Clickety Clack
Clickety Clack Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Goal of the Game
Well, it sounds easy enough: take a die from the pool, "click it" onto a second die, and write down the total in a row of your choice on your player board.
However, you should choose carefully! Each row has its own rules, and your possibilities tighten as the game progresses. Not every number you write down will necessarily bring you closer to victory. Scoring only happens at the very end.
Components
- 4 double-sided player boards
- 9 dice
- 4 dry-erase markers
Setup
Each player takes a player board and a marker. Each player board has an A side and a B side. Make sure all players are using the same side.
Note: for your first game, we recommend using the A side. The different rules for the B side are explained at the end of the rulebook.
Use a specific number of dice, depending on the number of players:
- 2 players: 5 dice
- 3 players: 7 dice
- 4 players: all 9 dice
Return any unused dice to the box. At the start of the first round, the youngest player receives all the dice.
How to Play
If you have the dice, it means you're the starting player this round. Start by rolling all the dice and placing them in the middle of the table: this is the dice pool. One by one and in clockwise order, each player takes 1 die from the pool, clicks it onto a second die, and writes down the combined value on their player board. After all players have taken 2 dice, the round ends.
How do you get new numbers onto your player board?
On your turn, take a die from the pool and click it onto a second die that's still in the pool. Announce the sum of their values out loud. Place the first die (the one you took) in front of you. It is no longer part of the dice pool. Leave the second die (the one you clicked onto) in the pool.
Example: as the starting player, Vera rolls all the dice. She takes a 6 from the dice pool and clicks it onto a 5. She announces the sum out loud: "11". She places the 6 in front of her.
Next, you must record the sum you announced on your player board. Choose 1 of the 5 rows on your player board, and write down the sum in its leftmost empty space. This ends your turn.
Which numbers can you write in which rows?
Each row has a special rule that determines which numbers it can contain. These special rules must be respected at all times. If this is not possible, you're not allowed to write down the number in that row.
Here are the special rules for the 5 rows on the A side of the board, from top to bottom:
- Row 1 (≠ symbol): In this row, you can only write numbers that are different. The order of the numbers doesn't matter. Example: 4 – 7 – 2 – 10 – 9 – 8 …
- Row 2 (arrow up symbol): In this row, the numbers have to be in ascending order, from left to right. You're allowed to leave gaps. Example: 2 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 8 – 9 …
- Row 3 (arrow down symbol): In this row, the numbers have to be in descending order, from left to right. You're allowed to leave gaps. Example: 11 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 4 – 3 …
- Row 4 (≈ symbol): In this row, numbers have to alternate between even and odd. You can freely choose the first number, but after that you must respect this special rule for each following number. Also, you're not allowed to use the same number twice. Example: 5 – 8 – 3 – 10 – 11 – 4 …
- Row 5 (! symbol): In this row, you must write the pre-printed numbers. Example: 6 – 9 – 3 – 8 – 4 – 10 …
Note: on the A side of the board, you're not allowed to write the same number twice in any of the rows.
Example: Vera writes the "11" in her third row. All of the numbers here must be descending, from left to right.
What happens if you can't or don't want to write a number?
This is called a failed roll. In this case, you must cross off the leftmost available failed roll space in your failed roll zone. The minus points of all the spaces you crossed off will be calculated toward your total at the end of the game.
After a failed roll, reroll all the dice that are still in the dice pool. Then, carry out your turn as usual, by taking a die from the pool, clicking it onto another die, and writing the sum on your player board. If you once again can't or don't want to write down a number, you must still take 1 die from the pool and place it in front of you. This ends your turn without any further penalties.
After you've ended your turn, the player to your left takes their turn. They take 1 die from the pool, click it onto a second die, write down the sum on their player board, etc. Continue playing like this until all players have taken 2 dice and there's only 1 die remaining in the pool. This marks the end of the round.
The last player to have taken a die from the pool now takes all the dice and rerolls them. This creates a new dice pool, and the next round can start.
End of the Game
The game ends at the end of a round in which at least 1 player has achieved 1 or more of the following end game conditions:
- At least 3 of your rows have a number to the right of the finish line.
- At least 2 of your rows have a number in the rightmost space.
- All 4 of your failed roll spaces are crossed off.
In this case, don't start a new round. Instead, proceed to end game scoring. In each row, look at the rightmost space in which you wrote a number. You score the points listed at the bottom of that space. Write down these points in the point spaces to the right of the corresponding rows.
Careful: some of the spaces don't have a point value at the bottom. If the last number you wrote down is in one of those spaces, you do not score any points for that row!
Next, add up all the points of your 5 point spaces, deduct the minus points you crossed off in your failed roll zone, and write your grand total in the final score space at the bottom right of your player board. The player with the most points is the winner. In case of a tie, the victory is shared.
Example of end game scoring
Andy ended the game because he crossed the finish line in 3 of his rows. He adds up the points of all of his rows: 12 + 15 + 0 + 20 + 5 = 52. He has 1 minus point, which he must deduct from this total. This means his grand total is 51 points.
Point values of the A-side board
The rulebook text refers to the point values printed at the bottom of each space. The A side of the board is printed with the following values, read from the board illustration (the "no value" spaces are the shaded ones):
- Row 1 (≠): 1, 2, 4, no value, 8, no value | finish line | 12, 15, no value, 25
- Row 2 (arrow up): 1, 2, 4, no value, 8, no value | finish line | 12, 15, no value, 25
- Row 3 (arrow down): 1, 2, 5, no value, 8, no value | finish line | 12, 15, no value, 30
- Row 4 (≈): 1, 2, 5, no value, 12, no value | finish line | 15, 20, no value, 35
- Row 5 (!): 1, 2, 5, no value, 12, no value | finish line | 15, 20, no value, 35
Points are listed in the point spaces to the right of each row. The four failed roll spaces are printed with the penalties -1, -2, -3 and -4, and the final score space is at the bottom right of the board.
Variant: B-Side
Once you've familiarized yourself with Clickety Clack and you want more of a challenge, feel free to use the B side of the player boards. This side follows the same rules as the A side, with a few exceptions.
Which numbers can you write in which rows?
Here are the special rules for the 5 rows on the B side of the board, from top to bottom:
- Row 1 (ascending/descending symbol): In this row, you must choose whether you want to write your numbers in ascending or descending order. You're allowed to leave gaps. Your second number determines whether your row is ascending or descending. Example: 2 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 8 – 9 …
- Row 2 (left/right arrows symbol): In this row, each following number must be smaller than the smallest number, or bigger than the biggest number in the row. Example: the row contains the numbers 6 – 7 – 5 – 3 – 9 – 10. The only numbers that are still allowed from here on out are 2, 11, and 12. You're no longer allowed to write down a 4 or an 8.
- Row 3 (AA BB CC pairs symbol): In this row, you must write down numbers in pairs. If you write down a number, the next number you write down here must be identical. However, you are not allowed to use the same pair twice. Also, pairs of 6, 7 or 8 are not allowed. Example: 5 – 5 – 10 – 10 – 3 …
- Row 4 (zigzag symbol): In this row, the ascending/descending order of the numbers must alternate. You can freely choose the first 2 numbers, but after that you must respect this special rule for each following number. Also, you're not allowed to use the same number twice. Example: 5 – 8 – 4 – 6 – 2 – 11 …
- Row 5 (2–6 / 8–12 symbol): In this row, you must write either a range of small numbers (2–6) or a range of big numbers (8–12). You may choose the order of the numbers, as well as which range you want to start with. However, you're only allowed to switch the range once (from small numbers to big or vice versa). You're also not allowed to write a 7 in this row. Example: 6 – 2 – 5 – 3 – (switch) – 9 – 10 …
Note: just like on the A side of the player boards, you're not allowed to write the same number in the same row twice. The only exception is the third row (number pairs).
End of the game (B-side)
One of the end game conditions is slightly different. Players must have a number to the right of the finish line in at least 4 of the rows (instead of at least 3 rows on the A side). All other end game conditions remain the same.
Note: the point values of the B side are not reproduced in the rulebook text or its illustrations, so they are not transcribed here. Apart from the exceptions listed above, the B side follows the same rules as the A side.