WELCOME TO
4:am
The Goal
Have a score of 25 when
you receive the Turn Marker.
The Setup
Enter the Void
Place the Void card in a place easily accessible to all players.
Pick a Friend
Each player selects one of the characters and takes all of the cards marked with that character.
Create your Play Deck
Each character has 16 Number Cards marked with Core, separate these.
Select 6 of the remaining number cards that aren't marked with Core. Add these 6 to the Core Cards you just separated.
The Number Cards are the square cards.
To the Void
Add the unselected Number Cards to the Void.
Get your Hand
With the 22 cards (the 16 Core and 6 selected), shuffle them and place the pile face down in front of you.
This is your Play Deck.
Now draw the top three cards from your Play Deck. This is your Hand.
The Game Deck
The Game Deck starts with 4 'Mimic' cards, 1 'Healer' card, 2 'Refresh' cards, and the following number of 'Play' Cards:
| Players | Play Cards |
|---|---|
| 2 | 10 |
| 3 | 15 |
| 4 | 20 |
| 5 | 25 |
| 6 | 30 |
Your Choice
Once the Game Deck has its cards, each player goes through their Instruction Cards and selects 6 cards.
These are the rectangular cards - some of these cards are marked with 'Effect'.
Back to the Void
Add the unselected Instruction Cards to the Void.
Mix It Up
Take the selected Instruction Cards from every player, add them to the Game Deck, and shuffle thoroughly. Now place the pile face down in the middle of the players.
Game On!
You're now set up and ready to play!
Every player should have 3 cards in their Hand and a facedown pile of square Number Cards in front of them - their Play Deck.
There should also be the Game Deck of Instruction Cards, as well as the Void with the discarded cards on it.
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How to Play
Before starting
Every Player draws a card from their Play Deck, then plays a card from their Hand in front of them.
Select which player will go first, then pass them the Turn Marker.
The Game
The Player with the Turn Marker draws a card from the Game Deck.
They follow those instructions.
Once all instructions have been followed, discard the card next to the Game Deck.
Pass the Turn Marker clockwise.
If the Player receiving the Turn Marker has a score of 25 in their played cards in front of them, they win.
If the Game Deck is cleared, shuffle the played Instruction Cards, then place them face down again and continue.
If every player exhausts their Play Deck, the game ends in a Tie.
Effects
Some of the Instruction Cards are marked with 'Effect'. These Effect cards impact the way the game is played.
An Effect card can only be removed once the instructions have been completed, or through the use of the Healer card.
Unless otherwise stated, the drawing and playing of cards refers to your own Play Deck and the Played Cards in front of you.
Players may have multiple Effect cards with the same effect in front of them at the same time.
A Player could have a Resist card and a Rebel card in front of them, or two Restrict cards.
If a Player has multiple Effect cards, they resolve one at a time.
For example:
A Player with two Restrict cards in front of them is told to Redraw.
They return their Hand to their Play Deck and shuffle it.
They then discard the two Restrict cards instead of drawing two cards, then they draw the third.
The Player would end up with 1 card in their hand.
Hypnotise
Whenever a Hypnotise card is played, the order of play is reversed. If a second Hypnotise card is played, the order of play is reversed again.
Whenever the Turn Marker is passed to a player who has Hypnotise in front of them, that card is discarded and the Player has their turn as normal.
Once they've finished their turn, the Turn Marker goes back the other way.
Rebel
If a Player has a Rebel card in front of them, they are immune to the parts of any instructions telling them to draw or play a card.
They are not immune to the rest of the instructions.
For example:
The Player is told to Redraw
They return their Hand to their Play Deck, and shuffle as normal.
They cannot draw new cards.
The Characters
HoneyBob
A happy, playful soul who enjoys a game where everyone has fun!
Doris
Keen to prove that witches aren't mean, she likes helping her friends have the best time.