Skullduggery
Skullduggery Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 54 cards
- 6 left Skullduggery tokens (red)
- 6 right Skullduggery tokens (blue)
- 1 quick reference card
Object of the Game
The object is to finish the game with the highest four-digit number. There is a number on each card (1 to 9). A player's final score is indicated by their four cards. Hence, players should try to finish the game with the highest number possible in the left-most position (preferably the number 9). For example, the player that finishes with the following cards would score 8,134.
Set Up
Remove the quick reference card from the deck and place it within easy reach of all players. This card will be helpful for new players to reference the card actions during the game.
Shuffle the deck and deal four cards face down to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down to form a central draw pile.
Without looking at their cards, each player arranges their cards in a line of four.
Each player is given a left (red) and a right (blue) Skullduggery token. These should be placed in front of each player, with the pistol side facing up.
Players may now secretly look at their middle two cards in their line. NOTE: this is a one-time ability so players must try to remember what their middle two cards are.
Playing the Game
The player who can do the best pirate impression starts the game. This player selects the top card from the draw pile without showing it to the other players.
On their turn, the player may take one of the following actions:
- Discard the card just picked up.
- Replace any one of their own face down (or face up) cards with the new card, then discard the replaced card.
- Replace any one of their neighbor's face down (or face up) cards with the new card, then discard the replaced card. This is done using a Skullduggery token. The Skullduggery token indicates which neighbor (red token - the player to the left, blue token - the player to the right). Each Skullduggery token can only be used once, and is turned over once used. In a two-player game, the player to the left and to the right is indeed the same player.
Discarded cards are placed face up on a discard pile next to the draw pile. When discarded, cards trigger special actions (see CARD ACTIONS).
After the card actions have been completed, play moves clockwise around the table.
Card Actions
Pass Left (card 1). All players pass their left-most card to the player on their left (without peeking at the front of the card). The 'passed' cards are added to the right-most side of the new players' line of four cards.
Pass Right (card 3). All players pass their right-most card to the player on their right (without peeking at the front of the card). The 'passed' cards are added to the left-most side of the new players' line of four cards.
Switch (card 8). Switch your own left-most and right-most cards (without peeking at the front of the cards).
Peek (card 4). Peek at your own left-most OR right-most card. After peeking, put the card back in the same position.
Sneak (card 7). Sneak a look at your left neighbor's right-most card OR your right neighbor's left-most card. After sneaking a look, put the card back in the same position.
Spyglass (card 2). Discarded Spyglass cards are placed at the edge of the play area (i.e. not in the discard pile). When a Spyglass card is discarded, all players must turn one of their two middle cards face up. These cards remain face up for the duration of the game, no matter how they are moved during the remainder of the game.
NOTE: if later in the game any of the face up cards are replaced with another card, the new card also remains face up.
When a second Spyglass card is discarded, all players turn another middle card face up.
When a third Spyglass card is discarded, the game immediately ends.
Winning the Game
The game ends when the third Spyglass card is discarded OR when the draw pile runs out, whichever happens first. When a player draws the last card, they play the card and the game ends.
All players reveal their cards, making sure not to change the order. Each player now has a four-digit number - reading left to right. The player with the highest number wins the game.