(...

continued)
to look more closely. Urgent murmuring usually does the trick. anyone can be your opponent!
Poking can be helpful too. Remember, drawing cannot proceed Vibe: It can be your turn at any time and
until all possible Face-Offs have been played.
Repeats: The group may determine whether the ‘no repeat’ rule
minutes. Two rounds are suggested.
is in effect for a round. It’s fun to play either way, but it’s harder Duration: One round lasts about 30
when you are not allowed to repeat answers that have already
been used. If you opt for the ‘no repeat’ rule the following applies: with other players.
Once an example is uttered, whether in play or in conversation,
it may NOT be used to win a Face-Off during that round/sitting.
Goal: To win the most cards by facing-off
The exception to this is when the same answer is appropriate for
a different card. cards (sharing 8 symbols) and 8 Wild Cards.
Example: Card = Type of Fruit Answer: Orange Cards: Each deck has 92 unique playing
Card = Color Answer: Orange
Tie Breakers: If two players tie during a Face-Off, a third player (*See directions for 3-player set up).
will draw a card and flip it over for the two tied players. In this Players: 3* to 6 players, ages 10 and up.
case, the two tied players are attempting to give an answer for the
same card. The winner of the Tie-Breaker gets the loser’s card from
the initial Face-Off. The card(s) used for the Tie-Breaker get
uncommonly fun!
shuffled back into the Draw Piles. If the card drawn for a Tie- game where common knowledge becomes
Breaker is a Wild Card, place it back into one of the Draw Piles with word finding or recall. 2) Chaos. 3) The
and draw again. Anomia: [uh-NO-mee-uh] - noun - 1) A problem
Giving Answers: A correct answer is usually common knowledge, can
be real or fictional, current or historical, and is one that the group About ANOMIA™
generally recognizes to be true. For example, if you are trying to name
a musician; you could give an example of a famous musician (Michael
Jackson), a local musician (your Aunt Sally), or a commonly known
fictional musician (The Pied Piper).
Any disagreements about the winner of a Face-Off, or the
correctness of an answer, shall be decided by a group vote called
Directions
by the loser. If necessary, you may use dictionaries, magazines,
the internet, etc..., to help settle disputes. becomes uncommonly fun™
Where common knowledge
Three Player Games: For three-player games we suggest remov-
ing two symbols from the deck This will increase the number of
Face-Offs relative to the number of players and the number of
cards. For example, remove all cards (including Wild Cards)
that display the and/or symbols, and play with the ™

ANOMIA
remaining deck. For a two player version and other variations,
visit us at www.AnomiaPress.com.
That’s it! Now, go play!
www.AnomiaPress.com.
visit us at
© 2009 Andrew Innes., All Rights Reserved. For more infor mation
ANOMIA™ & Where common knowledge becomes
uncommonly fun™ are trademarks of Anomia Press, LLC.
First Edition
 Directions there can be only one Face-Off at a time, though there may be
ANOMIA™ is simple. The easiest way to learn is by playing. many in quick succession. This is called a Cascade.
IMPORTANT! Read the following directions out loud AS you
begin to play. In other words, read #1 below and then do what 6) After a Face-Off/Cascade: Drawing continues with the next
it says, then read #2 and do what it says, etc... Playing as you player in the clockwise drawing sequence. You may find it helpful
read the directions will greatly simplify the learning process. to pass a small token around to indicate whose turn it is. A salt
shaker or coin will do nicely.
1) The Draw Piles: Sit in a circle, take one (1) of the decks from the
box and shuffle thoroughly (5 or 6 times), split into two piles, and 7) Wild Cards: A Face-Off can also be caused by a Wild Card.
place within easy reach of all players. These are the Draw Piles. If you draw a Wild Card, place it face-up between the Draw
Piles. A Wild Card displays two different symbols. If those two
2) Play Begins: The shuffler takes the first turn. He or she draws a symbols are in play (i.e. if they appear on the top of any two
card from either pile and quickly flips it face-up in front of player’s Play Piles) then those two players must Face-Off. (See
themselves for all to see. Notice that the card displays some text Figure 2, below.)
and a symbol. (If any Wild Cards are drawn in the next few steps,
set them aside and draw again, we’ll get to Wild Cards in #7.) Figure 2: Here’s what a Wild Card match between players 1 and 2
might look like.
3) Play Piles: One at a time, players continue drawing cards from Player 1
either pile, in clockwise order, until the symbols on two players’ Winning
cards match. If you draw a card and there is no match, the next Pile
player draws. Note: You should only have one face-up card Symbols matching
showing at a time. If it’s your turn and you already have a card in the Wild Card means
Bird

play, flip the new card on top of your existing card. This pile of a Face-Off between
Bird
cards is your Play Pile. (See “Play Piles” in Figure 1, below.) players 1 and 2.

Figure 1: Here’s what the table for a 4 player game might look like.
Player 4

Player 2
Winning
Draw
Winning
Draw

Candy
Candy
Wild Card

Soap
Soap

Pile
Pile
Pile Wild Card Pile
Player 1

Winning
Pile Shoe

Bird
Shoe
Play Pile
Bird
Winning
Pile
Play Pile Play Pile
Player 4

Winning

Player 2

Draw
Winning

Draw Player 3
Candy
Candy

Soap

Pile
Soap
Pile

Pile Pile

8) After a Wild Card is drawn: Going forward, all players must

Matching symbols Shoe now look out for Face-Offs caused by same-symbol matches OR
creates a Face-Off Play Pile by a Wild Card. Only one Wild Card can be in play at a time. It
between players Shoe will remain in play until covered by a new Wild Card. If you draw
3 & 4. a Wild Card, you get to draw again, but only after all possible
Winning Face-Offs have been played.
Pile

9) The End: When the Draw Piles are depleted, the person with
Player 3
the most cards in their Winning Pile wins the round. You can play
another round with the same deck, or use the other deck in the
4) Face-Offs & Winning Piles: When the symbols on two players’ box to play with a whole new set of cards. Each deck is unique
cards match, they must Face-Off with one another. This is the (except for the Wild Cards).
heart of the game. A Face-Off consists of giving a correct
example of the person, place, or thing on your opponent’s card, A few more IMPORTANT things...
before they can do the same for your card. The player who
finishes blurting out a correct answer first wins the Face-Off. The Card Flipping: Flip your card quickly! Make sure that all players
winner takes the loser’s top card and places it, face-down, in their can see its face at the same time. You may not peek at your card,
separate Winning Pile. The winner’s top card stays where it is. and you must keep your hands out of the way. Failure to do so
(See “Face-Off between players 3 & 4” in Figure 1, above.) will result in losing your turn. We suggest grasping the card from
the far edge and quickly flipping it back toward yourself.
5) Cascades: The loser’s Play Pile may now reveal a new top card.
Watch out! A new Face-Off may now occur between the loser and Unnoticed Face-Offs: If there is a match on the table, but the
any other player! Drawing must not continue until all possible matching players do not notice it, another player may prompt them
Face-Offs have been played. Please note, play is structured so that (continued...)
(...continued)
to look more closely. Urgent murmuring usually does the trick. anyone can be your opponent!
Poking can be helpful too. Remember, drawing cannot proceed Vibe: It can be your turn at any time and
until all possible Face-Offs have been played.

Repeats: The group may determine whether the ‘no repeat’ rule
minutes. Two rounds are suggested.
is in effect for a round. It’s fun to play either way, but it’s harder Duration: One round lasts about 30
when you are not allowed to repeat answers that have already
been used. If you opt for the ‘no repeat’ rule the following applies: with other players.
Once an example is uttered, whether in play or in conversation,
it may NOT be used to win a Face-Off during that round/sitting.
Goal: To win the most cards by facing-off
The exception to this is when the same answer is appropriate for
a different card. cards (sharing 8 symbols) and 8 Wild Cards.
Example: Card = Type of Fruit Answer: Orange Cards: Each deck has 92 unique playing
Card = Color Answer: Orange

Tie Breakers: If two players tie during a Face-Off, a third player (*See directions for 3-player set up).
will draw a card and flip it over for the two tied players. In this Players: 3* to 6 players, ages 10 and up.
case, the two tied players are attempting to give an answer for the
same card. The winner of the Tie-Breaker gets the loser’s card from
uncommonly fun!
the initial Face-Off. The card(s) used for the Tie-Breaker get
shuffled back into the Draw Piles. If the card drawn for a Tie- game where common knowledge becomes
Breaker is a Wild Card, place it back into one of the Draw Piles with word finding or recall. 2) Chaos. 3) The
and draw again. Anomia: [uh-NO-mee-uh] - noun - 1) A problem
Giving Answers: A correct answer is usually common knowledge, can
be real or fictional, current or historical, and is one that the group About ANOMIA™
generally recognizes to be true. For example, if you are trying to name
a musician; you could give an example of a famous musician (Michael
Jackson), a local musician (your Aunt Sally), or a commonly known
fictional musician (The Pied Piper).

Any disagreements about the winner of a Face-Off, or the Directions

correctness of an answer, shall be decided by a group vote called
by the loser. If necessary, you may use dictionaries, magazines,
the internet, etc..., to help settle disputes. becomes uncommonly fun™
Where common knowledge
Three Player Games: For three-player games we suggest remov-
ing two symbols from the deck This will increase the number of
Face-Offs relative to the number of players and the number of
cards. For example, remove all cards (including Wild Cards)
ANOMIA
that display the and/or symbols, and play with the ™
remaining deck. For a two player version and other variations,
visit us at www.AnomiaPress.com.

That’s it! Now, go play!

www.AnomiaPress.com.
visit us at
© 2009 Andrew Innes., All Rights Reserved. For more infor mation
ANOMIA™ & Where common knowledge becomes
uncommonly fun™ are trademarks of Anomia Press, LLC.

First Edition