For our second annual Halloween Monopoly Club outing, Pete - the Master of The Boards - busted out his untouched Ghostbusters-themed set.
A lot of love and care had clearly gone into adapting your standard Monopoly to this theme: for one thing, players aren't collecting properties, rather contracts; and houses and hotels were reshaped as "ghost traps" and "containment units".
There were also several nice new rules to shake things up: for instance, some squares let you (and the person to your left) battle a ghost, if you won you got the fee, if you lost you paid the city for damages caused; and the Ecto-1 square (in lieu of railway stations) allowed you to move to any square in that quarter of the board... for a fee.
Chance and Community Chest had been merged into "roaming vapour" cards (all suitably themed to the first and best - Ghostbusters movie), but the real gimmick here is that the cards were on the cool plastic ghost trap in the middle of the board, and each time you took one you pressed a button on the side of the box and the opening bars of the Ghostbusters tune played.
I though this might get a bit irritating, but after a while it was almost comforting!
One of the few gripes we had about the set was the movement counters. They were all modelled after 'iconic' objects from the movie, but, at a distance, looked quite similar and certainly didn't stand out on the board.
We all agreed there were better things these could have been shaped as: such as the movie's ghosts, an Ecto-1, an actual Ghostbuster etc
A lot of love and care had clearly gone into adapting your standard Monopoly to this theme: for one thing, players aren't collecting properties, rather contracts; and houses and hotels were reshaped as "ghost traps" and "containment units".
There were also several nice new rules to shake things up: for instance, some squares let you (and the person to your left) battle a ghost, if you won you got the fee, if you lost you paid the city for damages caused; and the Ecto-1 square (in lieu of railway stations) allowed you to move to any square in that quarter of the board... for a fee.
Chance and Community Chest had been merged into "roaming vapour" cards (all suitably themed to the first and best - Ghostbusters movie), but the real gimmick here is that the cards were on the cool plastic ghost trap in the middle of the board, and each time you took one you pressed a button on the side of the box and the opening bars of the Ghostbusters tune played.
I though this might get a bit irritating, but after a while it was almost comforting!
One of the few gripes we had about the set was the movement counters. They were all modelled after 'iconic' objects from the movie, but, at a distance, looked quite similar and certainly didn't stand out on the board.
We all agreed there were better things these could have been shaped as: such as the movie's ghosts, an Ecto-1, an actual Ghostbuster etc
Having fired up a Ghostbusters/Halloween mix on Spotify, Rachel chose Dana's violin, Pete was the backpack and wand, Clare the walkie-talkie and I picked the ecto-goggles... and battle commenced!
I think I must have been channelling Monty Burns this week, because I played my most ruthless game yet. It was pointed out - more than once - that I was (subconsciously) steepling my fingers and cackling in an evil manner.
To be honest, I don't know what came over me, but I was in a "take no prisoners" and "show no charity" mood (which, ultimately, I guess, is how Monopoly is supposed to be played).
There was a lot of (good natured, but quite sweary) haggling between Rachel and I, trying to acquire key contracts from each other, much to the amusement of Pete and Clare.
I think I must have been channelling Monty Burns this week, because I played my most ruthless game yet. It was pointed out - more than once - that I was (subconsciously) steepling my fingers and cackling in an evil manner.
To be honest, I don't know what came over me, but I was in a "take no prisoners" and "show no charity" mood (which, ultimately, I guess, is how Monopoly is supposed to be played).
There was a lot of (good natured, but quite sweary) haggling between Rachel and I, trying to acquire key contracts from each other, much to the amusement of Pete and Clare.
My property portfolio started off modestly and, as usual, I was slow off the starting block, getting lapped by everyone else.
However, my usual ambition (which everyone knows by now), is to try and purchase the two most expensive, royal blue, squares just before you get back to "Go", and then sit on these collecting increasing meaty rents.
Bizarrely, even knowing what I was aiming to do, Pete sold me one of the contracts for three (lower value) of mine and then - almost the next round - Clare traded me the other in a similarly beneficial deal.
And - with Spook Central and Temple of Gozer - under my command, the cackling began, and I started investing in ghost traps, then containment units.
However, my usual ambition (which everyone knows by now), is to try and purchase the two most expensive, royal blue, squares just before you get back to "Go", and then sit on these collecting increasing meaty rents.
Bizarrely, even knowing what I was aiming to do, Pete sold me one of the contracts for three (lower value) of mine and then - almost the next round - Clare traded me the other in a similarly beneficial deal.
And - with Spook Central and Temple of Gozer - under my command, the cackling began, and I started investing in ghost traps, then containment units.
The dice were also in my favour as player after player bankrupted themselves on my properties, and victory was - surprisingly quickly - mine.
Not until I was updating the league table (see below) did I realise actually how many games I have won over the past months, but there was something rather satisfying about this trouncing of my dear friends.
I rather suspect our next game (which I believe is themed on "Round The World") will see Rachel, Pete, and Clare ganging up on me because of my gloating this week.
In my defence, all I can say is: "Well, this is Monopoly!"
Not until I was updating the league table (see below) did I realise actually how many games I have won over the past months, but there was something rather satisfying about this trouncing of my dear friends.
I rather suspect our next game (which I believe is themed on "Round The World") will see Rachel, Pete, and Clare ganging up on me because of my gloating this week.
In my defence, all I can say is: "Well, this is Monopoly!"
