The basic game of Truth or Dare is fairly well-known. My circle of friends plays a slightly-modified version.
At the beginning of the game, the playing order is decided. The order is usually clockwise or counter-clockwise, but sometimes (perhaps if seating arrangement isn't fixed or CW and CCW can't easily be determined) then any other order will do. If Shawn is playing, his turn should be last. Certain other game parameters should be decided at the beginning of the game; they are described below, with the game modifications to which they are relevant. Optionally, some players may exclude themselves from taking turns, but remain eligible targets.
In each round of the game, players take their turns in order. A game should end at the end of a round, if possible. When it's a player A's turn, he chooses another player (player B) and asks, "truth or dare?" Depending on the response (which may be "surprise me") player A then asks player B a revealing question or gives player B a specific instruction. Player B can ask for clarification. Player A's turn is over when player A (or a consensus of players) is satisfied that player B has satisfactorily responded.
Vid's Style Truth or Dare involves a point system. The primary reason for points is to avoid players' hard limits without making the game too boring, but it also allows a means to bend the basic rules fairly, and to declare a winner at the end of a game. A player cannot spend or transfer a point he does not have.
Points can be used for a number of things:
Points can be earned for asking an exceptionally creative or entertaining truth or dare, or for an exceptionally creative or entertaining fulfillment of a truth or dare. A majority vote (or informal consensus) is required to award points in this manner.
Points can be obtained by downgrading one's clothing privileges, as explained below.
At any time, for any reason, a player may transfer a positive number of points to another player, if the player has sufficient points to cover the transfer.
If the game is expected to be short, with consensus of the players, the game can start with each player having one point initially. Otherwise, most games will start with each player having zero points.
The easiest way for a player to gain points is by reduction of clothing privileges. Clothing is divided into three (sometimes four) categories. A player's clothing privilege determines how many different categories of clothing the player can wear at a time. Just as a player can gain points by reducing his clothing privilege, he must spend points to raise his clothing privilege. At the beginning of the game, each player's clothing privilege starts at the lowest possible level that would allow the player's state of dress at that time, unless that player is nude at the start of the game, in which case the player's clothing privilege is one category.
There may be three or four clothing categories, depending on game conditions. Clothing categories are as follows:
At the start of the game, it should be decided how expensive clothing categories will be, and whether it's a three-category or four-category game. One of several possible points/clothing scales (henceforth P/C scales) should be chosen; the P/C scale is referred to by the points difference between nudity and full clothing privilege. The table below indicates the P/C scales, stated as the points difference between each clothing privilege level and full clothing privilege.
| P/C Scale | Clothing Privilege | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 2⁄3 or 3⁄4 |
1⁄3 or 2⁄4 |
Nude or 1⁄4 |
Nude (4-cat) |
|
| 1-Point Nudity | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | n/a |
| 2-Point Nudity | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | n/a |
| 3-Point Nudity | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5-Point Nudity | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
The P/C scale should be based on how much risk or discomfort is involved with nudity. An indoor game with sufficient heat and privacy for comfortable nudity should use the 1-Point Nudity P/C scale. An outdoor game in warm weather or a secluded location might use the 2-Point Nudity P/C scale. A game in a public and/or cold setting might use the 3- or 5-Point Nudity P/C scale.
This is particularly useful if a player wants to, by means of a dare, cause interaction between two or more other players.
When taking his turn, a player may select more than one target, at the cost of one point per additional target. Each selected target votes for truth or dare, and the majority wins. In case of a tie, "dare" wins. Removing the choice between truth or dare costs one additional point for each target.
Of course, player A could simply dare player B to do something to or with player C, without using the Multiple Targets rule. This works fine if player C agrees, but player C can choose not to consent, in which case player A must dare player B something else. However, Player A may attempt to bribe player C with an offer of points.
When a player is dared to remove articles of clothing, the following terms apply unless otherwise specified in the dare.