Illuminati: Megabucks

RandomPlayer · 10-22-2013, 02:16 PM

I recently purchased the game at a local Expo, and a group of my friends including myself are loving it.

Took us a few games to figure out the mechanics of the game, but we believe we got most of it down.

The Megabucks in the game seem to be a little tedious at times. Giving out the income and what not. My question is: are there other methods of using the Megabucks system? I was thinking of taking the Credit Card System on one of the newer Monopoly Board Games and using that.

Time is an issue and I would like to eliminate the wait on giving out the income and anything during an action. Any ideas are welcome and would like to hear what other players do to speed up the game.

PK · 10-22-2013, 03:04 PM

The Monopoly credit card thingee only tracks total money. Knowing how many megabucks are on each group is crucial in Illuminati. So you'd need, at the very least, a custom program that can keep track of what groups you have.

But you don't have to have delays! My games never do. Just have whoever's turn is coming up get the money ready ahead of time. He should take it all out of the bag/box/bank and make little stacks next to each group. Then, when his turn starts, he moves the stacks onto the groups, which only takes a few seconds.

It sounds like the problem here is that each player is waiting until his turn starts to even touch the bank, and that's just inefficient.

theSlack · 10-23-2013, 06:31 AM

That money tedium is the one part I hate about the boxed version of illuminati. I enjoy the short lived ccg deck-building version from the mid-nineties, much quicker, and built decks tend to have a cohesive theme. Power structure in the ccg looks like a plan... Power structure in boxed version...luck of the draw, best of what's available mess.

The ccg was much more tidy, and faster to play.

grimblefig · 10-25-2013, 12:14 PM

Of course, using something like the Monopoly credit card thing would be a HUGE advantage for the Gnomes.

RandomPlayer · 11-01-2013, 01:58 PM

Thanks for all your feedback guys, I'll just be a little bit more prepared on giving out the Megabucks. I'll just have myself write down all the income from each card from each player on a piece of paper and have it ready before their turn.

sir_pudding · 11-01-2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomPlayer

I'll just have myself write down all the income from each card from each player on a piece of paper and have it ready before their turn.

Why can't they do it themselves?

RandomPlayer · 11-01-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Why can't they do it themselves?

I would assume they won't cheat, but I won't take that risk.

sir_pudding · 11-01-2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomPlayer

I would assume they won't cheat, but I won't take that risk.

Ah, I don't ever play with the "cheating" optional rule (and really think it's a terrible idea). Other than bluffing in betting and/or bidding games I don't tolerate cheating in games that I play. If someone clearly and deliberately cheats once, that's the last time they'll ever play any game with me.

Bo Smith · 11-23-2013, 10:06 PM

We played two games about a week ago. I was the only one that had ever played before. After the first turn folks had setting their income for each card at its side down pat; and it never really slowed play down. The only problems we had were keeping enough "small bills" in the till. With four people we ran low on ones, twos, and fives in a hurry; but we worked around that, too, when we realized that we just had to "make change" as needed to keep the cash flowing (a few "bidding wars" got that money back in the kitty rather quickly).

Oh, we were all honest in our "change-making". No need to closely supervise anyone.

10-22-2013, 02:16 PM	#1
RandomPlayer Join Date: Oct 2013	Illuminati: Megabucks I recently purchased the game at a local Expo, and a group of my friends including myself are loving it. Took us a few games to figure out the mechanics of the game, but we believe we got most of it down. The Megabucks in the game seem to be a little tedious at times. Giving out the income and what not. My question is: are there other methods of using the Megabucks system? I was thinking of taking the Credit Card System on one of the newer Monopoly Board Games and using that. Time is an issue and I would like to eliminate the wait on giving out the income and anything during an action. Any ideas are welcome and would like to hear what other players do to speed up the game.

10-22-2013, 03:04 PM	#2
PK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dobbstown Sane Asylum	Re: Illuminati: Megabucks The Monopoly credit card thingee only tracks total money. Knowing how many megabucks are on each group is crucial in Illuminati. So you'd need, at the very least, a custom program that can keep track of what groups you have. But you don't have to have delays! My games never do. Just have whoever's turn is coming up get the money ready ahead of time. He should take it all out of the bag/box/bank and make little stacks next to each group. Then, when his turn starts, he moves the stacks onto the groups, which only takes a few seconds. It sounds like the problem here is that each player is waiting until his turn starts to even touch the bank, and that's just inefficient. __________________ Reverend Pee Kitty of the Order Malkavian-Dobbsian (Twitter) (LJ) MyGURPS: My house rules and *GURPS* resources. #SJGamesLive: I answered questions about *GURPS After the End* and more! {Watch Video} - {Read Transcript}

10-23-2013, 06:31 AM	#3
theSlack Join Date: Sep 2012	Re: Illuminati: Megabucks That money tedium is the one part I hate about the boxed version of illuminati. I enjoy the short lived ccg deck-building version from the mid-nineties, much quicker, and built decks tend to have a cohesive theme. Power structure in the ccg looks like a plan... Power structure in boxed version...luck of the draw, best of what's available mess. The ccg was much more tidy, and faster to play. Last edited by theSlack; 10-23-2013 at 01:08 PM. Reason: clarification of usage of hate.

10-25-2013, 12:14 PM	#4
grimblefig Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Iowa	Re: Illuminati: Megabucks Of course, using something like the Monopoly credit card thing would be a HUGE advantage for the Gnomes. __________________ --Jim Tetrick All Opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone ...unless my plot to control the Orbital Mind Control Lasers succeeds.

11-01-2013, 01:58 PM	#5
RandomPlayer Join Date: Oct 2013	Re: Illuminati: Megabucks Thanks for all your feedback guys, I'll just be a little bit more prepared on giving out the Megabucks. I'll just have myself write down all the income from each card from each player on a piece of paper and have it ready before their turn.

11-23-2013, 10:06 PM	#9
Bo Smith Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: One nation, under surveillance	Re: Illuminati: Megabucks We played two games about a week ago. I was the only one that had ever played before. After the first turn folks had setting their income for each card at its side down pat; and it never really slowed play down. The only problems we had were keeping enough "small bills" in the till. With four people we ran low on ones, twos, and fives in a hurry; but we worked around that, too, when we realized that we just had to "make change" as needed to keep the cash flowing (a few "bidding wars" got that money back in the kitty rather quickly). Oh, we were all honest in our "change-making". No need to closely supervise anyone. __________________ 2+2≠4!