The Blame Game
Instructions for Playing
Introduction
In The Blame Game the goal is simple: manipulate the power dynamics between yourself and your opponents to get what you want and feel good about yourself. It’s hours of destructive fun for 2 to 6 players.
Contents:
(1) Game Board
(6) Player pawn tokens
(6) Dice color matched to player pawns
(1) Deck of Situation Cards - 48 total
(1) Deck of Opportunity Cards - 24 total
(1) Self-reflection mirror
Preparation
Place the decks of Situation Cards and Opportunity Cards in their appropriate spaces as indicated on the Game Board.
Place the Self-Reflection Mirror in the indicated space in the center of the Game Board
Each player selects a pawn and places it on the game board in the Start box. Place the die of matching color to your pawn in front of you.
Objective
Be the first player to advance to the Finish Box while in possession of the Self-Reflection Mirror.
The Game Play
Begin with each player rolling their die at the same time. The player with the highest number starts the play. In the event of a “tie” for the highest number, those players with the tying numbers roll again to determine the starting player. Play continues to the left from the starting player.
On their turn of play, the player rolls their die and moves their pawn the number of spaces indicated on the die. The player then takes the following steps in this order:
Follow any instructions indicated on the space occupied by your pawn. These may include instructions like:
“Go Back 2 Spaces”
“Relinquish the Self-Reflection Mirror” and return it to its space on the Game Board. (Notice that all six-spaces leading to the Finish Box contain this instruction)
“Opportunity Card” - draw the top card from the Opportunity Card Deck, read it, and keep it face down until the opportunity for use.
Draw a Situation Card from the top of the Situation Card Deck and read aloud the instructions. Situations may include:
“You lost your job due to chronic tardiness.”
“You failed your certification exam because of poor preparation.”
“Your spouse left you because of your gambling habit.”
“You broke your leg from falling off a ladder while you were drunk.”
You must then place the blame for your situation on another player of your choosing (unless you possess the Self-Reflection Mirror which makes this action optional - see below) with a claim of how they were responsible for your situation. Get creative here. This makes the game more fun! While pointing at the offending player, shout something like:
“You always forgot to set the alarm clock which made me oversleep before work!”
“You knew I had to study, but you kept challenging me to play video games!”
“Your gambling app was so addictive that I had no choice but to risk all my money!”
“Your ladder was so poorly designed that it made me fall!”
The accused player has three choices for a response:
Accept the blame and move their Pawn back 2-spaces (immediately follow any instructions on that space)
Refute the blame and challenge the accuser to a lawsuit (see below).
Refute the blame with an appropriate Opportunity Card such as:
“Pass the Buck” which when played allows the blamed player to redirect the blame to another player of their choosing. This gives this third player the same response choices above and may result in a multi-party lawsuit (see below).
Once the situation is resolved, play continues to the left.
The Lawsuit
When an accused player refutes the blame cast upon them by an opponent, they automatically invoke a lawsuit (there is no arbitration in The Blame Game).
Lawsuits are settled by roll of dice. Each player who is party to the lawsuit roll their die at the same time. The player with the highest number prevails. The loosing player(s) move their pawn(s) back 2-spaces (immediately following the instructions on that space).
The Self-Reflection Mirror
The Self-Reflection Mirror is obtained by drawing the appropriate Opportunity Card or landing on one of the two spaces indicated on the Game Board. When a player is eligible to obtain the Self-Reflection Mirror, they immediately retrieve it from the center of the Game Board or take possession of it from the player currently holding it.
When a player in possession of the Self-Reflection Mirror is directed to relinquish it by landing on the so labeled space, they will return it to the center of the board.
During the turn of a player who is in possession of the Self-Reflection Mirror, placing blame on another player for the circumstances on their Situation Card becomes optional. If they elect to accept responsibility for their Situation Card, they declare that they are at fault to the other players and move their pawn forward 2-spaces (immediately following the instructions on that space).
If they elect to place blame for their Situation Card onto another player (as indicated earlier in the steps of play), they must immediately relinquish the Self-Reflection Mirror to the center of the Game Board.
If an accused player is in possession of the Self-Reflection Mirror and chooses any of the 3 responses available to them from the steps of play above, they must relinquish the Self-Reflection Mirror to the center of the Game Board. The only way for them to benefit from the Self-Reflection Mirror after being accused is to withdraw from the game entirely. If they choose this option, they return the Self-Reflection Mirror to the center of the Game Board, excuse themself from the table, and reward themself with an activity that is emotionally healthy.
Strategies for Winning
Avoid accepting responsibility for as many situations as you can. Assume a victim mentality and take your chances with the roll of the dice to win as many lawsuits as possible.
Make the situation all about you and accept the blame from others as often as you can. This strategy is effective by moving backward on the game board and potentially accumulating more Opportunity Cards.
Or recognize that no one can win The Blame Game and refuse to play.
Wow! Funny, but not funny!!!😁