Commons Game — Observer Instructions (Basic Variant)
Your Role
You are an observer. You do not play the game — your job is to watch, track, and take notes so you can share what you saw during the post-game class discussion.
Your observations are valuable. Players cannot see the resource bank (it is hidden behind a barrier) and they cannot talk to each other. You can.
What to Track
Pay attention to the following as the game progresses:
- Resource requests: Which player requests which resource, and how many cards they take (up to 3 per settlement, up to 6 per city).
- Request amounts: Do players take the maximum every time, or do some request fewer cards?
- Crashes: If a resource type hits 0 cards, it crashes and is unavailable for 12 player turns (3 full rounds). Track when crashes happen and which resources are affected.
- Bank trends: The bank starts with 30 cards (6 per resource type) and grows at the end of each round at a 3:1 ratio (1 card added for every 3 remaining). Is the bank growing or shrinking over time?
- General patterns: Is there an overall trend toward taking as much as possible, or do some players show restraint?
Suggested Tracking Sheet
Use a table like this (copy it onto paper or a spreadsheet):
| Round | Player (Color) | Resource Requested | Amount Taken | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red | Lumber | 3 | |
| 1 | Orange | Wheat | 2 | Took less than max |
| 1 | White | Brick | 3 | |
| … | … | … | … |
In the Notes column, record anything interesting: a resource running low, a crash, a player skipping a request, a visible reaction from a player, etc.
What NOT to Do
- Do not give advice to any player.
- Do not communicate resource levels, bank status, or any game information to players — verbally, in writing, or through gestures.
- Do not react visibly to the bank status. If a resource crashes, stay neutral. Players are not supposed to know the bank's condition.