Monkey Tree

Setup

Create as many trees as there are players. (Keep some space between them.)

For each tree,

Place 6 trunk tiles in the center.
Then draw 6 score tiles for both the left and right side.

Each player picks a unique monkey tile and places it at the base of a tree.

Objective

The game ends when nobody can take another turn. Players sum their score pile: highest score wins!

Gameplay

Score tiles show three things: a number, direction(s), and type.

On your turn, you always move.

Play a tile from your hand. Move the number of spaces shown. You may only move in the direction(s) shown.
Or fall down. (Falling is always free and as many spaces as you want.)

Moving always happens between scorable tiles. You skip over any tile that’s not scorable, such as tree trunks.

Every time you move,

You get the tile on which you landed. (It’s replaced by your monkey tile.)
If its type/symbol/color matches the tile you played for moving, you execute its action.
And you refill the empty space you left behind with a tile from the deck.

You can jump to another tree. However, you’ll always land on a lower branch than the one from which you started.

Finally, make a decision about all tiles you received during this turn. Either take them all into your hand, or add them all to your score pile. (A facedown deck of tiles before you, which you can’t use anymore.)

Expansion: Teamwork Trees

Form teams.

Even number of players? Form pairs.
Odd number of players? One player controls two monkeys and gets two turns.

Monkeys can also walk on the floor. (They can drop down to below the tree.)

During gameplay,

Instead of receiving a tile immediately (when you land on it), it is thrown down and lands on the floor.
You only receive tiles if a monkey walks onto them on the floor.

During scoring, combine the total score of all team members.

Expansion: Flexible Foliage

Adds ways to grow/shrink trees! (Either in height or in breadth).

Expansion: Loose Lianas

Setup: In between the trees, place a vine/liana of length Y, starting from the top.

Gameplay: You can only move between trees via a liana tile. (If there’s an empty space, you can’t cross it.) As opposed to the base game, however, you do not fall down but stay on the same height.

Of course, this requires some tiles to …

Grow/Shrink the liana => Each time a liana is used, it becomes one tile longer. (It’s stretched out, so to speak.)
Maybe it’s cheaper to move up/down the liana

Expansion: Mystery Monkeys

Setup: the scorable tiles start facedown.

Gameplay: when refilling an empty space, also place the tile facedown. (Though the active player may look at it?)

Of course, this requires some tiles to …

Reveal (for everyone or just yourself) some scorable tiles

@VERDICT: Should work really well. Unique and engaging theme. Lots of opportunities for expansions, different food types, scalability. It does need a little more material and explanation though, so not necessarily a tiny game like most. Alt titles: Monkey Swinging Banana Game, Banana Masters.

## Setup Create as many trees as there are players. (Keep some space between them.) For each tree, * Place 6 trunk tiles in the center. * Then draw 6 score tiles for both the left and right side. Each player picks a unique monkey tile and places it at the base of a tree. ## Objective The game ends when nobody can take another turn. Players sum their score pile: highest score wins! ## Gameplay Score tiles show three things: a number, direction(s), and type. On your turn, you always **move**. * Play a tile from your hand. Move the **number** of spaces shown. You may only move in the **direction(s)** shown. * Or **fall down**. (Falling is always free and as many spaces as you want.) Moving always happens between _scorable tiles_. You skip over any tile that's not scorable, such as tree trunks. Every time you move, * You _get_ the tile on which you landed. (It's replaced by your monkey tile.) * If its type/symbol/color _matches_ the tile you played for moving, you execute its _action_. * And you refill the empty space you left behind with a tile from the deck. You can jump to another tree. However, you'll always land on a _lower_ branch than the one from which you started. Finally, make a decision about _all_ tiles you received during this turn. Either take them **all** into your hand, or add them **all** to your score pile. (A facedown deck of tiles before you, which you can't use anymore.) ## Expansion: Teamwork Trees Form teams. * Even number of players? Form pairs. * Odd number of players? One player controls _two_ monkeys and gets _two_ turns. Monkeys can also walk on the floor. (They can drop down to _below_ the tree.) During gameplay, * Instead of receiving a tile immediately (when you land on it), it is _thrown down_ and lands on the floor. * You only receive tiles if a monkey walks onto them _on the floor_. During scoring, combine the total score of all team members. ## Expansion: Flexible Foliage Adds ways to grow/shrink trees! (Either in height or in breadth). ## Expansion: Loose Lianas **Setup**: In between the trees, place a vine/liana of length Y, starting from the top. **Gameplay**: You can _only_ move between trees via a liana tile. (If there's an empty space, you can't cross it.) As opposed to the base game, however, you do not fall down but stay on the same height. Of course, this requires some tiles to ... * Grow/Shrink the liana => Each time a liana is used, it becomes _one tile longer_. (It's stretched out, so to speak.) * Maybe it's cheaper to move up/down the liana ## Expansion: Mystery Monkeys **Setup:** the scorable tiles start _facedown_. **Gameplay:** when refilling an empty space, also place the tile _facedown_. (Though the active player may _look_ at it?) Of course, this requires some tiles to ... * Reveal (for everyone or just yourself) some scorable tiles @VERDICT: Should work really well. Unique and engaging theme. Lots of opportunities for expansions, different food types, scalability. It _does_ need a little more material and explanation though, so not necessarily a tiny game like most. Alt titles: **Monkey Swinging Banana Game**, **Banana Masters**.