TEXT: MENKS™ 
  (Mike’s Extremely Noisy Kombat System) 
  MENKS is a great little combat system designed for cinematic 
  and silly live action roleplaying games.  It was originally written 
  and designed for the LARP: Tales From The Floating Vagabond 
  Square Root of PI, a game that – for innumerable reasons – we 
  will never publish. 
  MENKS is silly.  If you are running a deadly serious game, then 
  this is not the system for you.  We assume, by the way, that if 
  you are reading this, you are at least passingly familiar with live 
  action roleplaying games.  If not, well, learn and come back.  
  We’ll wait. 
  Setup 
  Give each of the players in your game a random set of MENKS 
  cards.  A poor fighter would have 5-7 cards, an average person 
  has 8-10 cards and a good fighter has 11-13 cards.  Don’t give 
  out too many cards or the players will have trouble keeping track 
  of them all and the fights will take longer.  Make sure that your 
  players have some way to keeping track of how many cards they 
  start with.  This will be important after the fight. 
  Take any extra cards and put them in a bag or box available to 
  the players.  A shoebox works swell. 
  Combat 
  We’re not going to tell you how to start the fight.  Nor are we 
  going to tell you what happens when the fight is resolved.  
  MENKS is only good for resolving the fight.  After the fight is 
  over, you will have to decide what happens to the winners and 
  the losers. 
  This is how it works.  The person who started the fight plays one 
  of the four basic cards:  CRASH, BAM, BIFF or POW.  If the 
  player doesn’t have any of the basic cards then he cannot start 
  the fight, perhaps he’s too weak or has a similar reason. 
  After that, players alternate playing cards.  The cards state 
  clearly on them what cards they can be played on. 
  For example, if you have CRASH, BAM, and ZOWIE, and your 
  opponent plays a POW, then you could play your CRASH or 
  your ZOWIE, but not your BAM.  When playing the card, make 
  sure to say the sound effect out loud, otherwise it isn’t noisy. 
  If you can not – or choose not to – play a card, then you lose the 
  fight.  So the object is to play cards in such a way that your 
  opponent cannot play a card.  Of course, since hands are kept 
  private, this can be difficult. 
  There are five special cards: 
  BOOM – After playing this, you can take any card, other than a 
  BOOM, that has already been played in the combat and put it in 
  your hand. 
  ZOWIE – Your opponent must play two cards in a row.  The 
  first card must be played on the ZOWIE.  The second card is 
  played on the first card, as if you played the first card. 
  OOF – Your opponent must discard a card of his or her choice.  
  Place the card at the bottom of the already played cards pile.  
  That card can be taken with a BOOM (unless it is a BOOM 
  itself). 
  THUMP – When you play THUMP, choose a card name 
  (CRASH, BAM, BIFF, POW, BOOM, ZOWIE, OOF, THUMP, 
  or WAHOO).  Your opponent may not play any cards with that 
  name for the rest of the combat.  You can still play them, 
  though. 
  WAHOO – This card can be played on any card, except 
  WAHOO.  Any basic card can be played on it.  It is, in essence, 
  a wild card.  Strategy tip: Save your WAHOOs until you cannot 
  play another card. 
  Multiplayer Combats 
  These should be avoided.  Try to break multiplayer fights into as 
  many one-on-ones as possible. 
  However, if two (or more) people want to attack someone, then 
  that person should play multiple games of MENKS against the 
  attackers at once. 
  So if Gordon and Adrienne are attacking Denis, Denis must use 
  his 
  cards 
  to 
  defend 
  against 
  Gordon 
  and 
  Adrienne 
  simultaneously.  These are considered two separate combats for 
  the purposes of special cards.  He might get lucky and beat one 
  or the other.   
  Or, if Denis knows that Gordon is weak, Denis might choose to 
  lose automatically to Gordon so he can use all his cards in the 
  fight against Adrienne.  Remember, you lose if you cannot play 
  a card or choose not to play a card, even if you can.  You never 
  have to play a card. 
  After the Combat 
  All cards played are put in the box with the extra cards.  The box 
  is then given a hefty shake and players draw out as many 
  MENKS cards as they started with.  
  If you wish to discourage combat, you could have losses of 
  MENKS cards be permanent, or have the loser draw fewer cards.  
  In that case, you probably should give players more cards to start 
  with. 
  MENKS 
  is © ™ 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  
  www.interactivitiesink.com, 
  mike@interactivitiesink.com 
  Free to use as long as you include 
  this information. 
  Game Design and Layout: Mike Young 
  Editor: Val Kilgallon 
   
   
   
   
  
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BAM! 
  Play on: 
  POW  BIFF  BOOM  THUMP 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BIFF! 
  Play on: 
  CRASH  BAM  ZOWIE  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  POW! 
  Play on: 
  BIFF  CRASH  THUMP  OOF 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  CRASH! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  ZOWIE  BOOM 
  WAHOO!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  
  BOOM! 
  Play on BIFF. You may take a card 
  (other than a BOOM!) already played 
  in this combat and put it in your hand!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  BOOM! 
  Play on BIFF. You may take a card 
  (other than a BOOM!) already played 
  in this combat and put it in your hand!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  ZOWIE! 
  Play on POW. Opponent must defend 
  with two cards in a row! 
   
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  ZOWIE! 
  Play on POW. Opponent must defend 
  with two cards in a row! 
   
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  OOF! 
  Play on BAM. Opponent must discard 
  a card of his/her choice! 
   
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  OOF! 
  Play on BAM. Opponent must discard 
  a card of his/her choice! 
   
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  THUMP! 
  Play on CRASH. Choose a card name.  
  For the rest of this combat, opponent 
  may not play a card of that name!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  THUMP! 
  Play on CRASH. Choose a card name.  
  For the rest of this combat, opponent 
  may not play a card of that name!  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink, Ltd.  www.interactivitiesink.com 
   
  WAHOO! 
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  BIFF  CRASH 
  ZOWIE  BOOM  OOF  THUMP  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink  Ltd   www interactivitiesink com 
   
  WAHOO  !
  Play on: 
  BAM  POW  BIFF  CRASH 
  ZOWIE  BOOM  OOF  THUMP  
  MENKS™ © 2001 Interactivities Ink  Ltd   www interactivitiesink com 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Kid Friendly/5. Simple LARPs/MENKS.pdf