Players divide themselves into two teams and then determine who goes first by tossing a coin. Next, both teams place their playing pieces on the starting square as indicated on the playing board.
We will refer to the teams as 1 and 2.
Assuming that Team 2 is going first, one person (the reader) from Team 1 reads the question out loud to Team 2, and when finished, turns the card over and silently reads the answer. When the reader fully under-stands both the question and answer, Team 2 can re-read the question before answering.
The first space encountered by either team will be the Wild Space (signified by the letter M), which means the answering team can choose a question from any one of the three categories: Purple Space, Pink Space or Blue Space. NOTE: On the Wild Space the teams may also choose to answer a question from the "original" MindTrap game.
If, at the start of a team's turn, their moving piece is on a Purple Space, the reader from the opposite team takes a card from the Purple Section.
NOTE: If
the question has a diamond (
)
on it, (as most do in the Purple Mystery Category), Team 2 may ask
the reader a variety of questions. (See section on Inquiry Cards)
If Team 2 answers correctly, they can either advance one square on the board and request another question from the category color their playing piece has just moved to, OR, they can choose to roll the die (0, 1, 2, or 3) and move the indicated value, thereby ending their turn.
If Team 2 answers
incorrectly, their turn is ended and Team 1, (excluding the reader),
now have the opportunity to "state the answer" and move ahead one square
for a bonus point. If neither Team's answer is correct, the reader reveals
the answer to all and the card is returned to the box. It is now Team
2's turn to read a question to Team 1. (NOTE:
In a team situation, the reader should alternate after each question.)
If the answering team's moving piece is on a Pink Space at the start of their turn, a card is chosen from the Pink Section. This section contains PICTURE IT cards, (the answering team tries to identify the photographed object), STICK IT cards, (stick puzzles) and SHAPE IT cards (tangram puzzles). Both the STICK IT and the SHAPE IT cards are TEAM CHALLENGE puzzle cards, in which both teams take part.
TEAM CHALLENGE: If the card is a STICK IT card, each team assembles their set of colored sticks as shown on the card, and at the word "GO", each team races to be first to complete the puzzle.
If the card is a SHAPE IT card, each team gathers their seven colored pieces together, and at the word "GO", each team races to be first to assemble the " tangram" picture.
The first team to assemble/solve the TEAM CHALLENGE ("STICK IT" or "SHAPE IT") can choose to move one space and request the next question, or they may roll the die (0, 1, 2 or 3) and move the indicated value, thereby ending their turn.
When a Team receives a PICTURE IT card, they try to identify the magnified object. If they are unable to determine the object's identity, the other team has an opportunity to identify the object and move ahead one square for a bonus point, and receive the next question.
NOTE: In
the Pink Section, PICTURE IT cards are not TEAM CHALLENGE Cards.
If, at the start of a team's turn, their moving piece is on a Blue Space, the reader from the opposite team takes a card from the Blue Section, consisting of BRAIN CRAMP and MISCELLANEOUS MindTrap questions, and reads it out loud. This section is played according to the same format as the Purple Section.
Questions preceded by a diamond (
) are Inquiry
Cards. These cards allow the answering team to ask the reader
any question they want to help them solve a problem. The reader may respond
with a "YES", "NO", or "IRRELEVANT" only. Players should word their
questions to get the correct response. For example, a player couldn't ask
"Whose blood is on the floor?" as the reader's three possible responses
would not apply.
A two player game is played as above but without the option of bonus points since the "reader" would already know the answer.
We realize that on occasion there may be more than one possible answer to a question. However, we recommend that only MindTrap's answer be accepted for the purposes of scoring.
Many of the answers to MindTrap's questions require more than a guess. An explanation is required to justify the answer and earn a point.
There are no time limitations.
However, you are free to set any as you see fit.
The team who reaches the last space on their own scoring track before the other team reaches theirs is the winner.