Although restricted to a maximum of 4 players this is a very good multiplayer online Monopoly implementation that works very well online and which has been a massive hit for Pogo Games. Properties have been internationalised as cities and cash amounts modernised but all are in proportion to the original. As virtually everyone knows the official rules from the original board game, we'll start there, look at the variations then finish with some top hints and tips and general good advice for getting the most out of your multiplayer monopoly game play experience on Pogo.
Serious Monopoly players may wish to note this minor niggle: It would seem an exact game-play balance with the original Monopoly design was intended. However, the chance card that was equivalent to 'Go back to Tapai' in the original has been replaced with an 'Advance to next transport space' card where upon double rent is due. This significantly increases the value of holding transport properties and decreases the value of the weakest property set (ie. the browns).
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Monopoly Game Version |
Rule Variations |
| Official Rules |
The original rules are beautifully implemented apart from the fact that the multiplayer aspect is restricted to 4 players. This does make for a faster game; an hour is usually quite enough time to complete as the online trading is efficient and works well, and all cash handling is automatic.
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| Pogo Rules |
The major change here is that the game is restricted to 35 rounds of moves and the game ends when the second person goes bankrupt. At the end of the 35th round the player with the greatest net worth wins. This does change the tactics significantly making the cash collecting properties (transport and utilities) more valuable, not least because it is quite possible to go through such a game with no set owned by any player and therefore not one house is built. On bankruptcy a player's properties are all unmortgaged no matter their previous state and distributed randomly. This can often seem unfairly advantageous, significantly altering net worth and therefore the potential winner.
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| Family Rules |
These rules basically guarantee a fast game. The first player to reach a net worth of $50 million wins outright, otherwise the game stops after 45 minutes or 35 turns (whichever is shortest) or when the first player goes bankrupt. Houses need not be built evenly and there is no limit on the overall number of houses or hotels, nor is any fee exacted for unmortgaging a property - not that this really comes into play because there is a minimum of $5 million for landing on Free Parking, plus all fines and taxes go there too and there is double cash for landing exactly on Go (usually after being sent there by a chance card). Basically a de-skilling of the game which, we suppose, gives the youngest the child a chance to get lucky and win. Hence 'Family' Not very satisfactory or indeed popular online monopoly version when all is said and done.
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| Speedy Rules |
This is really a multiplayer game for those that are pushed for online time! The first player to reach $35 million net worth wins outright. This is about double their starting amount as each player is given 3 properties to begin with at random, and this can have a huge and immediate bearing on net worth, of course. If no one manages to reach this target the game stops after 30 minutes anyway, or 30 turn rounds or when the first player goes bankrupt, whichever occurs soonest. Jail turns are restricted to one which basically means no time spent in jail at all. All other rules are as the official rules. A top Speedy Monopoly tip is go first and throw a double! As long as it isn't double 2 you'll probably be in an unassailable position by the end of the first go! Trade with the computers for every property you buy for a profit and you can be over the finishing line within 5-10 minutes!
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Custom Monopoly
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Monopoly custom options allow for many variations on the above, as well as some unique options of its own. Carefully selected combinations can make for some great strategic games, but can also end up being little more than a joke. Trial and error will soon lead you to a set of rules you like. If your rules are very unusual its often a good idea to warn players joining your table of them before you start or you may find people leaving in disgust.
Here is a list of the combinations you can juggle with:
- Free Parking:
- Bonus for landing on: None/$.2m/$.5m/$1m/$2.5m/$5m
- Bonus on first landing only Yes/No
- Fines and Taxes to Free parking Yes/No
- In Jail:
- Max number of turns 1 or 3
- Collect rent, trade, build Yes/No (We love the no option - Eds)
- Houses:
- Number needed before a hotel can be built 3 or 4
- Must be built evenly Yes/No
- Limited total number of houses and hotels to 32 and 12 respectively/No limit (The limit can make for some great strategic play)
- Properties:
- Automatic auction of unwanted property Yes/No
- 10% mortgage fee Yes/No
- Pay mortgage fee on transfer Yes/No
- Each player starts with None/2/3/5
- When a player goes bankrupt give to player owd/auctioned/random distribution
- Game Parameters
- Total game time limit 30/45/60/90mins/None
- Game turn limit 25/35/45/55/None
- Game bankruptcy limit 1/2/3
- Other Options:
- Allow computer players to fill empty seats Yes/No
- Computer players used advanced AI Yes/No
- Allow players to replace computer after game starts Yes/No
- Double cash for landing on GO Yes/No
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Here are some hints and tips to help you get the most out of your Monopoly experience on Pogo Games. The first two tips below are well worth while if you have experienced having your Monopoly game spolit by blatant cheaters.
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Pogo Monopoly Tips |
Description |
| Foiling Dumpers |
Unfortunately with all popular online game sites open to the public that are mostly unmoderated, you are likely to get childish players who upon losing wish to have a final impact on the game by 'dumping' all their properties in such a manner as to influence the outcome of the game. For example, they will trade everything they own to one player for the lowest possible amount ie. $1000 (remember everyone starts with $15 million in this modernised game). The only way to avoid this currently is by everyone to refuse the offer or by one player to accept it and then leave all the properties unused or to distribute them as fairly as possible. Refusal by all other players to receive dumped properties is the only truly fair way, however. It would be nice if pogo were to introduce a blacklist for people who behave like this to stop them ruining and wasting other player's game time.
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| Avoiding Cheats |
Similarly to the above point, certain people will always try to cheat if given the chance. This is usually done by starting a game with a computer player, doing advantageous deals with that computer, then abandoning their original seat and replacing the newly rich computer they have just set up. A brazen act which should see all other players abandon the game immediately, although this then gives them the win they don't deserve. To avoid this happening simply look over the options for the table before you start. Ensure that the check box Allow computer players to replace empty seats after the game starts is NOT checked. If someone genuinely loses their connection they are still allowed back, but into their old seat only. This applies to all versions of the game on Pogo.
| Pogo Rules Tip |
In Pogo rules remember that when a second player goes bankrupt the game is over. if you are currently in second place by net worth and the third place player is about to go bankrupt it is probably in your interests to offer that player a trade to keep them solvent and the game open to buy you time for a chance to win.
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| Game Quality |
Always check the box Computer players use advanced AI. Artificial intelligence is relative in this context of course, but if you do lose a player half way through for whatever reason, it is better to have them replaced with a stubborn computer that isn't so obviously swayed by one property for three or four, no matter what the resultant outcome to game balance.
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| Top Trading Tip |
A top tip when playing with the computer players, remember even the 'advanced AI' computers have no memory and may well accept the same offer a few seconds after they rejected it the first time. An even greater tip is that they appear to be programmed to see two utilities as a 'set'. You may well induce an advantageous trade if the computer owns one utility and you own the other by offering that utility as part of a trade that ends up giving you a real 'set' with the opportunity to build houses. The same goes for the transport spaces though due to their nature this will rarely be so advantageous.
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| Check Custom Options |
When playing custom rules always check to see what they are before racing into the room - the variations are so wide you may find yourself playing a game you wish you hadn't committed to and its bad etiquette to quit leaving them a player short. Other potential pitfalls await. Eg. Taking a breather throwing doubles in jail, only to find 3 players in a row land on your hotels and you can't accept rents while in there! Another example: you might put off purchasing houses only to find someone else does and the limit set on the number of houses means you have missed out. It is always worth checking these things before joining the table. It should be noted that if there is a limit set on houses you can turn this to your advantage by buying up houses, perhaps on cheaper properties, to deny your opponents the chance of getting dangerous properties up and running.
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| Know The Odds |
Lastly, as in all dice games you should be aware of the odds. If a player is approaching your properties and you can only afford one more house, make sure its built on the property that is seven spaces from that player. You'll be amazed and gratified how often this pays off. Failing that six or eight spaces away are the next best options.
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| Pogo Badge Cheat |
There are at least 3 game award badges for Pogo Monopoly. The Jail Bird badge you will soon get through normal play and the Big Roller Badge is pure luck. The third badge Getting Crowded Here requires all four players to land on the same spot at the same time. This is fairly unlikely to happen, except in the following circumstance: at the beginning of the game all four players are placed on GO. The first player throws and if they throw a seven (the most likely outcome of throwing two dice) they land on the chance space. IF That chance card is 'Adavance to GO' then the player advances and all four players are awarded the Getting Crowded here badge. If you are really desperate to gain badges quickly, set up the table with 3 robot opponents and start the game. If the above scenario doesn't play out, start again until it does. It might take a couple of hours, but it will happen, and much quicker than during normal play where a full game follows the first throw whatever its outcome might be!
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