[Noisebridge-discuss] Games night - Race for the Galaxy

[Sai Emrys]

I'm up for it.

Suggestion: I think "Eta" (and other nomic games) would be a good match for
this group.

It's quite simple:

Standard deck (or a couple combined). Everyone draws 8 cards if they
have none in hand (eg at start). Play clockwise. First card turned
over to start the pile. Play any single card that matches suit or rank
as the top card on the pile.

The part that makes it fun: when you go out, you get to make a new
rule (which can be done later). Depending on house rules, you may or
may not have to explain what the rule is, but you have to announce
that you've done so at least. Rules can be pretty much anything that's
reasonable.

Example rules people come up with:
* side game of 'hangman'; if you get a red 8, you have to guess;
penalty card for guessing wrong
* if there are two cards in a row of the same rank, you can slap the
pile; first person to slap gets to give a card from their hand to
another player. Otherp layer must say 'thank you', giver must respond
'you're welcome'
* 8s reverse direction of play
* each person is assigned a 'favorite suit' (<=4 players); if two of
that suit are played in a row, play jumps to them
* on playing a one-eyed jack, you have to say your next sentence with
a Spoonerism
... etc.

Violating a rule - and getting called on it - gives a one card penalty
from deck, with succinct statement of what was wrong. (E.g. "penalty
for rudeness".) Of course, miscalling a penalty is itself a
penalizable. :-P

It doesn't start with any points or winning conditions, but those can be
added by rulemaking.

Anyway, it's very easy to learn, only requires a basic card deck, and
can get very interesting pretty quickly as rules add up. Better w/ at least ~4
players. Can add in more decks as needed to expand.

- Sai