Star Fluxx

Wow.  I am blogging early tonight.  It isn't quite 11pm.

We played a game this evening.  Star Fluxx.  The deck of cards which makes up this game arrived in the post the other day, after my person had watched the inimitable Wil Wheaton play this game on his Tabletop show.  (I hope I have spelt his name right - I went to check on Twitter, but he has turned into Wil SCREAMton, and I currently do not have the strength to check further, for reasons which will become clear.)

We have tried playing Settlers of Cataan, as well, and I rather enjoyed this, although I lost horribly every time.  Playing with friends was highly entertaining, especially as my mate Liz announced the acquisition of every single wheat card with 'Wheat-on' and a giggle.  I just made little roads which went nowhere and collected sheep.

Strategising in games turns out not to be my strong suit, but I do like to hoard.  I was very upset when the rules of the game meant I had to give up my sheep, mind, even though it also turns out you can't build a city out of sheep.  Highly unfair, in my view.  I thought that was how we had Bradford, for one thing.

No matter.  I was assured - by Mr Wheaton himself, via the medium of the internet, so I was practically a personal assurance - that strategy is actually impossible in Star Fluxx.  Ah.  Excellent.  The game for me.

Except for the part where it's not!

The thing with Fluxx is...well, it's in flux.  Constantly.  The rules change, the goals change...one card even has you swap your entire seat and hand of cards with another player.  I kept being half way to winning, and then the goal would change.  Eventually, a card was played which meant I would have won.  You know, if another player hadn't just taken the two cards which would have meant I won.  And he knew it.  He played the change of goal card, too.

Basically, this game set up a situation where I thought I had something, then it was taken from me, then the goal changed, and then the other person used my stuff to win.  So, in a lot of way, it is the perfect analogy for my working life.

Also like my working life, I went back and had another go.  I never learn.

The second time, I lost again.  This time, only one of my cards was stolen and it felt sort of like a victory, because at least the losing wasn't as bad.

I think I may use this game when teaching.  Just think of the points which could be made about the ways we have to be prepared to roll with the punches, how life is a tapestry of changing goals and rules, how we have to be willing and able to redefine winning in a moment's notice.  It would also be useful as a way of discussing how we cope with losing.  Given that I do that whenever I play a game.

Perhaps I will go and try The Game of Thrones.  You seem to need to be willing to kill to win at that.  Or else have a dragon.  Or both.