The Group Work Game

4+ Players * Role-Playing Game * Improv/Narrative-Based * 30+ min * Replayable * Age 13+/Adult

Rules of the Game Click to Flip the Card

What Is The Group Game? card is black with a picture of a mirror on a stand. Flip to learn about the game.

Card reads: The Group Game: This improv-based, story-telling role-playing game promotes group work on the subject of group work. What participants take from project-based group work depends on their personality and their social position, as well as their gender and race. The Group Game gives players an opportunity to approach a project from multiple perspectives and learn about their roles while having a hilariously good time.

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Trigger Warnings Click to Flip the Card

Trigger Warning Card for The Group Game is orange and shows a bear with his hand up to indicate STOP

Text of card reads Trigger Warnings: Confronting these problems without solving or resolving them in real life: Racism Sexual Harassment Fascism Dementia Climate Change Zombies Your Entitlements

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Each Player Chooses a Role Card

(If you get a repeat card, shuffle the deck and draw again. More than 4 players, any extra players are Slackers)

Click for Your Role Card shows curious dog on black background.

Goofy animal with tongue hanging out on blue background for The Slacker Card in the Group Game

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The Drudge Picks a Scenario Card and Reads it Aloud

Scenario Card for The Group Game with old time movie camera on green background

Scenario Card for The Group Game has text Alien Invasion. An Alien Invasion from another planet is predicted. Learn everything you can about the Aliens. Begin preparations to protect your group. Anticipate what good things might come out of the Alien Invasion. Tidy up and stock up on things Aliens might need and want when they visit our planet. When the Aliens arrive, work together to respond and make the most of it.

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Take Turns Drawing an Action Card Based on Your Role and tell the story

If you get a repeat card, shuffle the deck and draw again

The Drudge action card shows sad owl. Click to get actions.

Drudge Card for The Group Game has text Introspection. You must discuss with The Friend how you became a People Pleaser. Did you grow up with an overbearing narcissist? Were you a Parentified Child taking care of adult things at a young age? Do you enjoy being a Martyr? Is perfectionism necessary for you to feel in control of your feelings and world?

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Happy hog cartoon character on red background of Credit Hog Card for The Group Game

Credit Hog Card for The Group Game has text Gotcha. You falsely took credit for something which turns out to be low quality. It seemed good at the time, but then again you did not check it over carefully. The way it played out, you feel kind of cheated. You are really the victim because someone else did the shoddy work. They should be ashamed of themselves. How do you avoid blame?

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Happy cartoon Bird on bright yellow background for The Friend Role Card in The Group Game

Friend Card for The Group Game has text The Big Picture. You make friends with someone on another team (or another family in your neighborhood, military unit etc). What you learn about the other group will have a big impact on your own group. Perhaps the other group has already solved the problem you all face, or maybe the other group is planning an attack on your group. The Credit Hog in their group may be planning to steal your group’s work. Who should you tell and when?

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Goofy animal with tongue hanging out on blue background for The Slacker Card in the Group Game

Slacker Card for The Group Game has text Introspection. You must discuss with The Friend why you are a Slacker. Is it because you are afraid to fail due to an overly strict upbringing? Is it because you are suffering from depression that is making you apathetic? Is it because you have internalized gender, race or class-based entitlement? Is it because of a substance abuse problem? Is there an area of your life where you are forced to work too hard--perhaps caring for a sick relative, dealing with an addicted parent, struggling with poverty, recovering from trauma--that leaves you with little energy for any other teamwork?

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At any time The Slacker can choose a Wild Card

Funny smiling dinosaur cartoon on purple background for The Wild Card for The Group Game

Wild Card for The Group Game has image of curtains and text Change of Venue. Change the context to another one. If you are in school, change it to a corporation, if you are in medical school, change it to high school, if you are in a for-profit, change it to a non-profit, if you are in a family, change it to a military unit.

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At any time The Friend can select a Time Out Card

Stopwatch cartoon on an aqua background for Time Out Card for Group Game

Time Out Card for The Group Game is Confession with text: The Friend chooses one Player to engage in Self-Criticism. The chosen player must publicly reflect on their mistakes, failures, and fears. The chosen player must make a genuine apology to at least one person.

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The Credit Hog decides when the work is done

If multiple groups are playing, The Credit Hog presents the group’s work to the larger group

If multiple groups are playing, The Credit Hog presents the group’s work to the larger group