INTRODUCTION

doomballoons is a turn-based card game where ​players try to outlast their opponents through a ​series of ROUNDS.

BASIC GAMEPLAY explains the default rules.

Each player has a set of LIVES; throughout ​gameplay these LIVES can be lost (or gained). The ​winner is the last player with a LIFE remaining.

Frist, choose the game MODE below that best fits.

MODES

EASY RIDER - Standard rules for a ​balanced experience. If TRAINING ​WHEELS starts feeling boring, add ​back some or all of the card types. ​Limit the number of active RULE ​CARDS to 2.

BASIC GAME PLAY

Play consists of a series of ROUNDS. At the beginning of each ​ROUND, all players DRAW game cards from the DRAW PILE until ​they have 7 cards in their HAND. Play beings in a clockwise ​direction with a player of your choice. Each player plays one card ​from their HAND.

The central concept of the game involves an imaginary COUNTER. Playing ​ADD or SET cards can add to or reduce the COUNTER, while other cards ​strategically impact aspects of the gameplay. A ROUND ends in 1 of 2 ways:

• If a player manages to play all the cards in their HAND, the player goes ​“out” and all other players must lose a LIFE.
• If a player plays a card that sets the COUNTER to a value greater than 10 ​(the default “COUNT LIMIT” is 10), or is unable to play a required card, the ​player “BURSTS” and must lose a LIFE.

When a ROUND ends, the COUNTER resets to 0, all players ​keep the cards in their HANDS and DRAW additional cards ​until they have a total of 7 (the default “HAND DRAW” is 7), ​and play continues with the next player in the same direction ​as the previous ROUND ended. Repeat. The last player with a ​LIFE remaining wins.

CARD TYPES

GAME CARDS - These are the cards you play on your ​turn. Keep unused cards face down in a shuffled pile. ​Individual card actions are described here.

LIFE CARDS - These balloons represent your lives. Deal 4 ​face down to each player at the beginning of each ​game. If you lose a LIFE, flip one over. Sometimes this ​will trigger an ACTION or introduce a new RULE.

CHARACTER CARDS - Deal one face up to each player at ​the beginning of the game. If you play a BLOCK or flip a ​LIFE that matches a CHARACTER, you decide if that ​player gains or loses a LIFE. If an ATTACK card you play ​matches your CHARACTER, the BONUS action applies.

ATTACK and BLOCK CARDS

When an ATTACK card is played, all other players must ​play a BLOCK CARD or lose a LIFE.

If all other players play BLOCK CARDS, the attacker must ​lose a LIFE.

After an ATTACK card is played, the COUNTER is reset to 0.

ADVANCED RULES

TEAMS - Play on teams for a new strategic ​experience.

• Divide into 2 teams.
• Basic Gameplay doesn’t change.
• Help your teammates by lower the COUNTER ​or giving them LIVES on CHARACTER matches.
• DOUBLE ATTACK - If your teammate plays an ​ATTACK, you can play a second ATTACK ​instead of a BLOCK. Those not playing ​ATTACKS must lose a LIFE for each ATTACK ​they fail to block. If fully blocked, each ​ATTACKER lose one LIFE for each ATTACK.
• Game ends when all members of one team are ​eliminated.
  

TRADE HAND ATTACK COMBO - You may play a ​TRADE HANDS card and an ATTACK card as a ​COMBO. Choose any opponent and swap one of ​your LIVES for of theirs, in addition to TRADING ​HANDS. Can be blocked by playing a TRADE ​HANDS card and a BLOCK card.

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RULE PARADE - Remove RULE cards from LIFE ​DRAW PILE. Flip 3 rule cards over. Each round ​discard oldest rule and add a new rule.

FAQs

• What does a U-Turn card do when only two players remain?
  
• Card may be treated as a Jump card or an “both players draw 1” card.