Rules – Patang Games

What’s it about?

This is a take on the childhood favourite game Name – Place – Animal – Thing, traditionally played on paper. In the card game version, place cards face up in front of you to create sets of alphabets.

Know and speak out the names (full names of famous people), places (country/state/city/town), animals (birds/insects included) and things based on each card you add to your sets on your turn. Look out for power ups and bonus cards to turn the game around in your favour!

How to Win

You win by creating three complete sets of alphabets first!

Set up and Gameplay

Remove the 5 Quick Rules cards from the decks and hand them to the players for reference. Shuffle the deck well. Deal 5 cards to each player. Keep the remaining cards in a draw pile in the centre. Each player keeps the dealt cards in their hands, hidden from their opponents. Ensure that there is some space on the table/floor in front of each player. The player on the left of the dealer starts and the game goes clockwise.

Things to do on your turn

Play any one card from your hand. Place it face up on the table/floor in front of you (your collection).
Speak out the relevant name, place, animal or thing based on the alphabet and category combination on the card you place in your collection.
Pick up a card from the draw pile at the end of your turn and add it to your cards in hand.
Optional: Flip a card upside down or move it from one set to another within your collection. (Refer to the section Flipping a Card for details on this.)

Types of Cards

ALPHABET CARDS (102 CARDS)

An alphabet card contains two combinations, each with one alphabet and one category. In a turn, you can play any one of these combinations by placing the card face up in your collection in a new or existing set. While doing so, speak out the name/place/animal/thing based on the combination you choose to play.

For example, if you place a card with the combination “A-Name” facing up in your collection, say Amitabh Bachchan (or the name of another famous person starting with A) out loud.

The collection should be arranged column by column, each column representing a set (complete or incomplete) with one alphabet.

POWER UP CARDS (24 CARDS)

Power up cards are alphabet cards with special powers (mentioned on the top and bottom of the cards). Play the power up card just like an alphabet card and place it face up in your collection. Then, use the power up as applicable on another card.

Types of power up cards:

PICK 1

Pick up one extra card from the draw pile and add it to your cards in hand. (Draw 2 cards in total after playing this card, including the one you draw after each turn).

8 Cards

CHANGE 1

Exchange one card from your hand (one which you don’t want) with a card from the draw pile.

8 Cards

STEAL 1

Steal any one card from the ones lying face up in an opponent’s collection.

8 Cards

PICK 1

8 Cards

Pick up one extra card from the draw pile and add it to your cards in hand.
(Draw 2 cards in total after playing this card, including the one you draw after each turn).

CHANGE 1

8 Cards

Exchange one card from your hand (one which you don’t want) with a card from the draw pile.

STEAL 1

8 Cards

Steal any one card from the ones lying face up in an opponent’s collection.

BONUS CARDS (19 CARDS)

Bonus cards come with big advantages, as described below.

Types of bonus cards:

STEAL SET

3 Cards

Steal a complete or incomplete set of any alphabet from an opponent’s collection and add it to your collection. Place the Steal Set card at the bottom of the draw pile.

LOCK SET

6 Cards

Place this card face up in any complete or incomplete set in your collection. This will prohibit your opponents from stealing one or more cards from that locked set.

BLANK “?”

4 Cards

Place this card as any alphabet in a set in your collection with the category required facing up. While doing so, speak out the name or place or animal or thing based on the alphabet and category you choose.

SUPER CARD

4 Cards

Place this card as any alphabet and any category as required in a set in your collection. While doing so, speak out the name or place or animal or thing based on the alphabet and category you choose.

CHANGE ALL

2 Cards

Exchange all cards from your hand with an equal number of fresh cards from the draw pile. Place the Change All card at the bottom of the draw pile

RULES OF STEALING:

You can steal a power up card but you cannot use the power up again.
You can only steal a card from an opponent’s collection (not the cards in hand).
You cannot steal a Lock Set card.
When you steal a Super card or a Blank card, it can only be used as the alphabet and category combination used by the opponent you stole it from. In a later turn, you can flip it in your collection and add it to another set.
Steal a card based on the alphabet/category visible to you in your opponent’s collection. You cannot ask your opponent to show you what’s underneath another card.

Flipping a Card

In each turn, along with playing a card from your hand, you can also flip one card upside down or move it within your collection from one set to another.

For instance, you can turn a card around to play the alphabet-category combination which was earlier on the bottom half and add it to a new or existing set. Just remember to speak out the name/place/animal/thing based on the new combination played. You can also move bonus cards within your collection from one set to another.

You can flip one card only on your turn, after you’ve played a card from your hand.

Things to Remember

Always pick up a card from the draw pile at the end of your turn and add it to your hand. If you miss this, you cannot pick up an extra card later.
You cannot repeat names/places/animals/things once spoken out by a player in the game.
If you repeat or fail to speak out the name/place/animal/thing based on the card you play or flip, and get caught by an opponent, you will have to skip your next turn!

Mix it up

This is for all you non-conformists! Try one of these variations and change the game (literally!)

Have fun!