Here to Slay vs Gin Rummy

Welcome to Here to Slay!

In this game, you'll assemble a full Party of Heroes to slay dangerous Monsters while working to avoid the sabotage of your friends (enemies). You'll also equip items to your Heroes, harness powerful magic, and use roll modifiers to tip the odds in your favor.

The first player to slay three Monsters, or assemble a full Party with six different classes, wins the game!

A typical game of Here to Slay takes approximately 30-60 minutes to complete.

Inside the box, you'll find the following components:

• 1 main deck (115 standard-sized cards)
• 6 oversized Party Leader cards
• 15 oversized Monster cards
• 6 rules reference cards
• 2 six-sided dice

Follow these steps to set up the game:

1. Separate the different types of cards in the box.
2. Each player chooses a Party Leader character to represent them throughout the game. Place your Party Leader card in your Party (the play area in front of you). You may roll to determine who picks first, or just make it a free-for-all.
3. Each player may take a rules reference card. Place remaining Party Leader cards and reference cards back in the box — they will not be used.
4. Shuffle the standard-sized cards together, then deal 5 cards to each player.
5. Place the remaining stack face down in the center to form the main deck. Leave space next to it for a discard pile.
6. Shuffle the Monster cards and flip the top 3 Monster cards face up in the center of the table. Place the remaining Monster cards face down to form the Monster deck.

Whoever picked their Party Leader card last gets to go first. Players take turns going clockwise around the table.

Gin Rummy is played with a standard 52-card deck (no jokers). To set up a round:

1. Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
2. Deal 10 cards to each player, one at a time.
3. Place the remaining cards face down in the center to form the stock pile.
4. Flip the top card of the stock pile face up next to it to start the discard pile.
5. The non-dealer decides whether to take the face-up card or pass. If they pass, the dealer may take it. If both pass, the non-dealer draws from the stock pile and play begins.

On your turn, you get three action points to spend. You can perform the actions below in any order, and you can perform the same action more than once if you have enough action points.

Actions Costing One Action Point

• DRAW a card from the main deck.
• Play a Hero, Item, or Magic card from your hand. If you play a Hero card, you may roll to use its effect immediately.
• Roll two dice to use the effect of a Hero card already in your Party. You cannot roll to use the same Hero card's effect more than once per turn, even if you roll unsuccessfully the first time.

Action Costing Two Action Points

• ATTACK a Monster card.

Action Costing Three Action Points

• DISCARD every card in your hand (if you have any) and DRAW five new cards.

Important: If a card's effect tells you to perform an action immediately, you do not have to spend an additional action point for that action.

Your turn ends when you have no action points left or you choose not to take any additional actions. Unused action points do not roll over into your next turn.

For details on each card type, see Card Types.

Players alternate turns. On each turn you must:

1. Draw one card — Take either the top card of the discard pile (face-up) or the top card of the stock pile (face-down).
2. Discard one card — Place one card from your hand face up on the discard pile.

After drawing you will have 11 cards. After discarding you return to 10. Continue taking turns until a player knocks, goes gin, or the stock pile runs out.

If only 2 cards remain in the stock pile and neither player has knocked, the round ends in a draw with no points awarded.

Each Hero and Party Leader card has a class. There are six classes in the game, each represented by a colored symbol:

• Fighter
• Guardian
• Ranger
• Thief
• Wizard
• Bard

A gray symbol on Monster cards denotes a Hero card of any class.

Some Monster cards require you to have a Hero or Party Leader of a certain class in your Party to ATTACK them. You can also win the game by assembling a full Party that includes all six different classes. See Monsters for attack requirements.

The main deck contains five different types of standard-sized cards: Hero, Item, Magic, Modifier, and Challenge cards.

Hero Cards

Your Heroes are brave adventurers. Each Hero card has a class and an effect with a roll requirement. To use a Hero card's effect, you must roll two dice and score equal to or higher than that roll requirement.

• When you play a Hero card from your hand into your Party, you may immediately roll two dice to use its effect.
• Once a Hero is in your Party, you may spend one action point to attempt to use its effect once per turn. If you roll unsuccessfully, you do not get the action point back.
• There is no limit to the number of Hero cards you can have in your Party.

Item Cards

Item cards are enchanted weapons and objects that can be equipped to your Hero cards. Most Item cards bestow positive benefits such as bonuses to rolls or protections.

• When you play an Item card, you must immediately equip it to a Hero card by sliding it underneath the Hero card with the text still showing.
• Item cards can only be equipped to Hero cards (not to Party Leader cards).
• Only one Item card can be equipped to a Hero card at a time, and you cannot replace one Item card with another.
• If a Hero card with an equipped Item is destroyed, stolen, or returned to your hand, the Item card goes with it.

Cursed Item Cards

Some Item cards are Cursed Items that provide negative effects. These can be equipped to enemy Hero cards to give them disadvantages.

Magic Cards

Magic cards are powerful spells with a one-time effect. After using a Magic card's effect, move it to the discard pile immediately.

Modifier Cards

Modifier cards tip the odds in your favor. You can play a Modifier card instantly from your hand when any player (including you) rolls the dice, to modify the roll by the amount stated on the card. Playing a Modifier card does not cost any action points.

• Some Modifier cards give you two options (e.g., +1 or -3). Declare which option you wish to use.
• You may wait until a player chooses their targets (if applicable) before deciding to play your Modifier card.
• Each player may play any number of Modifier cards on the same roll. Once all players finish, combine the total change and adjust the roll accordingly.

Challenge Cards

Challenge cards can be used to try to stop another player from playing a Hero, Item, or Magic card. Playing a Challenge card does not cost any action points.

• When you CHALLENGE another player, each of you rolls two dice.
• If your roll is equal to or higher than the other player's roll, you successfully prevent them from playing their card. That card is moved to the discard pile (and the player does not get back an action point).
• If the other player's roll is higher, they proceed with playing their card as planned.
• You may wait until both players have rolled before deciding whether to use a Modifier card.
• Each card can only be challenged once — if another player has already challenged the card, you may not challenge it a second time.

See also Party Leaders and Monsters for additional card types.

Party Leader cards are oversized cards with light-colored backs. Each Party Leader has a class and a skill that gives you a unique advantage throughout the game.

• Party Leader cards are not considered Hero cards.
• Unlike Hero card effects (which can only be used once per turn), your Party Leader's skill can be used each time its conditions are met.
• For example, if your Party Leader states "Each time you play a Magic card, DRAW a card," the skill triggers every time you play a Magic card, even multiple times per turn.
• If you don't use the skill at the time the condition is met, you cannot go back later and do it.
• Your Party Leader card remains in your Party for the entire game and cannot be sacrificed, destroyed, stolen, or returned to your hand.

Note: You may not use The Shadow Claw as your Party Leader card in 2-player games.

For details on Hero card abilities, see Card Types.

Monster cards are oversized cards with navy blue backs. On your turn, you can ATTACK any face-up Monster card in the center of the table for a cost of two action points.

Party Requirements

To ATTACK a Monster, you must first meet the Party requirements listed on that card. Some require a certain number of Hero cards in your Party, while others require specific classes. Your Party Leader card is not considered a Hero card and does not count toward Hero card requirements.

If a Monster card requires a specific class plus a Hero of "any class," a single Hero of that specific class can fulfill either requirement, but not both.

Rolling to Slay

Each Monster card has a roll requirement. Roll two dice:

• If you roll equal to or higher than the requirement (including Modifier cards), you SLAY the Monster!
• If you roll within the Monster's fight-back range, you must pay the penalty listed on the card (e.g., SACRIFICE a Hero card). The Monster remains unscathed.
• If your roll falls outside both ranges, nothing happens.

Regardless of the outcome, you do not get your action points back.

Slaying a Monster

When you SLAY a Monster:

• Add the slain Monster card to your Party next to your Party Leader card.
• Your Party gains the new skill listed at the bottom of the Monster card for the rest of the game. Monster card skills work like Party Leader skills.
• Monster cards in your Party cannot be stolen, destroyed, attacked, or returned to your hand.
• Flip another Monster card from the Monster deck face up in the center of the table.

Slaying three Monsters is one of the two win conditions.

There are two ways to win the game:

• Option 1: SLAY three Monster cards.
• Option 2: End your turn with a full Party, meaning your Party (including your Party Leader card) represents six different classes.

Congratulations — you can officially brag that you are the best adventurer and monster slayer in the entire world!

Here is a list of key terms used in the game:

Set-Up Terms

• Party — The area in front of you in which you play Hero cards and Item cards.
• Main Deck — The stack of standard-sized cards from which players DRAW during the game.
• Discard Pile — The face-up stack of cards that have been sacrificed, destroyed, and discarded.
• Monster Deck — The stack of oversized cards from which a new Monster card is flipped face up each time a player SLAYS a Monster.

Gameplay Terms

• DRAW — Take the top card from the main deck and add it to your hand.
• DISCARD — Move a card from your hand to the discard pile.
• DESTROY — Move a card from another player's Party to the discard pile.
• SACRIFICE — Move a card from your own Party to the discard pile.
• STEAL — Move a card from another player's Party to your own Party.
• CHALLENGE — Attempt to stop another player from playing a Hero, Item, or Magic card. Both players roll dice; if the challenger's roll is equal to or higher, the card is discarded.
• ATTACK — Roll to SLAY a Monster card (costs 2 action points).
• SLAY — Add a Monster card that you successfully attacked to your Party.

Here are some tips to sharpen your adventuring skills:

• Balance your Party — Building toward six different classes gives you a second win condition. Even if you're focused on slaying Monsters, class diversity keeps opponents guessing.
• Save your Modifier cards — Don't waste Modifiers on low-stakes rolls. Keep them for crucial Monster attacks, Challenge defenses, or to sabotage opponents' key rolls.
• Time your Challenges — Challenge cards are limited. Use them to stop opponents from playing game-changing Hero or Magic cards, not minor plays.
• Use Hero effects wisely — Rolling to use a Hero's effect costs an action point even if you fail. Weigh the risk before spending your limited actions.
• Protect key Heroes — Equip Item cards that protect Heroes you need for Monster requirements or class completion.
• Cursed Items are powerful — Equipping a Cursed Item to an opponent's Hero can cripple their strategy. Time it for maximum disruption.
• Watch the Monster requirements — Before committing 2 action points to attack, make sure you can actually meet the roll requirement. A failed attack wastes your entire turn.
• Hand refresh is expensive — Discarding your entire hand to draw 5 costs all 3 action points. Only do this when your hand is truly dead weight.

If you enjoy strategic card games like Here to Slay, you might also like Pokémon TCG or Gin Rummy.

Improve your Gin Rummy game with these strategies:

• Watch the discard pile — Pay attention to what your opponent picks up and discards. This tells you what melds they are building and which cards are safe to discard.
• Discard high deadwood early — Get rid of high-value unmatched cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) early to reduce your deadwood total and give yourself the option to knock sooner.
• Keep flexible cards — Middle cards (5, 6, 7) are the most versatile because they can form runs in either direction and are part of more possible combinations.
• Avoid drawing from the discard pile when possible — Taking from the discard pile gives your opponent information about your hand. Draw from the stock pile to keep your hand secret.
• Don't wait for gin — If you can knock with low deadwood, it is often better to knock early rather than wait for a perfect gin hand. The longer you wait, the more time your opponent has to improve their hand.
• Count deadwood constantly — Always know your deadwood total. You should be ready to knock the moment you reach 10 or below.

Here to Slay can be played with 2 players with the following adjustment:

• The Shadow Claw Party Leader card cannot be used in 2-player games.

All other rules remain the same. With only one opponent, Challenge cards and steal/destroy effects become even more impactful, and the race to six classes or three Monster slays is more direct.

The goal of Gin Rummy is to be the first player to arrange all (or most) of your cards into melds — either sets of matching cards or runs of consecutive cards in the same suit.

You score points by having less deadwood (unmatched cards) than your opponent. The first player to reach 100 points across multiple rounds wins the game.

Each card has a point value used for calculating deadwood:

• Ace — 1 point
• Number cards (2–10) — Face value (e.g., a 7 is worth 7 points)
• Jack, Queen, King — 10 points each

The total point value of your unmatched cards (deadwood) determines when you can knock and how the round is scored.

A meld is a valid grouping of 3 or more cards. There are two types:

Sets (Groups)

Three or four cards of the same rank but different suits.

• Example: 7♥ 7♦ 7♠ (set of three 7s)
• Example: Q♥ Q♦ Q♠ Q♣ (set of four Queens)

Runs (Sequences)

Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit.

• Example: 4♥ 5♥ 6♥ (run of three in hearts)
• Example: 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠ (run of four in spades)

A card can only belong to one meld. Aces are always low — they cannot be placed above a King to form a run (Q-K-A is not valid).

After drawing and before discarding, you may knock if your deadwood (unmatched cards) totals 10 points or less.

To knock:

1. Place your discard face down on the discard pile to signal a knock.
2. Lay your hand face up on the table, arranging your cards into melds and separating your deadwood.
3. Your opponent then lays out their melds.
4. Your opponent may lay off their unmatched cards on your melds (adding to your sets or extending your runs), which reduces their deadwood.

The player with less deadwood wins the round and scores the difference.

Undercut

If the opponent's deadwood is equal to or less than the knocker's deadwood after laying off, the opponent scores an undercut bonus of 25 points plus the difference in deadwood.

Gin

If all 10 of your cards form melds with zero deadwood, you have gin. Knock by discarding your final unmatched card and declare gin.

• Your opponent cannot lay off cards on your melds.
• You earn a gin bonus of 25 points plus the total value of your opponent's deadwood.

Big Gin

If all 11 cards in your hand (after drawing, before discarding) form valid melds, you may declare Big Gin without discarding.

• Your opponent cannot lay off cards.
• You earn a bonus of 31 points plus your opponent's deadwood.

Points are accumulated over multiple rounds. Here is how scoring works:

Round Scoring

• Knock win — The knocker scores the difference between both players' deadwood totals.
• Undercut bonus — If the opponent ties or beats the knocker, the opponent gets 25 points plus the deadwood difference.
• Gin bonus — 25 points plus the opponent's total deadwood. No layoffs allowed.
• Big Gin bonus — 31 points plus the opponent's total deadwood. No layoffs allowed.

Game Bonus

The first player to reach 100 points wins the game and receives a game bonus of 100 points.

Line / Box Bonus

Each player earns 25 points for every round they won (called a line or box bonus). These are added after someone reaches 100.

Shutout (Schneider)

If the loser did not win a single round, the winner's game bonus is doubled to 200 points.

Gin Rummy has many popular variations:

Oklahoma Gin

The face-up card that starts the discard pile sets the maximum deadwood value for knocking in that round. For example, if a 4 is turned up, you can only knock with 4 or less deadwood. If the card is a spade, all scores for that round are doubled.

Hollywood Gin

Three games are played simultaneously. Your first round win counts toward game 1, your second win counts toward games 1 and 2, and from the third win onward each win counts toward all three games. Keeps track of multiple scores for a longer session.

Straight Gin

Knocking is not allowed. You must achieve gin (zero deadwood) to end the round. This leads to longer, more strategic rounds.

Tedesco Gin

Similar to Oklahoma Gin, but if the face-up card is an ace, players must go gin (no knocking). Also includes a bonus for winning multiple consecutive rounds.

Mahjong Gin

Each player receives 13 cards instead of 10, and you need to form melds with all 13 to go gin. This variation allows aces to be high or low in runs.