Rules for Guillotine, fine points(?)
Gus Gassmann
beginner...
We got a copy of guillotine for christmas and played it for the first
time a couple
of nights ago. Immediately there were questions as to the mechanics of
the game:
There are cards that say "Put this card in front of you". At what point
in time
do you do that? Whenever it is your turn to play an action card?
Immediately upon
drawing the card? Do you have to put the card down or can you hold onto
it
for later? Is placing the card the same as playing an action card? (We
are
particularly interested in the detailed mechanics of the card called
"Callous guards")
When do I place the card called "Tough crowd", as I draw it or instead
of my
regular action card?
Other action cards say "Choose a player". Can I choose myself? (I might
be interested
in playing "Missed!" on myself if I have just drawn the Hero of the
people,
for instance.) And for those cards with a delayed action ("Rush Job" and
"Confusion
in line") do I choose a player at the moment the card is played or do I
jump in
just before someone sets about to collect his noble?
Thanks for your patience and gentle replies.
gus gassmann
hgas...@mgmt.dal.ca
orwell
>There are cards that say "Put this card in front of you". At what point
>in time do you do that? Whenever it is your turn to play an action card?
>Immediately upon drawing the card?
You can only play an action card at the start of your turn.
>Do you have to put the card down or can you hold onto it for later?
All cards drawn at the end of your turn go straight to your hand
> Is placing the card the same as playing an action card?
You PLAY an action card, follow what it says and discard it. You PLACE an
action card that has a continuing effect on the game in front of one of the
players and it stays there till removed. That's the only distinction that I'm
aware of.
> (We are particularly interested in the detailed mechanics of the card called
>"Callous guards")
You place the CG in front of you when you are in the action card phase of
your turn. When you've annoyed a sufficient number of people, you discard it.
>When do I place the card called "Tough crowd", as I draw it or instead
>of my regular action card?
Placing a TC card is your action card phase for that turn. You are only
allowed to play/place one action card per turn (unless you play Trip, which
specifically gives you the option of a second action card).
>
>Other action cards say "Choose a player". Can I choose myself? (I might
>be interested in playing "Missed!" on myself if I have just drawn the Hero of the
>people, for instance.)
Yes you can. It's a really great way to annoy people.
>And for those cards with a delayed action ("Rush Job" and
>"Confusion in line") do I choose a player at the moment the card is played or do I
>jump in just before someone sets about to collect his noble?
"Choose a Player" when the card is played.
Jim Clapperton
> There are cards that say "Put this card in front of you". At what point
> in time
> do you do that?
>
> When do I place the card called "Tough crowd", as I draw it or instead
> of my
> regular action card?
>
> Other action cards say "Choose a player". Can I choose myself? (I might
> be interested
> in playing "Missed!" on myself if I have just drawn the Hero of the
> people,
> for instance.) And for those cards with a delayed action ("Rush Job" and
> "Confusion
> in line") do I choose a player at the moment the card is played or do I
> jump in
> just before someone sets about to collect his noble?
Our lunch time bunch played this for about 2 years and wore out a
couple of sets, and here's the way we've done things. The cards
you've mentioned are all action cards. You keep them in your hand
until its your turn, then you may play one as your action for that
turn. When you play a bonus card that says put this in front of you,
it counts as your action. You cannot play any action card as soon as
its drawn, nor can you play them (put them on the table) during
someone else's turn.
A played card on the table that affects someone else (you do have to
actually pick the player when you perform your action), or the line-up
of nobles, stays on the table until the affect is over, or someone
plays an action card that allows them to remove a card from the table.
Oh, and watch out for the Master Spy (Thief?) as his special power can
make him very hard to catch - he always moves to the back of the line
AFTER you play an action card.
We've always played that you could play cards on yourself, as long as
the card says to pick "any" player. We've also found that as long as
everyone interprets the cards the same way, things go very smoothly.
There's always more things you want to do on your turn than you're
allowed (normally one action per turn), that's part of its charm. A
few more playings and you'll all be messin' with each other left and
right - as we've found the game to be an enjoyable way to achieve
"screwage", even at work!
Jim Clapperton
Greg
I can't remember the name of the card, is it Callous Guards that prevents
anyone from playing an action card while it is in play? Although you
could leave that in front of you for the rest of the hand, we play that
you have to discard it when your turn comes around again. The game
is too stale if you can't play action cards, and putting a time limit on
that particular card keeps things moving.
There was also some question as to how to handle the Spy. We always
felt that he should be especially slipery, so we say he moves to the
end of the line whenever an action card gets placed, but before you
pull someone off the front of the line. In other words, the only way
to get the Spy is either to get him without anyone playing any action
cards, or getting him when he is the only person left in line.
This is meant to be a lighthearted game, so rules disputes should
be settled in a friendly manner. As long as the group agrees to
play it the same way, you can interpret the grey areas any way you
like.
--Greg
Gus Gassmann
Jim Clapperton wrote:
Yes, but... What incentive is there to _ever_ put a card in front of you that
says "nobles of such and such kind are worth one point extra"? I mean,
anyone can take that card away from you, while if you keep the card in
your hand, you have the opportunity to play another action card instead
(or not!), and you still get the points:
When the
third day is over, each player counts up the points on his or her
noble cards (the number in the lower right-hand corner) and any
action cards that might add to or subtract from the point total.
(This is from the web site at wizards.com.)
We interpreted that as "any action cards including those in my hand". Was that
also wrong?
orwell
> > When the third day is over, each player counts up the points
> on his or her noble cards (the number in the lower right-hand
> corner) and any action cards that might add to or subtract from the
> point total.
>
>(This is from the web site at wizards.com.)
>
>We interpreted that as "any action cards including those in my hand". Was that
>also wrong?
Your interpretation is wrong. The cards must have been played during an
action card phase.
john davis
Gus Gassmann wrote:
>
>
> Yes, but... What incentive is there to _ever_ put a card in front of you that
> says "nobles of such and such kind are worth one point extra"? I mean,
> anyone can take that card away from you, while if you keep the card in
> your hand, you have the opportunity to play another action card instead
> (or not!), and you still get the points:
>
> When the
> third day is over, each player counts up the points on his or her
> noble cards (the number in the lower right-hand corner) and any
> action cards that might add to or subtract from the point total.
>
> (This is from the web site at wizards.com.)
>
> We interpreted that as "any action cards including those in my hand". Was that
> also wrong?
Yes, that is wrong. You only count action cards that are in play in
front of you.
--
-------------------------------------------------
john davis
Jim Clapperton
> We have a few house rules in our lunchtime group.
>
> I can't remember the name of the card, is it Callous Guards that prevents
> anyone from playing an action card while it is in play? Although you
> could leave that in front of you for the rest of the hand, we play that
> you have to discard it when your turn comes around again. The game
> is too stale if you can't play action cards, and putting a time limit on
> that particular card keeps things moving.
For Callous Guards, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't play ANY
action cards - you just can't alter the line up. This is a perfect
time to put those bonus cards out, if you can't do anything else.
Callous Guards can be frustrating when it works against you (as when
you see the Hero get to the front of the line as your turn approachs),
but if you somehow manage to skip your turn and "screw" the player who
put it into play, it can be quite funny.
There is a card that prevents you from playing an action card, but its
only used on one player (you choose at the time of playing) for one
turn. This is a fun one to use on someone who's smirking a little too
much!
Going back to a previous point - if you look at the card distribution,
there's actually only one card that allows you to remove an action
card already on the table, so if you have bonus cards in front of you,
chances are good that you can get most of them through to the end of
the game for scoring. This is especially deadly when you get a few
Palace Guards and as your last play combine them with the Military
Support card (insert maniacal fading laughter here)..
Jim Clapperton
Rick Jones
> Oh, and watch out for the Master Spy (Thief?) as his special power can
> make him very hard to catch - he always moves to the back of the line
> AFTER you play an action card.
The thing that's always confusing about the Master Spy is... does he
move before you resolve the action of a card just played or do you
resolve the action card first then move the thief?
--
Rick Jones
Leo Productions Mobile DJ Service
Specializing in "classic"
Rock, R&B and Disco
(909) 947-3894
"I'm never voting again. Like marriage, no matter who you chose, it
turns out bad."
-Ed O'Neill, "Married With Children"
Jim Clapperton
>
> The thing that's always confusing about the Master Spy is... does he
> move before you resolve the action of a card just played or do you
> resolve the action card first then move the thief?
Action first, then Move Spy, then get your noggin from the front of
the line.
Jim Clapperton
Ewan
Whereas we take a very literal reading. Play card - Spy instantly moves
- then perform card's action, if any, then collect head. This has the
biggest effect when the line is reversed - the Spy meets an early end.
Ewan
Sejanus778
in front they can be discarded from your hand by other cards....