Bulimia

Weight problems are rife in modern society, especially amongst young ladies. You are a young lady and maybe you're too fat, maybe you're too thin, you're ill for sure and you need help. You've joined a group of similarly afflicted ladies with the idea that you will all focus on attaining your ideal weight by means of a competition. One problem - you hate each other - you hate each other to death......

By a strange coincidence, each of you are most healthy at a weight of 120lbs, and at the start of the contest, are not too far off (100 + D6*5 lbs). You have all agreed that you can advise each other to take one course of action and choose one for yourself. After 6 turns, whoever is nearest the target weight of 120lbs wins. However, if your weight falls to 50lbs or less you die. If your weight is 200lbs or more, eating a wafer thin mint will cause you to explode.

Startup

The game is best with 6 players, but 5 will do. Each player must choose an amusing name for their lady, and is dealt a hand of 5 or 6 cards depending on the number of players.

The Play

You choose one card to play on yourself, plus one for each of the other players. You get less cards as players die, but when 4 or less players are left, an extra card is dealt (so with 4 players you get 5, with 3 players 4, etc.) - you discard the card of your choice.

In the event of a tie after 6 turns, more turns are played until there is a winner (not necessarily one of the players in the original tie).

Note that collusion between turns is permitted, and (bitchy) press is encouraged.

The Cards

These are divided into "fatteners", "slimmers" and "specials". There are 36 cards in the deck and the number of each one is given in brackets. The cards take effect in the order below - except for the "Comfort", "Paranoia", and "Prozac" cards which are dealt with in the "eating" phase.

Fatteners (Eating Phase)

Salad (5) +5lbs

Chocolate (4) +10lbs

Midnight Snack (3) +15lbs

Big Mac (2) +20lbs

Fridge Frenzy (1) +25lbs

Slimmers (Purging Phase)

Aerobics (5) -5lbs

Laxative (4) -10lbs*

Emetic (3) -15lbs*

Liposuction (2) -20lbs - not performed if under 150lbs

Stomach Staple (1) -25lbs - not performed if under 150lbs

* You can only empty your bowels and tummy once each, so if a player receives 2 or more Laxative or Emetic cards, only one of each type is actioned.

Specials

Prozac (2) Counters "Comfort" and "Paranoia" cards

Need for Comfort (1) Doubles the effect of the highest fattening card (a binge)

Fat Paranoia (1) Cancels the highest fattening card

Doctors (1) Gain 20lbs if underweight, lose 20lbs if overweight

The Wafer Thin Mint (1) If 200lbs or more - KABOOM!

Note that if a player gets both the "Comfort" and the "Paranoia" cards, they cancel out.

Example:

Camilla Parkher-Bowels weighs 130lbs and receives the following cards:

Big Mac, Salad, Need For Comfort, Laxative, Laxative, and Stomach Staple.

The "Comfort" card means she eats 2 Big Macs, plus the salad, giving her a weight of 175lbs. She then takes two laxative tablets, which has the same effect as one, emptying her bowels down to 165lbs. As she is over 150lbs, the stomach staple operation is sanctioned, reducing her to 140lbs at the end of the turn.

By Richard Smith 1998