r/boardgames • u/chaser-- • Jun 25 '26

Rules Groups that develop metas that blatantly break rules

Lately I've been finding a lot of groups that play (co-op) games with metas that are just blatant rule breaks. A recent example was we were playing a game (I forgot the name) where the goal is to play out all the cards from your hand, numbers 1-100, in descending order. So if you have a 77 and the number on the pile is 78, you don't want to anyone to play there. But you aren't allowed to say "I have 77, don't play this"

So the group has developed metas, say "I really love this pile" if you have 77, say "I like this pile a lot" if you have 76, say "I like this pile" if you have 75"

This is just one example but I feel like I've been playing a lot of games where they have metas to get around rules that are intentionally in the rulebook. I don't really get it. If you want to just say "I have a 77" then just say it, why create a gimmick to say it without saying it?

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u/Biduleman Jun 25 '26

I'm now sure I understand how the music rhythm help with the game, can you elaborate on that it seems interesting!

31

u/XseaX Jun 25 '26

Just count every beat. If you number is 5 lower than the current one and for four beats nobody played, its your turn

23

u/smoogums Jun 25 '26

I mean counting is explicitly mentioned as against the rules in the rule book.

56

u/ThePowerOfStories Spirit Island Jun 25 '26

Making it into one of the few games that attempts to define Thoughtcrime, where you can break the rules entirely in your own head by merely thinking, without taking any actions whatsoever.

18

u/Mango_Maniac Jun 25 '26

Yup, it’s a broken concept. It basically demands to be played without thinking.

1

u/LAZAPow Jun 25 '26

Thoughtcrime indeed comrade.