How to Play BARPIG, Drinking Rules & FAQs

How to Play BARPIG

including Drinking Rules & FAQs

Below you’ll find our Quickplay explanation, detailed Gameplay explanation, followed by our infamous Drinking Rules (Alcohol NOT included NOR required!) and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). 

Quickplay Explanation

(This section is under construction. Please check back again soon)

Each pack of BARPIG contains:

Game Setup

– 1 –

Shuffle and place the Character Cards and Item cards in the middle of the table.

This creates the “Character Deck” and “the Market”.

– 2 –

Each player takes:

  • One Character Card
  • One Item Card
    (with a number in the top-left corner)
  • A Bar Tab Card
  • A Level Card

– 3 –

Each player prepares their play area:

– Item Cards –

You’re Now Ready to play BARPIG! 🎉

Gameplay

The First Player to reach Level 5 Wins!

– For game with 6-7 Players, we recommend making the winning level 4 to reduce playing time back to around 1 hour.
– Similarly, if you wish to have a shorter game with 4-5 players, making the winning level 4 will give you a play time of 20-30 minutes.

Gameplay takes place in two alternating rounds:
The Challenge Round, followed by the Market Round

– Challenge Round –

All players, except whichever player gained a level in the previous Challenge round, roll the Dice.
Re-roll to break ties.

Be creative with these challenges – They call upon you to use the space around you, your fellow players and your own imagination!

This is also what makes every game of BARPIG unique. You’ll never get bored playing this over and over again with your friends!

Whoever loses the challenge, will lose a number of
“Drink” points and “Sober” points:

= Do you have an item you can use to help you? =

Note regarding 3 Player games:
Every time any player loses a Sober point, they must also change Character:
Place your former Character card, face down, on the bottom of the Character card deck.
Then draw the top Character card from the deck and place this back on your play area, keeping your Level, Drinks, and Sober Points as they were.
Play then continues.

If a player reaches -4 Sober points…

If a player reaches 0 Drinks on their bar tab…

– Market Round –

This is when you can retrieve more items, or recover Drink points…

ONCE per Market Round, either “Buy” or “Recharge” from the Market:

Buying from the Market:

Recharging from the Market:

Remember!

After Market Round is complete, play returns to another Challenge Round, and then Market Round, and so on…

Until the first player reaches Level 5 and Wins!

Quickplay Rules
Detailed Rules – Game Setup | Detailed Rules – Gameplay
Drinking Rules | FAQs

Gameplay Explanation (detailed)

Use these instructions as “Walk and Talk” – Read these together out loud with your fellow players.
It’ll have you playing BARPIG within 5 minutes!

Game setup

Step 1

Each player takes one of the following cards:

  • A Level Card
  • A Bar Tab
  • A Character card (at random)
  • An Item card (at random)

Step 1

Each player takes one of the following cards:

  • A Level Card
  • A Bar Tab
  • A Character Card (at random)
  • An Item Card (at random)

KEEP YOUR ITEM CARD SECRET!

Make sure your Item card has a number in the top left corner.
If it doesn’t, shuffle it back into the deck and draw another that does.

Make sure your Item card has a number in the top left corner.
If it doesn’t, shuffle it back into the deck and draw another that does.

Step 2

Each player prepares their play area:

  1. Place your Level card face up on the table.
  2. Place your Bar Tab on top of the Level card, slid down to reveal “I – Let’s Get Started”, ie: Level One.
  3. Place your Character Card, face up, on top of your Bar Tab, slid down to reveal “10” Drinks on your Bar Tab.

Step 2

Each player prepares their play area:

  1. Place your Level card face up on the table.
  2. Place your Bar Tab on top of the Level card, slid down to reveal “1 – Let’s Get Started”, ie: Level One.
  3. Place your Character Card, face up, on top of your Bar Tab, slid down to reveal “10” Drinks on your Bar Tab.

Using the Bar Tab

Your Bar Tab tracks the number of Drinks you have available during the game. Drinks act as a resource when acquiring Items.

During the game, slide your Character Card up and down on the Bar Tab as you lose / gain drink points.

During the game, slide your Character Card up and down on the Bar Tab as you lose / gain drink points.

Using the Level Card

The Level Card tracks player progression towards winning as well as Damage (“Sober points”) taken.

The Goal in BARPIG is to be the First Player to reach Level 5.

During the game, you gain/lose Levels by sliding your Bar Tab (with the Character Card on top) up and down along the Level Card.

During the game, you gain/lose Levels by sliding your Bar Tab (with the Character Card on top) up and down along the Level Card.

Additionally, you lose/restore Sober Points by sliding the Bar Tab to the Left when losing Sober points and to the Right when restoring them.

At -4 Sober points your character “blacks out”, which will effect your Level, Items and Character as explained on the Level Card.

Additionally, you lose/restore Sober Points by sliding the Bar Tab to the Left when losing Sober points and to the Right when restoring them.

At -4 Sober points your character “blacks out”, which will effect your Level, Items and Character as explained on the Level Card.

Using Item Cards

Item cards are extremely valuable as they will help you win the game by influencing Dice rolls, turns, challenges, damage points and even other Item cards.

Item cards can be played at any time during the game and overrule each other logically in the order they’re played.

!!! For this reason you should always keep your Item cards secret !!!

Item cards are extremely valuable as they will help you win the game by influencing Dice rolls, turns, challenges, damage points and even other Item cards.

Item cards can be played at any time during the game and overrule each other logically in the order they’re played.

!!! For this reason you should always keep your Item cards secret !!!

There’s a hand limit of 6 Item cards per player.

Most Items have a Drink point value from 1 to 4, shown in the upper right corner of the card. The higher the Drink point value of the card, the more valuable the item card.

Some item cards don’t have a Drink point value. These items apply immediately, as explained on them. Whenever they are drawn, they must be revealed to the group and the effects of the card read out and enacted.

Most Items have a Drink point value from 1 to 4, shown in the upper right corner of the card. The higher the Drink point value of the card, the more valuable the item card.

Some item cards don’t have a Drink point value. These items apply immediately, as explained on them. Whenever they are drawn, they must be revealed to the group and the effects of the card read out and enacted.

Step 3: Setting up the Market and Character decks

Shuffle all the item cards and place them in the middle of the table face down. This is called the “market“.

Any Items that are used are discarded face up in a pile next to the Market, called the “discard pile“.

Finally, shuffle all the Character cards and place them on the other side of the market face down. This is the “Character Deck”.

Shuffle all the item cards and place them in the middle of the table face down. This is called the “market”.

Any Items that are used are discarded face up in a pile next to the Market, called the “discard pile”.

Finally, shuffle all the Character cards and place them on the other side of the market face down. This is the “Character Deck”.

Whenever a player changes Character, they place the old Character card face down on the bottom of the Character deck and take the top card as their new Character. This ensure Character cards are rotated evenly during the game.

You’re Now Ready to play BARPIG! 🎉

Gameplay

The First Player to reach Level 5 Wins!

– For game with 6-7 Players, we recommend making the winning level 4 to reduce playing time back to around 1 hour.
– Similarly, if you wish to have a shorter game with 4-5 players, making the winning level 4 will give you a play time of 20-30 minutes.

Gameplay takes place in two alternating rounds:
The Challenge Round, followed by the Market Round

The Challenge Round

All players, except whichever player gained a level in the previous Challenge round, roll the Dice.

Re-roll highest rolled ties to determine a final winner.

Highest roll gains a level; That player slides their Bar Tab and Character card down to reveal the next Level on their Level Card (e.g: Level 2)

That player now reads out their Character card out loud for the whole group.
This will specify a challenge that certain players, or the whole group, will have to complete.

Be creative with these challenges. They call upon you to use the space around you, your fellow players and your own imagination!

This is also what makes every game of BARPIG unique. You’ll never get bored playing this over and over again with your friends!

Highest roll gains a level; That player slides their Bar Tab and Character card down to reveal the next Level on their Level Card (e.g: Level 2)

That player now reads out their Character card out loud for the whole group.
This will specify a challenge that certain players, or the whole group, will have to complete.

Be creative with these challenges. They call upon you to use the space around you, your fellow players and your own imagination!

This is also what makes every game of BARPIG unique. You’ll never get bored playing this over and over again with your friends!

After the hilarity is concluded, either a player or players will have lost the Challenge.

That player(s) loses Drink points and Sober points according to what is specified on the Character card.
eg: “Lose 2 Drinks and 1 Sober point” will require that player to slide their Character Card down the Bar Tab to lose 2 Drink points and then slide the Character Card and the Bar Tab to the left to lose 1 Sober point.

Generally speaking, anytime a player loses a Challenge, they will lose a number of Drink points, as specified by that challenge, and always 1 Sober point.

If you lose more Drinks than you have on your Bar Tab, simply keep the Bar Tab at “0”. There’s no further penalty here.

After the hilarity is concluded, either a player or players will have lost the Challenge.

That player(s) loses Drink points and Sober points according to what is specified on the Character card.
eg: “Lose 2 Drinks and 1 Sober point” will require that player to slide their Character Card down the Bar Tab to lose 2 Drink points and then slide the Character Card and the Bar Tab to the left to lose 1 Sober point.

Generally speaking, anytime a player loses a Challenge, they will lose a number of Drink points, as specified by that challenge and always 1 Sober point.

If you lose more Drinks than you have on your Bar Tab, simply keep the Bar Tab at “0”. There’s no further penalty here.

Note regarding 3 Player games:
Every time any player loses a Sober point, they must also change Character:
Place your former Character card, face down, on the bottom of the Character card deck.
Then draw the top Character card from the deck and place this back on your play area, keeping your Level, Drinks, and Sober Points as they were.
Play then continues.

If you lose -4 Sober points, you’re “Blackout Drunk”

Slide the Bar Tab and Character Card completely to the Left to reveal what happens on the Level card.

Following these steps will reset you according to the Blackout conditions, which will include you losing a level / several levels.

What’s important to know is there is no player elimination in BARPIG.
Everyone’s in the game until someone wins!

Slide the Bar Tab and Character Card completely to the Left to reveal what happens on the Level card.

Following these steps will reset you according to the Blackout conditions, which will include you losing a level / several levels.

What’s important to know is there is no player elimination in BARPIG.
Everyone’s in the game until someone wins!

Now, a question for the player(s) that lost:

How did that feel? Want to get revenge? 😈

Do you maybe have an Item card in your hand you can use to avoid losing the point?

This is a PERFECT moment to remember to Always check your item cards and when you’re able to use them!

Items can be played at any time during the game and overrule each other logically in the order they’re played when applicable.

Do you maybe have an Item card in your hand you can use to avoid losing the point?

This is a PERFECT moment to remember to Always check your item cards and when you’re able to use them!

Items can be played at any time during the game and overrule each other logically in the order they’re played when applicable.

This is why Items are so important and valuable.
So now you want to know how to get more Items!?

The Market Round

After the Challenge round is concluded and points have been lost, play continues into the Market Round.

The Market Round is your opportunity to gain more Item cards for later use, or if necessary to restore Drink points you may have lost.

You can only do one of these two things once each market round:

Buy from the Market

If you want to acquire a new Item from the Market, you MUST state your intention by saying “Buying” whilst drawing the top card from the Market (thus blindly).

KEEP YOUR ITEM CARD SECRET!

Then deduct the Drink point value of that Item card from your Bar Tab.

You can now keep this item in your hand and like all Items in your hand, play it at any time during the game.

If you want to acquire a new Item from the Market, you MUST state your intention by saying “Buying” whilst drawing the top card from the Market (thus blindly).

KEEP YOUR ITEM CARD SECRET!

Then deduct the Drink point value of that Item card from your Bar Tab.

You can now keep this item in your hand and like all Items in your hand, play it at any time during the game.

IF when buying an Item you reach “0” Drink points exactly (ie: You have 4 Drink points left on your Bar Tab and draw an item that’s worth 4 Drink points), that’s fine!

There’s no penalty to reaching “0” Drinks on your Bar Tab, besides that you’ll need to replenish these at some point to be able to “Buy” items in the coming Market rounds.

That’s also why the bottom of the card says “Recharge”, which we’ll get to shortly.
IF when buying an Item you reach “0” Drink points exactly (ie: You have 4 Drink points left on your Bar Tab, and draw an item that’s worth 4 Drink points), that’s fine!

There’s no penalty to reaching “0” Drinks on your Bar Tab, besides that you’ll need to replenish these at some point to be able to “Buy” items in the coming Market rounds.

That’s also why the bottom of the card says “Recharge”, which we’ll get to shortly.
IF you draw an item from the Market that’s worth more than the number of Drink points you have remaining on your Bar Tab, you cannot keep the item.

Discard the item card immediately.
This also ends your Market round for this turn.

This also means before you can “Buy” another item next Market round, you’ll need to replenish your Drink points…
IF you draw an item from the Market that’s worth more than the number of Drink points you have remaining on your Bar Tab, you cannot keep the item.

Discard the item card immediately.
This also ends your Market round for this turn.

This also means before you can “Buy” another item next Market round, you’ll need to replenish your Drink points…

Recharging from the Market

IF your Bar tab is low (definitely if you have Less than 4 Drink points, as the highest value of any item is “4”), instead of “Buying” from the Market you can choose to “Recharge”.

As with Buying, you MUST state your intention by saying “Recharging” whilst drawing the top item from the Market and this time discarding it immediately, face up.

Then add that Item’s drink point value back to your Bar Tab.

IF your Bar tab is low (definitely if you have Less than 4 Drink points, as the highest value of any item is “4”), instead of “Buying” from the Market you can choose to “Recharge”.

As with Buying, you MUST state your intention by saying “Recharging” whilst drawing the top item from the Market and this time discarding it immediately, face up.

Then add that Item’s drink point value back to your Bar Tab.

What about Items with no Drink Point value?

IF, whilst either Buying or Recharging, you draw an Item with no drink point value, that Item applies immediately.

This is also stated on the card. Reveal the item to the group and read through it’s effects. These cards will typically induce a change of Character among the players.

After the Item card’s effect has been resolved, your Market round is also over.

IF, whilst either Buying or Recharging, you draw an Item with no drink point value, that Item applies immediately.

This is also stated on the card. Reveal the item to the group and read through it’s effects. These cards will typically induce a change of Character among the players.

After the Item card’s effect has been resolved, your Market round is also over.

You can only choose to Buy an Item or Recharge from the market ONCE per Market Round. This is why it’s important to state your intention by saying either “Buying” or “Recharging“.

There’s no turn or order in how the Market round is held. You can decide among yourselves to do so, but usually most people play this part of the game as “First come, First served”.

Once everyone has either Bought or Recharged during the Market round, play continues with the next Challenge round and then the next Market round, and so on…

Until any player is the first to reach Level 5 (or the group’s decided winning level). That player is then crowned Piggy Supreme! 👑

Quickplay Rules
Detailed Rules – Game Setup | Detailed Rules – Gameplay
Drinking Rules | FAQs

Drinking Rules

IMPORTANT: You don’t need booze to have fun with BARPIG! We’ve had just as many laughs sipping a cup of tea or downing a glass of Coke. Therefore, the cardinal rule when playing BARPIG with the Drinking Rules is…

🥤☕🍺  Alchohol Not Included Nor Required  🍺☕🥤

SETUP
Setup as per a normal game, but without the Bar Tab (placing your Character Card directly on top of the Level Card).
Now is a good time to decide with your fellow players what constitutes as a ‘drink’ (eg: a sip). 

SETUP
Setup as per a normal game, but without the Bar Tab (placing your Character Card directly on top of the Level Card).
Now is a good time to decide with your fellow players what constitutes as a ‘drink’ (eg: a sip). 

GAMEPLAY
During the Challenge round, whenever you lose Drink points, take that many ‘drinks’ (eg: sips) from your beverage. If you gain Drink points, you get to choose another player to take that many ‘drinks’.

During Market Round, you may buy one item, taking it blindly from the market and then ‘paying’ for it by taking ‘drinks’ from your beverage.
There is no recharging during the market round. Recharging is now done by getting another drink once your glass is empty!

Enjoy, stay responsible, and always remember…

🥤☕🍺  Alchohol Not Included Nor Required  🍺☕🥤

Quickplay Rules
Detailed Rules – Game Setup | Detailed Rules – Gameplay
Drinking Rules | FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

We often get asked questions regarding our rules and gameplay. Once we start getting more of the same questions, we’ll list them here along with our best advice as to how resolve the issue.

Can I use a Reflective Shield of Childish Insult against an Obnoxious Drunken Goblin?

We’ve all been in this D&D campaign…
However, in this case a Reflective Shield can only help you against losing your Drinks. We think of this as the “Last Breath” resolution. You still have to discard all your other Item cards, but can choose who should lose the Drink points instead of you.
Maybe look at whoever threw you that Goblin real hard…

Can I win by using an item?

Absolutely! Winning can be done in any way you and your players agree. We intended you to be able to use the ‘Cloak of Douchebaggery’, or the ‘Elixer of BarTop Spills’, or any combination of items to steal another player’s turn and get that winning level. That’s why it’s important to keep getting items.

Is there any way to reduce game time?

Certainly. BARPIG’s mechanics are very robust and can be hacked as much as a you like. Likewise, for shorter games simply make the winning level Level 4 or Level 3. This also depends on the group size playing.
Use the table below to adjust the winning level according to your desired average game duration:

 Winning Level4-5 Players6-7 Players
Level 30:20 – 0:300:30 – 0:45
Level 40:30 – 0:450:45 – 1:00
Level 50:45 – 1:001:00 – 1:20

Is BARPIG available in other languages?

At this moment it’s not economical (yet!) for us to print BARPIG in other languages besides English. However, we do have several Language Translation Cheat Sheets you can download, print and place on the table alongside your game of BARPIG. This is a great reference for first time players to understand the game. You can find our community created Translation Cheat Sheets here.

Quickplay Rules
Detailed Rules – Game Setup | Detaied Rules – Gameplay
Drinking Rules | FAQs