Perquackey

Perquackey Rulebook

Table of Contents

Object of the Game
Components
Setup
Forming Words
Rules
Score Chart
Bonus for Completing Word Groups
Sample Scoring

Object of the Game

PERQUACKEY is played by two or more persons, either individually or with partners. For partners, see rule #8.

The object of the game is to spell as many ALLOWABLE words as possible within the given time.

Components

The game is played with 13 cubes; 10 with black letters and 3 with red letters. The black lettered cubes will be referred to as the NONVULNERABLE cubes. The red lettered cubes will be referred to as the VULNERABLE cubes.

Only the letters that appear on the top side of the cubes may be used.

Setup

To determine who starts the game, one of the vulnerable cubes is taken and thrown by each player in turn. The player throwing the letter nearest to the "A" starts the game. The first player places the 10 nonvulnerable cubes in the cup and throws them on the playing surface. After the cubes are thrown, the timer is set by the opponent and the player begins to form as many ALLOWABLE words as possible (see rules).

Forming Words

WORDS MUST BE FORMED IN A SINGLE LINE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND CANNOT BE FORMED IN CROSS-WORD FASHION.

ALL CUBES MAY BE FORMED AND RE-FORMED AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ALLOWABLE WORDS WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT ALLOTTED BY THE TIMER. When the time limit has expired, the cubes are returned to the cup and passed to the player on the left.

Rules

Only words found in a standard dictionary are allowable. No proper names, foreign words or abbreviations are allowed. The use of an "S" to make a plural is not allowed if the same word has been used to make a singular in the same throw.
No words containing less than 3 letters are allowed. NOT MORE THAN FIVE WORDS (word group) CONTAINING THE SAME NUMBER OF LETTERS ARE ALLOWED IN THE SAME THROW (see score chart).
The player must form, pronounce and spell out the words he has formed. The person to the right of the player must write down all of the words spelled and called out by the player. When any word group of the allowable level has been completed, the person writing the words must advise the player that the word group has been completed.
If all the allowable words of any two word groups, that is (the 3 and 4 letter word groups, the 4 and 5 letter word groups, etc.) are made in one throw, a BONUS is given as indicated on the score chart. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO COMPLETE ONE WORD GROUP BEFORE STARTING ANOTHER WORD GROUP.
Only the 10 NONVULNERABLE cubes may be used until a score of 2,000 points has been made. Upon attaining a score of 2,000 points, the player becomes VULNERABLE. At this time, the 3 VULNERABLE cubes MUST BE ADDED. WHEN USING ALL 13 CUBES, NO 3 LETTER WORDS ARE ALLOWED.
After becoming vulnerable (2,000 points) the player MUST make a minimum of 500 points in one throw or he will be set (penalized) 500 points. This penalty is subtracted from his score and whatever points he made on the throw are not allowed. AT NO TIME MAY A PLAYER USE THE VULNERABLE CUBES IF HIS SCORE IS LESS THAN 2,000 POINTS.
THE FIRST PERSON TO ATTAIN A TOTAL SCORE OF 5,000 POINTS WINS THE GAME.
When playing partners, the partner can suggest words to the player, but cannot touch the cubes. A partner may suggest words ONLY AFTER the player has combined all of the 3 and 4 letter words. If the partner suggests a word illegally his opponents are awarded 300 points. When the partners are vulnerable (no 3 letter words being allowed), the partner can suggest words to the player only after the 4 letter words are completed.

Score Chart

Points for each word, by number of allowable words in the throw (rows) and number of letters in one word (columns):

Number of Allowable Words	3 Letter	4 Letter	5 Letter	6 Letter	7 Letter	8 Letter	9 Letter	10 Letter
ONE	60	120	200	300	500	750	1000	1500
TWO	70	140	250	400	650	1000	1500	3000
THREE	80	160	300

Bonus for Completing Word Groups

3 and 4 letter words — 300
4 and 5 letter words — 500
5 and 6 letter words — 800
6 and 7 letter words — 1200
7 and 8 letter words — 1850

Sample Scoring

First throw:

3 Letter	4 Letter	5 Letter	6 Letter
POT	GOAT	THERE	THREAT
PAT	TREE	THREE	THROAT
TAP	TEAR	AGREE
TOP	PEAR	GREET
HOT	HEAR	GREAT
100	200	400	400

Total of word groups: 100 + 200 + 400 + 400 = 1,100. Bonus for completing 3 and 4 letter words: 300. Bonus for completing 4 and 5 letter words: 500. Total Score: 1,900

Second throw:

3 Letter	4 Letter	5 Letter	6 Letter
TOW	TREE	TOWER	TETHER
HOG	TORE	WATER
TAG	GORE
	GEAR
	TEAR
80	200	250	300

Total: 80 + 200 + 250 + 300 = 830.