Jcbarr: Created page with "= TopThis = '''TopThis!''' is a cutthroat climbing / trick-taking-style card game for 2–5 players (2 not recommended) where competing bands play sets that each have to top the last one on stage. Your setlist is locked the moment soundcheck ends — no rearranging the lineup. The crowd decides who reigns. == Components == The deck is 45 '''dual-sided''' setlist cards. Each half shows a number from 1–10 — every combination of 1–10 is represented across the deck...."

2026-07-21T00:38:53Z

Created page with "= TopThis = '''TopThis!''' is a cutthroat climbing / trick-taking-style card game for 2–5 players (2 not recommended) where competing bands play sets that each have to top the last one on stage. Your setlist is locked the moment soundcheck ends — no rearranging the lineup. The crowd decides who reigns. == Components == The deck is 45 '''dual-sided''' setlist cards. Each half shows a number from 1–10 — every combination of 1–10 is represented across the deck...."

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= TopThis =

'''TopThis!''' is a cutthroat climbing / trick-taking-style card game for 2–5 players (2 not recommended) where competing bands play sets that each have to top the last one on stage. Your setlist is locked the moment soundcheck ends — no rearranging the lineup. The crowd decides who reigns.

== Components ==

The deck is 45 '''dual-sided''' setlist cards. Each half shows a number from 1–10 — every combination of 1–10 is represented across the deck. Each value is the ''energy level'' of a song: 1 is a sleepy acoustic opener, 10 is a face-melting finale.

== Setup (Soundcheck) ==

Shuffle the deck, randomizing both card order '''and''' orientation (some songs are dealt upside-down), then deal every card out so each band gets a full hand.

Once dealt, that's your setlist — you cannot reorder it. You may flip your '''entire''' hand end-for-end to use the values on the other side of each card, but the running order stays locked.

== On Your Turn (Showtime) ==

Choose one of two moves.

=== Perform ===

Choose one or more '''adjacent''' songs in your setlist that are either:

* all the '''same''' energy level (a cohesive set), or
* in '''consecutive''' order up or down (a dynamic run set).

You can only perform if the stage is empty (opening act) or your set '''outranks''' the one currently on stage. A set outranks another if it:

* has '''more songs''', or
* is '''cohesive''' (all same value) versus the previous set's dynamic run, or
* is the '''same size and type''' but with '''higher values'''.

When you blow the previous band off the stage, you claim their cards as '''trophies''', face-down in front of you.

=== Poach ===

Instead of performing, take a card from '''either end''' of the set currently on stage and slot it '''anywhere''' in your setlist, in whichever orientation you like. The band you poached from collects a '''1 VP token''' as consolation.

=== Encore ===

Once per round, instead of choosing between perform and poach, you may '''poach first, then immediately perform'''.

== Ending a Round (Last Song) ==

The round ends when a band plays their last card and leaves the stage empty-handed, '''or''' when all but one band have been poaching instead of playing.

Score the round:

* '''+1 VP''' per face-down trophy card.
* '''−1 VP''' per card still stuck in your setlist — unless you were the one left on stage while everyone else poached (no penalty; you held it down).

== Winning (Headliner) ==

Play a number of rounds equal to the number of bands. When the tour ends, the most VP is crowned headliner.

== Table Options ==

* '''Poach-lock hand penalty''' — Exempt last performer / Penalize last performer.
* '''Highlight potential plays''' — Show all valid patterns / Only show stage-beating patterns.

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