AUTORACE is a game based on the 'game system' created by Reiner Knizia in his New Games in Old Rome (published by Piatnik). In order to play this game you will need the equipment it supplies. AUTORACE is not supported or endorsed by the manufacturer or designer of that game system. AUTORACE is the copyright of Derek R Hohls, 1995.

Background....

Materials

The game board depicts a track, in the form of a table, numbered from 0 to 72. Every eleventh number is circled to represent a filling (gas) station, and every twelfth number is starred to show an objective (city) space.

Besides the board you will need the cards numbered from 1 to 10, as well as the banner card, for each player. The number cards represent the distance to be travelled each turn, while the banner cards represent stops. Each player will also need a figure of the colour corresponding to the cards. Finally, you will need some chips; with one point on a chip representing $1.

Preparation

Lay out the game board. All of the players place their figure on the 0 space at the start of the game board. Each player receives chips worth $32 as their starting capital. The cash held by a player at any given time may be kept secret from the others.

Course of the Game

The game is played in rounds. Each player selects a card to play, and all players reveal their choices at the same time. They then execute their actions, depending on their choices, and the next round gets underway. The game ends when one player lands on the "72" space, or when no player can move any further.

Number card played

If a number card is played, that player moves forward the number of spaces chosen.

If the card played is higher than "5", and is also the highest value card played that round, then the player pays a "speeding fine" equal to the value of the card minus 5. If two ormore players play the same high card, then all pay a fine.

     Example

    Players A and B play a "8", while player C plays a "6". Players A and B each pay a fine of $3, while player C pays nothing.

If a player does not have the money to pay the fine, he must miss out the next round (ie. not play any cards).

Banner Card played

If a player starts the turn on a circle, and then plays a Banner card, he may draw a card from the top of his discard pile. Drawing a card costs an amount proportional to the number of players drawing a card while in the same circle at the same time. The amount paid by each player is equal to double the number of players involved. If a player cannot pay the amount owed, he cannot draw a card.

     Example

    Players A, B and C all start the turn on the same numbered circle. Players A and B each play Banner cards, while player C plays a "4". Players A and B must each pay $4 to be able to draw a card.

If a player is not on a circle, playing the Banner card simply causes him to miss a turn.

Reaching an Objective

When a player lands on an objective space, he collects the bonus money for the space (shown in the table below). Bonuses are collected after speeding fines are paid. Bonuses collected in the same turn are collected in order from largest to the smallest.

If two players land on the same objective space in the same turn, then the player who was moving "faster" ie. who played the highest card in that round, gets the bonus. If there is still a tie, the money is split.

If more than two players qualify for the bonus, then no player gets it and the money is added to the bonus for the next space. If that bonus has already been paid, then it is added to the space after, and so on. In case of a tie with more than 2 players for the last space, the money is divided as evenly as possible.

    Space       &nbs p;Bonus
     12         2
     24         4
     36         6
     48         8
     60         10
     72         12

     Examples

    Player A plays a "5" card and lands on the "36"; player B plays a "4" card and lands on the same space. Player A collects $6; player B collects none.

    Player A plays a "6" card and lands on the "36"; player B also plays a "6" card and lands on the same space. Player A and B each collect $3.

    Players A, B and C all plays a "4" card and lands on the "36"; no player collects any money and the bonus goes to the "48" space which now has a bonus of "14". If player D had just, or previously, landed on the "48", then the bonus would be added tot he "60" space to give that a bonus of "16".

End of the Round

All cards played are discarded onto a separate discard pile for each player. The card must be placed face down onto the last card played. Banner cards are, however, not discarded but retained in a player's hand.

Out of the Race

If a player runs out of cards, and is not on a circle space, then he is out of the current race. A fine, equal to the distance from the player's position to the end of the track, must be paid.

     Example

    Player A plays his last card and ends on the 60 space. He must pay a fine of $12. If he does not have the money, he pays what he can.

Game End and Winning

Once one player lands on the "72" space, the game ends. Note that a player must land exactly on the "72", and cannot ply a card that will take him 'beyond' that space. Play continues until one person is able to do so, or until all players cannot move any further. The person who has ended the race with the most money wins the game.

Series

Several games can be played consecutively with all of the chips being totalled from game to game. At the end, the richest player wins. Players can be given a cash "boost" of $32 at the start of each game, or the money held at the end of each race can simply be taken over from game to game, with players dropping out when they have no money left.

Comments

Players may decide to allow negotiations: for example, "I'll pay you $5 not to play anythinghigher than a 5 this round". Such agreements, if public, must be honoured.

Players may allow buying and selling of cards, from each other, before the start of a round.

Variation

Variant #1