subQuark's Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery tabletop game

Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery

1-4 player, 10- to 25-minute dice game

How much is your spirit worth?

Invoke spirits of the ethereal realm to help you roll your way to victory, shatter the rolls of opponents, and push your luck without unleashing skulduggery!

... takes up hardly any space at all, it can be taught in under 10 minutes and plays in around the same amount of time. So you can easily play a game or two while you’re waiting for your food. For the same reason, it would also work really well on a train or airplane. It’s so very compact, it’s brilliant.
Oliver Kinne

It’s a centuries-old dice game with modern twists making it contemporary for today’s tabletop gamers—the oldest name we’ve found for it is Läjähtää (Finnish for slam).

This modern-day interpretation has a deterministic element—the mystical crystal skull—to offset the luck-driven nature of this age-old game. Unleash the crystal skull to foil an opponent, stave off Skulduggery, or gain victory at the last moment.

Tiny stone skulls for scoring and a winged death head coin as a pretty unique game mechanic—a pretty rotten one too—it’s pleasantly wicked and nearly nefarious.

It’s a nice way to unwind, connect with each other, and take a break from the hectic that life can be. It’s a light and addictive dice game for easy stress-soothing fun.

Want an actual pocket-sized game that is cheap, quick, easy, fun, plays 1-4 players, has bulletproof components, and has the option for interaction even when it’s not your turn? Then check out Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery.
J.S.

Quick start rules | pdf

Each player gets one crystal skull and rolls one die. Highest goes first and rolls one die to determine the spirit number.

First player rolls 3 dice—collect points for spirit dice.
- 1 spirit = 1 point (white skull)
- 2 spirits = 5 points (black skull)
- 3 spirits = 10 points
Keep rolling as long as spirit die (dice) are showing.
When no spirits, next player.

Shatter a spirit die with a crystal skull. If only one spirit is rolled and shattered, turn over—no points. If more than one spirit, remove the shattered die, collect points for remaining spirits, and keep rolling the remaining dice. Multiple players can shatter and you can shatter your own. Used crystal skull goes to the tin (the ethereal realm).

Special rolls

Low-straight, 1-2-3, lowest or lowest tied scoring player(s) get 1 point from the tin.
High-straight, 4-5-6, highest or highest tied scoring player(s) lose 1 point to the tin.
- Resolve straight points before collecting spirit points.
- A spirit can be shattered in a straight after the above points are given or lost.
Triples reclaim that player’s used crystal skull.
- If you can’t collect points (because you’d bust) or reclaim your crystal skull (because you still have it), the coin comes out hourglass-side up (the spirits are upset that they gave you a perfect roll but weren’t able to use it).
- If the coin’s already out—flip it over for SKULDUGGERY!

Skulduggery: Move your points (but not your crystal skull, if you have it) to the player on your left.

You can banish the hourglass-side up coin on your turn, before you roll, with your crystal skull. The coin and your crystal skull go to the tin.

Score exactly 15 points to win. If you roll over, you bust and collect no points (but if you can shatter your own and get points, go for it and keep rolling). If not, then it’s the next player’s turn.

Advanced mode: If you’re rolling only two dice (because one was shattered) and they come up as a non-scoring pair (i.e., a bust or not spirit dice), the coin comes out hourglass-side up. If the coin’s out—it flips for Skulduggery! Pass your points clockwise. It doesn’t matter if you have your crystal skull or not—you never get your crystal skull back on a pair.

In-depth rules | Letter PDF | A4 PDF

Game setup

Take three dice out of the tin (the ethereal realm) and give each player a crystal skull. Each player rolls one die. Highest number is the first player who then rolls again to determine the spirit number—rolling this number is called the spirit die (dice) and determines how all players collect points. Turns move clockwise.

Gameplay

First player rolls all three dice. If one spirit die is rolled, that player collects 1 point (white skull); if two spirit dice - player collects 5 points (black skull); if three spirit dice - player collects 10 points (two black skulls). Player must continue rolling as long as one spirit die appears. When none of the dice show the spirit number, it’s the next player’s turn.

Examples:

She rolls all three dice and gets two spirit dice to collect 5 points. She rolls again and gets one spirit die and collects 1 point, she rolls again and gets no spirit dice. It’s now his turn to roll all three dice.
He rolls all three dice and gets one spirit die and collects 1 point. He continues to roll and gets two spirit dice.

Thwart your opponent’s roll by using your crystal skull to shatter and remove a spirit die. If only one spirit die was rolled and it is shattered, that turn’s over, and the next player rolls three dice. If the spirit number appears multiple times in a roll, multiple players can shatter and remove those spirit dice. However, if any spirit dice are still showing after shattering, collect your point(s) and continue rolling the remaining dice as long as spirit dice appear. In other words, if you can’t collect points, your turn’s over.

You can also shatter your own spirit die!

The option to shatter goes clockwise with one chance per player (in a 3- or 4-player game, if you’re next and pass on shattering and then no one else does, you can’t then decide to shatter). Feel free to openly discuss who might shatter. Once you shatter a spirit die, your crystal skull goes to the ethereal realm (the tin).

The current player doesn’t collect points for shattered dice, but they do continue rolling with the remaining dice if any spirit die is still showing.

Examples:

She rolls double spirit dice for 5 points but he shatters one by placing his crystal skull on it. She now gets 1 point and only rolls two dice for the rest of her turn as long as spirit numbers appear. Once her turn’s over, his used crystal skull goes to the ethereal realm, and the next player rolls all three dice.
He rolls a single spirit die, she shatters it and his turn is over (no spirit numbers are showing, so no re-rolling).

Special rolls: If you’ve used your crystal skull, you reclaim it from the ethereal realm with a three-of-a-kind roll, a triple. If the triple are spirit dice, then you also collect 10 points (if none are shattered).

If you roll any triple (spirit or any other three-of-a-kind) and can’t collect points or reclaim your crystal skull or do both, then the Winged Death Head coin comes out hourglass-side up, and it’s the next player’s turn.

If the coin’s already out, you must flip it over to reveal the dreaded winged death head—brace yourself as the spirits of the ethereal realm burst forth!

Everyone keeps their crystal skull (if they have one) and everyone passes their points to the player on their left. That’s SKULDUGGERY! And the winged death head coin now returns to the ethereal realm.

To stave off Skulduggery, you can banish the coin while it is hourglass-side up. Do this on your turn with your crystal skull before the first roll of your turn. Both the coin and your crystal skull return to the ethereal realm.

For example, he rolls a triple that isn’t spirit dice—and he still has his crystal skull—no action can be taken from the dice, so the coin comes out hourglass-side up. Then she rolls a triple spirit but has her crystal skull. Because she’s able to collect points, the coin stays out but doesn’t flip—no skulduggery … yet!

Fight the ethereal realm for power with straights!

On a low-straight, 1-2-3, the ethereal realm gives a point to the lowest or lowest tied scoring player(s). On a high-straight, 4-5-6, the ethereal realm takes a point from the highest or highest tied scoring player(s). If a spirit die is one of the straights, collect that point after dealing with the straight (i.e., resolve straight points before collecting spirit points).

A spirit die can be shattered in a straight after points are given or taken. If shattered, do not collect that spirit point and since no spirit number die is now showing, that turn’s over.

Examples:

You’re tied for highest score and roll a 4-5-6 and 5 is the spirit number, both high-score players lose a point and then you collect your spirit point. Roll again as long as spirit dice appear.
She’s tied for lowest and rolls a low-straight. Both tied players are given a point and then she collects her spirit point.
He rolls a 1-2-3 and 3 is the spirit number. She shatters the spirit die and because he’s the lowest scoring player, he’s given a point for the straight but doesn’t get the spirit point. His turn’s over and next player rolls three dice.

Endgame

Score exactly 15 points to win. If you roll over, you bust for that turn and collect no points. Your turn’s over, and the next player goes.

Examples:

You have 11 points and roll a double―that’s 11 + 5 = 16―so you bust. You don’t get any points, you don’t roll again, and your turn is over.
You have 10 points and no crystal skull. You roll a triple spirit. You get you’re crystal skull back first and then you use it to shatter one of the triples. That gives you 5 points to win the game!

It’s possible that multiple players tie as winners. In that case, celebrate and play another game!

Remember, you can escape a bust by unleashing your crystal skull upon yourself! Shatter your own spirit die. The ultimate act of self-sacrifice!

Examples:

She has 14 points and rolls a double (5 points). She uses her crystal skull to shatter one spirit die to collect 1 point and win the game!
He has 10 points and rolls a triple. He uses his crystal skull to shatter one spirit die to make it 5 points BUT she shatters one of his remaining spirit dice, giving him only 1 point for a total of 11. He continues rolling with one die.
In a 3-player game, all are tied with 14 points. You roll a low-straight (1-2-3) and the spirit number is 2. Everyone gets a point for the straight and you must also collect 1 point for the spirit die. That means you bust and collect no points at all. The other two players are tied winners (unless you can shatter the spirit die, then all three of you tie for winner).

Advanced mode: If you’re rolling only two dice (because one was shattered) and they come up as a non-scoring pair (i.e., a bust or not spirit dice) take out the coin hourglass-side up. If the coin’s already out—it flips for Skulduggery! It doesn’t matter if you have your crystal skull or not—you never get your crystal skull back on a pair.

There are enough stone skulls for up to 14 points per player. The 15^th point is your winning spirit die.

Need to pause the game?
The next player holds the dice before the first roll of their turn. Works great when you’re playing at lunch or dinner.

Solo Rules by Nick Shaw

Get ready for an otherworldly opponent with clever AI—Æthereal Intelligence!

Game setup

Take three dice out of the tin (the ethereal realm) and give yourself one crystal skull and three crystal skulls to the Spectre. Roll one die to determine the spirit number.

Gameplay

You start the game. Unless mentioned otherwise, apply the same rules as the standard game throughout (e.g. triples, low & high straights, the Winged Death Head coin, and Skulduggery!). The Spectre’s actions always occur before yours.

Your turn
On the first roll of your turn, where you don’t bust, and:

you roll two or three spirit dice, or
you roll one spirit die and would win.

The Spectre shatters one spirit die. If you roll only one spirit die that doesn’t make you win, the Spectre doesn’t shatter anything.

On subsequent rolls of your turn, if you don’t bust and the Spectre didn’t shatter anything on your first roll, the Spectre will shatter one die, if possible, unless it’s a triple (see below).

If you decide to shatter your own die to avoid busting, the Spectre doesn’t then “change its mind” about shattering a die (it had its chance!).

Spectre’s turn
The Spectre never uses a crystal skull to banish the coin on the first roll of its turn BUT it may do so later in its turn.

You roll for the Spectre as per the standard rules (re-rolling if it collects points, etc.). It gains points and can bust the same way as you can. After each of its rolls, it decides if it does something extra before you decide if you’ll shatter a spirit die.

For a bust, if it has a crystal skull, it shatters a spirit die to prevent the bust.
On a triple:
- If it has no crystal skulls, it reclaims all three (it never claims just one at a time), and if it’s a triple spirit it also collects points.
- If it doesn’t reclaim skulls or collect points, the Winged Death Head coin comes out, hourglass-side up.
  - If the coin’s out and it has more points than you, it uses a crystal skull to banish the coin (breaking the usual rule of deciding to do this before the player’s first roll on their turn).
  - If the coin’s out and it has no crystal skulls - Skulduggery happens! Swap points with each other.

Keep playing until you or the Spectre has exactly 15 points for victory.

Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery (Saturday Review)
by Tabletop Games Blog (10:39)

Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery tabletop showcase
by N20 Games (5:31)

Complete prototype game run through
by Nick Shaw (12:21)

Mint Tin Mini Skullduggery contains:

16 white stone skulls to count successful spirit summons (made out of howlite)
8 black stone skulls for mastery of spirit conjuring (also the mineral howlite)
4 mystical crystal skulls to shatter the spirit connection (glass)
1 Winged Death Head coin straddling the physical and ethereal bounds
3 six-sided Chessex dice ready to conjure the spirits
1 hand-pressed steel tin cursed as an ethereal realm portal
1 sleeved quick reference guide to aid the interpretation of ethereal signs
no rules though, so you’ll come to this page to read them or grab the quick start PDF—one play is all it takes to learn this game—it’s a tavern game after all =)

Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery coin — the ab fab, US-minted **Winged Death Head** coin—about a millimeter larger than a US quarter

The Latin on the coin:

FUGIT HORA - time flees
AD LUDUM FESTINAMUS - we are hastening towards the game
NUNC EST LUDENDUM - now is the time to play

Variants

Eight player

Use two games for up to 8 player—same rules, same skulduggery!

Math isn’t for spirits

Great for kids and fun for adults too, count sums and differences as spirit numbers.

Examples:

Roll 3-4-6 and spirit number is 3. Get 5 points, one for the natural 3 and another for 6-3=3.
Roll 1-2-5 and spirit number is 3. Get 5 points, 1+2=3 and 5-2=3.

Or play only sums or only differences, it’s your game! =)

Curse of Evil Tim

Rolls of 3-4-5 invoke the curse of Evil Tim—everyone loses a skull, if you’re at zero skulls, Evil Tim takes pity on your unfortunate soul and grants you a skull of his own.

Mashup with Mint Tin Pirates by our Official Pirate Privateer

Here’s a fantastic long-playing privateer mashup of Mint Tin Pirates and Mini Mint Tin Skulduggery.

Start playing Pirates, but … doubles gets you Skulduggled! Instead of getting the treasure—play a game of Skulduggery—using the doubled rolled as the spirit number. It’s a game within a game!

Complete an entire game of Skulduggery and use the skulls you end with to continue Pirates.

Here are the twists:

On Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery triples you can:
- Add one crystal skull to your Pirates’ crew. And then, if you become the Pirate Ghost, add that number of bonus cards to your hand for that turn. After that turn, discard the extra cards, skulls, and treasure back to the depths from whence they came!
  - or alternatively
- Add one crystal skull to your crew. And if you become the Pirate Ghost, the crystal skull counts as crystal crew which can be lost OR used as a doubloon.
Once you add a crystal skull to your crew, you can’t take it back to use in that game of Skulduggery. In a 2-player Skulduggery game, can you play with the second crystal skull? That’s up to you!
All skulls earned in Skulduggery can be used for any one of these per turn at the price of 5 skulls each:
- Repair one damage to your ship.
- Bribe your opponent and steal their treasure!
- Draw 2 extra cards for one turn and then discard back to hand limit for the next turn.
- Add +1/-1 to any card’s bottom numbers to increase their chance of success.
- Use 5 skulls as a doubloon.
The winner of Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery gets the treasure to be used as normal.

Oh, I’ve read the rules, I love them. I really like that you have the crystal skull to thwart your opponents. It gives the chance for interaction even when it’s not your turn, I really like that. I also really like that everything’s included. Often times with these type of games you need pen and paper to keep score. Add to that these components are bulletproof and it’s a multi-player game that ACTUALLY fits in your pocket! ;)
James S. from Facebook