- BGG rank
- BGG #29,311
- BGG rating
- 4.8
Quelf Jr.
- 3–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,259
- BGG rating
- 5.2
Mad QUAO
2013
Rules assistance for Mad QUAO
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–8 players
- 10 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Mad QUAO
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mad QUAO is a board game released in 2013 for 3–8 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Matthew Rivaldi and Bart Bernhardt and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Ladder Climbing.
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About the game
In this sequel to QUAO (pronounced "cow"), The Farm continues to be run under the Iron Hoof of the bovine dictator, QUAO, but as time goes on she is becoming increasingly bizarre and whimsical in her demands! Players must not violate her strange rules or those of her crazed consort, BullyQ, while attempting to rise further in her favor, or possibly even overthrow her rule. Mad QUAO is a lightweight hierarchy card game with a few twists. Players take turns playing cards on a central pile and drawing new cards, seeking to empty their hands as soon as the draw deck runs out. The order that players go out determines the hierarchy for the next round. But at the beginning of each round, the QUAO adds a new bizarre QUAO Rule Card to the game. If a player breaks a QUAO Rule, they must draw a card – and so must all of the lower-ranked players. (Of course, the player who caught them gets immunity!) Over the course of the game, other special cards may come up. Bully Rules are similar to QUAO Rules, but affect only one player. In addition, the lower-ranked players have access to a few special Wild Cards in the deck, but they require players to perform stunts. The end result is a card game in which you can rise from the ranks of the chicken proletariat to ruler of The Farm through good play and a lot of luck, but you might also have to win a fashion runway walk-off, talk only through a sock puppet, and never say the word "turn". Good luck, QUAOmrade!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Wiggity Bang Games
Questions and answers
Mad QUAO supports 3–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Mad QUAO is 10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Mad QUAO for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Mad QUAO has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Mad QUAO belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Ladder Climbing. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Mad QUAO are: Matthew Rivaldi and Bart Bernhardt. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Mad QUAO as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.