The Fox in the Forest

2017

Enter the enchanted world of The Fox in the Forest. Use special abilities, win tricks and strategize, but be careful not to get too greedy in this captivating two-player board game.

30
minutes

2 - 2
player(s)

10+

Medium Light

About the game

Immerse yourself in a whimsical woodlands with The Fox in the Forest, a captivating card game that artfully blends strategy, memory, and a dash of fairy-tale fantasy. This game is an enchanting two-player trick-taking game where players take on the roles of rival woodland creatures vying for control of the forest.

The theme and setting of the game are deeply rooted in a mystical forest, inhabited by various fantastical creatures. Each card in the game beautifully illustrates one of these creatures, with imagery inspired by classic fairy tales and folklore. The rich, detailed artwork and the imaginative theme pull players into the game’s magical world.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking card game for two players, with a fairy-tale theme. Below is a comprehensive list of components included in the game along with their respective descriptions and roles:

1. 33 Cards

There are 33 game cards in total, numbered from 1 to 11 in three different suits – Moons, Keys, and Bells. Each of these cards has a unique ability that activates when it is played, shaping the course of the game. The abilities vary from altering the trump suit, to changing the direction of play, to allowing players to draw more cards.

2. 17 Tokens

The game includes 17 scoring tokens shaped like gemstones. Players use these tokens to keep track of their points throughout the game. The first player to reach a predetermined number of points (usually 21) wins the game.

3. Reference Cards

The game also contains two reference cards, one for each player. These cards provide a summary of card abilities and scoring rules, helping players to remember key information without needing to consult the rulebook.

4. Rulebook

The rulebook provides a comprehensive guide to playing The Fox in the Forest. It includes information on setting up the game, taking turns, scoring, and winning, as well as a detailed explanation of each card’s abilities.

In terms of interaction, the game primarily revolves around the cards. Each round, players take turns playing a card from their hand, attempting to win tricks. The abilities on the cards allow players to manipulate the game in various ways, making strategic play essential. The tokens are used to track the score, with players earning points based on the number of tricks they have won. Finally, the reference cards and rulebook provide essential information to guide gameplay.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking game for two players. It’s a game of luck, strategy, and cunning where players aim to score more points. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

1. Preparing the Deck:

First, shuffle the 33 cards (11 cards in each of the three suits: Keys, Bells, and Moons). Each card has a rank (1 to 11) and a special ability. The cards also have a number of victory points associated with them which are used for scoring at the end of each round.

2. Dealing the Cards:

Deal each player 13 cards. The remaining 7 cards form the draw deck. Leave some space next to this deck for a discard pile. Turn over the top card of the deck and place it face-up next to the deck. This card determines the trump suit for the round.

3. Player Roles:

Determine the first player by any method you choose. The first player leads the first trick by playing a card face-up on the table. The other player must follow suit if they can. If they can’t, they can play any card.

4. Board Placement:

The Fox in the Forest does not use a board. Players should have a clear area in front of them for playing cards. They should also have space to keep track of their won tricks.

5. Initial Resources:

Each player starts with 13 cards in their hand. There are no other resources in this game.

6. Random Elements:

The only random element in The Fox in the Forest is the draw deck, which is shuffled at the beginning of each round. The card turned over from the deck to determine the trump suit is also random.

7. Scoring:

At the end of each round, players count the number of tricks they’ve won and score points according to the scoring table in the rulebook. For example, if a player wins 0-3 tricks, they score 6 points, 4-6 tricks score 1 point, 7-9 tricks score 6 points, and 10-13 tricks score 4 points.

Keep track of points from round to round. The first player to reach 21 points wins the game.

Game flow Round and round we go

The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking card game for two players. It is played over multiple rounds where players compete to win tricks and score points based on those wins. The game continues until a player reaches or exceeds a certain point threshold, typically 21 points.

The game’s structure can be broken down into several key phases: dealing, lead, follow, scoring, and end of round.

Dealing: At the start of each round, players are each dealt 13 cards from a deck of 33. The top card of the remaining deck is then turned face-up to determine the trump suit for this round.

Lead: The player who did not deal gets to lead the first trick by playing a card from their hand. The suit of this card becomes the lead suit. The dealer then follows.

Follow: The second player must play a card of the same suit if they have one. If they do not, they may play any card. The highest card of the lead suit wins, unless a card of the trump suit was played, in which case the highest trump card wins.

Scoring: After all 13 tricks have been played, players count their trick wins. Points are awarded based on the number of tricks won.

If a player wins 0-3 tricks, they are considered the “humble” and score 6 points.
If a player wins 4-6 tricks, they are the “victor” and score 1 point.
If a player wins 7-9 tricks, they are the “dominant” and score 2 points.
If a player wins all 10 tricks, they are the “greedy” and score 0 points.

End of Round: After scoring, a new round begins with the other player dealing. The game continues until one player scores 21 or more points, ending the game immediately.

At each stage, players must carefully consider their options, taking into account the cards in their hand, the current trump suit, and the number of tricks they have already won. The ability to adapt strategy based on these factors is key to winning in The Fox in the Forest.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In The Fox in the Forest, a two-player trick-taking game, turns are divided into three main phases: drawing a card, playing a card, and scoring. Each phase involves strategic decision-making that can significantly affect the course of the game.

1. Drawing a Card:

At the beginning of each turn, the player must draw a card from the draw pile. Drawing new cards is essential as it gives the player more options during play.
There is a strategic consideration to be made here. If you have a high ranking card, you might want to control the game by drawing more cards. If you have a low ranking card, you might want to draw fewer cards to avoid being stuck with a bad hand.

2. Playing a Card:

After drawing a card, the player must play a card from their hand. This is the main action of the game. The player who plays the higher card wins the trick, but various card special abilities can change the outcome of the trick.
Strategically, players must consider not just the current trick, but also future tricks. For instance, you might want to lose a trick intentionally to set up for a future trick. Or you might want to use a special ability card to change the outcome of the trick.

3. Scoring:

After all cards have been played, players score points based on the number of tricks they have won. The player who won the most tricks scores points, but winning too many or too few tricks can result in fewer points.
Scoring requires strategic thinking as well. If you’re ahead, you might want to try to win more tricks to secure your lead. If you’re behind, you might want to try to win fewer tricks to limit your opponent’s points.

Overall, each turn in The Fox in the Forest requires careful decision-making and strategic planning. The player who best manages their hand and makes the most of their opportunities will likely come out on top.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘The Fox in the Forest’ ends after multiple rounds when one player earns at least 21 victory points. Here are the detailed victory conditions and the actions players must take before final scoring:

The Game’s End:

The game ends immediately when a player reaches or surpasses 21 victory points at the end of a round. If both players reach or surpass 21 points at the end of the same round, the player with the highest score wins. In case of a tie, the player who did not lead the trick that led to the final scoring wins.

Victory Conditions:

Victory points are earned at the end of each round, based on the number of tricks a player has won during that round:

If a player wins 0-3 tricks, they are dubbed the ‘Humble’ and earn 6 victory points.
If a player wins 4-6 tricks, they are called the ‘Victor’ and earn 1 victory point.
If a player wins 7-9 tricks, they achieve the status of ‘Defeated’ and earn 0 victory points.
If a player wins all 13 tricks, they are considered the ‘Triumphant’ and earn 6 victory points.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

At the end of each round, the players must count the number of tricks they have won. This count determines the number of victory points they earn for that round. The players then add these points to any victory points they have earned in previous rounds. When a player’s total reaches or surpasses 21 points, the game ends.

It’s important to note that the player who did not deal the cards for the round leads the first trick in the next round. The deck is also reshuffled and a new hand is dealt before the next round begins.

Remember, the key to victory in ‘The Fox in the Forest’ lies in winning just the right number of tricks – not too few, but also not too many.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking card game for two players. Scoring in the game is based on how many tricks you win during each round. Here is a detailed breakdown of the scoring system:

0-3 tricks: If a player only wins 0-3 tricks in a round, they are considered to be ‘humble’ and are awarded 6 points.
4-5 tricks: Winning 4-5 tricks in a round is deemed ‘victory’ and the player is awarded 1 point.
6-7 tricks: Players who win 6-7 tricks are ‘dominant’ and receive 3 points.
8-9 tricks: Winning 8-9 tricks means the player is ‘greedy’. In this case, the opponent is awarded 6 points, while the ‘greedy’ player receives none.
10-13 tricks: If a player manages to win all the tricks (10-13), they are ‘triumphant’ and are awarded 6 points.

Scoring in The Fox in the Forest encourages players to be strategic about the number of tricks they aim to win. Winning too many tricks can actually result in the opponent scoring points instead.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

If players end up with an equal number of points at the end of the game, a tie-breaker is used to determine the winner. The player who was ‘humble’ (won 0-3 tricks) the most times during the game is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, then the player who was ‘victory’ (won 4-5 tricks) the most times is the winner. If a tie persists, the game is declared a draw.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking game for two players, featuring a deck of unique, beautifully illustrated cards. Despite its simplicity, it contains a few rare or special rules and exceptions that players need to be aware of. Here are some of those rules:

1. Special Powers of Cards:

Some cards in the game have special powers. These powers are activated once the card is played. For instance, when the Fox (3) is played, if you are not leading the trick, you can look at the top card of the deck and choose to exchange it with the Decree card.

2. Winning a Trick:

The player who played the highest value card of the suit that led the trick, or the highest value card of the trump suit, wins the trick. However, if a player cannot follow suit, they can play a card of the trump suit, which beats any card of the suit that led. If no trump was played, the highest card of the suit that led wins the trick.

3. Scoring:

Scoring in “The Fox in the Forest” is unique compared to other trick-taking games. Winning too many tricks can be as detrimental as not winning enough. For example, if a player wins 0-3 tricks, they score 6 points (considered as Humble), but if they win all 13 tricks, they score 0 points (considered as Greedy).

4. The Decree Card:

The Decree card determines the trump suit for the current round. It’s chosen randomly from the deck at the start of each round. It’s important to note that the Decree card is replaced whenever a Swam (9) or a Fox (3) is played and their powers are used.

5. The Woodcutter (5) Exception:

When a player plays the Woodcutter (5), they draw a card first before discarding. This is an exception to the general rule where players have to discard a card first before drawing.

6. The End of the Round:

The round ends when all 13 tricks have been played, not when a player runs out of cards in their hand. This is a common mistake for new players who may be used to other card games.