Declaration — Official Rules

DECLARATION

The Frontier Game of Risk and Reputation

Overview

**Declaration** is the Frontier and Void adaptation of the Core game *Precedence*.

While the structure remains familiar, Declaration embraces volatility, aggressive wagering, and public bravado.

Where Precedence values restraint, Declaration rewards audacity.

Players

4 players

2 partnerships (partners sit opposite)

Game continues until one team reaches target score (default: 200)

Frontier tables often shorten games to encourage high turnover.

The Deck

Suits

Void

Frontier

Border

Core

Ranks (Low → High)

2–10

Officer

Commander

Voidpilot *(renamed from StellarPilot)*

Emperor

Use of the term **Voidpilot** is considered politically disloyal in Core and Border space.

Objective

To accumulate the agreed target score before the opposing team —

and, more importantly, to dominate the Hand Pots.

GAME STRUCTURE

Each hand consists of:

1. Antes

2. Deal

3. Declaration Phase

4. Open Wager Round

5. Bidding

6. Trick Play

7. Settlement

1. Antes

Each player contributes a small blind to the **Hand Pot**.

There is no formal Accord Pot unless agreed beforehand.

Declaration is commonly played for immediate stakes.

2. Deal

13 cards dealt to each player.

Void is commonly permanent trump in the Void regions.

Otherwise, trump rotates clockwise.

3. Declaration Phase

Players may declare melds.

Allowed Melds

**Triad** (3 of same rank)

**Quad** (4 of same rank)

**Run (3+)** (sequential in same suit)

Declaration Rules

Declared cards are placed face-up.

Declared cards must be played before non-declared cards.

Declaring requires an immediate wager into the Hand Pot.

Minimum wager: 3 credits.

4. Open Wager Round

After a meld is declared:

Opponents may raise.

Declaring player may call or escalate.

Partners may not directly subsidize declarations (house rule in most regions).

If a declaration is challenged and the declaring team fails its contract:

The declaring team must match the full Hand Pot and add it.

This can double or triple pot size rapidly.

5. Bidding

Players bid expected tricks.

There is no per-trick bidding cost in standard Declaration.

However:

If a team fails its contract:

They must match the current Hand Pot and add it to the pot before it is awarded.

This creates severe swing potential.

6. Trick Play

Standard trick-taking rules apply:

Must follow suit if able.

Highest card of lead suit wins unless trump is played.

Emperor is highest card within suit.

Void is often permanent trump in pirate and deep-space tables.

SCORING

Contract Success

If team meets or exceeds contract:

+10 points per trick bid.

+2 points per trick above contract.

There is no Excess/Audit penalty in Declaration.

Overperformance is admired.

Contract Failure

If a team fails its contract:

−10 points per trick bid.

That team must match the current Hand Pot.

Opposing team wins the expanded pot.

Meld bonuses are forfeited on failure.

POTS

Hand Pot

Primary economic driver of the game.

Fueled by:

Antes

Declaration wagers

Raises

Failure penalties

Pot size can escalate dramatically in aggressive tables.

TARGET SCORE

Recommended:

200 points (Frontier)

150 points (Void quick play)

Many Void tables ignore score entirely and play hand-to-hand for pot dominance.

CULTURAL NOTES

Frontier:

Declarations frequent.

High-variance bidding common.

Reputation tied to bold contracts.

Void:

Void is permanent trump.

Emperor often called “Tyrant.”

Refusal to declare is seen as weakness.

Border:

Declaration tolerated but frowned upon.

Core:

Considered a corrupted form of Precedence.

DESIGN THEMES

Risk as identity

Public bravado

Reputation through volatility

Wealth transfer through courage

End of Frontier/Void Rules