How to Play Call of the Wild

Objective of the Game

In Call of the Wild, players venture out into the wild to score points by Mating, Hunting, and meeting Objectives. The player who scores the most points wins the game.

Preparation (Setup)

1. Each player chooses a color and takes all 10 cards of that color.
2. These 10 cards are shuffled and placed face down in front of the player to form their Pack. Each card represents one of five mythical Creatures.
3. Place the Watering Hole card in the center of the play area within reach of all players.
4. Each player draws 2 cards from their Pack.
5. If playing with three players, each player should draw until they have 3 cards in their hand instead of just 2.
6. If using Objectives, shuffle the Objectives Deck and deal one face down to each player. All players read their Objective to themselves before play begins.
7. Play may begin as soon as everyone is ready.

Flow of the Game

There are no turns in Call of the Wild; all players act simultaneously. The game progresses through players making Calls and engaging in Meetings.

Calling

Players place one of their cards flat on the table face-down and make a Call. A Call is mimicking the sound of any of the five Creatures in the game. Each card has the name of its Creature at the top, the sound that Creature makes in the center, and the Call of the other four Creatures in a semicircle around the bottom of the card.

If a player can't find someone to meet with, they may put that card back in their hand and make a Call with another card or even the same card again.

Meeting

If two players are making the same Call, they may choose to Meet. Both players must agree to meet (usually non-verbally). There can only be two Creatures in each Meeting.

To Meet, players must perform the following ritual:

1. Slide their cards face down toward each other.
2. Release their card and place their hand on the other player’s card.
3. Flip the exchanged cards face-up where all players can see them.

Players may not flip an opponent’s card until the opponent releases it. Players may not flip their own card. If a player flips their own card, that card is discarded face-down to the Watering Hole.

Drawing

Whenever you have fewer than two cards in your hand, you may draw. You may not have more than two cards in your hand. When your Pack is depleted, continue to play with the cards remaining in your hand.

Discarding

Players may discard from their hand at any time. These cards go face-down to the Watering Hole and do not score any points. Then the player may draw as normal.

Actions and How to Play

Calling

Players place a card face-down and make a sound. This sound can either match the Creature on the card (Mating) or be a different sound (Hunting or Double-Crossing).

Mating

If two of the same type of Creature meet by making the Call in the center of their cards, they Mate. Both players score one point. Each player takes their opponent’s Creature back to their Den (face-up pile) to track their score.

Hunting

Players may choose to make a Call that does not match the Creature they are offering. This is called Hunting. To hunt someone who is trying to Mate, make the sound of the Creature 1 step clockwise from your Creature, on the right side of the card.

When two Creatures meet that are adjacent on the Food Chain, one Creature Eats the other. Each Creature Eats the Creature clockwise from it on the Food Chain. The player whose Creature Eats the other scores two points and drags both cards back to their Den.

The Food Chain is as follows: Megalotaurs eat Snerleps. Snerleps eat Fizzalisks. Fizzalisks eat Wiffaloons. Wiffaloons eat Skeevils. Skeevils infest Megalotaurs.

Double-Crossing

Players may make any of the 5 Calls. A player who suspects another player of Hunting should make the Call 2 steps clockwise on the card and Eat the player that was trying to Eat them! To Double-Cross a player you suspect is Hunting, meet them by making a Call that is two steps clockwise from the Creature you are holding. You can find this Call in the lower right corner of any card. The Hunting player will expect to Eat you but you will Eat them instead!

Avoiding

If, during a Meeting, two Creatures are not adjacent on the Food Chain, they Avoid each other. Both players discard their cards to the Watering Hole face-up and score no points.

If the Creatures are the same type but both were Hunting, those Creatures also Avoid each other and are discarded face-up to the Watering Hole.

End of Game and Scoring

Ending the Game

The game ends when a player meets with the last card in their hand and their Pack is empty. That player announces that the game is over (Sundown). After Sundown, no further Meetings can take place and players return all cards in their hand to their Pack face-down.

If a player discarded or flipped their own last card, that player cannot end the game. Players must use their last card in a Meeting to end the game.

If your last card is Avoided, the game is over. Announce it before anyone else can score more points! However, if you discarded or revealed your own last card, you may not end the game.

Scoring

Players score one point for each Creature in their Den. Whoever scores the most points wins!

In the case of a tie, the player with the most cards from other players’ Packs wins (this will be the player who Mated the most).

Optional Scoring: Mating Bonus

Score 2 points for each Creature in your Den that is from another player’s Pack, and the standard 1 point for each of your own Creatures. This makes Mating worth 4 points (2 for each player) and Eating worth 3.

Objectives

At the end of the game, each player who fulfilled their Objective scores points equal to the number at the bottom of the card. A player with more than 2 face-down Creatures at the Watering Hole may not score an Objective. Players do not need to fulfill their Objective to win, but it helps!

Tips for Winning

• Speed Counts: The player who uses all of their cards has an excellent chance to win the game.
• Two by Two: Pay attention to what cards other players use. Each Pack starts with exactly two copies of each Creature.
• Friendly Benefits: If a player is consistently Mating (being “honest”), keep meeting with them. But don’t give a player who frequently Hunts an opportunity to take advantage of you.
• Hate the Player: Using the Double-Cross is an effective revenge against a player who has lost your trust. If your opponent is trying to Mate, neither of you will score. If your opponent is Hunting, you will score 2 and they will score 0. If your opponent is also trying to Double-Cross, neither of you will score.