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[[Category:Card games]]
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__NOTOC__
== Game play ==


==Gameplay==
* Build words using letter cards to earn money and stock.
Build words using letter cards to earn money and stock.
* Use money to buy letter patents. Patents earn '''[[#Royalties|royalties]]''' when their letter is used. Some patents grant additional '''[[#Special_Abilities|abilities]]'''.
* The final round is triggered when one player's '''[[#Goals|patents sum to a given value]]'''.
* At the end of that round, the player with the highest combined value of patents, money, and stock wins!
** If there is a tie, the player with the highest value of patents wins!


Use money to buy letter patents. Patents earn royalties when their letter is used. Some patents grant additional abilities.
== Components ==


The final round is triggered when one player's patents sum to a given value. (See Goals.) At the end of that round, the player with the highest combined value of patents, money, and stock wins!
==== Letter "Factory" Cards ====


==Components==
* One of 102 cards each with a letter.
* Some letters are more common than others. (''See the letter frequency game card'')


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== Player Hand ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Letter "Factory" Cards</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">One of 102 cards each with a letter. Some letters are more common than others (see Letter Frequency game card).</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* Each player has a hand of 7 letter cards.
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Player Hand</div>
* Players always draw back to 7 at the end of their turn to replace any cards they have played or discarded.
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Each player has a hand of 7 letter cards. Players always draw back to 7 at the end of their turn to replace any cards they have played or discarded.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== Community Pool ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Community Pool</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">A shared, face-up set of 3 letter cards available for use by any player. These are also replaced at the end of each turn.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* A shared, face-up set of 3 letter cards available for use by any player.
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Money (or Coins)</div>
* These are also replaced at the end of each turn.
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Earned by playing words, or through patent royalties. Used to buy patents. Winning or losing challenges can also earn or cost money.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== Money (or Coins) ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Stock</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Earned by playing longer words. Grants points at the end of the game, but cannot be spent.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* Earned by playing words, or through patent royalties.
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Letter Patents</div>
* Used to buy patents.
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Each letter has one patent. Patents may be purchased with money; costs range from $2 to $10.</div>
* Winning or losing challenges can also earn or cost money.
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== Stock ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Royalties</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">The owner of a letter patent earns $1 for each matching letter played by another player. Players don't earn royalties on their own words, or for special letters generated by patent abilities.</div>
</div>


==Player Turn==
* Earned by playing longer words. Grants points at the end of the game, but cannot be spent.


On your turn, you may build a word using letter cards from your hand or from the community pool. Each word must contain at least one card from your hand and be at least 3 letters long.
==== Letter Patents ====


If your word is not challenged successfully (see Challenges), you earn money and stock depending on its length. (See Word Scoring.) Some patent or letter abilities may increase earnings; see Special Abilities.
* Each letter has one patent.
* Patents may be purchased with money; costs range from $2 to $10.


Other players earn royalties for the patents they own (see Royalties).
==== Royalties ====


Then, you may buy a patent. You many only buy one patent per turn, and its letter must match a letter in the word(s) you just played. You must also have enough money to purchase the patent. Each patent can only be owned by one player; once a patent has been purchased, it cannot be purchased by another player.
* The owner of a letter patent earns $1 for each matching letter played by another player.
* Players don't earn royalties on their own words, or for special letters generated by patent abilities.


The community pool is refilled, and then you may choose to discard any number of the cards in your hand. Finally, your hand is refilled to 7 cards.
== Player Turn ==


==Special Abilities==
* On your turn, you may build a word using letter cards from your hand or from the community pool.
* Each word must contain at least one card from your hand and be at least 3 letters long.
 
* If your word is not '''[[#Challenges|challenged]]''' successfully, you earn money and stock depending on its length.
* Some '''[[#Patents|patent]]''' or '''[[#Letters|letter]]''' abilities may increase earnings.
 
* Other players earn '''[[#Royalties|royalties]]''' for the patents they own.
 
* Then, you may buy a patent.
* You many only buy one patent per turn, and its letter must match a letter in the word(s) you just played.
* You must also have enough money to purchase the patent.
* Each patent can only be owned by one player
* Once a patent has been purchased, it cannot be purchased by another player.
 
* The community pool is refilled, and then you may choose to discard any number of the cards in your hand.
* Finally, your hand is refilled to 7 cards.
 
== Special Abilities ==
 
=== Patents ===
 
Patent abilities may be used at most once per turn.
 
[[File:Letter-Tycoon Special Patents.jpg|Special patent abilities visual reference]]


Some patents grant special abilities:
Some patents grant special abilities:


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== B Patent Ability ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">B Patent Ability</div>
 
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Earn double if your word begins and ends in vowels. Both money and stock is doubled.</div>
* Earn double if your word begins and ends in vowels.
</div>
* Both money and stock are doubled.


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== J Patent Ability ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">J Patent Ability</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Earn double if vowels are at least half of your word. Both money and stock is doubled.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* Earn double if vowels are at least half of your word.
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">K Patent Ability</div>
* Both money and stock are doubled.
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Earn double if your word has only one vowel. Both money and stock is doubled.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== K Patent Ability ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Q Patent Ability</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">You may replace a card to start your turn. You may discard and draw before playing words.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* Earn double if your word has only one vowel.
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">V Patent Ability</div>
* Both money and stock are doubled.</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">You may build two words. Each word earns money and stock individually. Other patent abilities may be applied to one word or the other, not both. Each word must contain at least one card from your hand and be at least 3 letters long.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== Q Patent Ability ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">X Patent Ability</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">You may use one letter card twice. (That is, you may duplicate a letter.) You must use at least 3 real (not duplicated or generated) letter cards total. If playing two words with the ‘V’ patent ability, a letter from the first word may be duplicated in the second. Other players do not earn additional royalties on the second copy of this duplicated letter.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* You may replace a card to start your turn.
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Z Patent Ability</div>
* You may discard and draw before playing words.
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">You may add an ‘S’ to the end of your word. This must form an acceptable word. You may not purchase the ‘S’ patent without using a real ‘S’ letter card. Other players do not earn royalties on this generated ‘S’.</div>
</div>


Patent abilities may be used at most once per turn.
==== V Patent Ability ====
 
* You may build two words. Each word earns money and stock individually.
* Other patent abilities may be applied to one word or the other, not both.
* Each word must contain at least one card from your hand and be at least 3 letters long.
 
==== X Patent Ability ====
 
* You may use one letter card twice.
*: ''That is, you may duplicate a letter.''
* You must use at least 3 real (not duplicated or generated) letter cards total.
** If playing two words with the ‘V’ patent ability, a letter from the first word may be duplicated in the second.
** Other players do not earn additional royalties on the second copy of this duplicated letter.
 
==== Z Patent Ability ====
 
* You may add an ‘S’ to the end of your word.
* This must form an acceptable word.
* You may not purchase the ‘S’ patent without using a real ‘S’ letter card.
* Other players do not earn royalties on this generated ‘S’.
 
=== Letters ===


Some letters also have special abilities:
Some letters also have special abilities:


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== Q Letter Ability ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Q Letter Ability</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Words with ‘Q’ earn double (both money and stock). This ability is independent of the ‘Q’ patent ability.</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* Words with ‘Q’ earn double (both money and stock).
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Y Letter Ability</div>
* This ability is independent of the ‘Q’ patent ability.
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Player decides whether each ‘Y’ is treated as a consonant or a vowel for patent abilities.</div>
</div>


==Challenges==
==== Y Letter Ability ====


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
* Player decides whether each ‘Y’ is treated as a consonant or a vowel for patent abilities.
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Player Challenges</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">In the default rules, players may challenge other player's words. If the challenged word(s) are not in the dictionary, the challenge succeeds and the active player takes back their cards, loses the rest of their turn, and must discard a card as a penalty. If the word(s) are in the dictionary, the challenge fails and the challenger must pay the active player $1. (If the challenger has no money, the active player takes $1 from the bank.)</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
== Challenges ==
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Automatic Challenges</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">This version implements a challenge variant to smooth online play. In the automatic challenge variant, players may not challenge. Instead, every play is automatically challenged by the system. If the word(s) are in dictionary, play proceeds. If not, the player may be allowed to retry (depending on the variant configuration; default is 3). If they run out of retries, they take back their cards, lose the rest of their turn, and must discard a card as penalty.</div>
</div>


==Word Scoring==
==== Player Challenges ====
 
* In the default rules, players may challenge other player's words.
* If the challenged word(s) are not in the dictionary, the challenge succeeds and the active player takes back their cards, loses the rest of their turn, and must discard a card as a penalty.
* If the word(s) are in the dictionary, the challenge fails and the challenger must pay the active player $1.
** If the challenger has no money, the active player takes $1 from the bank.
 
==== Automatic Challenges ====
 
This version implements a challenge variant to smooth online play.
* In the automatic challenge variant, players may not challenge.
* Instead, every play is automatically challenged by the system.
* If the word(s) are in the dictionary, play proceeds.
* If the word(s) are not in the dictionary, the player may be allowed to retry
** ''Depending on the variant configuration; default is 3.''
** If they run out of retries, they take back their cards, lose the rest of their turn, and must discard a card as penalty.
 
== Word Scoring ==


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|}


==Dictionaries==
== Dictionaries ==
 
* Note that this game is designed to be played with English (American or British) words.
* Playing words in other languages isn't supported by the game design.


Two dictionaries may be used:
Two dictionaries may be used:


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== NWL 2018 ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">NWL 2018</div>
 
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">NASPA (North American Scrabble Players Association) Word List 2018</div>
* [https://scrabbleplayers.org/w/NWL2018NASPA North American Scrabble Players Association Word List 2018]
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">See https://scrabbleplayers.org/w/NWL2018</div>
** ''This is the default''
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">(This is the default.)</div>
</div>


<div style="margin-top:0.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;">
==== CWL 2019 ====
<div style="font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.1em;">CWL 2019</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">Collins Scrabble Words 2019 (formerly SOWPODS)</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">See https://scrabbleplayers.org/w/SOWPODS</div>
<div style="margin-left:1.6em; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0.1em;">(This contains more obscure words than the NWL.)</div>
</div>


Note that this game is designed to be played with English (American or British) words. Playing words in other languages isn't supported by the game design.
* [https://scrabbleplayers.org/w/SOWPODS Collins Scrabble Words 2019 (formerly SOWPODS)]
** ''This contains obscure words''

Latest revision as of 12:24, 10 September 2023

Game play

  • Build words using letter cards to earn money and stock.
  • Use money to buy letter patents. Patents earn royalties when their letter is used. Some patents grant additional abilities.
  • The final round is triggered when one player's patents sum to a given value.
  • At the end of that round, the player with the highest combined value of patents, money, and stock wins!
    • If there is a tie, the player with the highest value of patents wins!

Components

Letter "Factory" Cards

  • One of 102 cards each with a letter.
  • Some letters are more common than others. (See the letter frequency game card)

Player Hand

  • Each player has a hand of 7 letter cards.
  • Players always draw back to 7 at the end of their turn to replace any cards they have played or discarded.

Community Pool

  • A shared, face-up set of 3 letter cards available for use by any player.
  • These are also replaced at the end of each turn.

Money (or Coins)

  • Earned by playing words, or through patent royalties.
  • Used to buy patents.
  • Winning or losing challenges can also earn or cost money.

Stock

  • Earned by playing longer words. Grants points at the end of the game, but cannot be spent.

Letter Patents

  • Each letter has one patent.
  • Patents may be purchased with money; costs range from $2 to $10.

Royalties

  • The owner of a letter patent earns $1 for each matching letter played by another player.
  • Players don't earn royalties on their own words, or for special letters generated by patent abilities.

Player Turn

  • On your turn, you may build a word using letter cards from your hand or from the community pool.
  • Each word must contain at least one card from your hand and be at least 3 letters long.
  • If your word is not challenged successfully, you earn money and stock depending on its length.
  • Some patent or letter abilities may increase earnings.
  • Other players earn royalties for the patents they own.
  • Then, you may buy a patent.
  • You many only buy one patent per turn, and its letter must match a letter in the word(s) you just played.
  • You must also have enough money to purchase the patent.
  • Each patent can only be owned by one player
  • Once a patent has been purchased, it cannot be purchased by another player.
  • The community pool is refilled, and then you may choose to discard any number of the cards in your hand.
  • Finally, your hand is refilled to 7 cards.

Special Abilities

Patents

Patent abilities may be used at most once per turn.

Special patent abilities visual reference

Some patents grant special abilities:

B Patent Ability

  • Earn double if your word begins and ends in vowels.
  • Both money and stock are doubled.

J Patent Ability

  • Earn double if vowels are at least half of your word.
  • Both money and stock are doubled.

K Patent Ability

  • Earn double if your word has only one vowel.
  • Both money and stock are doubled.

Q Patent Ability

  • You may replace a card to start your turn.
  • You may discard and draw before playing words.

V Patent Ability

  • You may build two words. Each word earns money and stock individually.
  • Other patent abilities may be applied to one word or the other, not both.
  • Each word must contain at least one card from your hand and be at least 3 letters long.

X Patent Ability

  • You may use one letter card twice.
    That is, you may duplicate a letter.
  • You must use at least 3 real (not duplicated or generated) letter cards total.
    • If playing two words with the ‘V’ patent ability, a letter from the first word may be duplicated in the second.
    • Other players do not earn additional royalties on the second copy of this duplicated letter.

Z Patent Ability

  • You may add an ‘S’ to the end of your word.
  • This must form an acceptable word.
  • You may not purchase the ‘S’ patent without using a real ‘S’ letter card.
  • Other players do not earn royalties on this generated ‘S’.

Letters

Some letters also have special abilities:

Q Letter Ability

  • Words with ‘Q’ earn double (both money and stock).
  • This ability is independent of the ‘Q’ patent ability.

Y Letter Ability

  • Player decides whether each ‘Y’ is treated as a consonant or a vowel for patent abilities.

Challenges

Player Challenges

  • In the default rules, players may challenge other player's words.
  • If the challenged word(s) are not in the dictionary, the challenge succeeds and the active player takes back their cards, loses the rest of their turn, and must discard a card as a penalty.
  • If the word(s) are in the dictionary, the challenge fails and the challenger must pay the active player $1.
    • If the challenger has no money, the active player takes $1 from the bank.

Automatic Challenges

This version implements a challenge variant to smooth online play.

  • In the automatic challenge variant, players may not challenge.
  • Instead, every play is automatically challenged by the system.
  • If the word(s) are in the dictionary, play proceeds.
  • If the word(s) are not in the dictionary, the player may be allowed to retry
    • Depending on the variant configuration; default is 3.
    • If they run out of retries, they take back their cards, lose the rest of their turn, and must discard a card as penalty.

Word Scoring

Word Length Money Stock
3 letters $1 0
4 letters $2 0
5 letters $3 0
6 letters $4 1
7 letters $6 1
8 letters $6 2
9 letters $6 3
10 letters $6 4
11 letters $6 5
12 letters $6 6

Goals

Players Patents Value Minimum Number of Patents
2 $45 6
3 $34 5
4 $26 3
5 $21 3

Dictionaries

  • Note that this game is designed to be played with English (American or British) words.
  • Playing words in other languages isn't supported by the game design.

Two dictionaries may be used:

NWL 2018

CWL 2019