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Mudsling - A Politcal Boardgame (new game rules)

6 replies [Last post]
Fri, 07/01/2005 - 19:11
Anonymous

Okay, so I started working on the rules for a game called Mudsling. It's an area control game based on US politics. I know you can tell a whole lot by just looking at the rules, but maybe you'll see something completely boneheaded before I decide to try testing it out. This is still a pretty early design, and the rules are a real rough draft, although they do cover everything (I think). Anyway, if you want, you can look at the rules at http://www.bgdf.com/files/My_Uploads/TragicHeroBC/MudslingRules.doc . I also know it may be hard to judge without seeing the map, but I tried to give you an idea in the rules. Anyway, just give me your thoughts.

Tragic

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Sat, 07/02/2005 - 01:04
#1
jwalduck
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Joined: 09/06/2011
Mudsling - A Politcal Boardgame (new game rules)

Some thoughts from reading the rules.

The Issues: The ones you have listed are issues but they are not really a position for the politicians. May be if you had something like:

War: "Make Love not War" - - Nuetral - - "Bomb the Middle East back into the stone age" (Inject some humor)

Then you could have some electorates be really pro or anti a topic, or nuetral, or a bit of both. Players could choose to play to their strength in each electorate.

Mud-slinging: This seems very risky the way you have it. Basically you will be competing players on issues they choose to poll on, which means they will be pretty good at it. Wouldn't mudslinging effect the public's perception of their stance on an issue?

The idea that the second and third place getters in each ellectorate get something is good, but votes like 80 and 52? The players will need a calculator to work out who won at the end of the game. Could you simplify it some how?

Other thoughts (which will add complexity): You could add a politian peices to the board, each turn they could be moved around as the politians are on the campaign trail. They get a small bonus for the electorate they are in at the time and some of the card effects could only work on electorates where they are.

How will the electorates be set up? Will they always be that same, or can they vary like the politians?

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Sat, 07/02/2005 - 03:35
#2
dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Mudsling - A Politcal Boardgame (new game rules)

I agree with jwalduck
about the humor, infact I strongly recommend you
put in lots of it, LOTS AND LOTS! The world needs it!

so here is my 2 cents:

Where would you learn how to make ice cream?

At Sundae school

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Sat, 07/02/2005 - 05:33
#3
Nando
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Joined: 07/22/2008
Mudsling - A Politcal Boardgame (new game rules)

dete wrote:
... strong view points = narrow mindedness which leads to fear ...

I contend that narrow-mindedness leads to almost the exact opposite: overconfidence. That the condition leads people to falsely assume that everyone believes exactly as they do, and they therefore act without hesitation (like blurting out whatever comes to mind without fear of offending anyone).

I do, however, agree that younger and less mature folks often can't appreciate abstract ideas -- the above mentioned failure to realize that not everyone has a worldview identical to their own is a good example. Also, many everyday abstract concepts like irony tend to elude them as well.

And lastly, just in case you didn't notice, I wanted to point out that for someone who is trying to advocate a relaxed approach, you've certainly expressed yourself with a bit of energy -- to the point of swearing in a particularly inflammatory manner (which I, for one, can do without).

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Sat, 07/02/2005 - 10:47
#4
Anonymous
Mudsling - A Politcal Boardgame (new game rules)

jwalduck wrote:
Some thoughts from reading the rules.
Wouldn't mudslinging effect the public's perception of their stance on an issue?

Yeah, I wasn't sure how to make that work really well. Maybe I should have it actually affect the statistics themselves? Make it where, if you succeed (I'll probably change how that's done) they have to relocate a point from the targeting issue to another statistic and force the mudslinger to do the same if they fail. I don't know what I should change the mechanic to, however, if I do.

The votes are actually based on the electoral votes of the states in each region on the map the way I have it set out. Still, I could probably do some rounding to make things a little easier (Maybe round 60-whatever to 60 then drop the zero so it's worth 6 points).

I like the politician pieces a lot. It actually makes a use for the board. I realized last night (when I was protoing a little) that I could just make it a cheapass-style game where the board is just a piece of paper with a chart. However, that is certainly not interesting.

I was thinking about having the electorates change, with a "suggested" setup where each issue is rated a 1, 2, and 3 somewhere and then have little cards with the issue names on them that people can arrange how they want, randomly or otherwise. Still, that does add some fiddliness to the game. I guess the same could actually be done with the electorate values.

Lastly, as for humor, I think that would be good. I originally had some more controversial things in there, but they were removed because I really had no desire to get flamed back to whenever. It's a tricky line to walk between humor and offense, and I'd want to be very careful about that. I appreciate everything you all have said, and will start considering redrafts after the long weekend. :D

Tragic

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Sun, 07/03/2005 - 01:42
#5
dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Mudsling - A Politcal Boardgame (new game rules)

Nando wrote:

I contend that narrow-mindedness leads to almost the exact opposite: overconfidence. That the condition leads people to falsely assume that everyone believes exactly as they do, and they therefore act without hesitation (like blurting out whatever comes to mind without fear of offending anyone).
(which I, for one, can do without).

Mr. Nando,
um that quote was from Starwars, and not meant to be taken
seriously, but I do feel that even what you say, when you look at
the very root core its about fear/insecurity.
also since that quote was not meant to be taken seriously neither
was anything else I wrote. Sorry it offended you, but I didn't say
it in a serious way.
There is always a chance you offend someone when you speak,
misinterpretation whatever, the important thing is to handle it
professionally.

So I hope your not so upset Nando! "buys you a drink"

-dete

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Tue, 07/05/2005 - 15:26
#6
Pt314
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Mudsling - A Politcal Boardgame (new game rules)

I have thought of making a political game, and I ran into a lot of snags in my initial design. Problems such as the game mechanics, and how to get two of my gameplaying friends, with near opposite political ideologies ,to play it without it turning into another flame (like most of our role-playing sessions.).

It looks like you have done it pretty well.

And yes, I agree with Dete. Have a lot of humor in the game.

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