Do you have what it takes to be a True American?

True American is a game that was introduced to the world on the tv show New Girl (FOX). I'm pretty sure that everyone who saw the episode when the gang first played True American immediately wanted to know how to play the game and googled the instructions... and found out that there were none. There have since been a few episodes with expanded rules but nothing official. The game was described as 50% drinking game, 50% life-size Candy Land... More like 75% drinking game 20% Candy Land (yes, that math is wrong)... It's actually 90% drinking with a loose Candy Land like structure. Here's a new girl clip with an example of how to play.  Yes it is fast and confusing and really the only rule is to drink...and the floor is lava! Every month or two I would attempt to look up the rules of True American just to see if there were any posted somewhere on the interwebs. Finally I found some on random blogs that had been compiled by dedicated viewers, kindof like a rule mashup. Some of those rules made no sense so I decided to take the ones I found and make a mashup of my own (below).  These are the main original rules that I modified and also where I got the rad Candy Land living room setup image.  I would strongly suggest watching the linked video FIRST before reading the rules, and then again after reading the rules as it will likely make MUCH more sense having seen this nonsensical game in action. You can change these rules to fit your own whims and make whatever consequences or rewards you like.  In one episode they instituted strip True American, sometimes they throw things at players for "made up" reasons. Really you can do whatever you want to do as long as you are a True American! And remember everything you hear in True American is a lie, knock on wood. (BTW: for the non drinkers or designated drivers water may be substituted.)

RULES

Board setup: The best way to set up the "board" you'll be playing on is to arrange your furniture and pillows in an "X." For a really functional flow, we also recommend each "X" be a thin loop so it's easier to return to the center ("the Castle" (usually a table). That said, you can set up your "board" however you want, as long as there's a clear path back to the Castle. All play travels clockwise.

The Castle: The Castle is where the alcohol lives, the middle of the Castle is "the King" (a bottle of liquor) surrounded by "pawns" the soldiers of the secret order (beer/cups of mixed drinks). As you answer questions and follow the path around the room, each time you come to the Castle, grab another drink. All players must have at least one drink in hand at all times but no more than three at once. If you get to the Castle and already have three drinks, you can't move until you finish one.

Start:  To choose teams count to 3. 1, 2, 3 on GO! raise your right hand to your forehead, displaying a number from 1-5. Anyone with the same number is on your team (game can be played individually as well). Everyone grabs a beer and shotguns it. The first person to finish their beer is the Knight who kicks off the game. 

The Knight starts the game by yelling, "One two three four JFK!" Everyone responds “FDR!” and must grab a beer from the castle and quickly retreat to any non-lava surface as the floor is now lava. (For those who may not know: when the floor is lava no part of your body may touch the floor and if it does you are dead and are out of the game. (You may choose shotgun a beer to re-enter the game.)

Play:  Once everyone is on their starting point, there are three ways to advance. The Knight gets to pick from any of these:

The Count: The Knight yells, "One, two, three!" and then everyone must hold a number (between 1-5) on their forehead. If no one picks the same number as the Knight, players must each move back a space for every player in the game (Five people playing? Move back five spaces) the Knight takes a drink and advances 2 spaces. If someone picks the same number as the Knight, that person moves ahead two spaces and takes a drink, and the Knight takes a drink and moves back one space for every player who picked the same number, no one else moves.

Complete a quote: The Knight chooses to yell out the beginning of a famous quote and have everyone else finish it. Knight: "We've nothing to fear but..." Players: "Fear itself!" Everyone who gets the quote right moves ahead one space and takes a drink, the Knight also takes a drink. If you get it wrong, move back one space.

Something in common: The Knight yells out two people, places or things. The other players must yell out the connection. (Ex: "Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe!" Answer: "JFK!" Or: "Washington, D.C., and the western White House" "George W. Bush!" {can be pop culture not just political.}) If you get it right, you move forward two spots and take two drinks, the Knight takes two drinks. Don't know the answer? Back up two spaces.   If you hadn’t noticed, the Knight always drinks.

After each round, a new Knight must be picked. This can be done any way the group chooses, perhaps by age or next birthday etc.

Other rules to remember

Multiple people can occupy the same space in game play so just because someone is on the chair or pillow in front of you doesn’t mean you can’t be on it too. Don’t fall, the floor is lava!

Each time you finish one drink move ahead two spaces (you must show that your drink is empty…no cheaters). When you have an empty drink can (cup) you can choose to yell, "All trash belongs...," and everyone else answers, "In the junkyard!" then everyone with an empty can tosses their cans into the nearest receptacle. If you make the trash can, move forward a spot. TRASH collection is optional when finishing your drink.

At any point the Knight can yell, "JFK!" and everyone must shotgun their beer. This is why it's important to keep two beers in hand. If someone follows up with a trash collection and you're caught without a beer, you've got to move back to The Castle.

WINNING: Once all the pawns are gone from the Castle, the next person to get to the table, finish the beer(s) in their hands and take a swig from the King is the winner (or for teams the first person on a team to take the King is the winning team.)

Below is a quick reference rules sheet once you know what you’re doing just to remind of rules, spaces forward and back etc.

Quick Reference Sheet:

GAME: The Count (1,2,3)  (hand to forehead hold up fingers)

·        Pick the same number as the Knight, drink and move ahead 2 spaces.  The Knight takes a drink and moves back 1 space for every player who chose the correct number.

·        No one picks the correct number, all players move back the # of spaces there are players. The Knight drinks and moves ahead 2 spaces.

Complete a Quote

Everyone who gets the quote right takes a drink and moves ahead one space, the Knight also takes a drink. If you get it wrong, move back one.

Something in Common

If you get it right, take two drinks and move forward two spots, the Knight takes two drinks. Don't know the answer? Back up two spaces.

JFK!  If the Knight yells "JFK!" everyone  responds "FDR!" and must shotgun their beer.

The Knight always drinks.

Each time you finish one drink move ahead two spaces.

Empties: If someone with an empty yells: "All trash belongs...," everyone else answers, "In the junkyard!" everyone with an empty can tosses their cans into the nearest receptacle. If you make the trash can, move forward one spot. (Trash collection optional)

CAUGHT with no beer in hand move back to The Castle.

WINNING: Once all the pawns are gone from the Castle, the next person to get to the table, finish the beer(s) in their hands and take a swig from the King is the winner (or for teams the first person on a team to take the King is the winning team.)