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You’ve been Sentenced! Official Rules Sheet—8/28/2007
Quick Play Guide to “You’ve been Sentenced!”
(See sample illustration at top left of this page.)
- Everyone draws 10 cards face down.
- When everyone is ready, turn your cards over and spread them out on the table in front of you. .
- Using the words on the cards, build the best sentence you can that is both grammatically correct and makes some sort of sense. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE ALL 10 CARDS!
- The first person done starts the timer. Once you start the timer, you can’t touch your cards. Everyone else can until the timer runs out.
- When time is up, if you started the timer, read your sentence to the other players.
- If no one objects to the grammar or sensibility, you get the points for the words used in your sentence.
- If someone Objects, explain and defend your sentence. Everyone other than the objector and defender then votes. Majority thumbs-up, you get the points. Thumbs-down… Zero points. Ties go to you, and you get the points.
- Next person clockwise takes their turn. When everyone has read and voted on the sentences, everyone discards their hand, draws 10 new cards, and starts a new round.
- First person with the highest score over 200 at the end of a round, WINS!
This is the game in a nutshell. Have fun. If you have any questions, more details are in the rulebook. If you are still stumped, contact us at pcooper@mcneillbrighterminds.com
MAIN RULES
For 3 to 10 Players / Ages 8 and up
Play Time: 30-45 minutes
CONTENTS:
540-card word deck
Score sheet pad
Sand timer
Pencil
Rules sheet
Overview/Object of Game
You’ve been Sentenced!TM by McNeill Designs for Brighter MindsTM is a completely original game system which utilizes pentagon-shaped cards containing conjugations of funny words, famous names, and familiar places. With a hand of 10 cards, players build sentences, challenging their ingenuity while trying to score the most points per round by constructing a grammatically correct and sensible sentence. Most words are worth 5 points, but some of the more unusual conjugations are often worth more, based on usage difficulty in a sentence.
During play, any player can object to another player’s sentence. For example, is the sentence’s grammar correct? Is its meaning understandable? The defending player and the objecting player must argue their points to the rest of the players, who form a “Jury.” The Jury votes on whether or not the sentence is acceptable. Hilarity ensues when a player tries to defend, explain, and justify a completely ridiculous sentence to the Jury. Only accepted sentences score points. The first player to reach 200 or more points wins!
First Tine Set Up
Open the packs of cards, place on the table, and thoroughly mix all of the decks together. Place the cards facedown in back in the tray and place on the table within easy reach of all players. This is the “Word Pool” from which all players will draw their hand of cards.
Show all of the players this sample sentence illustration to show how a sentence is formed using the cards. Use the lid as the discard pile and place all used cards face up.
Rules of Play
The Deal
Each player takes 10 cards from the Word Pool and places them face down in front of them. When all players are ready, flip the cards over and spread them out face up. Don’t worry about other players seeing the cards. (This is called “Evidence Disclosure.”)
The Play
Using a hand of 10 cards, each player tries to form one grammatically correct, sensible sentence with as many cards as possible, trying to score the most points per round. Some
versions of a word are worth additional points in a sentence; the larger point value is indicated below the word. The first person to form a sentence they are satisfied with turns over the sand timer. All of the remaining players have until the sand runs out to come up with an acceptable sentence. Any player without a sentence on the table when time is up receives no points for this round.
Court Is Now in Session
Starting with the player that started the timer, each player reads his sentence aloud to the Jury (the rest of the players). Any jury member may then issue an “Objection,” if the sentence in question contains a grammatical error or simply does not make sense. The player who created the sentence may then defend it by explaining how it is grammatically correct and/or how it makes sense. This is called “Sentence Justification”. A defense can be an explanation of the grammar, a short story, or anything else that clarifies the sentence to the Jurors.
………………..
Scoring Example
Short (5 points)
+ lumpy (5 points)
+ worms (5 points)
+ momentarily
(10 points)
+ filled (5 points)
+ “the”: WILD CARD (0 points)
+ dugout (5 points)
= 35 point sentence
………………..
A “Justifiable” Defense:
“Just as the Brewster Barons
were taking the field, a summer
downpour drove them back
to the home dugout where,
astonished, they suddenly
found themselves awash in
bloated red wigglers.”
…………………
After all of the arguments have ended, the Jury then votes thumbs up or thumbs down on the sentence’s justification. The objecting player and the defending player must abstain from the vote. As in a “real” jury, a member may vote according to any objective or subjective method they wish. In layman’s terms, you can vote thumbs-up if you happen to like the sentence or the justification, even if the sentence is not perfectly “correct”. A Juror does not have to explain why they voted the way they did.
If the Jury accepts the sentence, then the Objection is “Overruled” and the player scores the points for the sentence. If the Jury rejects the sentence, then the Objection is “Sustained” and that player scores no points for the round. In the event of a tied Jury vote, the objection is Overruled, and the player receives the points.
Play proceeds clockwise around the table, with each player presenting his sentence in turn to be Judged. After all played sentences have been judged and scored, all cards are discarded. 10 new cards are dealt to each player to start the next round.
Scoring
Accepted sentences are scored as follows:
- All words used are worth their marked point value, either 5, 10, or 20 points.
- “Wild Cards” are worth 0 points.
Bonus Points:
- A player receives a 10-point bonus to their score for a round if:
- The player is the first to start the timer in a round and have the sentence accepted.
- The player is able to use all 10 cards from their hand in a single accepted sentence.
Total possible bonus points for a single player per round: 20.
Notes/Rulings
Sentences can be as short as 2 cards, or as long as all 10 cards. You do not have to use all 10 cards in your sentence.
Sentences are acceptable as long as they are grammatically correct and make some sort of sense to the Jury.
Sentence fragments, like newspaper headlines, ARE NOT SENTENCES. They are sentence fragments and do not count.
Wild Cards may be used for any single word, a proper name, or the addition of “apostrophe s” (’s) to an existing word.
All punctuation and capitalization is assumed, otherwise the words are used “as is.” You cannot add -’s to a word. You may use a Wild Card for -’s to make a subject possessive if you wish.
A "Wild” _” Name” may be used for any name beginning with the letter featured on the card.
Unlike a standard "Wild Card," a “Wild “_” Name” is worth 5 points when used in an accepted sentence.
Once a sentence is submitted for Judgment, it cannot be altered in any way. This includes any Wild Card words.
Once read, the sentence stands “as is” to be Judged.
If no one objects to a sentence, no defense is necessary and the player receives the points.
Younger and beginning players may be given help if needed (called “Attorney’s Advice”).
How to Win in Court
After each round, when everyone has had a chance to present his or her sentence to be Judged and scored, draw a line on the score pad up to the total value of the sentence plus any previous round’s score. The first player to reach a score of 200 (or more) points wins the game and becomes the “Sentence Champ.” If two or more players meet or exceed 200 points, the player with the highest point total is determined the winner.
Hung Jury
In the unlikely event of a tied score of 200 or above, those players go into a “Final
Summation” round. Each tied player draws a new hand of 10 cards and attempts to make a last, best sentence. During this round, no one is allowed to Object. Each finalist then reads his sentence to the Jury and the Jury votes on which sentence is best. The winner of the vote is the “Sentence Champ.” In the event that the vote is tied, the Jury is
“Deadlocked” and all tied players are declared winners.
YBS is a GAME SYSTEM!
There are many different ways to play “You’ve been Sentenced!” Here are a few variations we like. Use one at a time, several, or all at once for a truly insane game.
Casual: A good way to play the first couple of games. Instead of using the sand timer, the first player to form a sentence knocks on the table. Once a player “knocks”, they cannot change their sentence. This process continues until all players have knocked the table, signaling that they too are ready for sentence presentation and judgment. The first player that knocked presents first. All other rules remain the same.
Move On!: If players are taking too long to debate a sentence, any player may start the sand timer. Sentences may be discussed only until timer runs out. When the time is up, the Jury must cast a vote.
Team: If you have a large number of players, divide up into teams. Each team draws 10 cards and makes/defends their sentences together.
Popular Vote: After all sentences are judged, players take a vote to determine who had the “best” sentence this round. Everyone gets one vote. The winner gets a 10-point bonus. In the event of ties, no one gets the bonus.
Not-So-Casual: Same as Casual, except the last person who knocks gets ZERO POINTS for the round.
Card Discard: After the deal, but before making sentences, a player has 30 seconds to discard and re-draw 1, 2, or 3 cards from the Word Pool. A player can only redraw once per round. Since you will likely end up with larger sentences, we suggest playing to 300 points.
Lightning: After the cards have been drawn, and everyone is ready, start the timer and turn your cards face-up. Everyone has until the sand runs out (90 seconds) to make a sentence.
Longer/Shorter: Play to fewer (100, 150) or a greater number of points (300, 400, 500). You can also play a set number of rounds (3, 5, 10, etc.) and the highest score at that point wins.
Wild: Every player gets, at the start of the game, 1 “wild card” to keep. Players draw 9 cards per round, using the wild card as the 10th card. When you discard, keep a wild card and draw 9 cards for all subsequent rounds.
Expansions
You’ve been Sentenced!TM is fully expandable.
Visit your retailer for the new 80 card Add-On Decks.
- Pop Culture
- Sports
- Sci Fi/Fantasy
- Gourmet Cooking
- and the official Readers Digest Word Power Challenge
We encourage questions, comments, suggestions, and inquiries about all of
our products. Please email us at pcooper@mcneillbrighterminds.com
or by mail at:
McNeill Designs for Brighter MindsTM
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 5067 Wilmington, DE 19808
YOU’VE BEEN SENTENCED!™ is a registered trademark of McNeill Designs LLC. All Rights Reserved. Patent Pending.
YBS 7 Card Stud: A new game for YBS by Don McNeill
Description:
A competitive Poker version of YBS, where players wager that the sentence in their hand has the highest point total.
For 3-6 players
Goal:
To end the game with the largest amount of chips.
Equipment needed:
YBS Game, A standard set of Poker Chips.
Game preparation:
Give each player $50 of Poker Chips to start.
Game play:
The Dealer deals out two cards face down to each of the players at the table. The deal rotates after each round. Each player, and no one else, is allowed to look at these two cards.
The first round of betting occurs after the players look at their first two cards.
Then four cards are dealt face up to each player, one at a time, with a round of betting between each round of cards dealt. Some players may begin to arrange their cards on the table but the most creative players will not. Players are allowed to fold at any time if they think they cannot form a justifiable, grammatically correct sentence.
The last card is dealt face down, giving each remaining player seven cards with which to form a sentence. One final round of betting is allowed. Then, remaining players reveal their sentences.
Add up the point value of the words used in the sentence, as in Standard YBS. Point value is the final determining factor as to the winner of the hand. Just like in regular YBS, any player still in the running for the pot may object to another player’s sentence.
Anyone who has folded cannot object to a sentence, but may still vote in the jury. All of the players, other than the defender and the objector, still form the jury and can vote if they believe the grammar or sensibility of the sentence is incorrect. Majority rules, with ties going to the defending player, and if a player’s sentence is voted off, it does not matter what the point value is, the sentence is removed from play, as if they had folded.
Scoring and Winning:
The player with the sentence that is accepted and has the highest point value wins the hand and the pot. In the case of a tie, the pot is split among the tied players. Play ends at a predetermined time (10 hands, one hour, whatever you like) and the player with the most chips wins!
Variations:
For a more competitive game, use this additional rule. If a player objects to a sentence, and the objection is voted down by the Jury, the objecting player must fold his hand, giving up his claim to the pot.
VARIATIONS OF GAME PLAY
Here are other ways to have fun with the Word
Deck:
- Draw Poker
Deal out seven cards to each player
and try to make your best sentence
out of just five of them. Look at your cards and have a round of betting.
Next allow players to exchange in up to three cards. Bet on your hand again.
Then all players show their hands at the same time and the players vote who
has the funniest sentence. If there is a tie then the pot is split equally
among
the tied players. This is a great way to discover your creative use of language!
- Solitaire
Deal out 10 cards and try to make your
longest and highest point sentence.
Try to beat your best score!
- Team Play
Pair up the kids with the adults and let
the fun begin!
New games for YBS
Author: Paul Cooper
Five Spokes(Based on an original idea from Terri Sigmon)
For 2 to 5 players
Goal:
To be the first player to complete a 10 card sentence using a common card in the middle of the table.
Game preparation:
Select a YBS card with 5 proper names on it and place it in the middle of the playing area. Deal 10 cards to each player.
Game play:
The first player chooses one name on the common card and starts building his sentence on it, one word per turn. NOTE: Yes, the first word of the sentence will be upside-down, but play the rest of the cards as normal. The next player then, using the name closest to them, starts his sentence.
Each player can do one of the following during his turn:
- Add a card to his sentence
- Remove a card from his sentence and discard it
- Discard a card from his hand
Players then draw back up to 10 cards and their turn ends.
Players may object to another player’s sentence at anytime, based on grammar or sensibility of the sentence fragment. The player has a chance to defend his sentence fragment. The remaining players vote. The losing player must then remove as many cards as voted on to make it a proper sentence fragment.
Scoring and Winning:
The first player to reach the goal of a 10 card sentence, not including the common card, is the winner.
Five Spokes Solitaire
Plays the same as regular Five Spokes, except that the player is trying to complete all 5 sentences with 10 cards each before accumulating 25 cards in the discard pile. If the player reaches 25 discards, or successfully completes all 5 sentences, the game is over.
For fun, keep track of the accumulated scores for all successfully completed sentences. How many points can you score? Can you beat your personal best?
Storyteller: A new game for YBS
A cooperative/competitive game where players take turns adding cards to shared sentences for the highest point total.
For 2-10 players
Goal:
To earn the most points by starting, adding to, and completing shared sentences.
Game preparation:
Deal each player 10 cards
Game play:
On your turn, you may do one of the following:
- Start a new sentence by placing an appropriate card on the table. That player selects which word is used on the card. The number of sentences and sentence fragments on the table cannot exceed the number of players in the game. Starting a new sentence earns a bonus of 10 points, in addition to the points for the word placed.
- Add a card to an existing sentence fragment. Player earns the points for the word used (5, 10,20).
- Finish a sentence. A player earns a bonus of 20 points for successfully completing a sentence, along with the normal points for the word used.
- Discard a card.
The player then records the points earned and draws back up to 10 cards. Play passes to the right.
At anytime, a player may object to a word added to a sentence fragment if he believes that the word would make the sentence grammatically incorrect, nonsensical, or impossible to complete. The player who placed the card must then, on his next turn, either add a card from his hand to the sentence that correctly continues the sentence, or must discard the objected card, losing the points earned for the word. This counts as his turn.
Any player may object to a sentence being complete, as long as on his turn, that player can add a card from his hand that correctly extends the sentence fragment further.
Scoring and Winning:
The game ends when the number of completed sentences equals the number of players. At this time, the player with the highest point total wins.
Let us know if you come up with your
own method of play!
YBS: The TV Show Rules
These are the official “home rules” for the YBS TV Show.
Now you have a chance to practice at home for when you appear on the TV Show.
“How do you appear on the TV Show?”, you may ask.
The main way is to win a local qualifying tournament. These are held several times a month in the New Castle County Delaware Area. Click here for details.
Another is to come up with a new and novel game to play with YBS cards. Send it to us. If we like it enough, we may put it on the website for all to see, and invite YOU to play on the TV Show.
To play at home, you will need:
- One adjustable stopwatch or a clock/watch with a second hand
- One bell or buzzer
- A panel of 3 impartial Judges
- 1 official Time Keeper/Dealer
- 1 Dapper Host
- 3 Players
The TV Show Version uses a modified version the “Criminal Court” rules, including the latest FAQ/Rule Clarifications, as posted on YBSGame.com.
The major differences are the number of rounds played, the timing, and the scoring.
The game consists of 3 rounds, with the highest scoring player after 3 rounds going to the final “Lightening Money Round”!
Each player receives 10 cards and gets exactly 2 minutes in the first round, 1:30 in the second round, and 60 seconds in the third round, as tracked by the Time Keeper, to complete their sentence.
Anytime (before the 90 second mark) you are satisfied with your sentence, you, or any other player may stop playing and hit the buzzer. This starts a 30 second countdown for the remaining players. Whoever started the timer is eligible for a 10-point bonus if their sentence is accepted that round. They do NOT get this bonus if they started the timer in the final 30s of a round.
Once the time is up, or you have started the countdown timer, you must place your hands down on the playing surface. Any cards added to your sentence after that point will be removed from your sentence.
When instructed by the Host, you will verbally present your sentence to the Judges. It is the Judges who will determine the validity of your sentence. You must read the sentence exactly as you have constructed it. At this point, any wild cards you use are defined in the sentence when you present it. The wild card definitions may not be changed after this point, so be very careful with the exact wording of your sentence.
Each Judge, in turn, will have an opportunity to object to the sentence.
Note: Even if it is not your turn, it is in your best interest to read your opponents sentence as presented and make sure it is read as it appears on the table. If it does not, you may draw the Judges’ attention to the mistake.
If the Judges challenge your sentence, you have 30 seconds to respond with your defense. After 30 seconds, or when instructed by the host, you must stop your defense immediately. A vote is taken after each Judge has had an opportunity to challenge the sentence.
Each Judge has one vote, either Thumbs Up, or Thumbs Down. Majority rules. All Judges decisions are considered FINAL at this point and cannot be changed or altered in any manner.
At this point, if accepted, the sentence is scored by the Time Keeper. Make sure to include the usual bonuses for starting the timer, and for using all 10 cards in a sentence.
This score is multiplied each round in the following manner:
Round 1: 1x
Round 2: 2x
Round 3: 3x
At the end of 3 rounds, the winner is the player with the highest accumulated score.
In the case of a tie, the tie will be broken by whatever method the Judge panel sees fit.
The 1st place winner will participate in the ‘Money Round” and will have 45 seconds to construct an acceptable sentence. This final sentence will be presented to the judges and if accepted, the player will receive $5 for each point used in this sentence, up to a maximum prize of $1000.
The 1st place winner will be invited back to participate in the next show to be taped as the returning sentence champ to defend his or her title.
2nd and 3rd place contestants will receive consolation prizes as determined by the judges.
Now, get your friends together and practice, practice, practice. Who knows when YOU will win a slot on the TV version of “You’ve Been Sentenced!”
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