Pirate Spacebeard

This is a variation on my Pirate Riddlebeard and Pirate Drawingbeard games. In those games the computer generates a random map + hints to where the treasure is (only one square exactly fits all those hints).

In this game, the map is not a grid with coordinates, but a more dynamic “graph” of a random galaxy (with planets, stars, etcetera). See below for more explanation.

Gameplay (competitive)

Each turn has three steps. They are optional, but you must do at least one of them.

MODIFY: Remove a connection from the map or change a node. This is permanent.
ASK: Ask a player if their current answer for a location is different from their original answer (at the start of the game, indicated on hint card).
DIG: Pick a location, ask everyone their original answer. If all say yes, you win. Otherwise, you must give away your answer for X nodes.

Optional: how many players you can ask depends on the location or some other property? (One at a time feels too slow, everyone feels too much.)

Optional: also add “creatures” to planets and allow them to be moved. However, the number of slots around a planet is finite, so after moving several times it just isn’t possible anymore. (Same technique used with other One Paper Games to simplify the writings.)

Yes, during gameplay, the map will change, getting smaller and simpler as we go.

The important part is that the hint cards from players show the original map and their answers for it. This way, the ask/dig actions can be quickly and correctly answered.

Gameplay (cooperative)

This is always played using real/reusable material.

Setup the board as indicated.
Use the device to show everyone their individual wish card.

This board is always regular, so each node is at grid points, and one of the connection tokens (small, medium, long) will always fit nicely.

On your turn, you either change one thing about the map, or say I’m satisfied (if all your wishes are currently satisfied).

If all players say they’re satisfied in a row, you win the game.

After changing something, everyone can say whether they like it, dislike it, or don’t care.

What’s Different?

Difference #1: Maps are graphs. Nodes and edges.

Difference #2: Players have pawns. You actually move around the galaxy searching for the treasure. (In the “digital” version, you simply write your icon on planets, can’t go somewhere if already visited too many times?)

Difference #3: Two modes. Both competitive and cooperative supported.

Difference #4: Hints are best of both worlds. Drawn, but with some numbers/text to allow more complexity.

Map

The map is a graph: nodes are planets/moons/asteroids/stars, lines represent space travel routes between them.

(This can be easily copied by placing the graph on top of a grid structure. Where lines intersect, or exactly in the center of lines/tiles, that’s where we place stuff.)

There is nothing on nodes (no other bunch of properties that can be set), the variation comes from what a node is.

Material? Nodes are individual tokens you can print and cut. Connections are represented by line-like tokens of differing lengths you fit yourself (short, medium, long).

List of nodes?

Small Planet
Large Planet
Moon
Sun
Red Dwarf
Asteroid
Black Hole

Connection types?

?? (Easy Travel? Direct Travel/Superspeed? Maybe better to go with route types: smuggler route, police patrol, etc.)

Node properties? Things that can be on the nodes. Will probably be very optional in the competitive mode, but necessary for the cooperative mode.

Who lives there
Specific buildings/connections
Resources

Hints

Drawn hints. Like Drawingbeard, but this time we are allowed to add some text/numbers for more complex stuff.

Two Modes

Competitive: Like the other games.

Individual secret hints, one location for treasure.
Each turn, you can move around and take actions. The specific action depends on where you stand? (With some exceptions, you can ask about any node/connection in the galaxy.)
Win by finding the treasure

Cooperative: Like “Kings of Compromise” structure

Each player has a list of individual wishes for the galaxy
Move around, changing stuff about the galaxy as you go. Again, the specific change you can make depends on where you stand?
Win collectively if everyone is satisfied with the current galaxy

Alternative Names: “Space Pirates”.

This is a variation on my [Pirate Riddlebeard](https://pandaqi.com/pirate-games/pirate-riddlebeard/) and [Pirate Drawingbeard](https://pandaqi.com/pirate-games/pirate-drawingbeard/) games. In those games the computer generates a random map + hints to where the treasure is (only one square exactly fits all those hints). In this game, the map is not a grid with coordinates, but a more dynamic "graph" of a random galaxy (with planets, stars, etcetera). See below for more explanation. ## Gameplay (competitive) Each turn has **three steps.** They are optional, but you must do at least *one* of them. - **MODIFY:** *Remove* a connection from the map or *change* a node. This is **permanent.** - **ASK:** Ask a player if their current answer for a location is *different* from their original answer (at the start of the game, indicated on hint card). - **DIG:** Pick a location, ask everyone their original answer. If all say yes, you win. Otherwise, you must give away your answer for X nodes. *Optional:* how many players you can *ask* depends on the location or some other property? (One at a time feels too slow, everyone feels too much.) *Optional:* also add "creatures" to planets and allow them to be moved. However, the number of slots around a planet is finite, so after moving several times it just isn't possible anymore. (Same technique used with other One Paper Games to simplify the writings.) Yes, during gameplay, the map will change, getting smaller and simpler as we go. The important part is that the *hint cards* from players show the *original map* and their answers for it. This way, the ask/dig actions can be quickly and correctly answered. ## Gameplay (cooperative) This is always played using *real/reusable material*. - Setup the board as indicated. - Use the device to show everyone their individual wish card. This board is always *regular*, so each node is at grid points, and one of the connection tokens (small, medium, long) will always fit nicely. On your turn, you either **change one thing** about the map, or say **I'm satisfied** (if all your wishes are currently satisfied). If *all players* say they're satisfied in a row, you win the game. After changing something, everyone can say whether they like it, dislike it, or don't care. ## What's Different? **Difference #1: Maps are graphs.** Nodes and edges. **Difference #2:** **Players** **have pawns.** You actually move around the galaxy searching for the treasure. (In the "digital" version, you simply write your icon on planets, can't go somewhere if already visited too many times?) **Difference #3: Two modes.** Both competitive and cooperative supported. **Difference #4: Hints are best of both worlds.** Drawn, but with some numbers/text to allow more complexity. ## Map The map is a *graph*: nodes are planets/moons/asteroids/stars, lines represent space travel routes between them. (This can be easily copied by placing the graph on top of a grid structure. Where lines intersect, or exactly in the center of lines/tiles, that's where we place stuff.) There is nothing *on* nodes (no other bunch of properties that can be set), the variation comes from *what* a node is. **Material?** Nodes are individual tokens you can print and cut. Connections are represented by line-like tokens of differing lengths you fit yourself (short, medium, long). **List of nodes?** - Small Planet - Large Planet - Moon - Sun - Red Dwarf - Asteroid - Black Hole **Connection types?** - ?? (Easy Travel? Direct Travel/Superspeed? Maybe better to go with **route types:** smuggler route, police patrol, etc.) **Node properties?** Things that can be *on* the nodes. Will probably be very optional in the *competitive* mode, but necessary for the *cooperative* mode. - Who lives there - Specific buildings/connections - Resources ## Hints Drawn hints. Like Drawingbeard, but this time we *are* allowed to add some text/numbers for more complex stuff. ## Two Modes **Competitive:** Like the other games. - Individual secret hints, one location for treasure. - Each turn, you can move around and take actions. The *specific action* depends on where you stand? (With some exceptions, you can ask about any node/connection in the galaxy.) - Win by finding the treasure **Cooperative:** Like "Kings of Compromise" structure - Each player has a list of individual wishes for the galaxy - Move around, changing stuff about the galaxy as you go. Again, the *specific change* you can make depends on where you stand? - Win collectively if everyone is satisfied with the current galaxy Alternative Names: "Space Pirates".