Joking Hazard: The Definitive Guide to Hilarious Card Game Domination
Joking Hazard, the explosively funny card game from Cyanide & Happiness, is a party game where you and your friends collaboratively (and often disastrously) build three-panel comic strips to create the most absurd and offensive punchlines imaginable. If you’re looking for a game that will have you and your friends laughing until your sides ache, look no further. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the rules, strategies, and variations to ensure you become a Joking Hazard master.
## What is Joking Hazard?
At its core, Joking Hazard is a game of storytelling, improvisation, and questionable taste. Players take turns adding cards to a comic strip, with the goal of creating the funniest (or most horrifying) conclusion. The humor is dark, often inappropriate, and always unpredictable. If you’re easily offended, this might not be the game for you. But if you appreciate absurd, boundary-pushing comedy, you’re in for a treat.
## Components of the Game
Before diving into the rules, let’s take a look at what comes in the Joking Hazard box:
* **360 Panel Cards:** These are the heart of the game. Each card features a panel of a comic strip, drawn in the signature Cyanide & Happiness style. The panels depict various characters, scenarios, and objects, all designed to be combined in unexpected ways.
* **Rule Book:** This contains the official rules of the game (although we’re about to cover them in detail).
## Setting Up the Game
Getting started with Joking Hazard is quick and easy:
1. **Shuffle the Deck:** Thoroughly shuffle all 360 panel cards. A good shuffle is key to ensuring randomness and preventing predictable comic strips.
2. **Deal the Hands:** Deal seven cards to each player. These cards will form your hand, which you’ll use to contribute to the comic strips.
3. **Draw Pile:** Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the playing area to form the draw pile.
4. **First Judge:** Choose a player to be the first judge. This can be done randomly (e.g., the youngest player, the person with the worst sense of humor) or through agreement.
That’s it! You’re ready to start playing.
## How to Play Joking Hazard: A Step-by-Step Guide
The gameplay of Joking Hazard is structured around rounds, each with a different judge. Here’s how a typical round unfolds:
1. **The Judge Plays the Setup:** The judge for the round draws three cards from their hand. They then select two of these cards to play face up on the table, forming the first two panels of the comic strip. The order of these panels is crucial, as it sets the stage for the punchline.
2. **Everyone Else Contributes:** Each of the other players must choose one card from their hand and place it face down on the table. These cards are potential punchlines for the comic strip.
3. **The Judge Shuffles:** The judge collects all the face-down cards, shuffles them thoroughly to ensure anonymity, and places them face up in a row.
4. **The Judge Chooses:** The judge then selects the card they believe best completes the comic strip, creating the funniest (or most offensive) three-panel story. The chosen card becomes the third and final panel.
5. **The Winner:** The player who submitted the winning card gets to keep the two setup cards played by the judge as a trophy, representing their victory.
6. **Discard and Draw:** All played cards (including the judge’s setup card that was not used) are discarded. Each player, including the judge, draws back up to seven cards from the draw pile. If the draw pile is depleted, shuffle the discard pile to create a new draw pile.
7. **New Judge:** The player to the left of the current judge becomes the new judge, and the process repeats.
## Winning the Game
Joking Hazard doesn’t have a strict ending. Players typically play until they’re tired of laughing (or offended). However, a common way to determine a winner is to play until someone collects a predetermined number of trophy cards (e.g., five or ten). The player with the most trophy cards at the end wins the game.
## Understanding the Cards
The real magic of Joking Hazard lies in the sheer variety and absurdity of the panel cards. While there are no specific rules governing how the cards can be used, understanding the types of panels you’ll encounter can help you craft more effective punchlines:
* **Character-Driven Panels:** These panels focus on the main characters of Cyanide & Happiness: the bald, stick-figure-like people who are often the victims (or perpetrators) of the game’s dark humor. These panels can be used to establish a character’s personality, motivation, or predicament.
* **Setting-Based Panels:** These panels depict various locations, from mundane office environments to bizarre fantasy landscapes. They can be used to set the scene for a joke or to introduce unexpected elements.
* **Action Panels:** These panels show characters performing actions, often violent, sexual, or otherwise inappropriate. These panels are the bread and butter of Joking Hazard’s humor, and they can be used to create shocking and unexpected punchlines.
* **Object Panels:** These panels feature random objects, such as dildos, bombs, or tacos. These objects can be used to add absurdity to a comic strip or to create unexpected twists.
* **Text Panels:** While less common, some panels contain text, either dialogue or narration. These panels can be used to add context to a scene or to deliver a punchline directly.
## Strategies for Joking Hazard Domination
While Joking Hazard is largely a game of chance, there are some strategies you can employ to increase your chances of creating a winning punchline:
* **Know Your Audience:** Consider the judge’s sense of humor when selecting your card. What kind of jokes do they typically find funny? What are their boundaries? Tailoring your punchline to the judge’s tastes can significantly increase your chances of winning.
* **Embrace the Absurd:** Don’t be afraid to go for the most outlandish and unexpected punchline possible. Joking Hazard thrives on absurdity, so the more bizarre your contribution, the better.
* **Consider the Context:** Pay close attention to the first two panels of the comic strip. What story are they telling? What expectations are they setting up? Use your punchline to subvert those expectations in a humorous way.
* **Think Visually:** Joking Hazard is a visual game, so focus on the imagery of the cards. How can you combine the visuals of the first two panels with the visual of your card to create a funny and memorable image?
* **Don’t Be Afraid to Offend:** Joking Hazard is a game that pushes boundaries, so don’t be afraid to submit cards that might be considered offensive. Of course, it’s important to be respectful of your fellow players and avoid crossing the line into genuinely harmful or discriminatory humor. The goal is to be funny, not to be mean.
* **Hold Onto Good Cards:** If you have a card that you think is particularly funny or versatile, consider holding onto it until the perfect opportunity arises. It’s often better to wait for the right moment than to waste a great card on a mediocre setup.
* **Read the Room:** Be mindful of the overall tone and energy of the game. If the group is in a lighthearted mood, feel free to submit silly and harmless punchlines. But if the group is feeling more edgy and irreverent, you can push the boundaries a bit more.
* **Mix and Match:** Experiment with different combinations of cards to see what works best. Sometimes the most unexpected combinations can lead to the funniest results.
* **Play to the Meta:** As you play more Joking Hazard, you’ll start to notice recurring themes and tropes. Try to subvert these tropes by creating punchlines that are unexpected or self-aware. This can add an extra layer of humor to your contributions.
* **Don’t Overthink It:** Ultimately, Joking Hazard is a game of spontaneity and improvisation. Don’t get bogged down in analysis paralysis. Just go with your gut and submit the card that makes you laugh the most.
## Rule Variations and House Rules
Joking Hazard is a flexible game that can be easily adapted to suit different groups and preferences. Here are some popular rule variations and house rules:
* **The “Pick Two” Rule:** Instead of each player submitting one card, each player submits two cards. The judge then shuffles all the cards and chooses the one they think is funniest. This increases the chances of finding a truly hilarious punchline.
* **The “Auction” Rule:** Players can bid on the right to submit the final card. The player who bids the highest (using cards from their hand as currency) gets to submit their card. This adds a strategic element to the game.
* **The “Theme Night” Rule:** Choose a specific theme for the game, such as horror, sci-fi, or politics. This can help to focus the humor and create more cohesive comic strips.
* **The “No Holds Barred” Rule:** Remove all restrictions on what types of jokes are allowed. This can lead to some truly outrageous and offensive comic strips, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
* **The “Cooperative” Rule:** Instead of competing against each other, players work together to create the funniest comic strip possible. This can be a fun way to foster teamwork and collaboration.
* **The “Story Time” Rule:** After the judge chooses the winning card, the player who submitted it gets to tell a story about the comic strip. This can add an extra layer of humor and creativity to the game.
* **The “Blind Draw” Rule:** Players don’t get to see their hands. Instead, they draw a card at random each turn. This forces players to be more creative and improvisational.
* **The “Reverse Judge” Rule:** The judge chooses the *worst* card to complete the comic strip. This can lead to some hilariously bad results.
* **The “Card Swap” Rule:** Before submitting their cards, players can swap one card with another player. This can be a risky move, but it can also pay off big if you get a better card.
## Expanding Your Joking Hazard Experience
Once you’ve mastered the base game of Joking Hazard, you can expand your experience with additional expansion packs. These packs add new panel cards, new themes, and new ways to play. Some popular expansion packs include:
* **Joking Hazard: Deck Enhancement 1:** Adds 100 new cards.
* **Joking Hazard: Trial By Fire:** Adds 50 new cards and 10 blank cards to write your own!
## Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced Joking Hazard players can fall victim to common mistakes. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:
* **Playing a Card That Doesn’t Make Sense:** Make sure your card logically connects to the first two panels of the comic strip. A random, unrelated card will likely fall flat.
* **Being Too Obvious:** Avoid predictable punchlines. The best jokes are the ones that take you by surprise.
* **Being Too Offensive:** While Joking Hazard is a game that pushes boundaries, it’s important to be mindful of your audience. Avoid jokes that are genuinely harmful or discriminatory.
* **Hoarding Cards:** Don’t be afraid to play your cards. Holding onto a great card for too long can prevent you from making a winning contribution.
* **Ignoring the Judge’s Preferences:** Pay attention to what the judge finds funny. Tailoring your punchline to their tastes can significantly increase your chances of winning.
## Conclusion: Embrace the Chaos and Laugh Your Way to Victory
Joking Hazard is more than just a card game; it’s an experience. It’s a chance to unleash your inner comedian, to explore the depths of your depravity, and to laugh until you cry with your friends. By following the rules, mastering the strategies, and embracing the chaos, you can become a Joking Hazard champion. So gather your friends, shuffle the deck, and prepare for a night of unforgettable laughter.
Now go forth and create some hilariously offensive comic strips!