How do I germinate gourd seeds, do I cut/score the shell first?

You don't need to cut them, you can just soak them because they have a hard outer shell. You soak them for 24 hours roughly. Place in a damp paper towel and then put into a baggie in a warm place until the roots start sprouting, then place into pots. All this is only if you want a faster germination, but you could just do it the old fashioned way and plant them directly into the soil without doing anything to them.