Hoax
Hoax Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
To play this game you will need:
- 20 tokens in each of 3 colors representing gold, grain and wine (60 total).
- German edition calls for say 50 additional neutral tokens, used for eliminating roles on player sheets.
- 2 each Character Cards for King, Judge, Vicar, Wizard, Thief and Peasant (total of 12). Standard playing cards can be used for this purpose, say spades and clubs.
- German edition added 2 Merchant Cards, total of 14.
- 1 each Suspicion Card, visibly different than Character Cards, for each of the above roles (total of 6/7). Diamond suited playing cards would suffice.
- Two-sided player sheet for each player, black and white side for original rules, colored side for German edition.
Start
- Each player is dealt one Character Card, which is his secret identity.
- All tokens are placed in the center of the table (the "Castle").
- Each player takes one player sheet, flipped to the appropriate side.
- Each player takes one gold, grain or wine token, his choice.
- German edition has each player place one neutral token on a role that he is NOT.
- One player is chosen to go first.
Object
There are two ways to win:
- Be the last person still in the game (i.e. identity still secret).
- Be falsely accused of deception by the group.
Resources
During the game, you will acquire resources (gold, grain, wine), either from the castle or from other players. These tokens have no inherent value and none is worth more than the others. However, a set of 3 tokens (one gold, one grain, one wine, also known as a trio) can be used as follows:
- You can immediately (on completing the set) or later (as an action in a subsequent turn) return the trio to the castle and buy information.
- If you keep the trio for later use, it is safely stored "in the vault." Tokens in the vault are safe from all other players except the Thief, but can be broken up (taken out of the vault) if the owner chooses.
Turn Actions
On your turn, you say "As the
Players do not need to pay in taxes or tithes any tokens they don't have, or any tokens in the vault. For example, if the tithe is one grain and a player has no grain outside her vault, she pays nothing.
Other Actions (Reactions)
When someone takes a turn action, any player can take a supplemental Reaction as described on the player sheets. The following combinations are not allowed:
- You cannot fine or pardon yourself.
- You cannot impose a fine for something you declared illegal (**).
- You cannot pardon someone for a fine you imposed (**).
(**) unless there are only two players left
Notes:
- Even if an action is illegal, it still happens; you need only pay any fine or pardon fee, or declare yourself immune as Wizard.
- You can pardon someone (as Vicar) for something you declared illegal (as King).
- You need not pay any fine or pardon fee from your vault but you may choose to.
- The first person to speak as a given role assumes that role and prevents others from adopting it.
- The German edition allows multiple players to declare themselves King/Judge/Vicar at once. The victim player can then choose which King/Judge/Vicar she wants to pay.
- German edition also prohibits a player from Reacting as King on her own action.
Challenge
If you believe that any player is an imposter, you can call out "Hoax." All the players still in the game vote on whether to make a challenge. If a majority (or 1 player when only 2 are left) vote 'yes,' excluding the alleged imposter, the player must admit whether he is lying or not. If he is, his action is cancelled, he gives back any ill-gotten gains, and he cannot pretend to have that role again. He puts a neutral token on that role on his player sheet as a reminder. If he is falsely accused, he shows his character card and wins the game.
Example
The following is a not atypical example of one player's turn.
Marlene: As the King, I declare a tax. Judy: As the Wizard, I am immune. Greta: As the Wizard, I am immune. (Bette pays Marlene 1 grain. Marilyn pays Marlene 1 wine.) Marilyn: As the King, I declare that illegal. Bette: As the Judge, I impose a fine of 2 grain. Marilyn: As the Vicar, I offer a pardon for 1 gold. Marlene: As the Wizard, I'm immune. Marilyn: You're not the Wizard! (Confusion. The group agrees to challenge Marlene.) Marlene: Ok, so maybe I'm not the Wizard. (Marlene pays 1 gold to Marilyn for the pardon and covers the Wizard space on her sheet with a neutral token.)
Notes:
- Marlene cannot act as Wizard again.
- Some players have adopted more than one role in the same turn. Obviously some or all of these roles are false, but which??
Buying Information
Any turn when you have a set of 3 different tokens (including the turn when you get the trio) you can return the trio to the castle and buy information. You give one player the Suspicion Cards and ask to be shown one thing that the player is not. The player cannot show you:
- Something he has previously shown you.
- Something she has been successfully challenged on (e.g. Marlene as Wizard).
Showing you a card does not prevent the player from using that role; only a public challenge does that. (If the player has the nerve to play a role that he has shown you, you must decide whether to challenge or not.)
Individual Accusation
At any time, you can accuse a player of having a specific role. You secretly pass the player one of the suspicion cards. The player says yes or no. Neither of you reveals which card was passed. One of you is now out of the game, with his tokens forfeited to the other. (You if your accusation is wrong, the other player if your accusation is correct.)
In the German edition, Accusations may only be made as a turn action.
Records
You are not allowed to keep any written records.
German Endgame
At the end of a player turn when only two players remain, there is a showdown. At the start of a showdown, both players cover all of the identities that they have shown to their opponent. If a player buys information during a showdown, then an extra space is covered as usual. In the showdown, each player takes turns doubting one identity of the other, or she may make an Accusation.
German edition also had a 'throne point' mechanism, scoring over multiple rounds. This is not covered here.
Player Sheets
Each player sheet is a table with a column per role (card value in parentheses) and two rows: the Turn action and the Reaction. The first column ("ALL") lists actions available to every player regardless of role. Cell contents are given below, role by role.
Original Edition Sheet (black and white side)
Header notes: Start game with one random card, one token (player's choice). Single player may only "Chain" Reactions when down to two players.
| Role | Turn action | Reaction (1st player only) |
|---|---|---|
| ALL | Buy info for trios, as many as desired | Accusation OR "Doubt" another player. If >50% agree prohibit future role (if correct) or other player WINS |
| Peasant (2) | Take 2 grain | None |
| Thief (J) | Take 1-2 tokens of one type from IN or OUT of vault. | None |
| Wizard (A) | Cast a spell, taking all tokens OUTSIDE vault from one player. | Declare yourself immune to King's tax, Judge's penalties, Vicar's tithe and Wizard's spells. |
| Vicar (10) | Declare tithe of one type of token paid to you (if player has one). | Pardon another player from "judgement" (see above) if he pays you token of your choice. |
| Judge (Q) | Take grain or wine | Impose "judgement" on "illegal" act (see above). Penalize up to 2 tokens, your choice, paid to you. If two, king gets one. |
| King (K) | Take wine or gold OR Tax all players 1 token (their choice) |
Footer: Taxes, Spells, Tithes, Penalties only compelled from supplies OUTSIDE vaults (trios).
Original Edition Sheet, variant (second sheet in the source)
Identical to the sheet above, except that the ALL turn action reads "Buy info for trios, as many as desired OR Accusation" (Accusation as a Turn action).
German Edition Sheet (colored side)
Header notes: Start game with one card, one token (player's choice), cover one role you are NOT. If multiple players select Reactions, target gets to choose who to pay.
| Role | Turn action | Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| ALL | Buy info for trios, as many as desired OR Accusation | "Doubt" another player. If >50% agree prohibit future role (if correct) or other player WINS |
| Peasant (2) | Take 2 grain | None |
| Thief (J) | Take 1-2 tokens of one type from IN or OUT of vault. | None |
| Merchant (6) | Take 1 Gold OR Trade X supplies (one type) for X from another player or bank | None |
| Wizard (A) | Cast a spell, taking all tokens OUTSIDE vault from one player. | Declare yourself immune to King's tax, Judge's penalties, Vicar's tithe and Wizard's spells. |
| Vicar (10) | Take 2 wine OR All players pay you tithe of 1 token, their choice | Pardon another player from "judgement" (see above) if he pays you token of your choice. |
| Judge (Q) | Take 1 grain or wine |
Footer: Taxes, Spells, Trades, Tithes, Penalties only compelled from supplies OUTSIDE vaults. SHOWDOWN when two left (alternate doubt OR Accuse actions).
(The source includes a second, identical copy of the German sheet for two-sided printing.)