Contents
- 1 Why First? Game Rules
Why First? Game Rules
Have you ever wondered why some games have rules? I have. It’s pretty interesting when you think about it. Why can’t we just play however we want? Well, the truth is, rules are important. They give structure to the game and make sure everyone is on the same page. Without rules, chaos would reign and it would be hard to know what’s fair and what’s not. So, let’s dive into the world of game rules and see why they matter.
1. Fairness and Balance
One of the key reasons why game rules exist is to ensure fairness and balance. Imagine playing a game where the rules kept changing or where some players had an unfair advantage. It wouldn’t be much fun, would it? Rules set the boundaries and create a level playing field for all participants. They make sure everyone has a fair shot at winning.
2. Understanding and Clarity
Another reason why game rules are important is because they help us understand how to play. Have you ever tried playing a game without knowing the rules? It can be confusing and frustrating. Rules provide clarity and guide us through the game. They tell us what we can and cannot do, so we don’t have to guess or make things up as we go along.
3. Strategy and Challenge
Game rules also add an element of strategy and challenge. They create a framework within which players can strategize and come up with winning tactics. Without rules, games would lack structure and purpose. Rules provide the guidelines that players can use to make strategic decisions and overcome challenges.
4. Unity and Connection
Rules bring people together. When everyone follows the same rules, it creates a sense of unity and connection. We all know what to expect and how to interact with each other. Rules foster teamwork and cooperation, encouraging players to work together towards a common goal. They create a shared experience that can be enjoyed by all.
5. Safety and Boundaries
Lastly, game rules ensure safety and set boundaries. They help prevent accidents and injuries by establishing limits and guidelines. Imagine playing a game without any rules or boundaries. It could get dangerous! Rules keep us safe and allow us to enjoy the game without worrying about unnecessary risks.
So, the next time you play a game, take a moment to appreciate the rules. They may seem strict or unnecessary at times, but they serve an important purpose. Rules make games fair, understandable, challenging, and safe. Without them, the world of games would be a chaotic and confusing place. So, embrace the rules, play by them, and enjoy the wonderful world of games.
Hey there! Guess what’s way cool? Being first, right? But you know what? In this super exciting game, you have to be Second to score big points!
That’s right! Being Second is way cooler! And here’s the best part: After completing 5 stages, the winner will actually be the player with the second-highest score. It can’t get any better than that!
Components
- I need a game board (in 2 parts)
- I need 6 Figures
- I need 6 Color cards
- I need 32 Race cards
- I need a Rulebook
And don’t forget, you’ll need a pen and paper (they’re not included).
Setup
First, I put the two parts of the game board together and place it in the middle of the play area.
Next, each player takes 1 Color card and chooses a figure to play with. The Color card shows which figure belongs to each player. If there are less than 6 players, we can return any extra Color cards to the box – we won’t need them for this game.
Just a quick note: if we’re playing with only 2 players, there are some special rules. We’ll find them at the end of this rulebook.
Game Play
In the game, there are 5 Stages that you’ll go through.
At the start of each Stage, you and the other players will place your Figure on the space in the middle of the game board, between spaces 1 and -1.
We’ll start by shuffling all 32 Race cards, which we’ll refer to as “Cards” from now on. Each player will draw 5 Cards to form their hand.
Put aside all the remaining cards for now – you won’t need them in this Stage. Don’t worry, you’ll shuffle them together again in the next Stage.
During each Stage, there will be 5 rounds of playing cards. After these 5 rounds, we’ll take a break to score points. Once the scoring is done, we’ll move on to the next Stage. The game will end after the 5th Stage.
What Happens in Each Card Round?
Alright, here’s what you need to do:
First, you’ve got to pick one card from your hand that you want to play this round. Just choose one and keep it separate from your other cards.
Next, someone needs to yell out the Go Signal “3 – 2 – 1 – NOW!” At the exact moment that “NOW!” is said, everyone has to take their chosen card and place it face down in front of any player they want. You can even choose yourself if you want!
There’s no limit to how many cards each player can have in front of them, so some players might end up with no cards while others could have one or more. It’s also possible for all the cards to end up in front of just one player.
Alright, it’s time to flip over all the cards in front of you. If a card has a positive value (+), you’ll move your piece forward on the game board. The number of spaces you’ll move forward is equal to the value of the card. But if a card has a negative value (-), you have to move your piece backward. Again, the number of spaces you’ll move is equal to the value of the card. Once you’ve done that, put all the cards you’ve played this round away, off to the side of the board.
By the way, the colors of the card values don’t mean anything.
And those little white numbers on the bottom left corner of the cards? They’re only necessary for a special version of the game, which you can find at the end of these rules.
Example: Let’s say I have a card with a +2 value in front of me, and my name is Anne. If I decide to make a move, I would move my figure 2 spaces forwards. Now, let’s consider my friend Ben. He doesn’t have any cards in front of him, so his figure stays put.
Meanwhile, Chris has 2 cards in front of him: a -1 and a -3. Poor Chris! He has to move his figure 4 spaces backwards. Tough break, Chris.
Now, here’s a special case to keep in mind. If a figure is about to move over the space numbered 16, they have to stop right there and not move any further. The same rule applies to space -12. So, be careful not to overshoot!
Take heed, my friend. Before you make any moves, make sure to calculate all the positive and negative values together. This way, you’ll have a good sense of how far your figure needs to go.
So, that’s the deal, folks. Remember, those cards can be tricky, but with a little bit of strategy and careful calculation, you’ll be on your way to victory!
Here’s an example: I’m standing on space 15, and there’s a +3 and -4 in front of me. So I’ll move my figure onto space 14, going 1 space backwards.
Instead of moving the +3 first and stopping on space 16, and then moving -4 spaces backwards to end up on space 12, I’ll do it the right way.
Follow these rules for the first 4 Card rounds of each Stage. But there’s an extra rule for the 5th Card round of every Stage.
The 5th Card Round
In the 5th Card round, you can’t place your chosen card in front of any player. Instead, you have to place your last card in front of yourself! Then, after everyone has moved their figures the right number of spaces, we’ll score the round.
Scoring
Hey there! Let’s talk about scoring in the game. It’s actually pretty simple. First, find the space on the racetrack that’s second farthest along. Got it? Great! All the figures on that space will now get some points. The number on the space is the number of points they’ll get. But here’s the thing, it could be negative points too! So watch out!
Make sure to write down all the points on a piece of paper. Once you’re done, it’s time to get ready for the next stage, just like you did during the setup. Easy peasy, right? Now you’re ready to keep playing and having fun!
Example A: In this race, the horse or horses that are in second place receive points. Looking at the racetrack, number 6 is the horse that is second farthest, so Anne gets 6 points.
Example B: When it comes to the race, the second-place spot is known as number 1. That means if you’re in second place, like Ben, you get 1 point.
Let me explain it to you in simpler terms: The space that is second farthest along the racetrack is number -2. So, if Ben, Chris, and Dana are on that space, they each receive negative 2 points.
Here’s what happens at the end of the game:
After we finish playing 5 stages, which means we go through 5 rounds of cards, the game comes to an end. Now it’s time to count up all the points from all the players across those 5 stages. The player with the second highest number of points is the winner!
If there’s a tie, all the players who are tied get to share in the win. So, everyone is a winner in that case!
A Game for Two Players, with a Twist!
Hey there! I wanted to share with you this awesome game that’s designed for two players but brings in a unique twist. Let me explain.
So in this game, you’ll be playing against your opponent, as usual. But there’s also an imaginary player named Leo. Leo doesn’t physically exist, but he adds a whole new dynamic to the game.
To set up the game, you’ll need to place Leo’s figure on the starting space and put Leo’s Color card next to the game board. Also, grab four cards and place them facedown next to Leo’s Color card at the beginning of each round.
Now, for the first four rounds, you’ll play with your own cards just like you normally would. But here’s the interesting part: you can also play cards in front of Leo to move his figure on the board.
When it’s Leo’s turn, he’ll always play the topmost facedown card in front of himself. All you have to do is flip his top card. But here’s the twist: in the fifth round, Leo won’t play any more cards. You, on the other hand, will play your last card as usual.