Simple, analog, personalized, and a little crazy: Sometimes the simplest games are the best—up the ladder, down the ladder, and everything that happens in between is up to you! :) The goal is to earn 120 ECTS as quickly as possible so you can wrap up your master’s degree.
Along the way, all sorts of unexpected things happen that either slow you down or give you a boost. Sometimes you fly through a semester full of energy, and other times you feel like you’re just not making any progress—basically just like in real life. Since all the action cards are created by you and your friends, each card set results in a new, unique gameplay experience based on your wild ideas or even your own life experiences.
Game Rules
Start of the Game: Each player needs a game piece (get creative! :)), everyone starts on the “START” space in the base camp, the game is played with a die, and the youngest player goes first (in the direction of the arrow)
How to Play: If you land exactly on a dotted space, you slide up (or down) the ladder and stop there. On your next turn, you continue from there in the direction of play (clockwise). If you land on a green space (Recreation Booster), you get an extra boost of energy and may roll the die again immediately. A gray space means you skip a turn, and on an action space (white with a flag), you draw a card and carry out the action. If you’re lucky (or unlucky) enough to land on a wormhole, you’ll be violently twisted through spacetime and spat out on the other side. Of course, this is a Morris-Thorne wormhole, which should answer the question of whether it works in both directions.
If you land on a space where another player is already standing, that person unfortunately has to go back to the start space. Sorry, not sorry.
Every time you cross the Start space, you earn 30 ECTS credits in your imaginary account. You can either jot down your ECTS credits on a piece of paper or mark them with a small stone on the right edge of the board so you don’t lose track.
End of the game: If you exceed 120 ECTS while crossing the start space, you take the turnoff to the Master’s program immediately. If you don’t land exactly on the Master’s space, you bounce back the remaining number of spaces. This process repeats until you land exactly on the finish line (Master’s). You keep playing until the second-to-last player has completed their Master’s. The last player drops out of school at that moment and opens a bar in Bali.
A quick power nap will recharge your energy. Keep going until you reach the hammock park.
If you know the title of the fifth Harry Potter book, you get to roll the dice again.
You may move forward as many spaces as the number of push-ups you do.
The courses you took during your semester abroad were not credited to you. Go to Field 47 to file a complaint with the Registrar's Office.
Today, the cafeteria is serving schnitzel and fries. Head straight to the cafeteria area (30) to be first in line.
You'll have to take the exam for the third time. Cancel all your appointments and take some time to study. Skip the next round.
There's a fantastic impromptu exhibition at the architects' office. Go to Building 1 first.
"If I were you..." — Swap positions on the field with a teammate of your choice.
You heard through the grapevine that there's a really great drum 'n' bass party at the ESA today. Go back to Building 69.
It's the last day of classes in the summer semester, which means: Sports Party! Head over to Unisport.
You've heard about this new wormhole on campus and want to check it out. Head over to the nearest wormhole.
You partied too much—you failed half of your exams. You'll lose 15 ECTS credits.
You regularly meet up with a few friends to go mountain biking. Recreation Boost: Roll the dice again.
Your studies aren't really motivating you right now—maybe a new perspective will help: do a headstand (yes, a real headstand, with your body, right here and now).
From now on, everyone has to make a sound of their choice whenever they slide up or down a ladder. Anyone who forgets has to take a sip of their drink (or run a lap around the table).
If you want to earn a master's degree, you should start practicing how to behave civilly: From now on, swearing is forbidden. If a swear word slips out, you have to… (take a sip of your drink or go around the table)
The Master Glue: A player who holds this card no longer bounces off the Master space but may remain there, even if they rolled too many dots. Discard this card.
You've lost your bearings a bit: On the next turn, move backward the number of spaces shown on the die. Place this card in front of you until the next turn.
FACTS
Number of players: 2–10
Game duration: Depends on the number of players, luck, and how nasty the action cards are. I’d say somewhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Short version: You only need 90 ECTS credits for the master’s degree
Blank action cards: You can pick them up for free at CampusPlus in Basecamp (Building 36)