At Thirst HQ, we know that what’s effortless for one player can stump another, so play fair, celebrate clever picks, accept the scoring assignment and above all… Think fast, Speak First, Stay Thirsty.
Thirsty Game Instructions
Setup
1. Build your deck: Take at least 20 cards per player (Patrons) from the central supply, (e.g. 5 players → 100 cards), shuffle and place them in a single pile at the centre of the table, letter-side up (prompt side down). This pile is known as the game deck.
2. Add a demo card: Draw one extra card from the central supply and add it to the game deck, ready for a practice/demo round.
3. Choose the starting Dealer: The Dealer (Bartender) is responsible for reading the prompts and making any judgment calls during that round.
4. Practice round: Play one demo round, then drop the practice card into the Kitty — the growing pot for the thirstiest of players. If you skip the demo round, make sure the Kitty starts with at least one card.
Gameplay1. Remind Patrons of the letters: Before picking up the top card, the Bartender reads aloud the three letters shown on its front.
2. Reveal the prompt: Without displaying the prompt side of the card to the Patrons, the Bartender reads the prompt aloud for all Patrons.
3. Race to answer: Patrons race to shout a word that fits the prompt and starts with one of the three letters — aiming for what they believe is the trickiest letter for maximum bragging rights. First valid response wins the round; bartender proceeds to reveal scoring.
4. Resolve simultaneous shouts:Compare droplets, the letter linked to the ‘fuller’ droplet / harder response wins. If it’s still tied, place the active card into the Kitty, and only the tied Patrons battle it out in the next round.
5. Rotate the Bartender: Pass the Bartender role clockwise after each round unless they're on a double shift!
6. Bartender exclusion: The Bartender is on duty and cannot win cards during their shift.
Scoring
When you win a round, the action to be taken depends on the letter’s difficulty assignment. • Empty droplet (letter associated with the easier response): Place the card into the Kitty. No reward, but you’ve kept things moving.• Half-full droplet (letter associated with the medium response): Keep the card — it’s yours to hold.• Full droplet (letter associated with the harder response): Scoop up to three cards from the Kitty, then place the active card into to the Kitty to keep the pot topped up.
Winning the Game
Penalties Flagged by Patrons, judged by the Bartender• Invalid response: Forfeit one card to the Kitty and serve a double Bartender shift the next time you rotate in. • Slow play: No valid shout within 10 seconds? The card goes into the Kitty.• Rule glitches: Starting out of sync, asking “is it my go?” or similar slip-ups costs the offender one card, which goes into the Kitty.• Overdoing “A,” “The,” or similar filler words? That’s a fast track to a double Bartender shift, on group consensus.
Terminology• Bartender: Reads the prompt, settles ties, and enforces penalties.• Patrons: The players racing to answer.• Kitty: The communal card pile that swells for the thirstiest players.• Double Shift: Penalty forcing you to serve two consecutive rounds as Bartender.
Penalties Flagged by Patrons, judged by the Bartender• Invalid response: Forfeit one card to the Kitty and serve a double Bartender shift the next time you rotate in. • Slow play: No valid shout within 10 seconds? The card goes into the Kitty.• Rule glitches: Starting out of sync, asking “is it my go?” or similar slip-ups costs the offender one card, which goes into the Kitty.• Overdoing “A,” “The,” or similar filler words? That’s a fast track to a double Bartender shift, on group consensus.
Terminology• Bartender: Reads the prompt, settles ties, and enforces penalties.• Patrons: The players racing to answer.• Kitty: The communal card pile that swells for the thirstiest players.• Double Shift: Penalty forcing you to serve two consecutive rounds as Bartender.