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Running Bull

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Maddgames
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CROWD ROAD.jpg
Running Bulls Board
Running Bulls Board

I am currently close to completing my game running bull.

The game is a bluff/deck building game based on running the bulls in Pamplona.

The aim of the game is to run bull, so you can win by dodging the bulls or by running bull (lying).

As it is a race game you move your runner thought the streets of Pamplona by placing a card in front of you face down and declaring what it is. The other players then can call you a liar or not.

Reputation (victory points) are awarded every time someone lies successful, every time someone attempts to dodge a bull and for finishing the race fastest. But you can also steal reputation if you catch someone lying.

Each player starts the game with the same deck of 10 cards numbered 1-6. Each card also has its own ability that can be played to aid you in someway. These decks get added to over the game by purchasing better cards, and also by becoming exhausted (a 2) and injured (a 1).

The game is played over 5 rounds:

Ability - where you play a card from your hands to help for or hamper others.

Move - stating you are playing a numbered card to move though the streets.

Bulls - This is where the bulls move and will attempt to gore anyone in their path.

Buy - Gaining new cards for your deck.

Draw - Drawing up to your maximum hand size

The game ends once someone gets to the end of the course (the bull fighting arena)

I have attached the game board and some examples of the cards in the game.

let-off studios
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Questions

I've not seen the rules for your game, but I have a few thoughts and questions to share with you.

1. What would you say is the connection between your bluffing/lying mechanic and bull-running? Same with the purchase of new cards. Are players rewarding by being able to take more risks, or be "more daring"? Personally I'm not so clear on this and I'm hoping you can explain.

2. When are event cards revealed? At the beginning of a round: before players respond to it, or at the end of a round: once players have chosen their actions? Or are these cards from the player's hand? I'm not clear on this?

3. Would you say this game is "all about take-that" in terms of player interaction? As in, the game is about constantly sabotaging your opponents, stealing their cards, etc.? On a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 means "none" and 10 means "constantly"), how would you rank this game's level of "take that"?

4. Are players who have been injured several times able to stay in competition for the win, or are they pretty much knocked-out of the running/eliminated after a few hits?

Jay103
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let-off studios wrote:I've

let-off studios wrote:
I've not seen the rules for your game, but I have a few thoughts and questions to share with you.

1. What would you say is the connection between your bluffing/lying mechanic and bull-running?


I believe it's the word "Bull" :)

Drion22
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What changed?

Hey there!

I really like the added art and the board (though some corners twist and turn a bit too much before straightening). The board also looks a bit too long if the game is just about bluffing.

Without playtesting and seeing the buyable cards I feel like the deckbuilding element is a bit redundant and also could hurt the bluffing by adding too much randomness to what cards you could be bluffing about. (because your hand is random, what cards you can put down is also a bit random)

I think a straight up 1-6 numbered hand of cards (maybe each with abilities) sounds nice, as you are discouraged from the high numbers because people can just call you out... wait... don't you just eliminate any bluffing if you just always tell other players exactly the card you put down? They can't call you out on lying if you never lie?

The rules still seem fuzzy, but I really like some main concepts in it.

Otherwise I don't think we can say much more than we did 3 months ago, when you first told about this game since it hasn't changed. (Other than cool art!).

Have you considered sharing a print and play or a rulebook? I think we could give you a ton of feedback based on those!

Cheers!

Drion22
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Yes

Jay103 wrote:
let-off studios wrote:
I've not seen the rules for your game, but I have a few thoughts and questions to share with you.

1. What would you say is the connection between your bluffing/lying mechanic and bull-running?


I believe it's the word "Bull" :)

Bullfing shall be the name of thy game.

Maddgames
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Thanks for the feedback. The

Thanks for the feedback.

The game fundamental hasn't changed in testing. But the way in which you gain reputation and the amounts have changed a lots as has the balancing and the cards.

I am planning on putting it up as a print and play in the next few months once more internal play testing has been done, but I'll post a rule book sooner.

Jay103
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I know some people like

I know some people like victory points, but.. why isn't the game simply won by whoever gets to the end? The bluffs help you do that, so do they need points assigned to them?

Also, I'm clicking "like" on Bulffing :) (Or bullfing?)

Maddgames
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The reason there are points

The reason there are points for taking hits is because of the theme. When you run the bulls the "victory" is in getting close to the bulls, having near misses with them, or even being hit. No one is praised for running as fast as the can to get away from the bulls. I've been chatting to a few Spanish friends about this, orignally the game was just a race to the end.

The deck building element is a smaller part of the game, there to try and give players meaningful options each turn (in how they have to manage their hand) and to try and make different strategies available each game as the buy deck is a pile of unique ability cards.

wob
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is there any penalty for

is there any penalty for calling bull and getting it wrong? i presume there is else i would just call bull every time.
i saw someone point out you cant get caught out if you dont lie. true, but you also cant move 6 each turn until someone calls your bluff (hopefully the turn you actually played that 6). if anyone ever played "cheat" as a kid, they'll know, you claim the maximum you can get away with.

Maddgames
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There are 4 possible outcomes

There are 4 possible outcomes in the move phase
1) you lie and don't get caught - you gain 3 reputation (VP) and move the amount you claimed

2) you lie and get caught - you give the player that caught you one of your
reputation, you move the amount on your card, add a fatigue card (blank 2) to your hand. Also the player that caught you gets to trash a card in their hand/discard

3) you don't lie and get called a lier. You move the amount on your card and the person calling you a lier gets a fatigue

4) you don't lie and no one calls you a lier - you move the amount on your card and noone gets a fatigue.

Maddgames
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If anyone is in the UK this

If anyone is in the UK this game with be at meeple mayhem in Birmingham on 14th with lots of other new games too.

Maddgames
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RULES

http://www.filedropper.com/runningbullrules

Here are the rules.

I'm sure there will be lots of questions as there are not many images in these yet, and I'm dyslexic so not always the best with words!

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