Commons Game — Monitor Instructions (Ostrom Variant)
You are the Monitor. You have a special role: you watch the resource bank, track what players take, and deliver sanctions and rewards. You are also still a regular player trying to reach 8 victory points.
How You Were Chosen
You had the most victory points at the start of the Ostrom Variant. If there was a tie, the group voted. You keep this role for the duration of the Ostrom Variant.
Your Special Powers
- View the resource bank at any time. You can see how many cards remain for each of the 5 resource types (lumber, brick, wheat, wool, ore). The bank starts with 30 cards total — 6 per type.
- Track each player's resource requests. Keep a mental or written note of how much Red, Orange, White, and Blue are taking.
- Deliver sanctions and rewards to any player (including yourself) based on the agreed-upon rules.
Your Responsibilities
- Be fair and consistent. Apply the same rules to every player — including yourself.
- Report resource levels during Town Meetings. When a meeting is called, share general information about the bank (e.g., "Wheat is scarce," "Ore has crashed," "Lumber is healthy"). You do not need to give exact numbers — general status is enough.
- Apply sanctions and rewards immediately. When a player's behavior triggers a sanction or reward, deliver it right away — before that player can call a Town Meeting. The player must accept it.
- Respect the minimums. At least 2 sanctions and 2 rewards must be active at all times. You cannot waive this, and neither can a Town Meeting.
Your Vulnerability: Sue the Monitor
Any player can Sue the Monitor during a whole-group Town Meeting. They will state their case — for example:
- You sanctioned someone unfairly
- You refused to sanction yourself
- You rewarded someone without justification
All 4 players vote. If the majority votes against you, you must return 3 resource cards from your hand to the bank. If the vote is tied, you are not sued.
This keeps you accountable. Use your power wisely.