Master PickUp Classic with this Quick 5-minute Tutorial
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Setting Up the Game
- The Lineup and Trade Deck
- The Trade Block and Deal Cards
- Setting the Court
- Determining the First Turn
- Draw, Trade, and Shoot
- Trading for Players
- Front Office Deal Cards
- Shooting for Points
- Special Abilities
- Conclusion
Introduction
Welcome to a quick PickUp tutorial! In this game, your goal is to build a team of unique basketball players and be the first to score 40 points. Before we get started, let's go over how to set up the game.
Setting Up the Game
To begin, you need to organize and set up the game. The first step is to set up your lineup. Each team starts with a lineup of three rookies and two veterans. These are the lowest value cards in the game, with a combined value of 7. Shuffle these five cards and place them in a pile face down.
Next, set up the trade deck by shuffling the remaining 40 unique player cards and placing them in a pile face down. Each card has key attributes, with the most important being the player trade value.
The Lineup and Trade Deck
The lineup consists of the initial three rookies and two veterans. These cards will be your starting players. The trade deck contains the remaining player cards and will be used for trading throughout the game.
The Trade Block and Deal Cards
The trade block is where players from the trade deck are placed face up. Always keep five cards in the trade block. At the beginning of each team's turn, a timeout can be used to reset the trade block once per game.
Deal cards are used for additional trading options. These cards can either provide trade value or send a card to the retirement pool.
Setting the Court
The court is where your players will be placed. Place a center court token or any similar object to indicate the center position of your court. Each side has three court positions that can be filled with players.
Determining the First Turn
To decide who goes first, each team will roll the dice. The team with the higher roll will go first. Before starting the game, it's important to bump fists with your opponent and wish each other luck. Now we're ready to get into the three main actions in PickUp: draw, trade, and shoot.
Draw, Trade, and Shoot
To start your turn, draw the top three cards from your lineup. This rule applies even if you already have cards on the court. You can place the drawn cards in any open court position or sub out a player already on the court.
The next action is trading. You can trade cards from your hand and court to acquire players from the trade block or front office deal cards. Each trade will send the traded card to your bench.
Lastly, shooting is the final move of your turn. Shoot with one player on the court by pushing them forward and rolling the dice. If the dice roll matches the shooter's shot zones, it counts as a made shot. The number of points scored depends on the shooter's offensive score and the defender's defensive score.
Trading for Players
To trade for players, you need to accumulate trade value. Add up the trade values of the cards on your court and in your hand to determine your trade potential. Use this trade potential to acquire players from the trade block. Trading for multiple cards is possible, but only one card can be acquired per turn.
Front Office Deal Cards
Front office deal cards provide additional trading options. When acquired, these cards are sent to your bench. They can either provide trade value or send a card from your hand, court, or bench to the retirement pool.
Shooting for Points
Shooting is how you accumulate points in PickUp. Each round, you can shoot with one player on the court. Roll the dice and if the roll matches the shooter's shot zones, it counts as a made shot. Points are calculated based on offensive and defensive scores.
Special Abilities
Players may have unique abilities that affect various aspects of the game. These abilities only come into play when the player is on the court. Take the time to read through player abilities on the trade block and court, as they can greatly impact your strategy.
Conclusion
That concludes our PickUp tutorial. Good luck building your team and claiming PickUp glory! Remember, it's just a game, but one that will surely bring excitement and fun.
