We stopped at Kroger the day after Christmas - going to tae-kwon-do class near there anyway and hoped to get some Christmas candy on discount. Well, I was disappointed in the candy selection :( (it's ok, I found my candy selection at a different Kroger a week later - $4 bags of candy for $1!!!!) --- but we did pick up a Monopoloy card game for $2. I thought, "This could be good! We like Monopoly!"
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="168" caption="Here it is"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Image by 铁蛋骑士 via Flickr"]
[/caption]Hm. Well. It is described as addictive. I guess if you're deprived of anything of interest.
Not to sound unduly harsh, but really? If you're going to have a game that plays THIS fast (it can be over in less than 5 minutes), let's have some strategy at least.
I don't know even know where to begin.
So I'll devolve for a moment: I like Monopoly - I like the length. If you're going to PLAY, then PLAY. I like encouraging long attention spans in children. If you're going to have something with short hands (Mille Bornes can be fast! and it's far cooler), then do something where you're adding up points per hand - this builds some more strategy into it. And long-term patience with ups and downs - there are so many virtues learned and practiced.
Monopoly Deal is not like that. There are no points; the money counts for nothing in the end; there is no net value; I could go on....
You draw cards that are properties, money, action cards, houses and hotels.
You only need one house to place a hotel (and you leave the house - full sets required before placing houses). Ok, it's a fast-paced card game, things are going to change.
You draw two extra cards for passing Go (an action card).
How do you win?
You only need 3 complete property sets (and there are so many wild cards, it's unbelievable how fast you can put together sets of cards). That's it.
- You don't need any particular properties - just 3 sets. Park Place and Boardwalk are barely harder to get than the Baltic set (especially with all the wilds).
- Money on hand doesn't matter.
- Net worth doesn't matter.
- Debt doesn't matter.
- Just three complete sets of properties.
Yeah. We changed the rules. You now need FOUR sets; with a HOUSE; and 20M cash on hand. It makes the game MUCH more interesting ---- and almost long enough to tolerate. Almost.
But here's the kicker: the ATTITUDE.
- You don't just have a birthday and are blessed with money from other players. You *demand* birthday money on your birthday. Now, the card itself is worded fine -- it's the instructions that screw it up here.
- Sly deal cards allow you to *steal* a property from another player. Cannot break up a full set.
- You don't request/pay rent - it is forced. There's no landing on properties, so someone can "force" rent with the proper card played, at any time they like (as long as it is their turn).
- There are debt collectors - it doesn't matter how well you play to assure you stay out of debt, you can get hit by a debt collector, again with the "force" to pay up (given that the original Monopoly did not allow debt at all - you were out of the game if you couldn't pay - society has changed). But then get this: if you have no cards to pay the debt with, you just don't pay, but you KEEP PLAYING. WHAT!? You can avoid debt like that!?!?!?!? I want to live in *that* society! (ok, I actually don't... think of the ramifications... things are bad enough in this one with the debt...)
- Then there are "Just Say No" cards - you can play them on any of the action cards to stop an action against you (now the other player could have a "Just Say No" to stop the first "Just Say No" card. This tells me that when we tell our children to "Just Say No" to inappropriate offers of any kind, it can be over-ridden by the one making the demand. I think our society has become SO insensitive to not even realize how much these little things teach our sensitive young children.
- Deal Breakers "steal" a complete set from another player - houses, hotels and all. Again, not "You inherited property!" or "Pay another player half the property value to purchase the entire set!" - this would still force the situation, but are not encouraging the wrong attitude.
- At least "Forced Deal" is a swap with another player - the other player doesn't get to pick what they swap though. It just can't break up a full set.
Other action cards are harsh but at least not offensive to good morals.
It is fast; furious considering the attitude it promotes; and downright immoral. And to think that some people don't play the original Monopoly because of the capitalism it promotes. This game could be downright evil in that regard.
Yep. Monopoly ADHD. With an attitude.
To leave this on an up-beat: At least you can choose HOW to pay someone. While change is never given (if all you can pay is too much, you don't get change), you can choose to pay your debts with a combination of money and properties -- bartering of a sort!
I still think we're scrapping this one. Unless I decide to re-write the offensive cards - they're not BAD, it's just the WORDS that incite the ATTITUDE. How about: It's your birthday! All players gift you to 2M! (not demanding it).
We've already re-written the rules. Why not re=write the cards?
Because it's a $2 game that never should have been bought. I should have known better to read the entire box first. Therefore I want to make up for my mistake.
:)
No comments:
Post a Comment