Well, I Wonder If This How Most Land Barons Started Out
4/10/2011
Well, when we left off last night's Monopoly game, our first "for reals" attempt, Xander had the most money, Wendi had the most property and I had less than $100 and one of my properties was mortgaged. This was after roughly 90 minutes. It didn't look good.
With the game being rather complicated for a 7 year old, he rather well: reading the property cards, figuring out how much he had to pay, how much change he would get, that sort of thing. In fact, the biggest challenge Xander had was in getting the right place value for his money; saying the property cost $20, instead of the proper $200. Handing us $7, instead of $70 for rent.
Granted, he could just be a con man.
Did I say this was his biggest challenge? Make that his second biggest challenge. Numero Uno was in not fiddling with his money, rolling around on the floor (we played on the Living Room floor), refraining from the non-stop (and usually irrelevant) commentary and just generally driving his two opponents bonkers.
Again, he might just be the master at mind games.
Today, with a rainy cold afternoon, we thought we would pick right up where we left off. Xander almost immediately took a clear lead with the purchase of Boardwalk and Park Place, soon after putting down one, two and then three houses before Ms. Wendi and I had any monopolies of our own. Time for the two old folks to start swapping. I got two RRs and she got the Electric Company and 1/2 off all future train tickets. It still wasn't enough as Land Baron Xander added another house to the Royal Blue Properties and we were one unlucky roll away from losing everything.
My nadir was soon after when I had to trade all my RR for one stay at Boardwalk. Like a (short) colossus, Xander bestrode the world of little real estate development. Our one advantage we had over him was years and years of haggling experience. And with it and a bit of luck (good luck for me/bad luck for him), things started to turn around.
Sadly, he made a classic real estate mistake; one that many a former millionaire learned in 2008/09. He was property rich but cash poor. When he needed a large amount of money (like when landing on my North Carolina Avenue with 2 houses), it's a buyer's market. I got my RRs back and a promise of two free stays at any of his resorts. I could see the eyes go a bit misty but he accepted the deal and we moved on.
That is, till two turns later when he again landed on another pricey spot. This time he was going to have to sell houses. His beloved Boardwalk/Park Place houses. That's when the tears started. I seriously doubt Donald Trump ever cried while being held by Steve Wynn over a Las Vegas business deal that went south but that's what our little formerly wealthy speculator did. He spent the remainder of the game (just two more turns before we pulled the plug) being held by mommy while tearfully losing more and more of his filthy lucre.
Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Trump has acted like that when faced with similar situations a time or two.
Mommy dared suggest we modify the "Pay $40 per house" Chance card to a mere $10 per. Not A Chance! Ya places yer bets, ya takes your chances. He'll thank me one day.
On the post game walk around the neighborhood, Xander suggested we play "Stratego" next week. I'll think about it.
Or maybe checkers.....