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Snakes and Ladders

by Alan Parr and Jed Stone

what goes up must come down A simple game for kids? Not so the postal version....

First the GM designs one or more boards. These boards can be any shape or size and snakes and ladders are placed according to specific rules (either relating to the board layout or the square number). The layout of each board is kept secret (apart from the total number of squares) and players have to negotiate their way to the finish initially blind, but gradually deducing information about the board shape and the placement of snakes and ladders.

Each player is issued the numbers 1 to 6 from which he must select each turn. The same number cannot be reused until six turns are complete, when a new set of numbers is issued.

The number chosen by each player is not revealed in the turn report, rather the players' start and end positions only are shown.

There is an additional twist in that each player may nominate a square (for each board) on which a trapdoor is placed. Whichever square is the most popular (GM decides randomly if a tie) becomes a trapdoor for next turn, provided it has received at least 3 votes. This trapdoor causes the victim to drop exactly one level in the board, and supercedes any snake or ladder on that square. Note that the square on which the victim lands on is acted upon (snake or ladder).

When determining placings, if more than one player crosses the finish line in the same turn, they are placed in order of who is furthest past (equal if tie).

If the game is played using more than one board simultaneously, then the aggregate positions are used to determine the winner. E.g. with three boards coming 1st, 4th and 5th gives an aggregate 10 - lowest aggregate wins. The GM may elect to play each board to the "bitter end" though it is suggested that the placings for each board on the round when the third player gets to the end are final.

Note that it is optional to play the turns 5&6, 11&12 etc. as double turns, as the number on the latter of these turns is automatic. In this case note that there is only a single trapdoor nomination which operates for both turns.