Daytrader: A Financial Board Game
Daytrader: A Financial Board Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Contents
1 board 36 Volatile Market cards 30 Stock Cards 30 Tokens 6 Briefcase pawns 6 denominations of money 1 die
Getting Started
Each player should pick a briefcase/pawn and 5 tokens (small discs) as the same color as the chosen briefcase/pawn.
Choose a banker, responsible for collecting and disbursing all money and stock cards throughout the game.
Shuffle the Volatile Market Cards and place them on the "Volatile Market Cards" box.
There are 4 stock cards of each company, and 6 retirement stock cards. Separate the stock cards into their respective company groups and place them on the table so all the players can see them. Place the retirement cards inside the "Retirement Cards" box.
To determine player order, roll the die and the highest number rolled goes first. Play will continue clockwise (left) around the table.
How to Win
The first player to retire wins, to be eligible for retirement you must:
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Buy a retirement stock card. You can buy 1 retirement stock per game for $300K from the banker when you land on the bank, or a company that you currently work for.
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Save $3M in cash. Cash does not include the stocks you currently own.
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Sell all the company stocks you own. You can only sell retirement stock after all your other stocks have been sold, and not with company stock.
After all 3 goals have been achieved then you must land on the bank or on a company you currently work for to sell your retirement stock to win.
First Turn Roll
Roll the die, place your briefcase on the company whose number matches the number you rolled. (For example, if you roll a 6 find the company whose number is 6 and place your briefcase there.) Start working by placing 1 token (small disc) on the first job position, EMP (employee). After you've placed a token, collect double the wage that is printed above the position (on your first turn roll only) from the banker. Pass the die to the next player to take his/her first turn roll.
If another player rolls the same number as a previous player then the first players token on the EMP position will be pushed 1 job position to the right, to the SUP (supervisor) position within the company and both players will receive the wage printed above their positions. However, only the most recent player to roll will receive double since it was their first turn roll.
Second Turn Roll
Roll the die and advance your briefcase clockwise (left) the number of spaces you rolled.
Landing on a COMPANY
There are 6 companies around the board (Energy, Technology, Health Care, Financial, Industrials, and Real Estate.) Each company has 4 job positions within them that have a wage printed above them. The jobs range from low pay to high pay: EMP (employee), SUP (supervisor), VP (vice president) and CEO (chief executive officer).
When you land on a company with your briefcase you choose 1 of 3 options: 1) Work, 2) Trade, or 3) Draw.
1) Work
Work by placing 1 token on the EMP (employee) position of the company you land on. You can only place 1 token per turn.
Your token will push any token already on the EMP position to the right 1 position. The token pushed will also push an existing token, if there is 1 directly next to it, to the right 1 position but only if there is 1 directly next to it.
After all tokens have been placed on their correct and final position on the company then all players will receive the wage that is printed above the position their token(s) are on. If you have more than 1 token (4 max) on the same company you will receive the sum of wages from all of them.
If your tokens hold all the job positions on a company then any stock you own in that company is worth double its current value.
You can move previously placed tokens freely on your turn if you have no more off the board.
Anytime a player works or advances on a company all the workers currently on the company will receive the wage(s) printed above their position(s).
2) Trade
There are 2 types of trades you can make: 1) Buy stock, 2) Sell stock.
To calculate the buy and sell value of a company stock, simply add the wages of all the job positions currently covered with tokens, the sum of the wages covered set the stock price.
For example, if on Technology the EMP, VP & CEO are all covered with tokens from the same or different players you will add those wages (80K + 220K + 480K = $780K) and that will be the stock price.
Give the banker what you are trading (cash to buy or a stock card to sell) and the banker will give you a stock card or cash in exchange.
You can buy or sell up to 2 stocks per turn, this means you can buy 1 stock and sell the same stock you just bought on the same turn. You can only buy and sell retirement stock by itself.
You can buy and/or sell stock in 1 company when you are currently on that company, or, buy and/or sell stock in any company when you're on the bank.
If only your tokens hold all the job positions on a company then any stock you own in that company is worth double its current value.
You can only buy or sell retirement stock (you need this to win) on the bank OR on a company you currently work for, and may not own any other stocks at the time you sell your retirement stock.
3) Draw
Draw a card from the Volatile Market card pile in the center of the board. Follow the instructions on the card, then place the card at the bottom of the pile when finished.
Start Playing
At this point you can begin playing Daytrader by taking your second turn, when you land on a space other than a company refer to the below sections for direction.
Landing on BANK
When your briefcase lands on the bank you have 2 options: 1) Trade, or 2) Draw.
These 2 options work exactly like options 2 and 3 (trade or draw) on a company square.
Remember, you may trade (buy or sell) any company stock on the board when you're on the bank.
Remember, you can buy and sell your retirement stock on the bank but only by itself, not in conjunction with another trade.
Landing on TAXES
If you land one 1 of the 3 taxes spaces on the board, you must calculate your current cash savings (not including current stocks owned) and find your tax bracket you are in with the tax bracket guide on the back of this rules booklet. Pay the amount due to the banker.
[Transcriber's note: the tax bracket guide is missing. The rules refer to a tax bracket table on the back of the rules booklet, but that table is not in the 4-page PDF this transcription was made from (the PDF contains no images, and no bracket text appears in it). The bracket amounts are therefore not reproduced here and must be taken from the printed booklet.]
Tax Exemption
You can become fully exempt from paying taxes if you own at least 1 company stock (not including retirement) and roll the number that matches the company number you own the stock in. It is good to diversify your stock portfolio for a better chance of becoming tax exempt.
Bankruptcy
During game play if you cannot make a full payment to the bank you are allowed to borrow money from another player or the banker to help make a full payment. Borrow money by trading in 1 token in exchange for $100K to the lender. Then lender will retain your token until you buy it back for $150K at any point. KEEP IN MIND - You must make good on your loans, pay back your debts, before you can win the game.
If you still do not have enough money to make a full payment, or do not want to borrow, then you must claim BANKRUPTCY. Take all your tokens off the board and return all stock cards, including retirement stock, to the banker for no value and repeat your first turn roll on your next turn.
Disclosure
You must display your stock cards at all times throughout the game to the other players. You do not have to display your money to the other players but you must announce the tax bracket you're currently in to all players when its time to pay taxes.
Landing on BOOM
Roll the die, the company number that matches the number rolled is booming with business. Every player, starting with you, must place 1 token on the EMP position. You must move tokens previously placed if you have no more off the board.
Landing on BUST
Roll the die, the company number that matches the number rolled is bankrupt. The company must be completely cleared of all the tokens currently on it.
Landing on VOLATILE MARKET
Draw a card from the Volatile Market card pile in the center of the board. Follow the instructions on the card, then place the card at the bottom of the pile when finished.
Landing on HIRED OR FIRED
Roll the die, find the company number that matches the number you rolled. If you currently DO NOT work for the company (do not have any tokens placed within it) then you must move your briefcase to the company and place 1 token on the EMP position there, you are hired. All players with tokens on a job within this company will collect their wage(s) if you are hired. If you currently DO work for the company (have at least 1 token placed within it) then you must remove all your tokens from within it, you are fired. No one collects a wage if you are fired.