are then discarded to the scrap pile.

One-time Effects

You can play these cards to activate their effects. Once the effect is complete, you discard the card to the scrap pile.

Permanent Cards

Permanent cards are played on the table and stay there. Their effects continue until they are discarded.

End of the Game

The game ends when a player reaches 21 or more points during their turn. This player is the winner of the game.

The game ends when a player reaches 21 or more points during their turn. This player is the winner of the game.