Basic Rules

The **Basic Rules** card is a Meta Rule that has been includeded with every variant deck of Fluxx® as far back as the First Edition of the game that launched in 1996. It has gone through *many* revisions, and started off as being classified a "Special" card. Every version of the card essentially sets the core rule of the game: to draw 1 card and play 1 card. All of them tell players some variation of how to start playing (shuffle the deck, deal 3 cards to each player, and leave the card on the table), as well as art of human hands picking up and playing cards.

## Versions

### First Edition

The very first version of **Basic Rules** came with First Edition. It is unique, because it is the only one with a larger card size and is entirely black and white. The stripe is black with the text "BASIC RULES" in white. The hand art is unique and was never re-used in later Unthemed versions or any Variants. The card back is the same as the rest of the deck, making it relatively easy to lose track of if shuffled in accidentally.

#### First Edition

##### Other Instruction Text

> Start by shuffling the deck and dealing 3 cards to each player. Then place this card in the center of the table.
>
>

##### Other Card-Specific Text

> Draw 1 card per turn.
> Play 1 card per turn.
> No Hand Limit.
> No Keeper Limit.
>
> Leave this card on the table even when these rules are replaced by New Rule cards.
>
>

### 2nd Edition

In 2nd Edition, the card was redesigned significantly. It was the standard Fluxx® card size that's been used ever since. New hand art was used. The stripe became a yellow one similar to that of New Rules, but with orange lines on the left and right of it. And the card back was inverted from the normal card back, sort of: the edge has an odd hard edge of black hashmarks, but everything inside that is inverted. The horizontal title of the card says "Draw 1, play 1" - specifically lowercase "play."

#### 2nd Edition

##### Other Instruction Text

> Start by shuffling the deck and deal 3 cards to each player. Place this card in the center of the table.
>
>

##### Other Card-Specific Text

> Draw 1 card per turn.
> Play 1 card per turn.
> No Hand Limit.
> No Keeper Limit.
>
> Leave this card on the table even when these rules are replaced by New Rule cards.
>
>

### Version 2.1

Very little changed in Version 2.1. Card text is darker, yet identical otherwise, including alignment. The back was changed to have only the Fluxx® text logo inverted, with the rest of the card plain white, no more hashmarks. Everything else remained the same.

### Version 3.0

Even less changed with the card in Version 3.0. Only the horizontal title changed: the capitalization of the word "Play" became uppercase. Everything else was identical to 2.1. Stoner Fluxx First Edition also had this version of the **Basic Rules** card included.

### Version 3.1

In Version 3.1, the **Basic Rules** were redesigned completely. Instead of looking like a single card like the rest of the deck, it featured two images of New Rule cards on it at the bottom - one called *Draw 1* and the other *Play 1*. The Fluxx® text logo was put at the top-left corner of the card, oriented sideways like stripe text is. BASIC RULES is next to that, very bold, filling in the space to the right. Between the top portion and the cards on the bottom portion, there is instruction text telling the player how to set up the game. Each of the card images has its own card-specific text: Draw 1 has "Draw 1 card per turn." and Play 1 has "Play 1 card per turn." The back was also changed to be an introduction of sorts, with the Fluxx® text logo top-left and the Looney Labs logo bottom-right. The back of the card reads:

> A Perfectly Simple Card Game for 2-6 Players
> Simple? Fluxx has but one rule: "Draw 1 card and then play 1 card."
> What cards could you play? Well, you could play Time, or War, or perhaps Love. I shall play Chocolate. It is a fine thing to have Chocolate.
> What's this? You have played the card "Play 2." Well, then, play a second card!
> Don't you know the rule of Fluxx? It is this: "Draw 1 card and then play 2 cards." Well, that's what it is NOW. Perfectly simple.
> The goal of the game? Oh, I'm terribly sorry. No one has played a Goal card yet.
>
>

Below that text is a line, then "Enter the World of Looney Labs Games" in bold.

#### Version 3.1

##### Other Instruction Text

> To begin, shuffle up the deck and deal 3 cards to each player. Choose someone to go first. Keep this card on the table.
>
>

EcoFluxx 1st Edition also included this card.

### Promo

When Version 3.1 released, for a time, Looney Labs made the new **Basic Rules** card available as a Loose Promo.**☮** Whether these were misprints or the reason for it is unknown. This particular printing was *almost* identical to the 3.1 version, with some notable exceptions. The instruction text was closer to the card art, because the cards were taller than they should have been. The stripes on the cards were also larger, with larger text. Print over all is darker, with the Fluxx® text logos being almost entirely black. The text on the back is also slightly different - it is a bit smaller, and thus alignment of the words is different in spots, and the very last line omits the word "card" so it reads "No one has played a Goal yet."

### Family

When Family Fluxx was released, it contained a newer version of the **Basic Rules**. It was very similar with a few exceptions. The Fluxx® text logo on the front of the card was replaced by the new 5-color one on the box. The card art was redone and colorized - the "Draw" hand was picking up cards that had the Fluxx® text logo, and the "Play" hand was playing what seems to be a Goal card. The card stripes were also replaced to match the card style in the deck for New Rules. The back is identical. Both versions of Family Fluxx have the same card.

### Zombie 1.0/1.1

With the design in Zombie Fluxx, there seemed to be a bit of progress, but also some regress. The rainbow text logo got the addition of the ® symbol by it, and the card back returned to the plain Fluxx® text logo on white background (this time with the ® symbol), but the card art went back to the older black and white style. In version 1.1, the cards at the bottom had their stripes changed to orange, as if to signify the transition to Meta Rules that came about in 4.0, but the hand art remained black and white, despite the rest of the deck art being in color.

### Version 4.0

Version 4.0 introduced the concept of the Meta Rule, and made the color changes on the **Basic Rules** permanent going forward. This version of the card had the multi-colored Fluxx® text logo on the front and colored hand art as was introduced in the Family version; the BASIC RULES in big, bold text, the instruction text, and the two-card layout introduced in the 3.1 version, and the card back with ® symbol and orange stripes from the Zombie versions to match Rules Escalation/No Creepers. The instruction text and individual Draw/Play card texts remained the same as they were from Version 3.1.

Other Variants that used this same version of the **Basic Rules**: EcoFluxx 2.0, Martian Fluxx 1.0, Monty Python Fluxx, Pirate Fluxx, Special Edition, Star Fluxx, and Zombie Fluxx 1.2.

### Oz 1.0

Oz Fluxx 1.0 also used the 4.0 version, however the ® symbol on the front Fluxx® text logo is missing in at least one print run. Otherwise, no changes were made for this release.

### Special Edition, second printing

When the second printing of Special Edition was released, the **Basic Rules** card got another makeover. It turned into more of a Meta Rule in that it has an entirely orange border on it, and stylistically it looks like the other cards in the deck that also have the new card frame. The border circles the top section of the card and instructional text, then curves downward in the center of the bottom of that border, splitting off the "Draw 1" and "Play 1" portions, where the card art is. At the top there is the Fluxx® text logo, in a silver color designed to look like it might be metal or chrome - the print is not shiny, however. Below that is "BASIC RULES" in bold, and the instructional text. This version of the card has pretty thin instructional text. The instructional text also changed slightly, to remove the word "up." The art of cards on the previous versions has been removed in favor of simpler areas on the card where you can place draw and play rules to overlap and visually cover the ones on the **Basic Rules** card. The white back with ® symbol continues on. The art itself is the same, except for the card being played - that became an Action with the new card style.

#### Special Edition, second printing

##### Meta Rule Instruction Text

> To begin, shuffle the deck and deal three cards to each player. Choose someone to go first. Keep this card on the table.
>
>

The first printing of Monster Fluxx also contained this card.

### Monster new printing

When Monster Fluxx was reprinted, the only things that changed were the the instructional text, which was made thicker, and the omission of the ® symbol on the front Fluxx® text logo. Everything else remained the same.

### Version 5.0

Version 5.0 introduced some minor changes to the **Basic Rules**. Instead of the previous silver Fluxx® text logo on the front, it was replaced by one that starts out orange and fades to yellow, presumably in association with Meta Rules and New Rules. The card text remained the thicker font as in Monster Fluxx' newer printing. Otherwise, the card is the same as Special Edition, second printing - layout, card back, art, and so on.

Anatomy Fluxx, Holiday Fluxx, Nature Fluxx, and Chemistry Fluxx all use this same version of the **Basic Rules**.

### Regular Show

Regular Show Fluxx has a 2014/S14 copyright on the back. Otherwise, identical to Version 5.0.

Cartoon Network Fluxx has the same card, despite not actually being released until 2015.

### Batman

Batman Fluxx has the same style as Version 5.0, except the orange border was altered to also have a matching Batman logo/style to match the deck, and the addition of copyright text on the back.

### Adventure Time

Adventure Time Fluxx has the same copyright as Cartoon Network and Regular Show Fluxx on the back, except the date was updated to 2015/S15.

### Firefly

The version in Firefly Fluxx has copyright text on the back, and the card background is a textured paper look to match the rest of the deck. Otherwise, identical to Version 5.0.

### Math

Math Fluxx has the same style as Version 5.0, except for the graph paper background to match the deck.

### Drinking

Drinking Fluxx is identical to Version 5.0, but is made of different material (to prevent damage in case of spillage).

### Doctor Who

Doctor Who Fluxx is the same as Version 5.0, except for the copyright on the back.

### Star Trek/TNG

Both Star Trek Fluxx and Star Trek: The Next Generation Fluxx have 2018 copyright text on the back. Otherwise, this version of the **Basic Rules** is the same as Version 5.0.

### Fairy Tale

Fairy Tale Fluxx is the same as Version 5.0, except for the copyright on the back.

### Star Trek DS9

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Fluxx has the same copyright text as Star Trek and The Next Generation, except the year was changed to 2019.

### Jumanji

Jumanji Fluxx is the same as 5.0 but has copyright text and a number printed on the back of the card, 90415ATP (same as Marvel), possibly a print run?**☮**.

### Marvel

Marvel Fluxx is the same as Version 5.0, except the back has a number printed on it, 90415ATP (same as Jumanji), possibly a print run**☮**.

### Star Trek Voyager

Star Trek: Voyager Fluxx Has the same copyright text as Star Trek and The Next Generation, except the year was changed to 2020.

### Spongebob

SpongeBob Fluxx had updated the card slightly, by changing the font, adding a *Spongebob* themed background behind the top section texts, and adding copyright text and a number (00115ATP, possibly a print run**☮**) to the back. The updated font was a bit more round and removed the serif on the *C* in "Choose."

### Astronomy

**Basic Rules** in Astronomy Fluxx is identical to Version 5.0, other than the black background on the front of the card to match the deck.

### Fantasy

The latest version of the **Basic Rules**, as of this writing, started off in Fantasy Fluxx. It is the same as 5.0, but takes on the font changes introduced in Spongebob.

Martian Fluxx v1.1, Oz Fluxx v1.1, and Wonderland Fluxx also include this version.

### Tiny

While not specifically the same card, a version of the **Basic Rules** was included in Tiny Fluxx. It is very similar to the Fantasy version, but smaller, and items are aligned and sized differently, due to the deck's card size.

1. ↑ https://www.looneylabs.com/product-announcements