Table kit
Everything you need to play a table of 6 to 8 people without screens, or to give each table its own board even when it plays with the app. Print one kit per table. The full rules are in the Rules summary (2 pages).
What is in the kit
| Board 2 sheets | Put them side by side. Best on card, or on A3. |
| Cards 8 sheets | 11 roles, 12 Midlife Crossroads cards and 8 events, tarot size (70 × 120 mm). On card; cut along the lines. |
| Voting tokens 1 sheet | One row per player: A, B, C and D for the tax; Health, Education and Shield for the budget. |
| Score sheet and log 1 sheet | On ordinary paper, one per game. |
Also, per table: about 100 coins worth 1 and 70 worth 5 (counters, buttons…), 7 black cubes (one for Tension and six Exclusion tokens), 3 level markers, 1 round marker, 3 bowls for the funds, 2 opaque bags and one envelope per player. The shopping list is at stateinclass.org/materials.
Setting up (5 minutes)
- The board in the middle. The Health, Education and Social Shield markers on level 1, the round marker on 1 and the funds empty.
- Someone is the bank: they keep the coins, pay out Income and collect Cost of Living. It can be the teacher or a student.
- Opening pact. Each player gets 3 coins and, with a closed fist inside the bag, drops in as many as they want to contribute. The total is counted out loud (never who gave what) and the Tension marker is placed according to the table on the board. What was contributed goes back to the bank; what each player kept goes in their envelope.
- Roles. Set aside the roles that are not used for your number of players (table on the right), shuffle the rest and deal one to each player, face up. The three spares go to one side.
- Each player takes their 7 voting tokens and an envelope: their money always stays inside; nobody sees anyone else's.
- The Midlife Crossroads deck, shuffled and face down. The event cards, face down and in order: 1 on top, 8 at the bottom.
Roles by table size
| Players | Upper / middle / working | Not used | Level price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 / 3 / 3 | — | 10 |
| 7 | 2 / 2 / 3 | Office worker | 9 |
| 6 | 2 / 2 / 2 | Office worker, Precarious freelancer | 8 |
A round, on paper
- Event. Turn over the event card for the round and read it out loud.
- Debate, 2 minutes on the clock. You can promise and negotiate; only the token counts.
- Tax vote. Each player drops an A, B, C or D token into the bag. Tip it out and count. The most votes wins (ties: see the board).
- Income and payments. The bank pays each player their Income, plus whatever the services and the event add. Each player pays the tax into the public purse and their Cost of Living to the bank. Anyone who cannot pay hands over everything, drops to 0, takes an Exclusion token and Tension goes up 3.
- Budget vote. Service tokens into the bag; the three services are ranked by votes. The purse is shared out in rounds of 3, 2 and 1 coins into the funds. As soon as a fund reaches the level price, those coins go back to the bank and the service goes up 1.
- End of round, in the order shown on the board. Move the round marker on.
After round 8, the final count. Open the envelopes and fill in the score sheet. If Tension reaches 10 at any moment, it is a Failed State: the game ends and nobody scores.
Board · sheet 1 of 2
Put both sheets together in the middle of the table.
Social Tension
| Someone cannot pay: Exclusion token | +3 |
| Exclusion token at the Midlife Crossroads | +2 |
| End of round, from round 2: for each service on level 1 | +1 |
| Great storm (round 6), when revealed | +1 |
| End of round: all three services on level 4 or above | −1 |
Public services
The rounds
Obsolescence: at the end of rounds 3 and 6, all three services go down 1 level. The coins in the funds stay.
Board · sheet 2 of 2
Taxes
| Option | Upper | Middle | Working | Raises 8 / 7 / 6 | 3-2-1 share-out (8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Flat tax | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 / 14 / 12 | 9 · 5 · 2 |
| B Proportional | 5 | 2 | 1 | 19 / 17 / 16 | 10 · 6 · 3 |
| C Progressive | 7 | 3 | 1 | 26 / 23 / 22 | 14 · 8 · 4 |
| D Maximum effort | 10 | 4 | 2 | 38 / 34 / 32 | 20 · 12 · 6 |
The 3-2-1 share-out
The votes rank the services: 1st, 2nd, 3rd. The purse is shared out in rounds of 3, 2 and 1 coins until nothing is left. Check after every round of coins: as soon as a fund reaches the level price, the service goes up. A service on level 5 passes its share to the next one. Services with no votes go last (the lowest level first), but they still receive coins.
Ties
Among those who voted, the player with the lowest Income on their card (and, if equal, the lower class) whose vote is among the tied options decides. If nobody votes, the previous round's tax is repeated.
End of round, in this order
- All three services on level 4 or above: Tension −1.
- From round 2: Tension +1 for each service on level 1.
- Rounds 3 and 6: obsolescence, all three services go down 1 level.
Opening pact: starting Tension
| Contributed in total | 8 pl. | 7 pl. | 6 pl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tension 1 | 20+ | 18+ | 15+ |
| Tension 2 | 17-19 | 15-17 | 13-14 |
| Tension 3 | 13-16 | 11-14 | 10-12 |
| Tension 4 | < 13 | < 11 | < 10 |
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Multinational CEO
per round
per round
Your salary is huge, but so is your lifestyle. High taxes really hurt you.
| Below 50 | −4 |
| Get By · 50 | 0 |
| Live Well · 57 | +8 |
| Thrive · 63 | +12 |
Specialist surgeon
per round
per round
You earn a lot thanks to a public health service that trained you. Will you remember it when you vote?
| Below 31 | −4 |
| Get By · 31 | 0 |
| Live Well · 37 | +8 |
| Thrive · 43 | +12 |
Small business owner
per round
per round
Neither rich nor poor: your vote often decides the game. Everyone will court you.
| Below 25 | −4 |
| Get By · 25 | 0 |
| Live Well · 29 | +8 |
| Thrive · 37 | +12 |
Secondary school teacher
per round
per round
You work in the public sector: you know what a well-funded school is worth.
| Below 14 | −4 |
| Get By · 14 | 0 |
| Live Well · 18 | +8 |
| Thrive · 25 | +12 |
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Office worker
per round
per round
You get to the end of the month, but with no cushion for the unexpected.
| Below 7 | −4 |
| Get By · 7 | 0 |
| Live Well · 10 | +8 |
| Thrive · 17 | +12 |
Precarious freelancer
per round
per round
You invoice little and pay your contributions every month, invoice or not. And no unemployment benefit.
| Below 19 | −4 |
| Get By · 19 | 0 |
| Live Well · 23 | +8 |
| Thrive · 31 | +12 |
Delivery rider
per round
per round
An accident without public health care would ruin you. You live day to day.
| Below 15 | −4 |
| Get By · 15 | 0 |
| Live Well · 19 | +8 |
| Thrive · 26 | +12 |
Student
per round
per round
You earn almost nothing. If Education falls, your future falls with it.
| Below 12 | −4 |
| Get By · 12 | 0 |
| Live Well · 15 | +8 |
| Thrive · 21 | +12 |
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Landlord
per round
per round
You live off rents. You do not work: you collect.
| Below 26 | −4 |
| Get By · 26 | 0 |
| Live Well · 40 | +8 |
| Thrive · 52 | +12 |
Nurse
per round
per round
A decent public salary. You look after others in everyone's health service.
| Below 35 | −4 |
| Get By · 35 | 0 |
| Live Well · 40 | +8 |
| Thrive · 44 | +12 |
Waiter
per round
per round
Temporary contract, split shifts, zero savings.
| Below 24 | −4 |
| Get By · 24 | 0 |
| Live Well · 28 | +8 |
| Thrive · 32 | +12 |
Serious illness
- Level 1-2
- You lose everything (token if you were already on 0).
- Level 3
- Nothing happens to you.
- Level 4-5
- Nothing happens to you.
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Your mother can no longer cope alone
- Level 1-2
- You lose half, rounded up, plus 2.
- Level 3
- You lose 2.
- Level 4-5
- You lose 2.
You hit rock bottom
- Level 1-2
- You lose 13; token if you can't pay.
- Level 3
- You lose 3.
- Level 4-5
- Nothing happens to you.
The waiting list
- Level 1-2
- You lose 11; token if you can't pay.
- Level 3
- You lose 1.
- Level 4-5
- You lose 1.
Eviction
- Level 1-2
- You lose 10; token if you can't pay.
- Level 3
- Nothing happens to you.
- Level 4-5
- Nothing happens to you.
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Nine months out of work
- Level 1-2
- You lose 12; token if you can't pay.
- Level 3
- You lose 2.
- Level 4-5
- You lose 2.
Your daughter is born
- Level 1-2
- You lose 11; token if you can't pay.
- Level 3
- You lose 1.
- Level 4-5
- You lose 1.
The inheritance
- Level 1-2
- You gain 8.
- Level 3
- You gain 2, and 4 coins go to the round 5 budget.
- Level 4-5
- You gain 2, and 4 coins go to the round 5 budget.
Your job becomes obsolete
- Level 1-2
- You move down a class.
- Level 3
- Nothing happens to you.
- Level 4-5
- You move up a class.
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Your daughter's degree
- Level 1-2
- You lose 6 and move down a class.
- Level 3
- You lose 5.
- Level 4-5
- Nothing happens to you.
The civil service exam
- Level 1-2
- You lose 7.
- Level 3
- You lose 2.
- Level 4-5
- You go down to 0 and move up a class.
Nothing happens to you
The country adds up to 5 or less: you lose 6 and Tension goes up by 1.
The country adds up to between 6 and 10: nothing happens to you.
The country adds up to 11 or more: you gain 2.
Economic boom
Everyone gets 2 extra coins when they are paid.
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Seasonal flu
If Health is at 2 or below, everyone's Cost of Living goes up by 2 this round.
Cost-of-living crisis
If Social Shield is at 2 or below, everyone's Cost of Living goes up by 2 this round.
The Midlife Crossroads
Halfway through life. No tax or budget vote this round: everyone gets paid and draws a Midlife card.
Tech breakthrough
If Education is at 3 or above, the middle and working classes earn 2 more Income for the rest of the game.
Cards · Tarot size (70 × 120 mm): they fit tarot sleeves. Print at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines; best on card.
Great storm
Tension goes up by 1. Also, if Health and Social Shield are both at 2 or below, everyone loses 3 coins when paid; otherwise, they lose 1.
Social peace
If Tension is at 3 or below, 15 coins are added to this round's budget.
The Legacy
The last round. When it ends, the final count.
Voting tokens
One row = one player's 7 tokens. Cut the rows, then each token. Print them on card so they do not show through when you vote. A-D: upper · middle · working.
Score sheet and log
Fill it in together. If Tension reached 10, there is no need: Failed State, nobody wins.
| Health | |
| Education | |
| Social Shield | |
| Total |
- Services: total × 2, for everyone
- Legacy: +5 for everyone if the total is 12 or more
- Final Tension: −2 for everyone if it is 5 to 7; −5 if it is 8 or 9
| # | Player | Final role | Gave to the pact | Money | Services | Legacy | Your life | Tokens | Tension | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| −4 / 0 / +8 / +12 | × −5 | 0 / −2 / −5 | ||||||||
| 1 | ||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||
| 5 | ||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||
| 7 | ||||||||||
| 8 |
Most points wins; a tie means a shared win. With the Legacy, the whole table wins as a country: say so out loud before naming the winner.
Game log
Fill it in as you go: it is the best crib sheet for the final discussion and for comparing with other tables.
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning tax (A-D) | — | |||||||
| Most-voted service | — | |||||||
| Tension at the end of the round | ||||||||
| New Exclusion tokens |
The final question
‘Look at your points. How many come from your own pocket, and how many from the country you have built together? Now look at the tax bill that hurt so much to pay.’