
Robot Rascals manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Congratulations! .......................................... 1
Objectives................................................. 2
Robots..................................................... 2
Cards...................................................... 2
Laustenfownd .............................................. 2
Getting Started Guide...................................... 2
Setup...................................................... 3
Choosing Robots ........................................... 3
TakingTums ................................................ 4
Scanning for Items ........................................ 6
Energy and Stealing. ...................................... 6
Winning ................................................... 7
XJGT Rascal Reference Manual............................... 8
Game Levels................................................ 8
Cards...................................................... 9
Item Cards ................................................ 9
Special Cards ............................................ 10
Luck Cards ............................................... 10
Global Events ............................................ 11
Actions .................................................. 12
Moving.................................................... 12
Teleporting .............................................. 12
GoingHome ................................................ 13
Control Options .......................................... 13
Stealing and Shields. .................................... 14
Damage..................................... .............. 14
Variations................................................ 15
Strategy Hints............................................ 17

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CONGRATULATIONS!
And thank you for purchasing the new and improved Robotics Unlimited XJGT Rascal(TM)
_ the latest in robot technology. We're sure that you'll be overjoyed as you experience
the thrill and excitement of hunting for r'are artifacts on the distant planet Laustenfownd from 
the safety of your own home.

With our astounding, patented E-Z Control(TM) software, you and up to three of your
friends can control your Rascals with an ordinary personal computer. Amaze your friends
As our revolutionary IDIP (Interplanetary Digital Image Processing) System(R) shows the
Rascals exploits on Laustenfownd in living color.

Because of the danger inherent to scavenging, our patented E-Z Control software keeps
you constanfly apprised of your Rascal's physical condition as well as the ever-changing
operating conditions on Laustenfownd The artifacts you'll need to find are assigned by
Robotics Unlimited's patented Random Supply and Demand Generator(R) at the beginning
of every mission. Be the first scavenger to find and return home with all of your assigned
artifacts, and Robotics Unlimited's founder and president, Roy Rascal himself will
personally send you an electronic message of congratulation.  Good luck and happyscavenging.
1
OBJECTIVES
Robot Rascals is a game for two to four scavenger hunters that combines the best elements
of a computer strategy game and a multi-player board game. Scavengers search for
artifacts that are randomly assigned through the use of item cards, while game play is
affected by luck cards and random "global events" controlled by the computer. The winner
is the first player to return home with all of the artifacts shown on the item cards in his
or her possession. The game can be broken down into three basic elements:

Robots
Each scavenger in Robot Rascals controls a Robot Rascal. The robots are used to rove
around the planet Laustenfownd looking for items. All robots have the same abilities:
they can locate items, steal items from other robots, and erect shields that protect their
items from being stolen by other robots.

Cards
There are two sets of cards used in Robot Rascals. The Item deck represents artifacts that
can be found on the surface of Laustenfownd. The luck cards give players the chance to
improve their hands, often at the expense of other players.
Laustenfownd
This is the world, the "board", where you hunt for items. The computer displays an
overview of Laustenfownd on the left and an enlarged map of the area around your robot
in the center. During your turn you use the joystick to move your robot around the board in
search of the items shown on the item cards you hold.

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
This section is an overview of how to play a beginners game of Robot Rascals for players
who want to get started quickly. For detailed information on all aspects of the game
including the standard and advanced levels, and adding new twists to Robot Rascals read
the "XJGT Rascal Reference Manual" later in this manual.
2

To start the beginners game of Robot Rascals, first boot the game disk by following the
instructions on the Command Summary card. While the game loads, use the instructions
in the following sections to set up the rest of the game.

Setup
Begin with the deck of cards labelled "Luck Cards" and remove the following: "Pass the
Trash Right," "Pass the Trash Left," and all three of the "Force a Blind Swap" cards.
Shuffle the remainder of the luck deck and place them face down (for a super-beginner
game where hands do not change after the deal, remove the whole deck of luck cards).
Remove all four white cards from the "Item Cards" deck: "Killer Kard," "Cosmic Cheat,"
and both of the "Wild Cards". Shuffle the remaining item cards and deal 4 to each
scavenger. Put the remaining item cards face down, then take out the top card and place
it face up to start the discard pile.

When the game finishes loading press the joystick button to accept the beginner level.
Next select the number of players by pushing the joystick forward or pulling back to
change the number of players, and press the joystick button when you are satisfied.

Choosing Robots
Now each player gets to prepare for the game. Don't worry about who will be player 1,
player 2, and so on. The computer picks a random playing order for each round of turns.

1. Each player enters his or her name (either type it in or follow the scrolling
instructions at the bottom of the screen and use the joystick).
2. Each person chooses a Robot Rascal (just follow the scrolling instructions; there
are 10 to choose from) and selects the energy level the Rascal will be allotted at
the beginning of each turn.  (Leave it set at six for your first game. You can
change it later to balance games between experts and beginners. The higher a
player's energy allotment relative to other players, the easier it is to win.)
3. Each player picks a color for his or her robot.
3
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Taking Turns
After everyone has chosen a robot, the computer announces a global event in effect for the
first round and picks a player to go first. Each round, the computer randomly changes the
order in which players take their turns. During a turn, first take a luck card, follow the
instructions on it, then use the joystick to move your robot up, down, left, right, or
diagonally on the map in the center of the Screen. The center map shows a blownup view
of your robot and its immediate vicinity. The map to the left shows the entire playfield
on Laustenfownd, with your robot identified as a dot that flashes twice as fast as the
other players' robots. (See the illustration Of Laustenfownd below.) Your robot moves
slower in the boulders and the swamps (and can be damaged in the standard and
advanced games). If you're unsure of what a luck card lets you do, see "Cards" in the
"XJGT Rascal Reference Manual" section for a full explanation of all the Luck cards.
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                                                          Watson's Wood
                                                     Your Rascal can move at
                                                    full speed with the chance
                                               	      of damage four times
                                                    greater than on the plain
                                                                |
                                                                |
                                XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
                               	X               XXXXXXXXXXXXXX  | XXXXXX      XXXXXX        XXXXXXXXX  X
                               	X               XXXXXXXXXX XX	|X      XXXXXX      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX  X
                               	X               XXXXXXXXXXXXXX  V XXXXXX      XXXXXX      XXXXXXXXXXX  X
     Open plain                 X                   XXXXXX   XXXXX      XXXXXX               !!!!!!!!! X         The Dismal Swamp
Your pascal can move at     	X                 T XXXXXXXXX     XXXXXX      XXXXXX   T        !!!!!! X     Your Rascal can move at
full speed and stands         	X                   XXXXXX   XXXXX      XXXXXX       !!!!    !!!!!!!!<-X---  a quarter of its normal
little chance of being  --------X-------->          XXXXXXXXX     XXXXXX      !!!!!!!!!!!       !!!!!!!X     speed in the swamp and
damaged while moving          	X               XXXXXXXXXXX  XXXXX      XXXXXX     !!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!   X     damage is three times as
through the plain regions      	X               XXXXXXXXXXX                   !!!!!!!!!!!       !!!!!!!X     likely as in Watson's Wood
                                X               XXXXXXXXXXX                        !!!!!!   !!!!!!!!!!!X
                                X               XXXXX            H H    !!!!!!!!   !!!!!!!!            X              Home
                                X               XXXXX             T       !!!!!!!!     !!!!!!          X     There are four robot
                                X               XXXXX            H H    !!!!!!!!   !!!!!!!! 	       X     homes at the center of
                                X               XXXXX             ^       !!!!!!!!     !!!!!!  	       X     Laustenfownd. clustered 
                                X               XXXXX             |____________________________________X___  around 1 single teleport
                                XXXXXXXXXXXXX                                               	       X     terminal. See "Actions
   Bunten's Boulders           	XXXXXXXXXXXXX                                                          X     for a full explanation of
Your Rascal can move at      	XXXXXXXXXXXXX                                                          X     using teleport terminals.
half speed and damage is  ------X-----> XXXXX                                                          X    
twice as likely as in           XXXXXXXX       T      XXXXXX          XXXXXX         T <---------------X---     Teleport Terminal
Watson's Wood.                  XXXXXXXX              XXXXXX                XXXXXX                     X     There are five teleport
                                XXXXXXXX              XXXXXX          XXXXXX                           X     terminals on Laustenfownd
                                XXXXXXXX              XX ^  XX              XXXXXX                     X     One at the center and four
                                X                     XX  |  XX       XXXXXX      XXXXXX       	       X     at opposing positions on
                                X                     XX  |  XX             XXXXXX      XXXXXX         X     the playfield. See "Actions"
                                X                     XX  |  XX       XXXXXX      XXXXXX               X     for a full explanation of
                                X                     XX  |  XX             XXXXXX      XXXXXX         X     using teleport terminals.
                                XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
                                                          |
                                                         Lake
                                          The XJGT pascal is not an amphibious
                                          unit and cannot enter lakes. Getting
                                          caught in a lake after a "Lakes Dried
                                          Up" global event randomly teleports
                                          your pascal to a new location. 

				Laustenfownd

You can take shortcuts on Laustenfownd by moving into one of the five teleport terminals.
When the robot steps onto a teleport terminal, the terminal activates and begins
radiating teleport energy. Use the joystick to point the energy beam in the direction you
want to teleport, then push the joystick button to send the Rascal to the receiving teleport
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in the chosen direction. You can teleport to any corner terminal from the center terminal,
and from a corner terminal to the center or to either adjacent corner terminal.

Scanning For Items
To search for a particular item, stop moving, press the joystick button, and when the robot
control menu appears, select SCAN by pressing the button again. To select the item you
are scanning for, move the joystick and choose the icon onscreen that matches the icon in
the upper right-hand corner of one of your item cards. Press the joystick button and your
robot scans for that item. The faster your robot rotates while scanning, the closer you are
to the item. When your Rascal finishes scanning it points in the direction of the item and
the word up, down, right, or left appears in the message box. Keep moving and scanning
until your robot locates the item and pulls it in with a tractor beam.

Energy and Stealing
All actions like moving, scanning, and teleporting cost energy unless a global event that's
in effect says otherwise (see "Global Events" below).  When a robot's energy bar
disappears that player's turn is up. You can end a turn early by selecting Quit from the
robot control menu.  As long as the robot is not in a home base at the center of
Laustenfownd, the remaining energy can be saved for the next turn or it can be used to put
shields around the robot. Each shield costs one energy unit. Shields can be knocked down
by other robots by bumping into the shielded robot. Each bump costs the attacking robot
one energy unit and has a 50% chance of knocking down one shield. After all the shields
are down items can be stolen from the defenseless robot by bumping it again. (One more
thing, it costs energy to enter home and your Rascal's battery doesn't work there, but no
one can steal from it while it is there.)
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 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 x                                                                          x
 x     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     x
 x     x    Information-Shows the Rascal who is currently taking a    x     x
 x     x    turn, the global event in effect, and the current turn    x     x
 x     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     x
 x                                                                          x
 x                      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                         x
 x                      x Control- This is an     x                         x
 x                      x enlarged view of the    x                         x
 x                      x play--field window that x                         x
 x  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  x shows your robot and    x  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  x
 x  x                x  x it's immediate sur-     x  x Status -          x  x
 x  x Playfield -    x  x roundings.  The         x  x Displays an       x  x
 x  x shows the      x  x Rascal always appears   x  x enlarged view     x  x
 x  x playfield on   x  x at Home on the first    x  x representation    x  x
 x  x Laustenfownd   x  x turn. For subsequent    x  x of your robot     x  x
 x  x                x  x turns it appears        x  x and it's physical x  x
 x  x                x  x where you left it on    x  x condition.        x  x
 x  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  x the last turn.          x  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  x
 x                      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                         x
 x                                                                          x
 x            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                x
 x            x    Hold - Shows the collected artifacts    x                x
 x            x          stored in your robot's hold       x                x
 x            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                x
 x                                                                          x
 x    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx       x
 x    x  Messages - Shows helpful information about the operating   x	    x   
 x    x  condition of your Rascal and game play in general. Watch   x	    x
 x    x  this area during your turn for helpful messages from       x 	    x
 x    x  Robotics Unlimited.                                        x	    x
 x    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx       x
 x                                                                          x
 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   
    
Winning
The first player who collects all of the items shown on the item cards they 
currently hold and returns home with them wins. The winning player must press 
the Win Key (see your Command Summary card) to be proclaimed the winner. If a 
player presses the Win Key by mistake, press the Oh-No-You-Don't key (see your 
Command Summary card). Players who jump the gun have their turn terminated and 
their Rascal stripped of its power and zapped to a random location on 
Laustenfownd.
7

XJGT RASCAL REFERENCE MANUAL
Game Levels
There are three game levels in Robot Rascals: beginner, standard, and advanced.

Beginner -- At the beginner level Rascals cannot be damaged, their tractor beams are
three times stronger than at the advanced level (so it's easier to find things), items can't
be placed or thrown into the lakes, and only good global events occur. All special (white)
artifact cards (Killer Kard, Cosmic Cheat, and both Wild Cards) should be removed from
the item card deck. "Pass the Trash Left," "Pass the Trash Right," and all three "Force a
Swap" cards should be removed from the luck deck. (For a super-beginner game in which
hands do not change after the deal, don't use the luck cards at all.)

Standard -- At the standard level Rascals have half the chance of being damaged as
they do at the advanced level, items can't be in the lake, tractor beams are twice as
strong as at the advanced level, and the "No Home," "Items Reversed," and "Lakes Dried
Up" global events don't occur. The "Killer Kard" should be removed from the item deck
and both "Pass the Trash" cards should be removed from the Luck deck.

Advanced -- At the advanced level everything goes. The full deck of item and luck
cards should be used, any global event can occur, items can begin in lakes or can be dropped
in the lakes during play (just stand next to the lake and select drop), Rascals have a
moderate chance of being damaged, and their tractor beams are weak. In addition, there
is also a second way to win at the advanced level.  If a player returns home with the
same number of negative items as the cards that were dealt, they win. For instance, if
four item cards were dealt to each player, anyone can win by either collecting the four
items that match the assigned cards, or by ignoring their cards and returning home with
four bad items. Finally, in the advanced game players can choose yellow as the color for
their robot and become almost invisible against the background of Laustenfownd. Good
luck.
8

Cards
The following sections describe all of the cards used in Robot Rascals.

Item Cards -- Item cards are distributed by Robotics Unlimited's Random Supply and
Demand Generator (patentpending) to assign the items your Rascal must search for. They
are divided into four card categories; neutral, bad, good, and special cards.

Neutral Items: These cards match items which have no effect on the operation
of your robot. There are a total of 12 neutral items.

Pixel Pencil            Digital Donut          Transistor Taco
Laser Lamp              Hologram Hat           Micro Magnifier
Buffer Boot             Cobalt Cola            Silicon Salad
Denim Disk              Chocolate Chip         Magnetic Money

Bad Items: These cards match items which have a negative effect on your robot,
usually interfering with one of its functions. The bad effect is present only when
Your robot holds the item, not simply because you hold the card. There are a total
of six bad items.

Artifact                          Effect
Teleport Trap                     No teleporting
Energy Eater                      Low energy
Binary Blinders                   No scanning
Action Anchor                     Move slower
Helpless Handbag                  No shields
Battery Bug                       No battery

Good Items: These cards match items which have a beneficial effect on your
Rascal, usually increasing one of the robot's capabilities. The positive effect occurs
only when your Rascal holds the artifact.
There are a total of six positive artifacts.
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Artifact                          Effect
Portal Passkey                    Free teleports
Dynamo Diamond                    Extra energy
Gamma Glasses                     Free scan
Velocity Vitamin                  Move faster
Super Shield                      Extra shields
Bionic Battery                    Extra battery

Special Cards: These cards do not represent items; they seem to be the result of
some bug in the Random Supply and Demand Generator hardware. We sincerely
apologize for this quirk. Our patented Robotics Unlimited technicians are hard at
work trying to correct this problem, but until they do, the special cards can be an
integral part of your scavenger hunts. There are a total of four special cards.

Card                              Effect

Wild Card                         This matches any item you have in your
                                  hold. (There are 2 of these cards.)

Cosmic Cheat                      This card doesn't need a matching item, so
                                  the holder needs one less item to win.

Killer Kard                       No item matches this card; you must pass it
                                  to another player or discard it to win.
                                  (Unless you're going for the 4 bad item win
                                   available in the advanced game.)

Luck Cards -- Each scavenger chooses a luck card at the beginning of the turn. There
are seven types of luck cards; each provides a way to change the item cards you or your
opponents hold. When you change anyone's item cards, you change the items that player
must find in order to win.
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Take a Card: Allows you to take a new item card from either the face up (discard
pile), or the face down stack, then discard a card - either one of your existing item
cards or the new one you just drew.

Steal a Card: Allows you to draw an item card from any other player.  Then
either give the card back if you don't want it, or give that player one of your other
item cards.

Force a Swap: Allows you to designate two players who must simultaneously
draw one item card from each other's hands.  You can include yourself as one of the 
two swapping players.  The participants cannot swap back unless both agree.

Force a Show: Allows you to choose another player who must show his or her
item cards to all the other players. The chosen scavenger must hold up the cards
one at a time and call out the name of each item in turn.

Pass the Trash to the Right:Every player passes one item card to the player
on his or her right. (You can't look at the card passed to you until you have passed
a card.

Pass the Trash to the Left: Same as "Pass the Trash: Right" but in the
Opposite direction.

No Luck: Drawing this card means no players can change their hands this turn..

Global Events                             
At the beginning of every round of turns, global events occur on Laustenfown that affect
the operation of the robots. For instance, if an "Items Reversed" event occurs, then all of
the good items become their negative Counterparts and vice verse. If your Rascal is at
home when a "Home is Closed" event happens, it is teleported to, a random location on
Laustenfownd and no Rascal can enter its home during that round.
11

Global events are also controlled by the game level you are playing. For instance, only
helpful events such as "Free Teleports, or "High Energy" occur at the Beginner level.
Robotics Unlimited has recorded a total of 14 global events that occur on Laustenfownd.

          High Energy                   Low Energy 
          Free Teleports                No Teleporting
          Fast Movement                 Slow Movement
          Home is Free                  Home is Closed
          Free Scanning                 No Scanning
          Lakes Dried Up                Items Reverse
          No Stealing                   No new Shields

Actions
There are four actions that your Rascal needs to perform repeatedly as you play Robot
Rascals; moving, teleporting, going home, and using control options. These actions are
described in the following sections.

Moving -- Move your Rascal by pushing the joystick in the direction you want to go.

Teleporting - Move your robot onto the base of a teleport terminal. The terminal
activates and begins radiating teleport energy. Use the joystick to move the energy beam
in the direction you want to teleport. Push the joystick button to send your Rascal to the
receiving teleport in that direction. You can teleport to any corner terminal from the
center terminal, and from a corner terminal to the center or to either adjacent corner
terminal.

          Teleport Tip: Your Rascal doesn't have to leave the terminal it just
                        arrived at in order to scan. To teleport elsewhere after
                        the scan, jiggle the joystick to move your robot enough
                        so the teleport terminal reactivates.
12

Going Home --If your Rascal has collected all of your assigned items, or if it is
damaged, you must get it home. Move your Rascal onto the blue dome to enter the
dwelling. If your Rascal requires repairs, the repairs are made by one of Robotics
Unlimited's certified technicians. See "Winning" above if you have collected all of your
items. At home, other robots can't steal from you; but you also can't save up energy for the
next turn.

Control Options -- Additional actions your Rascal needs to perform during your turn
are accessed through the control options menu. Bring up the control options menu by
pressing the joystick button without moving the joystick. (Your robot doesn't use energy
while the control options menu is up.) The control options menu appears in the terrain
window and contains the following options:

Scan: Selecting this option brings up an additional menu that shows all the
existing items on Laustenfownd. Selecting an item from the menu puts your Rascal in
scan mode. If the robot scans quickly, the selected item is very close. If the scan is
slow, the item is far away.

When your Rascal ends its scan it points in the general direction of the item and a
direction message appears in the message window. The Rascal remains pointed in
the direction of the artifact as it moves; it is "on a point." Eventually the robot
drops "off the point" and the message in the message box disappears. This signifies
that it's time to scan again.

Continue this process of scan-move-scan-move and your Rascal will eventually come
to the location of the item. When you scan at the item location, your Rascal finds
the item and pulls it into the hold with a tractor beam.

Move: Selecting this option returns your Rascal to free movement mode. Use this
option if you accidentally bring up the control options menu when you really want to
move.
13

Drop: Selecting this option allows you to remove an item from your robot's hold
and drop it to the ground In the advanced level game, your Rascal throws the
selected artifact into the water if it is standing next to a lake (see "Game Levels;
Advanced").

Quit: Selecting this option ends your turn before your Rascal's energy is depleted
If your robot has enough energy left, you can create defensive shields (this option
isn't offered if a global event or robot damage precludes it).  Defensive shields
make it harder for an opponent's Rascal to steal from your robot during its down-
time.

Surplus energy remaining after you have erected shields is stored in your Rascal's
battery where it increases by 50% by your next turn. For instance, if your Rascal has
an energy level of 6 when you quit your turn, that energy will have increased to 9
and is added to the new energy your robot receives at the beginning of your next turn.
If you end your turn at home, your energy will not be stored

Stealing and Shields
You can steal from any other scavenger's Rascal by bumping it with yourown If the other
robot has erected shields, each of your bumps has a 50% chance of knocking down a
shield.  If the Rascal has no shields, or YOU' Rascal has penetrated them, you are
presented with a list of the items in that robot's hold and you can then take any one item.
To take another item, bump into the defenseless robot again Note:.This doesn't change
the item assignment for any scavenger; item assignment is only affected by luck cards. See
"Cards" above.

Damage
In the standard and advanced games, your robot can sustain damage while moving on
Laustenfownd. A shield generator can break, making it impossible to put up shields; the
energy producer can break, so you only get half the energy allotted to You each turn; the
motor can break, cutting your speed in half; and the controller can break, making it very
difficult to steer. Any damage you sustain is repaired when you return home.
14

Your robot's state of repair is shown on the schematic in the status box onscreen. A
flashing spot on the head means "damaged controller"; on the feet it means "damaged
motor"; on the body it means "damaged energy generator"; and if there's a flashing aura
around your robot, the shield generator is damaged.

VARIATIONS
Because the cards play a key role in Robot Rascals, you can create variations just by
changing which cards you use and the rules that govern them. You can deal hands of
either three or five item cards for shorter or longer games, for instance. Or, you can add or
subtract luck cards to change the element of chance in the game. Here are five variations
and, of course, you can invent your own.

Bill's  Poker
Shuffle the item cards and remove one. If it is the Wild Card, Cosmic Cheat, or Killer
Kard, return it to the deck and pick again. Place the chosen card face up where all can see
-- it is now the "common card." Now deal four cards to each scavenger as usual. To win, a
scavenger must find the four assigned items, as well as the item on the common card.

Roll 'em
Deal four cards as usual, and at the beginning of turns 2, 4, 6, and 8, all scavengers place
one of their cards face up where everyone can see it. Play proceeds normally except that
the face up cards can't be stolen or swapped as a result of the luck cards. Another
variation would require that items matching the face up cards can't be stolen.

Pass the Trash
Deal four cards as usual, but at the beginning of all even numbered turns (2, 4, 6, etc.), all
scavengers simultaneously pass one card to the scavenger on the left.
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Pass the Killer
Once fhe Killer Kard is in someone's possesion: it Can only be passed to another player
with a "Steal a Card" or "Pass the Trash" luck card-it cannot be discarded to the
discard pile while using a "Take a Card" luck card.

Happy's Hand
you can't discard a bad item card unless you can show that you currently hold one or more
additional bad item cards However, you can pass bad item cards to other scavengers
regardless of how many you currently hold.
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STRATEGY HINTS
In addition to this wonderful Scavenger's Guide, the astounding, new and improved XJGT
Rascal, and the revolutionary E-Z Control software, you are also entitled to the
following strategy tips. Collected from Robotics Unlimited's most successful veteran
scavengers, we have compiled this section to help our new scavengers enjoy the most
profitable scavenging ventures possible. And, if you call before midnight tonight, you'll
also receive the amazing new Pocket Scanner absolutely free!

Dan "Mr. Energy" Bunten
I almost hate to give this away in case my opponents are reading, but my most important
hint is to save energy! Always leave at least a quarter tank of energy in your robot at the
end of a turn. You earn 50% interest on what's left in your battery and this combined with
the new energy should keep you well stocked. In fact, I generally try to slowly build up
my energy until I'm leaving half a tank each turn and getting almost a full bar the next
turn. With this much energy, I can take advantage of any opportunity to make a "sweep"
win. (A win that develops too slowly -- or "shows" too soon -- gives other folks too many
chances to stop me.)

Don't worry about holding bad item cards, they discourage other players from stealing
your cards. Also, if you have both a good and bad item, they cancel each other out and act
as two neutral items. (And in case of an "items Reversed" global event, you won't be hurt.)

Always end your turn with a scan. This way if the next global event is "No Scanning,"
you already have a good idea of where your item is located while other players waste a
turn. Try to learn to read your scans. If your robot does a really slow scan, you can usually
assume the item is diagonal from you.

Keep an eye on other players and what they are looking for. If it's a good item, they may
find it for you. If it's a neutral item, they may decide to give you that item card later and
then you'll know where it is. If they find out an item is in the lake, remember it. They
may try to give you that card later and you don't want to waste time looking for it. If
they're after several bad items, make sure they haven't located them and are waiting for
17

a turn when they can pick them all up and return home for a "win with bad items." (This
can be a good strategy for you , however.)

Finally, here's a trick for players that keep messing with your hand. If someone steals a
card from you that you already have the item for, go to the nearest lake and toss that
item in.

Mark "Merciless" McElroy
Be ruthless. Twist every aspect of the game to your advantage. Steal to irritate, not just
to survive. Steal from players with three or more items that might be close to winning.
Steal when someone is near enough to steal from you or finds an item that you need. But
don't get carried away, stealing takes time and energy.

When you steal cards, notice who's been too quiet lately. They might have the cards you
want. When people steal cards from you, threaten to change any card they take into a
"killer card" by chucking that item in the lake. Try to get other people to agree to "swap
back" when forced to swap, but rarely agree to their offer of the same deal -- when
people don't want to swap cards they usually have something you could use.

Don't be afraid to pick up the Killer Card from the discard pile. With all the passing
that goes on, chances are you'll be able to get rid of it, and in the meantime it tends to
keep people from stealing cards from you. Gang up on people that are close to winning. If
you see someone with three items, make sure everybody else knows about it so you won't be
the only player trying to steal something to keep them from winning.

Alan "Nice Guy" Watson
My two children (ages 5 & 7) and I like to play our version of Robot Rascals at the
"STANDARD" level, but using the "BEGINNER" card setup. My five year old doesn't
like other players changing the cards he holds, and both kids dislike stealing items and
having items stolen. The resulting game keeps the challenge of finding items with risk of
damage, but reduces conflict between players. The kids get extra energy so I don't win all
the time. In fact, I don't think I've won yet! Maybe I should get the extra energy...
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I spent a lot of time with the robots while making and playing Robot Rascals and was
surprised to find that they had feelings and ideas about themselves, humans, and the
game. Let me share Some of my discoveries with you.

Belbot was the original Rascal.  "The old one knows all," and perhaps that's why he's
rather arrogant.

Sphero was designed for smooth,open terrain and was never meant to be a Rascal. But it
plays with such enthusiasm and effort and wanted  to be a Rascal so badly, that we had
to give in.

Ize has rhythm and knows how to use it.

Trac is a mover on any terrain.  Send him anywhere, but keep him moving.  The only thing
Trac likes about scanning is going in circles.

Liz suffers from an identity problem.and doesn't think she looks like a robot-or
anything else for that matter. I think sheb looking for more than artifacts when she
plays.

Birt seems preoccupied with form, paying more attention to the performance of a given
task than the purpose, He may require more human guidance than the others.

Tiny was shy until he realized that size wasn't important and now he's 100% Rascal.
Dont underestimate Tiny.

Robbo is a robot's robot.  He originally entered the game as a toy, but his ability to play
around lessened as his game skills grew.  Robbo is now precise and accurate-but is he a
Rascal?

Millie is a good looker (that's a good scanner in rascal terms) but there's more to Mille
than just a good scan. Her calm and efficient manner make her a tough competitor.

I've known Mule longer than any of the others.  Even though he's as stubborn as ever, he's
never been happier. Now he doesn't have to be kept in a corral or led by a tether.
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What do M.U.L.E., The Seven Cities of Gold, Heart of
Africa, and Robot Rascals Have in Common?
Ozark Softscape, of course. M.U.L.E. not only gave serious competition to multi-player
board games, but also racked up a total of nine awards. The Seven Cities of Gold, with its
geographically correct dynamic game map kicked off a whole new genre of entertainment
software and won a total of seven awards in the process. Heart of Africa took computer
gaming into the deepest darkest jungles of Africa -- and the theaters of Europe. It was
the first software package to be previewed on the silver screen in European theaters.
Now there's Robot Rascals. "I wanted to do a game I can play with my family when we
get together at Christmas," says Dan Bunten. "M.U.L.E. is just a little too complicated to
include the younger family members. So the challenge was to make a game that I can
enjoy with even the trickiest of my M.U.L.E. playing companions, but still enjoy if I'm
playing against 7 year-olds."

Is there an award for "First Great Family Computer Game"? Maybe not now, but we have
a feeling there may be one soon...

CREDITS
Game Design and Programming:
Dan Bunten and Alan Watson (Ozark Softscape)
Producer: David Grady
Assistant Producers: Shelley Day and Happy Keller
Technical Director: Jeff Johannigman
Product Manager: Chris Garske
Art Director: Nancy L. Pong
Package Design: William Gin
Package Art: John Mattos
Documentation: David K. Simerly
Manual Illustrations: Richard Antaki
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