Pipelayer

Deconstructed By: Luis Gutierrez

• • The goal of Pipelayer- Pipelayer is a game of strategy, your main objective is to make one solid connection across your grid from one end to the opposite.

Sounds simple enough,however, you have an opponent on another grid attempting to do the same. Your objective is to reach the other side of your grid before your opponent.

• Core Mechanic- The core mechanic of this game is connecting your points on the grid to make a continuous connection from one end of your grid to the opposite side. You move across the long way of your grid.

• The game space- The game is played on two overlapping grids of dots which offset each other. Make sure each set of dots or points are easy to identify as different (for example black and white dots or circles and triangles etc.). Each grid has one longer dimension which is longer by one row of dots, so you are to traverse across the longer way of your grid. The game is playable with any size grid but I personally recommend any dimensions larger than 2x3 and 3x2 due to the fact that the player who goes first will win 100% of the time. My personal favorite is 6x7 and 7x6, creates a good amount of options and more strategy opens up but is not too lengthy of a game, play time for a 6x7 grid is about 2-4 minutes.

• Objects, Attributes, and States:

-Objects: There are not many objects to this game other than the grids each with differentiating points, and the two sets of lines which each player makes.

-Attributes: Each dot has three different potential paths, you can only choose one of the three

-States: Throughout the game players will be making paths. As the game progresses each spot will either be open or blocked.

• Actions & Rules- Alright so we now what the goal of this game is, how you are to achieve this goal, what you play on, and the parts of the game. So now you need to know is how to play.

-This is a two player turn based game, at the start of a players turn the player who goes first will make one line connecting two dots immediately adjacent to each other. You can make a connection anywhere on the grid whether it is in the middle end or start,it does not matter.

-Players can only connect two dots of their own color and connections can only be made to dots vertically or horizontally.

-One player will be attempting to connect top and bottom of their grid while the other is attempting to connect left to right. (players play perpendicularly).

-You cannot cross over any previous moves. So you can make connections to block your opponents paths as well as make connections to advance. (now you see where strategy comes into play).

WHITE WINS

• Skills Learned and Exercised- Players learn to analyze a board and know what is going on. Which is to understand a opponents intentions and options and make calculated decisions to best handle the situation to your advantage. Like in life you can choose whether to be defensive, aggressive, or not care at all and continue what you were doing.