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This is a realistic matchmaking game using timeless rules. Each player is a competing matchmaker. The object of the game is to make as many matches as possible.
Just like in real life, couples are matched by pairing up compatible orientations. Straight male-to-female. Gay male-to-male or female-to-female. Nobody able to match with a Celibate. Anybody achieving a match with a Soulmate earns extra 3 points unless trumped by a Deathmate. The person with the most paired Couples wins the title of The Match-Maker and the person with the most Exes (matched unpaired cards) becomes The Player.
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There are two basic kinds of cards
| 1. Person Cards | which represent people and their orientations. (Straight male, gay female, etc.) Your goal is to find a match for all the cards in your hand. |
| 2. Chance Cards | which represent possibilities, like the chance for a Soulmate or Deathmate match. Orientation or Sex Change, or for simply more time, another matching chance. Orientation and Sex Change chance cards are also known as Change Cards because these are used to replace person cards. Orientation Change chance card can also be used to influence an orientation change. Like real life, people use or throw out chances. |
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Acronyms
| PC | = Person Card |
| PC1 | = First Opened PC to be Matched |
| PC2 | = Second Opened PC to be Matched |
| CC | = Chance Card |
| OC | = Orientation Change CC or process |
| SC | = Sex Change CC or process |
| OI | = Orientation Change Influence process |
| SM | = Soulmate CC |
| DM | = Deathmate CC |
| T | = Time CC |
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To Play
Dealer must
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Shuffle Soulmate and Deathmate Chance cards and place them face down on the Mate Chance Pile
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Shuffle the remaining Chance cards and place them face down on the Change Chance Pile
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Shuffle all Person cards, place 7 cards face down on the Change-To-Person Pile, and lay out 3 cards each face down, in a 4-row by 5-column grid (except the 4th row which will only have 2 cards each)
The game begins with the person to the left of the Dealer, and moves clockwise around the table. See layout below.
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The Layout
Cards in the Discard Pile must be placed face up.
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Turn Player
The initial turn player is the person sitting to the left of the dealer.
Turn player must open up two cards ( PC1 and PC2) from different locations on the grid.
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If PC1 and PC2 Match
Player can either collect a Couple (both PCs go onto the Couples Pile) or an Ex (PC2 goes onto the Exes Pile and PC1 is retained face down on the grid).
Each Person card collected is equivalent to 1 point.
Each player has his or her own Couples and Exes piles. Respectively, they are laid out horizontally and vertically in front of each player to easily distinguish them. In real life, some relationships work and some do not.
OPTIONAL: If player is collecting couples and wants to risk earning extra or losing points then he or she may draw from the Soulmate and Deathmate Chance Pile.
If SM was drawn then player automatically earns extra 3 points.
This represents PC1 found soulmate PC2.
Collect the Soulmate card on the Couples Pile to remember the extra 3 points.
If DM was drawn then player automatically loses 3 points, discard PC1 onto Discard Pile, and leave PC2 face down on the grid.
This represents PC1 found deathmate PC2.
Collect the Deathmate card on the Couples Pile to remember the 3 point deduction.
A deathmate PC2 of PC1 does not make PC2 a deathmate of another PC.
A confident player may also draw from the Soulmate and Deathmate Chance Pile prior to opening up PC1 and PC2.
When combining two decks, turn player may draw two cards from the Soulmate and Deathmate Change Pile. Possible combinations and respective points:
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SM and SM (6 points)
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DM and DM (-6 points)
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DM trumps SM and vice versa (no points)
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If PC1 and PC2 MisMatch
OPTIONAL: Player may draw a card from the Change Chance Pile to replace either PC1 or PC2 or get another turn. If drawn card is
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Orientation Change (OC)
Discard OC.
If replacing PC1 then discard PC1 and replace with a card from the Change-To-Person Pile following the OC rules.
If replacing PC2 then discard PC2 and replace with a card from the Change-To-Person Pile following the OC rules.
If neither PC1 or PC2 can OC into one of the cards in Change-To-Person Pile then both cards must be placed face down on the grid.
Only valid replacement cards can be taken from the Change-To-Person Pile.
A valid OC example, a Straight-Female (PC1) replaced with a Gay-Female from the Change-To-Person Pile.
An invalid OC example, a Straight-Male (PC1) replaced with a Celibate-Female from the Change-To-Person Pile.
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Sex Change (SC)
Discard SC.
If replacing PC1 then discard PC1 and replace with a card from the Change-To-Person Pile following the SC rules.
If replacing PC2 then discard PC2 and replace with a card from the Change-To-Person Pile following the SC rules.
If neither PC1 or PC2 can SC into one of the cards in Change-To-Person Pile then both cards must be placed face down on the grid.
Only valid replacement cards can be taken from the Change-To-Person Pile.
A valid SC example, a Gay-Male (PC1) replaced with a Straight-Female from the Change-To-Person Pile.
An invalid SC example, a Gay-Female (PC1) replaced with a Straight-Female from the Change-To-Person Pile.
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Time (T)
Opening up this card automatically gives the turn player another turn. This card must be discarded before taking another turn.
If player did not attempt to replace a card then player must place PC1 and PC2 face down on the grid.
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Non-Turn Player
A non-turn player may cancel a turn player's usage of the OC, SC and T Chance cards. This is done by interrupting a turn and stating a cancellation attempt. The non-turn player will open up a card from the Change Chance Pile. The opened card must be identical to the card that needs to be cancelled. For example, a turn player is in the midst of carrying out an Orientation Change, a non-turn player interrupts and states a cancellation attempt, and non-turn player opens up a card from the Change Chance Pile. If the card is an OC then Orientation Change process is cancelled and both OC cards are discarded. If the card is not an OC then cancellation attempt failed, the opened card must be placed face down at the bottom of the Change Chance Pile, and turn player continues.
When using a single deck, only OC cancellation can be done.
All players actions must be validated by at least one or all the other players.
Play continues until all the possible matches have been made. Like real life, not everyone will find a match.
For beginners, put all cards face up and after a few games, cards can be placed face down. Players can restrict the time, the number of rounds, or both to control the length of the game.
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Winners, Titles and Events
The player with the most collected person cards automatically wins. Ties can be broken using either the Tie Breaker or the Grudge Match. Players also can earn titles list below.
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Titles
| The Match-Maker | The player with the most Couples |
| The Player | The player with the most Exes |
| The Grand Master | The ultimate title, the player having both the most Couples and the most Exes |
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Special Events
| Deathmate Trumps Soulmate* | When both the Soulmate and the Deathmate cards are opened on the same, successful match, they cancel each other out. (A dead soulmate does not lead to happily ever after.) |
| Fairy Tale* | When two Soulmate cards are opened on the same, successful match. |
| Tragedy* | When two Deathmate cards are opened on the same, successful match. |
| Romeo and Juliet* | When two pairs of Soulmate and Deathmate cards are opened on the same, successful match. Romeo and Juliet are both soulmates and deathmates. Fairy Tale and Tragedy combined. |
| Suicide | When a player knowingly opens a Deathmate card on a successful match. |
| Attempted Suicide | An unsuccessful match attempt at knowingly opening the Deathmate card. |
* only possible when using multiple decks
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