From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in Paperback?
Fowers Games original English edition, 2014
The person who most recently finished reading a novel starts.
Rule details
Everyone draws a first hand of five cards before play.
Turns then proceed clockwise.
This is the original Paperback word game, not Paperback Adventures or the tenth anniversary edition.
Source & edition
- Paperback: English rulebookFowers Games · Start Game · Checked 2026-09-24Printed page references: 4
Image: © Fowers Games / Ryan Goldsberry · Ryan Goldsberry, original game illustrator
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
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