E X A M P LFA
EQ
TURN
Someone
of clues
the name
something
For
Round 1,guessed
Justin is part
giving
to hisorteam.
A
reallyfrom
close
toother
it. Does
that
count? time and
player
the
team
is keeping
starts a 60-second timer. Justin draws the first card
To keep
things
moving
during a turn, the person
from
the deck:
Count
Chocula.
giving clues should decide whether their team
JUSTIN:
guessed
This
correctly.
is a famous
Aftervampire…
their turn, feel free to argue
about it—that can be a lot of fun, actually—but try
TEAMMATE:
not to interrupt
Dracula!
them while the timer is going. Our
view is that as long as a person got the gist of the
JUSTIN:
name, He’s
it should
like him,
count.
but he really loves cereal…
TEAMMATE:
My friends Count
aren’t internet
Chocula!weirdos like you. What
should I do if they don’t know who a lot of these
people
are?the correctly guessed card off to the
Justin
tosses
side and draws the next card off the top of the deck:
Dealing
out more cards at the beginning of the
Pablo
Escobar.
game helps, since that will give them more to
JUSTIN:
chooseThis
from.
is a super famous drug lord…
TEAMMATE:
This guy did
AlaCapone!
robot voice
Pedro
forEscobar!
the Stephen Hawking
clue. Is that allowed?
Justin thinks that’s close enough, so he counts it as
Sure—different
andteam
sound
correct
and movesintonations
on (the other
is effects
free to are
fine. about
It’s ultimately
upturn
to you
guys about
how strict
argue
it after his
is over).
He draws
to be, but
should
let of
anything
funny
or clever
another
cardyou
from
the top
the deck:
Ceiling
Cat.
slide.
JUSTIN: This is a cat that—oops, skip.
Can you say the shortened version of a name as a
clue, like
for Michael?
Because
he Mike
accidentally
said part of the name, he
has to skip that card this turn. He draws another, but
No. Also
no spelling
name
using
initials.
before
he starts
to giveout
thethe
next
clue,orthe
timer
beeps, so his turn is over.
One of the players is using the game as an excuse
say the
racist/misogynistic
stuff. What
should
Hetoputs
cards his team guessed
correctly
in Iado?
stack with the others from earlier this round. He also
Tell themthe
it’scards
not cool
and/or find
friends.
reshuffles
he skipped
into new
the remaining
deck of unguessed cards.
The word “The” and “A” are in the name. Can I still
use them
while
Someone
from
thegiving
other clues?
team takes the deck and
begins their turn.
Yes, of course.
VA RFA
I AQ
NTS
M O N I K ERVASR I A N T S
Monikers
Someone
is based
guessed
onpart
a public
of the
domain
name game,
or something
so there
are
really
lots close
of different
to it. Does
waysthat
to play:
count?
Monikers is based on a public domain game, so there
How to play
are lots of different ways to play:
PU
ToBkeep
L I C things
If you’re
moving
out somewhere,
during a turn,
youthe
canperson
just pull
cards
giving
from
clues
theshould
box and
decide
try towhether
get yourtheir
friends
team
to
guess
guessed
using
correctly.
the rulesAfter
for Round
their turn,
1 or 2.
feel
Probably
free to argue
no
need
about
to it—that
use a timer
can or
bekeep
a lot score.
of fun, actually—but try
not to interrupt them while the timer is going. Our
EX
view
TR A
is R
that
O Uas
NDS
longYou
as acan
person
add rounds
got the with
gist of the
different
name, itrules.
should
We’ve
count.
seen people play rounds with
making a single sound, holding a facial expression,
and
Myplaying
friendsthe
aren’t
charades
internet
round
weirdos
under
like
a sheet.
you. What
Seriously.
should I do if they don’t know who a lot of these
people are?
M U LTI TEAM If your group is getting too big, you
might
Dealing
want
out
tomore
divide
cards
into at
more
the than
beginning
2 teams.
of the
But if
you
game
do, helps,
still trysince
to keep
thatthe
willtotal
givenumber
them more
of cards
to in
the
choose
deck around
from. 50.
PUB LI C If you’re out somewhere, you can just pull
cards from the box and try to get your friends to
guess using the rules for Round 1 or 2. Probably no
need to use a timer or keep score.
EXT RA RO UNDS You can add rounds with
different rules. We’ve seen people play rounds with
making a single sound, holding a facial expression,
and playing the charades round under a sheet.
Seriously.
M ULT I TEAM If your group is getting too big, you
might want to divide into more than 2 teams. But if
you do, still try to keep the total number of cards in
the deck around 50.
CO
This
- O guy
P Ifdid
you’re
a robot
with voice
a small
for
group
the Stephen
(4 or less),
Hawking
try
playing
clue. Iscooperatively.
that allowed?Our friend Alan Gerding
invented a fun variant where you set a timer—add 1
minute
Sure—different
per card in
intonations
the deck—and
and sound
try to finish
effects
allare
3
rounds
fine. It’s
in the
ultimately
allottedup
time
to you
(including
guys about
reshuffling,
how strict
etc).
to be, but you should let anything funny or clever
slide.
MORE INFO
CO -O P If you’re with a small group (4 or less), try
playing cooperatively. Our friend Alan Gerding
invented a fun variant where you set a timer—add 1
minute per card in the deck—and try to finish all 3
rounds in the allotted time (including reshuffling, etc).
Can
youinfo
say and
the shortened
For
more
new cards,version
visit: of a name as a
clue, like Mike for Michael?
For more info and new cards, visit:
www.monikersgame.com
No. Also no spelling out the name or using initials.
Customer Service/Service Clientéle (855) 895-4290
www.buffalogames.com
One of the players is using the game as an excuse
to say racist/misogynistic stuff. What should I do?
MORE INFO
www.monikersgame.com
Customer Service/Service Clientéle (855) 895-4290
www.buffalogames.com
Tell them it’s not cool and/or find new friends.
The word “The” and “A” are in the name. Can I still
use them while giving clues?
Yes, of course.
Monikers is available under a Creative Commons
BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Its name is trademarked
by Palm Court LLC. Monikers is printed and
published by Buffalo Games in Buffalo, NY. Alex
Hague and Justin Vickers make this thing.
For 4 - 16+ players
Monikers is available under a Creative Commons
BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Its name is trademarked
Ages 17 - deathby Palm Court LLC. Monikers is printed and
published by Buffalo Games in Buffalo, NY. Alex
Hague and Justin Vickers make this thing.
30 - 60 minutes
GGEETTTTI N
I NGG SSTA
TARRTTEEDD
Monikers
Monikersonly
onlytakes
takesabout
about5-10
5-10minutes
minutesto
tolearn.
learn.
Start
Startby
bydividing
dividingyour
yourgroup
groupinto
into22teams.
teams.
Deal
Deal10
10cards
cardsto
toeach
eachperson.
person.Everyone
Everyonesecretly
secretly
chooses
chooses55that
thatthey
theylike.
like.Shuffle
Shuffleall
allthe
thecards
cardspeople
people
chose
choseinto
intoone
onedeck,
deck,which
whichwill
willbe
beused
usedby
byboth
both
teams
teamsfor
forthe
theentire
entiregame.
game.Put
Putthe
theother
othercards
cardsback
back
ininthe
thebox.
box.
You
Youwant
wantto
toaim
aimfor
forusing
usingaround
around40-50
40-50cards
cardsinin
the
thedeck,
deck,so
sodeal
dealfewer
fewerand
andchoose
choosefewer
fewerwhen
when
playing
playingwith
withaabig
biggroup,
group,and
anddeal
dealmore
moreand
andchoose
choose
more
morewith
withaasmall
smallgroup.
group.
The
Theteam
teamwith
withthe
thebest
beststory
storyabout
aboutmeeting
meeting
someone
someonefamous
famousgoes
goesfirst.
first.Or
Ortotally
totallyrandom.
random.
HHOOW
W TTOO PPLLAY
AY
Monikers
Monikersisisplayed
playedinin33rounds.
rounds.InIneach
eachround,
round,aa
person
personfrom
fromthe
thestarting
startingteam
teamhas
has60
60seconds
secondsto
to
get
gettheir
theirteam
teamto
toguess
guessas
asmany
manynames
namesas
aspossible
possible
from
fromthe
thedeck
deckby
bygiving
givingclues
cluesabout
aboutthe
theperson’s
person’s
identity.
identity.(If
(Ifyou’re
you’replaying
playingwith
with10+
10+people,
people,go
gowith
with
30-45
30-45seconds
secondsto
togive
giveeveryone
everyoneaachance
chanceto
togive
give
clues.)
clues.)There’s
There’sno
nolimit
limitto
tothe
thenumber
numberof
ofguesses.
guesses.
Skipping
Skippingisisallowed
allowedand
andhighly
highlyencouraged.
encouraged.
Teams
Teamskeep
keepthe
thecards
cardsthey
theyguessed
guessedcorrectly
correctlyto
to
score
scoreafter
afterthe
theround.
round.Reshuffle
Reshuffleskipped
skippedcards
cardsinto
into
the
thedeck
deckafter
aftereach
eachturn
turnfor
forthe
thenext
nextteam
teamto
touse.
use.
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Teamstake
taketurns
turnsgiving
givingclues.
clues.Each
Eachplayer
playershould
should
take
takeaaturn
turngiving
givingclues
cluesbefore
beforeany
anyteammates
teammates
repeat.
repeat.Go
Goininclockwise
clockwiseorder
orderor
orfeel
feelfree
freeto
touse
use
some
someother
othersystem.
system.
AAround
roundends
endswhen
whenall
allcards
cardsfrom
fromthe
thedeck
deckhave
have
been
beenguessed
guessedcorrectly.
correctly.When
Whenthat
thathappens,
happens,teams
teams
add
addthe
thepoint
pointvalues
valuesfrom
fromeach
eachcard
cardthey
theycorrectly
correctly
guessed.
guessed.Write
Writethose
thosenumbers
numbersdown
downsomewhere,
somewhere,
then
thenshuffle
shuffleall
allthe
thecards
cardsback
backtogether
togetherinto
intoone
one
deck
deckfor
forthe
thenext
nextround.
round.The
The
FAteam
team
Q with
withthe
thelowest
lowest
score
scorebegins
beginsthe
thenext
nextround.
round.
Someone guessed part of the name or something
really close
RRUULto
LEESit.
S FDoes
FOORRthat
EEAACC
count?
HH RROOUUNNDD
Each
Each
Toof
keep
ofthe
thethings
33rounds
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moving
has
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during
restriction
restriction
a turn,
on
onthe
how
how
person
you
youcan
can
give
give
giving
clues:
clues:
clues should decide whether their team
guessed correctly. After their turn, feel free to argue
RROO
about
UUND
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1 Use
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gestures.You
You
try
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not
use
use
to the
interrupt
thename
namethem
itself.
itself.while
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you
the
use
use
timer
any
anypart
is
part
going.
of
ofthe
the
Our
name,
name,
view
you
you
is that
have
have
as
to
to
long
skip
skipas
that
that
a person
card
cardand
and
got
shuffle
shuffle
the gist
ititback
of
back
the
into
into
name,
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thedeck.
deck.
it should
Reading
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count.
the
theclue
cluetext
textisisallowed.
allowed.
RROO
My
UUND
ND
friends
22 Use
Use
aren’t
only
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1 1word
wordas
weirdos
asaaclue.
clue.
like
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can
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be
be
What
anything
anything
shouldexcept
except
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they
thename
name
don’titself.
itself.
know
You
You
who
can
can
a lot
repeat
repeat
of these
that
that
word
word
people
as
asmuch
much
are?as
asyou
youlike,
like,but
butno
nosounds
soundsor
orgestures.
gestures.
RROO
Dealing
UUND
ND33out
Just
Just
more
charades.
charades.
cards at
No
No
the
words.
words.
beginning
Sound
Sound
of
effects
effects
the
are
aregame
OK
OK(within
(within
helps,reason).
since
reason).
that will give them more to
choose from.
EENNDDI N
I NGG TTHHEE GGAAMMEE
This guy did a robot voice for the Stephen Hawking
The
The
clue.
team
team
Iswith
that
withthe
allowed?
thehighest
highesttotal
totalscore
scoreafter
after33rounds
rounds
wins.
wins.But
Butfeel
feelfree
freenot
notto
tokeep
keepscore
scoreatatall.
all.It’s
It’sfun
funto
to
play
play
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competitively,
competitively,intonations
but
butnot
notnecessary.
necessary.
and sound
IfIfyou
you
effects
have
haveare
any
any
unanswered
unanswered
fine. It’s ultimately
questions,
questions,
up
contact
contact
to you us
guys
usor
orjust
about
justgo
go
how
with
with
strict
whatever
whatever
to be, but
works
works
youbest
best
should
for
foryour
let
your
anything
group.
group.Having
funny
Having
or
fun
fun
clever
isis
more
more
slide.
important
importantthan
thangetting
gettingthe
therules
rulesperfect.
perfect.
Can you say the
shortened
version
CCAA
RRDD SSUUMMM
MAARRYY of a name as a
clue, like Mike for Michael?
No. Also no spelling out
Get
Get
the
your
your
name
team
team
or
totousing
guess
guessthis
initials.
this
name.
name.You
Youcan’t
can’tsay
sayany
anypart
partofof
it,it,even
evenparts
partsininparentheses.
One of the players is using
the
gameparentheses.
as an excuse
to say racist/misogynistic stuff. What should I do?
IfIfyou
youdon’t
don’tknow
knowthe
thename,
name,this
this
isisaaclue
cluetotohelp
helpfigure
figureititout.
out.You
You
Tell them it’s not cool and/or
find
new
friends.
can
canalso
alsorisk
riskpublic
publichumiliation
humiliation
by
byreading
readingparts
partsofofititout
outloud.
loud.
The word “The” and “A” are in the name. Can I still
use them while givingThis
clues?
Thisisisthe
thedescriptive
descriptivecategory
category
Yes, of course.
that
thatthe
thename
namefits
fitsinto.
into.
IfIfyour
yourteam
teamguesses
guessesthe
thename
name
correctly,
correctly,you
youget
getthis
thismany
many
points.
points.
EEXXAAM
VA
MPPLRLEIEATN
TUU
TRS
RNN
Monikers
on
a public
domain
game,
For
For
Round
Roundis
1,1,based
Justin
Justinis
isgiving
giving
clues
clues
to
tohis
his
team.
team.so
AA there
are lots
of different
ways
to
player
player
from
from
the
theother
other
team
team
isisplay:
keeping
keepingtime
timeand
and
starts
startsaa60-second
60-secondtimer.
timer.Justin
Justindraws
drawsthe
thefirst
firstcard
card
PUBthe
LI
Cdeck:
If you’re
out
somewhere, you can just pull
from
from
the
deck:
Count
Count
Chocula.
Chocula.
cards from the box and try to get your friends to
JUSTIN:
JUSTIN:
guess using
This
Thisis
the
isaafamous
rules
famous
forvampire…
vampire…
Round 1 or 2. Probably no
need to use a timer or keep score.
TEAMMATE:
TEAMMATE:Dracula!
Dracula!
EXT RA RO UNDS You can add rounds with
JUSTIN:
JUSTIN:
different
He’s
He’s
rules.
like
like
We’ve
him,
him,but
seen
buthe
he
people
really
reallyloves
play
lovesrounds
cereal…
cereal…
with
making a single sound, holding a facial expression,
TEAMMATE:
TEAMMATE:
and playingCount
the
Count
charades
Chocula!
Chocula!
round under a sheet.
Seriously.
Justin
Justintosses
tossesthe
thecorrectly
correctlyguessed
guessedcard
cardoff
offto
tothe
the
M ULT
I draws
TEAM
If your
group
is the
getting
too
big,
you
side
side
and
and
drawsthe
the
next
nextcard
cardoff
off
thetop
topof
ofthe
the
deck:
deck:
mightEscobar.
want to divide into more than 2 teams. But if
Pablo
Pablo
Escobar.
you do, still try to keep the total number of cards in
JUSTIN:
JUSTIN:
the deck
This
This
around
isisaasuper
super
50. famous
famousdrug
druglord…
lord…
TEAMMATE:
TEAMMATE:
CO -O P If you’re
Al
AlCapone!
Capone!
with aPedro
Pedro
smallEscobar!
group
Escobar!
(4 or less), try
playing cooperatively. Our friend Alan Gerding
invented
a fun
variant
where
youso
set
a counts
timer—add
Justin
Justin
thinks
thinks
that’s
that’s
close
close
enough,
enough,
so
he
he
countsititas
as1
minuteand
permoves
card
inon
the
deck—and
try to
finish
all 3
correct
correct
and
moves
on
(the
(the
other
otherteam
team
isisfree
freeto
to
rounds
in the
allotted
(including
reshuffling,
etc).
argue
argue
about
about
ititafter
afterhis
histime
turn
turnis
isover).
over).He
He
draws
draws
another
anothercard
cardfrom
fromthe
thetop
topof
ofthe
thedeck:
deck:Ceiling
CeilingCat.
Cat.
MORE INFO
JUSTIN:
JUSTIN:This
Thisisisaacat
catthat—oops,
that—oops,skip.
skip.
For more info and new cards, visit:
Because
Becausehe
heaccidentally
accidentallysaid
saidpart
partof
ofthe
thename,
name,he
he
has
hasto
toskip
skipwww.monikersgame.com
that
thatcard
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thisturn.
turn.He
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drawsanother,
another,but
but
before
beforehe
hestarts
startsto
togive
givethe
thenext
nextclue,
clue,the
thetimer
timer
Customer Service/Service Clientéle (855) 895-4290
beeps,
beeps,so
sohis
histurn
turnisisover.
over.
www.buffalogames.com
He
Heputs
putsthe
thecards
cardshis
histeam
teamguessed
guessedcorrectly
correctlyininaa
stack
stackwith
withthe
theothers
othersfrom
fromearlier
earlierthis
thisround.
round.He
Healso
also
reshuffles
reshufflesthe
thecards
cardshe
heskipped
skippedinto
intothe
theremaining
remaining
deck
deckof
ofunguessed
unguessedcards.
cards.
Someone
Someonefrom
fromthe
theother
otherteam
teamtakes
takesthe
thedeck
deckand
and
is available under a Creative Commons
begins
beginstheir
theirturn.
turn. Monikers
BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Its name is trademarked
by Palm Court LLC. Monikers is printed and
published by Buffalo Games in Buffalo, NY. Alex
Hague and Justin Vickers make this thing.