Loco Royale

Loco Royale is a game that pits 5 Contestants and their steam 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.

To play, you need five players (Contestants), and ideally both a Host to run the game and a Technical Advisor for assistance, tiebreaking, and general knowledge. These two positions can be operated by the same person, or one of the Contestants if need be. The position of Technical Advisor is best reserved for a person with significant knowledge of steam locomotives, and should be willing to assist any players with on-the-spot research.

Setup:

The Host should prepare a Google Sheets file or other document to keep track of points and vetos. They are also in charge of calling Contestants into the game, which determines their priority and order.

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. If multiple Contestants want the same locomotive, the one who entered first gets priority. Contestants are not allowed to look at one anothers’ Steamlocomotive Dot Com pages or the rear of each others’ Cards, but they are allowed to look at any photographs of any engines in the game.

The Technical Advisor should prepare a Google Sheets file or other document to keep track of which Statistics have been called. They also should pull together any relevant documentation on the Contestants' locomotives, to assist with missing or conflicting Statistics and Style Points.

Gameplay:

The Game begins with four rounds of Statistics. Starting with the first to enter the Royale, a Contestant calls a Statistic from the rear of their Card. The Host will give this Statistic a countdown in order for the Contestant calling to reconsider and for all other Contestants to use their singular Veto, if they so choose. If a Statistic is Vetoed, the Contestant calling chooses another. Once a Contestant uses their Veto, it is spent.

If the Statistic is not reconsidered or Vetoed, all Contestants, in order, reveal their value or information relevant to the Statistic. Once this has happened, the Host awards points based on Statistic Scoring below, typically either highest to lowest or lowest to highest. In the event of a tie, tying Contestants get the higher point value, and the next lowest point value(s) is skipped. The Contestants mark down these points, and the game proceeds to the next Contestant and their chosen Statistic.

Once every player has called a Statistic, the Round is over. All players tally their points, and the second round begins. This repeats two more times, for a total of four rounds.

Once all four rounds are complete, the Host and Technical Advisor may agree on a Statistic to call. This is “Host’s Choice” and may be a Statistic that has been Vetoed, but not one that has been successfully called. This is most often used to level the playing field. 

Then, Style Points begin. Contestants more than 10 points behind the leader are Folded automatically (see below). Starting with the remaining Contestant with the lowest stat score, a Contestant may call a Style Point. A Contestant may call anything they believe sets them apart (positively) from the other locomotives. The Technical Advisor and Host must agree the point is valid, then award a single point to Contestants to whom the Style Point is valid, or a half a point to Contestants to whom the Style Point is partially valid. If the Technical Advisor and Host agree that the point is not valid, the point is void and they may choose to force the Contestant to Fold (see below). If a Contestant is awarded a full point, they may call another consecutive Style Point, up to a maximum of five.

Play then proceeds to the Contestant, in the order of lowest to highest statistic score. If a Contestant does not wish to call a Style Point, they may Pass, and play will proceed to the next Contestant. If a Contestant does not believe they have any further Style Points, they may Fold voluntarily. Folded Contestants cannot call any further Style Points, but may still collect points on Style Points called by other Contestants, if they so choose. Folded Contestants may not be granted a higher validity on a Style Point than all non-folded Contestants. After all non-folded Contestants have had a chance to call style points, play returns to the lowest non-folded contestant.

After 25 unique Style Points are called, or if all players have Folded, the game is over. The overall score is counted and the player with the most points wins.

In the Event of a tie, three tiebreakers are utilized in the following order.

 - Contestants with unspent vetos are granted an additional 0.1 points. 

 - A vote is called on the tied Contestants, and the winner(s) are granted an additional 0.1 points. All in attendance are allowed to vote, including the tied Contestants and any audience members present.

 - The tied Contestant who entered the competition latest is granted an additional 0.1 points.

The score is finalized the moment the tie is broken.

Optional Rules:

 - A 60 second timer may be used for stat and style point calls. The contestant must call a point within that time. Use this for a snappier game with higher stakes.

 - After Judge’s Choice, the bottom two contestants, no matter the number of points behind the leader, may be automatically Folded before Style Points begin.