Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site phoenix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!drutx!mtuxo!pegasus!phoenix!autilio From: autilio@phoenix.UUCP (Pat Autilio) Newsgroups: net.games,net.games.board Subject: Attention Monopoly Fans! - Reposting Message-ID: <1293@phoenix.UUCP> Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 11:46:21 EDT Article-I.D.: phoenix.1293 Posted: Thu Sep 19 11:46:21 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 20-Sep-85 06:12:06 EDT Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft NJ Lines: 309 Xref: watmath net.games:2199 net.games.board:61 Please mail any responses to me directly. Also, if anyone out there is aware of the existence of similar publications or organizations for discussing MONOPOLY please drop me a line. Thanks. Pat Autilio AT&T Information Systems 307 Middletown/Lincroft Rd. Lincroft, NJ, 07738 phoenix!autilio LZ 3F-310 (201)576-3547 ====================================================================== MONOPOLY Argument Proceedings _______________________________________________________________ August, 1985 A Publication devoted to discussion of Vol.1 No.1 the rules, conventions and strategies of MONOPOLY, the real estate trading game _______________________________________________________________ Welcome to MAP! Greetings MONOPOLY Fans and welcome to the first issue of the MONOPOLY Argument Proceedings. MAP is intended to provide a forum for discussion of those all aspects of MONOPOLY. Included will be articles covering strategies, conventions and explanations of the rules of the game. If you've ever played MONOPOLY you know that heated discussions can take place during the course of a game. Many of these debates crop up over the meaning of the rules and their implications. Others deal with certain conventions that are commonly adopted (for example, placing $500 on Free Parking). The most interesting discussions transcend both rules and conventions and deal with the actual strategies of the game. Many players of the game relish a good argument over the rules and their intent. On the other hand, such discussions can often lead to physical confrontations and the break up of marriages. MAP provides all MONOPOLY enthusiasts with the opportunity to learn from each other and share interesting ideas. Since this is the first issue of the MAP, it will be devoted almost entirely to the identification of a number of issues that have been discussed before but have never been committed to paper. Our readers are encouraged to submit their arguments and opinions for or against the rule, convention or strategy in question. In future editions, these responses (and responses to the responses) will be published in MAP as well. Any new issues that readers feel are worthy of discussion should also be passed along to the editor for inclusion in future editions. In addition to the argumentative parts of this newsletter, MAP will also provide tips for the many readers who may not be fully aware of the subtler aspects of the rules or many of the strategies that may be applied to the game. Each edition will introduce one or more helpful hints or ``little known facts''. No doubt these will lead to some discussion too! I think its time to get down to the matters at hand. The next issue of MAP will have a section exploring rules, derived rules and conventions in MONOPOLY and how to tell the difference between them. Why MONOPOLY? Many people would be surprised that any of us should spend our time discussing strategies for a game like MONOPOLY. MONOPOLY often goes under the same classification as parcheesi and slapjack as a fun game for children but having little to hold the interest of adult players. This couldn't be farther from the truth! The perception that MONOPOLY is strictly a children's game stems from several misconceptions. I think it's worthwhile to attempt to debunk a few of these right now. MONOPOLY is dull! You roll the dice and just wait and see what happens. No way! Even when MONOPOLY is played strictly by the rules (as it should be), there are an unlimited number of clever strategies that may be employed. Real skill is necessary to think of deals you can make with other players that will best improve your position in the game. MONOPOLY is just a game of chance. Not by a long shot!! It's true that the dice randomly determine which properties players will land on. It's also true that in some games, some players will land on fewer unowned properties than others. But first and foremost MONOPOLY is a real estate trading game. There are countless ways for a player with few properties to get a toehold in the real estate market. These methods will be discussed in detail in future issues. The dark blues (or oranges, etc.) are the best Properties. Many people think that MONOPOLY is uninteresting because once someone gets the good properties then the game is virtually in the bag. There's no such thing as the best properties! There are many factors that determine whether or not a given color group is valuable: the amount of money you have to invest, the amount of clout you need to bankrupt other players, the number of houses left for sale and many others. There is no single property or color group that is always the best to own. Each player must constantly reassess his position and decide what properties he wants, if any, and then start dealing! MONOPOLY has a rare quality that is found in only the most popular games. It has a magnetic appeal to beginners and veterans alike. A beginner can learn MONOPOLY's fundamentals and begin to enjoy the richness of the game in a relatively short time. The seasoned player continually discovers new tactics and strategies that increase his interest in the game. Now let's get down to brass tacks. Argument #1 Dealing with Bankruptcy Many heated discussions have arisen in games I've played regarding the nature of bankruptcy. The official rules to MONOPOLY state: A player is bankrupt when he owes more than he can pay either to another player or to the bank. If his debt is to another player, he must turn over to that player all that he has of value and retire from the game. So the question arises, exactly when is a player bankrupt? When does he actually incur that debt? A. As soon as he lands on the property? B. As soon as the owner of the property asks for rent? C. Only after that player has been asked for rent and has tried unsuccessfully to make deals to stay solvent? At first glance, the third alternative seems most fair. However, adopting such a definition very often leads to the following unpleasant situation: Player A lands on Player B's property and cannot afford the rent nor make any satisfactory deals. Player A therefore decides to get even and sell all of his property to player C for $1. Player B gets the $1 and nothing more. One possible solution to this is for player B to threaten to pour the bowl of potato chips down player A's pants if he tries a stunt like that. It would be much better to establish a convention which players agree to abide by and would avert such a situation before it arises. Of the two remaining possibilities, the second is the most in keeping with the definition of rent liability in MONOPOLY. That is, the player does not owe any rent until the owner asks him for it. The implication of this is that if the owner is not on the ball, the potentially bankrupt player is free to make deals to muster the necessary capital any time before but not after that owner asks for the rent. Proposed Convention #1: A player is bankrupt (owes more than he can pay) when he lands on a property and is asked for more rent than he can pay. As soon as he is asked for this amount, his assets are totaled and he is retired from the game. If a player lands on a space that cause him to go bankrupt to the bank he is bankrupt as soon as he lands on that space. Remember that just having a convention that fairly applies to everyone is most important. Often, the details of the convention are trivial in comparison. Nonetheless, MAP invites your comments and suggestions. Argument #2 Showing Your Money The point of contention here is: Are you obliged to tell other players how much money you have when asked? There are no official rules that deal with this particular issue nor does it seem possible to derive it from any of the rules. Nonetheless, it is useful to adopt a convention which may be agreed upon before play begins to avert arguments that might crop up. First, we'll consider the issues involved. o The thorniest issue is whether or not it is fitting that players should know (approximately or exactly) how much cash another player has. Most MONOPOLY players are accustomed to leaving their money on the table and revealing the approximate total when asked. But there are always those who don't want to reveal how much they have and typically an argument ensues. If everyone hid the amount of their assets the game would certainly change in character. Estimates of other player's assets weigh heavily in decisions that are made about whether to trade or build. o Certainly the table on which you're playing is the most convenient place to leave your money. It is bothersome and rough on the money to keep stuffing it in your sock. o It would be cumbersome to adopt a rule that would permit a player to be forced to add up his money over and over again at the request of any of the other players. With these issues in mind consider the following possible conventions: A. A player may keep his money where he likes but must disclose its amount when asked. B. A player's money must be kept on the playing area and in sight of other players at all times and must disclose its amount when asked. C. A player's money must be kept on the playing area and in sight of other players at all times. Each denomination must be kept in an individual pile. A player may not be asked to disclose its amount. D. A player's money must be kept on the playing area and in sight of other players at all times. The money may be organized in any manner on the playing area. A player may not be asked to disclose its amount. E. A player may keep his money where he likes and may not be asked to disclose its amount. Option C is given below as a proposed convention. Proposed Convention #2: A player's money must be kept on the playing area and in sight of other players at all times. Each denomination must be kept in an individual pile. A player may not be asked to disclose its amount. Discussion? Disagreements? Pending Topics Topics in forthcoming issues: o Is it mandatory that players must hold the dice (i.e. refrain from taking their turn) when asked to do so? o Where does one draw the line between loaning money, giving away money and selling something highly trivial? o What should be the rules governing giving other players advice (good, bad, or indifferent) during the game? Can it be sold? o What do procedure should be followed when someone goes out of turn? o If someone wishes to drop out of the game early and there are two or more other players remaining, must the game be considered forfeit or is it possible to define a fair procedure for keeping that player's assets in play? o Consider the following example, 5 houses remain in the bank, two players desire three houses each. How many houses must be auctioned? o How does proposed convention #1 apply to rent that's owed? Response Send all responses to the physical or elctronic address given below no later than October 15, 1985. Pat Autilio AT&T Information Systems 307 Middletown/Lincroft Rd. Lincroft, NJ, 07738 phoenix!autilio LZ 3F-310 (201)576-3547 -- Pat Autilio AT&T Information Systems 307 Middletown/Lincroft Rd. Lincroft, NJ, 07738 phoenix!autilio LZ 3F-310 x3547 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com