Rich Uncle
Rich Uncle Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Object of the Game
For 3, 4 or 5 Players.
The object of the game is to be the first player to acquire $50,000. (If a longer game is desired, decide on a larger winning total, say $100,000, before beginning play.)
Equipment
Set up the panel. Set up the panel (as shown in the picture) at the side of the box where a space is left for its insertion. Use the cover as a portion of the base by putting it underneath the bottom of the box. The slot in the wooden posts fits over the side of the box. This panel is known as the Stock Board.
The Pool. The "Pool" is the name given to the compartments in the box. The four larger compartments will hold the different denominations of money.
Stock Cards. The Stock Cards left undealt after the Treasurer has shuffled and dealt four cards to each player (as well as any Stock Cards later sold to the Pool) are placed in the row of six compartments at the base of the Stock Board. The column of color directly above shows where Stock Cards of that color are placed.
Special Dice. When thrown, these dice are NOT added together as in most games but instead are read as a number. For example, the illustration shows the number 52 (not a count of 7). The Colored die is ALWAYS read first, followed by the White die.
Note, however, in reading the Dice for dollar value the total is read as hundreds. Thus, 43 would be $4300; 52 would be $5200.
The Roller is the player whose TURN it is to roll the Dice and play.
The Hand is the name applied to the four Stock Cards which are dealt to each player and which he places face up, exposed, before him. To the Hand are added any other Stock Cards which he receives in the course of play.
The Daily Bugle is Rich Uncle's newspaper, and contains his column of advice. All copies are shuffled and placed face down upon the "Newsstand."
Money. The paper money is in three denominations. There are also round checks, including special $10,000 checks, which are used only for convenience in handling large amounts.
The Market-Price Cards are very important. The small Black Rack holds these cards so that the front card only, showing the present Market-Price, is visible. The front card is changed every time DOUBLES are thrown (and then only) by exposing the next card behind it and retiring the front card to the back of the pack.
Preparation
The Treasurer. Select one player to be Treasurer. He will have charge of all transactions of the Pool, including the handling of the Money, the Stock Cards and the Market-Price Cards, and also "The Daily Bugle." He will give each player, including himself, $10,000, as follows. (All players for convenience usually keep their own money on the table before them.)
- 5 — $100
- 3 — $500
- 3 — $1,000
- 1 — $5,000
The Treasurer will also shuffle the entire pack of all colors of Stock Cards and DEAL four Stock Cards to each player, including himself. Each player keeps his own Stock Cards exposed, face up, in front of him. The Treasurer then places all the undealt Stock Cards in the proper compartments of the Pool according to color. He also shuffles and places the Market-Price Cards face out in the Black Rack.
The Play
Starting and Playing the Game
The starting player rolls the Dice and reads aloud the number turned up. For example, if the Colored die is 5 and the White die is 3, it is read 53.
When Doubles Are Not Thrown
If the Roller owns the Stock Card of the number he rolls, the Treasurer must pay him from the Pool the Dividend called for on that card. His turn then ends and play passes to the left.
If, however, that card is held by another player, the Holder of that card is paid its Dividend from the Pool. The Holder, however, on receiving that Dividend must pay a fee of $500 to the player who rolled the number.
If no player owns that Stock Card, it will be found in the Pool, and the player rolling that number MUST BUY that Stock Card from the Pool, paying the present Market-Price which is exposed in the Black Rack and taking the Stock Card as his property.
In any of the above three instances, the player's turn ends on completion of the play and turn passes to the player at his left.
When Doubles Are Thrown
When DOUBLES are thrown (such as 33, 44, etc.), three interesting actions immediately arise in THIS TURN, affecting not only the Roller but often all players before the turn passes.
1st. The Treasurer immediately changes the exposed Market-Price by removing the front card from the Black Rack and placing it at the back, thus exposing the new Market-Price, effective at once and good until the next doubles are rolled.
2nd. The Roller, immediately after rolling DOUBLES, refers to the Stock Board and follows the instructions under the number rolled. (Note that two of the DOUBLES shown on the Stock Board, 22 and 66, require special additional action.)
Stock Board note (transcriber's gap): the instructions printed under each number on the Stock Board panel are not legible in the source scan. The panel is shown in the picture on the first page, but its printed text is too small to read reliably, and the rulebook text does not restate them. They are not transcribed here. Consult the printed panel or another verified copy of the 1946 Stock Board before relying on the doubles effects for 11 through 66, including the special 22 and 66 actions.
3rd: Feature Play. He now takes the top copy of the Daily Bugle from the Newsstand, reads it aloud, and then any or all players, including himself, to whom the instructions apply, follow those instructions.
In most cases the instructions in the Daily Bugle call for all players, including himself, one after the other, to roll the Dice and as a result either collect from or pay to the Pool or to another player the number of hundred dollars indicated by their respective throw of the Dice.
Remember, in reading the Dice as dollar value, whether in paying or collecting money, it is read as hundreds. Thus a throw of 43 is read $4,300. A roll of 15, $1,500, etc.
In case in completing a FEATURE PLAY, DOUBLES again are thrown, the Market-Price Card must be changed as usual, but another Daily Bugle is not drawn.
When all requirements are concluded, this turn then ends and the play passes to the left.
Selling
Sales of a Stock Card can only be made to the Pool, and can be done only by the person whose TURN it is to play, and before he rolls the Dice and proceeds further with his turn. The player whose turn it is may thus sell to the Pool at the Market-Price one (but only one) of his Stock Cards if he so wishes, and receive the money from the Pool. (Selling a Stock Card if the Market-Price is high is almost always an advantage.)
Note: It is interesting to watch the Market-Price Cards at all times, and of course particularly so just before your own turn.
Buying
If the Roller throws a number of a Stock Card held in the Pool, he must buy that card, paying the exposed Market-Price therefor. Other than in this way no Stock Cards are bought, except by instructions of Rich Uncle in the Daily Bugle.
Color Groups
Note that it is an advantage to acquire several Stock Cards all of the SAME COLOR, because if the number on any one of his Stock Cards of that color is rolled, the owner is paid the Dividend multiplied by as many cards as he owns of that color.
Thus, if a player owns three blue cards and the Roller throws the number of any ONE of these three cards, the owner is paid three times the Dividend printed on that card.
Players will soon discover that Dividends are lower on the RETAIL (red) Stocks but gradually increase to the highest Dividends on the BLUE CHIP Stocks.
If and When
If and when a player finds that he does not have sufficient cash to pay what he owes, he is permitted to sell back to the Pool as many of his Stocks as necessary, as a last resort to try and pay his debt in full.
(This is the only time during the game when more than one Stock Card can be cashed in at one time.)
Should a player be unable to pay his debt, after turning his available cash over to the Treasurer and selling back to the Pool all of his Stocks, this player is bankrupt and is obliged to retire from the game.
Winning the Game
The first player to accumulate a total of at least $50,000 in cash and announces the fact WINS THE GAME.
(For a longer game, make the winning total $100,000.)
Components Shown on the Cards
Stock Card. Each Stock Card shows a number (for example, 14) and a cash Dividend printed in the lower panel, reading "This Stock pays the Holder a Dividend of $500." Stock Cards are colored; the color determines the column of the Stock Board where they are placed.
Market-Price Card. Each Market-Price card shows a price (for example, $10,000) and the printed note "Buying and selling price of stocks. Change this card on all doubles!"
Daily Bugle. Each copy is a card headed "The Daily Bugle," with "Rich Uncle Says:" and a headline, followed by INSTRUCTIONS for the players. The sample copy shown in the rules reads: headline "AUNT EFFIE VISITING RELATIVES"; Instructions: "Each player in turn, rolls the dice to determine how much money he, individually, must pay to the Pool as his share of Aunt Effie's expenses. Player to your left rolls first." Its sub-headings read "Traveling by Helicopter" and "All Players Help Pay Her Expenses."