autilio@phoenix.UUCP (Pat Autilio) (09/19/85)
Please mail any responses to me directly.
Also, if anyone out there is aware of the existence of similar
publications or organizations for discussing MONOPOLY please drop me
a line. Thanks.
Pat Autilio
AT&T Information Systems
307 Middletown/Lincroft Rd.
Lincroft, NJ, 07738
phoenix!autilio
LZ 3F-310 (201)576-3547
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MONOPOLY
Argument Proceedings
_______________________________________________________________
August, 1985 A Publication devoted to discussion of Vol.1 No.1
the rules, conventions and strategies of
MONOPOLY, the real estate trading game
_______________________________________________________________
Welcome to MAP!
Greetings MONOPOLY Fans and welcome to the first issue of
the MONOPOLY Argument Proceedings.
MAP is intended to provide a forum for discussion of those
all aspects of MONOPOLY. Included will be articles covering
strategies, conventions and explanations of the rules of the
game. If you've ever played MONOPOLY you know that heated
discussions can take place during the course of a game.
Many of these debates crop up over the meaning of the rules
and their implications. Others deal with certain conventions
that are commonly adopted (for example, placing $500 on Free
Parking). The most interesting discussions transcend both
rules and conventions and deal with the actual strategies of
the game.
Many players of the game relish a good argument over the
rules and their intent. On the other hand, such discussions
can often lead to physical confrontations and the break up
of marriages.
MAP provides all MONOPOLY enthusiasts with the opportunity
to learn from each other and share interesting ideas.
Since this is the first issue of the MAP, it will be devoted
almost entirely to the identification of a number of issues
that have been discussed before but have never been
committed to paper. Our readers are encouraged to submit
their arguments and opinions for or against the rule,
convention or strategy in question.
In future editions, these responses (and responses to the
responses) will be published in MAP as well. Any new issues
that readers feel are worthy of discussion should also be
passed along to the editor for inclusion in future editions.
In addition to the argumentative parts of this newsletter,
MAP will also provide tips for the many readers who may not
be fully aware of the subtler aspects of the rules or many
of the strategies that may be applied to the game. Each
edition will introduce one or more helpful hints or ``little
known facts''. No doubt these will lead to some discussion
too!
I think its time to get down to the matters at hand. The
next issue of MAP will have a section exploring rules,
derived rules and conventions in MONOPOLY and how to tell
the difference between them.
Why MONOPOLY?
Many people would be surprised that any of us should spend
our time discussing strategies for a game like MONOPOLY.
MONOPOLY often goes under the same classification as
parcheesi and slapjack as a fun game for children but having
little to hold the interest of adult players. This couldn't
be farther from the truth!
The perception that MONOPOLY is strictly a children's game
stems from several misconceptions. I think it's worthwhile
to attempt to debunk a few of these right now.
MONOPOLY is dull! You roll the dice and just wait and see
what happens.
No way! Even when MONOPOLY is played strictly by the
rules (as it should be), there are an unlimited number
of clever strategies that may be employed. Real skill
is necessary to think of deals you can make with other
players that will best improve your position in the
game.
MONOPOLY is just a game of chance.
Not by a long shot!! It's true that the dice randomly
determine which properties players will land on. It's
also true that in some games, some players will land on
fewer unowned properties than others. But first and
foremost MONOPOLY is a real estate trading game. There
are countless ways for a player with few properties to
get a toehold in the real estate market. These methods
will be discussed in detail in future issues.
The dark blues (or oranges, etc.) are the best Properties.
Many people think that MONOPOLY is uninteresting
because once someone gets the good properties then the
game is virtually in the bag. There's no such thing as
the best properties! There are many factors that
determine whether or not a given color group is
valuable: the amount of money you have to invest, the
amount of clout you need to bankrupt other players, the
number of houses left for sale and many others. There
is no single property or color group that is always the
best to own. Each player must constantly reassess his
position and decide what properties he wants, if any,
and then start dealing!
MONOPOLY has a rare quality that is found in only the most
popular games. It has a magnetic appeal to beginners and
veterans alike. A beginner can learn MONOPOLY's fundamentals
and begin to enjoy the richness of the game in a relatively
short time. The seasoned player continually discovers new
tactics and strategies that increase his interest in the
game.
Now let's get down to brass tacks.
Argument #1
Dealing with Bankruptcy
Many heated discussions have arisen in games I've played
regarding the nature of bankruptcy. The official rules to
MONOPOLY state:
A player is bankrupt when he owes more than he can pay
either to another player or to the bank. If his debt is to
another player, he must turn over to that player all that he
has of value and retire from the game.
So the question arises, exactly when is a player bankrupt?
When does he actually incur that debt?
A. As soon as he lands on the property?
B. As soon as the owner of the property asks for rent?
C. Only after that player has been asked for rent and has
tried unsuccessfully to make deals to stay solvent?
At first glance, the third alternative seems most fair.
However, adopting such a definition very often leads to the
following unpleasant situation: Player A lands on Player B's
property and cannot afford the rent nor make any
satisfactory deals. Player A therefore decides to get even
and sell all of his property to player C for $1. Player B
gets the $1 and nothing more.
One possible solution to this is for player B to threaten to
pour the bowl of potato chips down player A's pants if he
tries a stunt like that. It would be much better to
establish a convention which players agree to abide by and
would avert such a situation before it arises.
Of the two remaining possibilities, the second is the most
in keeping with the definition of rent liability in
MONOPOLY. That is, the player does not owe any rent until
the owner asks him for it. The implication of this is that
if the owner is not on the ball, the potentially bankrupt
player is free to make deals to muster the necessary capital
any time before but not after that owner asks for the rent.
Proposed Convention #1:
A player is bankrupt (owes more than he can pay) when he
lands on a property and is asked for more rent than he can
pay. As soon as he is asked for this amount, his assets are
totaled and he is retired from the game.
If a player lands on a space that cause him to go bankrupt
to the bank he is bankrupt as soon as he lands on that
space.
Remember that just having a convention that fairly applies
to everyone is most important. Often, the details of the
convention are trivial in comparison. Nonetheless, MAP
invites your comments and suggestions.
Argument #2
Showing Your Money
The point of contention here is: Are you obliged to tell
other players how much money you have when asked?
There are no official rules that deal with this particular
issue nor does it seem possible to derive it from any of the
rules. Nonetheless, it is useful to adopt a convention
which may be agreed upon before play begins to avert
arguments that might crop up.
First, we'll consider the issues involved.
o The thorniest issue is whether or not it is fitting
that players should know (approximately or exactly) how
much cash another player has. Most MONOPOLY players are
accustomed to leaving their money on the table and
revealing the approximate total when asked. But there
are always those who don't want to reveal how much they
have and typically an argument ensues. If everyone hid
the amount of their assets the game would certainly
change in character. Estimates of other player's
assets weigh heavily in decisions that are made about
whether to trade or build.
o Certainly the table on which you're playing is the most
convenient place to leave your money. It is bothersome
and rough on the money to keep stuffing it in your
sock.
o It would be cumbersome to adopt a rule that would
permit a player to be forced to add up his money over
and over again at the request of any of the other
players.
With these issues in mind consider the following possible
conventions:
A. A player may keep his money where he likes but must
disclose its amount when asked.
B. A player's money must be kept on the playing area and
in sight of other players at all times and must
disclose its amount when asked.
C. A player's money must be kept on the playing area and
in sight of other players at all times. Each
denomination must be kept in an individual pile. A
player may not be asked to disclose its amount.
D. A player's money must be kept on the playing area and
in sight of other players at all times. The money may
be organized in any manner on the playing area. A
player may not be asked to disclose its amount.
E. A player may keep his money where he likes and may not
be asked to disclose its amount.
Option C is given below as a proposed convention.
Proposed Convention #2:
A player's money must be kept on the playing area and in
sight of other players at all times. Each denomination must
be kept in an individual pile. A player may not be asked to
disclose its amount.
Discussion? Disagreements?
Pending Topics
Topics in forthcoming issues:
o Is it mandatory that players must hold the dice (i.e.
refrain from taking their turn) when asked to do so?
o Where does one draw the line between loaning money,
giving away money and selling something highly trivial?
o What should be the rules governing giving other players
advice (good, bad, or indifferent) during the game? Can
it be sold?
o What do procedure should be followed when someone goes
out of turn?
o If someone wishes to drop out of the game early and
there are two or more other players remaining, must the
game be considered forfeit or is it possible to define
a fair procedure for keeping that player's assets in
play?
o Consider the following example, 5 houses remain in the
bank, two players desire three houses each. How many
houses must be auctioned?
o How does proposed convention #1 apply to rent that's
owed?
Response
Send all responses to the physical or elctronic address
given below no later than October 15, 1985.
Pat Autilio
AT&T Information Systems
307 Middletown/Lincroft Rd.
Lincroft, NJ, 07738
phoenix!autilio
LZ 3F-310 (201)576-3547
--
Pat Autilio
AT&T Information Systems
307 Middletown/Lincroft Rd.
Lincroft, NJ, 07738
phoenix!autilio
LZ 3F-310 x3547