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Once upon a game

A few weeks, as the lockdown began the kids were bored. The board games were exhausted. And they wanted something to do. So I suggested, why don't we create a game?

Having played a few board games (Settlers of Catan, 7 wonders and San Juan league), they understand the realm of games. This apart from the reasonably good knowledge they had of games. 

I asked, what would you like to make a game on? The answer was not very forthcoming. So, we spoke what they really liked  - and pat came the answer. Cats. 

We sat with a gaming mechanics card working on what game to make with cats as the centrepiece. Our building has a few stray cats - that we have seen since they were kittens. So, they are well versed with cat psychology. Ok, not psychology, but behaviour. They have observed what happens in a cat ecosystem.

The following behaviours were discussed, debated, argued - we agreed that cats staked territories. They fought with each other to establish dominance. They hunted. As they grew smarter, they graduated from milk to mice to pigeons and then to bats (this is an  unverifiable claim - but we included it). Cats attack each other, defend in various ways. They sometimes use humans to continue their dominance. 

All these were packed into a game. And captured on powerpoint with free vectors. And the inhouse artist graciously drew us a few cats and territory cards. 

And as soon as the shops opened, off we went to the printer and got it printed and then a day spent sticking them to old visiting cards. The game has a total of approximately 150 cards. 

And as we speak, the game is being tested at home, kinks ironed out. Rules being debated and re-written. Thread here.

I dont know what will become of this game - but whatever it is, it will be one amazing memory that the kids will cherish. About a real game they created.

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