Shasn Stuff

Abstract of the rules

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Shasn Stuff

Post by Doug » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:01 pm

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Above is my low-budget Shasn PBF Excel.

Shasn is a political game from India of area control for up to five players. The jist of the game is this: Each turn, you will be asked a political opinion question. Either a yes or a no answer will garner resources (the currency of the game) in one of four denominations: Funds, Clout, Media, or Trust. The catch is that you are not told which answer will give you which resource.

Votes are for sale in combinations of the four resources. If you cannot gain the resource you need to purchase votes, you may trade resources with the other players.

How To Play

1. On your turn, you will be asked a political question from a deck. Here's an example question:

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Should we subsidize companies that are carbon neutral?

Yes, subsidies will help innovation and growth in new industries.
No, climate change is a myth peddled by scientists trying to stay relevant.

----------

Either answer will gain you 2 in one resource and 1 in another, but you are not told whether you will gain Funds, Clout, Media, or Trust until you answer the question -- you must intuit what you will likely gain (or be experienced at the game!). You may only hold 12 resources -- if gaining resources puts you above 12, you must immediately forgo resources back down to 12.

Each answer also has a base ideology corresponding to one of the ideologues: Capitalist, Supremo, Showstopper, or Idealist. You gain 1 point in that ideologue. Gaining multiple points in the same ideologue gives you powers -- see below. Of course, you are also not told which ideologue either answer will give you a point in, until you answer the question. This can be intuited, however.

After hearing the question and before answering, if you don't like the question, you may pay 4 resources to discard the question and draw a new one.

2. For the remainder of your turn, you may take the following actions in any order, as many times as you're able.

a. Buy Votes
Votes are for sale, costing various amounts in the four resources. Buy votes by spending resources you hold. Votes you buy are immediately placed on the map. The votes from each purchase must be placed in the same district as one another. After you buy votes, immediately flip a new vote card, making it available for purchase. If every district now has scoring votes, the game is over. The player with the most scoring votes wins.

b. Buy a Conspiracy Card
The top conspiracy card is always for sale, for either 4 units or 5 units (in any denominations). Buy the card and keep it. You may play it during any turn, or on an opponent immediately after they answer a political question and receive the resources for it.

c. Play a Conspiracy Card
Play one of your cards. Note that some conspiracy cards are played in response to things, and so can be played as "instants." There is a counterspell for conspiracies, which would be the fundamental example.

d. Trade with Another Player
You may trade resources or conspiracy cards. Trades do not have to be equal, but at least one item must flow in both directions.

e. Gerrymander Votes
If you have the most votes in a district (you do not need more than half), you may gerrymander to/from/using that district once a turn. On a tie, no one may gerrymander using that district. Note that you might start your turn without enough votes to gerrymander, and then gain them during the turn through other actions, including other gerrymandering. You would then be allowed to gerrymander from the district in question during this same turn, as long as you obey the once-per-turn-per-district rule. You cannot move scoring votes, or volatile votes, although you may gerrymander a vote into the volatile slot. You may gerrymander your own votes or opposing votes, the latter usually being the point.
- You may move a vote from an adjacent district into this district
- You may move a vote from this district to an adjacent district
- You may move a vote from an adjacent district to a different adjacent district -- the two districts must also be adjacent to each other

f. Claim a Majority
If you have more than half of the potential votes in a district, you may claim the district. For example, in the Northwest, you would need 6 votes, because there are 11 potential total for the district. When you claim the district, votes equal to the bare minimum required for majority (again, 6 in the example) become scoring votes. They can no longer be gerrymandered. They can be removed by other effects, however.

g. Use an Ideologue Power
As per below.

3. Pass the Turn

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Other rules:

Volatile Votes: Each district has one or two volatile vote slots. If a vote is placed or moved into the volatile spot in a district, that vote may never be removed by any effect except cards that specifically mention volatile votes. While that sounds like the opposite of "volatile," the caveat is that at the end of the current turn, the player owning the new volatile vote must draw and enact a Headline Card. About 70 percent of Headline Cards are bad, while the remainder are beneficial.

Ideologue Powers:

Each ideologue gives you powers if you accumulate points in the same ideologue.

Capitalist
2 points: You gain 1 Funds on each of your turns
3 points: Prospecting -- once per turn, pay 1 resource to receive 2 of any resource(s)
4 points: You gain 1 additional Funds on each of your turns
5 points: Breaking Ground -- three times per turn, remove any (nonvolatile) vote from the map and return it to its player. That player gets to replace the vote anywhere upon their turn. If you remove your own vote, replace it anywhere immediately. You can even remove scoring votes in this way

Supremo
2 points: You gain 1 Clout on each of your turns
3 points: Donations -- twice per turn, you may snatch a resource from another player
4 points: You gain 1 additional Clout on each of your turns
5 points: Payback -- twice per turn, pay any 1 resource to discard any one (nonvolatile) voter

Showstopper
2 points: You gain 1 Media on each of your turns
3 points: Going Viral -- twice per turn, get 1 more vote than specified when you buy votes
4 points: You gain 1 additional Media on each of your turns
5 points: Election Fever -- you can gerrymander 2 voters instead of 1 when you're able to gerrymander

Idealist
2 points: You gain 1 Trust on each of your turns
3 points: Helping Hands -- twice per turn, pay any 1 resource fewer when buying votes or cards
4 points: You gain 1 additional Trust on each of your turns
5 points: Tough Love -- once per turn, spend 2 Trust and 2 of any other single resource to convert two opposing (nonvolatile) voters into your own. The cost of using this power IS discounted by your Helping Hands power

Other Versions:

The game comes with decks for the U.S., the U.K., India, Ancient Rome, and a science-fiction version.

Advanced Rules:

Advanced rules include asymmetrical districts that have powers; a chaos track that can reward players or wreck the game if players aren't careful; and "elite" ideologues that are combinations of the base four. Probably want to steer clear of all of these the first game.
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Re: Shasn

Post by Ashenai » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:06 pm

This sounds like fun, /in

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Re: Shasn

Post by Ashenai » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:08 pm

I assume conspiracy cards are hidden information? In which case, how does trading them work? Am I allowed to secretly show my conspiracy card to another player?

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Re: Shasn

Post by Doug » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:13 pm

It doesn't say, but I would assume yes, because it definitely says you can trade them
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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Juri » Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:27 am

Doug wrote: Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:01 pmVotes are for sale in combinations of the four resources.
good rulestext
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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:31 pm

To try to generate interest in this unique game, I'll ask you a question from the game every day until I forget.

----------

Should the addition of sugar to commercial products be regulated?

Yes. The fatties can't help themselves, but we must.
No. When consumers set their own limits, sugar can be part of a healthy diet.
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
It's your turn in Squirrel Wars
It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

http://devilsbiscuit.com/

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Khaos » Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:10 pm

ok im in

i dont really understand the rules so i kinda wanna go last

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:25 pm

Here's my summary for new players:

1. Each turn you get asked a question from the deck. You must answer yes or no -- either answer gives you currency, but we don't tell you which answer gives you which currency. You have to intuit it.
2. Use your currency to buy votes.
3. If you have the most votes in a district, you get to gerrymander, which means moving voters around.
4. Get a majority in a district to win it.
5. There are whammy cards called Conspiracy cards that you can buy, but you have to pay the same currency that you could have used for votes.
6. You can trade currency with other players to get the types of currency you need.
7. If you choose consistent "types" of answers, you gain powers.
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
It's your turn in Squirrel Wars
It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

http://devilsbiscuit.com/

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Ashenai » Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:25 pm

Fatties are precious and valuable and should be amply fed and, later, harvested

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:26 pm

I think we need four for a good game. You can play with five.
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Re: Shasn

Post by Doug » Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:02 pm

Ashenai wrote: Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:08 pm I assume conspiracy cards are hidden information? In which case, how does trading them work? Am I allowed to secretly show my conspiracy card to another player?
Answer from the designer, yes, you may show your conspiracy card(s) to as many or as few other players as you like
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
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It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Thu Mar 04, 2021 2:41 pm

Should English be the only language used in schools and government offices?

Yes. This is America, speak American.
No. We are a diverse society, we should be multilingual as well.
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
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It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Juri » Thu Mar 04, 2021 3:39 pm

wait i thought this was set in india
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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by the_zoomies » Thu Mar 04, 2021 3:53 pm

Quoting a beloved corpus every day?

Today Doug is a juice alt!!

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Thu Mar 04, 2021 4:23 pm

Juri wrote: Thu Mar 04, 2021 3:39 pm wait i thought this was set in india
There are five sets of decks included in the game! There's India, the U.S., the U.K., ancient Rome (!), and a science-fiction version
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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Juri » Thu Mar 04, 2021 4:28 pm

Doug wrote: Thu Mar 04, 2021 4:23 pmancient Rome (!)
cool
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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Thu Mar 04, 2021 4:37 pm

We need two more, this game is easy and should be fun

It has some of the characteristics that are good in a forum game:

-- Almost no instants
-- Virtually no auctions or group decisions
-- Almost no hidden information, there might be a little as someone buys a card on occasion, but not much
-- Consistent turn order
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
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It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:03 pm

Today I thought I'd show you one question from each deck.

Fall of the Republic:

Should we increase funding for public works like roads and aqueducts?

Yes. Public works are how we distinguish ourselves in the civilized world.
No. Private groups should fund these and then charge for water or make travelers pay tolls.


----------

Future of Humanity:

The IMF is considering a move to a single global currency. Should we support this?

Yes. The economy is already global. Shouldn't the currency be as well?
No. We can't lose our sovereignty! Look at the mess the former EU made.


----------

India 2019-2020

Should caste- and minority-based reservations be removed from universities?

Yes. This is a land of the meritorious. Nobody gets free things for having the right name.
No. Some of us have been held back for centuries, and need a head start to level the playing field.


----------

USA 2019-2020

Would you legalize marijuana across the country?

Yes. Regulated substances lead to healthier businesses and customers.
No. If you want to know what kind of people smoke marijuana, look no further than the name.


----------

UK 2019-2020 Brexit

Should we sever weapon trade relations with Arab nations?

Yes. We don't want our advanced war technology sold to foreign powers.
No. Weapons are simply tools, and we make very desirable tools.
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
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It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:41 pm

Should the Republic be allowed to mint coins with portraits of living people?

Yes. As long as we're minting more coins, who cares whose face is on it?
No. We should keep portraits of gods and ancestors only. A living person on a coin seems like a king.
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
It's your turn in Squirrel Wars
It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

http://devilsbiscuit.com/

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by the_zoomies » Mon Mar 08, 2021 11:50 pm

YESBOT REPORTING FOR DUTY

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by the_zoomies » Mon Mar 08, 2021 11:51 pm

Doug wrote: Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:41 pm Should the Republic be allowed to mint coins with portraits of living people?

Yes. As long as we're minting more coins, who cares whose face is on it?
No. We should keep portraits of gods and ancestors only. A living person on a coin seems like a king.
YES

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:39 am

the_zoomies wrote: Mon Mar 08, 2021 11:51 pm
Doug wrote: Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:41 pm Should the Republic be allowed to mint coins with portraits of living people?

Yes. As long as we're minting more coins, who cares whose face is on it?
No. We should keep portraits of gods and ancestors only. A living person on a coin seems like a king.
YES
Congratulations, you earn 2 trust, 1 media, and you have 1 level of Publicani
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It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by seathesee » Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:44 am

this looks neat. i will play.
with love, your good friend, seathesee

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:52 am

Ashenai
Khaos
Sea

Three is enough but four is much better, it's up to you guys if we pull the trigger
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
It's your turn in Squirrel Wars
It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

http://devilsbiscuit.com/

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by seathesee » Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:56 am

i would prefer to see if "one away" is a tantalizing enough impulse purchase to pull a fourth.
with love, your good friend, seathesee

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Doug » Tue Mar 09, 2021 2:16 pm

Should every citizen be required to perform 1 year of service for the NHS?

Yes. Society must mop up its own vomit.
No. The private healthcare sector cannot compete with free labour.
It's your turn in Cthulhu Wars
It's your turn in Squirrel Wars
It's your turn in Demon Wars
It's your turn in Wall Street Wars

http://devilsbiscuit.com/

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by Khaos » Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:35 pm

seathesee wrote:i would prefer to see if "one away" is a tantalizing enough impulse purchase to pull a fourth.
ya

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by the_zoomies » Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:57 pm

Doug wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:52 am Ashenai
Khaos
Sea

Three is enough but four is much better, it's up to you guys if we pull the trigger
YESBOT SAID YES

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by the_zoomies » Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:58 pm

Doug wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:52 am Ashenai
Khaos
Sea

Three is enough but four is much better, it's up to you guys if we pull the trigger
YESBOT SAID YES

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Re: Shasn (signup!)

Post by the_zoomies » Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:59 pm

Khaos wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:35 pm
seathesee wrote:i would prefer to see if "one away" is a tantalizing enough impulse purchase to pull a fourth.
ya
Get your own gimmick

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