History  ·  Short Rules  ·  Terms & Definitions
Fuller Rules  ·  BBC Variation  ·  Union/SCAM Variation  ·  The Future

A "Brief" History

Rumor has it that the Joker game was originally invented by Sam Nia and Co. of the Binghamtom ultimate team (the Binghamton BearCats, BBC, or Big Black...well, whatever). It quickly spread throughout the ultimate world, and is now played by teams up and down the East Coast. And while you don't have to be an ultimate player to play the Joker game, it usually helps.

The Joker game was introduced to Trudge by two legendary figures named Thomas Hermann and Richard Alimi. It seems to have lost some of its popularity, but I seek to restore it to its former glory. Hence, this page. Feel free to introduce your friends to this game. The more who play, the merrier it is. If you need clarification on rules or just ran out of jokers and need a fresh one, feel free to contact us.


The Short Version of the Rules

1. You must have a joker on you at all times. If you don't have your joker, you might be caught, as they say, "with your pants down."
2. If you refuse to drop your pants, you must buy the person who jokered you a penalty prize (a six-pack). The prize should be delivered within a reasonable amount of time.
3. The joker must be it's own entity. It cannot be in your wallet or purse and must not be attached to anything else. Putting it in your socks or visor or boxers is fine. You may also have it out (on a table or something), but it must be within arms reach. Also, keeping extras in your wallet is acceptable.
4. You may be jokered at any time by anyone. The game never stops. You cannot quit.

Terms and Definitions

joker (also jokered, joker-ing, jokers)
v.(tr) 1. To pull out a 'Joker' playing card and show it to someone.

n.     1. One who tells or plays a joke.
        2. A playing card that is not part of the standard 52 card deck. It typicaly says "Joker" on it and displays a picture of a silly man.
        3. A deceptive means of getting the better of someone.
See also: "to pull a joker on"


The Longer Version of the Rules

1. Once you are jokered, you may not move your feet until you either reveal your joker, drop your pants, or agree to the penalty. No running around the corner to drop your pants.
2. Throughout the lifetime of a joker, it may get bent, tattered, ripped, etc. The joker is only valid if more than half (51 %) of the card is still intact.
3. Altered or home-made jokers are allowed as long as it's a real playing card. It must have the word "Joker" on it, and the whole word must be visible.
4. You can only be jokered once per social situation. So, if you were pantsed once at a party, the people who were present can't get you again for the remainder of that party. However, people who were not present may attempt to get you again. The rules are vague about what happens then. Use common sense and good spirit to determine the proper course of action, as well as what constitutes a social situation.
5. If you drop your pants, you must drop them for a reasonable amount of time (a few seconds). No down-and-up crap. Also, you must go all the way down to your underwear. If all you are wearing is underwear, then you are immune. However, if you are not wearing underwear, that does not excuse you. You have to go all the way. Also, swimming trunks and bathing suits DO NOT count as underwear. So watch who you swim with.
6. Joker truces are allowed, if agreed upon by all present. If someone comes later and jokers you, too bad.
7. As with all by-products of ultimate, this game is governed by The Spirit of the Game[see here]. Please exercise good spirit when playing.
8. Clearly, people who are not playing the game cannot be jokered. However, if you get jokered, claiming that you dont play is VERY BAD SPIRIT.
9. Stealing other people's jokers is not allowed. However, jokers are not 'owned' by anyone. So if you find some laying around, feel free to take them. If you take them from someone who does not play the game, its probably a good idea to ask them first. Also, if someone drops their joker and doesn't realize, you are allowed to take it. It's good spirit to return the joker to the person who dropped it (probably after getting them with their own joker for extra humiliation).

Variation: BBC Style Rules ("Original and Definitive")

1. You cannot joker the same person more than once in a day. (contrast with the RPI 'social setting' rule)
2. If you see someone get jokered, you cannot joker that person for the remainder of the day.
3. When you pull down your pants, you have to take them off and hold them up over your head for a second or two before you may put them back on.
4. You cannot invite yourself into the game. Someone who is already in the game must invite you, usually by giving you a joker to start out with.
5. You can quit the game.
6. You cannot joker someone with their own joker. (If you find my joker in my bedroom, you cannot use it against me)
7. When you are jokered, you remove one layer of clothing (bottom half of body). Unlike with RPI rules, being in your underwear does NOT make you immune.
8. Beach Rules: You are not required to carry your joker into the water with you. When you come out of the water, getting your joker must be the first thing that you do, or you are vulnerable.
9. 
   
   The game was originally intended to be a "gentlemen's game". The game would be played by a group of reasonably good friends, and instances of jokering would be uncommon so that everyone would have a chance to forget or misplace their jokers. The game was meant to be kept rather small, hence the rule about inviting others.
   
   Thanks to Erin Redding for her assistance in compiling these rules and suggesting a few interesting modifications

Variation: Union ECP/Albany SCAM -Style Rules

1. Guys remove pants, girls remove tops.
2. You must remove one article of clothing for each joker shown. For example, if 3 people pull jokers on you at the same time, you have to take off 3 pieces of clothing.
3. When you can't remove anymore clothing from the appropriate location, start stripping whatever you have.
4. Once you have taken off the right amount of clothing, no more jokers can be shown. So if two people joker you, and you take off your pants and boxers before anyone else can pull a joker, you are done. The once-per-social-situation rule applies.
5. If you refuse to strip, you buy EVERYONE who jokered you a six-pack.
6. Socks/shoes/jewelry/etc does not count as clothing.

Possible Future Updates (ideas are always welcome)

• Best Joker-Game Stories (tales of those who manned up, or chickened out)
• The Golden Joker Game (a new and untested idea, details to follow)