Fluxx

Infobox_Game
subject_name = Fluxx
image_link =
image_caption = Comparison of cards from English and German versions.
players = 2–6
ages = 8 and up
setup_time = 1 minute
playing_time = 20 minutes on average, varying greatly
complexity = low
strategy = medium
random_chance = high
skills = none
bggid = 258
bggxrefs = t

"Fluxx" is a card game, played with a specially-designed 84-card 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 Looney 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.

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 four types of cards in the core game, "New Rule", "Action, Keeper", 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".) [ [http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/PromoCards/Index.html The Official Guide to Looney Labs 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", or "War".

* 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 "Brain (no TV)", "All You Need Is Love", and "10 Cards In Hand". 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).

* Creeper cards are included in the "Zombie Fluxx" expansion 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 the "Zombie Fluxx" expansion, as well as the promotional "Radioactive Potato".

"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 3.1, contains 84 cards, as compared to the promotional deck, which had 81 cards.

Card Sets

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.
* "Jewish Fluxx" Expansion Cards
* "Christian Fluxx" Expansion Cards
* In planning: "Fluxx Reduxx" (a self-contained "expansion"; reintroducing cards "lost" from 2.0 to 3.0 and adding both older promo cards & a few new ones)

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)
* Fluss 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)

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" (adapting the game to ecological concerns)
* "Family Fluxx" (Previously called "Fluxx Jr."; a full-color "family friendly" edition)
* "Zombie Fluxx" (adapting the game to a zombie theme, introduces "Creeper" cards. Art by Derek Ring.)
* "Monty Python Fluxx" (announced, expected Fall 2008 [http://www.wunderland.com/WhatsOld/2008/WN.05.01.08.html The Wunderland Bi-Weekly News for 5/1/8 ] ] )
* "Martian Fluxx" (announced [ [http://wunderland.com/WhatsOld/2008/WN.01.24.08.html The Wunderland Bi-Weekly News for 1/24/8 ] ] , expected Spring 2009)

"EcoFluxx", "Family Fluxx", and "Zombie Fluxx" can be added to one of the 2.x or 3.x editions of regular "Fluxx" to make a "Mega-Fluxx" game (as all 4 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.Fact|date=September 2007 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 [http://wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/StonerFluxx/Default.html Looney Labs official site for the game] , a second printing is planned; however, it will be made under either a new imprint or a totally different company so as to fully separate the marketing efforts for "Stoner Fluxx" from the rest of their product line.

Languages

* "Fluxx Español" (Spanish Language edition with some new Hispanic-centric cards)
* German "Fluxx"
* Japanese "Fluxx"
* Dutch "Fluxx"

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.

Promotional cards

Looney Labs gives away promotional cards related to "Fluxx" at conventions such as GenCon 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 and in "High Times" Magazine. 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.

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 cards can be found [http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/PromoCards/Index.html at their web site] .

Online

"Fluxx" may also be played online via the CCG Workshop, using the gatlingEngine to adjudicate most of its rules automatically.

See also

* 1000 Blank White Cards
* "Dvorak"
* "Nomic"
* "Aquarius"
* "Chrononauts"
* Looney Labs

References

External links

* [http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/Default.html Official "Fluxx" homepage]
* [http://home.carolina.rr.com/disaac/Games/Fluxx/FluxxByEd.htm "Fluxx" by Edition Card Chart]
* [http://www.ccgworkshop.com/wiki/index.php/Fluxx "Fluxx" at the CCG Workshop Wiki]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuGynyj6D-c The designer explains the Hand Limit rules]
* bgg par
section1=game|id1=258|name1="Fluxx"
section2=search|id2=fluxx|name2=the "Fluxx" series