HAILSTORM
an Icehouse
game by Andrew Looney
Rules:
You
need an Icehouse set, a bag, some players, and a table.
- On your turn, remove a piece from the bag (without looking).
- Hold the piece steady, at least 2 inches above the table.
- Drop the piece.
- If it lands upright, you capture it.
- If it lies flat and is pointing at another piece, you capture
any
and all pieces it points at.
- If it lands in any "weird" position, pick the piece
up and drop it again.
- If a piece is knocked off the table, it is returned to the
bag.
- If the piece you were dropping falls off the table, find
it and drop it again.
- If you capture a redundant piece (that is, a piece of a size
and color you already have) put the piece back in the bag.
- Whoever is first to capture a complete "tree" of
a single color wins.
Notes:
Unless you play on a really small table, you'll also need a
system for judging whether or not your piece is successfully pointing
at something. A long piece of string or thread works well; you
can also use a yardstick. But the coolest way is to get a "STRAIT-LINE Laser Line
Generator" like the one shown here, which projects a
perfect targeting line onto the table wherever you need it. (Unfortunately,
they're expensive...)
Gambling:
For those who enjoy losing money when they play games, here's
are the Casino Rules:
- Chips: Everyone needs a pile of chips, of equal value.
(If you're gambling for cash, we suggest nickels, quarters, or
golden dollars.)
- Ante: On each turn, if you capture nothing, you must
add a chip to the pot.
- Raising: Whenever a player gains a second non-redundant
piece of one color, that player may choose to increase the ante
by one chip.
- Folding: A player may forfeit the game at any time,
and must do so if ever unable to pay the required ante.
- Bonus: If you capture more than one piece on your
turn, you may take from the pot one chip for each additional
piece you captured.
- Winning: Whoever wins the game gets the pot!
Note that in an actual casino (or other high-stakes venue),
the House (or some players) may insist that all dropping of pieces
be done by an impartial dealer, who will also make any necessary
judgment calls when determining what a dropped piece is pointing
at. (The House will also claim a small percentage of each pot...)
Copyright © 2002 by Andrew
Looney.
