WALL PRIMER


Manual of the Wall Game

First basic rule:
Whoever doesn't stick to the rules, is a killjoy.

Second basic rule:
Art means to play, but to play doesn't mean it's art.

Third basic rule:
Insight leads to creation.

Fourth basic rule:
Abolish what is being created.

Fifth basic rule:
Everything is nothing and nothing is everything.

Sixth basic rule:
That's what it's all about, wall yourself out.

The ten rules of the game

1.) What is the aim of the game?
The aim is to wall yourself out, i.e. to join every one of your cards to those of the other players.

2.) Who can take part in the game?
All who don't want to wait any longer. The game is destined to two to four persons or groups of persons.

3.) How many cards are there?
The game consists of 89 cards( Elements of Wall IV ) and 21 Jokers. Each Element fuses with the next, i.e. they link up to form a coherent Wall of 89 cards. Only the two end-pieces don't yet have any sequel.

4.) How does one recognize whether a card is upside down?
The JL mark on the back of the cards allows to distinguish top and bottom. Often this will not be immediately understood just by watching the motifs on the Wall Elements, since some of them are standing on their heads.

5.) Are the cards distributed at the beginning?
No. They are shuffled and put facedown on a pile in the middle of the tabel.

6.) Why the dice?
The one who reaches the highest number of pips may start. The number of pips determines the number of cards which the first player may take from the pile. The dice are thrown clockwise and cards taken by each player in turn.

7.) Why the jokers?
Jokers are used to assemble two or three Wall Elements that belong together into segments of four cards. With four cards, one obtains a "Wall Segment", which can be laid out in the middle of the table. Once it's a players turn, he or she may add cards and keep the jokers she or he is replacing.

8.) How are the Wall Segments connected to shape the Wall?
While the game is advancing, several Wall Segments are assembled in the middle of the table. Once a player realizes that two Wall Segments fit together, he or she will call out: "Wall in sight!" (Insight leads to creation.) Then she or he may join the Segments in a "Block". The player needs not wait her or his turn, since insight happens all of a sudden. Blocks contain at least eight cards fitting together. Jokers may only hang onto the ends of the Block.

9.) What happens once all cards from the pile are distributed?
Now the dice are no longer needed and the players may act spontaneously on condition of recognizing a continuation of the Wall, fitting Segments or Blocks of the Wall together, until they have walled themselves out.

10.) When does the game end?
The game never ends! It surpasses time and space. The Wall is growing and new Elements are added from the painter's studio continually.