The Pericles Group

CARD-tamen™ Life Science

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” - Albert Einstein

Which has been more important to the survival of mankind, the invention of the microscope or the discovery of DNA? Who makes a better biological mascot, Charles Darwin or Gregor Mendel? Science, history, research, and current events come together in CARD-tamen™ Life Science! This game plays well in any setting, in or out of the classroom. Feel free to explore the rules and variants.

A single deck is priced at $15.00 plus shipping to the United States. International shipping is available at an additional charge. Please click on the button provided for a secure checkout through Square Market.

For a limited time, all previous versions of CARD-tamen sets are on closeout for just $10.00! This is only while supplies last.

on Square Market

 

  1. Deal seven (7) CARDs to each player. The player to the dealer’s left goes first.
  2. The first player chooses a controversy from the section of these rules labeled “CARD-tamen™ Controversies”, and a CARD from his or her hand, and announces the controversy chosen as he or she lays down the CARD.
  3. The player to his left may take up the challenge or pass.
  4. If the second player has passed, the third player MUST take up the challenge.
  5. A player takes up a challenge by playing a CARD and beginning a speech in favor of his or her own chosen CARD.
  6. The player who is not involved in the challenge serves as the iudex (judge). Both CARDs are awarded to the player chosen by the iudex as the winner.
  7. CARDs awarded are placed in front of the player to be counted at the end of the CARD-tamen™.
  8. The turn passes to the left, and play continues until one player is out of CARDs.
  9. The winner of CARD-tamen™ is the player with the most CARDs in front of him or her.
  1. Before play begins, players make their playing decks by choosing twenty (20) CARDs each from their available decks. They then shuffle their playing decks and deal themselves seven (7) card hands from them.
  2. Play begins with each player rolling the d20 to decide who will speak first. The player with the highest roll elects either to speak first or to speak second.
  3. Players agree on a iudex (judge). The iudex may be anyone agreeable to both players. Multiple iudicēs are allowed.
  4. The player who will speak first rolls the d20 to select the controversy for CARD-tamen™. For the complete list of controversies, labeled 1 through 20, see the section of these rules labeled “CARD-tamen™ Controversiae”.
  5. Each player selects an appropriate CARD from his or her playing deck.
  6. The players lay their CARDs face-up or, in virtual play, announce their CARD selections simultaneously.
  7. Beginning with the player chosen to speak first in step 1, each player has two minutes to speak on the supremacy of his or her CARD in the controversy.
  8. The iudex or iudicēs select(s) a winner of the round. The player selected scores one point. Both players should remove their spent CARDs from play.
  9. Play continues in this manner until a player scores three points to become the overall winner of the CARD-tamen™.
  1. More critical to laboratory research
  2. More important to the study of life as a whole
  3. More important to the survival of mankind
  4. Less appreciated
  5. Greatest contribution to the field of biology
  6. Greatest potential for future study
  7. More critical to life on earth
  8. More fascinating
  9. More useful
  10. More complex
  11. Capable of inspiring more stories
  12. More important to science history
  13. More useful in studying global climate change
  14. More likely to contribute to medical science
  15. More closely related to another field of science
  16. Inspired more scientific investigation
  17. Greatest contribution to genetic engineering
  18. Best mascot, spokesperson, or icon for biology
  19. More favored by laboratory researchers
  20. More favored by field researchers
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