Add Monopoly rules page, update UBK

papers/index.mdwn

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ These are papers I have written. Most of them were written to explain a
 concept to someone on woozle.  Hopefully other people will find them
 useful, too.
 
+* [How to make the game of Monopoly suck less](monopoly.html)
 * [Reply-To Munging Still Considered Harmful](reply-to-still-harmful.html)
 * [Converting .docx files to text using unzip and sed](docx.html)
 * [Introduction to TCP Sockets](sockets.html)

papers/monopoly.mdwn

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+Title: Making "Monopoly" suck less
+
+These are simple alternative rules for Monopoly which make the game
+more balanced and, as a result, more exciting and less hurtful.  No
+longer does every player know who will win after a few passes of "Go":
+it's anybody's game right up to the end.  Strategy becomes more
+important than luck.
+
+Rules to make Monopoly more fun
+-------------------------------
+
+1. Anyone who owns a property can begin building on it without needing
+   a Monopoly.
+2. To build, you must pay the money to the bank, and then roll above
+   8 on the dice.
+
+Granted this takes the monopoly aspect out of "Monopoly", but who
+cares if it allows you to again enjoy the board game you purchased?
+
+Questions I've been asked
+-------------------------
+
+* Can you hand over property that's built on?
+
+  It's up to you.  Since there's no rent advantage to obtaining a
+  monopoly (unless there are no houses on a property, in which case
+  rent doubles), there's much less incintive to engage in the sorts of
+  unbalanced trades one typically finds oneself making to stay in the
+  game.

src/ubk/index.mdwn

@@ -22,8 +22,19 @@ You can download the [source code](/~neale/gitweb.cgi?p=ubk) if you'd
 like it.
 
 
-Components
-----------
+Game Parts Required
+-------------------
+
+The Universal Boardgame Kit is designed to re-use pieces you already
+own, or can make yourself.
+
+* Some markers: coins, the pawns from commercial games like Cluedo or
+  Monopoly, or the printable "Chess Coins" provided above.  Some games
+  (like Pachesi) require multiple markers in the same group.
+* Many games require at least one 6-sided die.  Some require up to 6
+  dice.
+* A few games (Chess, Xiang Qi) are best played with chess pieces.
+  The "Chess Coins" board can be printed and cut out for this purpose.
 
 Putting (most of) your existing board game pieces into a single
 container is convenient and a good space-saver.  Many games consist of
@@ -32,17 +43,6 @@ large and otherwise useless box.  By using pieces you already own, most
 people will find they already have all the pieces they need for every
 game in the Universal Boardgame Kit.
 
-* Pieces:
-  * 10 each of 8 colors of gems. I used glass gems from a crafts
-    store--cheap in bulk, but a gaming store might sell smaller
-    quantities.
-  * 8 6-sided dice. These can cost up to 50¢
-    each, but you probably have other board games that can donate dice.
-  * 2 colors of token sets (10 tokens per set). These can be cut out
-    of a printed sheet, and glued to little wooden circles if you want
-    more depth to them.
-* Game boards
-
 
 Boards we should add
 --------------------

src/ubk/ubk.mk

@@ -7,5 +7,7 @@ UBK_PS = $(shell git --git-dir=$(UBK_GIT_DIR) ls-tree HEAD | awk '/ps$$/{print $
 UBK_PDF = $(patsubst %.ps,$(DESTDIR)/src/ubk/%.pdf,$(UBK_PS))
 TARGETS += $(UBK_PDF)
 
-$(DESTDIR)/src/ubk/%.pdf:
+$(DESTDIR)/src/ubk/%.pdf: $(UBK_GIT_DIR)/refs/heads/master
 	git --git-dir=$(UBK_GIT_DIR) show HEAD:$*.ps | ps2pdf - $@
+
+$(DESTDIR)/src/ubk/index.html: $(UBK_GIT_DIR)/refs/heads/master