Court!

Playing cards have always been a big part of growing up with my family. I was lucky enough to play countless games with both of my Grandfather's before they passed, and you can always expect a game or two to be played whenever our family meets.

That being said I've always viewed traditional playing cards as quaint. Simple games for generations past that had nothing better to do. I've always tossed around the idea of creating a playing card game, but I never got around to it until inspiration hit me during a slow point in class.

I've always viewed playing cards as an easy metaphor for politics, and I new there must be a way to create a strategic political game where players would have each of the different suits compete for power and prestige.

Court! is a strategic, hidden agenda card game for 3-5 players. Play requires a standard 52-card deck (with Jokers) and a method to record individual scores. Players compete to win points over multiple seasons (a series of three rounds and a reveal). The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Initial Setup

Designate an area within easy reach of all players as the field. All cards placed on the field during the game must be visible, face-up, and separated by suit (Heats with Hearts, Clubs with Clubs, etc.). Begin the game’s setup by adding the King and ‘2 of Clubs’ to the field.

Select a scribe to record player scores, and select the first dealer to shuffle the remaining cards into a face-down deck. Deal 3 cards to each player. (Players may look at their hand.) Once completed, pitch 3 cards from the deck onto the field.

Rounds

The player sitting clockwise from the dealer begins the round. A player’s turn consists of the following two actions:

- First, place a card from your hand on the field.

- Second, draw a card.

Play continues clockwise. Once every player has finished their turn, the dealer must pitch 3 cards from the deck onto the field, completing the round. Complete 3 full rounds before the reveal.

Reveal

With the last round completed, players must align themselves with the suit they believe will win. Players do this by selecting a card from their hand whose suit corresponds with the suit they wish to align with. Once every player has placed their aligning card face down in front of them, each player, beginning with the player sitting clockwise from the dealer, will take turns revealing their alignment card and adding it to the field. Once every player has finished, scoring may begin.

If a player places down a King at any point during the season, they are automatically aligned to that suit and cannot change alignment by placing a different suited card during the reveal. (See Face Card Rules)

Scoring

The suit with a face card and the highest numerical sum wins. If the suit has a Jack, add every number card. If the suit doesn’t, only add the top three highest-valued number cards. (Face cards are worth nothing.) If a suit has a Joker, that suit cannot win unless it also has a Full Court (a King, Queen, and Jack).

If a tie occurs, pitch cards one at a time from the deck until a single suit wins. Then, record player scores for the season, and which suit won.

Players who align to the winning suit by using a King receive 2 points.
Players who align with the winning suit receive 1 point.
Players who align with the winning color but a losing suit or align with a suit having an active Joker receive 0 points.

Players who align with a suit of the losing color or align with a losing King lose 1 point.

Next Season Setup

Leave the highest-value face and number card of the winning suit on the field. The role of dealer moves clockwise, then reshuffle the remaining 52 cards. Deal 3 cards to each player and pitch 3 cards onto the field to begin the next season.

Ending The Game

The game ends when either a single suit wins 3 consecutive seasons or 9 seasons are played. Once finished, the scribe can tally up points and announce a winner. In the case of a tie, play another season until a clear winner is determined.

Face Card Rules

King: Placing a King at any point during a season aligns that player to the suit. During the reveal, that player can choose to play a card but cannot change alignment by placing a different suited card during the reveal. A player who placed a King is no longer aligned to that suit if an active Joker is played on that suit or if that King is removed by a Queen.

Queen: When placed, the player may discard any card of the same color on the field. If drawn during a pitch, draw and discard the next card.

Jack: Placing a Jack means that, during scoring, all number cards are that suit are added to the suit’s total sum, not just the highest three.

Ace: If placed on the field at any point other than the reveal, that Ace is only worth 1 point. However, if played during the reveal that Ace is worth 11 points. An Ace is a number card, therefore if a winning suit had an Ace played during a reveal (worth 11 points) it is held over to the next season but is now only worth 1 point moving forward.

Joker: Players can place Jokers on either suit of its color. A suit with a Joker is no longer in contention for winning, unless that suit has a Full Court, which makes the Joker inactive. If drawn during the pitch, draw the next card and place both cards on the second card’s suit.

Terminology

Field – The play area. All cards should be visible on the field and are placed face-up, according to their suits in separate regions of the field. (Diamonds placed with Diamonds, Spades with Spades, etc.)

Season – A series of 3 rounds, a reveal, and scoring.

Alignment – The suit a player sides with.

Full Court – A suit with King, Queen, & Jack; it negates the effect of a single Joker.

Pitch – Cards placed directly onto the field from the deck between rounds.

(Rules)

World Building

Originally this project was supposed to become something much larger, but unfortunately it didn't.


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