You can read the first 4 parts about how I created this Genealogy Board Game at Children's Games. A few days ago I explained how I created the UH-OH, CONGRATULATIONS and TRANSPORTATION cards.
After discussing the game with them, I made changes. I tweaked some items by moving some of the squares. I created more cards with negative consequences because they complained that the game ended too soon the first time we played.
My grandson asked for more death cards. Amazing how young children are so macabre. I had only created one death card which related the death of an ancestor and required the player reading the card to return home and start their journey over. Why? Because they too died with the ancestor! I didn't make any more than that one, thinking that it might be a bit too weird or morbid. But they loved it, especially since Grandma (me) got it!
They liked my one detour through the forest of New York with their Loyalist ancestor so I will add one more for the final game board version.
With our new cards and with our rules semi-established, we played another round. Here are the rules we've come up with so far:
* Players in turn roll the die, player who rolls the highest number goes first
* Players roll one die and take their turn, moving ahead that number of spaces
* If two players land on the same square, they have a duel (their word, not mine) and whoever rolls the smaller number moves back one square
* If players land on a War square (the 4 corners are squares representing a war an ancestor fought in), they must either sit out 2 or 3 turns to participate in the war, or they can pay the bank $100.00 and not lose any turns
* Players can only get Home by throwing the exact number required to get into Home Circle. So a player might end up going back and forth several times on the Home Path before actually reaching Home Circle
* First player Home receives $100.00, second player $75.00, third player $50.00 and fourth player $25.00. The winner is not the player who got Home first, it is the player with the most money once all players have completed their journey (Their rule, not mine)
We still don't have a name for the Genealogy Board Game. We've tossed around "Journey with your Ancestors" "Ancestor Journey" "Memory Lane" and other ideas but nothing has made us say "Aha! That's it!"
All in all it's been really fun playing this game with the kids and I'm excited to make the final version and get it laminated, then try it out on my other seven grandchldren.
7 comments:
What a great way to get the kids involved!
How about Traveling in Time, or Time Travel. I'm so glad everyone had fun.
What great fun! I thoroughly enjoy your kids genealogy activities. I think you can go commercial with your board game idea!
Hi,
What a great idea. I saw a link to your post from Randy Seavers weekly best of the Genea-blogs. I have a few questions: Would you laminate it for durablility? Another idea would be to use clear contac paper and stick it to both sides. I have a ten year old and I know how hard they can be on board games. I love your idea. I need to read your four other posts.....
Greetings Lorine,
I agree with Joan; you need to go commercial with this. I would love a game such as this to play with my kids.
The photos of your grandkids were entertaining as well.
~Kathryn
I absolutely love this idea. I agree with the kids - the death cards are the most interesting (even though I'm an adult).
I might just have to steal your idea :)
I was sitting thinking here about developing a genealogy game and thought I would research to see if anyone had already done it. Alas you have! Great idea!
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