the most important negotiation of the game
As indicated previously, the initial negotiation whether to adopt rules contrary to or outside the standard rules, can be an interesting prelude to an actual game; indeed, such a negotiation may be very informative as to the nature of the game that will follow.
Such a negotiation is also consistent with the notion that Monopoly™ is intended as a test of the players’ negotiation skills. Such negotiation can also provide variety that can make any particular game different or even unique. Negotiation, after all, is the skill of creating agreements where there is some element of the unknown.
Thus, there are many factors that might be negotiated prior to a Monopoly game. They include:
- The number of players
- Whether any players should be handicapped or be given an advantage, due to, say, age or skill level. Handicaps and advantages might include placement in playing order, allowance for doubles, opportunity to pick one or more properties prior to beginning the game, allowing a player to keep more cards in his or her hand, as opposed to placing them face down, do-overs, playing as a team, and additional or less money, initially or for passing Go. Such elements would rely on the creativity of the players.
- The initial starting amount of money. Money might be added for playing order negotiations, especially if auction proceeds are not redistributed back to the players.
- If there is to be one or more player order negotiations, when re-negotiations will occur.
- How should player order auction proceeds be handled?
- Whether dice or alternate methods will be used to determine player order and/or player moves
- If playing cards are to be used for player moves, how many cards will be placed face-down in each round?
- Whether “doubles” rules will be used
- Whether Community Chest, Chance and/or taxes will be used, and if so, what cards or tax amounts will be in play. If any of these is not used, how will landing on such a space be treated?
- How non-property spaces will be treated
- Will rent collection be modified to reduce the exchange of de minimis amounts?
- What will be the requirements for exiting Jail?
- What side agreements will be allowed?
A note on rules: There are a myriad house rules, a huge variety of commercially available Monopoly™ formats, and even add-ons that make Monopoly™ even more complex than the original game. The intent of the suggestions presented here is to simplify the game and focus on its core strengths: strategy and negotiation. Players negotiating rules need to consider their own values in committing an hour or two to a board game, and negotiate accordingly. Are there less skilled players who need to be involved? Is this just for fun or are there other dynamics? Is determining who is the most skilled player important?
A goal of these suggestions is to stay true to nature of Monopoly™: The Real Estate Trading Game™. Remembering what the game seeks to provide may be useful in considering rules variations. As indicated previously, a negotiation on rules can be as interesting as the game itself.
