MUD
MUD Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Winning
You win by being the first player to have a select number of Voters (all of the same political leaning) in a select number of regions. These cards must be face-up on your Voter Map. You can win as either a Liberal or Conservative. An Undecided Voter is wild and can count toward either party win.
Winning Conditions
Winning conditions for...
- Two to five players: Have four Voters in all four regions to win.
- Six players or short games: Have three Voters in three regions to win.
Cards
Voters
They come in different regions, political leanings, and income brackets.
- Political Leaning: Liberal, Conservative, Undecided
- Income Bracket: Working class, Middle class, Upper class
- Region: South, Northeast, Midwest, West
Powers
(aka RATs)
Be a rat and use one of these cards to gain an advantage in the game (instructions on the card).
Scandals
Every time you use a RAT card, you MUST take a Scandal card. You may look at the Scandal card, but no one else should see it, and it must be placed face down in front of you. Each Scandal is typically a unique punishment that is only enacted when a Dig card is inflicted on you. Throughout the game, you may acquire many Scandals. If someone plays a Dig card on you, they get to pick which Scandal to reveal. They do not, however, get to look at what is on each Scandal card first.
A Dig card is also a RAT card, so whenever you play one, you, too, must draw a Scandal.
Setup
Relegate all Scandal cards to their own separate deck and discard pile. Everyone is dealt seven MUD cards to start. The rest of the deck is placed face down in the center as the draw pile.
The person who has held the highest level of elected office goes first.
Turns
On your turn, you may do any of the following:
-
Claim Voters face up in front of you — this is called your "Voter Map." When a Voter is on your map, it means you've secured their support. Any Voter you have in your hand can be played on your Voter Map. Limit: Three per turn.
Stack Voters of the same region, exposing the top third of every card, for better organization.
-
Abuse Power by playing RAT cards that let you achieve special abilities in the game. But remember that every time you play a RAT card, you MUST take a Scandal as well. Limit: Unlimited!
Once a player has decided their turn is over, they MUST draw back up to seven cards.
It's important to note that drawing cards always happens at the end of your turn. Turns move to the left.
Voting Bloc Advantages
If you have six or more Voters of the same income bracket in your Voter Map, you get an advantage every turn...
- Working Class: Steal a working-class Voter from another player's Voter Map.
- Middle Class: Play an extra Voter every turn (up to four Voters per turn).
- Upper Class: Discard one Scandal.
You get this advantage INSTANTLY the moment you have six or more Voters of the same income bracket.
Deals
Dealmaking is HIGHLY encouraged. You may trade cards and/or create alliances at any time, but you can't put any cards into play unless it's your turn.
In Pari Delicto
Two players may enter into an agreement whereby they both share a single Scandal card, allowing them to also share the ability of one RAT card. If the Scandal is revealed, the punishment applies to both players. The power granted to the player whose turn is not up yet will be available on their turn.
Alternate Ways to Play Scandals
- See No Evil: No one is permitted to look at a Scandal before it is revealed (not even the recipient).
- Hear No Evil: The recipient must announce what's on the card to everyone upon receiving it. After which, they place it face down.
- Say No Evil: The recipient of the Scandal must show the card to all players except themselves. After which, they place it face down. If the recipient accrues more Scandals, other players may read through their Scandals and pick which one they want to Dig.
Rule Clarifications
- Stealing a voter from another player's Voter Map means it goes into your HAND. It does not immediately go onto your Voter Map.
- If you begin your turn with fewer than seven cards, you do not get to draw back up to seven until the end of your turn. Use what you've got!
- You can place Voters of any political leaning, income bracket, or region on your Voter Map — it's good to diversify.
- Some Scandal punishments may pose no threat to you (but most do).
- If there are no more cards to draw, shuffle the discard pile and use that.
- When all Scandals are discarded, shuffle the discarded Scandal cards and use them as the new Scandal draw pile.
- In the rare instance in which no Scandal cards exist, RAT cards can be used scandal-free until a new Scandal card is discarded. This period of the game is called Absolute Immunity.
Quick Rules
Official Pillbox Games quick-rules summary, reproduced from the final page of the "Rules & Regulations".
Setup
Deal seven cards to every player. Draw back up to seven at the end of your turn.
Turns
Place up to three voters per turn. Play unlimited RATs. For every RAT you play, draw a scandal.
Winning
- Two to Five Players: Four aligned Voters in all four regions.
- Six Players or Shorter Games: Three aligned Voters in three regions.
Voting Bloc Advantages
Activated with six Voters of the same income bracket on your Voter Map.
- Working Class: Steal one working-class Voter from another player's Voter Map.
- Middle Class: Play an extra Voter every turn (up to four Voters per turn).
- Upper Class: Discard one Scandal.