® LESSON PLAN 02 for STRATEGY

A 3D Strategy & System

PLAY MANY GAME GAMES WITH ONLY SEVEN BASIC PARTS DESIGN GUIDE

This Guide is for people who have already played Gridopolis

Download the quick start, instructions, and free game design blueprints at www.gridopolis.info. NOTES for EDUCATORS 2

Why game design? Knowledge Objectives Assessment Activities

Gameplay in education has The student will practice planning, After the game design is completed, tremendous advantages: it’s a strategizing, and playing in three ask students about their experience powerful mix of logic, strategy, dimensions. • Designing their own game creativity, and critical thinking. Skills that will be addressed: • Playing in three dimensions The Gridopolis Game Design Guide • Visualization in 2D and 3D What are examples of things that offers all of these benefits – all • Creativity & concentration have different dimensions? within a fun, social and screen-free • Strategy environment. In other words, • Critical thinking • 1 dimension [line, string] • Logic & planning • 2 dimensions [window, paper] • 3 dimensions [box, apple, house] It’s the ‘perfect Behavioral Objectives What makes a three-dimensional storm’ of STEM. game more interesting, challenging, Students collaborate as they or fun than a two-dimensional board communicate their rules. They work game? Students can design their original individually and play in competition. games alone or in small groups. We live in a three-dimensional world. Is it more challenging to play For the testing phase [section 6 / Skills that will be addressed:W in 3D? Or, is it easier for you? page 12] students play their game • Socialization with as many others as their desgn • Negotiation Explain. requires. • Communication • Cooperation & Collaboration CONTENTS > GAME DESIGN PROCESS 3

SECTION 1 Design your grid-set Important reminders

KNOW THE RULES

This Game Design Guide requires SECTION 2 Place player markers that you have previously played Gridopolis and understand the Original Rules. Use the instruction booklet from the game box. SECTION 3 Choose how markers move You can also download the instructions – and more free grid-set blueprints – at www.gridopolis.info.

SECTION 4 Pick a capture method BREAK THE RULES

The examples in each section are suggestions to help you get started. SECTION 5 Decide how to win This game is your original creation, so feel free to substitute any rule or idea you like better! Just write it down in the Game SECTION 6 Test and test again! Design Checklist on pages 13 & 14. BACKGROUND 4

Introduction What should I know? Design process

Gridopolis is a 3D strategy game This guide is based on knowledge of Designing a Gridopolis Game is not a and system. This feature allows Gridopolis and its rules. The best way linear process. Your first draft will not you to get creative and design to learn is to read the instructions and be your final design. your very own original game! play a few games first! As you work through the steps Using this Game Design Guide, you In each box you get 217 parts: of this Game Design Guide, each can change the game’s design & rules decision you make affects other as much (or little) as you choose. STRUCTURE (grid-set building) decisions – both before and after. • 63 Pads Some unique features of Gridopolis Be flexible! Feel free to go back and to keep in mind when designing: • 16 Posts forth in any order with your design ideas. • It’s played in three-dimensions, • 88 Links instead of the usual two. • You can dynamically add or NODES QUESTION TIME subtract to the grid-set during play! • 12 Kingerizers (4 colors) • What are your favorite games? • What rules or features do you • 6 Teleporters like most about them? • 8 Blocker-Boxes DESIGN TIP > Wherever you see this green highlight, record your idea in the Game Design Checklist on PLAYER PIECES pages 13 & 14. • 24 Markers (4 colors) SECTION 1 DESIGN YOUR GRID-SET 5

How many players? What’s your design?

Typical strategy games will be Since Gridopolis is three- played by two to four people. dimensional, start by building multiple levels. One box of parts allows for up to four players. Your game design can When choosing how many vary from two to four players. levels to build, try to promote EXAMPLE > movement everywhere. When deciding the number of players for your game, design the This is the Twisted DESIGN TIP > use an odd gridset so all markers have room to Tower grid-set design. number of levels and start move. It’s a two-player game players on the middle level. with each player A good ratio of occupied to empty This creates more action in getting four markers. spaces is 40/60. the center and movement You can download the throughout the grid-set. That means you have 40% occupied building instructions, pads (with markers) and 60% empty (If players start on the top or called blueprints, at pads (for moving around). bottom level, there will be less www.gridopolis.info movement and gameplay action.) Should you design a totally flat grid-set, then give each player more structural parts (pads, DESIGN TIP > Take a few posts & links) and create a photos from different angles. game focused on building! SECTION 1 DESIGN YOUR GRID-SET (continued) 6

Any extra parts? Aim for symmetry LEFT RIGHT SIDE SIDE

In Gridopolis (Original Rules,) each Symmetry is not required, but it will EXAMPLE > player starts with ten extra parts. make your grid-set easier to build. This design is Design your grid-set with equal symmetrical • 3 Pads room for markers from all players. because it looks the • 2 Posts same on both sides. Symmetry helps make things fair. (It’s also • 3 Links Each player should start an equal symmetrical in distance from a set location – like the 2 Blocker Boxes another direction!) • center or edge – of the grid-set. Decide how many parts (if any) are TOP VIEW given out to players. If you design a smaller grid-set, then you will have more parts for players to build during the game. EXAMPLE > PERSPECTIVE The Matrix VIEW four-player DESIGN TIP > The ability to add of the same design design and subtract on the grid-set makes gameplay more dynamic and fun! TOP VIEW (In other words, use the extra parts for building.) SECTION 2 PLACE PLAYER MARKERS 7

Assign player markers How do you start?

In Section 1, you selected how many Start with your markers ON the grid- people were going to play. Now, A set (like most games). determine how many markers each Try to arrange markers so that player will get. OPTION everyone is an equal distance from In Gridopolis (Original Rules,) each each other. player has six markers. You can If you use Gridopolis (Original Rules,) choose any number from 1 to 6. place kingerizers on pads below the markers. These are your opponent’s If you own two sets, you can objectives. combine them and have up to 12 markers per player. That’s a lot! Start with your markers OFF of the B gridset. OPTION In this case, your first move will be to Place teleporters place a marker on an open pad. OPTIONAL / SAME AS ORIGINAL RULES C You have another idea? Great! Place teleporters on your new This Game Design Guide gives grid-set design. These should be OPTION you examples, but feel free to try somewhere central, where they anything! Use the Checklist (pages are equally spaced from all players. 13 & 14) to record your choices. Place two to six. SECTION 3 CHOOSE HOW PAWNS MOVE 8

1 pad: no backwards 2 pads: straight line 2 pads: mixed move

EASY / SAME AS ORIGINAL RULES INTERMEDIATE DIFFICULTY MOST ADVANCED DIFFICULTY

Pawns move one pad per turn as Pawns move two pads, but only in Pawns move two pads, one straight A long as they do not go backwards. B a straight line. The line can be two C AND one diagonal. You can do this in This includes diagonally and to other pads on the same level, multiple any order. OPTION OPTION OPTION higher or lower levels. levels, or diagonally. In other words, you can either move This is the same as Gridopolis If you hit ‘the end’ of the grid-set straight then diagonal OR diagonal (Original Rules). (the top, bottom or outer edge) then then straight. you are allowed to stop moving after one pad. 1 2

DIAGONAL then 1 STRAIGHT

STRAIGHT then PAWNS MAY MOVE DIAGONAL ONE PAD AWAY, 1 EVEN VERTICALLY STRAIGHT then AND DIAGONALLY. DIAGONAL 2 2 SECTION 3 CHOOSE HOW KINGS MOVE 9

1 pad (same as pawn) 2 pads: 90º turn 2 pads: diagonal turn

EASY DIFFICULTY INTERMEDIATE DIFFICULTY MOST ADVANCED DIFFICULTY

With this option, kings have the Move two pads, but the second Move your marker two pads but only A ability to move in any direction. B move cannot be diagonally. C in a diagonal direction. OPTION Move only one pad per turn. OPTION OPTION The line can be two adjacent pads The first move is allowed in any on the same level, multiple levels, or direction; the second pad must be at diagonally across multiple levels. a right (90º) angle from the first. 1 2 1 2 2

2 1 1 GREEN KING CAN MOVE TO ANY THE SECOND ORANGE PAD TURN CAN (18 OPTIONS!) BE EITHER HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL 1 2 2

1 SECTION 4 PICK A CAPTURE METHOD 10

Jumping capture Landing capture No capture (it’s a race)

EASY / SAME AS ORIGINAL RULES EASY DIFFICULTY DIFFERENT DIFFICULTY

Jumping over an opponent to capture As in , you capture an You don’t have to capture opponents A them is common in strategy games. B opponent by landing on top of them. D to win the game. OPTION It also allows for multiple jump OPTION In this method, there is no possibility OPTION As in Chinese Checkers, there is no opportunities, and is exactly how for the multi-jump move. capturing, only jumping. The game gameplay works in both Checkers is a race to see who can get their BLUE CAPTURES and Gridopolis (Original Rules). ONE GREEN markers to the other side and back . again – before anyone else. To capture a marker, you jump over GREEN IS REMOVED them – in a straight line – on to an In this option, each marker needs to empty pad. get to their opponent’s kingerizer to get kinged. They can then move Surrounding capture twice in a row and in any direction (like Gridopolis Original Rules). BLUE CAPTURES INTERMEDIATE DIFFICULTY TWO GREEN They then need to get back to their Capturing can also be done by the own original home row. Once there, 2 1 C ‘surround’ method. You capture your they exit the game, and are removed OPTION opponent by trapping them between from the grid-set. two of your markers. Finally, decide how many markers need to accomplish the goal. If you BLUE CAPTURES start with six markers, maybe only ONE GREEN three need to accomplish this goal. SECTION 5 DECIDE HOW TO WIN 11

Timed game Last player standing Grid-blitz!

I DON’T HAVE ALL DAY, YOU KNOW? THE TRADITIONAL WAY TO PLAY CAN YOU HANDLE THE PRESSURE?

A timed game is great for classroom With enough time, ‘last player Inspired by the high-speed chess A use when time is limited or when B standing’ is a great way to determine C style of the same name, you pick a short amount of time for OPTION new players are learning the rules. OPTION a winner. Keep playing until only one OPTION player is left in the game. each player to take their turn. You will need to determine a point scoring system to use when time If players cannot decide upon a expires. move in time, they forfeit their move! This makes the strategy shift from Here’s the Gridopolis scoring system taking the best available move to with original rules: avoiding the worst available move. BLUE IS LEFT ... • Kings you captured ...... 4 points AND BLUE WINS! If you don’t have a timer, you can • Pawns you captured ...... 3 points use one of the free ‘chess-clock or • Kings you have left ...... 2 points -timer’ apps on your mobile device. • Pawns you have left ...... 1 point Capture the flag You can also create your own scoring system! A MORE RELAXING WAY TO PLAY Decide upon a specific destination D to reach. This can be the opponent’s DESIGN TIP > Determine home row (where the kingerizers your own point system or use OPTION are located) or anywhere else you the one above. choose. Then determine how many markers need to reach it. SECTION 6 TEST... AND TEST AGAIN! 12

Play a game! Best practices Share it!

This sound obvious, but the only way The best way to help others learn a Have you created an amazing new to test a game design is to play it! new game is to keep the rules simple game? Then share it! and familiar. First, explain your rules in The best way to determine if your a logical sequence to help new game design has potential is to others learn how to play. Remember, each rule can affect let other people try it out. other rules. Play-test enough times Go to our Facebook Group to post DESIGN TIP to be sure everything works the way you planned. your design and see what others are If no one is around, try this trick used up to. by the designers of Gridopolis: play Always try to avoid a ‘stalemate’ against yourself, alternating turns situation. This happens when to play as all players in the game! two opponents are tied with That works better than you might no clear advantage. expect. You can spot obvious Gridopolis limits this problem by problems right away and then fix having extra parts to build, using them before you play-test with others. teleporters to move, and giving kings two moves per turn. DESIGN TIP DESIGN TIP Are things not working? Pull Use these ideas or test something Use the Game Design Checklist on it all apart and try again. new you think works better! When pages 13 & 14 to explain your game Trust your intuition! using the Checklist (pages 13 & 14) design & rules to others. feel free to use any other ideas. DOCUMENT GAME DESIGN CHECKLIST 13

1 Designing 3 Moving: pawns 3 Moving: kings

How many people can play? Choose How many pads do you move on How many pads do you move on between 1 and 4. each turn? each turn? If you move more than one pad, Take photos of your design at the If you move more than one pad, beginning, middle, and end of a game. Do you go straight? Do you go straight? OR x3 OR Do you have extra parts? Show in the Do you turn? If yes, how? beginning photo and list below. Do you turn? If yes, how?

Do kings get special benefits? 2 Starting YES. Kings can move twice in a row, Do pawns have restrictions? How many markers does each player OR in any direction. receive? Choose between 1 and 6. YES. Pawns cannot move NO. Kings move only one pad at a backwards, unless they’ve been time, but in any direction. Start ON the grid-set OR ‘promoted’ to a king. (as shown in SECTION 1 photos). OR NO. Pawns can move in any direction at any time. Other details on how kings move: Start OFF the grid-set. OR Another (a hybrid) way to start: DOCUMENT GAME DESIGN CHECKLIST 14

4 Capturing PICK ONLY ONE 5 Winning PICK ONLY ONE 5 Winning PICK ONLY ONE

Jump over your opponent. A timed game with points. Capture the flag As seen in checkers. Use the scoring system listed below. The first one to complete a course or OR objective listed below wins. • Kings you captured ...... 4 points Land on top of your opponent. • Pawns you captured ...... 3 points As seen in chess. OR • Kings you have left ...... 2 points Surround your opponent. OR • Pawns you have left ...... 1 point As seen in Othello. OR Another scoring system: No capturing! Its a race to the finish line. As seen in Chinese Checkers. OR Another way no one has ever thought of! Specify below. ? Anything else?

OR List any rules you created that were Last player standing. not covered in the prior sections. Winner is the last player left. OR Grid Blitz! A hyper-speed game

OR NEXT COLUMN NEXT STEPS BACKGROUND & FOLLOW UP 15

Our story Other assets Follow & connect

Gridopolis is a different kind of game Buy it now Get Gridopolis now at SOCIAL MEDIA company. www.gridopolis.shop The original idea to make a three- gridopolis.games dimensional strategy game has This Game Design Guide is evolved into an eco-system of new the second Lesson Plan. @gridopolis games and game-playing methods. The first Lesson Plan, ‘Gameplay in Education,’ @gridopolis The game you see today is thanks guides use in the classroom to a three-year effort of design, and homeshool. @gridopolis development, and continuous user testing. That effort is ongoing and Download the free PDF at gridopolis.video will continue. www.gridopolis.info

If you are interested in participating, ‘Gameplay Instructions’ is we would love to hear from you. the booklet included with CONTACT every game of Gridopolis. Dave Schultze Tell us your ideas for new designs, Creator | Founder new rules, or anything else you want Download the free PDF at [email protected] to share. Write to www.gridopolis.info [email protected] OFFICE Gridopolis Games, LLC Watch now Watch animated video tutorials online at 43 Glendora Ave www.gridopolis.video Long Beach, CA 90803 USA