Announcing,
the outrageous and exciting board game
for Landowners, Industry and Everyone in the Gas Patch!
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Announcing, |
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Game
Rules
Summary
Game consists of
How to Play Landowner – the toilet token Mineral owner – the one dollar token Investor – the two dollar token Industry – hammer with three dollars token Nature – irrelevant (no token) Non-Profit Organization – the empty coffer token Industry is given one million play dollars and an advance count of 500 points to start the game. Landowner is given ten dollars and an advance penalty of minus 200 points to start the game. Nature always rolls first. For Nature, it is not necessary to possess nor move any token. Nature, representing any or all of life’s necessary systems (that is, wildlife, plant life, air, water and/or soil) combined or individually, automatically loses thereby signaling the beginning of the game for everyone else. All players can now advance according to the number shown on the rolled die in the following order of play through the board’s course: Industry plays first after Nature is dispatched. Mineral Owner and Investor play second and third in tandem by removing their tokens from the board and positioning themselves on either side of Industry and rooting for Industry’s win. Non-Profit plays fourth by relocating themselves and their token to a nearby room, facing into a corner and exhausting one thousand steps while standing in place (either slowly or in rapid succession). When all one-thousand steps are exhausted, the Non-Profit player announces their feat by shouting "DONE!" Into the other room, whereby, if the announcement is heard, the Landowner may move forward one space. This will exhaust the extent of Non-Profit’s play, other than evoking the "REGULATORY" loop explained below. Landowner plays fifth.
Explanation of board spaces Note: Landowner and Industry may occupy the same space simultaneously. For each space Industry lands on, it may erect the steel pipe and with the aid of the sledge hammer (both of which are always in Industry's possession), punch a hole through the board, creating a simulated gas well, for which Industry may now collect one million play dollars plus a two dollar rental fee from Landowner anytime Landowner occupies the same space - including at the time the simulated gas well is developed. “Landowner Issue” spaces: These are spaces in which the Landowner may attempt to assert some form of authority. For example, the Landowner may land on the “Private Property” space and assert that they own the land and therefore possess the right to occupy that space. However, Industry is armed with laws and exemptions in their favor, and can, if they so choose (and likely will at the urging of both the Mineral Owner and Investor on either side) shout “SPLIT ESTATE!” or "FAVORABLE LAW" (interchangeable) followed by a rap to the Landowner’s head with the steel pipe driving Landowner back to the beginning of the game, or to their latest acquired space, whichever is nearer to the "END" space. Another example is the “Wildlife Space”. The Landowner may land on this space, and once again, attempt to argue for some form of species protection. Industry, however, will shout “NATURE IS DEAD!”, rap the Landowner on the head, all to the jubilant rapture of both Mineral Owner and Investor, and again, drive Landowner backward. Another example would be the “Clean Air Act” or “Clean Water Act” spaces. Before even landing on these spaces, Industry will anticipate Landowner’s move, shout “EXEMPTION!” and rap the Landowner twice on the head before they have a chance to advance. In the case of the "COMMUNITY DEGRADATION" or "ECONOMIC INSTABILITY", or "CORRUPT OFFICIALS" space, or similar spaces, Industry can shout "BOUGHT IT!", "OWN IT!", "MINE!" or some other expression indicative of their priority stake in the situation. Rapping Landowner is an optional activity, exercised at Industry's discretion. “Landowner Penalty” spaces: Certain spaces are reserved to penalize Landowners from taking unfair advantage of Industry in their advance across the board. Therefore, certain spaces will command Landowner to, for example, be blindfolded, wear ear plugs, or play with their hands tied behind their back. If Landowner finds that such encumbrances interfere with rolling the die or navigating the board, they may request Industry to act as their surrogate and interpret the die for them and/or move their playing piece accordingly. If Landowner solicits assistance from industry, Landowner must accept a penalty of minus 100 points for each act of good will on the part of Industry. Further, for each act of good will volunteered by Industry, Industry is to receive two-hundred additional points. “Industry Penalty” space: There are as many Industry Penalty spaces on the board as there are “Landowner Penalty” spaces, intended to encourage fair play. Each time Industry lands on an Industry Penalty space, the Landowner gets to shout, “VIOLATION!” whereby Industry must rap itself on the wrist either firmly or lightly, with or without aid of the steel pipe. If Landowner has not been blindfolded or ear plugged, and can prove 1) they have accurately detected the degree of firmness with which Industry has punished itself, and 2) is dissatisfied with the degree implemented, the Landowner can shout “CHALLENGE!” and instruct either Mineral Owner or Investor to rap Industry’s wrist. If Landowner is still dissatisfied with the degree of punishment Industry receives, Landowner can order Industry to the “REGULATORY” loop (see special rules below). “REGULATORY” loop: This is a special loop which acts to dissuade Industry from unfair practices in play. For Industry, it represents the irritation of lost efficiency. For Landowners, it is a place of shattered hopes and broken promises. The “REGULATORY” loop can only be evoked by Landowner or Non-Profit players, but can be done at any time during the game. If Non-Profit evokes regulatory loop, Non-Profit must exhaust one-thousand steps in each corner of a nearby room before it can shout “DONE!”, however, there is a very good chance that by then, the game will have ended. If Landowner evokes the “REGULATORY” loop, Landowner must relocate their token to anywhere within the regulatory loop, thereafter losing their next fourteen turns and achieving no other measurable action. Advancement through the "REGULATORY" loop is irrelevant and can therefore be undertaken at any pace with which Landowner feels comfortable - moving forward and back repetitively as Landowner wishes. Evocation of the “REGULATORY” loop automatically relegates Industry into a quagmire of the following either individually or in combination: 1) hearing procedure 2) permitting process 3) regulatory compliance. The only way for Industry to break out of the Regulatory loop is to pay an official a significant “fine” of ten dollars; thereafter, Industry can immediately recommence play. The "Law Suit" space: As play advances Landowner may land on the “LAW SUIT” space, at which time, Landowner will roll the die. If landowner rolls a 1 or a 2, Industry can shout “INEPT!”, at which time Industry raps Landowner on the head. Landowner then doubles their point and play money debts owed equally to inept counsel and Industry, achieving no other measurable action. If Landowner rolls a 3 or a 4, Industry can shout, “CORRUPT!” at which time Industry raps Landowner on the head. Landowner then doubles their point and play money debts owed equally to corrupt counsel and Industry, achieving no other measurable action. If Landowner rolls a 5 or a 6, Industry can shout, “APPEAL!” at which time Industry raps Landowner on the head. Landowner then doubles their point and play money debts owed equally to counsel, achieving no other measurable action. Winning The Game At some point play will expire and a winner will be announced determined by whichever player is first to reach END and who has the most points and money in their possession. It is a foregone conclusion that the winner will be Industry. Upon Industry’s win, Mineral Owner and Investor will rise: one will toot a party horn, one will throw a handful of confetti (neither the horn nor the confetti are included in the game and shall be provided by Landowner at Landowner's expense). This will signal that the game is now over, and all players (including Industry) are to lie down and play dead indefinitely. © 2009 Lisa Bracken |
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