Gumbo! - Learn to Play

How to Play

Please watch the video above for a quick overview, then read the manual to make sure you've understood everything. We recommend you keep the rulebook open to the last two pages - the Keywords section - as you will certainly want to look some of these up in their first few games.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who goes first?

It really doesn't matter very much! We suggest the youngest player, or the player who most recently brewed a potion...

What if I can't use any of my cards right now?

That's ok - you can (and probably should!) just Pass. By doing this you're keeping your ingredients Secret for longer. You've kept their potency points - because you can add them to your cauldron at the end of the game anyway - but the real benefit is that only you know what they can do!

Can I Block or Defend with a card in my cauldron?

No. Blocks and Defends can only be used while they're in your hand as Secret Ingredients. Once they've been Revealed, they don't work any more.

Can I Block a Block/Deflect?

Yes. You attacked someone with a card. Then they Blocked/Deflected it. So that Block/Deflect affects you and thus you can Block it in turn. Likewise, they could then Block your Block again!

Can I Deflect a Block?

No. Deflect only works on Discard, Reveal, Replace, or Steal effects that are affecting you. But if your Block has itself been Blocked - leaving the original effect back in play - you can Deflect that effect.

The only exception is in Two-Player Mode, where a Deflect is more flexible and can be used as a Block instead.

Can I Block/Deflect something hitting my team-mate?

No. Blocks and Deflects can only be used if something is affecting you.

After Gumbo! has been called, can I use my Draw cards on a team-mate?

Yes. This is often a good idea if you are unlikely to have a highly potent potion yourself, but your team-mate might.

What happens if no one ever calls Gumbo!?

Then you have a coven of cowardly witches! Once the draw pile runs out for the first time, shuffle all discarded cards to make a new draw pile. When that second draw pile runs out, the game ends at the end of that turn. (And if someone was unable to draw all required cards during that turn, they miss out.)

If the game ended like this, simply add up each player's total potency and the highest player wins.