Round & Revel / Classification and deduction
The Question Orchard
Ask about one trait, then make that answer do real work.
Original printable party game. Timing is a planning estimate; this edition has not had a live group playtest.
Good for: A cooperative guessing round with a fully visible set of possibilities.
What you need
- Two copies of the 12 specimen cards: one public set and one secret set
- Five question counters, plus a round score sheet
- Paper for a shared question log and candidate list
- A cover or envelope for the current secret card
How to play
The catalogue is your whole world
A small-group deduction game for a family table or a quieter part of a party. Twelve imaginary specimens have four printed traits each. One keeper draws a secret specimen; the other players identify it through carefully limited yes-or-no questions. There are no real animal facts to know, no invented lies, and no encoded sequence to arrange. Every question classifies the target into a named group. The keeper belongs to the same cooperative team and wants to answer accurately, but cannot suggest which question the investigators should ask.
Lay out all the possibilities
Print two identical decks. Spread one complete set face up as the public catalogue, grouped however the investigators prefer. Shuffle the second set face down. Choose a keeper, who draws one secret card behind a cover without showing its face or identifying code. Set five counters beside the catalogue and begin a blank log. Everyone may inspect the public cards throughout. The keeper may look at the secret again whenever needed; remembering its traits is not part of the challenge.
The four question families
A question names exactly one printed trait and exactly one possible value. Habitat permits MEADOW, POND, or ROOF. Movement permits ROLL, GLIDE, or WADDLE. Covering permits BUTTONS, RIBBONS, or SCALES. Active time permits DAWN, NOON, or DUSK. For example, “Is its habitat POND?” is legal. “Does it live in POND or MEADOW?”, “Does it have BUTTONS and ROLL?”, questions about spelling, and questions naming a specimen are not trait questions. The printed values are categories; do not add real-world assumptions about how a creature would behave.
Choose and spend a question
Investigators may discuss freely before each question. Rotate a spokesperson clockwise among investigators after every spent counter so one person does not make every final choice. The spokesperson reads the agreed question. Before answering, the keeper confirms that it is legal; if not, explain the format and let the team rewrite without spending a counter. For a legal question, remove one counter and answer only YES or NO. A repeated question is legal but still spends a counter. There is no time limit or penalty for discussing a difficult split.
Make the answer visible
Write the trait, value, and YES or NO in the shared log. Eliminate catalogue candidates inconsistent with that answer by turning them sideways or marking the candidate list. Keep the cards readable so errors can be checked. The keeper may correct a misheard answer or an incorrectly recorded word, but may not point out a missed deduction, recommend a candidate, or signal with emphasis. If the keeper accidentally gives a false answer, correct it publicly and restore that question counter; the team should not lose for a host mistake.
One identification, whenever you choose
After zero to five answered questions, the investigators may lock one final specimen name. A final identification is separate from a trait question and does not spend a counter. It immediately ends the round: a wrong identification cannot be followed by another guess. After the fifth answer, the team must identify without asking more. The keeper reveals the secret card and checks the log against all four traits. Correct identification scores 4 points with zero to three questions, 3 with four, or 2 with five. An incorrect identification scores 0.
Worked classification
Suppose the target is Buttonstep. “Is its habitat POND?” receives YES, leaving Ribbontail, Scalefloat, Buttonstep, and Ribbonskip. “Is its movement WADDLE?” receives YES, leaving Buttonstep and Ribbonskip. “Is its covering BUTTONS?” receives YES, identifying Buttonstep. A final identification now earns 4 points after three questions. This path is an example, not a script for every target: asking the same opening question after different earlier answers may divide the remaining candidates poorly.
Finish, refresh, and make it accessible
Play three rounds and add shared scores for a maximum of 12. Rotate the keeper one seat clockwise each round; no individual score is attached to hosting. Return the secret card and reshuffle before each draw, so a previously selected specimen remains possible. A repeat is legitimate. Ten points is a useful cooperative target, not a tested difficulty rating. For a gentler version allow six questions and score any correct identification after five or six as 2. Enlarge the catalogue, read trait tables aloud, and accept written questions. The complete original catalogue can be distinguished within four well-chosen trait questions; choosing those questions is the puzzle.
Printable cards and components
Print single-sided and cut on the borders. Read the setup before sorting the cards; some games use separate card types or fewer copies for smaller groups.
Buttonback
SPECIMEN. Habitat: MEADOW. Movement: ROLL. Covering: BUTTONS. Active time: DAWN. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Ribbontail
SPECIMEN. Habitat: POND. Movement: GLIDE. Covering: RIBBONS. Active time: NOON. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Scaletop
SPECIMEN. Habitat: ROOF. Movement: WADDLE. Covering: SCALES. Active time: DUSK. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Buttonwing
SPECIMEN. Habitat: ROOF. Movement: GLIDE. Covering: BUTTONS. Active time: DAWN. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Ribbonwheel
SPECIMEN. Habitat: MEADOW. Movement: ROLL. Covering: RIBBONS. Active time: DUSK. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Scalefloat
SPECIMEN. Habitat: POND. Movement: GLIDE. Covering: SCALES. Active time: DAWN. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Buttonstep
SPECIMEN. Habitat: POND. Movement: WADDLE. Covering: BUTTONS. Active time: NOON. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Ribbonroof
SPECIMEN. Habitat: ROOF. Movement: ROLL. Covering: RIBBONS. Active time: NOON. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Scaleleaf
SPECIMEN. Habitat: MEADOW. Movement: WADDLE. Covering: SCALES. Active time: NOON. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Buttondrift
SPECIMEN. Habitat: MEADOW. Movement: GLIDE. Covering: BUTTONS. Active time: DUSK. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Ribbonskip
SPECIMEN. Habitat: POND. Movement: WADDLE. Covering: RIBBONS. Active time: DAWN. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Scaleroll
SPECIMEN. Habitat: ROOF. Movement: ROLL. Covering: SCALES. Active time: DUSK. These are invented catalogue facts, not claims about real animals. Print two copies: one public catalogue card and one secret-draw card.
Round & Revel. Edition 1 / October 2026. No purchases, accounts or specialist equipment beyond the listed materials are required.