ARE YOU OK? LET’S TALK ABOUT IT™ — COMPLETE HOW-TO-PLAY GUIDE

ARE YOU OK? LET’S TALK ABOUT IT™ — COMPLETE HOW-TO-PLAY GUIDE

A conversation game for emotional wellness, connection, and authentic expression.

SECTION 1 — GAME OBJECTIVE

Purpose:

To help players develop deeper connection, communication skills, emotional awareness, and honest conversation — through meaningful, fun, guided prompts.

Goal for Players:

• Answer prompts openly and honestly • Listen with curiosity • Build trust and connection • Explore thoughts, memories, and feelings at a pace that feels safe

There are no winners or losers — the “win” is emotional growth and authentic conversation.

SECTION 2 — WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE DELUXE PACK

• 247 Cards across 5 categories • Questions • Statements • Topics • Actions • Wild Cards • Category Die (6 faces: Q / S / T / A / Wild / Free Choice) • Tier Die (Light / Medium / Deep) • 4 Tokens (used for optional modes) • Placement Mat (Sold separately) • Instruction Card + Hotline Card

(Nothing below spoils card prompts or reveals content.)

SECTION 3 — TABLE SETUP & LAYOUT

1. Place the Placement Mat in the Center

It includes zones for:

• Draw pile • Discard pile • Player decision space • Dice landing area

2. Shuffle Each Category Separately

You can:

• Keep the full deck together, or • Create separate piles for each category (recommended for dice modes)

3. Put Tokens Within Reach

• Only used for certain variations.

4. Each Player Gets 1 Safe Word

A phrase (e.g., “Pause,” “Pass,” “Later”) to skip any card without pressure.

SECTION 4 — THE CORE TURN FLOW (ALL MODES USE THIS)

STANDARD PLAYER TURN

1. Roll or draw (depending on mode)
2. Reveal the card
3. Read the prompt aloud
4. Complete the prompt
5. Optional: let players ask 1 follow-up question
6. Place card in discard pile
7. Pass turn to next player

PASS RULE

Any player may:

• Pass • Ask for a new card • Flip to Light Tier variation without penalty.

SECTION 5 — GAME MODES (NO SPOILERS)

Below are all the ways to play, from simplest to most advanced.

MODE 1 — “NO DICE NEEDED” (FAST START MODE)

Perfect for 2–10 players, all ages 12+

How to Play

1. Place all cards together OR separate by category.
2. On your turn, draw any card you want • Blind draw • Pick by color/category you’re curious about
3. Read it aloud and respond.
4. Others may respond too (optional)
5. Next player goes.

Why Players Love It

• No structure needed • Perfect for circles, therapy groups, classrooms • Lets players self-regulate intensity

MODE 2 — CATEGORY DIE ONLY

How It Works

1. Roll Category Die
2. Draw from the matching pile
3. Read & respond

Category Die Faces

• Q — Question • S — Statement • T — Topic • A — Action • Wild — Any category / player’s choice • Free Choice — Ask someone else to pick your card for you

Purpose

Gives direction without controlling emotional depth.

MODE 3 — TIER DIE ONLY

(For Light / Medium / Deep selection)

How It Works

1. Roll Tier Die
2. Draw a card from any category
3. Use the Tier Die roll to decide HOW deep to answer • Light → Simple, surface-level • Medium → Personal, thoughtful • Deep → Vulnerable, emotional truth

The Card Stays the Same — the DEPTH changes.

Example (non-card example):

Prompt: “Talk about something that motivated you recently.”

• Light → “A quote I saw online.” • Medium → “A friend who showed up for me.” • Deep → “A struggle that forced me to grow.”

(This does NOT spoil any real card.)

MODE 4 — FULL GAME MODE (BOTH DICE)

How It Works

1. Roll Category Die
2. Roll Tier Die
3. Draw from that category
4. Answer using the Tier depth level
5. Others may add to the conversation

Best For

• Date nights • Game nights • Social settings • Workshops & group therapy

This mode creates balanced pacing with randomness, emotional depth, and variety.

MODE 5 — TOKEN CHALLENGE MODE

(Optional, fun, mildly competitive)

Use the 4 tokens:

• Mirror Token — Another player must answer your card with you • Challenge Token — Skip your card but give a harder one to someone else • Pass Token — Use to avoid 1 unwanted prompt • Connection Token — Give to someone when their answer impacted you

How to Play

Each player starts with 1 token (or none; up to you). Use tokens strategically during the game.

MODE 6 — GROUP SHARE CIRCLE

(Perfect for classrooms, workshops, therapy groups)

1. Place 1 deck in the middle.
2. Facilitator draws the card.
3. Everyone answers the same prompt.
4. No dice needed.

Rules

• No interrupting • No correcting someone’s feelings • No uninvited advice

MODE 7 — TWO-PLAYER DEEP MODE

1. Use both dice OR no dice
2. Each person answers every card
3. After each card, ask: “Anything you want me to understand better?”

Very intimate, powerful for couples, friends, or parent–child conversations.

MODE 8 — SOLO REFLECTION MODE

Use the deck for:

• Journaling • Self-reflection • Meditation • Nightly check-ins

Draw a card and write for 5 minutes.

MODE 9 — SPEED ROUND

Timed: 30 seconds per card.

Good for: • Workshops • Icebreakers • Warm-up games

MODE 10 — “BUILD A STORY” MODE (FUN & LIGHT)

(Uses only Topic + Wild Cards)

Players take turns drawing Topic/Wild cards

→ Build a group story → Add 1–2 sentences each → Mix humor + insight

MODE 11 — THERAPIST / FACILITATOR MODE

(Boundaries + Safety Built In)

1. Facilitator controls card draws
2. Players respond voluntarily
3. Safe word encouraged
4. Tier level may be capped (Light/Medium only)

Used in school groups, therapy groups, or corporate wellness.

SECTION 6 — SAFETY GUIDELINES

1. Safe Word Rule

Players may skip any card for any reason.

2. No Fixing People

Players share to be heard, not corrected.

3. Confidentiality Rule

What is shared stays in the circle.

4. Emotional Check-in

Start with:

“On a scale of 1–10, how present do you feel?”

End with:

“What do you need before we close the game?”

SECTION 7 — GAME ENDING OPTIONS

Choose any:

• Finish when each player has answered 5–10 cards • When dice say Wild 3 times • When someone receives 3 Connection Tokens • When group feels complete

SECTION 8 — REPLAYABILITY WITHOUT SPOILING

The deck is designed so:

• Cards feel new in different contexts • Tier Die changes depth • Different people create different conversations • Wild Cards + Tokens introduce fresh dynamics • Solo vs group modes feel completely different

SECTION 9 — ADVANCED VARIATIONS (OPTIONAL)

A. Emotional Ladder Mode

Players choose: • Start at Light tier • Move to Medium after 3 rounds • Move to Deep only if group agrees

B. Blind Draw Roulette

Deal 3 cards face down → Player picks 1 → Other 2 go back unseen

C. Reverse Turn Mode

Player rolls dice → Gives the card to another player instead of answering

D. “Share or Swap” Mode

Draw a card You may: • Answer it • Swap with another random card • Lose your turn

SECTION 10 — WHAT NOT TO DO

• Don’t force deep answers • Don’t judge or mock answers • Don’t pressure someone to open up • Don’t use the game to interrogate someone • Don’t skip the safety rules in emotional settings