a v e

S Date the

a storygame of improbable romance

by 3+ players
john leboeuf- little 45-90 minutes
and stras acimovic some printing & cutting
 v e
Sa Date the

a storygame of improbable romance and finding

someone to hold onto in this crazy world

About Tone and Time

This is a game about a first date that steadily goes more This is not intended to be a serious game. Though the
and more wrong, and two desperate daters trying to Daters should try to keep a straight face, and pretend
make it work despite mishaps and happenstance. Each take the ridiculous circumstances on with aplomb, the
of them is convinced that maybe, just maybe, the game isn't one of pain and sorrow. On average with
person across from them is someone very special, but three players we find that the game takes 30 to 45
only by surviving this date will they find out. minutes or so.

Setup
At the start of the game, take the advice cards, advice
side up, and put them between the Daters. These Players (3+)
represent pieces of advice that close friends have given ♥♥Two love-struck Daters going on their first
the two folks going on their first date. The Daters will date.
try to follow this advice during the date.
♥♥One or more people playing the Cruel Fates
The Daters will each start with one absolutely crucial and any characters aside from the Daters.
piece of advice both of them have decided on: Try To
Make The Date Work. This is the indelible concept
they both clutch onto despite the challenges and Materials Needed
troubles the Cruel Fates throw into their path. ♥♥small sheets of paper. One for each
Next, the Daters take turns selecting which pieces of Dater, to write down what we learn about
advice they received, until they each have four. (This their character.
should divide evenly.) ♥♥the advice cards. Print. Cut apart and
Hand the list of example Troubles to those playing the distribute between the Daters.
Cruel Fates. During play, the Fates will be enlisted to ♥♥trouble examples. So the Cruel Fates
bring to life and fan the flames of harsh situations, can pick appropriate challenges
either from the list or equivalent to those on the list. ♥♥optional: If you need it, use a ten-sided
Each Cruel Fate will add life and color to the scenes, die to track the escalation.
adjudicate the success of Dater actions, and interject
Troubles and happenstance.
Play
Each of the Daters takes on the role of a person going on a first date with someone they recently got up the nerve
to ask out. Each Dater chooses a name and appearance. Then, together, figure out where they go on their Date.
Don’t overthink the place. You won’t be there long.

framing cruel fate

Whenever there’s a question about the setting of a Whenever it feels opportune, the Fates go to work,
scene, the backdrop, what might be going on, or any introducing a Trouble, or twist of fate appropriate to
character that is not part of the date - the Fates have this point in the date. At first, it’ll be a minor problem,
the final say in what is. If you’re playing a Dater, feel free such as might happen on any given date. As the date
to make suggestions, though! progresses, the problems will get a bit… odd. Perhaps
The Daters should roleplay, trying to get to know astounding. But remember, you’re trying to make
each other and make the date go smoothly (it won’t). it through the date! Each problem that comes up
Attempt to follow the advice your friends gave you! can be solved by a Dater revealing something about
Each piece of advice has criteria to meet in order to flip themselves.
the card over. Once flipped over, the cards have some The type of Trouble that appears is based on how many
key phrases you can use to reveal facts about your pieces of dating advice have been followed. The Trouble
character (which are also a way to set yourself up to examples in the chart should give you some ideas and
overcome obstacles). rough guidelines to the sort of troubles that can (or
The Fates will present Troubles and portray anyone should) be appearing. If you cannot think of anything
who is not a Dater. Each Dater describes their actions, of the appropriate trouble level, it's ok to choose
and the Fates determine how everyone reacts to them. something from a lower level. But always try to match
the trouble to the pieces of information revealed and
When a Dater describes doing something that the Fates escalate the situation.
don’t think they can do, they’ll say, “Who do you think
you are, a… ?” where they fill in the appropriate thing
- for example: firefighter, doctor, or secret agent. When
you hear this, this means you should rewind a bit and
describe your character going about it a different way,
or use up one of your key phrases to reveal something
we didn’t know about you that explains why you’re able
to do what you said you would do.
what you don't know
On the back of every piece of advice is a thing you can While you solve the problem, the other Dater can ask
reveal about yourself. You do this by saying, “What You you up to two questions about what it is you revealed.
Don’t Know About Me is…” followed by the phrase on “Oh, you so you trained in a monastery atop a mountain
the back of the piece of advice. Each of these is open- for years! What did you do for fun up there?” for
ended. For example, if the reveal is “I’ve trained for example. This is your date, so make a connection. This
years to become ...” add whatever you find appropriate might happen while the problem is being solved. It’s
to the end. often far more entertaining to have these discussions
while actually solving the problem.

example
The date is in progress and things are going
example (continued)
about as expected. After dealing with a misplaced Continuing the example from above, Alex is
reservation and the kitchen fire, our Daters Sam performing an emergency tracheotomy on her
and Alex are trying to get to know each other patient when Sam comes over, to observe and
when a man nearby falls to the ground, the assist.
Cruel Fates having decided he’s having a massive
“So you’re a surgeon as a hobby?” he asks.
medical emergency. Alex makes a quick excuse
and rushes over describing some quick confident “Knife,” Alex says holding out a hand. Sam mimics
diagnostics. reaching for a knife on a nearby table. “Make sure
you pass that through a flame once or twice.
Cruel Fate smirks and asks “Who do you think
Thank you. Yes, I am.”
you are, House MD?”
“Why do you keep up your license?” asks Sam.
Alex has two options. Either she can try a different
way and describe a different action (calling an “Oh, the local universities and hospitals invite
ambulance, trying to comfort the patient) or she me in a couple times a year to demonstrate a
can use up her flipped Don’t Take it Seriously card technique or teach a class. Straw!”
and say something like “What you don’t know “So, what made you decide to pick up surgery?”
about me is, one of my hobbies is ... battlefield asks Sam.
surgery.”
Alex frowns and looks into the distance. “My
mother was a surgeon, and her mother before
her. It’s sort of a family tradition. I never wanted
Each reveal can be used to solve whatever problems
to be one, but grew up with it being expected. I
are going on in the scene. Remember to reveal things
picked it up in order to keep my folks happy.” She
that make sense as a way to solve the problem at hand.
describes finishing the procedure, the patient
When you reveal something important about your
breathing fine, and the folks clapping.
character, you get to explain how it goes down, taking
over for the Fates and telling the story your own way—
but feel free to ask for suggestions or advice if you get
stuck.
continuing the date ending the date
After the dating smalltalk while solving the problem, All good evenings come to an end. Some bad evenings
you should push forward to the next part of the date. come to an early end! Three things can end the date.
Sometimes what this means will seem pretty obvious, If at any point, either Dater utters: “I don’t think it’s
but when it isn’t, feel free to ask your date partner going to work out,” the date ends and both Daters
“So, where should we go next?” The next time you return back to their lives. Alternately, at any point either
have a twist of fate, it’ll be a bit more difficult, so brace Dater can propose with “Will you marry me?”, and the
yourselves. curtains close on that particular date.
This phrase “So, where should we go next?” can be Otherwise, there are ten levels of complications; if
uttered by any player (Fate or Dater). If a scene is you get through at least six Troubles, suggest another
dragging, or you have no further ideas on how to keep date with “This was fun, and I hope we can see each
it interesting, say the phrase, and it is up to the Daters other again.”
to decide where the date goes next (but be ready with
a suggestion in case they need help).

Special Phrases
Here's a summary of special phrases that the different players can utter during the date, and what their effect is.

special phrase spoken by effect

Reveal an important piece of information
What you don’t know about me is, I ... dater about their character to try and solve a
Trouble facing the date.

Let a Dater know that nothing they’ve

Who do you think you are …? cruel fate revealed indicates they can do the action
they’re describing.

So, where do we go next? dater Change the scene

Will you marry me? dater Ends the Game

I don’t think it’s going to work out. dater Ends the Game

This was fun, I hope we can see each other dater

Ends the Game
again! after 6+ troubles
 Troubles
to inspire and entice
the cruel fates

cards flipped types of troubles

Frequent Foibles. The reservation was lost. You have to sit next to the
0 kitchen. People talking in the theater. You got lost on the way there. The car
runs out of gas. Carnies are mean to you. Ferris wheel breaks down.

Noteworthy Nuisances. Shrill fire alarm goes off. Power failure.

1 Sudden thunderstorm. Pulled into becoming part of an act. Songs play in
reverse.

Weird Wiggy-ness. Mugged. Bystander has a heart attack. Rope failure

2 when climbing or balooning. Wild animal attack. Building is actually on fire.
Both player's exes show up, dating each other.

Odd Obstacles. Suddenly, a parade. A sudden foot of snow starts falling.

3 Riot. Caught in the middle of a celebrity, paparazzi, and fans. It's rush week,
and all the frat/soriority folks came here.

Peculiar Problems.
4 Lightning storm. Detained by federal agents.
Biker gang takes an interest. Mysterious quarantine. Boat sinks.

Implausible Impositions. Kidnapped. In the middle of a bank heist.

5 Zoo animals are on the loose! Runaway train. High-speed car chase. End up on
a set for a movie, become move stars.

Deadly Difficulties. Bozo, the murderous clown. Jealous ghost.

6 Vengeance-seeking martial arts rival. Ancient wizard needs you as a spell
component. Time-travelling robot comes to stop your date.

Madcap Misadventures.
7 The president's motorcade, chased by
gunmen. Cultists. Killer birds. Suddenly ... Ninjas. Marauding robots.

Terrifying Troubles. Nuclear bomb on site, and you have to diffuse

8 it. Earthquake. Godzilla. Supervillain. Space shuttle crash lands.

Cataclysmic Complications. Aliens attack. Dead rise from their

9+ graves. Sent to dinosaur times. Supervolcano eruption. Atlantis returns.
Extremely sudden ice age.
 advice the
a v e
Try To Make The
Date Work!
Do what you need to, to
S Date
card printing instructions
help smooth the date out.
Printing. Print out the pages with the cards (in this PDF they are pages 7-8 and 9-10).
Start with the card this step You want to print double sided, in color, and click on "flip on short edge". If you have
side up. Each Dater starts 1 access to cardstock, that will make the cards last longer and be easier to use. If you don't
with 1 copy. Flip this card have this at home, a local print shop should have what you need.
to its other side whenever
you can't think of anything Cutting. A paper cutter is best, but scissors work just fine. If you look carefully,
else to do. step you'll see guide-dots between the cards to help you line up your cuts. Since
2 printers don't go to the edge of the page, you may want to draw out the guides
with a ruler and pencil.

Details (Optional). You may want to curve the edges of the cards. In a pinch scissors will
step do, but there are edge cutters (search for corner punch) that will both save you time and
advice 3 make your cards look super professional. Your local craft store or amazon should carry
them. You're ready to play!
Try To Make The
Date Work! Play. Lay the cards down between the Daters Advice-side up. Each Dater should
Do what you need to, to step start with a "Try To Make The Date Work" card. They should take turns picking the
help smooth the date out. 4 other cards. At that point you're ready to play the game! Hope you have a great
time with this whimsical date!

Start with the card this

side up. Each Dater starts
with 1 copy. Flip this card
to its other side whenever
you can't think of anything
else to do.
 instructions
I...
Make up any true fact you
like about yourself. It may
be wise to save it for a
great difficulty.

When you reveal this fact,

bear in mind how it might
help you overcome the
challenges on the date.

instructions
I...
Make up any true fact you
the fine print like about yourself. It may
be wise to save it for a
Game Design by Stras Acimovic & John LeBoeuf-Little great difficulty.
Stras—Layout, Writing
John LL—Writing, Editing
Copyright Off Guard Games © 2019 When you reveal this fact,
bear in mind how it might
Cover Photo by Matthieu Huang (http://www.matthieuh.com) via unsplash.com help you overcome the
Fonts Used: P22 Underground, FreightSans Pro challenges on the date.
Assembled with Adobe Illustrator and InDesign CC

Originally Published in Indie Mixtape Volume 2 curated by JWalt.

If you play this game we'd love to hear about it!
 advice advice advice advice
Listen More Just Be Yourself. Laugh And Smile Be Spontaneous.
Than You Talk. The only true way to build A Lot! The only true way to build
Don't interrupt! Focus on a lasting relationship is to Everyone loves it when their a lasting relationship is to
what they're saying. be genuine. jokes are appreciated. be genuine.

Start with the card this

Start with the card this Start with the card this
Start with the card this side up. Flip this card to
side up. Flip this card to side up. Flip this card to its
side up. Flip this card to its its other side whenever
its other side when you ask other side whenever you
other side when you talk you reveal something else
for a story and listen to the genuinely laugh at a joke
honestly about your life. about yourself via another
answer. your date makes.
advice card.

advice advice advice advice

Don't Take It Be Open & Honest. Dress To Impress! Act Confident.
Too Seriously. Don't just tell the truth, Clean up nicely! You only The only true way to build
A few jokes can smooth tell a turth that hurts. Any get one chance at a first a lasting relationship is to
over many troubles. relationship worth having impression. be genuine.
takes real honesty.
Start with the card this
Start with the card this Start with the card this
side up. Flip this card to
side up. Flip this card to Start with the card this side up. Flip this card to
its other side whenever
its other side whenever side up. Flip this card to its its other side whenever
you reveal something else
you make the other player other side whenever you you draw attention to your
about yourself via another
laugh. reveal an important truth. outfit or how you look.
advice card.
instructions instructions instructions instructions
I trained for
By night I am... My best friend is... In my youth...
years to become...
Make up any fact you like What did they teach you? Make up any a profession
Make up any fact you like
about yourself—vigilante, What trick, skill or lesson skill, or tick you picked up
about yourself—ninja, cat
test pilot, spy etc. did you pick up from them? as a kid or teen.
burglar, astronaut etc.

When you reveal this fact, When you reveal this fact, When you reveal this fact, When you reveal this fact,
bear in mind how it might bear in mind how it might bear in mind how it might bear in mind how it might
help you overcome the help you overcome the help you overcome the help you overcome the
challenges on the date. challenges on the date. challenges on the date. challenges on the date.

instructions instructions instructions instructions

I'm better known as... I work... One of my hobbies is...
I used to be...
Make up any true fact you What do you work as and Make up any true fact
Make up any fact you like
like about yourself. Do you where? What might you you like about yourself—
about yourself—pilot, EMT,
have a pseudonym or a have had in your pockets battlefield surgery, shark
ice climber, etc.
codename? because of that? riding, lion taming, etc.

When you reveal this fact, When you reveal this fact, When you reveal this fact, When you reveal this fact,
bear in mind how it might bear in mind how it might bear in mind how it might bear in mind how it might
help you overcome the help you overcome the help you overcome the help you overcome the
challenges on the date. challenges on the date. challenges on the date. challenges on the date.