Sea Dracula

a strange game

by Jake Richmond
and
Nick Smith

Animal City is a magical town full of hardworking
talking animals with crazy names and silly opinions.
The city is famous for it’s nonsensical legal system,
where the lawyers are responsible not just for
prosecuting cases but also for fighting monsters and
investigating crime scenes. This was the legendary
legal system pioneered by that great giraffe lawyer,
Sea Dracula. The proud traditions of the Animal
City legal system have been handed down from
generation to generation, slowly losing their
meaning and becoming strange and obscure. Don’t
mistake the ways of this legal system for those of
your own! The lawyers of Animal City strive only to
win! All other considerations, even the welfare of
their clients and the sanctity of the law, are
secondary. They dance the dance of the animal
lawyers, and mere mortals such as ourselves can
only stand back and watch in awe and terror!
Character Creation
Choose a character card. Each character card
features an illustration of a strange animal and a
Lawyer Stat box. The animal you choose will be the
lawyer you play during this game.
Color your character card. Each section of your
animal character is numbered like a color by
number kit. Sections of the character are numbered
1, 2, 3 and 4. Each Lawyer Stat is represented by
one of the color crayons included with the game.
Blue represents Dancin’
Red represents Fightin’
Yellow represents Investigatin’
Green represents Partyin’
Color your character. You’ll choose your Lawyer
Stats by coloring the numbered sections of your
animal lawyer . If you want Dancin’ to be your best
Lawyer Stat, color all the “4” areas Blue. If you
want Partyin’ to be your worst lawyer stat, color all
the “1” areas Green. Make sure that all areas are
colored in, and that each number are is colored a
different color. Don’t color your “3” area and your
“4” area the same color! That would be stupid.
Next to the picture of your animal is a stat box that
lists your characters 4 Lawyer Stats. Next to
Dancin’ write the blue number
Next to Fightin’ write the red number
Next to Investigatin’ write the yellow number
Next to Partyin’ write the green number.
These are your Lawyer Stats.
Name your Animal Lawyer. Choose a crazy name
for your Animal Lawyer. Don’t choose a normal
name! This is important! Choose a CRAZY NAME!
Also, if your animal is a horse or a beaver or
whatever don’t call it “something horse” or
“something beaver”. That’s just stupid.
Here are some examples of awesome names: Sea
Dracula, Zebra Tiger, Rocket Walrus, Jason
Morningstar, Wheat Beaver, Abacus Rex,
Impressive Snake, Jockstrap Hedgehog, Cactus
Rabbit, Yard Ass, Bat Sandler, Mystery G
Write your animal lawyer’s name down at the top of
your character card.
Lawyer Stats. Each animal lawyer has access to 4
awesome Lawyer Stats!
Dancin’ is used for dancing! When two animal
lawyers disagree they have a dance off! Draw a
number of dance cards equal to your Dancin’ stat
and choose the one your opponent must perform!
Discard the rest.
Fightin’ is used for fighting Bosses that attack
Animal City! Draw a number of dance cards equal
to your Fightin’ stat. Choose the one you will
perform and discard the rest! Remember, dance
cards used during a Boss Fight have special
requirements.
Investigatin’ is used to build a case! Draw a
number of Clue and Witness cards equal to your
Investagatin’ stat and play them during the
Investigation scene.
Partyin’ is used for getting down and funky! Draw
a number of dance cards equal to your Partyin’ stat.
Choose the one you will perform and discard the
rest! Remember, dance cards used during a Party
have special requirements.
Playing Sea Dracula
Sea Dracula is divided into 3 parts, an Investigation
scene, a Courtroom scene and an After party.
Investigation scene
A crime has been committed, and it’s up to the
brave lawyers of Animal City to investigate the
crime scene! The player who owns the game gets to
set the scene, describing the location of the crime
scene and the nature of the crime itself. Murder,
treason and robberies are good crimes to describe.
Parking violations suck. Don’t waste your time with
that. That would be stupid.
Once the scene is set the animal lawyers arrive and
begin their investigation. Each player draws a
number of Clue and Witness* cards equal to their
Investigatin’ stat. Players take turns introducing
these cards into the scene by discovering them. Play
a card and describe how it fits in the scene. Did you
find your clue under the bed? Did you find your
witness in the apartment next door? If you find a
witness make sure to invent a name for them and
write it on the top of the witness card. Here are
some examples:
Playing a Witness card “I enter the crime scene
with my pistol drawn. I hear a sound from the
bathroom, and I hurry to do some investigatin’!
Tearing open the shower curtain, I find Abacus Rex
whimpering and trying to cover his tender bits. I
play the “Abacus Rex” card as a witness”.
Playing a Clue card “While investigatin’ the
kitchen I spotted a half eaten order of egg fooyung
from the Chinese place on 5th street. The victim
hated Chinese food, so it must belong to the perp.
I’ll play the “Chinese Takeout” card as a clue”.
Make sure to put some spice into your descriptions!
Try to role play a bit, for gods sake! Once each
player has had a chance to introduce all their cards
the investigation scene is over.
* Witness cards are simply unused character cards.
Shuffle the unused character cards and Clue cards
together and draw from this pile during the
Investigation scene.
Court scene
The court scene is where all the cool stuff happens!
As animal lawyers it’s your duty to prosecute the
law to the best of your ability.
Opening Arguments. The players take turns giving
their opening arguments, stating who they are and
whom they represent. The player who set the
Investigation scene goes first. Players can represent
the city, the defendant, or anything else they want.*
It’s not uncommon for animal lawyers to represent
other countries, abstract concepts, religions or
shapes and colors. It doesn’t matter who or what
your animal lawyer represents, all that matters is
that they have a theory about the crime that the wish
to prove in court. Or just a theory in general. It’s not
uncommon for a murder investigation in Animal
City to be derailed by a lawyer that wants to prove
that ham is delicious.
Important things to say during the Opening
Arguments:
Tell the court who you are!
Tell the court who (or what) you represent!
Tell the court about the theory you wish to prove
true (this does not have to actually be related to the
crime).
*Multiple animal lawyers can represent the same
party. These lawyers don’t work together. Instead,
they argue different theories of the crime. In Animal
City it’s not uncommon for 5 lawyers to represent
the defendant with no one representing the city!
Guilt and innocence are relative. All that matters is
which lawyer wins!
Calling Witnesses, Introducing Clues and
Requesting a Recess. Examining Witnesses and
Clues is the best part of the Court scene! Spread out
your Witness and Clue cards face up in front of you
so everyone can see them!
Animal Lawyers take turns doing stuff during the
Court scene:
Calling a Witness. Push forward a Witness card
from in front of you. Point to another player (it
doesn’t matter who) and say “I call you
____________”! The player you point to will play
the witness.*Ask the witness whatever questions
you want. The witness can make up whatever
answer they want, but they must answer the
question. Continue until you feel you have proven
your point, then say “I have proven my point and
have no further questions”. If no one objects then must loudly say “I object on these grounds (insert grounds
you will receive a Lawyer Point. here)” and discard a Witness or Clue card. If the animal
lawyer has no cards to discard then they cannot object!
If another Animal Lawyer objects then he can draw
a number of cards equal to his Dancin’ stat and Requesting a Recess. On your turn you can request a
choose one that you must perform. If you don’t (or recess. If another animal lawyer objects then he can draw
can’t), then your witness’s testimony sucked and a number of cards equal to his Dancin’ stat and choose one
you do not receive a Lawyer Point! that you must perform. If you don’t (or can’t), then your
request for recess is ignored.
Instead of pushing forward a Witness from your
own pile you can choose to cross-examine a witness If your request for recess is successful then you can
that has been called by another animal lawyer. Each choose one of three options; Boss Fight, Party or Break.
animal lawyer can only call the same witness once.
Boss Fight. A Boss Monster has attacked Animal City!
*The Sea Dracula Oath. Each witness must recite Only you can defend the city! Describe the Boss Monster
the Sea Dracula Oath while placing their hand on that is attacking the city. Draw a number of dance cards
the game box before they can testify. If the witness equal to your Fightin’ stat. Choose the one you will
refuses then that players animal lawyer loses a perform and discard the rest!
Lawyer Point. The Sea Dracula Oath must be
recited solemnly and in a loud voice, exactly as Each dance card has a special requirement listed on it that
written below: must be completed during the Boss Fight! You will not
win the Boss Fight without completing this requirement!
“I, your name here, solemnly swear to stop
collaborate and listen If your dance is successful and the Boss Fight requirement
Ice is back with my brand new invention is met you receive a new Clue card to add to your pile! If
Something grabs a hold of me tightly you fail then you lose a Lawyer Point.
Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly
Will it ever stop yo I don’t know Party. Sometimes a case just isn’t going well and an
Turn off the lights and I’ll glow animal lawyer must bribe a witness. Animal lawyers throw
To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal lavish parties where they try to convince witnesses to
Light up a stage and wax a chump like a candle. testify for them. Describe the Party. Draw a number of
Amen” dance cards equal to your Partyin’ stat. Choose the one
you will perform and discard the rest!
Introducing Clues. Push forward a Clue card from
in front of you. Give a detailed summary of why the Each dance card has a special requirement listed on it that
clue is important and why it helps prove your must be completed during the Party! You won’t be able to
theory. Once you complete your statement you will bribe your witness without completing this requirement!
get a Lawyer Point. Once a Clue is used it
disappears and cannot be introduced by another If your dance is successful and the Party requirement is
lawyer. met you receive a new Witness card to add to your pile! If
you fail then you lose a Lawyer Point.
If another Animal Lawyer objects then he can draw
a number of cards equal to his Dancin’ stat and Break. Sometimes you’ll need to take a break during the
choose one that you must perform. If you don’t (or game. You may want to use the toilet, get a snack, make a
can’t), then your clue sucked and you do not receive phone call or rush a friend to the hospital. The Court scene
a Lawyer Point. cannot stop unless an animal lawyer successfully requests
a Break Recess. The break lasts until all players are ready
Objecting. An animal lawyer can object if another to resume play.
lawyer is about to receive a Lawyer Point or is
requesting a recess. To object an animal lawyer
Resting your case. At the beginning of any turn an
animal lawyer can say “I rest my case”. That animal
lawyer’s turn ends, and each other lawyer gets to
take their last turn. Each animal lawyer then gives a
Closing Argument, for which they receive one free
Lawyer Point, which cannot be objected.
animal lawyer can’t (or won’t) perform the dance
then the other wins. If both are able to perform the
dance then the other players will vote to determine
the winner. If no other players are available the
dancing should be witnessed and judgedby impartial
strangers (preferably in a public setting).

The Jury. Despite the long, drawn out court

process, the Animal City Jury is pretty random.
Each animal lawyer counts their lawyer points. All
Sea Dracula cards have numbers between one and
five printed in their upper corners. The animal
lawyers will each choose one of these numbers and
put a number of cards into the Jury Pile equal to
their Lawyer Points.

The Jury Pile is shuffled. Draw a number of cards

from the pile equal to the number of players. The
player whose number comes up the most wins the
case! Justice is served!

After Party
No one cares who wins the case. That would be
stupid. After the case the winner throws a huge after
party! Everyone in Animal City is invited! But of
course, where there is an after party there is a
crime!

The player who wins the case and throws the after
party gets to set the Investigation Scene for the next
game!

Extra Rules

Lawyer Points. Lawyer Points are fun to collect,

but there’s no point in getting too greedy. An animal
lawyer can never have more then 10 Lawyer Points
at any one time.

Dance Partner. If you can get someone to dance

with you, you will always receive an extra Lawyer
Point. The person who dances with you does not
have to be playing in the game, but they can’t be an
animal or a baby. Or a baby animal.

Tie Breaker Dance Fff. If anything in the game

ever results in a tie, all animal lawyers involved
with the tie will draw a number of cards equal to
their Dancin’ stat and choose one to perform. If one