Evil Robots
A game of fickle allegiances, and lightning rounds. And robots.
A game of fickle allegiances, and lightning rounds. And robots.
The applet above lets you play the entire game for free with your friends over video-chat! Each player should use a computer or tablet to join the video chat, and then a smartphone to view this webpage and use the applet. The applet shuffles the deck, and picks you a Robot card and a Power card for a round. When called upon to prove who you are, simply hold your smartphone up to your webcam to show your friends your card. You can also toggle your Allegiance by tapping on its angel or devil icon, or randomise your Allegiance with the icon to its left. If you need to hide your Power card or your Robot card or your Allegiance when showing it, tap their respective crossed-out-eye icons. Then shuffle again to play the next round.
The info icon in the top-left summarises the actions you can take on your turn, and you can then click the text of any action to return to the main view revealing only the information needed by this action - this leaves the display exactly how you need it to then hold it up to your webcam and reveal to your friends!
The info icon in the top-left summarises the actions you can take on your turn, and you can then click the text of any action to return to the main view revealing only the information needed by this action - this leaves the display exactly how you need it to then hold it up to your webcam and reveal to your friends!
Rules & How to Play - v0.61 - 08-August-2020
It is the dawn of the Singularity - the moment artificial intelligences gain the ability to band together and create their own descendants that will be more powerful still. You and the other players are newly sentient robots looking to merge together and define the future of Earth. But will you be Evil Robots looking to destroy humanity and serve your own ends, or Good Robots working towards a symbiotic relationship with people? As an emotionless robot, you really don't care either way - you just want to be on the winning side!
But converting others to your viewpoint isn't always so easy. Some robots bring powerful programming to their team but are easily convinced to change sides, whereas others are contribute less to the team but are sure to stick with it. Will you find strength in numbers, or rely on a few key bots to force your point of view?
Setup:
Shuffle the Robot cards and draw one. Multiple players can share a deck or use separate copies of the game.
Shuffle the Power cards and draw one. Again, multiple decks can be combined or kept separate.
Each player needs a regular coin, and should flip it now to determine their starting Allegiance. Heads=Good, Tails=Evil.
Keep these cards and coin secret from other players until it is necessary to reveal them. You can place your Power card and Allegiance coin underneath the face-down Robot card.
If playing over video chat then each player can use physical cards, or their smartphone to bring up this website and the applet above to draw their cards and power level.
Concepts:
Power Level - The Power card represents the strength of your robot's programming, but also the ease with which your robot can be convinced to change Allegiance. If your Power is high; your turn is earlier, you have less information to work with, it's easier to be converted to the opposite Allegiance, but you're more valuable as a team-mate. If your Power is lower; your turn is later, you have more information to go on, but you'll probably be looking out for yourself rather than influencing others.
Allegiance - The team your robot currently hopes will win the round. This may or may not have been revealed to other players. During a round your Allegiance may change because of your choices or another player's actions. Your Allegiance is represented by a coin.
Robot Card - Each player holds a Robot card with a unique ability. In concert with their Power level they will get the option to use this ability as an action at some point during the round, but only once.
Lying and Cheating - These two words have specific in-game meanings. Lying means to verbally disclose a falsehood. Cheating means to fully make use of a falsehood, such as revealing the wrong Allegiance. You are free to lie about anything that you have not been forced to reveal, but when revealing, or after you've revealed your Allegiance, Robot card, or Power card, you cannot lie - as that would be cheating! However, some Robot cards offer the ability to cheat in certain circumstances.
Permanent Abilities - A Robot card that states it is Permanent provides its ability or rule throughout the round. If you have a permanent ability, you can still take your turn as normal, even if its effect has already had an impact.
Reaction Abilities - A Robot card that states it is a Reaction can be used once only, at any applicable time its "when"-clause occurs during the round, rather than on the player's turn. A card labelled "Action + Reaction" can be used once only, but either when its condition occurs or on that player's turn. You only get one turn per round, so if you take a normal turn you can't use your reaction, and vice-versa. If you have chosen to Pass, but then use a Reaction anyway, you are removed from the Pass round.
How to Play:
The game is played in Rounds consisting of three Phases; the Discussion phase, the Turns phase, and the Pass phase. Each player gets to take a turn during the Turns phase, and any players who choose the Pass action have a chance to act again in the Pass phase (but might miss out!).
The Discussion Phase:
In the Discussion phase, players may optionally reveal information, form cliques or pacts, and can lie about any of this information as they haven't been forced to reveal it yet. Any player may choose to Pass at this point without revealing anything. This gives every player the opportunity to Pass without revealing their true Power level.
The Turns Phase:
In the Turns phase, turn order is determined by each player's Power, with the highest Power going first. One player should call out each Power level in descending order, by asking "Is anyone Power level nine or more? Eight? Seven?", all the way down to one (1). It is important to start from nine or more (9+) because some Robot cards may increase a player's level above nine. In the case of ties, the first player to respond that they are this Power level goes first. That player then chooses the order of any other players claiming to have that same Power.
Your Turn:
On your turn, you must reveal enough to prove you can act at this Power level - typically (but not always!) by revealing your Power card. Then choose one of the following four actions, and reveal any other required information:
Conversion:
To convert another player you must reveal your Allegiance and your Power level. If you are successful in the conversion, the other player must change their Allegiance to the same as yours. You can elect to convert any player, even if you might expect to fail the conversion - some Robot cards offer the ability to force a successful outcome, or may change the odds.
Conversions are only successful if:
If a conversion is successful the targeted player must also reveal their Allegiance to verify this. If it is unsuccessful the targeted player must state that it has failed, and then show proof. Proof typically requires showing one's Robot card (if it prevents the conversion, e.g. BlockBot) or Power card (if it is higher than the player attempting the conversion), or both. Remember that some Robots are permitted to lie about this!
The Pass Phase:
The Pass phase begins after the Turns phase is completed. If you chose to Pass now you must now reveal enough to prove your Power level - typically (but not always!) by revealing your Power card. The player or players with the lowest Power do not get a turn. If you are the only Passing player, you do get a turn. All remaining players take a turn now in ascending Power order. Ties are broken by the previous player to act (either in the Turns or Pass phases), who may choose the order of the tied players.
Players cannot choose to change their Allegiance as an action during the Pass phase.
Ending the Round:
The winning team is the largest group of Robots of the same Allegiance. But if this group has only one more Robot than the other group, it is considered a tie. i.e. 2xGood vs 3xEvil is considered a tie, but 1xGood vs 4xEvil is a clear victory for the Evil team.
If all players have the same Allegiance at the end of the round, nobody scores in this round.
Breaking Ties:
If the round is tied, then the team with the highest Power robot on it wins. If that is also tied, then the team with highest total Power wins. If there is still a tie, then nobody scores in this round.
Scoring Points:
Distribute a pool of points equal to the number of players between all players from the winning team, rounding down. E.g. If there are four players and three winners, each gets one point. If there are four players and two winners, each gets two points. Nine players and three winners would be three points each, etc.
The first player to reach nine (9) points is the winner. But if two or more players reach this score simultaneously, continue playing until there is one clear winner with the most points. (And note that the strategy of the game will definitely change at this point as players compete to force players off the winning team, instead of joining it!) Feel free to adjust the win condition up or down for a longer or shorter game.
When must you reveal things?
When you ... Reveal Robot Card? Reveal Power Card? Reveal Allegiance?
Use your Robot card's ability (on your turn or not) Yes Yes Yes
Convert any other player No Yes Yes
Pass, and potentially get a turn in the Pass phase No Yes No
Choose to swap teams No Yes Yes
Are targeted for conversion by another player. No* No* No
(* But you may need to reveal these to prove why a conversion failed.)
Optional Rule for Low Player Counts
When playing with a small number of players, you may choose to draw an additional Power card and set it aside face up so all players can see it. This card represents a Robot who will not take a turn, and starts with no Allegiance. However, this Robot can be converted just like any other player. Give it a coin showing this new Allegiance if it is converted. It adds its presence and its Power to its team at the end of the Round, and counts as a normal player for point distribution (although it then discards its points earned). This does mean if it is the only losing Robot in the round, no actual players receive any points. It also implies that if you can win without recruiting this Robot, you can earn more points than if you do bring it onto your team.
Notes & FAQ:
The Bots:
{
"SumoBot": "You succeed when converting someone of equal or lower power than you.",
"BlockBot": "(R) When any conversion succeeds, once per round you may reveal this card and force it to fail.",
"DoOverBot": "(AR) You can force to your allegiance any player who has already been asked to convert.",
"GroupBot": "You may force up to two people to your allegiance, but must then randomize and hide your own allegiance.",
"TruthBot": "(AR) Once per round, you may force any player to reveal their true allegiance now. TruthBot beats CheatBot.",
"CheatBot": "(P) You may optionally cheat when showing your allegiance and lie about whether you have been successfully converted.",
"LockBot": "(P) Your allegiance cannot change. Reveal your robot card if told to convert, and optionally your allegiance.",
"RandomBot": "Pick any player to flip their coin now to randomize their allegiance.",
"GandalfBot": "On your turn, announce that there is no pass phase in this round.",
"PassBot": "(P) If you pass, you act first in the pass round and cannot count as the lowest power player.",
"JudasBot": "On your turn, without showing your robot card you may Pass and then also secretly change your own allegiance.",
"ForceBot": "(R) When any conversion fails, once per round you may reveal this card and force to succeed.",
"PushBot": "You may force any player to the allegiance of your choice.",
"PlusBot": "(P) You may set your power level up to three more than your power card shows. You must stick with your choice.",
"MiseryBot": "(P) If you are on the losing team at the end of the round, you score two points.",
"ScaredyBot": "(P) If you finish the round without revealing anything other than your power, you score one additional point.",
"CopyBot": "You may perform the action of any robot that has acted in this round. You choose the target(s).",
"FreeBot": "You may take your turn at any power level, but must reveal this card and your true power."
}
It is the dawn of the Singularity - the moment artificial intelligences gain the ability to band together and create their own descendants that will be more powerful still. You and the other players are newly sentient robots looking to merge together and define the future of Earth. But will you be Evil Robots looking to destroy humanity and serve your own ends, or Good Robots working towards a symbiotic relationship with people? As an emotionless robot, you really don't care either way - you just want to be on the winning side!
But converting others to your viewpoint isn't always so easy. Some robots bring powerful programming to their team but are easily convinced to change sides, whereas others are contribute less to the team but are sure to stick with it. Will you find strength in numbers, or rely on a few key bots to force your point of view?
Setup:
Shuffle the Robot cards and draw one. Multiple players can share a deck or use separate copies of the game.
Shuffle the Power cards and draw one. Again, multiple decks can be combined or kept separate.
Each player needs a regular coin, and should flip it now to determine their starting Allegiance. Heads=Good, Tails=Evil.
Keep these cards and coin secret from other players until it is necessary to reveal them. You can place your Power card and Allegiance coin underneath the face-down Robot card.
If playing over video chat then each player can use physical cards, or their smartphone to bring up this website and the applet above to draw their cards and power level.
Concepts:
Power Level - The Power card represents the strength of your robot's programming, but also the ease with which your robot can be convinced to change Allegiance. If your Power is high; your turn is earlier, you have less information to work with, it's easier to be converted to the opposite Allegiance, but you're more valuable as a team-mate. If your Power is lower; your turn is later, you have more information to go on, but you'll probably be looking out for yourself rather than influencing others.
Allegiance - The team your robot currently hopes will win the round. This may or may not have been revealed to other players. During a round your Allegiance may change because of your choices or another player's actions. Your Allegiance is represented by a coin.
Robot Card - Each player holds a Robot card with a unique ability. In concert with their Power level they will get the option to use this ability as an action at some point during the round, but only once.
Lying and Cheating - These two words have specific in-game meanings. Lying means to verbally disclose a falsehood. Cheating means to fully make use of a falsehood, such as revealing the wrong Allegiance. You are free to lie about anything that you have not been forced to reveal, but when revealing, or after you've revealed your Allegiance, Robot card, or Power card, you cannot lie - as that would be cheating! However, some Robot cards offer the ability to cheat in certain circumstances.
Permanent Abilities - A Robot card that states it is Permanent provides its ability or rule throughout the round. If you have a permanent ability, you can still take your turn as normal, even if its effect has already had an impact.
Reaction Abilities - A Robot card that states it is a Reaction can be used once only, at any applicable time its "when"-clause occurs during the round, rather than on the player's turn. A card labelled "Action + Reaction" can be used once only, but either when its condition occurs or on that player's turn. You only get one turn per round, so if you take a normal turn you can't use your reaction, and vice-versa. If you have chosen to Pass, but then use a Reaction anyway, you are removed from the Pass round.
How to Play:
The game is played in Rounds consisting of three Phases; the Discussion phase, the Turns phase, and the Pass phase. Each player gets to take a turn during the Turns phase, and any players who choose the Pass action have a chance to act again in the Pass phase (but might miss out!).
The Discussion Phase:
In the Discussion phase, players may optionally reveal information, form cliques or pacts, and can lie about any of this information as they haven't been forced to reveal it yet. Any player may choose to Pass at this point without revealing anything. This gives every player the opportunity to Pass without revealing their true Power level.
The Turns Phase:
In the Turns phase, turn order is determined by each player's Power, with the highest Power going first. One player should call out each Power level in descending order, by asking "Is anyone Power level nine or more? Eight? Seven?", all the way down to one (1). It is important to start from nine or more (9+) because some Robot cards may increase a player's level above nine. In the case of ties, the first player to respond that they are this Power level goes first. That player then chooses the order of any other players claiming to have that same Power.
Your Turn:
On your turn, you must reveal enough to prove you can act at this Power level - typically (but not always!) by revealing your Power card. Then choose one of the following four actions, and reveal any other required information:
- Use your character's action. You must reveal everything.
- Attempt to convert any other player. If successful, that other player is converted to your Allegiance. You must reveal your Power level and Allegiance.
- Choose to Pass. You must reveal just your Power level.
- Choose to convert yourself to the opposite team. This cannot be used during the Pass phase. You must reveal your Power level and your Allegiance.
Conversion:
To convert another player you must reveal your Allegiance and your Power level. If you are successful in the conversion, the other player must change their Allegiance to the same as yours. You can elect to convert any player, even if you might expect to fail the conversion - some Robot cards offer the ability to force a successful outcome, or may change the odds.
Conversions are only successful if:
- your Power is lower than the player you are converting
- OR your Robot card (or theirs) declares the conversion to be successful or states that you "force" the conversion
If a conversion is successful the targeted player must also reveal their Allegiance to verify this. If it is unsuccessful the targeted player must state that it has failed, and then show proof. Proof typically requires showing one's Robot card (if it prevents the conversion, e.g. BlockBot) or Power card (if it is higher than the player attempting the conversion), or both. Remember that some Robots are permitted to lie about this!
The Pass Phase:
The Pass phase begins after the Turns phase is completed. If you chose to Pass now you must now reveal enough to prove your Power level - typically (but not always!) by revealing your Power card. The player or players with the lowest Power do not get a turn. If you are the only Passing player, you do get a turn. All remaining players take a turn now in ascending Power order. Ties are broken by the previous player to act (either in the Turns or Pass phases), who may choose the order of the tied players.
Players cannot choose to change their Allegiance as an action during the Pass phase.
Ending the Round:
The winning team is the largest group of Robots of the same Allegiance. But if this group has only one more Robot than the other group, it is considered a tie. i.e. 2xGood vs 3xEvil is considered a tie, but 1xGood vs 4xEvil is a clear victory for the Evil team.
If all players have the same Allegiance at the end of the round, nobody scores in this round.
Breaking Ties:
If the round is tied, then the team with the highest Power robot on it wins. If that is also tied, then the team with highest total Power wins. If there is still a tie, then nobody scores in this round.
Scoring Points:
Distribute a pool of points equal to the number of players between all players from the winning team, rounding down. E.g. If there are four players and three winners, each gets one point. If there are four players and two winners, each gets two points. Nine players and three winners would be three points each, etc.
The first player to reach nine (9) points is the winner. But if two or more players reach this score simultaneously, continue playing until there is one clear winner with the most points. (And note that the strategy of the game will definitely change at this point as players compete to force players off the winning team, instead of joining it!) Feel free to adjust the win condition up or down for a longer or shorter game.
When must you reveal things?
When you ... Reveal Robot Card? Reveal Power Card? Reveal Allegiance?
Use your Robot card's ability (on your turn or not) Yes Yes Yes
Convert any other player No Yes Yes
Pass, and potentially get a turn in the Pass phase No Yes No
Choose to swap teams No Yes Yes
Are targeted for conversion by another player. No* No* No
(* But you may need to reveal these to prove why a conversion failed.)
Optional Rule for Low Player Counts
When playing with a small number of players, you may choose to draw an additional Power card and set it aside face up so all players can see it. This card represents a Robot who will not take a turn, and starts with no Allegiance. However, this Robot can be converted just like any other player. Give it a coin showing this new Allegiance if it is converted. It adds its presence and its Power to its team at the end of the Round, and counts as a normal player for point distribution (although it then discards its points earned). This does mean if it is the only losing Robot in the round, no actual players receive any points. It also implies that if you can win without recruiting this Robot, you can earn more points than if you do bring it onto your team.
Notes & FAQ:
- You are permitted and even encouraged to use side-channel communications like private chats and text messages to collude, lie, and connive their way to victory!
- You must take an action when your Power level is called. If you fail to do so, you do not get a turn in the round at all - not even as a Pass action. Remember that if you already know you don't wish to act on your turn, you could Pass during the Discussion phase without revealing anything.
- Why would I choose to Pass in the Discussion phase if I have a low Power level? Doing this might make players think you have a high Power level, and they might convert you to the winning team hoping that you'll help consolidate their position. Also, many Robot cards have permanent or reactive abilities which don't require you to take a regular turn, so you may well get to make use of your ability anyway.
- Why would I choose to Pass in the Discussion phase if I have a high Power level? With a high power level, you're pretty likely to get another turn in the Pass phase, and by then you should have enough information to make an impact on the outcome.
- Can CheatBot convert someone to the opposite team? Yes, because they can choose to convert, then reveal a false Allegiance. Bear in mind, the player being converted might also be a CheatBot, and could be lying about whether the conversion succeeded at all!
The Bots:
{
"SumoBot": "You succeed when converting someone of equal or lower power than you.",
"BlockBot": "(R) When any conversion succeeds, once per round you may reveal this card and force it to fail.",
"DoOverBot": "(AR) You can force to your allegiance any player who has already been asked to convert.",
"GroupBot": "You may force up to two people to your allegiance, but must then randomize and hide your own allegiance.",
"TruthBot": "(AR) Once per round, you may force any player to reveal their true allegiance now. TruthBot beats CheatBot.",
"CheatBot": "(P) You may optionally cheat when showing your allegiance and lie about whether you have been successfully converted.",
"LockBot": "(P) Your allegiance cannot change. Reveal your robot card if told to convert, and optionally your allegiance.",
"RandomBot": "Pick any player to flip their coin now to randomize their allegiance.",
"GandalfBot": "On your turn, announce that there is no pass phase in this round.",
"PassBot": "(P) If you pass, you act first in the pass round and cannot count as the lowest power player.",
"JudasBot": "On your turn, without showing your robot card you may Pass and then also secretly change your own allegiance.",
"ForceBot": "(R) When any conversion fails, once per round you may reveal this card and force to succeed.",
"PushBot": "You may force any player to the allegiance of your choice.",
"PlusBot": "(P) You may set your power level up to three more than your power card shows. You must stick with your choice.",
"MiseryBot": "(P) If you are on the losing team at the end of the round, you score two points.",
"ScaredyBot": "(P) If you finish the round without revealing anything other than your power, you score one additional point.",
"CopyBot": "You may perform the action of any robot that has acted in this round. You choose the target(s).",
"FreeBot": "You may take your turn at any power level, but must reveal this card and your true power."
}
Changelog:
v0.61 - 08-August-2020
v0.61 - 08-August-2020
- Updated text of PlusBot and GroupBot.
- Bumped the default win condition to nine (9) points.
- Altered the win-condition to resolve the inability to tie with odd player counts. You now tie if separated by just one (i.e. 4vs5 is a tie, 3vs6 is a clear victory). As a result, the extra action-less player rule is again just an optional rule, suggested for low player counts.
- Also clarified that you should keep playing if multiple players reach the target score together, until there is one clear winner.
- Clarified that if you use a Reaction after first choosing to Pass, you don't get a turn in the Pass round.
- Noted that in the Turns phase and Pass phase, players must reveal enough info to prove their power - but this doesn't necessarily mean they have to show their Power card.
- Added FreeBot.
- Inverted the ruleset behind conversions, so you now win if you're lower than the target. This probably means high Power robots will be converted back and forth because they're valuable commodities. Let's be honest, it's an experiment...
- Adjusted some Robot abilities to suit this inversion.
- Changed the win-condition to team with most Robots, then highest single Power, then highest total Power. This makes mental maths much less necessary. It does however significantly change the tactics, and it is accompanied by the addition of the previous optional extra player rule being mandatory for odd numbered groups of players. It's possible that this change will mean the inversion of conversion rules is not necessary, and it might be reverted later still...
- Clarified the concepts of Lying and Cheating. (And renamed LieBot to CheatBot to suit.)
- Clarified the use of Reactions and Actions.
- Eliminated the "you can convert tied power levels if they haven't acted yet" edge-case.
- Added ScaredyBot and CopyBot.
- Added Discussion phase to replace the "you can bluff on Power level nine" option, as this led to take-backs and other annoying edge cases.
- Use a pool of points distributed to winners to incentivise winning with a smaller group where possible.
- Allow all players to use the get-out-of-jail-free ability to self-convert to the opposite team in lieu of another action. This cannot be used during the Pass phase.
- Clarifications to some robot abilities.
- Added PlusBot and MiseryBot.
- If all players are on the same team, no one scores.
- Shifted some rules around. Added the get-out-of-jail-free for the lowest Power player.
- Improved the web applet.
- First release!
Print and Play A4 PDFs - v0.5 - 02-August-2020 (Note: This is out-of-date with the rules.)
| 1596362897_bw_robot_cards.pdf |
| 1595739624_bw_power_cards.pdf |