''Sample House Advert''

Gnomish children begin their education at an early age. An education that includes everything from practical lessons in basic survival to epic poems that convey the bloodline’s history and values. Games are very important to gnomish education, and their games are highly competitive.  One such game had been nearly forgotten over the years but has recently been rediscovered through dedicated research in the Beacon Hall archives.  While the game is referenced by a number of different names, we have chosen to simply call it "Burghals Rule".

Come join Beacon Hall this coming Feastday and help us rediscover the challenge and excitement of Burghals Rule!  No gnomish bloodline required, just your sharp wit and a desire to have some fun as we delve into this long lost game of skillful luck!

''Rules version 1.1''

Burghals Rule is traditionally hosted by a Burghal gnome and is played with between 5 and 11 players. A game usually consists of 3 Rounds of play.

Each Round the players choose and perform one of three allowed services in turn. For example, the services in one game might be to A) skip in a circle, B) lean to the left, or C) tell a joke to the group.

The game host, also known as the Ruler, will determine the order for each round and point to each person in turn to perform their chosen service.

The Ruler will determine the turn order for the first round via a method of their choosing and later rounds are generally conducted in order of score from highest to lowest.

Each of the services performed during the game will be worth 1, 2, or 3 points. But... you don't get to know the point value of any service at the start of the game!  You'll have to try and figure them out from the scores that are announced at the end of each round.

In addition to scoring points for performing services, there will be several edicts in play during the game that can alter your score as well.

An example of an edict that might be in effect would be "Performing the least popular service in a round will earn you 2 additional points."

Another example of an edict that might be in effect for your game would be "Performing the same service as the person before you earns you -1 points."  For edicts where order matters, like this one, the person that goes first is considered to be following the person that goes last so that there is no built in scoring advantage to going first or last other than what you are able to observe.

So as you may have already guessed, this is the part of the game where your sharp wits will come into play!  You won't be told which, or how many, edicts have been decreed at the start of the game and will have to try and discover them as you play along!  Edicts, like services, will remain in effect for the full duration of the game.

At the end of each of the three Rounds the Ruler will announce each players last service performed, the points earned for that service, and cumulative score so far in the game.

Once the third round has been completed the Ruler will give each person in turn, from lowest score to highest, an opportunity to guess the point value for a service or to guess a decree that was in effect during the game.

Correctly guessing a point value for a service will earn the value of that service as bonus points, correctly guessing a decree in effect will earn 4 bonus points!  Only one guess per person is allowed!

''Service Examples''

The ideal set of services will include a mix of simple, challenging, and creative.  e.g. Wiggle your eyebrows (simple), eat something (challenging with the right selection of foods), sing a verse from a song (allows people to be creative).

- Eat/Drink something (bring lots and make sure it is interesting/challenging to eat or drink!)
- Kiss someone (designated kissee or kissers choice)
- Sing a verse
- Skip in a circle
- Tell a joke to the group
- Tell the Ruler a secret
- Wiggle eyebrows

''Edict Examples''

Be careful not to decree edicts that favor people simply because of the order they go in.  E.g. An edict that states repeating the first action performed in a round earns a bonus point gives unfair advantage to the person going first.  Giving a bonus point for performing the last action done in the prior round would be perfectly fine however.

- The service(s) most performed in a round earn -1 point.
- The service lease performed in a round earns +2 points.
- If the service performed by the person before you was worth more points than get the points for performing that action instead.
- If you perform a different service than the person before you than earn +2 points.
- If you perform the same service as the person before you than earn -1 points.
- If you perform a service that you have done in a prior round than earn -1 points.


''Certified Burghals Rule Rulers (as determined by Teasurii)''

-- Teasurii (3/27/2014)

''Rules Revision History''

1.1 - Modified bonus points awarded for guessing a service value to be the points for the service vs. 1 point regardless.