Fluster Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Equipment
• Object
• Preparation
• Play
• Blanks
• Scoring and Winning

Equipment

• 4 game pads, numbered 1 thru 4.
• 4 pad envelopes, numbered 1 thru 4.

Object

The object of the game is to obtain the highest score. The player with the highest Grand Total score wins.

Preparation

Insert Game Pad #1 into Envelope #1, #2 into #2, etc. Each player receives a Game Pad and Envelope set. Each sheet contains two separate crossword blocks to be played simultaneously. In order to attain the highest score, each player must play the left and right blocks to create as many words as possible, both Down and Across on each block. Note that the numbers from 1 to 25 appear at random in the squares of each block. No two blocks are identical.

Play

One player is selected to begin the game. This player calls out any letter of the alphabet he chooses and also the number of the square on which he wants it to be written. Then, in secret, he and all other players must write this letter in the square of that number in either the left block or the right block on his score pad. Each player may choose which block, left or right, he writes the letter in so that it will work to his advantage. The game progresses as each player in turn, clockwise, calls out a letter and the number of the square in which it must be placed to form as many words in both blocks as possible.

All words Down on each line must begin at the top of each block, and all words Across must begin at the left side of each block, unless blanks are used to begin and/or end each word. In order to create two or more words on the same line, blanks must be used to separate each word.

Blanks

Each player has the option of selecting a Blank instead of a letter to be placed in any numbered square on either side. All other players must follow suit and place a Blank in their corresponding numbered square on either side of their choice, as in the case of the letters. These Blanks give each player the opportunity to better utilize the space available to create more words.

Blanks must be used to begin and/or end all 4, 3, 2, and 1-letter words. The letters "A" and "I" may be counted as 1-letter words provided they are isolated by Blanks.

Example: If a player has the letters A, T, space, I, T on the same line, he should call the center space BLANK thus forming two 2-letter words, "AT" and "IT", for four points. (The printed example shows the line A T [blank] I T.) Otherwise these four letters have no point value. (The printed example shows the same line with the centre square shaded in, to illustrate the case where it is not a Blank.)

Scoring and Winning

The circles at the right and bottom of the two blocks are for recording the word scores. Each player receives one point for each letter of every word he has created both Down and Across on both blocks.

1. Beginning with the Left block, add the number of letters contained in each word in the first Row Down, and place the total in the circle at the bottom of that row (see example below).
2. Repeat this scoring process for the other Rows Down. Then, add the number of letters in each word contained in each Row Across, and place the total in the circle to the right of each Row.
3. Add all the totals of the Down Rows for total "A" and all the totals of the Across Rows for total "B". Follow the same scoring procedure for the Right block totals "C" and "D".
4. If "A" totals 15 or more points, you receive a bonus of 10 additional points. The same applies to "B", "C", and "D".
5. Add the Left and Right block totals "A", "B", "C", and "D" together plus bonus points, if any, for your Grand Total. The player with the highest score wins.

The maximum number of points which can be scored is 140.