TALES OF THE BORROWERS

INTRODUCTION
Card game based on the Borrowers, adventures of the tiny people that 
Live hidden in our houses, and borrow only what they need. 

DISCLAIMER
The Borrowers are a licensed, copyrighted property. 
This is merely a fan site. 

VICTORY
Be the first player to complete 3 Melds. 

THE DECK
Players share a common deck. 
There are 7 card types: 
Places, Threats, Escapes, Friends, Foods, Objects, and Tools. 
There are 10 cards of each type. 

MELDS
A Meld is a collection of 7 cards of a specific ratio of types. 
There are 10 Types of Melds: 
1. Borrower’s Feast: 3 Friends + 4 Foods
2. Dangerous Journey: 3 Places + 2 Escape + 2 Threats
3. Monty Haul: 3 Objects + 2 Tools + 2 Foods
4. Friendly Visit: 2 Friends + 3 Places + 2 Escapes
5. Great Adventure: 1 of each Type
6. Tricks of the Trade: 3 Tools + 4 Escapes
7. Home and Hearth: 4 Objects + 3 Foods
8. Full House: 4 Friends + 3 Objects
9. A Big Scary World: 4 Threats + 3 Places
10. Weapons of Choice: 4 Tools + 3 Threats

SETUP
Shuffle the Deck. 
The biggest person is the Dealer. 
The smallest person goes first. 
Deal 7 random cards to each player. 

SEQUENCE of PLAY
Players take turns. 
Play proceeds clockwise. 
Each turn has 3 Phases:
1. Draw Phase
2. Action Phase
3. Meld Phase

DRAW PHASE
Draw Cards from the deck to fill your hand to 7 cards. 
If the deck ever runs out, shuffle the discard and draw from it. 

ACTION PHASE
You may discard 1 card. 
What happens depends on what type of card you discard: 
Places = Discard 1 more card and draw 2 cards
Threats = Opponent Discards 1 random card from hand 
Escapes = Steal 1 random card from opponents hand
Friends = Give this card to opponent and draw 2 cards
Foods = Draw 1 card
Objects = Put any card from the discard into your hand
Tools = Discard hand and draw 7 new cards

MELD PHASE
You cannot make a Meld of a type already made this game. 
(Example: If someone already made a Full House, you cannot make another)
If you have a Meld, show it to all players. 
3 Melds and you win the game. Keep Track. 
Discard your hand and draw 7 new cards. 
If you don’t have a Meld, you must discard your hand down to 6 cards. 

CARD LIST
Place Cards: Garden, Attic, Basement, Roof, Hallway, 
Doll House, Bedroom, Window, Foyer, Kitchen
Escape Cards: Run, Jump, Climb, Crawl, Ledge, 
Hide, Hole in the Wall, Shadows, Distraction, Silence
Food Cards: Cookie, Sugar Cube, Cherry, Grape, 
Olive, Cracker, Candy, Raisins, Nuts, Berry
Threat Cards: Spider, Raven, Child, House Keeper, 
Snake, Rat, Cat, Big Feet, Loud Noise, Mouse Trap
Friend Cards: Ma, Pa, Little Brother, Big Sister, Mice, 
Wild Borrower, Neighbor Borrower, Friendly Human, Ants, Bees
Object Cards: Cork, Foil, Cloth, Paper, Pencil, 
Coin, Game Piece, Salt, Pill, Battery
Tool Cards: Needle, Thread, Wire, Glue, Tape, 
Paperclip, Rubber band, Pin, Match, Toothpick
 




LINKS