CONFIDENTIAL. } CONFIDEN LRBOLATRIES CAT IN THE BOX EXPERIMENT MANUAL Outline of the Experiment “Cat in the box” is a card game categorized as a trick-taking game. The color of each cat card is not certain, and when the card is played, it will be treated as the color declared by the player. However, players are not allowed to declare the color of a card with the same number that has already been declared. Follow the rules, and approach the mysterious ecology of... Cats. 21B3MS1-12 CONFIDENTIAL|. Components 15 Cateards 1 Round Start Player d 1 Research cards 5 Player boards @ @ £3 1 Research board 60 Player tokens @ g Se 1 Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, and Purple 0.0 rds each from 1 to 9 xperimes booklet result 1 Observed tokens: 1 Rulebook Figure [1 List of components The components to be used differ according to the number of players. Refer to the table below. Table 1-1 Components to k -ording to the number of No. of Observed Hoof Catcards Player boards Player tokens OPServe 45 cards (1-9) S players ©” 5 boards 5 types 40 cards (1-8) 4 players 9 ¢ 4 boards 4 types Necessary 30 cards (1-6) 3 players “3 ae) 3 boards 3 types 25 cards (1-5) 2players “NSE! 2 boards 2 types Necessary ZzFigure 2-1 Preparation for 4-players Z.Giame Preparation In this experiment game, players play a number of rounds equal to the number of players, and the sum of those rounds determines the winner of the game. Before starting the game, follow the procedure as below: Each player should be seated in a position where they cannot see each other's hands. Each player takes a type of player token (all 12 pieces) and a player board. . Place one player token on each X on your player board. . Insert the research cards into the research board and place it in the center of the table. See the table below to check which face of the research cards to use. Depending on the number of players, observed tokens must be placed on the research board. 5. Write down each player's name on the experiment result booklet (optional). 6. The player who most recently won-this game encountered a cat will be the start player. The start player receives the Round Start Player card and puts it in front of them. Pens This concludes the preparation of the game. Follow the instructions on the next page to start the first round. Table 2-1 Faces of cards and board and necessities of observed tokens according to number of players No. of Face of Fi layers player board Face of research card Observed tokens 5 players 5 Purple Not used 4 players 4 (ue yhite or purple Place on all 4 spaces of 9 : White or purple - 3 ples 3 (Use white for your first game) Ao Ee 2 players 2 White Place on all 4 spaces of 6When playing with two players, some of the rules are different. See page 10 for more details. 3.Round sequence Each round consists of three phases as below. or To win this experiment game, @ player must have the highest total score after playing) (Pounds equal to the number of players, Distribute 10 cards when Playing 1. Preparation phase with 2 to 4 Flovers, and ® carde hen Playing mith § players! [1] Deal player's hand and put 1 card face down Shuffle all cat cards face down and distribute them to each player evenly. The dealt cards are called your hand. Look at your hand and be careful not to let other players see what is in your hand. After checking your hand, each player simultaneously selects one card from their hand and places it face down near the research board. ards face down [2] Predict tricks in clockwise order Tet ee ond Each player checks their hand and predicts how many tricks they will win in this round The numbers indicated on your player board shows the number of tricks you can choose for your prediction. Beginning from the start player and then moving clockwise, each player places a player token on the predicted number of tricks they will win on their player board. After all players have made their predictions, proceed to the trick phase. 1 you are Playing with 3 playerss you can only Predict the ruinber of tricks you will win as, 3s orb. This means vow cannot declare “2 tricks”! oo ‘Choose one card from your hand and place it face down near the Anne checks her hand and looks at other players’ predictions. research board. When playing with 4 players, a total of 4 cards will ‘She predicts that she will win two tricks, and places her token on be removed and these cards will not be used in this round, space “2” on her player board. Pea eene gaa Figure 3-2 Victory prediction 4 - Round sequence - |. Preparation phase2. Trick phase In this phase, players will repeat a series of beneh-seate-experiments mini games known — as tricks. After playing the specified number of tricks or when a paradox occurs, the trick phase ends and players proceed to scoring phase. Trick-taking The start player begins by playing a cat card from their hand and all other players in clockwise order do the same, When any player plays a cat card, they must declare the observed color. There are rules when declaring the observed color: Declaring the observed color The color of the cat cards in your hand is not certain. When a cat card is played from. any player’s hand, that player observes and declares the cat's color as red, blue, yellow, or green, as shown on the research board. The player who played a cat card declares what color the played card is, places the card alongside that color on their player board, and then places a player token in the corresponding space on the research board. Fhe rales during declaring + pase carefully. Don't forget to read Led color the observed color on the nex During a trick, the first observed and declared color is known as the led color. Peter played a cat card of the value 5 and declared it “blue”. Peter placed the played card beside blue on his player board and placed one of his player tokens on the blue 5 space on the research board. Since Peter is the first player to reveal a card in this tri Figure 8-3 Declaring the observed color I jue” declared by Peter will be the led color for this trick. Round sequence - 2. Trick PhaseRules on declaring the observed color To positively declare a valid color, the observed color must satisfy the following rules. ‘Rule 1: On the row of color you are going to declare on the research board), ‘the space of the number of the cat card you are playing must be empty.) “Rule 2: On your player board, a player token must be placed on the X of the color \you are going to declare. Players must follow the rules above to play a cat card. In addition, the following rules must be fulfilled depending on the situation. When playing a card as the start player: The start player must declare blue, yellow, or green when declaring a color. This means the start player may not declare red (trump). However, if any player token(s) of any player is already placed on the red row on the research board, this rule can be ignored and the start player may declare red as the led color. You can also declare red as the led color if you cannot declare any other color with any cards from your hand. | tricks you should Play as the led co £ you nant to win & t allow suit rales) sane col e so-called When playing a card after the first card: Players who play a card after the start player may declare any color (red, blue, yellow, or green), as long as it satisfies rule 1 and 2. If you declare a color which differs from the led color, remove the player token on your player board placed on the X space of the led color. If the player token has already been removed, ignore this step. ‘The start player declares “blue” as the led color. Anne } canalso declare a “blue” cat card, but she chooses to In the previous trick, a cat card is observed as “red, thus a declare a “red” cat card, thus removing her player token player token is placed on the red row of the research board. from the "blue" X on her player board. Since her player Therefore, the start player Hamry can play a cat card of 8 as token on the “blue” X is removed, she cannot declare the first card of the trick and declare it as “red. “blue” for the remaining of this round. Figure 3-4 Declaring the observed color II Figure 3-5 Declaring the observed color III 6 - Round sequence - 2. Trick Phase - Rules on declaring the observed colorWinner of the trick After all players have played a card and declared a color, check who is the winner of the trick. The player who played the strongest card is the winner of this trick. The strength of the card depends on the declared card's color, followed by the card's number. Strength of the color If all players played and declared a card of the led color, skip checking the strength of the color. However, if any player declared a color different from the led color, check the strength of the color. Red (trun) is the stronfest then the led + If red is declared in addition to the led color: colors and the other colors are the weakest. ‘Red (trump) is stronger than the led color. Leave only cards declared ae red)and, (Femove all other cards when checking the strongest color, - If blue, yellow, or green is declared in addition to the led color: or is stronger than the other colors. Leave only cards declared as the led) ‘color and remove all other cards when checking the strongest GO16H), ter checking the strenath of the colors aoe ohne number 7 = the number of the remaining car Compare the remaining cards. The card with the highest number wins the trick. ast compar Winning a trick The player who wins the trick takes all the played winner cards together into a pile and places it face down , - in front of them. You can count how many times a player has won this round by counting how many piles of tricks they have in front of them. Make sure to separate Peete eee cee led on declared “yellow” as the led color: iecking the strength of the color, Harry se he declared “green”, and Anne loses because Peter and Erwin declared “red’. Peter { start plover cord does and Erwin compare the numbers oftheir red” ES cat cards (because they are trump). Peter won by playing the red cat card with the higher number. The player who wins the trick will be the start player for the next trick and plays the first card nt this wonents the 12 ie not move 1 Be coreful! Figure 3-6 Winner of the trick Round sequence - 2. Trick Phase - Winner of the trick ~ 7End of trick phase and paradox Repeat playing a trick until there is only one card left in your hand. After that, end the trick phase and proceed to the scoring phase. If a paradox occurs during the trick phase, immediately stop the experiment trick phase and proceed to the scoring phase. If you're playing with # Players, Occurrence of a paradox ¥ tricks and the round is over! During the trick phase, when you cannot declare and observe any card from your hand according to the rules, which means, you cannot meet the observation rules and place a player token on the research board, so a paradox occurs. ‘A paradox cannot be created on purpose. If there is a card that you can play and “ >) declare the observed color, you must play that card. 1 anyon, nds out that You could have Fl after you revealed eft Your hand, ju hat cord and continue this trick! When a paradox occurs, immediately stop the trick phase), The player who caused the paradox reveals their hand and declares that a paradox has occurred. No player wins the trick that caused the paradox, but do not remove the tokens placed on the research board during that trick. A paradox occurs 7gi=' | 860 Do not play any cards y ‘ Peter's player tokens on the blue and yellow X of his _Peter reveals his hand and declares that a paradox has player board are removed. Therefore, Peter can only declare his cards as red or green. The cat cards in Petet occurred. The current trick is interrupted and players after Peter are not allowed to play any more cards. hand are 4 and 6, but all four spaces of 4and 6 on the Players who have revealed their cards in this trick before red and green row on the research board are filled, which Peter put aside the cards played in this trick. Leave the ‘means Peter cannot declare and observe a valid color. research board as it was when the paradox occurs. In this case, a paradox occurs Figure 3-7 Occurrence of a paradox Figure 3-8 Interrupting a trick phase 4 - Round sequence - 2. Trick Phase ~ Paradox3. Scoring phase Record the scores earned by each player on an experiment result sheet. There are 2 kinds of scores, which are scores from tricks and bonus scores from victory prediction. Scores from tricks Each player gains 1 point for each trick won. Count the number of piles in front of you to see how many tricks you have won. Ifany player caused a paradox during this round, the player who caused the paradox instead scores -1 point per trick that they have won. Bonus score from victory prediction If the number of trick(s) won is as predicted, that player receives a bonus score. Ifany player caused a paradox during this round, the player who caused the paradox will not receive any bonus score. From the research board, find the largest group of your player tokens which are (Adjacent to each other, scoring 1 point for each token in that group, “Adjacent” refers to a state in which your player tokens are connected vertically or horizontally. Diagonal connection is not considered to be adjacent. pol pol 3 points ory + 24 -3 points con 3. pe 5 eat are paradox. =2}points ‘There are3 piles of tricks in front of him, therefore he scores -3 points, Erwin predicted he could win “8 tricks” during There are 2 piles of tricks in front of Anne. the victory prediction and he actually won 3 tricks, but he does Therefore, Anne scores 2 points. not receive any bonus score because he caused the paradox. Figure 3-9 Scores from tricks Figure 3-10 Score ofthe player who caused the paradox Anne predicted she could win “2 tricks” uring the victory prediction and she actually won 2 tricks. Anne checks the research board and found her largest adjacent group is made from 5 tokens, thus Anne scores 5 points as a bonus score. xe 3-11 Bonus score from vietory prediction Round sequence ~ 3. Scoring Phase1-2. Preparation phase for the next round After completing the scoring phase, the next round begins. During the preparation phase after the second round, the following procedure will be added. - Each player collects their player tokens from the research board and their player board. + Place one player token on each X on your player board. + Pass the Round Start Player card to the player to the left of the current Round Start Player. + Chearirpimcieerientses 4.End of the game The game ends after all players have been the Round Start Player. The winner is the player who scored the most points after adding the scores from each round (refer to the experiment result sheet). If there is a tie, the player with the highest score during the final round wins. If those players are also tied, the tied players share the victory. Ino 2 Player one, 5. Additional rules for 2 players seca then He enrty on t expected and is a correct ‘When playing with 2 players, use the following rules), 1. Preparation phase + Deal 10 cat cards to each player, and place the remaining 5 cards on the center of the table. After that, reveal 3 cards from the pile and place an unused player token on the green row of the research board for each number revealed. If a duplicate number is revealed, place an unused player token on both the green and yellow rows of that number. If all three cards are the same number, place an unused player token on the green, yellow, and 5 se ofniksin ont of Ervin blue rows of that number. and 3 piles of tricks in front of Anne. Enwin + Do not predict victory in a 2 player game. When the scores 5 points from the tricks he won but doesn't score any bonus points. Anne gets 3 points from the tricks and receives a bonus score. 3 points from the research board as bonus No other rules are changed in a 2 player game. points, which means Anne scores 3 6 points in total for this round. round ends, if any player wins 4 or fewer tricks, that player Figure 5-1 Playing with 2 players ID - Round sequence - I-2. Preparation Phase | End of gone | Additional rules for 2 PlayersCredits Game design : Muneyuki Yokouchi (Ayatsurare Ningyoukan) Artwork : Osamu Inoue Package design: Tomoyuki Uchikoga, Mizuki Nakajima (CHProduction) Translation : Chester Lee & Ted Alspach DTP : Osamu Inoue Producer : Tohco Neijima Thank you for purchasing our game! Please contact us at support@beziergames.com if you have any issues. CEO: Ted Alspach COO: Toni Alspach App Development: Jonathan Casper, Andre Infante, Steven Melton & Chris Strater Licensing & Program Management: Renée Harris ng Management: Ally Gold Management: Lindsay Schlesser Graphic Design: Alanna Kelsey Customer Support Management: Ryan Moore Quality Assurance: Nathan McKeehan & Bryon Quick Editor: Melissa Barsales THE weW CUASSTOS ©2022 Bezier Games, Inc. Bezier Games and its logo are registered crademarks of Bezier Games, Inc. Warning: This product contains small parts chat can be swallowed and may not be suitable for use by children under 36 months. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A TOY. Made in China. Bezier Games, Inc, PO Box 730, Louisville, TN 37777. USA. info@beziergames.com Special Thanks: Shoichi Asai, Akira Ueda, Ko Okada, Oyabun, Yuriko Kato, Tomohide Kitajima, Akira Tanaka, Satoki Tanaka, Hinami Tsukuda, Tomoya Nakajima, Tsuyoki Yamada ©2021 Hobbyjapan Co., Ltd. All Right Reserved. Credits | Special Thanks - IIpot Catcards Player icon Research cards Obsenved 5 players 45 cards (1 - 9) 5 Purple Not used | players 40 cards(t - 8) b White or purple All spaces of 9 3 players 30 cards (1 - 6) 3 White or purple Not used 2players 25 cards (1 - 5) 2 White All spaces of © Peers cameoe Distribute cat cards evenly oe Rules to follow Place 1 card face down from your hand Rule 1: In the row of the color you are Predict victory in clockwise order eee | | Rule 2: On your player board, % of the eae wi color you are declaring is not revealed. | n reese Follow these rules depending on your position Beginning with the start player, urn Start player You may only declare blue, yellow, or green Player's turn j “Exception: If any token(s) is placed on Play a card and declare the Sbserved color the red row of the research board, you Place a player token on the corresponding [J | may declare red. space on the research board . oa eR ce oc nes pone Play ets a Seeker eens You may declare any color. g = = If you declare a color other than the led Check the winner of the trick color, remove your player token of the led i=) Strength of the color color on your player board, revealing If there is any card which is not the led color + Red (trump): Ignore all other colors FEE colors except reat: lgnore al nonved colors A paradox occurs when declaring Strength of the numbers the observed color rule cannot be met. The card with the highest number wins Reveal your hand and declare a paradox re perenne realtones: Immediately proceed to the scoring phase + Collect all of the played cards into a pile Se eae eer eet a and place them face-down + Becomes the start player for the next trick Scores from tricks: -1 point for each trick Bonus score: forfeited Scores from tricks Additional rules for 2 players 1 point for each trick won (1 point for each pile) J | Preparation phase Bonus score from victory prediction *Place 5 cat cards face down and reveal Score bonus score if the victory prediction is 3 cards from them and place unused erereertill player tokens on the research board 1 point for each token in the largest group of *Skip victory prediction your player tokens connected adjacently on [J | Bonus score from victory prediction the research board Ifthe number of tricks you have won is 4or less, consider ita “successful victory prediction’. No cats were harmed in the making of this board game.