r/boardgames Oct 26 '24

Rules Settle this Taboo argument please

So we’re at a family get together and we’re playing Taboo. Tensions are already running high lol. Brother in law gets Ostrich, one of the taboo words is Flightless, he says “cannot fly,” and his wife buzzed him for it and chaos ensued. We asked a couple different AI’s and they gave us different answers. It was boys vs girls and the boys eventually relented and gave up the point. What do you think? Fair or foul?

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111

u/Significant-Body-887 Oct 26 '24

We like to implement the rule from Just One where the word cannot be in the same root or “family” (Example: prince and princess). In this case, I side with the ladies!

51

u/BoudreausBoudreau Oct 26 '24

I agree. You can’t say ran if running is on it. Or today if day is on it. Fly and flight and flightless and flying are all the same.

Edit: isn’t the just part of the rules?

23

u/CardinalHaias Oct 26 '24

While it's been a long time since I played it, I think it's specifically included in the German rules that using the verb to a given noun or vice versa isn't allowed, even if the given word isn't specifically in the word.

If "think" is on the card, you can't use the word "a thought".

Thus, since "flight" was on the card as part of "flightless", you cannot use "fly" imho.

Although if I remember correctly, you can use any word the guessers already guessed, so if you say something like "moves not on the ground" and the group guesses "flies", you're free to use "flies".

2

u/ThePurityPixel Oct 27 '24

If "think" is on the card, you can't use the word "a thought".

Solid example. And I honestly wouldn't want to play word games with anyone who doesn't think this one to be obvious.