About
Do It Yourself SPY is a light-RPG card game where you cooperatively work with found objects from your pockets, house, office, or yard.
Premise: A group of spies decide to not take high-tech gear on missions anymore. You are the spies on a retrieval mission and find you have to make gadgets as you go.
It is light on the role-playing (no lengthy character creation or roll-playing) and game side (no competition to win), and accentuates a short comedy adventure with improv storytelling and physical props.
Player Goal: To be ingenious with what you’ve got and what happens.
Players
2-9+ players
Ideal = 6 players
Variation for 2 players
Age
10+
Play Time
20mins (2 players)
30-45mins (3+ players)
1hr+ (online)
Genres
Spy
Party Game
Comedy Adventure
GM-Less One-Shot RPG
Improv Storytelling Game
#pro-social
#joy
#care
#accessibility
Comments by Cardboard Edison judges:
— “The props mechanic is very clever.”
— “This certainly stands out from other improv games, especially through its scenario cards and use of props.”
— “The use of physical objects in an improv board game is something I have not seen before and will make for replayability.”
PLACE PLAY MODE
Room Play: Play with objects from rooms in your house or office.
Pocket Play: At a convention or festival? Play with objects on your person & immediately around you.
Remote Play: Playing online? Play with objects from rooms in your house or office, with other players via videochat/Zoom.
GADGET PLAY MODE
Story Mode: This is the default mode. Tell stories about how you made the gadgets from the objects.
Craft Mode: Tell stories inspired by the objects AND try to build the gadget from the objects with binding agents such as tape and string.
Organised Play Mode: Craft Play but with everyday objects from second-hand or discount stores, so players can take home the D.I.Y. gadgets.
CARD GAME COMPONENTS
Instruction Booklet
114 Tarot Cards
– 6 Instruction Cards
– 6 Spy Cards
– 12 Enter Mission Cards
– 12 Retrieve Mission Cards
– 12 Leave Mission Cards
– 6 Item Cards
– 24 Gadget Cards
– 6 Place Cards (double-sided)
– 12 Whoopsie Cards
– 6 Complete? Cards
– 12 Debrief Cards
CORE MECHANISMS
Improvisational Storytelling
Found Object & Card Randomisers
Light Role-Play
Cooperative
Shared Goals & Resources