Got Em
There are two ways to play the game, brainy and bright. The rules to each are described here.
Got Em! Bright Rules
Object of the Game
Place walls to trap your opponents’ pawns before they trap yours.
Setup
1. Place the board with the colored squares face up.
2. Each player chooses a colored pawn and places it on the matching colored starting square on the board.
3. Separate the walls into equal piles that are easy for all players to reach.
4. Shuffle the cards and deal 3 face down to each player; players may look at their own cards.
5. Place the remaining cards face down in a stack near the board to create the draw pile.
6. The player who has the birthday closest to today’s date goes first.
Playing Your Turn
There are two steps to every turn: playing a card (and following its instructions) and ending the turn
Step 1: Play a Card
Play a card from your hand face-up on the table so that all players can see it. Follow each rule on the card in the order they appear. Most cards have two instructions: the first tells you where you can place a wall and the second tells you how many squares you can move your pawn.
NOTE: Some card instructions are optional. If an instruction says you “may” do something, then it is optional.
Place a Wall
Walls are placed into the grooves on the board. A wall can touch only 2 squares. Most cards allow you to place a wall next to any square of a specific color.
For example, if your card reads, “Place a wall on any GREEN square,” you must place a wall into any empty groove that is next to any green square on the board.
If you place a wall that traps an opponent’s pawn in a single square, that player is eliminated from the game. (It is customary to yell “Got ’Em!™” and do a little dance when you eliminate another player!)
The edges of the board count as walls, so so pawn blocked by the side and 3 walls is trapped is trapped and the player is eliminated.
Eliminating a Pawn
• When a player’s pawn is trapped by walls in a single square, that player is eliminated from the game and that pawn is removed from the board.
• As a reward for eliminating another player, the active player may remove any 1 wall from the board. The active player removes that wall before following any other instructions on the card played that turn.
NOTE: A select number of cards allow you to remove a wall or pass through a wall. You must play these cards before your pawn is trapped! Once a pawn is trapped in a single square it is eliminated and may not be rescued.
Move Your Pawn
Most cards allow you to move your pawn up to a specific number of squares.
• You can’t move your pawn through walls (unless a card allows it).
• You can’t move your pawn through a square occupied by another player’s pawn.
• You can’t move your pawn diagonally.
• You don’t have to move your pawn.
• You don’t have to move the exact number of squares listed on the card.
For example, if your card reads, “You may move your pawn up to three squares,” you may move your pawn 3, 2, 1, or 0 squares.
Step 2: End Your Turn
Once you have followed all the instructions on your card, put it into the discard pile. Draw a card so that you again have 3 cards in your hand. The player to your left then takes his or her turn.
Ending the Game
The last player to have a pawn on the board wins! Strange situations might arise in longer games. If you have a question, check the FAQ at the end of these rules.
Got Em! Bright Rules
You don’t use the cards in this version of Got ’Em!™ Instead, players take turns placing 1 wall anywhere on the board and then moving their pawn 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 squares.
Object of the Game
Place walls to trap your opponents’ pawns before they trap yours.
Setup
1. Place the board with the colored squares face down.
2. Each player chooses a colored pawn and places it on the matching colored starting point near the center of the board.
3. Separate the walls into equal piles that are easy for all players to reach.
4. Set aside the Got ’Em!™ cards (cards are not used in this version of the game).
5. The player who has the birthday closest to today’s date goes first.
Playing Your Turn
On your turn, place 1 wall and move your pawn.
Place a Wall
Place 1 wall anywhere on the board.
• Walls are placed into the grooves on the board.
• A wall can touch only 2 squares.
• During the first round of play, only one wall can be placed on a square.
If you place a wall that traps an opponent’s pawn in a single square, that player is eliminated from the game.
The edges of the board count as walls, so so pawn blocked by the side and 3 walls is trapped is trapped and the player is eliminated.
Eliminating a Pawn
• When a player’s pawn becomes trapped by walls, that player is eliminated from the game and that pawn is removed from the board.
• As a reward for eliminating another player, the active player may remove any 1 wall from the board.
Move Your Pawn
A pawn may move 1 square plus a number of squares equal to the number of walls on the square it occupies.
• You may place a wall on the space your pawn occupies to increase its movement!
• You can’t move your pawn through walls.
• You can’t move your pawn through a square occupied by another player’s pawn.
• You can’t move your pawn diagonally.
• You don’t have to move your pawn.
• You don’t have to move the exact number of squares allowed.
For example, if the space your pawn occupies has 2 walls, you may choose to move your pawn 3, 2, 1, or 0 squares (1 space + 2 additional spaces for the walls).
End Your Turn
Once you have placed 1 wall and moved your pawn, the player to your left takes his or her turn.
Ending the Game
The last player to have a pawn on the board wins! Strange situations might arise in longer games. If you have a question, check the FAQ below.
FAQ (for both Bright and Brainy Got ’Em!™)
Q: Can I move my pawn diagonally?
A: No.
Q: Do the edges of the board count as walls?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I move my pawn on the center “white” square?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I place a wall on the center “white” square?
A: Yes. But you must play the card that allows you to place the wall on the adjacent colored square.
Q: If my pawn is blocking an opponent’s pawn so that it can’t move and it is trapped on all the other sides by walls, is the opponent eliminated?
A: No. An opponent can be trapped (and eliminated) only by walls or the edges of the board.
Q: Can I eliminate more than one player on my turn?
A: Yes. Plus you get to remove 2 walls that turn!
Q: Can I eliminate my own pawn?
A: You may not place a wall that eliminates your pawn unless it is the only legal play.
Q: If I play a wall that traps my pawn and my opponent’s pawn at the same time, do I win?
A: No. Since both pawns are trapped at the same time both players tie for the win.
Q: What happens if the draw pile runs out of cards?
A: Shuffle the discard pile and use those cards to create a new draw pile
Credits
Original Game Concept: Zach Weisman
Brainy Got ’Em Game Design & Rules: Zach Weisman
Bright Got ’Em Game Design & Rules: Tyler Bielman and Ray Wehrs
Art Direction: Dawne Weisman
Graphic Design: Sarah Baynes and Ilonka Sauciuc
Project & Production Management: Tina Wegner
Editing: Sharon Mulvihill, Tiffany O’Brien
Marketing: Ray Wehrs, Tiffany O’Brien
Sales: Ray Wehrs
Playtesters: Brandon, Chris, Daniel, Erick, Jennifer, Jennifer, Jill, Keith, Kim, Martin, Samantha, Sandy, Sean, Tom, Tonya, Tracie, and many others.
Special thanks to: Jordan Weisman, Beulah, and Tina T.
Got Em! Bright Rules
Object of the Game
Place walls to trap your opponents’ pawns before they trap yours.
Setup
1. Place the board with the colored squares face up.
2. Each player chooses a colored pawn and places it on the matching colored starting square on the board.
3. Separate the walls into equal piles that are easy for all players to reach.
4. Shuffle the cards and deal 3 face down to each player; players may look at their own cards.
5. Place the remaining cards face down in a stack near the board to create the draw pile.
6. The player who has the birthday closest to today’s date goes first.
Playing Your Turn
There are two steps to every turn: playing a card (and following its instructions) and ending the turn
Step 1: Play a Card
Play a card from your hand face-up on the table so that all players can see it. Follow each rule on the card in the order they appear. Most cards have two instructions: the first tells you where you can place a wall and the second tells you how many squares you can move your pawn.
NOTE: Some card instructions are optional. If an instruction says you “may” do something, then it is optional.
Place a Wall
Walls are placed into the grooves on the board. A wall can touch only 2 squares. Most cards allow you to place a wall next to any square of a specific color.
For example, if your card reads, “Place a wall on any GREEN square,” you must place a wall into any empty groove that is next to any green square on the board.
If you place a wall that traps an opponent’s pawn in a single square, that player is eliminated from the game. (It is customary to yell “Got ’Em!™” and do a little dance when you eliminate another player!)
The edges of the board count as walls, so so pawn blocked by the side and 3 walls is trapped is trapped and the player is eliminated.
Eliminating a Pawn
• When a player’s pawn is trapped by walls in a single square, that player is eliminated from the game and that pawn is removed from the board.
• As a reward for eliminating another player, the active player may remove any 1 wall from the board. The active player removes that wall before following any other instructions on the card played that turn.
NOTE: A select number of cards allow you to remove a wall or pass through a wall. You must play these cards before your pawn is trapped! Once a pawn is trapped in a single square it is eliminated and may not be rescued.
Move Your Pawn
Most cards allow you to move your pawn up to a specific number of squares.
• You can’t move your pawn through walls (unless a card allows it).
• You can’t move your pawn through a square occupied by another player’s pawn.
• You can’t move your pawn diagonally.
• You don’t have to move your pawn.
• You don’t have to move the exact number of squares listed on the card.
For example, if your card reads, “You may move your pawn up to three squares,” you may move your pawn 3, 2, 1, or 0 squares.
Step 2: End Your Turn
Once you have followed all the instructions on your card, put it into the discard pile. Draw a card so that you again have 3 cards in your hand. The player to your left then takes his or her turn.
Ending the Game
The last player to have a pawn on the board wins! Strange situations might arise in longer games. If you have a question, check the FAQ at the end of these rules.
Got Em! Bright Rules
You don’t use the cards in this version of Got ’Em!™ Instead, players take turns placing 1 wall anywhere on the board and then moving their pawn 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 squares.
Object of the Game
Place walls to trap your opponents’ pawns before they trap yours.
Setup
1. Place the board with the colored squares face down.
2. Each player chooses a colored pawn and places it on the matching colored starting point near the center of the board.
3. Separate the walls into equal piles that are easy for all players to reach.
4. Set aside the Got ’Em!™ cards (cards are not used in this version of the game).
5. The player who has the birthday closest to today’s date goes first.
Playing Your Turn
On your turn, place 1 wall and move your pawn.
Place a Wall
Place 1 wall anywhere on the board.
• Walls are placed into the grooves on the board.
• A wall can touch only 2 squares.
• During the first round of play, only one wall can be placed on a square.
If you place a wall that traps an opponent’s pawn in a single square, that player is eliminated from the game.
The edges of the board count as walls, so so pawn blocked by the side and 3 walls is trapped is trapped and the player is eliminated.
Eliminating a Pawn
• When a player’s pawn becomes trapped by walls, that player is eliminated from the game and that pawn is removed from the board.
• As a reward for eliminating another player, the active player may remove any 1 wall from the board.
Move Your Pawn
A pawn may move 1 square plus a number of squares equal to the number of walls on the square it occupies.
• You may place a wall on the space your pawn occupies to increase its movement!
• You can’t move your pawn through walls.
• You can’t move your pawn through a square occupied by another player’s pawn.
• You can’t move your pawn diagonally.
• You don’t have to move your pawn.
• You don’t have to move the exact number of squares allowed.
For example, if the space your pawn occupies has 2 walls, you may choose to move your pawn 3, 2, 1, or 0 squares (1 space + 2 additional spaces for the walls).
End Your Turn
Once you have placed 1 wall and moved your pawn, the player to your left takes his or her turn.
Ending the Game
The last player to have a pawn on the board wins! Strange situations might arise in longer games. If you have a question, check the FAQ below.
FAQ (for both Bright and Brainy Got ’Em!™)
Q: Can I move my pawn diagonally?
A: No.
Q: Do the edges of the board count as walls?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I move my pawn on the center “white” square?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I place a wall on the center “white” square?
A: Yes. But you must play the card that allows you to place the wall on the adjacent colored square.
Q: If my pawn is blocking an opponent’s pawn so that it can’t move and it is trapped on all the other sides by walls, is the opponent eliminated?
A: No. An opponent can be trapped (and eliminated) only by walls or the edges of the board.
Q: Can I eliminate more than one player on my turn?
A: Yes. Plus you get to remove 2 walls that turn!
Q: Can I eliminate my own pawn?
A: You may not place a wall that eliminates your pawn unless it is the only legal play.
Q: If I play a wall that traps my pawn and my opponent’s pawn at the same time, do I win?
A: No. Since both pawns are trapped at the same time both players tie for the win.
Q: What happens if the draw pile runs out of cards?
A: Shuffle the discard pile and use those cards to create a new draw pile
Credits
Original Game Concept: Zach Weisman
Brainy Got ’Em Game Design & Rules: Zach Weisman
Bright Got ’Em Game Design & Rules: Tyler Bielman and Ray Wehrs
Art Direction: Dawne Weisman
Graphic Design: Sarah Baynes and Ilonka Sauciuc
Project & Production Management: Tina Wegner
Editing: Sharon Mulvihill, Tiffany O’Brien
Marketing: Ray Wehrs, Tiffany O’Brien
Sales: Ray Wehrs
Playtesters: Brandon, Chris, Daniel, Erick, Jennifer, Jennifer, Jill, Keith, Kim, Martin, Samantha, Sandy, Sean, Tom, Tonya, Tracie, and many others.
Special thanks to: Jordan Weisman, Beulah, and Tina T.