Thumper: Official Rules

Keep the beat, remember everyone's sign, and never be the one who misses theirs.

Four or more players sit around a table. Each player invents a sign: a simple gesture, such as a salute, a thumbs-up or a tug on the ear. Going around the table, each player shows their sign so everyone can learn it. No two signs may be the same.

Rule 1. The beat

Rule 1.1. Everyone drums on the table with both hands, and keeps drumming for the whole round.

Rule 1.2. The leader calls, "What's the name of the game?" The table answers, "Thumper!" The leader calls, "How do we play it?" The table answers, "Like this!" The round begins.

Rule 2. Passing

Rule 2.1. The leader makes their own sign, then another player's sign. That player must immediately make their own sign, then someone else's.

Rule 2.2. Play continues as fast as the players can manage.

Rule 3. Missing

Rule 3.1. A player drinks for missing their sign, making the wrong sign, making a sign that belongs to no one, or stopping drumming.

Rule 3.2. The player who missed becomes the leader and starts the next round with the chant.

• The memory chain. No personal signs. Each player repeats every gesture made so far in the round, in order, then adds a new one. Approved.
• The traditional chant with the table's own reply. Approved. The Commission prints the clean version.
• You may not pass back to the player who just passed to you. Approved.

Two players make the same sign by accident. Whose is it? The player who showed it first during setup. The other player must choose a new sign and drink for the confusion.

A player drums so hard their drink falls over. Drink? They have no drink. The table owes them sympathy and a refill.

• Missed sign. Penalty: one drink. Signal: the Official drums twice on the table, then points at the player.

Thumper is the loudest game in this book. The Commission's archive contains three noise complaints filed against tables playing it, and one filed by a table playing it against the table next door.

Play with any non-alcoholic drink. The drumming is the same.