P20036
The better your word, the more it’s worth!
For 2-4 players, ages 10 & up
Contents: 100 letter cards
50 Word Challenge cards
“Bucket” to hold letters
60 second sand timer
Object of the game:
Wordsworth is a word-making game for 2,3 or 4 players. Each
player chooses 8 letters cards before each round. The object of
the game is to form the best possible word you can from these 8
letters that best describes the Word Challenge card in play. Players
form “single”, “double”, or “triple” words:
A “single” word is a word that is totally unconnected to the Word
Challenge card in play.
A “double” word is a word that has a specific connection with the
Word Challenge card in question, but can also be used, with the
same spelling, in other ways.
A “triple” score is the hardest to score. This word has only one
definition that is connected directly with the Word Challenge card.
For instance, the Word Challenge card says, “Something in
a forest”.
The word
would score a single word score since it
has nothing to do with the Word Challenge card.
The word
would score a double word score, since
this word could mean the animal found in a forest, but also
could mean equipment used in baseball.
The word
is a triple score since it refers to something directly related to a forest, and does not have another
meaning.
All the while players are forming their words, the sand is running
through the sand timer, so words must be formed quickly!
Before you begin:
Put the bucket into its base and place it where all players can reach
it. Place all the 100 letter cards in the bucket. Shuffle the 50 Word
Challenge cards and place them in a pile facedown on the table.
You will need paper and pencil to keep score.
Playing the game:
The youngest player begins by reaching into the bucket and
choosing 8 letters at random. No peeking! The player to the left
now chooses his/her letters and so on until all players have 8 letters
facedown in front of them.
The youngest player turns over his/her 8 letters, then turns over the
top Word Challenge Card.
The timer is turned over and the player studies his/her 8 letters and
tries to form the best word possible that will score the most points.
When the sand runs through the timer, it is the next player’s turn to
form a word, turning over his/her letters, using the same Word
Challenge card and a new 60 seconds from the sand timer. When
all players have had a turn, the round is over and it is time to score.
- Whenever a player is unable to make a word using the 8
letters, he/she can return 2 letters to the bucket and choose
2 new ones.
- There are 6 “ ” cards in the game. These can be used to represent any letter, but the player earns no points for the letter.
- Proper names and brand names (such as “Sony”) are allowed.
*
Scoring a round:
After a round is played, each player adds up his/her score as follows:
Add the point value for each letter used in your word shown on
each letter card. Add that total to the point values below, to get
your total score:
For Example:
WORD LENGTH
3 letters
4 letters
5 letters
6 letters
7 letters
8 letters
SINGLE
5
12
27
58
121
248
DOUBLE
10
24
54
116
242
496
TRIPLE
15
36
81
164
363
744
Note: When your word is only 1 or 2 letters in length, you score
only for the points value of the letters you used.
After the first round is completed, players return their letters to
the bucket and choose 8 more. Again, the youngest player begins
by turning over the next Word Challenge Card.
Winning the game:
After 10 rounds, the player who has the highest score is the winner!
The ultimate winner can rarely be foreseen until the very last round,
since sometimes players score highest by having the longest word,
but often a player can have a short word that scores a “triple” score.
Remember - the better your word, the more it’s worth!