[This is not the announcement of a Kickstarter project, but maybe it should be. Heh.]
Hi!
Before Christmas, a reader's awesome girlfriend (let's call her Emma) got in touch to ask what a Player Manager board game would look like so she could make it as a gift for him.
I'm no game designer but I thought of a traditional board that you moved around, picking up new players, playing games. To determine the outcome of a match, you would draw a card with random outcomes that veered low. As your CA improved, you'd be able to pick from the medium pile, and so on.
That idea... exists!
BEHOLD! I HAVE ASCENDED!
Emma went full Emma on this one.
Awesome counter choice.
Rulebook and custom scoresheets.
Money plus XP equals win. Be Max Best to guarantee victory, just like real life!(I'm mildly obsessed with Emma putting page numbers on the two-page rulebook. 'I think you'll find that on page 2 it says...')
Apparently, it's great fun. If you want to make one yourself, keep reading. Otherwise, thank you for your support!
...
Make Your Own PM:TBG
I asked Emma to send me the details of how my craftier readers could copy her idea. I didn't get all the details of what was on every card, but here's the general outline. (Create your own player cards, some perks, some result cards, bosh!)
Emma's Steps
Find an editable Monopoly board template online (I found one on Etsy for $10, and I just downloaded it to Canva.)
Customize the board, bills, player cards, and perk/upgrade cards on Canva.
Create a scoresheet to keep track of points during the game.
Create the rulebook on (you guessed it) Canva!
Get everything printed (I went to an Office Depot to do this since the board size is 50x50 cm or 20x20 cm, too big for my printer at home.)
Assemble the board by cutting out the center area (I only did this part since the cardboard I used was green, like a soccer field) and glue it to a piece of cardboard the same size.
Divide the board into 4, cut along one crease, and fold the other 3. (This part is optional for if you want it to fold like most board games do)
For the center area of the board, I drew lines with a white paint pen to look like a soccer field, but you could also do this on Canva. It’s not essential because the center area is just where you place card piles, I just wanted to decorate the board more!
Cut out all the money, cards, and rulebook.
You’ll also need one dice and figurines to move around the board (I found some small soccer player figures for $5)
Find a box to keep the board and all the pieces in! I used a shoebox and a sheet of green card stock to decorate it a little.
Laws of the Game
Setup
Players start off with 50 M
Track XP amounts on scoresheets
Create 2 distinct piles for pulling training/perk and player cards
Divide the match pile into 3 piles (red, yellow, and green)
Board Events
Move through the board based on dice rolls
Transfer Deadline Days are not playable spaces. You may not draw a card if you land on one, but you can choose to trade one player card for the top card in the player deck (or not.) You may also stop at these spaces if you move past them. After the last Deadline, you may not draw Player cards.
Turns+Cards
For each turn, a player must
follow the prompt of the space they land on
draw one of the three types of cards
Buying a Training/Perk card or Player card is optional after drawing one
Match cards are chosen based on the amount of XP a player has recorded on their scoresheet.
0-40 XP = red pile
40-100 XP = yellow pile
100+ = green pile
The game ends when all players reached the final space
Calculate final point totals to determine the winner!
Money/Point Conversion
Add up every bill you have at the end of the game
Divide the total by 1 M (million)
If you don't end up with a whole number, you will have to round up or down
Round up if you have a Feedback Loop Card, round down if you don’t
XP/Point Conversion
Add up your total XP from your scoresheet
Divide the total by 2
If Max Best is on your team, add 2 points