Week 4 - Prototype 1: Pretentiousness and Piracy

Name of the Game: Pretentiousness and Piracy

Number of Players: 2-4

Time to Play: 30-60 minutes

Object of the Game: Collect the most affection points to win.

Our board game is based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. After reading through Sparknotes pages, and watching the movie, we noticed that most of the unmarried male characters were wooing one of the Bennets at some point. We also took note that there was always the question of money when people were getting married. That was when we decided that this game should be a collection game. We also decided to design the game such that all the men are trying to marry the prettiest of the Bennet girls, Jane. However, Mr.Bennet and Mrs.Bennet only want the best for their daughter and so they decide that whom ever holds the most wealth and power, and whom ever Jane loves most, will marry Jane.

We looked at the list of male characters who were looking to marry and there were really only 4; Mr.Collins, Mr.Darcy, Mr.Bingley, and Mr.Wickham. We decided to go with a mechanic where players (playing as one of the 4 listed) could manage their estates and purchase more land, meaning we also added money. Each player has his home estate space. When they pass this space, they receive a salary (similar to the Go! space in Monopoly) based on what level their estate is (4 levels). There are also special spaces such as Lady Catherine de Bourgh's estate, where should a player land on it, they receive a cash bonus. If a player trespasses onto his love rival's territory, he has to pay a fine based on what level that territory is. 

Retro Filigree pattern money

We also needed another way for players to lose money, and that's how we incorporated the pirate. At first the pirate was just a space on the board, but after some discussion we thought that it would be best if the pirate were a non-player character that moved around the board, and if he lands on a property he destroys it, or if a player were to share the same space as him, he would rob them. This allowed for a slightly more realistic pirate as most pirates don't stay in the same place for a long time.

The final score is based on affection points, so we convert all the properties into cash, then cash into affection points.

Setup:

1. Each player picks a character (from the 4 corners of the board).
2. Each player starts with a level one estate (represented by one gem on their estate).
3. Each player starts with $500.
4. The pirate piece starts at the x2 money space.
5. One player is the accountant and handles the money.

How to Play:

1. Roll 2 dice and move around the board clockwise.

Rules:

• When a player passes their home space(one of the four corners), they collect $50 for each property (represented by a gem) on it.
• If you land on a space that is a part of your love rival's estate, you must pay them $25 for each property on that space.
• If a player has no money, but has properties left, they must sell their property for cash to the bank (the accountant handles this transaction). Each regular property sells for $125, a property adjacent to the Bennet's sells for $500. They then pay what is owed to their love rival
• Each space can hold four properties.
• You can place a property on a space that you land on. Properties cost $250 each. 
• Note: A space can contain properties of different players.
• If a player lands on the Lady Catherine de Bourgh space, they receive $500. A property cannot be placed on this space.
• If a player lands on the x2 money space, they collect $100 for each property on their home space. A property cannot be placed on this space.
• If a player lands on the Bennet space, they may choose to stay there and skip a turn, after which they will receive one affection point. A property cannot be placed on this space.
• If a player lands on the x2 heart space, the next time they land on the Bennet space and choose to stay, they will receive 2 affection points.
• If you land on this space again the bonus remains x2
• If a player shares a space with a pirate, they forfeit $500 to the bank. If the pirate lands on a space with a player's property on it, one property is destroyed
• If multiple players own property on the space, they must each roll the dice. The player with the lowest roll will have his property destroyed. 
• It costs $1000 to place a property in a space adjacent to the Bennet house. However, if a player has a property there, when ever they land on the Bennet house, they collect an affection point immediately and no longer give up their turn.
• If a player has no money and no property, they are eliminated.
• The game ends when all the spaces have at least one property on them.
• At the end of the game, all property is converted to cash. Each regular property is converted to $125, and a property adjacent to the Bennet's is converted to $500. All cash is then converted into affection points. Every $500 gives one affection point.