Scotland Yard #1

Thanks to the willing victims ( ) who are going to help me see if this works in forum format.

The scene:
A known criminal, 1-X, is wanted for his crimes against forums users. He has been accused of never posting a photo of himself on the forums and being too helpful and pleasant to users. He's on the run in London and has to be caught before he escapes completely. On the case are the private detectives roadrunner, Chel, Muzzza, Maladoni and Skragg.

To win, these intrepid detectives must LAND on the same spot that 1-X has occupied at that time. If they pass him (or he them) then it does not count and they'll be none the wiser for their close encounter.

Unfortunately HM Government can only afford a few public transport tickets for our valiant heroes. They have been issued with a limited number of free transport passes. If they run out of these passes, they lose (see below for details). As a master criminal, 1-X has worked out a way of acquiring ALL used tickets from the detectives (see below for what he starts with). This means that he effectively has an unlimited supply.


Movement:

1-X will move on each of his turns (the game will move as fast as activity - including my own - allows) by PMing me. The rest of you can either PM me your instructions or use them in the thread. Remember you don't necessarily need me to update the map each time - if you do then this will mostly take place at night as I won't be doing it at work :P

(you will find it easier to refer to the map when reading this bit)

• ALL squares have taxi access. If there is a yellow line you can move from one stop to another (next to it) by using a taxi-ticket.
• If a square has a green blob underneath it then it is a bus stop. You can move from one bus stop to another. They both need to have green blobs on the bottom. This will cost you one bus ticket.
• If a square has a red colour, it is an underground stop. You can use an underground ticket to travel from one to another, skipping all stops in between.

Other Rules

• Because of the dodgy GPS technology, the detectives can only see where 1-X is on turns 3, 8, 13, 18 and 25 (if we get that far).
• 1-X also has two other tickets - the double move (self explanatory - you will be informed if he uses it) and the "black ticket" which allows him to move without you knowing which method of transport he has used. The "black ticket" also allows him to travel by boat (which the detectives cannot).

If you want to see these as a manual/similar then you can go to this link to see it.


The game is afoot! The detectives have left their offices/homes in search of the mysterious 1-X, who will be revealing himself on turn 3!

CURRENT MAP LOCATIONS:

Click here to see the map in more detail/enlarged





They each set off with the following tickets:
roadrunner - 10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground
Chel - 10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground
Muzzza - 10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground
Maladoni - 10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground
Skragg - 10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

1-X currently has 4 taxi, 4 bus, 3 underground, 2 doubles and 5 black tickets.



The game is afoot!

[TomKat]

Current locations:
roadrunner - Square 132
10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

Chel - Square 13
10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

Skragg - Square 117
10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

Muzzza - Square 198
10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

Maladoni - Square 94
10 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground





1-X - UNKNOWN
4 taxi, 4 bus, 3 underground, 2 doubles and 5 black tickets

[muzzza]

can i stay where i am?

[TomKat]

I think the boardgame didn't let you, but let's say that Yes - you can stay where you are

You need to use up a ticket though - shall we say TAXI?

EDITTED - YOU CANT STAND STILL.

[Chel]

Forgive me, but I can't seem to see any method, other than pot luck, that one of us will catch him. Care to give a very rough idea of a potential strategy?

[Nadar]

Surely you'll have to corner him somewhere?

[Chel]

Strategy Tips:

• At the beginning of the game, before Mr. X surfaces for the first time, the detectives should position themselves near underground stations, so they can move quickly from one end of the board to another.

• Surfacing is a crucial move for both Mr. X and the detectives. Mr. X should try to maneuver to a location where it would be difficult for any of the detectives to reach him in the next round of play when Mr. X must surface. Such a transportation spot should offer a variety of modes of transportation, too!

• When the detectives begin to tighten the dragnet and close in on the fugitive, Mr. X should cleverly use his black tickets. Such tickets are especially effective when combined with a 2x (double move) ticket.

• Mr. X must study the gameboard carefully. At first glance, there are a number of locations which seem to offer transportation facilities that in reality are not available there. There are also a number of underground stations which enable the detectives to move in close without warning.

Advanced Play Optional Rules:

• In addition to the 5 times that Mr. X must reveal himself, Mr. X can voluntarily surface at other times in the game. In return for revealing his location, Mr. X takes one ticket of his choice from each of the detectives' ticket piles-a clever way to wear away at their ticket supplies and restrict their movement!

• Play with a cut-off rule for Mr. X only. Mr. X cannot pass over another pawn on his route to reach the next numbered location. For example, if Mr. X was on #153 near Victoria Station, the fugitive could not travel by underground to station #140 near the Westminster Bridge if a detective was sitting on location #154-such a detective is "cutting" Mr. X 6ff! Detectives, however, do not have to obey the cut-off rule and can pass over other pawns on their routes if they are travelling by bus or underground.

I suggest we implement advanced rule #2, else I don't see much catching happening :O)

(PS Traveling - lol typo on the rules)

(Edit: Variant: traveling British English usually, especially British English - my mistake :O)

• 
  

[Chel]

Originally Posted by Nadar

Surely you'll have to corner him somewhere?

But in the basic rules, he can travel to the other side of the board, as he can move over the detectives.

[muzzza]

also: surely 1-x will have to move first, otherwise he could just look at our moves and say 'lets not go there then'

and if i have to use a ticket ill take a taxi to 187

[Skragger]

Im assuming that the black lines in the water are Boat routes the fugitive can use?

[TomKat]

Originally Posted by Chel

Advanced Play Optional Rules:

• In addition to the 5 times that Mr. X must reveal himself, Mr. X can voluntarily surface at other times in the game. In return for revealing his location, Mr. X takes one ticket of his choice from each of the detectives' ticket piles-a clever way to wear away at their ticket supplies and restrict their movement!

• Play with a cut-off rule for Mr. X only. Mr. X cannot pass over another pawn on his route to reach the next numbered location. For example, if Mr. X was on #153 near Victoria Station, the fugitive could not travel by underground to station #140 near the Westminster Bridge if a detective was sitting on location #154-such a detective is "cutting" Mr. X 6ff! Detectives, however, do not have to obey the cut-off rule and can pass over other pawns on their routes if they are travelling by bus or underground.

We aren't using those.

[TomKat]

Originally Posted by Dark Skragg

Im assuming that the black lines in the water are Boat routes the fugitive can use?

Yep.

[TomKat]

Originally Posted by Chel

But in the basic rules, he can travel to the other side of the board, as he can move over the detectives.

Only if he's on a bus or underground route. Taxis can only go to adjacent squares.

[1-X]

Originally Posted by TomKat

I think the boardgame didn't let you, but let's say that Yes - you can stay where you are

You need to use up a ticket though - shall we say TAXI?

makes more sense to keep to the boardgame rule rather than have an illogical ticket giveaway, plus of course if they don't have to move, then I don't have to either?

(you're the boss though tk!)

[TomKat]

Originally Posted by Stringfellow Hawke

also: surely 1-x will have to move first, otherwise he could just look at our moves and say 'lets not go there then'

Yep, in terms of "turns" he'll go first. You can discuss ideas etc here though.

It doesn't really make a different until turn 3 though.

Still waiting on turns from roadie and 1-X.

[TomKat]

Originally Posted by 1-X

makes more sense to keep to the boardgame rule rather than have an illogical ticket giveaway, plus of course if they don't have to move, then I don't have to either?

(you're the boss though tk!)

Good point. They've probably balanced it and stuff. No standing still then

[roadrunner_0]

as i cant stay still i will move to 140 (my first three moves therfore are 140, 156, 140, all by taxi

[TomKat]

Current locations:
roadrunner - Square 140
9 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

Chel - Square 67
10 taxi, 8 bus, 3 underground

Skragg - Square 88
9 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

Muzzza - Square 187
9 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground

Maladoni - Square 93
9 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground





1-X - UNKNOWN
7 taxi, 4 bus, 4 underground, 2 doubles and 5 black tickets

MOVEMENTS:
Turn 1 - ?? - TAXI
Turn 2 - ?? -


CURRENT MAP LOCATIONS:

Click here to see the map in more detail/enlarged

[TomKat]

(thanks for the swift responses - bedtime for me now )

[Beaker]

This looks effin complex..

[TomKat]

I'm making it look more complex than it is. If I ran it in future I wouldn't include that long schpiel (??) of rules.

All players need to know is their location, 1-Xs location and the tickets left and used.
ooh look at me I'm on a mobile device

[muzzza]

taxi to 172 plz

[Demon Dave]

Originally Posted by TomKat

schpiel (??)

spiel

[TomKat]

Originally Posted by Demon Dave

spiel

I thought it was spiel but my phone didn't recognise it in the predictive text. Anyway...


When players PM me, please could they also list the mode of transport they're using? I can look at the map and work it out myself, but it makes it easier if you just say it.

Will update the map when I get home... still waiting on a few PMs

[TomKat]

Sorry for the hold-up, I only just got home.

I was setting it all up and just arranging the map when I realised Johnny had told me he'd like to go from 93 to 63, which isn't allowed

1-X will be revealing himself in the next map btw.

[1-X]

Originally Posted by TomKat

I was setting it all up and just arranging the map when I realised Johnny had told me he'd like to go from 93 to 63, which isn't allowed .

just put him on 79? (where that journey would have taken him)

[roadrunner_0]

or ask him if he wants to bus to 63 rather than underground?

[1-X]

Originally Posted by roadrunner_0

or ask him if he wants to bus to 63 rather than underground?

Originally Posted by the rules

You can only move on the coloured route and to the next numbered location that matches the ticket you paid.

bus from 93 only goes to 94, I don't think he can stay on it through 77, 78, 79 to 63?

[roadrunner_0]

my bad

[muzzza]

taxi to 128

[1-X]

Originally Posted by roadrunner_0

my bad

we're all working it out for the first time

the game should liven up after "I've revealed myself" and you start speculating on where I could have moved to on subsequent turns based on ticket analysis.

[TomKat]

TURN 3

• roadrunner - 8 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground
• Chel - 10 taxi, 7 bus, 3 underground
• Skragg - 8 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground
• Muzzza - 8 taxi, 8 bus, 4 underground
• Maladoni - 9 taxi, 8 bus, 3 underground

1-X HAS REVEALED HIMSELF! HE IS AT SPACE 161!

1-X - 10 taxi, 4 bus, 5 underground, 2 doubles and 5 black tickets.

MOVEMENTS:
Turn 1 - ??
TAXI
Turn 2 - ??
TAXI
Turn 3 - 161


CURRENT MAP LOCATIONS:

Click here to see the map in more detail/enlarged

[TomKat]

I should point out that:

• 1-X is the red circle with the white glow.
• Maladoni and Chel occupy the same space.
• From now on, 1-X will move first and you'll all move after.

[muzzza]

can you tell us when 1-x has told you his decision so we can discuss where we want to move?

[TomKat]

Sure - 1-X's activity might be better than mine so he could also post in here just to let you know he's PMed me (possibly while insulting you with it like the doity criminal he is!)

Sorry it's been a bit slow. Been quite busy at work. It should get more interesting as you get a log of where he's moved etc.

[1-X]

Originally Posted by TomKat

Sure - 1-X's activity might be better than mine so he could also post in here just to let you know he's PMed me (possibly while insulting you with it like the doity criminal he is!)

the one time I've been afk for an hour!

Will PM when I've looked at the updated map

[1-X]

I have PMd my move so you can post yours publicly if you wish. Continue to waste your tickets like the plodding plod you are!

[muzzza]

just for clarification: when taking the bus/train can you only go to the next stop in whichever direction, or can you skip out stops? Cos if you can then i don't think we can win.

[roadrunner_0]

one stop down the line

[roadrunner_0]

for me its a taxi to 157 please

[muzzza]

bus to 135.

i can't even be arsed to start second guessing myself.

[Chel]

sub -> 67

[Insertrandomnamehere]

The map refuses to load for me, this would be so much more interesting if I could see it (

[1-X]

http://www.foxystoat.com/temp/game1.jpg

[Skragger]

Taxi to 105, please.

[TomKat]

Originally Posted by Stringfellow Hawke

just for clarification: when taking the bus/train can you only go to the next stop in whichever direction, or can you skip out stops? Cos if you can then i don't think we can win.

You go to the next bus stop or underground. The same rule applies to 1-x though - if you trap him then you limit the number of routes he can take. At the moment (for example you're on his way so he can't grab that tube stop).

His double tickets allow him to take two turns at once, but he can't land on a detective in these turns.
ooh look at me I'm on a mobile device

[TomKat]

Still waiting on Johnny to post.

Does a detective want to take his go for him? Just tell me where you think he should move (and by what mode)? If he doesn't like it, tough luck :P


ALSO
1-X took a bus. If anyone wants to amend their movements based on this, there's still time to do so.

[Insertrandomnamehere]

so, 1-X went to 135

[Insertrandomnamehere]

I'd recommend sending Maladoni to 63.

[1-X]

Originally Posted by Insertrandomnamehere

so, 1-X went to 135

135 or 199 or 107