Mornington Crescent (Hurrah!)

[The Caller of the Black]

What with all the doom and gloom in the news at present, I'd thought it'd be a good idea to get people playing this great game which takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.

Here's a copy of the playing board for you to print off.

http://www.afn.org/~alplatt/tube.html

As you can see, it doubles up as a map of the London Underground.

Briefly, each player picks a colour to use as their board marker. Select a starting station, progress along the board and be the first player to reach Mornington Crescent. (On the Central Line, just above Euston)

For people new to the game, and to our friends across the pond, watch a couple of moves and once you get the hang of it, feel free to jump into the game.

To ensure fair play, I elect Pybob to be match referee (to be known as The Lyttleton) to keep a critical eye on any illegal moves.
Any infringement will be sounded by Samantha on the horn.

OK that's it, remember the object of the game is
1. Get to Mornington Crescent.
2. Stop your opponents getting there first.

To keep this first round simple we'll play to the Original Modern Rules. The winner of this and future games can then elect to play with one of the many rule variations.

I'll be Black and my opening move will be the popular Brooke-Taylor gambit -
Tooting Bec.

[ March 03, 2003, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: The Caller of the Black ]

[topol_sheap]

I have to halt this game now as you have already cheated. Firstly you've only posted the wrong board, see: tube map for more details, and note Mornington Crescent has been reopened, so unless we are using archaic historical rules (the 1977 Jubilee version), which wouldn't match with your map, then we use the new map.

Also, your second cheat was to say that mornington cres is on the central line, when it is clearly on the northern line.

Unless you are going to play to the real rules of the game, then we should stop this right now.

My first move wont be my normal one of Woodford on the central line, that's because it's closed still, so tonight Matthew, I'll be starting from Finchely Central, which should make it interesting when I hit Camden.

Later
Tops

[The Caller of the Black]

Ooops sorry Tops, you are correct, MC is on the Northern Line.

Please use the latter link on Topol's post for the board.

[The Caller of the Black]

Right since we're on the correct board now, I'll play my Ron Davies card and go from Tooting Bec to Clapham Common. (Hopefully this should open up the diagonal at Stockwell on my next move, unless I get shunted.)

[BadMushroom]

Accusing and Englishman of cheating!!! Twice!!! On an opening gambit!!!! My goodness! I've never heard of such goings on. Such an aggressive player! I think you're going to have fun with this game Tops!

Mis-complying; yes. Dis-abiding; possibly..., but never cheating! We're commonwealth, for Cryer's sake!

Finchley Central, eh? You think you win in 7? You've got a BIG surprise coming to you, my fine friend... Muuuuhar!!!

Ah, Black plays black. Not ironic, just obvious. A little too obvious to my mind. This sort of opening gambit is obviously the mark of an experienced player pretending to play dumb. I'll have to keep an eye on you!

I play Piccadilly line (blue). The blue-chit-card plays my David Icke Token from Uxbridge directly to Icke-nham in one.

AND I'm aware of infinity looping. So don't even try to shunt me past Hatton Cross!!

[topol_sheap]

Are you trying to imply that by saying another playher is cheating, I am infact cheating and trying to hold up that game?

Well my next move, will be... hmmm, I'll get back to you after i've molded some dice, like we did in the old days.

[Lupa the Ancient]

Oh my Lord ....How the 'ell do you start this game???

Already accusations of cheating .... I will watch what happens, and the if I can grasp the nuances of what the to do I will 'have a go' if I can...

[Goth Girl]

As I have a twice daily struggle against the Tube every day, particularly the Line of Doom (Northern Line), nothing on this earth could induce me to play this game... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[topol_sheap]

there is nothing wrong with the northern line... I've never had some many problems with it as I did with the central one when I used to use that... is it fixed yet?

[Exsanguinator]

I propose we invoke the Jack Carter Strategem - anyone not wearing strides gets knicked.

For those not familiar with the game I can recommend the Little Book of Mornington Crescent... It has a nice introduction from Dame Judi and also features a very helpful FAQ page.

Bearing in mind that one of the most commonly asked questions is 'What are the rules of Mornington Crescent?' I thought I'd post that question here...

Samantha has just taken her German Shepherd for a walk, where no doubt it licks her face and pants.

[ March 04, 2003, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: Exsanguinator ]

[topol_sheap]

THat's a risky move, and what does it have to do with this game? and don't say everything. Although, it's true Samantha does like German Shepherds, but not that much.

However, at this juncture, I'm just going to sit back and see how it all unfolds...

[ March 04, 2003, 11:01 AM: Message edited by: Tops ]

[BadMushroom]

To restate my move so you get the jist...

I play Blue. Checking the playerboard, I ladder my rebate token (1), I set my home to Uxbridge (which is admittedly a cautious move as I'm quite rusty) and use my blue-chit-card to bypass a station and claim Ickenham in one.

I'm still waiting for the revised Stovold’s Mornington Crescent Almanac 2003. Still at the printers, but Hamazon are taking pre-orders.

Waiting for next play...

[The Caller of the Black]

I lost my dice down the back of the settee so I'm using some pastry ones that I baked at Gas Mark 5 for 10 minutes.

Hmmm Blue plays to Ickenham. A strong response from Shroom setting up a treble Helsinki.

Black cleverly plays the Luxemburg Shift and moves up to Vauxhall, avoiding the Nidd trap at Stockwell. A move away from declaring the Outer Ring.

You are right Mr Shroom, my ruse of selecting Black was to lull my opponents into a false sense of security.
I've been studying the stratagem of Ethan Janks, the Idiot Savant of the game.

Any players on the Central Line, please check to see if Samantha has reached Sheperd's Bush.

[ March 04, 2003, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: The Caller of the Black ]

[The Caller of the Black]

Whilst Players ponder their next move, I thought I'd remind all of several hazards worth mentioning. Anyone forced Out of Bounds is required to take the nearest playable station, usually Charing Cross. Water hazards are a danger and will incur a dropped turn, so look out when you’re passing water, and remember that you can still Stymie an opponent by blocking his passage.

[Exsanguinator]

Just as an addition to the useful cautions stated by Mr Black above I'd like to state something which may help the less accomplished players gets some points on the board - anyone witha rusty trumpet playing a Jazz solo at the Littleton theatre will recieve three mauve tokens and a Get-Out-Of-Highgate-Free docket.

One warning though, if you're caught Humphing then the Cryer will have you turning over the Garden at Green Park.

[BadMushroom]

A treble Helsinki? It's been a long time since I managed it three times in one game!

Vauxhall? Are you wild in the head, or do you know something I do not? You have a major water hazard ahead and, as well you know, you need a Passport before you can progress to Pimlico!

That said...

Were you aware that when one Ethan Janks was presented to the Queen two honour his renown and albeit instinctual contributions to the three-blind-station stratagem, he fourgot to do up his flies, gave her a bunch of fives instead of a bunch of flowers and ended up at sixes and sevens.

HA! A Seven Queen Accumulator, and now I have the Lord of Ruislip Manor privilege and activate Manor junction inversions, closing all comfort stops on Stations with 'Manor' and 'Royal' in the title. Water hazards now cost a pfennig. Beware the Thames!!! I take Ruislip Manor, as the Lord would never be seen dead in plain old Ruislip.

[BadMushroom]

Damn I've just realised inverted my own station! I trade my D. Icke token for a V. Feltz chit. I'll be playing with starvation rations till I reach The Swiss Witches Cottage.

Mind the gap.

[The Caller of the Black]

I was going to cheat the water hazard and hop on a red London bus to get to Pimlico, however, the bus went right past my stop. This was probably due to the fact that a Bus Inspector was in hot pursuit, waving his fist at the driver and shouting "I'll get you Butler".

Bus Lanes are Wild only in Green Mornington Crescent.

In the name of fair play, I'll take the penalty of missing a turn, my own fault for starting "sarf of the river".

Hopefully when it's my turn again, I'll reach Victoria and set up a Loop Shift.

Swiss Cottage eh? On a diagonal towards Baker St. It can be truly said that "the game's afoot."

[BadMushroom]

Opening zone five with a banded-induct to Eastcote... and I roll with two. Lucky roll!

Anyone else playing? I get the feeling that many of our fellow potentates are playing by "Lovercoats Feint", i.e. waiting to see what develops, or, trying not to scratch and hoping it all goes away...

Introduce you piece, name your home station (and colour)and start to move. Easy.

Tops... no moves from you in a while?

[Exsanguinator]

S, Tops is checking out a potential alternative to the classic MC playing board, he'll be back shortly though.

Ah, I see you're playing the Outer Zone flip-horizontal-container gestures... nice to see such a refined deployment of that - making it as easy as possible for new players to get their monthly ticket...

This is shaping up to be a great game - so long as Jase doesn't carry emulating the infamous plays of 'Mad Jack' Camden - we all know what happened there...

((*((*Hnrey stiking again...*))*))

[ March 09, 2003, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: Exsanguinator ]