How to play

Four stages of society, seven rounds. Every round asks three questions: what do we make, how do we make it, and how do we share it. Most stock at the end wins.

Drawing

• You start with one card. Draw more, or stop.
• Number cards count their number, faces count 10, aces count 1 or 11.
• Everyone needs 12 a round to live. Over 21, you bust and make nothing.

The four stages

• Hunting. Nothing keeps. If the band brings in 12 each, everyone eats. If not, everyone loses 1. The best hunter earns renown.
• Pasturage. Surplus above 12 joins your herd. The biggest herd makes a chief. If your herd runs out, the chief feeds you and your surplus becomes his. You may raid the chief.
• Agriculture. The richest player becomes lord. Serfs keep 12 and the lord takes the rest, which can only feed retainers. When the towns arise, the lord may free the tenants for a rent of 3.
• Commerce. Landlord, master and workers. The master may advance stock so workers can see the next card. Workers pay rent of 2 and need 12. Any surplus is settled on the court.

The court

• The challenger leads a card. The proprietor must follow suit if he can.
• Following suit, the higher card wins. Aces are high and ties go to the proprietor.
• If he cannot follow, his trump suit wins. Horns for a chief, Coins for a master.
• Each stroke moves the ball into the loser's half. When a hand runs out, the longer hand holds out: 1 step for every 2 extra cards.
• The challenger's share is where the ball stops, out of 6.