Teflarok FAQ
✧ Deciding to buy the game:
How complicated is this game? About how long does it take to learn how to play?
Do the different Norse gods and goddesses give you unique powers?
Download the Rule Book to learn more about the game before purchasing.
✧ You own the game:
How complicated is this game? About how long does it take to learn how to play?
Once you know how to play, it does not have complicated gameplay (the real fun is in figuring out your personal strategy). Learning the game definitely goes faster if someone else has played before and can step you through the phases. If no one has played the game before, it does take some time to read the rules and understand it all, approximately a half an hour maybe. I timed it and it took me 15 minutes to read through the whole rulebook from front to back (without pausing to look at the cards or discuss the rules, since I already know the game).
Can someone under 13 play this game?
Maybe! We never playtested it with anyone younger than 13, but I think some kids younger than 13 could understand this game. They need to be able to understand bidding (deciding how much they are willing to pay for something, without knowing how much other people are going to bid), and they need to be able to identify shapes (the Rune cards) so they can collect the correct ones in their Word cards. They also need to make decisions during every turn, so they'll need to stay focused. We recommend being familiar with the child's gaming abilities before purchasing this game for them.
Please note that due to the size of the tokens, this is a choking hazard for children 3 years and younger.
Disclaimer: we are not legally allowed to advertise this product to kids younger than 13 because it did not undergo the required third-party chemical testing for lead and phthalates (CPSIA compliant). It was however made by the same company, in the same facility, that manufactured our card game Pack o’ Dogs, which was tested and passed.
There is mild cartoon gore on the player screens for Baldur and Loki:
(click images to enlarge)
Can someone who is colorblind play this game?
Yes. It may be a little more difficult to instantly recognize which runes are “common,” “rare,” and “legendary” if you are colorblind. These three types do have different artwork: common runes are simple lines, rare runes have a glow around them, and legendary runes have lightning coming out of them. In addition to this, all of the runes are listed on the back of each player screen with their shape and name, sorted by their type. Because of this, distinguishing colors is not necessary in order to play the game.
(click images to enlarge)
Is this a good "party game"?
It does not fit the typical “party game” aesthetic. Most party games require little attention span and players can come and go to get food, drink, chat, etc. You can not do that in this game since every player has to interact and make decisions during every single phase of every turn. However, if you have snacks close by and you are throwing specifically a “gaming party” then this works great, since it can accommodate up to 9 players! Many people have noted that this constant interaction throughout the game is a plus because no one gets bored waiting for someone to take their turn.
Is this a good 2-player game?
The strategy in the 2-player variant included with the game differs significantly from a 3+ player game. We think it works best if both players are already familiar with the game, however two players new to the game can still definitely play it. Since releasing the game, we have created a new 2-player variant that plays similar to the 3-player game by using a dummy. We personally think this variant is more fun and more in keeping with the strategy of Teflarok. Check it out here!
How much space does this take up on the table?
You can very comfortably fit 3 people playing this game at a standard card table. 4 people can also fit pretty well, just know you will need space for the bank of tokens (we like to use the box as the bank) and up to 3 Words of Power cards placed in view of everyone. As you add more people, the game play area does not get significantly larger. A few more cards will be added to the center play area and you’ll need space for each player to have their tokens in front of them, hidden behind their player screen.
Do the rules come in multiple languages?
The rules are only available in English at the moment.
How historically/mythologically accurate is this game?
The runes and names of the runes are accurate as far as scholars know (called the Elder Futhark). However not a whole lot is known about the Norse language. The Words of Power are permutations created by us, not real words. There is also a lot of confusion surrounding the gods and their mythology, so some artistic license was taken when writing their bios. Each bio starts with some roughly accurate descriptions of the gods, but anything referencing them playing Teflarok is made up (since the game is made up!)
What does the word Teflarok mean?
Our tagline is “Game of the Gods” but that’s not exactly what Teflarok translates into. It is not a real Norse word, but is made up by us by combining two words:
1. “Tefla” is an Old Norse word originating from the word “tafl” (board), which roughly means “game,” specifically referring to a board game or card game. It can also mean the verb “to play a game.”
2. You may be familiar with the word Ragnarok, the final battle that essentially ends the world. “Ragnarok” roughly translates into “fate of the gods” with “rok” being the part that means “fate.”
So, using some artistic license, the word “Teflarok” was created, meaning “game of fate".
Do the different Norse gods and goddesses give you unique powers?
In the base game, the gods do not have unique abilities. Since releasing the game, we have come up with an expansion that gives each god a unique ability. You can download the expansion for free here.
There are 7 denominations of tokens, but only 4 bags. How do you recommend I sort them?
I personally like these groupings the best: 1; 5; 10 & 20; 50, 100 & 200. If it annoys you having the types of tokens mix in the cloth bag, use small plastic bags to separate them. During a game I like to empty the box out, dump the tokens into the compartments, and use it as the bank (50, 100, and 200 share a large compartment). When you are storing the game, placing the bags of tokens over top of the cards prevents the decks from mixing, even if the game is turned upside down. See more storage suggestions here.
(click images to enlarge)
Do I get Power tokens every time I discard a Rune?
No! You only get Power tokens if someone chooses to buy your discarded rune. The value they must pay you is referred to as the “discarded rune value”. If it is a common rune, they must pay you 10 Power tokens, a rare rune is 20 Power, and a legendary rune is 30 Power. If more than one person wants to buy your discarded rune, then they bid more tokens on top of the minimal amount required to break the tie. For example, if two people want your rare rune, one of them might bid 5 extra and the other bid 2 extra. The player who bid 5 gets the rune and pays you 25 (original cost of 20 plus the extra they bid to break the tie). If no one buys your discarded rune, you do not get any Power tokens and the rune stays in the discard.
How can I get more Power tokens from the bank?
At the start of the game you get your initial starting tokens from the bank. After that, the only way to get more tokens from the bank is by playing a completed Word of Power. The amount shown on the card is how much Power you get. All of the other times you get tokens you are taking them from other players.
Is there a set amount I have to bid for runes during Phase 2?
No, there are no restrictions to what you can bid on nominated runes during Phase 2. You can bid 0 Power (just put an empty fist out when ready to bid, do not announce that you are not bidding), all of the Power tokens you have, and any number in between. The “discarded rune values” for common, rare, and legendary are not required (since these are nominated runes, not discarded runes). These values do give you a small sense of how much they are worth though. Most players will try to get a nominated rune for less than their discard value.
I don't like the suggested 2-player variant in the rules. Do you have any other suggestions?
Yes, we do! We have a 2-player variant that plays similar to the 3-player game by using a dummy. We’ve tested it out and we really enjoy it. Check out the rules here!
What are some suggestions for making the game shorter?
Here are some more suggestions, in addition to the suggestions at the end of the rule book:
Start the game with three Words of Power flipped over. This gives everyone more possible Runes to share from right away. When you play a Word, you still only have three Words showing, so you must choose one to cover up even if you are not sharing a Rune.
How can we decide who plays as which god in the expansion?
Here are just a few possible suggestions:
1. Shuffle up the expansion god cards and deal them out to each player, so everyone gets a random god with no say in the matter. This option is great if no one cares who they play as, OR if they care too much and will argue about it.
2. An informal free-for-all grab. Everyone just speaks up about which god they want to play as. If two people want the same one, someone will just have to pick another one. This option is great for low-key gamers who don’t really care who they play as, but still want a little bit of a say in it.
3. Bid on the gods. Go through each god one at a time and everyone does a silent bid on the current god. The winner gives their tokens to the bank. For this option you may want to start with more tokens than normal. This option is good for the strategic players who want to start using their tokens before the game has even started.