Pirate Code
Pirate Code Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Aim of the Game
Guess the other pirates hidden codes; the player whose code is broken last is the winner.
Setting Up the Game
Before you start playing, build the game using the LEGO® building instructions provided in the set. Building the game teaches you more about the pieces and how you can use them. This makes it easier to rebuild or change the rules of your game later on.
Build the LEGO Dice using the coloured sides shown below:
(Diagram in the source booklet: the coloured tiles to fit onto the LEGO Dice.)
This set includes a tool to help you take tiles off the LEGO Dice.
Before each new game, reset the game to match the last page of the building instructions.
Before beginning, each player selects a chest and places four DIFFERENT coloured gems in an order of the player's choice inside the chest without the other players seeing.
Playing the Game
The youngest player starts first. Play then continues clockwise.
On your turn do the following:
- Roll the LEGO® Dice and take one coloured gem in that colour from the gem chest, AND
- Select a second gem in a colour of your choice from the gem chest, AND
- Use both the two coloured gems you have just taken to guess at one player's code, or split them between two players.
Place a coloured gem or move an existing one according to how you think the other players' coloured gems are positioned in their hidden pirate codes.
There are six different gem colours in total.
Guessing
If a coloured gem already on a player's guessing area is the correct colour, but in the wrong position, it is a good idea to use one of your guesses to move that coloured gem into a different position in the player's guessing area instead of placing a gem of that colour.
Remember that hidden pirate codes consist of four different coloured gems, so check if any colours have already been eliminated before making your guesses.
Scoring the Guesses
At the end of each player's turn, any guesses must be checked and scored. Scoring is as follows:
- If colour AND placement are CORRECT = Move the coloured gem forward into the matching spot in the gold area.
- If colour is CORRECT, BUT placement is WRONG = Do not move the coloured gem, it stays where it is on the guessing area.
- If colour is WRONG = Move the coloured gem to the brown area.
Winning the Game
The player whose secret code remains unbroken is the winner, becoming the pirate captain and taking all of the skeleton's treasure. All players, including those whose code has been guessed, continue guessing until only one pirate code remains.
Change: Your Game – Your Rules
The LEGO® Dice gives you the freedom to change the game and make it your own. You can change the playing area, the pieces and even the rules. Every little change makes it more and more YOUR game.
The secret to changing a game is to change only one thing at a time. That way, you can see if the change makes the game more fun. If it does, keep it and then try another.
Changing a game is always more fun when done together. That way everyone knows the rules and knows what is being changed. Remember to make sure everyone playing is aware of any new rules BEFORE you start playing.
Now that you know how to play the game using our rules, try one of the following suggestions to change the game, and then try to make one of your own.
1) Skeleton Bonus
Get three guesses every time you roll white.
Before beginning, place a coloured gem in the Skeleton's hand. Players now do three actions when rolling white:
a) Take one white coloured gem from the gem chest, AND b) Select a second gem in a colour of the player's choice from the gem chest, AND c) Take the coloured gem from the skeleton's hand.
After completing your turn, place a coloured gem of your choice from the gem chest in the skeleton's hand.
2) Two Player Game
On the inside of the box there are instructions showing how to re-build the set into a 2 player version.
Players alternate between setting and guessing the code. Players may use any combination of coloured gems, including coloured gems of the same colour, e.g. using one blue and three green coloured gems. The player using the fewest number of guesses wins. Scoring is the same as in regular Pirate Code except when colour AND placement are CORRECT = Move the coloured gem forward into the matching spot in the NEXT row.
3) Quick Game
Add an extra brown tile to the guessing area to make it ideal for younger players or a quick game.
Before beginning, each player selects a chest and places only THREE different coloured gems in an order of the player's choice inside the chest and places brown tiles on the guessing area like shown here. Play then continues as in regular Pirate Code.
Invent and Share Your Own Rules
Challenge yourself and see what new rules you can create. If they work, upload your "house rules" of the game to games.LEGO.co.uk and share it with others. Or check out what others have created and try playing the game using their house rules.
Go Online
games.LEGO.co.uk is packed with cool features. There is a short video showing you how to play the game, and all of the other exciting LEGO Games. You can also find more fantastic ways to Build, Play and Change your games.