by Pax Meier
A scenario about family, expectations, social roles, and the very specific form of torture it is to play Monopoly with your family, hour after hour.
Participants: 3
Game Facilitators: 1
Total time: 3-4 hours
Language: Danish/English
Age limit: 15+
How much to read: characters are a few sentences each + the cards in monopoly
The players step into the four roles of a generic family – Mom, Dad and two kids.
The family is playing the danish version of Monopoly; Matador. The meat and potatoes are there – in the experience of playing a frustrating, bad board game with your family, hour after hour. During play, the players will set up both flashbacks and flashforwards to slowly build up more and more context around the central scene – the board game night.
The scenario is realistic family drama to the core, and is extremely player driven – the only twists and turns are the ones the players bring to the table, and the roles are very much up for interpretation, both before and after the workshop.The goal of the scenario is not so much entertainment as it is to give a unique experience, that may border to the uncomfortable. The scenario is trying to capture the players in a prison built of family roles, expectation and bad board games – the player’s jobs aren’t to break out, but to live in that prison.
- Social Realism
- Family Drama
- Boardgame
Content notes
Socially realistic family drama isn’t for everyone. If you have a hard time existing in those kinds of situations, I recommend looking elsewhere.
Type of participant:
Matador is best suited to players that want to play proactively inside the frame. It works best for players who can live in the uncomfortable scenes, and who want to play a narrative that’s very down to earth. If you’re looking for action or can’t stand family drama, you may want to look elsewhere.
Type of game facilitator:
The GM role is extremely small – you need to have read the scenario up front, and you need to lead the introductory workshop. After that, you’re a player on equal terms to everyone else, with one exception – you’re responsible for activating the scenario’s ending, if the drama ever spins out of control.
