Battle of the Bands: Encore Edition Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Contents
• Object
• Battle of the Bands Basic Concept
• Rules of the Game
  • Getting Started
  • Your Turn
  • Cards and Their Functions
  • Band Member Cards
  • Band Members as Monkey Wrenches
  • Instrument Cards
  • Instruments as Monkey Wrenches
  • Reputation Cards
  • Music Biz Cards
  • Gig Cards
  • Monkey Wrench Cards
  • Contract Cards
  • Hit Single Cards
• House Rules
• Quick Rules Section
  • Regular Round
  • Gig Round

Contents

120 Cards: 4 ME BAND MEMBER, 19 BAND MEMBER, 26 MUSIC BIZ, 17 MONKEY WRENCH, 9 GIG, 10 HIT SINGLE, 11 REPUTATION, 6 CONTRACT and 18 INSTRUMENT.

1 Rule sheet (Double-Sided), 4 Six-sided dice, 1 PVC Tray

Object

To be the first player to accumulate a winning total of SUPERSTAR POINTS (the stars in the upper left corner of certain cards), in any combination of HIT SINGLE and GIG cards.

(And of course, if you have the right INSTRUMENT type on your ME card, you get a SUPERSTAR POINT!)

• 2-player game/12 SUPERSTAR POINTS
• 3-player game/10 SUPERSTAR POINTS
• 4-6-player game/8 SUPERSTAR POINTS

For a shorter game, you play to a smaller SUPERSTAR POINT total.

Battle of the Bands Basic Concept

Each player builds a band, using BAND MEMBER, INSTRUMENT and REPUTATION cards. With their bands, they "battle" their opponents during GIG ROUNDS and play HIT SINGLES, GIGS and CONTRACTS worth SUPERSTAR POINTS. These SUPERSTAR POINTS are the victory points, with which they become rock and roll superstars!

Rules of the Game

Getting Started

At the start of each game, everyone randomly chooses a ME BAND MEMBER card to place in front of themselves on the table. Unused ME cards are kept out of the deck. (This card represents you as a musician in your band. This card cannot be taken out of your band.) The dealer shuffles the rest of the cards and deals 5 cards to each player. The person to the dealer's left goes first, drawing a card from the deck (draw pile), for a total of 6 cards.

Your Turn

On your turn, you draw until you have 6 cards in your hand, and take one of the following actions:

• Play a BAND MEMBER on your band. (Max. 4 BAND MEMBER per band at a time.)
• Play an INSTRUMENT on a BAND MEMBER in your band. (1 INSTRUMENT per BAND MEMBER at a time.)
• Attempt to play a REPUTATION card on ANY BAND MEMBER in play. (1 REPUTATION per BAND MEMBER at a time.)
• Play a CONTRACT card on your band. (1 CONTRACT per BAND at a time.)
• Play a HIT SINGLE on your band. (Must already have a CONTRACT or SIGNED GIG card in your band.)
• Play a GIG card and start a GIG ROUND.
• Play a MUSIC BIZ card.
• Discard up to 3 cards.

Cards and Their Functions

All of the cards explain their function in the game. Familiarize yourself with the cards before playing the game.

Band Member Cards

A band can have as few as 1 BAND MEMBER or as many as 4 BAND MEMBERS. (The ME and PRODUCER cards count toward the maximum of 4.) Each BAND MEMBER is worth X amount of HIP POINTS, (HP) as shown on the upper left-hand corner of the card. These points, used in conjunction with HIP POINTS found on INSTRUMENT and REPUTATION cards in play, help determine the strength of your band during a GIG.

Some BAND MEMBERS are more adept with certain musical instrument types. When the appropriate BAND MEMBER and INSTRUMENT combination are played together, they are worth 1 more HP than normal, as we shall see in the INSTRUMENT card example below.

EXAMPLE: Tisha has ME (1 HP) on the table and Johnny T. (1 HP/+1 with string instruments) in her hand. For her turn she places Johnny T. on the table as her first turn's action. Her turn is over.

The PRODUCER card is a special type of BAND MEMBER card, and counts towards the 4 BAND MEMBER limit in a band; when played, it gives the player 2 actions per turn, instead of 1.

When the PRODUCER enters any band, it allows that player to immediately take another action. You may play any combination of cards, even 2 GIG cards! (The GIGS would be played separately, one after the other, with MONKEY WRENCHES being played during each GIG ROUND.)

You cannot place any INSTRUMENT or REPUTATION cards on the PRODUCER, nor can it help you during a GIG ROUND. It can, however, be targeted by MUSIC BIZ cards.

Band Members as Monkey Wrenches

BAND MEMBERS may be played during GIGS as positive MONKEY WRENCHES to your group. (They are referred to as GUEST STARS.) They are discarded after the GIG is over. (Thanks for the help, man!)

GUEST STARS DO NOT count towards your maximum of 4 BAND MEMBERS, as they are not in your band. Your band can exceed 4 BAND MEMBERS during any GIG.

Instrument Cards

As with BAND MEMBER cards, each INSTRUMENT card is worth X amount of HIP POINTS (HP). Any BAND MEMBER may use any INSTRUMENT; simply place the card under your BAND MEMBER to show the INSTRUMENT they are playing. Normally, you cannot exchange INSTRUMENT cards between BAND MEMBERS once they are played. Only special cards, such as THEFT, can alter which INSTRUMENTS are being played by whom.

Only 1 INSTRUMENT card may be played on a BAND MEMBER at any time. Only cards can change INSTRUMENTS on BAND MEMBERS, once they are in play.

No INSTRUMENT cards may be played if no BAND MEMBERS are there to receive them.

EXAMPLE: On Tisha's next turn, she draws the Guitar INSTRUMENT card, worth 1 HP. For her turn, she places it under Johnny T. and his penchant for stringed instruments (+1), making him worth 3 HP instead of the normal 2 HP.

Instruments as Monkey Wrenches

INSTRUMENTS may be played on BAND MEMBERS during GIGS as positive MONKEY WRENCHES to your group. They are discarded after the GIG is over. (Thanks for the loaner, dude!)

Reputation Cards

As with the BAND MEMBER and INSTRUMENT cards, REPUTATION cards have an X amount of HIP POINTS (HP).

The difference is that you may not simply place a REPUTATION card on a BAND MEMBER. You first choose any BAND MEMBER, in any band in play, you wish to place the REPUTATION on, state which version, positive or negative, you are attempting, then you must roll less than or equal to the number of HP already possessed by that BAND MEMBER (and their INSTRUMENT, if they have one.). If you succeed, place the REPUTATION under the BAND MEMBER to show that BAND MEMBER'S REPUTATION.

Only 1 REPUTATION card may be played on a BAND MEMBER at any time.

No REPUTATION cards may be played if no BAND MEMBERS are there to receive them.

REPUTATION cards that are unsuccessfully attempted are discarded.

EXAMPLE: Tisha has Johnny T. (1 HP) with the Guitar (1 HP) and she wants to place the Asskicker (1 HP) REPUTATION card on him. She must roll a 3 or less, Johnny T.'s 1, the Guitar's 1, and his +1 for using a string instrument equal 3. For Johnny T. to become an Asskicker, Tisha must roll a 3 or less. She rolls a 2, Johnny T. is truly THE Asskicker!!

Music Biz Cards

These cards are played during a regular turn, either on you or an opponent. Each card explains what the card does - usually targeting a card already on the table.

EXAMPLE: Danny has Kym using a Sax and having the REPUTATION of Teen Dream. On Tisha's turn she plays the TALK SHOW card on Kym, flipping the card from Teen Dream REPUTATION, to Stalked REPUTATION, causing her HP total to diminish.

Gig Cards

When a GIG card is played it starts a GIG ROUND. Everyone may participate during a GIG ROUND by playing as many MONKEY WRENCH cards as they wish (also see BAND MEMBERS and INSTRUMENTS). The person playing the GIG card plays the first MONKEY WRENCH, then, clockwise, each player taking turns playing 1 card until all of the players have played as many of the MONKEY WRENCH cards as they wish (MONKEY WRENCH cards are optional and need not be played by any players to participate in the GIG).

MONKEY WRENCH play ends when all players have passed (not played any cards). The entire HP of each band is then tallied, subtracting the modifiers of any MONKEY WRENCHES in play. Everyone rolls a die, the audience's reaction to their set, then adds that amount to their HP total. The band with the highest total wins the GIG card and places it with their other SUPERSTAR POINT (SP) cards.

If a tie occurs between the highest bands, the GIG goes to the person who played it, even if they weren't part of the tie, or even if they couldn't participate in the GIG! (They get the credit for putting on such a great show!)

Some GIG cards have the word SIGNED on them. SIGNED GIGS act like CONTRACTS. This means that the winner of this card is able to start playing HIT SINGLE cards on their next action. A band may have a single CONTRACT and any number of SIGNED GIG cards in play at the same time.

EXAMPLE: Tisha has a 1 SUPERSTAR SIGNED GIG card in her hand. She signals a GIG ROUND, by saying, "Let's Gig!" and places the GIG card between her and her opponent, Danny.

Danny plays "Big in Japan" MONKEY WRENCH on himself, giving his band 3 extra Hip Points. (His band being ME (1 HP), Kym (1 HP) with a Sax (2HP) AND A Stalked REPUTATION card (-1), totaling 6HP.

Tisha's band is Asskicker (1 HP) Johnny T. (1 HP), and his Guitar (4 HP, remember the +1 Johnny T. has for stringed instruments) and ME (1HP), totaling 5.

She passes.

Danny then plays Fella as a GUESTSTAR (which will be discarded after the GIG.) making his band total to 7.

Both players pass on playing any more cards.

Danny rolls a 3 on his die, giving him 10 HP.

Tisha rolls a 6, giving her a final score of 11 HP, winning the gig. She now has 1 SP towards her victory! (And can begin playing HIT SINGLES on her next turn.)

Monkey Wrench Cards

These are cards played exclusively during GIGS. They modify the HP of you or your opponent's band as well as other effects. Each card explains its game effect for the GIG.

NOTE: You may play BAND MEMBERS and INSTRUMENTS during GIGS, see those sections of the rules.

Contract Cards

These cards are played as a regular turn action; a CONTRACT card is placed on your band. You may begin to play HIT SINGLES on your next action as long as you have a CONTRACT card in play. A band may NOT have more than 1 CONTRACT card in play at a time.

Hit Single Cards

As with GIG and CONTRACT cards, HIT SINGLE cards have a SUPERSTAR POINT (SP) total, as shown on each card's upper left-hand corner, using the number of stars shown.

A band must have either a CONTRACT or SIGNED GIG card in their band to play HIT SINGLES.

When played, it gives the player that amount of SP towards their victory total.

Also, every HIT SINGLE card is worth a +1 to their owner during every GIG they participate in. (The song everyone came to hear!)

EXAMPLE: Tisha has a SIGNED GIG card in play. On her turn, she plays a Smash HIT SINGLE card over her SIGNED GIG card. She now has 3 SP towards her victory total and a +1 to her band during GIGS!

House Rules

We made Battle of the Bands very open ended, if there is a rule that doesn't fit with your style of play, feel free to add or change a rule to your group's liking.

Several examples of house rules may be:

• As a turn action, any player may swap INSTRUMENT cards within their band and then discard a card.
• Anyone can play a BAND MEMBER on any band in play.
• Anyone can play an INSTRUMENT on any BAND MEMBER in any band in play.
• During your turn, you may replace a BAND MEMBER from your band with a new BAND MEMBER from your hand.
• Every player must name his or her band before the game begins.

Quick Rules Section

Regular Round

On your turn, you draw till you have 6 cards in your hand and take one of the following actions:

• Play a BAND MEMBER on your band.
• Play an INSTRUMENT on a BAND MEMBER in your band.
• Attempt to play a REPUTATION on ANY BAND MEMBER in play.
• Play a CONTRACT on your band.
• Play a HIT SINGLE on your band. (You must have a CONTRACT or SIGNED GIG in your band.)
• Play a GIG card and start a GIG ROUND (See Below).
• Play a MUSIC BIZ card.
• Discard up to 3 cards.

Gig Round

During a GIG round, you may play any of the following card types:

• MONKEY WRENCH (Used only during GIGs.)
• BAND MEMBERS (Called GUEST STARS: discard after the GIG is over.)
• INSTRUMENTS (Play on a BAND MEMBER or GUEST STAR: Discard after the GIG is over.)

NOTE: Each HIT SINGLE card in your band gives you a +1 to your total HP for the GIG.

Starting with the player that played the GIG, each participating player chooses to play a card or pass until everyone passes. Each player then rolls a die (audience reaction to their band) and adds it to their band's modified HP (from the total of all their cards: BAND MEMBER, REPUTATION, INSTRUMENT, MONKEY WRENCH, HIT SINGLE). Highest total wins the GIG card. If there is a tie, the GIG goes to the person that played it.