The Christmas Game
The Christmas Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Objective
Each player tries to be the first to finish his Christmas shopping. He must purchase a $1 gift, a $5 gift, a $25 gift, a $50 gift, a $100 gift, and a $200 gift. The game is over when one person completes his shopping.
Money
Each player receives $280, consisting of 5 $1's, 5 $5's, 5 $10's, and 4 $50's. CHRISTMAS CLUB receives a $50 deposit at the beginning of the game. Place that amount in the CHRISTMAS CLUB square on the infield of the game board.
The Play
Each player selects a token and moves clockwise around the board. He can purchase gifts only when he lands on gift squares. These are the squares that have 1, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 printed on them. Upon purchasing a gift, the banker gives the player a gift receipt showing the value of the purchase. Thus, if a $5 gift is purchased, the banker would give the player a $5 receipt token.
If a player lands on a square other than a gift square, he follows the directions on that square. If he lands on Santa, Scrooge, or the Reindeer, he draws the appropriate card.
Bank
All money used to buy gifts goes into the BANK. All payments by players for anything other than gifts go into CHRISTMAS CLUB, unless the card instructs otherwise.
In the Christmas spirit, no player ever leaves the game, even if he has no money to meet an obligation. A bankrupt player continues to play, and can begin purchasing gifts the instant he once again has money. No amount is due either the BANK or other players for obligations he couldn't meet while bankrupt. A bankrupt player keeps all the gifts he had previously purchased. He is not forced to sell them to the BANK or to give them to an individual to whom he owes money. Gift receipts have no cash or loan value. They cannot be traded to the BANK or to another player for cash.
Gifts
Players are prohibited from trading cards or gifts among themselves, except as required by instructions on cards drawn. Once a player owns a gift of a particular value, he is prohibited from purchasing another of the same value. He may, however, wind up with two or more gifts of the same price as a result of instructions or opportunities on cards drawn.
Gift squares belong to everybody. If a player purchases a specific gift, a player later landing on the exact same square can also purchase that gift.
Personalizing Cards
Blank Santa, Scrooge, and Reindeer cards are provided for you to personalize. Put yourself, your family and friends into THE CHRISTMAS GAME™. Fines or rewards on these cards should not exceed $20.
Special Squares
Super Shopper. A 2 or 12 rolled immediately upon landing on SUPER SHOPPER produces an instant winner, regardless of how little money or few gifts the player has at the time of his roll. Rolling a double on this special roll does not entitle player to an extra turn.
Traffic Jam. A player must wait for his next turn before trying to maneuver out of traffic. He needs a seven or doubles to advance. He must stay in TRAFFIC JAM until he gets these, regardless of how long it takes. However, players 15 and under, because they are more likely to be riding bicycles, may automatically advance on their SECOND roll if their first roll was unsuccessful.
Reindeer. Roll the dice after reading your REINDEER card to see if you're lucky or unlucky. A double on this roll does not produce an extra turn. But roll again if a double landed you or sent you to REINDEER in the first place.
Christmas Club
If a player lands on or is sent to CHRISTMAS CLUB, he claims all the money deposited there. Replenish CHRISTMAS CLUB with $50 from the BANK after each withdrawal.
Start
Collect $50 each time you land on or pass START. There is no bonus for landing directly on the START square.
Sales Tax
Lose one-half your money to the BANK. If player has an amount of money not evenly divisible by two, drop the fractions. Thus, a player with $5 would pay $2 to the BANK.
Doubles
Doubles usually entitle you to an extra turn, but be careful. Advance to SALES TAX without passing START if you roll three doubles in a row. Doubles do not entitle you to an extra roll when they result in your landing on or being sent to POST OFFICE, GIFT WRAP, or TRAFFIC JAM. Rolling of doubles as part of a REINDEER card or as a result of a SUPER SHOPPER roll do not entitle you to an extra roll. Nor does such a double count as one of three straight doubles that would send you to SALES TAX. Only if the roll prior to the REINDEER or SUPER SHOPPER roll was a double would the first player roll again.
Winning
The player first completing his shopping is the winner.
Have fun!
Notes
P.S. When the holiday is over, many people put THE XMAS GAME™ away with their Christmas ornaments. That way, they can enjoy it Christmas after Christmas. You might want to do this too.
CAUTION: contains small pieces not recommended for children under three.