Profiler
Profiler Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 100 Character cards
- 50 Phrase cards
- 10 Number cards, 4 of which are for the Challenge variant
- 10 Number tiles, 4 of which are for the Challenge variant
- 1 score track (the reverse side is used for the Challenge variant)
- 1 marker
- 1 scale, running from +5 at the top to -5 at the bottom
- The rulebook
Object of the Game
Move as far as possible along the score track by all finding the right character together. This is a cooperative game: all the players are on the same team.
Setup
- Leave the Number tiles and Number cards 7 to 10 in the box. They are used only for the Challenge variant.
- Form two separate piles on one side of the table: the Character cards and the Phrase cards.
- Line up the 6 Number tiles in order on the table.
- Stack the 6 Number cards in front of the youngest player.
- Place the scale, the score track (red side up) and the marker (at the start of the track) in the middle of the table.
A game lasts 5 rounds. The youngest player is the Profiler for the first round.
Playing a Round
- Draw 6 Character cards and line them up under the Number tiles.
- The Profiler secretly draws a Number card at random. This number corresponds to one of the 6 characters in play under the Number tiles.
- The Profiler draws 2 Phrase cards at random and places them beside the scale, one to the right and one to the left, without choosing which side is face up. The Profiler carefully places his or her 2 phrases on the scale, between -5 ("Not at all") and +5 ("Completely"), so that the other players can work out which character it is.
Example: the Profiler must get the others to guess DRACULA. For this, the 2 phrases are "Was top of the class" AND "Could run a major restaurant under their own name (Chez …)".
- The Profiler places the first one at +3, because he or she thinks Dracula is a cultured, rather serious count.
- And the second at -5, because he or she reckons they would not want to eat anything cooked by Dracula.
- The other players search together for the right character by elimination. During this phase, the Profiler must not speak or try to influence them. The other players discuss and decide together which of the 6 characters is not the right one (does not match the phrases), then eliminate it by turning its Character card 90°.
- The Profiler then says whether it is his or her character:
- If the eliminated character is not the Profiler's character: well done! The marker moves forward one space on the score track.
- The other players continue to eliminate the other characters one by one, arguing and agreeing each time. If consensus is hard to reach, hold a vote.
- So, for each correct elimination, the marker advances one space on the score track.
- If the eliminated character is the Profiler's character: too bad, the round ends immediately!
Example 1: The First Eliminations
The players could eliminate Einstein first, as he is the most intelligent of all. He would be at +5 for "top of the class" instead of +3.
Out with Einstein!
The players decide to eliminate ALBERT EINSTEIN: they turn the card. OK, the Profiler confirms this elimination. The marker advances one space on the score track.
They could then eliminate the pirate, who would rather be last in the class.
The players decide to eliminate A PIRATE: they turn the card. OK, the Profiler confirms this elimination. The marker advances one space on the score track.
OK! Overboard with the pirate!
Example 2: The Final Duel
(Dracula vs. a computer science student)
"Could run a restaurant" is at -5!! So which one would be the worst cook?
The student can only make sandwiches or, at best, a plate of pasta.
But Dracula would be an even worse chef. A vampire cannot run an appetising, fine restaurant. I propose we eliminate the student.
OK, we eliminate the student! So the one being sought is DRACULA!!!!
The players decide to eliminate A COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENT: they turn the card. OK, the Profiler confirms this elimination. The marker advances.
When Things Go Wrong…
If the players eliminate Dracula:
- The Profiler announces that it is a mistake.
- The marker does not advance, and the game moves on to the next round.
New Round
- The player to the left of the Profiler becomes the new Profiler for the next round.
- The Character and Phrase cards used are discarded.
End of the Game
After the 5 rounds, the players have a score between 0 and 25 points.
So, what kind of profilers are you?
Tips
- When you have to place 2 Phrase cards, compare the 6 characters of the round with each other to make sure you do not trap your teammates.
- Do not hesitate to extrapolate, to imagine the characters in improbable or anachronistic situations. For example, would Cleopatra give up her seat to old ladies on the bus? Ask yourself whether she would be the considerate type or would travel by bus at all…
- Some Character cards refer directly to the players present at the table. Do not hesitate to replace them in a game where the players do not know each other. Likewise, you may replace a character if you do not know them.
- Special case: if 2 Character cards designate the same player at the table (for example "the oldest player at this table" and "the Profiler's right-hand neighbour"), replace one of them.
Challenge Variant for Expert Profilers
For more difficulty, apply the following changes:
- Put the Number tiles and cards 7 to 10 on the table.
- Place the score track on its "Challenge variant" side (blue board) and place the marker on the space for round 1 (6 Character cards).
Points are no longer scored for each character eliminated. The goal is to succeed perfectly in as many rounds in a row as possible (so you must always find the sought character!).
The first round is always played with 6 characters.
- If a round is won: move the marker to the next space. For the next round, place 6 new cards on the table plus one additional character: 7 for the 2nd round, 8 for the 3rd round, and so on. Add the corresponding Number tiles and cards as the game goes on.
- If a round is lost: the game ends!
Will you make it to the end of the 5th round with 10 characters in play? Good luck…