Le Ronde
Premise:
You are a young engineer trying to prove yourself in a competitive field by building a breathtaking roller coaster! In this game, you compete against other genius engineers to create the best roller coaster experience for La Ronde customers. The best design will be built and presented to the public to carry your names for years to come. Do your best to get your name out there!
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Game Materials:
The grid (game board) to draw your ride
Dice (8d6 + 1d6 for each player)
Pencils to draw the rides
Rules
During their turn, each player begins by rolling one of nine die to determine how many dice they can use. After that, roll the remaining eight dice. Using the number rolled from the first dice, the player will choose which of the eight dice to use to build their ride while taking into account the following rules:
To place a straight line (worth 1 point), the player can use any die they have
To place a junction (worth 1 point), the player can use any die he has, (to turn right he must use an even number die, to turn left he must use a die of even number odd).
To place a level (worth 3 points), the player must have at least one die with the number corresponding to the level to which he wants to go up or down. It is not possible to go down or up more than one level at a time, which means that to use a level the number displayed on the die must be adjacent to the level the player finds themselves on during their turn. . It is still forbidden to place two level pieces in a row. It is possible to place pieces on top of others as long as these pieces are separated by at least two levels (e.g. level 3 and level 5)
To place a pirouette (worth 5 points). the player must have at least 2 dice with the same number
To place a loop (worth 10 points) the player must have at least 3 dice with the same number. As a bonus, looping allows the player to access any level they want regardless of what level they are at at the time of their turn.
After 10 rounds, the game ends. This is when players count their individual points to determine the winner. If a player successfully completes their ride they will receive a bonus of 20 points.
Game Setup
To begin the game determine which of the players have boarded a household most recently. This player will be the first to play. Player turns will progress counterclockwise.
Pedagogical Guide
La Ronde is a competitive roll and write (R&W) game where you play against other players to build the best roller coaster possible. Each round, players roll a set of 8 dice and choose to build different parts of the roller coaster based on the different dice combinations they roll. Each player chooses to start their roller coaster anywhere on a 9x9 grid. The main rule is to finish the roller coaster at the same place and height level (see game rules) as you started from. By putting twists, turns, and loops into your roller coaster, you increase your chances of winning the highest number of points at the end of the game (after 10 rounds of dice rolling).
Language
Regarding language skills, the game assumes that students can:
Understand basic French vocabulary
Communicate with other players to calculate points in French
This game will help students:
Understand basic French vocabulary in the context of amusement parks
Communicate with other players
La Ronde is a fun way to learn about amusement parks in French culture and the basic vocabulary needed to describe it. We recommend allowing at least 2 hours for setting up and playing the game. To ensure the best gaming experience, here are some suggestions before, during and after gaming.
Before the game
In preparation for class, ask students to research:
Large amusement parks in France and French-speaking countries.
What is the importance of amusement parks in French culture and among French-speaking countries?
Cultural importance of amusement parks in the world and comparisons of French-speaking countries
Have students prepare a presentation about a famous amusement park of their choice and what sets it apart in terms of rides, customer experience, cultural significance, etc.
During the game
Direct students to the rules sheet and make sure they all understand the basic rules and how to use the legend
Encourage students to read the rules aloud and discuss with each other in French
Encourage discussion among students about how the game relates to their preparation for class (e.g., presentations, research, articles, etc.)
Describe and note any grammatical errors students make in their discussions before or during the game
After the game
Ask the students who won the game to explain their strategy
Ask students who lost the game what they could have changed in their strategy to achieve better results
Discuss among all students the interaction between the roles of luck and good strategy in the game
Ask students to imagine similar games with different themes, but the same game mechanics
Discuss how gameplay can introduce people to French cultural concepts. Ask for students' thoughts on this in the context of La Ronde and other similar games.
Creators: Omar El Sayed, Chierika Nnadozie