Cheese Riot Second Edition
Recommendations: 11
About the Project
I did a project in the past based on the Nottingham cheese riot of 1766. Since then its been suggested I run a few games for the public at the museum I work for. Because of this Ice given the old version a springclean. Tightened up the rules and improved the game for public consumption.
Related Genre: Historical
Related Contest: Spring Clean Hobby Challenge 2025
This Project is Active
Playtesting
We got a gang of my coworkers round a table go play the game and the suggestions came thick and fast with an enthusiasm I wasn't expecting. The game was very chaotic which lends itself to the riot theme. People became very competitive for the cheese but also when it came to violence between players.
The improved cards were very popular but because you only got a card if you role odds some players struggled to get any cards. They loved playing them but not enough entered play. So I need to think of an easier way ho obtain them. Maybe they start with some in their hand
The board lay out. 4 cheese stalls with butcher in the middle. Other areas are the malt cross which Dragoons can't enter. The Lincoln merchants wagon. The gin stand and stocks. One team ended up in the stocks early in the game and failed to get a card go escape. We thought maybe those captured have to spend a number of turns locked up instead 
The bar became popular when they realised they could get bottles to chuck at rivals
In fights we decided that melee that draw should roll to knock each other out. Dropped cheese should roll in a random direction as well.
The mayor turning up ho read the riot act was ignored. Perhaps if he had to cross the board and has to be stopped he would be more in play. If he's stopped the Dragoons fail to turn up as quick. In our game only two player minis were still on the board when the cavalry arrived. The Dragoons spell the end of the game. Within 2 turns they pacified the board.Refreshing minis and adding character
The problem I had last time I played the game was players weren't sure what minis were theirs when every mini is a civilian. Each team gets a young lad and female mini. I colour coordinated the rims of the stands so people know who is who
I need three buildings on one edge of my board do I took these from my collection and added some signage. Each sign is from something in Nottinghams history. Gaoler Bonington quit being a gaoler and opened a school and became an artist. Dr pigot was friends with byron and as an older man became hhe mayor and magistrate. He was arrested at ghe age of 70 when he pulled a gun on two bailiffs who entered his house. He counter prosecuted because they subdued him by hitting him with a poker. The case was dropped. Horses castle was a pub named after a Georgian bigamist and murderer.
Revisiting the Cheese Riot
A couple of years ago I completed my previous cheese riot project that charted the creation of a game designed to recreate the events in Nottingham in 1766 when cheese prices led to a couple of days of rioting. Cheese was stolen and rolled away, the mayor knocked down by a rolling cheese while appealing for calm. Dragoons were called in and a man was killed by friendly fire. All this took place in the Nottingham market square during the annual goose fair. In my game each team of players control a duo of minis representing the women and "rude boys" who historically took part in the looting. The aim is to take a cheese counter from as many market stalls as possible and get it off the table. Each stall is defended by an angry merchant who must be overcome before any chees can be taken. At some point the mayor will turn up and read the riot act and call in the dragoons to restore order. My original game was just for colleagues but now the public are going to be involved so Ive had a look at the rules that need to be made clear. 
My previous event cards were just hand drawn on bits of paper. I went back and got some images and a few shots with friends dressed up to recreate events from history or just likely funny incidents. The cards are played during the game to help or hinder players.
New improved cards. Ive added files for the simple rules for the game and the cards and what they do. If anyone wants to read through it and supply any feedback before it hits the public this summer I would welcome it. 
