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Labyrinth (paper-and-pencil game)


Labyrinth (or Terra Incognita) is a logical game played with pencil (or pen) and paper by three or more participants. One participant, known as the "game master" or "game leader", designs the labyrinth map, sets the game rules, and announces results of every move. The other players attempt to traverse the labyrinth, trying to reveal the labyrinth design and achieve the objective (usually, it consists of finding the treasure and exiting the labyrinth with it).

This game was created in Soviet Union, most likely in the 1970s. It was quite popular among high school students and in some colleges and university around the country.

At least two players and the game master (three people altogether) are required. For beginners that might be enough but for advanced players it is recommended to have at least three players. Having more than five players (six people) is not advisable (but possible).

Each participant should have a notepad or notebook, preferably with graphed paper (as a matter of fact, using graphed paper is highly recommended), and a pen or a pencil (pencil with a soft eraser is recommended).

Usually, when there are N participants they play a series of N games where they take turns serving as game masters (one game each). The set of rules is agreed upon before the series and should not be changed between the games.

Game ends when there is only one of the players left alive, or when one of the players exits labyrinth with the Treasure(s).

Each player should keep track of everyone's movements and directives/requests, trying to recreate the labyrinth structure in his/her own notepad. Good understanding of logic, planar (two-dimensional) geometry and orientation would certainly be a big advantage when a player tries to "glue" together pieces of the labyrinth from smaller maps of their own and other players' trajectories.

After learning the labyrinth parameters each player (in secret) tells the game master the cell where he wants his/her to be placed at the beginning of the game. One common variation - game master places the players' markers randomly so the players do not know their initial positions.

After this the game master makes announcements about type of cells where each player is located, and if necessary informs players whether their markers have been automatically moved or affected in any other way.

Each player is equipped with starting kit (arsenal) which contains a specific set of weapons. Example: one grenade, five bullets and a knife. Variations are possible (absence of knife etc).

Players make their moves in turn. They can:

They can also

Any combination of the weapon use directives can be used together with any type of step request.

When a 's step part of the request/directive is given the game master tries to move the marker in the requested direction. Then the game master announces the result. The result could be


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