Schrödinger's Cats
Schrödinger's Cats Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Science Cat Terminology
- Box = Pink backed cards from the Research Deck
- Doctorate = Yellow Backed Cards marked Cat Physicist
- Scientist = A player
- Active = The current player
- Research Deck = Draw pile
- Experiment = A round of play
- My Research = My Hand
- Findings = Face up cards on the table
- Hypothesis = A Bid of Alive Cats, Dead Cats, or Empty Boxes
- Prove It! = To "call" another scientist's hypothesis into question
- Observe = Revealing all research in the experiment, the end of a round of play
- Validated = Bid confirmed
- Debunked = Bid not confirmed
Setting Up the Lab
The Scientist who most recently watched a documentary is named the FIRST SCIENTIST. The First Scientist has the honor of shuffling and dealing the cards for the first experiment, as well as being the Active Scientist at the start of the game. Before the game starts, the First Scientist shuffles the DOCTORATE CARDS and deals one to each Scientist. The Doctorate is a special power that can only be used once each game (explained later in the rules). Then the First Scientist should shuffle the RESEARCH DECK and deal a number of BOXES (cards with the pink backs) equal to the number of players to each player, and then set the RESEARCH DECK (the remaining cards) in easy reach of all the Scientists.
Science Pro Tip: Schrödinger's Cats is even more fun to play if you pretend that you are all serious scientists. FOR SCIENCE!!!
Playing the Game
A game of Schrödinger's Cats consists of a series of Experiments (rounds of play) in Schrödinger's lab. Each game will consist of a number of rounds equal to one less than the number of starting Scientists (players) - so if there are 4 players there will be 3 rounds. In each experiment, there are a number of boxes (cards), equal to the square of the number of players, since each player is dealt one card per player.
In a game starting with 6 players, there will be 5 experiments, and the first round would have 36 boxes as each player will be dealt 6 BOXES (Cards).
Or, if you prefer, here it is as a pseudo-sciencey equation:
N Scientists = N Boxes in Hand = N² Boxes in experiment (a "BOX" in the experiment).
Before the round begins, the FIRST Scientist should announce how many total boxes are in the current experiment.
There are currently 3 players. Each Scientist is dealt 3 cards. The First Scientist begins play by announcing, "there are 9 Boxes in this Experiment."
The Experiment
The cards in your hand each represent a box in Erwin Schrödinger's famous experiment (or at least a version of that experiment being carried out by cats). Each card exhibits a quantum state that the cats might be in - because we won't really know the outcome of the experiment until we OBSERVE iT!
The Four Quantum States of Schrödinger's Cats
The possible states are Alive Cat, Dead Cat, Empty Box, or the wily Heisenberg uncertainty principle. The Heisenberg is an especially powerful card because it is always what you expect it to be Alive, Dead, or Empty! So, if the Hypothesis is about Alive cats, the Heisenberg counts as an Alive Cat. If your Hypothesis is that the cats are dead, then it counts as a Dead Cat.
Box Distribution
- 20 Alive Cats
- 20 Dead Cats
- 8 Empty Boxes
- 4 Heisenbergs
Important Note: A hypothesis of Heisenbergs (those wacky quantum wildcards) is never allowed, because even you can't see the inner workings of the cosmos, silly kitty!
Propose a Hypothesis
The Active Scientist must make a hypothesis to the group after reviewing the cards in their hand by stating the number of either Alive Cats, Dead Cats, or Empty Boxes amongst all boxes in play (the total number of cards between all players). Remember, a hypothesis of Heisenbergs is never allowed.
If you have 4 Dead Cats in your hand then you can feel comfortable starting with a hypothesis (or bid) of at least 4 Dead Cats. If you also have Heisenbergs (wild cards) in your hand remember that they always count as whatever the current Hypothesis is.
Each Scientist's Hypothesis must be (at least) incrementally higher than the last Scientist's Hypothesis (except for the First Scientist who may start the bidding at any value). While bidding, Dead Cats have a higher bidding value than Alive Cats and Empty Boxes are worth double the bidding value of both Alive or Dead Cats. To help you out, we've included a handy LAB CLIPBOARD on which you can track the current Hypothesis and see the next possible hypothesis.
Here's the math:
N Empty Boxes > 2N Dead Cats > 2N Alive Cats
So, the incremental bidding order goes: 1 Alive Cat, 1 Dead Cat, 2 Alive Cats, 2 Dead Cats, 1 Empty Box, 3 Alive Cats, 3 Dead Cats ... and so on (see the Lab Clipboard). Remember, Empty Boxes are worth double the value of Alive or Dead Cats.
Lab Clipboard (bidding order, Alive/Dead pairs on the left, Empty Boxes on the right):
| Alive | Dead | Alive | Dead | Empty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
| 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 6 |
| 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 7 |
| 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 8 |
| 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 9 |
| 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 11 |
| 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 12 |
| 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 13 |
If Stephen Pawking bids 3 Alive Cats, then the next player, Maria Goeppert-Meower, must bid 3 (or more) Dead Cats, 4 (or more) Alive Cats, or 2 (or more) Empty Boxes. The following bid would be 5 Alive or Dead Cats, or 3 Empty Boxes. Alternatively if Stephen had bid 2 Empty Boxes Maria must bid 3 Empty Boxes, 5 Alive Cats, or 5 Dead Cats.
Continuing the Experiment
As part of their Hypothesis the Active Scientist may reveal their Doctorate or Show Findings (explained later). Once complete, the next Scientist clockwise becomes the Active Scientist, and the experiment continues.
Each Scientist must in turn try to prove their own hypothesis by increasing the previous Scientist's bid or calling the last Scientist's hypothesis into question (PROVE IT!) - if they believe that the declared hypothesis is highly unlikely (or just a pack of outright lies).
Showing Findings
As part of their hypothesis, the Active Scientist may decide to exhibit some evidence of their research by showing face-up any number of boxes of the type stated in their Hypothesis, called SHOWING FINDINGS, to further prove that their research is valid. Since Heisenbergs always count as the current hypothesis you could choose to show Heisenbergs as FINDINGS as well as the type called. Remember, HEISENBERGS are always the current hypothesis even when they are FINDINGS!
When a Scientist Shows Findings, they may discard from their remaining hand up to as many boxes as they placed face-up, and then draw the same number of new boxes from the Research Deck to replace them. Discarded boxes form a face-down Discard pile next to the Research Deck.
Findings (the face-up cards) stay on the table for the duration of that experiment. If a Scientist wants to show additional findings on a future turn they may do so, and again may cycle some of the boxes in their hand, drawing new ones.
Madame Purrie states that there are 15 Alive Cats out of the 36 boxes in play. She has 3 Alive Cats in her hand so she reveals them to the group and places them face up on the table. Then she recycles 2 of her 3 remaining cards in hopes of obtaining more Alive Cats or Heisenbergs to help back up her hypothesis.
Doctorate in Cat Physics
Each DOCTORATE showcases a Cat Physicist, their research specialty, and a unique ability. At the start of the game each Scientist is dealt a secret DOCTORATE, and they keep this ability hidden (face down) from the other Scientists until they are ready to use the ability on the card.
While you are the ACTIVE SCIENTIST, you may reveal your Doctorate at any time, by flipping it face up to show the Cat Physicist side. When you reveal your Cat Physicist you may perform the action listed on the card. Each Doctorate can only be used ONCE per GAME! So, be very careful when you use it! Some abilities are better at different points in the game.
Mittens Faraday is sitting to your right and just made a hypothesis of 16 Alive Cats out of 36 boxes. You are now the Active Scientist. You may activate your Doctorate at this time. You don't have any Alive cats so you decide to use your Doctorate. Your special ability is to discard all Alive cat findings (face up cards). You activate your ability, which wipes away 6 of the Alive cat findings showing and call Mittens Faraday's hypothesis unfounded! All research is observed and there are only 15 Alive Cats, including the Heisenbergs. DEBUNKED!
Prove It!
The Active Scientist will eventually reach a point where they feel that the current Hypothesis is invalid, or that increasing the Hypothesis would be ludicrous. When this happens, they call the hypothesis UNFOUNDED and say "PROVE IT!"
Albert Felinestein bids 12 Alive Cats. Of the 25 boxes in the experiment, 6 Alive Cats are shown as findings. Madame Purrie becomes the Active Scientist with a hand full of Dead Cats, and tries to DEBUNK Albert's Hypothesis, "UNFOUNDED! Prove It!"
When asked to Prove It!, we OBSERVE THE EXPERIMENT - all boxes in hand are revealed and placed face-up on the table. Discard all of the boxes that do not meet the Final Hypothesis, and count the remaining Findings.
The Scientist that is found to have the Wrong Hypothesis is out of the game (and disgraced in the Science Cat Community for their bad science!)
The Scientist whose science prevails (either because they debunked or were confirmed) becomes the new First Scientist in the next experiment, wins the deal, and bids first in the new round.
Neil deGrasse Tabby makes a hypothesis of 5 Alive Cats out of 9 boxes. The next Scientist, Sally Prride, calls this into question and all boxes are placed face up. All findings that are not Alive Cats, Heisenbergs, or active Doctorate powers that count as Alive Cats, are discarded. It turns out that there are actually 7 Alive Cats and the hypothesis is deemed valid! Sally Prride, the Scientist that called this research into question, is now kicked out of the lab and out of the game. She decides this a good time to get some milk.
This is the end of this experiment (but not necessarily the game). All the cards are collected, shuffled, and the next experiment begins (now with one less Scientist). All unused DOCTORATES remain face down with their respective Scientist. The number of cards dealt is equal to the number of players left in the game. So, in a 6 player game with one player eliminated, there are now 5 players and 5 cards are dealt to each player. Play continues with the remaining Scientists each having 1 fewer box in their hand.
Ending the Game
The game ends when the final experiment is complete and the last Scientist either successfully debunks her peer or has her research proven valid. That Scientist is the winner and receives an honorary PHD from Cat Tech UNIVERSITY in Quantum Physics!
Alternative Rules
Schrödinger's Cats is fun for 2-6 Scientists, but the basic game plays best with 4-6. When you only have 2 or 3 Scientists - or if your game group isn't into elimination style games - instead of eliminating a Scientist at the end of each round (and then reducing the hand size), utilize the following rules.
If a Scientist wins 3 experiments, they are the winner; conversely a Scientist is eliminated after they have lost 2 experiments. Cards are dealt to each Scientist equal to the Experiment Number (according to the chart here) instead of the number of players.
| Experiment Number | Hand Size |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 2 |
F.A.Q.
Why would I want to show findings? First, you may want to try to convince the Scientist to your left that your hypothesis is valid by showing them some proof. Secondly, you may have a hand full of DEAD cats when everyone is making hypotheses of ALIVE cats and want to exchange your research. You could make a hypothesis of ALIVE cats, show 1 ALIVE cat and exchange one of your DEAD cats in hopes of getting another ALIVE or a HEISENBERG. Lastly, you might want to help your cause by trying to pull more of the type of card you called or HEISENBERGS.
When findings are discarded are they out of the experiment? Yes. If a DOCTORATE's ability is to discard all findings of a type (ALIVE, DEAD, EMPTY) then all of those findings are removed from that experiment. All Scientists who placed those findings on the table now only have the research boxes in their hand and the number of boxes in the experiment goes down by the number of findings eliminated.
When I skip my hypothesis what happens? When you play a DOCTORATE that allows you to skip your hypothesis that turn the Scientist to your left is forced to make the next hypothesis. Example: If Madame Purrie just made a hypothesis of 16 DEAD cats out of 25 boxes and you have a lot of DEAD cats you made decided to activate your DOCTORATE and skip your hypothesis. When you do the Scientist to your left now has to make a hypothesis higher than 16 DEAD cats or call Madame Purrie's hypothesis unfounded.
Credits
A Game By Heather Wilson, Heather O'Neill, and Chris O'Neill
Art by James Stowe
Layout and Card Design by Chris O'Neill
Playtesting and Additional Design by Dan Landis, Patrick Clapp, and Michael Fitzgerald
©2015 - 9th Level Games
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