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Stock market game: Number of commodities

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Wed, 01/08/2020 - 15:47
larienna
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I used to play St0ck T!cker a lot which had 6 stocks, and sometimes I wished there were more commodities for more variaty of stuff I could buy. So for my game I was hesitating between using 5 to 8 commodities.

Some games use a low amount of commodities (ex: "Buy low sell high" has only 3 commodities). There seems to be benefits in having low and high nb of commodities. So found what I found is:

Low:
- Reduce the game's production cost, less share certificate to print
- Easier to screw up other players, since more players are likely to own the same shares
- Little chance to escape a global crash for
- Could be an interest in keeping money to avoid a global crash when things are not going well

High
- Easier to make money, while other players don't.
- More variety of stock
- Less likely that the whole market is in crash position.
- It's harder to invest in the whole market, so players must chose certain stocks.

Some other ideas
- Players could play with less commodities if the players want to. But that does not reduce the amount of stuff to print.
- the number of commodities could change according to the number of players. The more players you have, the more commodities you add.

What is your opponion, should I keep the number of stocks low, or should I give more to gain more flexibility.

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Wed, 01/08/2020 - 16:04
#1
questccg
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Something to consider

When you say "Low" and say that a "benefit" is LESS printed "Shares"... This to my understanding means that you are going to print ACTUAL "Shares"???

You could use colored paper and money size "certificates" instead of requiring larger ones. "The Game of Life" has "Shares" you can buy and sell too which give you a way to earn more money. They are brown in color and there is only one (1) type.

Shares can be the size of Monopoly Money (for example). Or another variation would be WOODEN CUBES. Each cube could be worth "X" shares. Could start at "1" and then with splits and market influence can be "2" or "10" shares each... You could have a MARKET TRACKER which has a growing timeline: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500.

It really depends on your game. TBH.

But this might give you some ideas to work off of. Cheers!

Note #1: The idea behind the "wooden cubes" is to focus on a Stock Market "experience" (Ups and downs). That might be the direction instead of focusing on paper money "shares" which might be more realistic... but harder to implement.

Again just some ideas to work off...

Note #2: A "combination" of BOTH "Money Shares" and tracker with cube tracking value... could be cool too!

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Wed, 01/08/2020 - 23:51
#2
larienna
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I was thinking in using cards

I was thinking in using cards instead of paper money like in Stock ticker. They are 9 cent each on game crafters. I intend to have 3 denominations 1,3,5 for each of the 5 to 8 stocks.

So if for example, I hold 8 ones, 5 threes and 3 fives, that is 16 cards per commodity, which means 16x8 = 128 card for 8 stocks. Then you need to add loan, bonds, premium share, etc. It will probably fit under 200 cards.

I am not sure yet how many certificates I will need.

Yes I could use instead a track with cubes. Or maybe rectangular tokens with a single number and icon. Not sure it will be as much cool, or if it can really lower the cost.

A 1 inch square chit, is 11 cents, a 3/4 inch square chit is 7 cents, but I think it's too small. It should also take much more space in the box as they are thick.

Smaller cards have all the same price except the mini card stock which are 6 cents per card. That could be an option, I'll have to test if it's big enough to manipulate. But since they don't move much, it could be OK.

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Thu, 01/09/2020 - 14:47
#3
questccg
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OR ...

Instead of so many CARDS (128+) you can use a game mat with the values of the various stocks (as I explained: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000). And use one (1) cube each to track the value of the shares. You could still use cards for the shares themselves (valued at one share each) and value as decided by the Market (game mat).

I know 1000 isn't really a value of stocks (the stock would have split a long time ago...) But you get the idea.

And you could assign different "start" values to various stocks (in the Market)... Between 1 and 50 (for example).

This would dramatically REDUCE the number of cards and ADD a huge amount of versatility. Just some ideas...

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Thu, 01/09/2020 - 19:09
#4
larienna
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For the stock value

For the stock value themselves, I intend to use a track like the original stock ticker. In fact there is 2 stock value: the real value, and the speculation value.

But for share ownership, yes I could use cards with denomination, or even a piece of paper. Now the thing is that I need to simulate transaction which could lead to errors. Like selling a share and forgetting to remove it from my sheet. Or doing the opposite operation.

When using card certificates, it's closer to the theme as you are really exchanging stuff, and it's also more convenient to play.

Now, it is possible that mini cards on GC could work. They are 1.25"x1.75" and are worth 6 cents. Yes they are small, but it's not a card you are going to hold in your hands.

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Thu, 01/09/2020 - 19:29
#5
questccg
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Well if they are only for "representation"

The Game Crafter's Mini Cards might be a good fit (as you have already indicated). I know it's only $0.03 less... But it's 1/3 off the cost of normal Poker Cards (which are $0.09 each). And if you have a sufficient quantity, they may look more "presentable" in a player's game area.

What I mean is that the smaller cards take up less room and allow for more of them to be displayed. Compare this versus their Poker counterparts and you significantly extend the play areas...

So by placing them down in the "play area", the smaller versions allow for more of these types of cards to be displayed. And we all know space is restricted in the play area... Depending on the volume of shares, this can be a "serious" advantage to use the smaller cards.

But good on you to weight your options!

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Thu, 01/09/2020 - 20:35
#6
larienna
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The problem with GC cards is

The problem with GC cards is that all sizes are 9 cents except those mini cards which are 6. So that makes we wonder, why so many different size of cards?

It's possible that the bulk pricing decrementation cost is different.

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Thu, 01/09/2020 - 20:47
#7
questccg
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Well I am going to use 2.5" x 2.5" square cards

In my current project, I plan to use "square" cards. As you have already indicated, yes they are $0.09 each. Same price as their Poker counterparts. But for the "play area", square (or tiles) cards are much better... And just make the game WORK!

Yes bulk affect cards and other paper material.

Of course I will be using TGC for my own crowdfunding... We're well in the process of designing cards (artwork).

I'm NOT planning to have a grandiose crowdfunding. Just something small and financially viable (make like $5,000 USD). It's a modest goal... Nothing too big, just my own first attempt to go through the process from start to end (MYSELF). And since there is only me and an artist (plus a on-contract Graphic Designer)... It's a realistic project.

The truth is that I want to see IF this project succeeds. E.G. People like the game and the format. If they do, I may make a few of these once it gets easier to make the expansions available to the fan base. I'm NOT planning any Stretch Goals... Something we should have done with "TradeWorlds"...

You live and you learn.

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