Fluxx Board

A board game combining Fluxx and Sorry!

Introduction

So, I had a dream containing the idea "Fluxx Board". My first idea for turning this concept into reality was to merge a Fluxx deck and a Sorry! set, both of them being simple games that are fun to play and challenging to win. I was hoping a synergy would emerge. It didn't but the game was amusing anyway.

If you're unfamiliar with Sorry!, I've put together a summary of the rules of Sorry! to get you up to speed.

You will need:

• A complete Sorry! set from Parker Brothers
• A complete second edition Fluxx deck from Looney Labs and Iron Crown Enterprises. (The second edition Fluxx cards are closer to the size of Sorry! cards. First edition Fluxx cards won't work as well.)
• 21 tokens, each marked with the name of a keeper (I used pennies with 3/4" round labels (Avery R1212) on them.)

Setting up:

1. Shuffle the Sorry! and Fluxx decks together.
2. Set up the Sorry! board and pawns as normal.
3. Mix the tokens face down.
4. Place the tokens face up on board spaces. A good placement is:
   • One on each corner.
   • One at the end of each slide.
   • One right before each the longer slides.
   • One two spaces after each of the shorter slides.
   That uses up 20 of the tokens, place the 21st token in the middle of the board or something. Once you've placed the tokens, you actually want to slide them off the spaces, into the gap between them and the edge of the board. This will keep them from being covered up by the pawns.
5. Place the Fluxx Basic Rules somewhere in the middle of the board.

In General, How to Play

Mostly, play like a regular game of Sorry!, using the "Variation for Adults" (Called the "Tournament Rules" in older editions). Each player has a hand of five cards, and cards are played from the hand. Sorry! cards are all played according to the Sorry! rules printed on them.

Remember, at the beginning of the game the rules are "Draw 1, Play 1".

Modifications to the rules of Sorry!

First of all, the rules state play then draw. In this variation, draw first, as in a game of Fluxx, then play.

Playing a "2" gives you an extra turn. Finish your current turn, then take another one. You can have multiple extra turns.

How to use the Fluxx cards

Goals

Play a goal into the middle of the board. See below under "Objective" for more info about goals. New goals played replace the older goal as normal for a game of Fluxx.

Keepers

Play a keeper directly onto the discard pile. When you play a keeper, you may move one of your pawns from your START or anywhere on the open track to the space marked by the token with that keeper's name. See below under "Objective" for information about what good that can do you. The effect of playing the keeper shown on the extra token should be covered by a house rule. Possible house rules are:

• No effect.
• Move a pawn to the token. Since it is not on the open track, the pawn cannot be moved, though it can be spirited around by a "Sorry!", a Keeper, or something like that.

New Rules

Play a new rule into the middle of the board somewhere. (The middle of the board will get a little crowded.) Discard it when a newer rule contradicts it. Some of the new rules need to be modified to make more sense in the current context:

"Draw" rules

These function as normal for a game of Fluxx.

"Play" rules

These function as normal for a game of Fluxx. "Final Card Random" is a "play" rule, at least in my book.

Bonuses

These function as normal for a game of Fluxx.

Hand Limits

These function as normal for a game of Fluxx.

Keeper Limits

These limit the number of keeper spaces you can occupy. Instead of "discarding" extras, pawns on extra keepers must be returnd to your START.

Secret Data

One of the keepers you currently occupy may become hidden. Turn its marker token over, or move it into the track space so that it is covered by the pawn. If you vacate that keeper, uncover it. This, as normal, applies to all players.

Government Cover-Up

All of the keepers you currently occupy must become hidden. Turn their markers token over, or move them into the track spaces so that they are covered by the pawns. If you vacate a keeper, uncover it. This, as normal, applies to all players.

Actions

Play an action directly onto the discard pile as normal for a game of Fluxx. Some of the Keeper related actions need to be modified to make more sense in the current context:

Trash a Keeper

Take another player's pawn off of a Keeper space, and send it back to START.

Steal a Keeper

Take another player's pawn off of a Keeper space, and send it back to START. You may then take one of you pawns from anywhere on the open track or from your START and place it on that Keeper.

Exchange Keepers

Take one of your pawns that currently occupies a keeper and move it to a Keeper space that is currently occupied by another player's pawn. Place that other pawn on the Keeper space you originally occupied.

Scramble Keepers

There are two ways to handle this. You, as the player of this card, get to pick one.

1. Remove all the all the Keeper tokens from the board, mix them face down, and replace them on the board in a new order.
2. Mark all of the occupied Keeper spaces on the board, remove the pawns that occupy those spaces, mix them in a hat or something, choose them randomly one at a time, and place them on the Keeper spaces you marked, starting with the keeper just outside your START and proceeding clockwise.

Objective

The game has two objectives; you may fulfill either objective to win.

• Win as normal for a game of Sorry!, by moving all of your pawns into your HOME.
• Fulfill the current Fluxx goal. Most goals are fulfilled by occupying the two Keeper spaces specified by the goal. Change the word "has" to the word "occupies" on these goals. Some goals need more modification to make more sense in the current context:

  10 Cards in Hand

  Functions as normal for a game of Fluxx.

  5 Keepers

  Cover this with a house rule, either change to "4 Keepers" or leave it as impossible. Whatever floats your boat.

  All you need is love

  Replace both instances of the word "has" on this card with the word "occupies".

  "Foo (no Bar)" goals

  If no one occupies the Keeper space marked with the Bar token (visible or hidden) then the player who occupies the space marked by the Foo token wins.

Conclusion

Yes, this game has been play tested. Well, once anyway, that's how we worked out what cards need to be modified. It is playable, it is interesting, and it is kinda fun. Is it more interesting or more fun than playing a game of Sorry! or Fluxx alone? Maybe not. It takes a lot longer than playing a game of Sorry! followed by a game of Fluxx, though. Our play test took about two and a half hours. If you're looking for something new, and Cheapass hasn't come out with a new game yet this week, it's worth trying.