Gamehelphardback - Revision history

Eric Juneau at 20:00, 23 July 2026

2026-07-23T20:00:35Z

Quietmint at 21:11, 15 July 2026

2026-07-15T21:11:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:11, 15 July 2026
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	😡 '''Account issue?'''		😡 '''Account issue?'''
	[https://boardgamearena.com/support Contact Board Game Arena support] regarding ELO, karma, penalties, reputation, etc.		[https://boardgamearena.com/support Contact Board Game Arena support] regarding ELO, karma, penalties, reputation, etc.

	~~🪦 '''"Outdated browser" error?'''~~
	~~Not a bug. Update to a browser from year 2020 or later (Chrome 87, Edge 88, Firefox 78, iOS/Safari 14).~~

	📖 '''Word not accepted?'''		📖 '''Word not accepted?'''

1pld: Typos and punctuation

2024-10-10T05:02:04Z

Typos and punctuation

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:02, 10 October 2024
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	In BGA, when your turn begins, your hand of cards automatically moves into the current word area. Simply drag and drop the cards to rearrange them.		In BGA, when your turn begins, your hand of cards automatically moves into the current word area. Simply drag and drop the cards to rearrange them.

	You're not required to use all your cards and can remove cards from your word by clicking the card or dragging it up to your hand area. If you change your mind, you can re-add a removed card by clicking it (adds to the end of your word) or dragging it down to your word in the proper position.		You're not required to use all your cards, and can remove cards from your word by clicking the card or dragging it up to your hand area. If you change your mind, you can re-add a removed card by clicking it (adds to the end of your word) or by dragging it down to your word in the proper position.

	Any card can be made wild, but wild cards do not provide any benefits. Click '''WILD''' below a card to flip it face-down and assign any letter by clicking or typing the letter. If you change your mind, click '''UNCOVER''' below a wild card to flip it face-up.		Any card can be made wild, but wild cards do not provide any benefits. Click '''WILD''' below a card to flip it face-down and assign any letter by clicking or typing the letter. If you change your mind, click '''UNCOVER''' below a wild card to flip it face-up.
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	Note that Timeless Classics cannot be used as a wild card.		Note that Timeless Classics cannot be used as a wild card.

	Only the owner receives benefits from Timeless Classics. Other players may only use its letter to spell a word. It doesn't ~~not~~ trigger genre rewards for them.		Only the owner receives benefits from Timeless Classics. Other players may only use its letter to spell a word. It doesn't trigger genre rewards for them.

	=== Ink and Remover ===		=== Ink and Remover ===

4everblessed: /* Literary Awards */

2024-09-17T17:05:00Z

Literary Awards

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:05, 17 September 2024
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	=== Literary Awards ===		=== Literary Awards ===
	Literary Awards provide bonus points ~~to the players who~~ spell the ~~longest~~ word, ~~encouraging players~~ to ~~compete more directly~~.		Literary Awards provide bonus points for spell longer words (7-12 letters). The longer the word, the more points, but only 1 literary award will be honored at the end of the game - to whoever spelled the longest word.

	~~Awards are based on word length and start at 7 letters. You earn an award corresponding to the length of your word if no player has yet earned a higher award. All players may earn~~ the ~~same award. For example, the first~~ player to spell a ~~word with 7 letters earns the~~ 7-letter ~~award. Other players who spell 7-letter words also earn~~ the 7-letter award. ~~If any~~ player spells a 10-letter word~~, they earn~~ the 10-letter award ~~and all lower awards are discarded~~.		EXAMPLE: the 1st player to spell a 7-letter word claims the 7-letter award card. Later another player spells a 10-letter word. That player claims the 10-letter literary award card. ALL CARDS OF LOWER VALUE ARE DISCARDED FROM THE GAME.

	Because awards can be lost, they are not scored immediately and do not count towards the 60-point threshold needed to end the game. Players in possession of an award at the end of the game earn the 5 - 15 bonus points.		Because awards can be lost, they are not scored immediately and do not count towards the 60-point threshold needed to end the game. Players in possession of an award at the end of the game earn the 5 - 15 bonus points.

4everblessed: /* Resolve Card Benefits */

2024-09-17T16:53:50Z

Resolve Card Benefits

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 17 September 2024
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	Your hand of cards is shown to the other players to see if they can suggest a word. As a reward for a successful suggestion, the player receives a free ink token from the general supply. They also receive the ink from any "inked" cards used in their suggestion.		Your hand of cards is shown to the other players to see if they can suggest a word. As a reward for a successful suggestion, the player receives a free ink token from the general supply. They also receive the ink from any "inked" cards used in their suggestion.

	=== ~~Resolve~~ Card Benefits ===		=== Gain Card Benefits ===

	The ~~face-up cards~~ in your word provide various benefits. ~~Hover~~ your mouse (on mobile: tap and hold) on the benefit section of the card to see more information.		The letters in your word provide various benefits. On BGA, you can hover your mouse (on mobile: tap and hold) over the benefit section of the card to see more information.

	~~• Basic benefits are listed ''in black, above the line''. You gain these every time~~ you ~~use the card face-up~~ to ~~spell a word~~.		Coins (¢) allow you to purchase new cards and ink.

	~~• Genre benefits are listed ''in color, below the line''. You gain these if you have at least one other card of the same genre~~ (~~color~~) ~~in play (in~~ your ~~word or in the '''Timeless Classics''' area)~~.		Points (★) increase your score.

	~~Coins (¢) allow~~ you to ~~purchase new cards and ink~~. ~~Points~~ (★) ~~increase~~ your ~~final score~~. ~~Abilities alter the state of play in special ways:~~		BASIC BENEFITS are listed ''in black, above the line''. You gain these every time you use the card to spell a word.

			GENRE BENEFITS are listed ''in color, below the line''. You gain these if you have at least one other card of the same genre (color) in play (in your word or in the '''Timeless Classics''' area).

	• <span style="color:rgb(185,28,28)"><b>Double</b> (on Romance/red cards)</span> allows you to double the coin and point values provided by an adjacent card. If you double the same card twice, it is tripled (not quadrupled). When you double or triple a card, the numbers on the card change are highlight in yellow. Doubling doesn't count towards activating genre benefits or allow you to perform any other abilities twice.		• <span style="color:rgb(185,28,28)"><b>Double</b> (on Romance/red cards)</span> allows you to double the coin and point values provided by an adjacent card. If you double the same card twice, it is tripled (not quadrupled). When you double or triple a card, the numbers on the card change are highlight in yellow. Doubling doesn't count towards activating genre benefits or allow you to perform any other abilities twice.

	• <span style="color:rgb(185,28,28)"><b>Dump</b> (on Romance/red cards)</span> allows you to remove a card from your discard pile to gain an amount of coins.		• <span style="color:rgb(185,28,28)"><b>Dump</b> (on Romance/red cards)</span> allows you to remove a card from your discard pile to gain an amount of coins.

			• <span style="color:rgb(185,28,28)"><b>Preview</b> (on Romance/red cards)</span> allows you to draw 3 cards from your deck and return or discard each card.

	• <span style="color:rgb(29,78,216)"><b>Jail</b> (on Mystery/blue cards)</span> allows you to either reserve or remove a card from the offer row. If you reserve the card, it goes into your personal jail, allowing only you to purchase it later. You can only reserve one card at a time. In both cases, the effect to other players is the same: The card you choose won't be available to them anymore.		• <span style="color:rgb(29,78,216)"><b>Jail</b> (on Mystery/blue cards)</span> allows you to either reserve or remove a card from the offer row. If you reserve the card, it goes into your personal jail, allowing only you to purchase it later. You can only reserve one card at a time. In both cases, the effect to other players is the same: The card you choose won't be available to them anymore.

	• <span style="color:rgb(~~185~~,28,28)"><b>~~Preview~~</b> (on ~~Romance~~/~~red~~ cards)</span> allows you to ~~draw 3 cards from~~ your ~~deck and return or discard each~~ card.		• <span style="color:rgb(29,78,216)"><b>Uncover</b> (on Mystery/blue cards)</span> allows you to flip an adjacent wild card back to its face-up side, allowing you to play a card as any letter and still earn the benefits. (The card played as wild card has to be placed next to your blue 'Uncover' card.)

	• <span style="color:rgb(77,124,15)"><b>Remover</b> (on Horror/green cards)</span> grants you an ink or remover. This is the only way to get remover.		• <span style="color:rgb(77,124,15)"><b>Remover</b> (on Horror/green cards)</span> grants you an ink or remover. This is the only way to get remover.

	• <span style="color:rgb(113,63,18)"><b>Trash</b> (on Adventure/yellow cards)</span> allows you to remove that particular card from your word to gain an amount of coins or points.		• <span style="color:rgb(113,63,18)"><b>Trash</b> (on Adventure/yellow cards)</span> allows you to remove that particular card from your word to gain an amount of coins or points.

	• <span style="color:rgb(29,78,216)"><b>Uncover</b> (on Mystery/blue cards)</span> allows you to flip an adjacent wild card back to its face-up side, allowing you to play a card as any letter and still earn the benefits. (The card played as wild card has to be placed next to your blue 'Uncover' card.)

	Cards are that removed (through Dump, Jail, or Trash) are discarded from the game. In the unlikely event that you go through all 140 offer row cards, the removed cards are reshuffled to form a new offer row deck.		Cards are that removed (through Dump, Jail, or Trash) are discarded from the game. In the unlikely event that you go through all 140 offer row cards, the removed cards are reshuffled to form a new offer row deck.

4everblessed: /* How To Play */

2024-09-17T16:47:32Z

How To Play

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:47, 17 September 2024
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	== How To Play ==		== How To Play ==

	Hardback is a deck-building word game. ~~Each player starts with their own~~ deck of 10 ~~Starter~~ cards: ~~The~~ 8 letters (A, E, I, L, N, R, S, T) plus 2 random letters ~~from the set~~ (B, C, D, G, H, M, O, P, U, Y). Each player has their own draw and discard piles. A shared deck of 140 cards from 4 other genres is used to form the offer row. The 5 genres in the game are: Starter (grey), <span style="color:rgb(113,63,18)">Adventure (yellow)</span>, <span style="color:rgb(77,124,15)">Horror (green)</span>, <span style="color:rgb(29,78,216)">Mystery (blue)</span>, <span style="color:rgb(185,28,28)">Romance (red)</span>. A colored bar in the player panel displays the current composition of each player's deck.		Hardback is a deck-building word game. Everyone has a deck of 10 gray cards: 8 "Purchase" letters worth 1 cent each (A, E, I, L, N, R, S, T) plus 2 random "Prestige" letters worth 1 point each (B, C, D, G, H, M, O, P, U, Y). Each player has their own draw and discard piles. A shared deck of 140 cards from 4 other genres is used to form the offer row. The 5 genres in the game are: Starter (grey), <span style="color:rgb(113,63,18)">Adventure (yellow)</span>, <span style="color:rgb(77,124,15)">Horror (green)</span>, <span style="color:rgb(29,78,216)">Mystery (blue)</span>, <span style="color:rgb(185,28,28)">Romance (red)</span>. A colored bar in the player panel displays the current composition of each player's deck.

	=== Spell A Word ===		=== Spell A Word ===

	Each round you receive a hand of 5 cards from your deck. Use these cards (and any '''Timeless Classics''', if available) to spell a word. ~~When~~ your turn begins, your hand of cards automatically ~~move~~ into the current word area. Simply drag and drop the cards to rearrange them. You're not required to use all your cards and can remove cards from your word by clicking the card or dragging it up to your hand area. If you change your mind, you can re-add a removed card by clicking it (adds to the end of your word) or dragging it down to your word in the proper position.		Each round you receive a hand of 5 cards from your deck. Use these cards (and any '''Timeless Classics''', if available) to spell a word.

			In BGA, when your turn begins, your hand of cards automatically moves into the current word area. Simply drag and drop the cards to rearrange them.

			You're not required to use all your cards and can remove cards from your word by clicking the card or dragging it up to your hand area. If you change your mind, you can re-add a removed card by clicking it (adds to the end of your word) or dragging it down to your word in the proper position.

	Any card can be made wild, but wild cards do not provide any benefits. Click '''WILD''' below a card to flip it face-down and assign any letter by clicking or typing the letter. If you change your mind, click '''UNCOVER''' below a wild card to flip it face-up.		Any card can be made wild, but wild cards do not provide any benefits. Click '''WILD''' below a card to flip it face-down and assign any letter by clicking or typing the letter. If you change your mind, click '''UNCOVER''' below a wild card to flip it face-up.

	Any cards left in your hand are discarded. You cannot save cards from one round to the next. If you can't spell a word, you may choose to skip your turn.		Any cards left in your hand are discarded at the end of your turn. You cannot save cards from one round to the next. If you can't spell a word, you may choose to skip your turn or request a GHOST WRITER to get help from the other players.

			==== Request a Ghost Writer ====

			Your hand of cards is shown to the other players to see if they can suggest a word. As a reward for a successful suggestion, the player receives a free ink token from the general supply. They also receive the ink from any "inked" cards used in their suggestion.

	=== Resolve Card Benefits ===		=== Resolve Card Benefits ===

4everblessed: /* Timeless Classics */

2024-09-17T16:37:15Z

Timeless Classics

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:37, 17 September 2024
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	All cards from your word are discarded at the end of your turn, except Timeless Classics.		All cards from your word are discarded at the end of your turn, except Timeless Classics.

	There are 12 Timeless Classic cards, which are printed sideways. If you spell a word with a ~~face-up~~ Timeless Classic card in your hand, it is placed face-up in front of you at the end of your turn. On ~~subsequent~~ turns, you ~~continue to~~ gain the basic benefits of the card ''whether or not you use it in your word''!		There are 12 Timeless Classic cards, which are printed sideways. If you spell a word with a Timeless Classic card in your hand, it is placed face-up in front of you at the end of your turn and stays in play. <b>On your future turns, you gain the basic benefits of the card whether or not you use it in your word!</b>

	Any player can use a face-up/active Timeless Classic to spell a word, however, no matter which player owns the card. If they do, the Timeless Classic card is discarded!		Any player can use a face-up/active Timeless Classic to spell a word, however, no matter which player owns the card. If they do, the Timeless Classic card is discarded!

4everblessed: /* Timeless Classics */

2024-09-17T16:34:06Z

Timeless Classics

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:34, 17 September 2024
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	All cards from your word are discarded at the end of your turn, except Timeless Classics.		All cards from your word are discarded at the end of your turn, except Timeless Classics.

	There are 12 Timeless Classic cards, which are printed sideways. ~~When~~ you spell a word ~~using~~ a face-up Timeless Classic card, it ~~stays~~ in ~~play~~ at the end of your turn. On subsequent turns, you continue to gain the benefits of the card ''whether or not you use it in your word''!		There are 12 Timeless Classic cards, which are printed sideways. If you spell a word with a face-up Timeless Classic card in your hand, it is placed face-up in front of you at the end of your turn. On subsequent turns, you continue to gain the basic benefits of the card ''whether or not you use it in your word''!

	~~Your Timeless Classic card stays in play until another player uses it in their word, which sends it to your discard pile.~~ Any player can use ~~any~~ active Timeless Classic ~~when spelling~~ a word, no matter which player owns the card, ~~but these cards cannot be made wild.~~		Any player can use a face-up/active Timeless Classic to spell a word, however, no matter which player owns the card. If they do, the Timeless Classic card is discarded!

	~~When you use another player's~~ Timeless ~~Classic~~ card~~, you <u>do not</u> get any~~ benefits ~~and~~ its ~~genre <u>does not</u> count towards triggering other genre benefits in your~~ word. ~~Astute authors will use other players~~' ~~Timeless Classic cards anyway in order to discard the card~~.		Note that Timeless Classics cannot be used as a wild card.

			Only the owner receives benefits from Timeless Classics. Other players may only use its letter to spell a word. It doesn't not trigger genre rewards for them.

	=== Ink and Remover ===		=== Ink and Remover ===

4everblessed: /* Purchase */

2024-09-17T16:23:37Z

Purchase

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:23, 17 September 2024
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	In the <i>Cooperative Anthology</i> variant, players can never flush the offer row.		In the <i>Cooperative Anthology</i> variant, players can never flush the offer row.

	=== Purchase ===		=== Purchase Phase ===

	You can purchase ink and cards from the offer row using the coins you earned this turn.		You can purchase ink and cards from the offer row using the coins you earned this turn.
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	Each card's cost is indicated in the price tag in the top-left corner. Click a card to purchase it. Note that some <span style="color:rgb(113,63,18)">Adventure (yellow)</span> cards also indicate a number of points on the price tag. This is not a cost, but a one-time benefit you ''earn'' when purchasing the card.		Each card's cost is indicated in the price tag in the top-left corner. Click a card to purchase it. Note that some <span style="color:rgb(113,63,18)">Adventure (yellow)</span> cards also indicate a number of points on the price tag. This is not a cost, but a one-time benefit you ''earn'' when purchasing the card.

	Ink costs 1¢. ~~Any~~ coins you do not spend are automatically converted to ink at the end of your turn. You cannot save coins from one turn to the next.		Ink costs 1¢. <b>All coins you do not spend are automatically converted to ink at the end of your turn.</b> You cannot save coins from one turn to the next.

	~~It is possible to convert ink earned on previous turns back to coins at a reduced rate (~~3 ink for 1¢). Board Game Arena only presents this option when it would allow you to purchase something that you otherwise couldn't afford.		You can exchange 3 ink tokens for 1¢ to help you buy more letters. Board Game Arena only presents this option when it would allow you to purchase something that you otherwise couldn't afford.

	A clock icon displays below the oldest offer row card. This card is trashed at the end of your turn if the offer row did not change (e.g., you did not jail cards, flush the offer row, or purchase cards).		A clock icon displays below the oldest offer row card. This card is trashed at the end of your turn if the offer row did not change (e.g., you did not jail cards, flush the offer row, or purchase cards).

4everblessed: /* Ink and Remover */

2024-09-17T16:20:01Z

Ink and Remover

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:20, 17 September 2024
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	=== Ink and Remover ===		=== Ink and Remover ===


			INK can be used in 2 ways:

			1. Spend 1 ink token to add one card from your draw deck to your hand. You can spend as much ink as you like, but <b>you must use all letters you drew with your ink tokens when you form your word.</b> Pressing your luck with ink is the only way to form longer words. If you push your luck too far and can't form a word with all the ink cards, you skip your turn.

			2. Exchange 3 ink tokens for 1 cent during the Purchase Phase.

	After your turn is complete, you may immediately begin working on your next word, including using any previously obtained ink and remover. At any time before you spell a word, even during another player's turn, you can draw additional cards from your draw pile by spending 1 ink per card. Inked cards '''must''' be used in your next word and cannot be made wild.		After your turn is complete, you may immediately begin working on your next word, including using any previously obtained ink and remover. At any time before you spell a word, even during another player's turn, you can draw additional cards from your draw pile by spending 1 ink per card. Inked cards '''must''' be used in your next word and cannot be made wild.

	Remover cancels ink. You can spend 1 remover to convert an inked card back to a normal card, meaning you are no longer required to use it in your word. Remover can only be obtained by playing certain cards; it cannot be purchased.

	~~<b>Pressing your luck with~~ ink ~~is the only way~~ to ~~draw additional cards~~ in ~~Hardback.</b> If you push~~ your ~~luck too far and can't form a~~ word ~~with all~~ inked ~~cards~~, you ~~must skip your turn~~.		REMOVER cancels ink on a letter so that you are no longer required to use it in your word. Spend 1 remover to put an inked card back into your hand. You may still use that letter, if you like, but treat it as a normal card.

			Remover can only be obtained by playing certain cards; it cannot be purchased.

	=== Game End ===		=== Game End ===