Why Friendship is in the deck
Friendship matters to people more than they often say. In a 2023 Pew survey, US adults rated close friends as more important to a fulfilling life than marriage or having children (Pew Research Center). It’s also among the main worries of young players, which makes it a core card for a 16+ game.
How people read it differently
The split here is partly about language. In American English, “friend” covers a wide range, from a coworker you like to someone you’ve known for 20 years. An MIT exchange between French and American students shows French speakers drawing a sharper line between a copain and an ami, with friendship closer to a yes-or-no category (MIT Cultura). MIT’s guide for international students puts it another way: in the US, friendliness isn’t the same as friendship (MIT ISO).
So at one table, one player may name a long list of friends and another a handful, and both are telling the truth.
There’s a second split: how friendship starts and ends. One forum poster put it plainly: “Romance has a clear script and a huge incentive.” Friendship doesn’t have one (Mumsnet). Players can bring the friend they made without trying, or the one who drifted away.
The other side: Ball
The back of the card is a Ball. It replaced the original object, a Balloon. A ball can bring playground games, teams, and being picked or not picked. It also carries one famous story: soldiers kicking a ball around between the trenches during the 1914 Christmas truce (Wikipedia).
How to play this card
Draw the card. Choose a side: Friendship or Ball. Roll the die. Look at the word from that side.
The die shows MEMORIES, BODY, PEOPLE, VALUES, CHILDHOOD or FUTURE. Say as much or as little as feels right.
The others ask what they’re curious about, gently: What did that feel like? Who else was there? Has it always meant that to you?
Played among friends, this card can turn into a conversation about the friendship at the table. The last round on the rule card fits it well: each player names one thing they discovered about someone at the table today.
Related words
From the Relationships cluster: Loyalty, Trust, Forgiveness. Draw a card in the free online game, see the deck, or read the research.