Locomotive Versus

Locomotive Versus is a game that pits two Contestants and their Locomotives against one another in a statistics-based competition for the “best steam engine”. This utilizes the Locobase, a database created by Wes Barris and Steve Llanso, hosted at www.steamlocomotive.com. The data enclosed on this website is included on the rear of Locomotive Cards, though it has been modified and amended to suit and complete each card. This is the most basic gamemode. It is recommended that beginners start here.

To Play, you need two players (Contestants). Judge(s) may be present to keep score, assist in research, and approve Style Points.

Setup:

One of the Judges, if any are present, should be tasked with keeping score.

The Contestants should each choose a locomotive and refer to its associated Locomotive Card. If there is no card available for a given Locomotive, the appropriate Steamlocomotive Dot Com page can be used. Contestants are not allowed to look at their opponent’s Steamlocomotive Dot Com page or the rear of their opponent’s Card, but they are allowed to look at any pictures of any engines in the game.

Gameplay:

The Game begins with a decision by the Judge(s) on which Contestant should go first, or the flip of a coin. The selected Contestant may select, or “call” a Statistic from the rear of their Card or Steamlocomotive Dot Com page. The opposing Contestant states their value first. The winner is determined by Statistic Scoring below. In the event the opposing Contestant does not have a value for the given Statistic, the Statistic is skipped and another is called.

If the calling Contestant wins, it remains their turn and they may call another Statistic. If the opposing Contestant wins or there is a tie, the turn passes to the opposing Contestant. 

If there are more than 20 total points scored, the calling Contestant may elect not to call a Statistic, and instead move to Style Points. Once this happens, no more Statistics may be called by either player. Each Judge may call one Statistic before Style Points begin.

Style Points have no specific structure. Each Contestant may state what makes their locomotive stylistically or technologically superior to their opponent. See Stylistic Scoring below, or the Features table on the front of a Locomotive Card for examples of valid points, but any point is valid so long as the Judge(s) agree that it is. A point shall be awarded to the Contestant to whom the Style Point applies. If a Style Point applies to both Contestants, it is automatically invalid unless it clearly applies to one more than the other.

Once the Contestants are satisfied they no longer have valid Style Points to call, or the Judge(s) believe the Contestants no longer have valid Style Points to call, the game is over. The Contestant with the most points wins. The Judge(s) may elect to also apply “votes” for their favorite locomotive irrespective of Statistic and Style points.