Prophet's Gambit

Setup

Shuffle the 14 High cards, marked with a Crown symbol, and set them aside. The remaining 40 Common cards form the deck players will draw from during play, and consists of four suits (Swords, Stars, Coins, and Glyphs), each with a Master and cards numbered 1 through 9.

Choose a player to be the dealer.

The dealer shuffles the deck, then places a card face-up in the center of the table. This is the Focus card, and is shared by all players. Then, they place one card per player face-down around the Focus. These are the players' Fate cards.

Players may look at their own Fate card at any time.

Each player is dealt a hand of 6 cards, and the deck is placed within easy reach of all players. Discarded cards should be placed in a pile face-up, next to the deck.

How to Play

The goal of the game is to refine your hand down to 3 cards, which will be combined with the hidden Fate card and shared Focus card to make the best hand of 5 cards possible.

The Bid

Each player selects one card to play from their hand. These are all placed face-up in front of the players simultaneously.

Rounds 1 and 2

The player with the highest numbered card in front of them may discard their Fate card and replace it with a new card drawn from the deck. Then, they take the first turn this round.

Each player takes a turn (moving around the table clockwise) choosing either Play or Risk, as described below. Once each player has taken a turn, a second round begins, which follows the same procedure as the first round.

Play

Play a card from your hand, covering your previously played card. If the card is a Master (a common card with no number) or has a number lower than that of the player to your right, you may draw a card and then discard a card.

Risk

Discard a card from your hand, and reveal the top card from the High deck. Each High card triggers a different special effect which is resolved immediately and then discarded. These effects are detailed at the end of the rules.

The Execution

After the second round, the player who has the highest numbered card showing decides whether to "kill" (discard) or "save" (keep) the Focus card. If killed, the Focus card is removed from play, and all players' final hands will consist of only four cards instead of five.

The Reveal

Finally, players reveal their hand of cards and Fate cards. The player with the best combination of cards using their hand, Fate card, and possibly Focus cards is the winner.

Ties

In the case of two players being tied for anything, the player closest ot the dealer clockwise wins.

Ranking of Hands

In order from strongest to weakest:

Family (straight flush)

Circle (four of a kind)

Fortune (full house)

Village (straight)

Guild (flush)

Three of a kind

Two pairs

One pair

Highest card

High Card Effects

Revealing cards from the High deck is risky, as there's no telling what chaos you might unleash!

Artifact. Swap your Fate card with the Focus card.

Swap your Fate card with the Focus card. Beast. Each player discards a card, then draws a card.

Each player discards a card, then draws a card. Broken One. Discard your hand, then draw that many cards.

Discard your hand, then draw that many cards. Darklord. Choose another player. Look at their hand of cards and choose one for them to discard, then they draw a card.

Choose another player. Look at their hand of cards and choose one for them to discard, then they draw a card. Donjon. Each player must discard cards until they have three left in their hand. Immediately advance to the Reveal.

Each player must discard cards until they have three left in their hand. Immediately advance to the Reveal. Executioner. Keep this card on the table in front of you. Regardless of who wins the Execution, you decide whether to kill or save the Focus card.

Keep this card on the table in front of you. Regardless of who wins the Execution, you decide whether to kill or save the Focus card. Mists. Rotate all Fate cards one player clockwise.

Rotate all Fate cards one player clockwise. Ghost. Choose a card from the discard pile to add to your hand, then discard a card.

Choose a card from the discard pile to add to your hand, then discard a card. Horseman. Draw two cards, then discard two cards.

Draw two cards, then discard two cards. Innocent. Keep this card on the table in front of you. You and your cards can't be affected by any future High card effects.

Keep this card on the table in front of you. You and your cards can't be affected by any future High card effects. Marionette. Choose a player who hasn't taken a turn this round. That player must immediately play either their highest or lowest numbered card, as directed by you.

Choose a player who hasn't taken a turn this round. That player must immediately play either their highest or lowest numbered card, as directed by you. Raven. Each player chooses a card from their hand and passes it to the player on their left.

Each player chooses a card from their hand and passes it to the player on their left. Seer. Look at all players' Fate cards once.

Look at all players' Fate cards once. Tempter. Exchange a card from your hand with a random card from another player's hand.

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This game for 3-5 players using the Tarokka deck was designed by Sean Goodison. ©2016 Wizards of the Coast.