Review of Knowbody Knows
One of the more enjoyable features of a good party game is that you tend to get to know the people who you're playing with. In fact, many party games seem to be designed with the fact that they are icebreakers - a good way for players to learn more about each other. Knowbody Knows (Uncle Rez Games, 2006 - Jeff Wilcox) is certainly a game designed along these lines - one that has players reveal a certain amount of personal information. The questions in the game, as is, can get rather personal - to the point where the game is advertised as for adults. Can a game this personal be fun, or merely embarrassing?
Really, it's a bit of both. There are quite a few cards in the game (maybe 10%), which are rather embarrassing or uncomfortable for some, but the rules do state that they can be removed or not used. Despite this, the rest of the cards are enjoyable, interesting questions, and the game works. I read the rules and decided that it would fall flat as a game, but it's an interesting enough exercise that the experience was fun and entertaining. It didn't provide as much hilarity as I thought, and seemed as if it could be a bit "gamey" at times; but all who played it enjoyed it and wished to play it again - the mark of a good party game.
An oblong holder is placed in the middle of the table that holds two stacks of cards, several tracks with fifteen spaces, with each player placing a plastic peg of their color into each. Players then take a pad that matches the color of their peg, and one pencil. In the middle of the central holder a pad is placed with twelve slots. The name of each player is written in one slot, with the extra slots having the player's names written in again, or other folk that all the players know. One player is chosen to go first, and the game begins.
On a player's turn, they draw a card from one of the two stacks and read the question on it to the other players. Each question has two blanks - a space for someone's name, which the player's get by rolling a twelve sided die and consulting the pad in the middle, and a space for four different options on the card. For example, one card has the question "How many people has (name) (option)?", with the options: Romantically Kissed, Dated, Said "I Love You" to, or You Pick. The final option is always "You Pick", which allows the asking player to stick in anything they want.
All players, including the player being mentioned, write down their answers on their pad and place them in the middle of the table. The asking player then takes the answers and sorts them out from highest to lowest in numerical value. All players then score, with the highest and lowest guessers getting no points, the guesser(s) in the exact middle getting two points, and everyone else getting one point. Players move their pegs to show the points gained, and then the next round begins.
Some questions have an answer of "0", and should be discarded and another question asked if they come up. Other than that, players have a lot of freedom in the questions they ask. The first player to reach the end of the track with their peg is the winner!
Some comments on the game…
1.) Components: The oval plastic centerpiece is a useful item for holding the two stacks of cards; and the pegs, which look like little plastic winding handle, fit easily in the holes. I will say that the tracks for the pegs are a little confusing at first, and the rules don't explain them; but I finally figured them out, as pegs are moving towards each other from opposite sides. The cards are of good quality, and the pads for each player are tremendous. Since strips can be ripped off of them, each page is perforated into six strips and marked with a player's color. Pencils and a nice twelve sided die are included, and everything is easily placed into a largish, very sturdy box.
2.) Rules: The rules are marked as "quick start" rules and are on five small pages. This is fine, as the game is rather simple, but a bit more explanation and a possible picture of setup wouldn't have hurt. Teaching the game to others is easy, although some people have a harder time comprehending that the goal is to guess in the middle, not match the person being talked about.
3.) Gaming: Winning points is not about guessing what Johnny's dream date's IQ should be, but rather hazarding a guess that winds up in the middle of the group. Many times I have seen the person who is the subject of the card placing on the high end or low end, and then complaining about it. ("How can you think I do that so many/so few times?!") Making wild and outlandish guesses will land a player no where, as they will probably score no points. Instead, players must think about what numbers the other players will write down. I personally find this to be a bit "gamey", although it didn't necessarily ruin my enjoyment of the game.
4.) Discussion: Almost after every question, there is discussion as to the actual answer. Many times a spouse will look at their significant other and ask incredulously, "You did it that many times?", or some related question. Sometimes people argue over what the person should have written down, or the person themselves is amazed at others' colossal ignorance of their lives. Arguments might occur over the exact meaning of the question, and someone will be reminded of instances they have forgotten/ignored.
5.) Embarrassment: Folks with a thin skin may wish to avoid the game, because some of the questions might be a bit embarrassing. In my games, I removed the cards that were too risqué for our group, but even some of those left over could still make some of the folk blush. The question group is fairly varied and ranges from how much money folk will spend, to how much money it would take to get them to do something, to how many times they've done a specific event, and more.
6.) Fun Factor: As with several party games, the fun from Knowbody Knows comes not from the winning but from the playing. Players' discussions after answers have been revealed is the best part of the game, and watching people's reactions are fairly humorous. As I said at the beginning, it's a good way to learn about others in your group, about their past and their character - or little quirks that they might have.
If you're looking for a game, you might want to pass on Knowbody Knows. Players who simply sit there and attempt to write down a middle number, ignoring the people factor, will find themselves having a soulless time. Players who get involved, and want to play an entertaining activity to find more about their friends/acquaintances, will have a bit more fun. Knowbody Knows isn't one of the best party games I've played, but it does make for an enjoyable way to pass time with friends, especially when there are seven or eight of you.
Tom Vasel
"Real men play board games"
www.thedicetower.com
Really, it's a bit of both. There are quite a few cards in the game (maybe 10%), which are rather embarrassing or uncomfortable for some, but the rules do state that they can be removed or not used. Despite this, the rest of the cards are enjoyable, interesting questions, and the game works. I read the rules and decided that it would fall flat as a game, but it's an interesting enough exercise that the experience was fun and entertaining. It didn't provide as much hilarity as I thought, and seemed as if it could be a bit "gamey" at times; but all who played it enjoyed it and wished to play it again - the mark of a good party game.
An oblong holder is placed in the middle of the table that holds two stacks of cards, several tracks with fifteen spaces, with each player placing a plastic peg of their color into each. Players then take a pad that matches the color of their peg, and one pencil. In the middle of the central holder a pad is placed with twelve slots. The name of each player is written in one slot, with the extra slots having the player's names written in again, or other folk that all the players know. One player is chosen to go first, and the game begins.
On a player's turn, they draw a card from one of the two stacks and read the question on it to the other players. Each question has two blanks - a space for someone's name, which the player's get by rolling a twelve sided die and consulting the pad in the middle, and a space for four different options on the card. For example, one card has the question "How many people has (name) (option)?", with the options: Romantically Kissed, Dated, Said "I Love You" to, or You Pick. The final option is always "You Pick", which allows the asking player to stick in anything they want.
All players, including the player being mentioned, write down their answers on their pad and place them in the middle of the table. The asking player then takes the answers and sorts them out from highest to lowest in numerical value. All players then score, with the highest and lowest guessers getting no points, the guesser(s) in the exact middle getting two points, and everyone else getting one point. Players move their pegs to show the points gained, and then the next round begins.
Some questions have an answer of "0", and should be discarded and another question asked if they come up. Other than that, players have a lot of freedom in the questions they ask. The first player to reach the end of the track with their peg is the winner!
Some comments on the game…
1.) Components: The oval plastic centerpiece is a useful item for holding the two stacks of cards; and the pegs, which look like little plastic winding handle, fit easily in the holes. I will say that the tracks for the pegs are a little confusing at first, and the rules don't explain them; but I finally figured them out, as pegs are moving towards each other from opposite sides. The cards are of good quality, and the pads for each player are tremendous. Since strips can be ripped off of them, each page is perforated into six strips and marked with a player's color. Pencils and a nice twelve sided die are included, and everything is easily placed into a largish, very sturdy box.
2.) Rules: The rules are marked as "quick start" rules and are on five small pages. This is fine, as the game is rather simple, but a bit more explanation and a possible picture of setup wouldn't have hurt. Teaching the game to others is easy, although some people have a harder time comprehending that the goal is to guess in the middle, not match the person being talked about.
3.) Gaming: Winning points is not about guessing what Johnny's dream date's IQ should be, but rather hazarding a guess that winds up in the middle of the group. Many times I have seen the person who is the subject of the card placing on the high end or low end, and then complaining about it. ("How can you think I do that so many/so few times?!") Making wild and outlandish guesses will land a player no where, as they will probably score no points. Instead, players must think about what numbers the other players will write down. I personally find this to be a bit "gamey", although it didn't necessarily ruin my enjoyment of the game.
4.) Discussion: Almost after every question, there is discussion as to the actual answer. Many times a spouse will look at their significant other and ask incredulously, "You did it that many times?", or some related question. Sometimes people argue over what the person should have written down, or the person themselves is amazed at others' colossal ignorance of their lives. Arguments might occur over the exact meaning of the question, and someone will be reminded of instances they have forgotten/ignored.
5.) Embarrassment: Folks with a thin skin may wish to avoid the game, because some of the questions might be a bit embarrassing. In my games, I removed the cards that were too risqué for our group, but even some of those left over could still make some of the folk blush. The question group is fairly varied and ranges from how much money folk will spend, to how much money it would take to get them to do something, to how many times they've done a specific event, and more.
6.) Fun Factor: As with several party games, the fun from Knowbody Knows comes not from the winning but from the playing. Players' discussions after answers have been revealed is the best part of the game, and watching people's reactions are fairly humorous. As I said at the beginning, it's a good way to learn about others in your group, about their past and their character - or little quirks that they might have.
If you're looking for a game, you might want to pass on Knowbody Knows. Players who simply sit there and attempt to write down a middle number, ignoring the people factor, will find themselves having a soulless time. Players who get involved, and want to play an entertaining activity to find more about their friends/acquaintances, will have a bit more fun. Knowbody Knows isn't one of the best party games I've played, but it does make for an enjoyable way to pass time with friends, especially when there are seven or eight of you.
Tom Vasel
"Real men play board games"
www.thedicetower.com
