Stick Collection
Stick Collection Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
About the Game
"Stick Collection" ("Последняя соломинка") is an auction game. You try to judge the length of straws from a distance and win them at auction to assemble the best combination in your hand. The more straws you collect that differ from one another in length by exactly 5 mm in sequence, the more points you score. You will not know the exact length of a straw until it is in your hand. Watch your opponents and your supply of coins, and decide which straw to go for! An exciting game about straws and sweaty palms awaits you!
Components
- Rules of the game.
- Straw stand.
- 9 types of straws of different lengths, with a difference of 5 mm (4 straws of each type, 36 in total).
- 10 markers (2 of each color).
- Coin track, consisting of 3 parts.
Setup
- Each player chooses a color and takes 2 markers of that color.
- Place the coin track on the table. Each player puts one of their markers on space 50 of this track (at the start of the game everyone has 50 coins). The second marker stays in front of the player as a reminder of their color.
- Place the straw stand in the center of the table and do not move it during the game.
- Take out the inner box, put all the straws into it, and insert it into the outer box with the pink side with the hole facing outward.
- Shake the box thoroughly. Then each player draws 1 random straw from the hole. This is their starting straw.
- Whoever last used a ruler becomes the first player.
During the game, players must hold their straws vertically in one hand so that the bottom end rests on the table. Players' straws must be no closer than 30 cm to the straw stand.
Gameplay
-
The first player shakes the box, draws 1 random straw, and places it in the straw stand. This straw is put up for auction.
Players visually compare the length of the straw in their own hand with the length of the straw in the stand to decide whether they want to take part in the auction. You may not move the straw in the stand closer to yourself, measure its length with your palm, or hold it against your straws.
-
The player sitting to the left of the first player starts the auction. They announce how many coins they are ready to bet (or pass, see below). The other players do the same in clockwise order.
- You may bet from 1 to 10 coins.
- Your bet may not be less than or equal to a bet already made by another player.
- You may not bet more coins than you have left.
- If you do not wish to take part in the auction or want to leave it, you may pass.
- Having passed, you can no longer join the auction for the current straw.
-
All players, including the first player, continue to bet or pass in clockwise order until everyone except one has passed.
- That player wins the auction.
- You may bet only from 1 to 10 coins, so by betting 10 you automatically win the auction.
- If all players passed, the first player wins the auction without making a bet.
-
The auction winner adds the straw from the stand to their hand. All players must be able to see your straws in your hand, so hold them in a single line. During the game you may always rearrange your straws and compare their lengths. Everyone sees the other players' straws.
Repeat steps 1-6 until the game ends.
End of the Game
The game ends immediately when any of the following conditions is met:
- Any player has 8 straws in hand.
- Any player has 0 coins.
- Any player has 4 straws of the same length in hand.
Scoring
A player's result is determined by the straws in their hand and the position of their marker on the coin track.
Points for Straws
Arrange your straws in order of increasing length. Count how many adjacent straws differ in length by exactly 5 mm. Each straw in an unbroken sequence earns 10 points (20 points for 2 straws in a sequence, 30 for 3, and so on).
If you have several sequences, you score points only for the longest of them.
Example. You have 2 sequences: of 2 and of 4 adjacent straws. You count only the longest of them and receive 40 points. (The illustration shows: 30 points; you receive only 40 points; these 20 points are not counted.)
The height of the colored marker is 5 mm. You can put it onto the straws to check the difference in height of adjacent straws.
Points for the Coin Track
Look at where your marker ended up on the coin track at the end of the game.
- If it is on space 22 or higher, you receive exactly 22 points (it does not matter how far it is above space 22).
- If the marker is below space 22 (on a space with a red number), you receive as many points as indicated on that space. (For example, space 17 gives 17 points, space 22 gives 22 points, and space 40 also gives only 22 points.)
Winning the Game
Each player adds up the points for straws and the points for the position of their marker on the coin track. The player with the highest total becomes the winner. However, if any player has 4 straws of the same length, they automatically win, regardless of the points scored.
In case of a tie, the tied contender with more straws wins. If the tie persists, the tied contender with more coins wins. If it is still a tie, the players share the victory.