Setup
Scoundrel is played with a standard deck of playing cards.
- Search through the deck and remove all Jokers, Red Face Cards and Red Aces. Place them off to the side, they are not used in this game.
- Shuffle the remaining cards and place the pile face down on your left. This deck is called the Dungeon.
- Take out a piece of paper and pen (or use your memory). Mark down 20 on the piece of paper, this is your starting Health.
Rules
Monsters (♣ Clubs & ♠ Spades)
The 26 Clubs and Spades in the deck are Monsters. Their damage is equal to their ordered value:
- 2-10 = face value
- Jack = 11
- Queen = 12
- King = 13
- Ace = 14
Weapons (♦ Diamonds)
The 9 Diamonds in the deck are Weapons. Each weapon does as much damage as its value.
All weapons are binding - if you pick one up, you must equip it and discard your previous weapon.
Health Potions (♥ Hearts)
The 9 Hearts in the deck are Health Potions.
- You may only use one health potion each turn, even if you pull two.
- The second potion you pull is simply discarded.
- You may not restore your life beyond your starting 20 health.
The Game ends when either your life reaches 0 or you make your way through the entire Dungeon.
Gameplay
Step 1: Draw a Room
On your first and every turn, flip over cards off the top of the deck, one by one, until you have 4 cards face up in front of you to make a Room.
Step 2: Avoid or Face the Room
You may avoid the Room if you wish. If you choose to do so, scoop up all four cards in one motion and place them at the bottom of the Dungeon.
Important: While you may avoid as many Rooms as you want, you may not avoid two Rooms in a row.
Step 3: Choose 3 Cards
If you choose not to avoid the Room, one by one, you must face 3 of the four cards it contains. Take them one at a time.
If you choose a Weapon...
You must equip it by placing it face up between you and the remaining Room cards. If you had a previous Weapon equipped, move it and any Monsters on it to the discard deck.
If you choose a Health Potion...
Add its number to your health, then discard it. Your health may not exceed 20, and you may not use more than one Health Potion per turn.
If you choose a Monster...
You may either fight it barehanded or with an equipped Weapon.
Step 4: Complete Your Turn
Once you have chosen 3 cards (such that only one remains), your turn is complete. Leave the fourth card face up in front of you as part of the next Room.
Combat
Fighting Barehanded
If you choose to fight the Monster barehanded, subtract its full value from your Health, and move the Monster to the discard deck.
Fighting with a Weapon
If you choose to fight the Monster with your equipped Weapon:
- Place the monster face up on top of the weapon (and on top of any other Monsters on the Weapon).
- Be sure to stagger the placement of the Monster so that the Weapon's number is still showing.
- Subtract the Weapon's value from the Monster's value and subtract any remaining value from your health.
Examples:
- Weapon = 5, Monster = 3 → Damage = 0 (3 - 5 < 0)
- Weapon = 5, Monster = Jack (11) → Damage = 6 (11 - 5 = 6)
Weapon Degradation
Important: Although you retain your weapons until they are replaced, once a Weapon is used on a monster, the Weapon can then only be used to slay Monsters of a lower value (less than) than the previous Monster it had slain.
Examples:
- If your 5 Weapon has killed a Queen (12) Monster and you then choose a 6 Monster, you may use your Weapon on the 6 Monster, as 6 is less than 12.
- If you have used your 5 Weapon on a 6 Monster, and you then choose a Queen (12) Monster, you must fight the Queen barehanded as 12 is greater than 6.
- Despite this, the Weapon is not discarded, as it could still be used against Monsters weaker than a 6.
Scoring
If your life has reached zero:
Find all the remaining monsters in the Dungeon, and subtract their values from your life. This negative value is your score.
If you have made your way through the entire dungeon:
Your score is your positive life, or if your life is 20 and your last card was a health potion, your life + the value of that potion.
Table Layout
Face-down deck on your left
4 face-up cards in center
Between you and Room cards
Stacked on top of weapon
Face-down pile (your choice of location)