User Guide

Introduction

Humanity game boardThe Game of Humanity traces the path of Mankind from the Beginning of Time to the here and now. Players travel this path leading tribes of Peeps, gaining and losing tribe members along the twists and turns of human history in cooperation and competition with other tribes.

The objective is to reach the present day with a diverse and large (but not too large) tribe of Peeps, thus doing your part to ensure Humanity’s continued march through Time.

The game is intended for two to four Homo sapiens ages 12 to 200,000. A single player can choose to play against one to three Artificial Intelligences (AI).

The Game Board

Humanity game boardIn the Beginning…

Like the path through human history, The Game of Humanity starts at the Beginning of Time — either a moment before the Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago, or just before God created the Heavens and the Earth according to the Book of Genesis.

It continues through the emergence of Homo sapiens several hundred thousand years ago to the present day, when humans rule the Earth — for better or worse.

The Path

Most of the steps along the path mark significant developments in human history in the areas of science, industry, culture, exploration, transportation, communication — and violence.

Other spaces (those with brighter colors) represent eras, ages, revolutions, and other major phases in human history. Landing on these spaces triggers “Human Nature Challenges” between players, as described later in this Guide.

Playing the Game

First Turn

The game starts at the Beginning of Time with the creation of the Universe. This can unfold over six days or 13.7 billion years, depending which path players take on their first turn.

Before players spin for the first time, they are asked to predict the number they will spin. Those who predict correctly take the shorter path of the Biblical creation story; those who predict incorrectly take the longer path of the Scientific creation story.

Pre-Human History

Of course, there were no humans at the Beginning of Time, so each player begins the game as simply an inchoate idea of what it will be like eventually to represent a human.

Players take on a solid form when they reach the point along the path where Homo sapiens emerged several hundred thousand years ago.

Human Nature Challenges

A player landing on a brightly colored space faces a Human Nature Challenge, usually involving an exchange of Peeps with one or more other Tribes.

Each such challenge draws on players’ notions of generosity, selfishness, gratitude, guile, etc. — any of which may change as the game progresses and experience with other Tribes accrues.

Aid or Raid?

If a Tribe lands on a space occupied by another Tribe, each of them must decide whether to “aid” or “raid” the other.

  • If both aid, they receive 10 Peeps each.
  • If both raid, they lose 2 Peeps each.
  • If one aids and one raids, the raider takes 5 Peeps from the aider.

Each time those two Tribes occupy the same space, the stakes increase.

Last Turn

When players reach the STOP sign near the end of the path, this becomes their last turn. They are offered one more spin and are asked to predict the number they’ll spin.

Those who predict correctly enter The Rapture, where winning is irrelevant. Those who predict incorrectly bask in the Here Now and collect a modest pension until all Tribes have finished.

Strategy

The object of the game is to accrue and maintain a large and diverse tribe of Peeps for the good of our species. To that end, players may find the following information helpful:

  • Evolutionary biologists warn that groups of humans with more than 150 members are inherently unstable. This warning applies to tribes of Peeps, as well.
  • Diversity is reflected by the colors of a tribe’s Peeps. A tribe with, say, 10 Peeps of all six colors is considered more diverse than one with 15 Peeps of only four colors.
  • Tribes that reach Here Now while other tribes are still on the path receive a pension of one Peep each time it would’ve been their turn to spin. This is the only reward for getting around the board before one’s opponents.
  • Evolutionary biologists note that the interplay of competition and cooperation between groups of humans was an important factor in our species’ success. This applies to tribes of Peeps, as well.
  • Tribes swept up by The Rapture are immediately released from worldliness and disappear from the game in all respects.
Extras

Seeker Mode

If your tribe travels past an event that you are curious to know more about, you can double-click the space to view the content.

Karma Cards

If you’re lucky enough to get a Get Out of Hell Free or Two Peeps Per Pop card, you’ll see a hand icon in the bottom of the frame. It will wave at you when it is available for use. Click it to minimize your loss or maximize your gain of Peeps.
Karma card

Scoreboard

Tribe icons and Peep totals appear on the bottom part of the game frame. Click any tribe icon to view a complete Peepulation scoreboard.

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