Monopoly: Transformers G1

[heroic_decepticon]

My wife bought the Transformers G1 Monopoly and we have been playing it over the weekend. I found it lots of fun with part of the fun coming from creating additional TF related rules for the game and also explaining to my wife what it is she is buying (eg: Vector Sigma) and what is its significance to TFs. Of course all the artwork that was used for the set is really sleek and nice too.

Anyone played this? :p

[iceburn]

i believe gok has...i was meant to bring 1 to the meet but apparently we just have too much programs in hand

[liegeprime]

Ive bought it, but I honestly havent played Monopoly ever. Ive observed my aunties/uncles before when I was young playing the original board game ( of course I couldnt understand any of the rules - I was around 5yrs old). I would like to play this one time, but during meet-ups here in Sydney it tends to end up into loooooooongg, exhausting walks in,around and all over the city. I would imagine that the game would take a lot of time spent though so it wouldnt be a priority during large meet-ups. prolly for smaller meet-ups where you just tend to "hang-out".

[heroic_decepticon]

yeah, i agree. I don't think it will be a priority during meet-ups. I think its something fun to do over a quiet weekend at home with some friends visiting. It's just a lot more interesting than standard Monopoly because there are factions involved.

For example, some rules we made up includes:
- only Autobots are allowed trade properties with Autobots (and Deceps with Deceps);
- if 2 characters from opposing factions land on the same square, they fight. Each will roll 2 die and the one with the lower number will pay to the one with the higher number the difference in value times 10. (eg: Megatron rolls 5, Prime rolls 9, then Megatron pays Prime $40 being [(9-4) x 10])...

... and more... :D

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah I play it - no house rules though. :p Played it a couple of times over the last week, heh. :D

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/th_yourmum.jpghttp://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/th_tfmonopoly.jpg

[SilverDragon]

Making Monopoly out of G1 doesn't make much sense to me, primarily because the Decepticons would be less likely to pay rent than to simply blow the place up.

[heroic_decepticon]

nice! Did you like it?

I'm thinking of adding another layer of rules based on factions. Say if an Autobot owns an Autobot property like 'The Ark' or 'Decagon', then double rent may be charged when a Decepticon lands on it. Autobots pay standard rent.

Hmmm... I just see lots of opportunities to do really fun things with TF Monopoly which improves on the staleness of standard Monopoly.

[iceburn]

nice! Did you like it?

I'm thinking of adding another layer of rules based on factions. Say if an Autobot owns an Autobot property like 'The Ark' or 'Decagon', then double rent may be charged when a Decepticon lands on it. Autobots pay standard rent.

Hmmm... I just see lots of opportunities to do really fun things with TF Monopoly which improves on the staleness of standard Monopoly.

HD..in that case, won't players tend to choose an Autobot character then? there must also be perks for being a Decepticon too in exchange for that rule above

[heroic_decepticon]

Thanks for pointing that out! It should apply equally to Decepticons.

So the rule will continue "If a Decepticon owns a Decepticon property like 'The Nemesis' or 'The Smelting Pools' then double rent may be charged when a Autobot lands on it. Decepticons pay standard rent. Only standard rent may be charged for 'neutral' properties like 'Earth', 'Cybertron', 'Vector Sigma' or 'Transwarp Drive'."

Your point just inspired another rule (or guideline) - 'As far as practicable, each game should consist of an equal number of Autobot and Decepticon players.'

[iceburn]

haha.... sounds good so far.

[edit] how about if there's an odd number of players e.g. 3..then all should only choose 1 side of the fraction to play with? unsure if this will work out as i've not opened the TF Monopoly game before.

[GoktimusPrime]

Making Monopoly out of G1 doesn't make much sense to me, primarily because the Decepticons would be less likely to pay rent than to simply blow the place up.
Wars cost money. In G1 the Transformers had accountants like Ratbat whose job was to make sure that their war-effort was cost-effective. Trypticon was once withdrawn from battle against the Dinobots because the fight had exceeded its budget.

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/thumb/4/42/Ratbat.jpg/320px-Ratbat.jpg
Decepticon Auditor Ratbat

The game does come with special Transformers rules which makes the game more aggressive. For example, if you roll double-6, you can attack an opponent's property for control. If you roll double-5 you must pay $50 to a player of an opposing faction (e.g.: if you're an Autobot you have to pay $50 to a Decepticon player). If you roll double-3 you can remove an Energon Cube (house) from a property owned by a player of an opposing faction. Rolling snake-eyes gives you "Transwarp Drive" which allows you to 'teleport' to any square on the board! Some of the Autobot and Decepticon cards (Chance and Community Chest) also give the game a more 'aggressive' nature.

Monopoly is absolutely a game that requires tactics and strategy to defeat your opponents and it still introduces elements of chance, which is pretty much what fighting is. There's never a guaranteed outcome in any fight, but a good fighter tips the odds to his favour - which is something that Beast Wars Megatron excelled at - as well as the Emperor from Star Wars and the Joker from the Dark Knight - characters who excelled in The Art of War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/Megatron-beastwars.jpg/240px-Megatron-beastwars.jpghttp://forum.sithnet.net/forum/images/avatars/Emperor-Palpatine-resized-96.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/joker.gif

[loophole]

I love this game i have always played monopoly since i was like 10 so adding Transformers to it was a bonus, although i dont get to play much anymore.

The only trouble with the game is the character pieces they are too small and some people mainly my friends and family have trouble distiginshing between characters so then you need is a good supple of Robot Heroes :D

HD you have some good ideas there may have to write them down and use them

[liegeprime]

The only trouble with the game is the character pieces they are too small and some people mainly my friends and family have trouble distiginshing between characters so then you need is a good supple of Robot Heroes :D


Yeah I believe Sifun (not sure though, could be another member) mentioned he was going to do this when he bought some RH back. I kinda liked the idea, since the RH fits the theme, but still havent convinced myself to do so, and its been like so many waves out now. Also the fact that I dunno how to play the darn thing :(:(:o

[heroic_decepticon]

hmmm... that's very true. Many a time, I do get the pieces mixed up too. I did consider the robot heroes/ Takara SCF/ Heroes of Cybertron option but was a little lazy to dig them out of storage.

I might just try these the next time I play, but will probably use Robot Heroes since I value my SCF too much. heh. It'll likely be more fun and at the very least, there will be more characters to choose from! And given the released to date, team Insecticons vs Team Dinobots is also possible :D

[GoktimusPrime]

Or you could paint the pieces. :D

[STL]

Making Monopoly out of G1 doesn't make much sense to me, primarily because the Decepticons would be less likely to pay rent than to simply blow the place up.

:D

[GoktimusPrime]

Think of rent as the cost of fuel (Energon) expended in battles. The game does refer to tax as "fuel consumption" - for example the $75 Luxury Tax square two spaces before Go is called "Replenish Energon" and has an image of Soundwave filling an Energon Cube. :)

[dirge]

I propose a Sydney Monopoly meet - ie we all meet at someone's place and have a game. I assume HD, Gok & Myself, possibly wives involved there. Anyone else interested? If so, I'll go start a meet thread.

Oh and of course, others outside Sydney are free to borrow my idea... (:

[GoktimusPrime]

Sydney Board Games Meet (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=74130#post74130) :)

[heroic_decepticon]

there are some additional rules that I use one top of the standard Monopoly rules and the "Optional Transformers Rules" on page 3 of Monopoly rulebook.

My wife and I designed these rules so that play is much more aggressive. :D

Note:
energon cubes = houses
anti matter = hotels

***

Faction specific rules
* 'Bust Decepti-chops / such heroic nonsense rule':
When players of opposing factions meet on the same property, they fight. They do this by rolling 2 die each, with the player rolling the higher number collecting ten times the difference between his/her roll and the number rolled by the other player.
Example- Optimus rolls 10, Megatron rolls 5; Optimus collects $50 [(10 - 5) x 10 = 50]from Megatron.



Addendum to standard Monopoly rules
* 50% of colour group rule:
If a player owns 50% or more of the properties in a colour group, he/she may collect twice the title deed stated rent. If the player owns all the properties in a colour group, he/she may collect three times the title deed stated rent.
Example- Optimus owns 2 of 3 red colour group properties- The Well of All Sparks and The Chamber of Ancients. If Skywarp lands on The Chamber of Ancients, he must pay $40 instead of the $20 title deed mandated rent (if Optimus had built an energon cube on the property, Skywarp must pay $200 instead of the $100 title deed mandated rent).
Note- Player may collect twice the rent by owning 1 of the properties for colour groups which only consist of 2 properties (eg: the Earth and Cybertron colour group).

* 'Open house' rule:
If the player who owns a property is currently on the property, another player who lands on it enjoys an open house- the property is rent free as long as the owner is in it. However, the 'Bust Decepti-chops / such heroic nonsense rule' still applies and players of opposing factions must fight.

* One turn one action rule:
A player may only take one action per turn. If there is a choice between multiple actions, only one may be taken.
Example 1- a player rolls double 1s and lands on a property that he/she owns, he/she may take only one of the following actions: (i) roll again; or (ii) built an energon cube on the property; or (iii) exercise the 'Optional Transformers Rules' action of moving to any space.
Example 2- a player rolls double 1s and lands on a Autobot/Decepticon card space; he/she may (i) roll again; or (ii) draw an Autobot/Decepticon card; or (iii) exercise the 'Optional Transformers Rules' action of moving to any space.

* Build a cube when you land rule:
A player may build an energon cube on a property that the player owns when the player subsequently lands on the property. This is despite the standard Monopoly rule 'When you own all the properties in a colour group you may buy energon cubes (houses) from the bank and erect them on those properties'.
Example- Ultra Magnus lands on Autobot City; Ultra Magnus buys Autobot City. Ultra Magnus does not own any properties in the green colour group (ie: he only owns 'Autobot City', but not 'Iacon' or 'Unicron'.) After a number of turns, Ultra Magnus lands on Autobot city again. Subject to the 'One turn one action rule', Ultra Magnus may elect to build an energon cube.

* 'Swindle's trading floor opens every 15 minutes rule':
Players may negotiate to or trade properties at every 15 minute interval. However, only players from the same faction may trade; no trade is to occur between players of opposing factions. ie: Autobots trades with Autobots, Decepticons trades with Decepticons. The only way to obtain a property owned by a player of an opposing faction is to roll double 6s and attempt to challenge that player for it.



Addendum "Optional Transformers Rules"
* Double 1s: Transwarp drive restriction addendum
A Player may move token to any space BUT may only do so to purchase an energon cube and not take any other action (ie: may not move to space to purchase the property or to draw an Autobot or Decepticon card).

* Double 6s: Attack only the opposition addendum
(1) Player may only 'attack' to control the property from a player of another faction. That is to say, an Autobot must attack a Decepticon player and vice versa. Autobots may not attack Autobots; ditto for Decepticons.; (2) during the 'attack', 2 die are rolled instead of just one; and (3) 'taking control of another player's property' is taken to mean that the player who loses the throw, also loses that property in question to the winning player. ie: if you lose, the property is no longer yours, period.

[GoktimusPrime]

I enforce a house rule on Transwarp drive restricting "lapping" yourself, otherwise you could hypothetically pass Go multiple times and "collect $200" several times over! ;)