Objective of the Game
Scout is a trick-taking game where players aim to earn points by cleverly collecting and playing cards. Each player will take turns playing as either an Attacker or the Scout Leader in each round.
Components
- A deck of set cards, each featuring numbers on both ends, e.g.,
5/6. - Score tokens.
Setup
- Shuffle the deck and deal an equal number of cards to all players.
- Players may look at their hand cards but cannot rearrange them. However, they can rotate them 180 degrees to use the lower number instead of the upper one.
- Choose a starting player.
Game Play
The game is played over several rounds, each consisting of two phases: the Scout Phase and the Attack Phase.
Scout Phase
- A player can choose to "scout" a card from the cards in play (i.e., take it) and add it to their hand. The scouted card can be inserted anywhere in the hand and rotated 180 degrees, if desired.
- The "Scout" player receives a point in exchange.
Attack Phase
- The player may decide to play a combination of cards from their hand. This combination can consist of consecutive cards and must include at least two cards.
- The next player must either beat the move (play a stronger combination) or scout.
- If a player cannot beat the move, they must scout, and the previous player plays again.
- A combination is considered stronger if it contains more cards, consists of identical numbers, follows a sequence, or is of another type of combination.
- The card combination remains in the center until a new, stronger move is played.
End of the Round
The round ends when: - A player plays their last card and forces others not to beat their move. - A player no longer has any cards in hand.
Scoring
- Scouting Points: Points collected during the round as a scout are added to the player's score.
- Attacks on unbeat card combinations grant points if they are not owned by other players at the round’s end.
- The game ends when a player reaches a predetermined score.
Strategic Tips
- Aim to collect sets with identical numbers to form tough-to-beat combinations.
- Use scouting to fill gaps in your card set and prepare stronger moves.
- Pay close attention to other players' moves to recognize their strategies and respond accordingly.
Scout provides a dynamic mix of strategy and luck, making each round unique. It requires thoughtful planning and the ability to adapt to opponents' strategies.
