Introduction to Anim-Abet

This is a very rough version of the Anim-Abet word game. Please read the rules below, then click    this link    to play. For best visibility, maximize by clicking the arrows at the bottom left.

Quick Rules

The object of Anim-Abet is to use your hand of 12 cards to make words of three or more letters using cards of the same color. (Black cards may be used as any color.) Also score points, for yourself and one opponent, by adding letters to an old word. Each turn you:

1. Draw a card. Click "Draw Card" for the top card from the face-down stack, or drag a card from the "Oppenents' discard" area into your hand at the bottom of the screen.
   There is a face-up discard pile in the center for each player.
2. (optional) Add one or more letters to an old word: Drag one or more cards into any word on the table (including your own) so they create a new word. For example. CAR could become SCAR, CHAR, CART, or even SCARY.
3. (optional) Make one new word: Drag cards from your hand into the "Build" area just above. After you move at least three cards, click "Play this word".
4. Discard one card by dragging it to "Your discards". (Discarding is optional if you have three or fewer cards.)

Scoring

Each new word scores the total of the values at the top corners of each card.

When a word is extended, the player adding the letters and the player who made the original word both score the letter values of each new card, plus one point for each card added. Do not score double for adding to your own word.

A round is over when some has played all of his or her cards (which earns a 5 point bonus) or when all players have had six turns.
The game is over when any player has scored at least 50 points, and all players have had the same number of turns.

Robot opponents

The robot players always take a card from the deck, make a 3-letter word from a 500-word list, and discard the first card in their hands. Not very intelligent, but they make words you can extend, and they can win if luck is on their side.

Known issues

I am working on a multi-player version of this where you can play live against remote human opponents. That of course is a big effort, so I will wait to make some corrections until the big changes have been made.
Here are some things I know about. I hope you will enjoy playing anyway.

• There is no dictionary search, so you can play any word you like, or any string of letters. I will add a lookup function, and maybe allow players to choose which word list to use.
• You should be able to change where you add a letter to an old word. Dragging the same card repeatedly can cause it to be scored twice, and possibly cause the game to crash.
• You should be able to start your turn by drawing from your own discard pile. (It is unlikely you will want to take what you just discarded, but sometimes it will make sense after your opponents play.)
• I am also working on a simpler version for younger players. They will have fewer cards, with a mixture of vowels and consonants that will produce more words.

Where else to play

Anim-Abet is not in production, but you can order Gift Words, which is a very similar game with a Christmas theme.
If interested, please see it at Drive-Thru Cards