About Techie Taboo

The card game that makes you a better technical communicator

🎙️ About ragTech

ragTech is a tech podcast exploring real life in the tech industry. We discuss career journeys, technical concepts, industry trends, and the human side of working in technology. Our mission is to make tech more accessible and help people navigate their careers in this ever-evolving field.

🎮 How to Play

Setup

• Players: 4-10 players (works best with 6-8)
• Teams: Divide into 2 or more teams
• Time: 60 seconds per turn (adjustable)

Game Rules

1. Draw a Card: One player from the active team draws a card and becomes the "Explainer."
2. Explain the Term: The Explainer must get their team to guess the main term at the top of the card WITHOUT using any of the 5 taboo words listed below it.
3. No Variations: You cannot use any part of the main term or taboo words (e.g., if "Program" is taboo, you can't say "Programming" or "Programmer").
4. Time Limit: You have 60 seconds to get your team to guess as many cards as possible.
5. Scoring:
   • +1 point for each correctly guessed card
   • -1 point if you use a taboo word (opposing team monitors)
   • Skip cards if stuck (no penalty, but no points)
6. Winning: First team to reach the agreed-upon score (usually 20-30 points) wins!

Game Variations

• Speed Round: 30 seconds instead of 60 for extra challenge
• Interview Prep Mode: Solo practice where you explain terms out loud to prepare for technical interviews
• Presentation Mode: Use the large format cards for team building exercises or conference icebreakers
• Educational Mode: Take time to discuss each term after guessing, using the companion book for reference

💡 Why We Created This Game

The Problem

As hosts of ragTech and professionals in the tech industry, we noticed a common challenge: technical people often struggle to explain complex concepts in simple terms.

Whether you're:

• Interviewing for a tech job and need to explain your projects
• Working with non-technical stakeholders
• Mentoring junior developers
• Presenting at conferences
• Or just trying to explain what you do at family dinners

...the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly is crucial but rarely practiced.

The Solution

We created Techie Taboo to make practicing technical communication fun and engaging. By forcing you to explain terms without using the most obvious words, you develop:

• 🧠 Deeper understanding of concepts (you can't explain what you don't truly understand)
• 💬 Better communication skills (finding alternative ways to describe things)
• 🎯 Interview readiness (practice explaining technical concepts under pressure)
• 🤝 Team bonding (learning together in a low-stakes, fun environment)

Our Mission

We believe that technical knowledge should be accessible to everyone. By helping tech professionals become better communicators, we're not just improving individual careers—we're making the entire tech industry more inclusive and collaborative.

Every game of Techie Taboo is a step toward a tech world where knowledge flows freely, jargon doesn't intimidate, and everyone can participate in the conversation.

📦 Available Versions

• Variety Pack: 216 terms across General Tech, AI, Software Engineering, and Product Management
• Software Interview Prep Pack: Focused on common interview topics and technical concepts
• Travel Version: Compact poker-size cards (63×88mm) perfect for game nights
• Presenter Version: Large format cards (88×125mm) for conferences and team events

🙏 Thank You

Thank you for supporting Techie Taboo! Whether you're playing with friends, using it for interview prep, or bringing it to your team, you're part of our mission to make tech communication better.

Have feedback or ideas? Reach out to us on any of our social channels. We'd love to hear from you!