Sanity Test for Ascent: The Himalayas

Good organization, complete with a table of contents.

When referencing other parts of the rules in the text, include page number. For example, "see Beginner Mode [on page 15] for details".

Icons and text.

There is some thematic flavor in the Objective. As a simple trick-taking game, this is sufficient, but having a more elaborate introduction would also be fine.

Good. You might want to define Altitude level.

List with quantities, no pictures.

You could mention needing a pencil.

Not needed.

I would like to see images of the special cards where their rules are described.

Pretty straightforward.

There's a period missing.

Not needed.

Pretty good with some clarifications needed.

"As the expedition ascends, each explorer gains supplies (cards), at a rate of one per level.": This is misleading. It sounds like you only get one card each hand, but the total dealt cards (starting hand size) increases.

"may travel individually or as teams of 2 in an expedition of 3 to 8 players": It's not clear how teams work. Are they decided once for the whole game or at every altitude? You can't have equal teams of two with three players. (It's not necessary to repeat the player count.)

1. Deal: Do you shuffle the cards each round or use them until the pile runs out?

2. Trump: "If the card is a Yeti or a Yak, the dealer must choose Trump": not just choose, but declare.

"If the Blizzard or Avalanche is turned up": This should have a bullet point.

3. Bid: "This rule ensures at least one person or team will be set every hand." Define set.

Card Values: "Trump beats all other suited cards": Emphasize suited.

Specialty Card Rules: Mention that they can beat trump.

Monk, Blizzard, and Avalanche: I would say they have a value of 0 and the monk wins the trick only if everyone's card is a zero.

The Blizzard card doesn't seem very worthwhile. How often does someone play the exact card the person chose? Do you keep the blizzard out to remind people on subsequent tricks (Especially if you're at a high altitude)?

Avalanche: "can only affect play at the current Altitude Level": This is extraneous, since its effects are immediate.

"If a Yeti or a Yak leads off a trick, then the other explorers do not have to follow suit and may play any card they like in that trick.": Then how do you determine who wins the trick?

Scoring: "Everyone should keep the tricks they win in front of them in separate piles so they’re easy to count. If playing in teams, one explorer should keep all tricks won by his team." This should be earlier when you describe winning a trick.

Not needed.

Include a tie-breaker, even if it's just continue playing until there is a clear winner.

Most of the questions are minor. How teams work is the biggest caveat.

A few little issues.

Remove the word "should", for example: "The dealer should reveal" and "Each player should bid the number of tricks".

Be aware of led vs lead. "If a specialty card is lead".

The thematic explanations are good, but separate them from the actual rule mechanics. For example, "Yaks can also trot away with the lead after a trick is won, thereby forcing any explorer of the trick-winner’s choosing (including himself) to lead the next trick instead."

I would put examples in italics to clearly separate them.

Very plain.

Good image.

The tagline could be more inspiring.

Excellent.

Excellent.

The pictures are just individual cards; the variety could be better.

Showing all four 1s is not needed.

You could have fewer images by combining several cards into a hand.

I'd like to see the full game components as an unboxing and also a picture of the game in play.

Pretty good. See notes on the same text from the rulebook.

None.