Game pieces

The following components of the game can be found in a separate file, ready to print and cut out:

• 6 Business Plans
• 1 game board
• 18 Event cards
• 54 Action and Business Opportunity cards
• 1 halo
• 1 Ba$tard$ Inc. sign

Apart from this, you have to supply the following things, e.g. by looting other games:

• 4 status tokens per player and 6 to place on the board [small pieces]
• 4 Vice Presidents (VPs) per player [large chips with a different color for each player]
• 3 war tokens [plastic tanks]
• a 6-sided die
• a sufficient amount of Billions [small chips that can be stacked on the VPs]
• a sufficient amount of Goodwill [small chips different from status tokens and Billions]

Before you start the game, you should be familiar with the components of the game:

Business Plan

Every player gets one of the Business Plans, which also tells the name of his company. This name has no particular effect in the game.

A player uses his Business Plan to show the strengths and weaknesses of his company. The crucial areas are

• Corruption
• Crime
• Media
• Technology

A value of 0 is pathetic, while a 6 is exceptionally good. The current score is indicated by placing a status token on the number. Values cannot be lower than 0 or higher than 6.

There is also a space called ``Resources'', where you can stack Billions and Goodwill. Resources must be kept visible to all other players during the game.

Game board

The central element of the game board is the pyramid of regions. Here, the whole world is divided into 6 areas by social and economical criteria. At the top of the pyramid are the wealthy and powerful countries, whereas the base comprises the poor and the meek:

The One $uperpower:

This is where the greatest, best and most beautiful people live. And if there is any doubt about that, a war will serve to distract from the facts. At least, this way, nobody dares to contradict their claims any more.

The Rest:

Well, not the entire rest. But the part of it that counts. The Rest is inhabited by all those people who have an equally high standard of living as the One $uperpower. But there is less militarism and more sectionalism.

Corruptistan:

These are formerly powerful, autocratic countries that are now hopelessly corrupt. A lot of them were part of the Other Superpower which has recently disappeared from the game board.

The Tigers:

Thriving economies with industries growing almost as fast as the resulting pollution. Investors can rely on cheap labor and a traditional network of organized crime.

The Rogue State:

Here, the evil enemy of the One $uperpower reigns as dictator over subdued masses and a significant part of the world's fossil fuels reserves. Trading with him is very lucrative, as he keeps spending a fortune on weapons of mass destruction.

The Have-Nots:

Countries with almost no economical significance, prone to war and other catastrophes. While colonization was once the source of their misery, the natives are nowadays quite capable of exploiting themselves.

Each region is characterized by four attributes and a status bar. You already know three of the attributes (Corruption, Crime, and Technology) from the Business Plan. These attributes determine the minimum skill you need to do business there.

The fourth attribute, ``Income'', tells how many Billions are obtained by selling Stuff to this region. The status bar keeps track of the current amount of Stuff. Stuff can be anything, from toasters to tanks, and some regions are allowed to have more Stuff than others. The gray area shows the levels considered illegal. Again, 6 is the maximum.

Below the pyramid there is the Media Circus. A place for those who would rather trade in information than material goods. There are five areas to get involved in:

Consumer Education:

Fool people on a large scale. Produce commercials to improve public opinion about your company.

Charity Scam:

Slightly harder than advertising. let people pay to show their (and your) humanitarian attitude. In times of crisis this pays off better than mere advertising.

Report on Corruption:

This is almost serious journalism, with a bias towards hurting your competitor. If you want to be corrupt without being troubled by the other players, this is the thing to do.

Report on Crime:

As with corruption, just focusing on the criminals of the world.

Report on Technology:

Are you fed up with all your competitors making Billions by selling weapons to the Rogue State? Make them regret their illegal ways here!

Each field of the Media Circus section has a value indicating how hard it is to succeed there.

Finally, the game board features two VIP Lounges where idle VPs can relax with champagne and caviar, plus a few handy tables.

Cards

The game uses a stack of Event cards and one stack of Actions, including Business Opportunities.

Event cards determine special occurrences for every game turn. As it is difficult to manipulate them, players are usually stuck with what they get. However, many events are quite useful.

Each player has a hand of Action cards which he keeps secret from the others until they are played. The Actions are self-explanatory. Each card contains information on when it can be played and which requirements must be met. In most cases a certain level of Corruption, Crime etc. is required in order to play a card.

Business Opportunities are a special form of Action. After they are played, they stay on the table in front of their owner, who may use them once per turn. Players should turn the card sideways after this happens, to indicate that they cannot be activated again until the next turn.