In 2019 we invented a game called Verse for two or more players, and now we’d like to offer it to all you Coronavirus shut-ins to print out your own copy of the cards and play. It’s basically a very elaborate game of Scissors Paper Rock, with arguing.

The rules

You can make up your own, but here is a suggestion for two players.

Shuffle the cards and divide them equally. Put your pile face down in front of you, and pick up seven cards. As you play out a card, replace it from your deck until all cards are used up.

On the count of three, play a card you choose from your hand by laying it face up in the centre. By argument or persuasion, the players decide which card bests the other. A card can either:

RULE: the winner takes both cards and puts them face up in their ruling pile

NADA: The players cannot think of a way that the cards influence each other. Both cards go in the Nada pile to one side.

BOOST: The players decide that the cards help or amplify each other. Both cards go in the Boost pile on the other side.

When all the cards are used up, tally the scores with one point for each card. Add up the cards in your own RULE pile. Count the cards in the NADA pile and take this number away from both players. Count the cards in the BOOST pile and add them to both.

Printable files

The card backs (first file) are optional but you can choose to print them on the backs of all the other files.

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Here’s the box to print, cut, fold, and glue.

From an original idea by Jove Taplin, with artwork by Morrow, Bryony and Jove. Happy Versing!