Dead Drop - Game Rules

Overview

Teams use trick-taking to build coded messages, revealing hidden missions only when they can complete them. Success unlocks new elements and drives the game forward.

Components

60 Trick Cards 3 normal suits (15 each) + 1 special suit (15). Each card has 4 words on edges, 4 symbols on corners (face), 3 symbols + 1 blank corner (back)

Mission Decks A deck (20 cards) and B deck (20 cards)

Location Cards Large cards showing different rooms

POI Tokens People of interest (bartender, scientist, etc.)

Object Cards Equipment dealt to rooms

Team Meeples One per team

Player Tokens For marking unlocked elements

Setup

Players: 2 (co-op), 4 (2 teams), or 6 (3 teams)
Initial Layout: Place 3-4 locations, 2-3 POIs, deal objects to rooms
Mission Setup: Each player draws 1 random card from Mission A and B decks (face down)
Hands: Each player gets 2 Mission A + 2 Mission B cards as their hand

Round Structure

1. Message Building

Each player adds 1 card from their hand to the shared message area, choosing orientation (word showing) or face-down (symbol showing).

2. Deal Trick Cards

Deal remaining trick cards evenly
Each player gets 2 special suit cards

3. Trick-Taking

Play standard trick-taking (follow suit if possible). When a player cannot follow suit, their played card is automatically added to the shared message area, with the player choosing its orientation (word showing or face-down for symbols).

Message Building: Off-suit cards become messages - use this strategically to communicate with your partner or disrupt opponent communications!

Board Actions: Players may take one action on their turn:

Movement: Move a POI or your team meeple to an adjacent location
Pick up object: Take an object card from your current location and place it on your player board
Drop object: Place an object from your player board at your current location
Attempt mission: Reveal and attempt to complete one of your missions

Special Suit Rule: Can be played anytime, but if you win with a special card, no one may add to the message from that trick.

4. Mission Attempts

Teams may attempt missions by revealing them if they believe requirements are met:

Required elements must be in same location
Mission placer cannot reveal their own mission
All revealed missions are resolved (success = points, failure = equipment)

5. Expansion & Refresh

After successful missions, those teams add new elements (locations/POIs) with their token and shuffle corresponding cards into their Mission deck.

Replace all resolved missions with new ones from hand.

Communication

Words: Use exact matches or creative interpretations (MOSQUITO = bug)
Symbols: Standard symbols on card backs, unique symbols on fronts
Face-down: Shows back with directional words and 3 symbols
Blank corner: One corner on card back has no symbol (no useful message)

Remember: The art of Dead Drop is in subtle communication. Your teammates must decode your intentions from limited information!

Winning

Competitive: First team to 9 points, or highest score when any team makes their 5th attempt
Co-op: Complete 3 missions within the round limit

Equipment

Failed missions become equipment cards with special abilities:

Movement: Relocate POIs or objects between rooms
Removal: Remove POIs or locations from play (making missions easier)
Communication: Extra message cards or symbol manipulation
Timing: Play abilities during specific phases

Scoring

1 point per mission card
+1 bonus if both mission cards completed
Failed missions become equipment for future rounds

Quick Reference

Round Phases 1. Message Building
2. Deal Cards
3. Trick-Taking
4. Mission Attempts
5. Expansion

Card Info 4 Words (edges)
3 Symbols (corners)
1 Blank corner
Special suit disrupts

Victory Competitive: 9 points
Co-op: 3 missions
Equipment from failures

Key Design Principle: Every rule serves the core experience of hidden communication and collaborative deduction.

Print & Play

Download and print your own copy of Dead Drop:

Trick Cards PDF - 60 cards with words and symbols
Mission Cards PDF - 40 mission cards (A & B decks)
Printable Rules - Complete rules in printer-friendly format

Print Tips: Use cardstock (110lb+) for cards. Print at 100% scale on letter-size paper.