Overview

Funny Friends (German: Fiese Freunde Fette Feten) is a life-simulation auction game for 2-6 players designed by Friedemann Friese. Starting as teenagers, players bid “time” to acquire life experience cards that modify their attributes and shape their character over the course of a lifetime. Each card represents a life event – from Bible classes and college to drug addiction and romance. Players aim to be the first to complete five personal life goals. The game features an auction mechanism where passing early earns more time for future rounds, creating a tension between competing aggressively and conserving resources.

Components

• Player boards (tracking attributes and life history)
• Life cards (representing life events and experiences)
• Time tokens (currency for auctions)
• Life goal cards (5 per player)
• Attribute markers
• Phase/round tracker

Setup

1. Each player takes a player board and sets all attribute markers to their starting positions.
2. Deal 5 life goal cards to each player. These are the goals they must complete to win.
3. Distribute starting time tokens to each player.
4. Shuffle the life cards and form a draw deck.
5. Begin with the Puberty round.

Turn Structure

The game progresses through life phases, each consisting of multiple auction rounds.

Puberty Phase

In the opening phase, players claim life cards without bidding. Cards are revealed and players choose in turn order. These initial cards establish starting attributes.

Life Phases (Main Game)

Each round within a life phase:

1. Reveal Life Cards

Draw and reveal several life cards (number depends on player count).

2. Auction

Players bid time tokens to win life cards:

• Starting with the first player, each player either bids (increasing the current bid) or passes.
• Once you pass, you are out of all remaining auctions for this round.
• The earlier you pass, the more time tokens you receive as compensation (used in future rounds).
• The highest bidder wins the life card and pays their bid.

3. Apply Card Effects

The winner places the card on their player board and adjusts attributes accordingly. Some cards move attribute markers up or down, add life experiences, or unlock new options.

4. Check Life Goals

After resolving cards, check if any player has completed a life goal. Mark completed goals.

5. Next Round

Continue with new life cards until the phase ends, then advance to the next life phase.

Actions

Bidding Time

Time is the game’s currency. Bidding aggressively wins powerful cards but depletes your time for future rounds. Passing early grants more time.

Attribute Tracking

Player boards track attributes such as:

• Education / Intelligence
• Physical fitness
• Social connections
• Addictions
• Romance / Family

Life cards modify these attributes, and life goals require specific attribute combinations.

Life Goals

Each player has 5 goals that require various attribute levels or life experiences. Goals might require a certain education level, a relationship, a career milestone, or other achievements.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Win: The first player to complete all 5 of their life goals wins immediately.

There is no point scoring. The game is a race to fulfill life goals through strategic card acquisition.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

Pass Compensation

The earlier a player passes in a round, the more time tokens they receive. This is displayed on a track – first to pass gets the most, last gets the least.

Negative Life Events

Some life cards have negative effects (addiction, injuries, etc.) but may still be useful for certain goals or to deny opponents.

Forced Experiences

Certain game events may force players to take life cards they did not bid on, representing unavoidable life events.

Player Interaction

Players can use auctions to drive up prices on cards opponents want, wasting their time. Cards that affect other players add direct interaction.

Player Reference

Phase Structure:

1. Puberty (draft life cards without bidding)
2. Life Phases (auction life cards with time tokens)
3. Repeat until someone wins

Auction: Bid time -> Pass for compensation -> Winner pays and takes card

Key Rules: | Rule | Detail | |——|——–| | Win condition | Complete 5 life goals | | Currency | Time tokens | | Pass benefit | Earlier pass = more time next round | | Players | 2-6 |