Fluxx
Encyclopedia
Fluxx is a card game
, played with a specially designed deck. It is different from most other card games, in that the rules and the conditions for winning are altered throughout the game, via cards played by the players.
and first published by Looney Labs
in 1996. The game was successful and was licensed a year later to Iron Crown Enterprises
(ICE) for wider distribution. ICE went bankrupt two years later and Looney Labs has resumed publication and distribution. Looney Labs produced a revised version of the original game in 2002. Amigo Spiele
, a German
game company, licensed a German language
version of Fluxx in 2003. Similarly, Hobby Japan
licensed a Japanese language
version in 2005.
In addition to this Basic Rules card, there are five types of cards in the core game: New Rule, Action, Keeper, Creeper, and Goal cards:
Fluxx Blanxx are semi-blank cards used to create custom cards to change gameplay further, and are sold in packs of five. Older Fluxx Blanxx booster packs included one booster card for Chrononauts
(titled Beatles Reunion Album), a cover card, and a "microcatalog" card advertising other Looney Labs
products. Current packs include only the cover card, but also include a new Creeper blank card in addition to one each of the other four card types.
The most recent edition of Fluxx, version 4.0, contains 100 cards, as compared to 84 cards in version 3.1 and 81 in the promotional deck.
EcoFluxx, Family Fluxx, Zombie Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx, Martian Fluxx, Pirate Fluxx, and Star Fluxx can be combined with each other and/or one of the 2.x editions, 3.x editions, or the current 4.0 edition of regular Fluxx to make a "Mega-Fluxx" game (as all these versions have the same card back style).
Stoner Fluxx was produced in 2003 and had the same rules as the original but with a marijuana
-based theme. The card backs on the game list it as "Stoner Fluxx" to differentiate it from the rest of the Fluxx variants they market (although functionally, the game could still be combined with any of the other variants). The company donates a portion of the sales to groups advocating marijuana legalization
, almost $15,000 to date. Even though there was no significant controversy over the game, the company has decided on some changes for the release of the game's second printing.
The initial run of Stoner Fluxx cards is sold out, save for a few decks which periodically show up on eBay
. According to Looney Labs official site for the game, a second printing is planned; however, it will be made under a new imprint for adult games called Fully Baked Ideas (aka FBI), so as to fully separate the marketing efforts for Stoner Fluxx and other future "adult-themed" games from the rest of their product line. FBI had planned to release another Fluxx variant titled Drinking Fluxx, but as of February 2010, the game had been cancelled.
German
, Dutch
and Japanese
Fluxx contain new art and graphic designs (but identical gameplay). The German version has the same card mix as Fluxx 3.0, plus the "Hide Keepers"-related cards from Fluxx 2.0. The Dutch version is identical to the German version, except with localized text. The Japanese version has the same card mix as Fluxx 3.1, plus the "Go Fish" card from Fluxx 3.0.
and Origins. They have given away cards such as Composting and Jackpot which later appeared in different versions of Fluxx; EcoFluxx and Family Fluxx respectively. They have also given away promo cards for Christmas
to members of their online mailing list and in High Times Magazine. Game Technicians (Previously known as Mad Lab Rabbits), voluntary scouts for Looney Labs, give away promo cards to people interested in the game.
In addition, there are certain cards that can only be obtained by purchasing other items, such as the above-mentioned "Flowers" card in the Fluxx & Flowers set, or the "Pandora's Box" card available with the Pandora's Fluxx Boxx card storage cases. (Pandora's Box is now out of print, as well as Fluxx & Flowers)
Recently, Looney Labs has made many of these promotional and exclusive cards available for individual sale, where they aren't out of print. The list of available and out of print cards can be found at their web site and can be Ordered Here
Card game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
, played with a specially designed deck. It is different from most other card games, in that the rules and the conditions for winning are altered throughout the game, via cards played by the players.
History
Fluxx was created by Andrew LooneyAndrew Looney
Andrew J. Looney , better known as Andy Looney, is an award-winning game designer and computer programmer.- Biography :...
and first published by Looney Labs
Looney Labs
Looney Labs is a small game company based in College Park, Maryland, USA. It is named after its founders, Andrew Looney and Kristin Looney.- Card games :...
in 1996. The game was successful and was licensed a year later to Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
(ICE) for wider distribution. ICE went bankrupt two years later and Looney Labs has resumed publication and distribution. Looney Labs produced a revised version of the original game in 2002. Amigo Spiele
Amigo Spiele
Amigo Spiele is a German board and card game publisher. Many of their games have won Spiel des Jahres awards, and many have been published in English by Rio Grande Games.- Notable games :* Bohnanza* 6 Nimmt!/Take 6!* Café International...
, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
game company, licensed a German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
version of Fluxx in 2003. Similarly, Hobby Japan
Hobby Japan
HobbyJAPAN CO. is a Japanese hobby magazine and publishing company, specializing in roleplaying, war, and tabletop games, as well as action figures, toys, and artbooks for successful anime, manga and light novel franchises.- Role-playing games :...
licensed a Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
version in 2005.
Rules and gameplay
The game starts out with just two basic rules, presented on a card placed in the play area at the start of the game: each player draws one card, and plays one card during his turn.In addition to this Basic Rules card, there are five types of cards in the core game: New Rule, Action, Keeper, Creeper, and Goal cards:
- New Rule cards can be played to change the rules or add other rules. Examples are Draw 2, Play 3, Reverse Order or even Inflation (formerly X=X+1), which increases numerals on other cards played (so Draw 2 becomes Draw 3). In versions 2.0 and 2.1 of the game there is also a card Final Card Random. When this rule is in effect, players must allow an adjacent player to choose the last card played on each turn. Since version 3.0, there is a similar card, First Play Random. (Final Card Random is now one of many orderable "promo cards".)
- Action cards, which allow the player to do one-time things like steal cards or eliminate rules. Examples are Draw 2 and use 'em, Jackpot! to draw three cards instantly, Let's Do That Again, allowing the player to search the trash pile and replay a card, and Rules Reset, which removes all new rules in play.
- Keeper cards, which are used to meet the Goals below. Examples are Bread, Dreams, and Peace.
- Creeper cards are included in version 4.0, the Zombie Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx, and Martian Fluxx variants, and as certain promotional cards. When a Creeper card is drawn, it is immediately played and a replacement is drawn. Creeper cards don't count towards the per-turn limits. These include assorted zombies in Zombie Fluxx, as well as the promotional Radioactive Potato. Certain cards that were Keepers in previous versions of Fluxx are now Creepers, such as Death and War. Creeper cards prevent the player from winning unless a Goal or New Rule specifically states otherwise.
- Goal cards, which define what is required to win. Most Goals require pairs of Keeper cards: for example, Appliances requires the Toaster and Television Keepers, and Squishy Chocolate requires Chocolate and The Sun. A few Goals are different: for example All You Need Is Love requires the Love as the player's only Keeper in play, 10 Cards In Hand requires the player's hand to be the largest one and at least 10 cards, and some Goals require specific Creepers. In standard play, only one Goal can be in play at a time (though the New Rule card Double Agenda allows two Goals to be in play at once, with a win being made by satisfying either Goal's requirements).
- Meta cards, included in version 4.0 and Martian Fluxx, are a hybrid between a New Rule card and a Basic Rules card, as these cards both define rules in the game but are permanent and apply throughout the entire game. The company compares Meta cards to "house rules". Their playing is agreed upon by all players before the game starts and last until it ends.
- Surprise cards, included in "Pirate Fluxx", are cards that can be played out of turn and cancel one of the four basic rules (New Rule, Keeper, Action, or Goal). They can prevent the opposing person to win automatically.
Fluxx Blanxx are semi-blank cards used to create custom cards to change gameplay further, and are sold in packs of five. Older Fluxx Blanxx booster packs included one booster card for Chrononauts
Chrononauts
Chrononauts is a card game that simulates popular fictional ideas about how time travellers might alter history, drawing on sources like Back to the Future and the short stories collection Travels Through Time. The game was designed by Andrew Looney in 2000 and is published by Looney Labs...
(titled Beatles Reunion Album), a cover card, and a "microcatalog" card advertising other Looney Labs
Looney Labs
Looney Labs is a small game company based in College Park, Maryland, USA. It is named after its founders, Andrew Looney and Kristin Looney.- Card games :...
products. Current packs include only the cover card, but also include a new Creeper blank card in addition to one each of the other four card types.
The most recent edition of Fluxx, version 4.0, contains 100 cards, as compared to 84 cards in version 3.1 and 81 in the promotional deck.
Expansions
Several expansions have been produced, including:- Flowers and Fluxx (a gift set with a "bouquet" of six plush "Happy Flowers", a Fluxx 3.0 deck and an exclusive "Flowers" promo Keeper card)
- Fluxx Blanxx, a set of blank cards for creating one's own custom additions (see above).
- Jewish Fluxx Expansion Cards (a 7-card set adding Judaica elements to the gameplay, such as the TorahTorahTorah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and Candles) - Christian Fluxx Expansion Cards (a 7-card set adding Christian elements to gameplay such as the Holy Bible and The CrossCrossA cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
) - Castle Expansion Cards (a 7-card set for Monty Python Fluxx adding elements mostly centered around the Castle of the French Persons)
Versions
- Fluxx 0.5 (prototype)
- Fluxx 1.0 (first released version; monochrome, poker-sized cards)
- Fluxx 2.0 (new card layout, use of color, bridge-sized cards)
- Fluxx 2.1 (reprint of 2.0 with minor changes)
- Fluxx 3.0 (many cards removed and added, to improve balance)
- Fluxx 3.1 (two cards removed, one card added)
- Fluxx 4.0 (card number increased to 100, all color, introduction of Meta rule and creepers)
Variants
There are also versions of Fluxx that have been released using entirely different sets of cards while playing by the same style of rules.- Stoner Fluxx (Technically Fluxx 4.20.)
- EcoFluxx v2.0 (Adapts the game to ecological concerns.)
- Family Fluxx (Initially solicited as Fluxx Jr.; a full-color "family friendly" edition.)
- Zombie Fluxx v1.1 (Adapts the game to a zombie theme; introduces "Creeper" cards. Art by Derek Ring.)
- Monty Python Fluxx (Released October 2008; mostly themed after Monty Python and the Holy GrailMonty Python and the Holy GrailMonty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
, with selected elements from the Monty Python's Flying CircusMonty Python's Flying CircusMonty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
TV series). - Martian Fluxx (Released September 2009).
- Pirate Fluxx (Released February 2011).
- Star Fluxx (Released September 30 2011).
EcoFluxx, Family Fluxx, Zombie Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx, Martian Fluxx, Pirate Fluxx, and Star Fluxx can be combined with each other and/or one of the 2.x editions, 3.x editions, or the current 4.0 edition of regular Fluxx to make a "Mega-Fluxx" game (as all these versions have the same card back style).
Stoner Fluxx was produced in 2003 and had the same rules as the original but with a marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
-based theme. The card backs on the game list it as "Stoner Fluxx" to differentiate it from the rest of the Fluxx variants they market (although functionally, the game could still be combined with any of the other variants). The company donates a portion of the sales to groups advocating marijuana legalization
Legalization
Legalization is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal.Legalization is a process often applied to what are regarded, by those working towards legalization, as victimless crimes, of which one example is the consumption of illegal drugs .Those...
, almost $15,000 to date. Even though there was no significant controversy over the game, the company has decided on some changes for the release of the game's second printing.
The initial run of Stoner Fluxx cards is sold out, save for a few decks which periodically show up on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
. According to Looney Labs official site for the game, a second printing is planned; however, it will be made under a new imprint for adult games called Fully Baked Ideas (aka FBI), so as to fully separate the marketing efforts for Stoner Fluxx and other future "adult-themed" games from the rest of their product line. FBI had planned to release another Fluxx variant titled Drinking Fluxx, but as of February 2010, the game had been cancelled.
Languages
- Fluxx Español (Spanish Language edition with some new Hispanic-centric cards)
- GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Fluxx - JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
Fluxx - DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
Fluxx
German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
and Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
Fluxx contain new art and graphic designs (but identical gameplay). The German version has the same card mix as Fluxx 3.0, plus the "Hide Keepers"-related cards from Fluxx 2.0. The Dutch version is identical to the German version, except with localized text. The Japanese version has the same card mix as Fluxx 3.1, plus the "Go Fish" card from Fluxx 3.0.
Promotional cards
Looney Labs gives away promotional cards related to Fluxx at conventions such as Gen ConGen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
and Origins. They have given away cards such as Composting and Jackpot which later appeared in different versions of Fluxx; EcoFluxx and Family Fluxx respectively. They have also given away promo cards for Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
to members of their online mailing list and in High Times Magazine. Game Technicians (Previously known as Mad Lab Rabbits), voluntary scouts for Looney Labs, give away promo cards to people interested in the game.
In addition, there are certain cards that can only be obtained by purchasing other items, such as the above-mentioned "Flowers" card in the Fluxx & Flowers set, or the "Pandora's Box" card available with the Pandora's Fluxx Boxx card storage cases. (Pandora's Box is now out of print, as well as Fluxx & Flowers)
Recently, Looney Labs has made many of these promotional and exclusive cards available for individual sale, where they aren't out of print. The list of available and out of print cards can be found at their web site and can be Ordered Here
Online
Fluxx was available to play for free via the volity network and was also available to be played online via the CCG Workshop, using the gatlingEngine to adjudicate most of its rules automatically. However, both Volity.net and CCG Workshop are no longer operating.See also
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- List of games with mutable rules
- Looney LabsLooney LabsLooney Labs is a small game company based in College Park, Maryland, USA. It is named after its founders, Andrew Looney and Kristin Looney.- Card games :...
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- ChrononautsChrononautsChrononauts is a card game that simulates popular fictional ideas about how time travellers might alter history, drawing on sources like Back to the Future and the short stories collection Travels Through Time. The game was designed by Andrew Looney in 2000 and is published by Looney Labs...
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- TreehouseTreehouse (game)Treehouse is a game in which players try to get their configuration of Icehouse pieces to match the central configuration, shared by all players...
and IcehouseIcehouse (game)Icehouse is a turnless abstract strategy game invented by Andrew Looney and John Cooper. It was the first of many games played with Icehouse pieces....