Across all of space and time, the Tricksters play their games. Only a cunning few are aware of the mischief they wreak. At long last, these champions have united with a sole purpose: to put an end to these nuisances once and for all!

Trickster is a trick-taking game of multi-dimensional mischief like no other. Featuring a multitude of colorful heroes, each with unique abilities, no two games will ever be the same! Only the wiliest Trickster will thwart the others and live to trick another day!

In Trickster, player’s must get their rivals in trouble while dodging the blame. Tricksters (the players) will manipulate heroes from seven different dimensions, while working to dodge their troublesome adversaries.

Players may use the beginner deck to learn the overall basic effects that move cards around the table or try their hand at the strategist deck for more mindful, long-term play. Varying the hero combinations will make each game unique. Once familiar with the hero cards, there are a few ways to construct hero decks for variety. Shuffle the white randomizer cards together and randomly draw seven heroes, or lay all white cards face up for players to assemble a deck through drafting. From Steampunk to Cyberpunk to Post-Apocalyptic, the heroes decks are built from realms far and wide!

Trickster offers a large array of characters with unique abilities that alter game play. First up, we have a doctor in the house! Strong, intelligent, and masterful, The Doctor is a quarantine specialist. The Doctor has the ability to move a card from any opponent’s Tableau to any player’s hand. Next, we have the soldier, whose bravery and take-charge attitude serves them well. The Soldier has the ability to move a card from your hand to any opponent’s Tableau. Lastly, the nomad roams around with purpose and a plan. It’s been said that not all who wander are lost. The Nomad has the ability to move a card from an opponent’s Tableau to your Tableau. All of the heroes serve a distinct and notable purpose to aid the players. These are just a few of the heroes ready to outsmart the wily tricksters. Mixing the hero cards each game will ensure your experience will never be the same!

Each turn, the leader will play a card to start the trick. The leader will place one card from their hand to the pot. Players must apply the Hero’s card effects if they’re able to be used. The player to the left becomes the Trickster, setting the stage for the remainder of the trick. The Trickster may play the same card suit, the same Hero suit, or play a different Hero or suit altogether from the leader. Whichever suit the Trickster chooses, the subsequent player’s must play a card to follow the pattern set by the Trickster. If you can legally play a card, you must play it and use the hero’s effect if able. If the effect is impossible to use, then it’s ignored.

There are two different ways for the trick to end. A player who cannot legally play a card busts. The player who busts collects the cards from the pot and adds them, face up, to their Tableau. OR, if all players legally played one card during the round, the Trickster busts. The Trickster then collects all of the cards and adds them to their Tableau.

The round ends when a trick leaves one or more players with no cards remaining in their hand. Any players with cards in hand must add them to their personal Tableau, grouping the Hero cards according to suit. Next, player's score Trouble Points for each card in their Tableau. The player who has more cards of a suit than any other player doesn’t score Trouble Points for those cards. Ties don’t count during scoring. One player must have more of a suit than each other player.

The game ends after three rounds have been completed. Avoid ending up with the most heroes in your Tableau. Players establish their final score by adding Trouble Points together from each round. The player with the lowest point total is declared the winner!

Trickster comes to us from Daniel Solis, the extraordinary talent behind Kodama. Trickster is beautifully illustrated by Beth Sobel, (Lanterns: the Harvest Festival, World’s Fair 1893, Viticulture) bringing to life the rich and colorful worlds of the multiverse depicted on the Hero Cards.