dice-play How to play...  

 

Beetle

Also known as Bugs.  Only one die is required.  Essentially for children, this game was first marketed by Schaper Toys in 1948 as Cootie.  Players rolled a die and pieced together a plastic flea, according to the numbers rolled, from parts supplied in a box.  It is now just as easily played with a pencil and paper.  Special dice are available that have the six faces marked with letters corresponding to the beetle body parts - B-ody, H-ead, L-eg, E-yes, A-ntenna and T-ail.

Play:

Each player has a pencil and paper and in turn rolls the die and draws a body part corresponding to the number rolled.

  • 1 = Body
  • 2 = Head
  • 3 = A Leg
  • 4 = An Eye
  • 5 = An Antenna
  • 6 = The Tail

A player, however, cannot start drawing the legs, tail, and head until a 1 has been thrown for the body; and cannot draw the eyes and antennae until a 2 has been thrown for the head.  The beetle must have a body, a head, two antennae, two eyes, six legs and a tail.  The player who finishes drawing a beetle first, wins the game.

                                                   

Completed Beetle

Variations:

Use two dice to speed up play, or even develop a more complex beetle to draw.

Another version is played in which players score a point for each part of the beetle they draw.  A series of games are played and the player who reaches an agreed total first (say 50 points) wins.

 

 


Copyright © 2003 - 2008 Spellman I.P. & Media
The content of this page may be circulated and copied in its present original form and in its entirety with no alterations or omissions and for no commercial purpose or commercial gain or profit.   Copyright is retained on all text and illustrations.