Race to the Center of the Earth
60 seconds.
(389 words)
Synopsis:
- Object of the game is to clear tiles from the stacks to reach the lowest point.
Description of the board:
- The Board is a grid of tiles that are face down with the exception of the top most tile. These stacks are made randomly. Each time a tile is “mined” the next tile is then turned face up.
- Tiles represent different material you are mining.
- Two different tile types (surface and subterranean)
- Surface tiles mostly easy to mine by hand
- Subterranean tiles mostly need pickaxe or dynamite, also chance of monster attack if no torch.
- Ridge along outside for Tree tiles
- Board size large enough to have space to move without having to be near other players. Isolation limits resource though.
Mechanics:
- Some tiles can not be mined by hand and require tools
- Tools are build using materials mined.
- Tools have limited use and so must be used sparingly
- You can also make weapons to attack opponents/monster
- some tools can be used to attack opponents indirectly (dynamite pushed players away from source)
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Other tools:
- Ladder: climb up and down large elevations (normally players can only move up or downs a few elevations at a time).
- Torch: avoids chance of monster in lower levels.
Tile Types:
-
Surface Resources:
- Dirt (no crafting purpose; can be used to fill in hole or raise player’s elevation)
- Stone ( requires more actions to mine by hand; basic tool resource; can make pickaxe and sword but they don’t last long)
- Coal (makes torches)
- Water (can not be mined without a bucket)
- Trees (only appear on ridge and slowly replenish)
-
Subterranean Resources:
- Stone (replaces dirt in frequency)
- Coal (less common)
- Iron (requires tools to mine; can make stronger tools)
- Diamond (rare; possibly worth points; also makes best tools)
- Lava (rare; kills player unless he has bucket with water; can not mine under until bucket/water; becomes stone)
Tools:
- Pickaxe (stone, iron, diamond + wood)
- Sword (stone, iron, diamond x2 + wood)
- Ladder (Wood x 2)
- Torch (wood + coal)
- Dynamite ( torch + ???; kill players and destroys tiles around and under it)
- Bucket (iron x 2)
Dice:
- Roll dice in subterranean for chance of monster if no torch
- Monster can also just be killed with sword
- roll dice to determine how many actions you take on turn (three 1’s, two 2’s, one 3)
- Resting one turn increases the number of dice you roll