BlueStarOpoly
BlueStarOpoly is a giant floor board game for large groups in which several teams roll dice at the same time and move their tokens around a board of 40 to 60 squares. About a quarter of the squares trigger a short team task that must be completed before the team may roll again. The game is published by playmeo (Mark Collard) and is used to mix and energise groups of 30 people or more.
Facilitation script
- 1
Form random teams of 8 to 12, hand out tokens, assign starting squares and introduce each team's helper.
5 min - 2
Explain the rules: roll, move, roll again on a plain square, complete the task on an activity square before rolling. Announce the time limit or the number of laps.
3 min - 3
Start all teams together and let the game run. Walk the board, keep the dice circulating and help any team that is stuck on a task.
30 min - 4
Call the end, name the team that got furthest and ask two or three teams which task they enjoyed most.
4 min - 5
If the game opens a longer event, have each team stay together for a one-minute exchange of names and roles before people move on.
3 min
Tips
The task list decides whether the game works.
Write tasks that need the whole team, take no equipment and can be judged at a glance, for example lining up by a given criterion, building a human shape, finding things the members have in common or performing a short chant.
Have more helpers than you think you need, because unsupervised teams skip tasks and the game turns into dice rolling.
Test the board size beforehand: tokens and feet from eight teams need far more room than a drawing suggests.
Common pitfalls
Tasks that take too long or need equipment: teams queue at activity squares and the pace of the whole game collapses
Too few helpers, so teams skip or rush tasks and the game loses its point of getting people to cooperate
A board that is too small for the number of teams, leading to crowding, trampled paper and lost tokens
Tasks that embarrass people or require physical contact, which pushes cautious participants to the edge of their team
Treating the result as a serious competition, so that arguments about rules replace the fun
Variations
For a conference, replace some of the playful tasks with content tasks such as agreeing a question for the next speaker. For smaller groups of 20 to 30, use teams of five or six and a board of about 30 squares. Without helpers, print each task on a numbered card placed face down at the edge of the room and let teams check themselves, accepting that some will cut corners. The published version comes with a ready-made task list that is only available to playmeo members; the examples here are our own.
Where it fits
When to use it
An event with 30 or more people needs a shared, loud, low-stakes activity early on
Participants come from different teams or sites and you want them to work with strangers in small units
You have a large hall, time to prepare and several helpers available
The programme has been heavy on sitting and listening and the group needs to move
You want an activity where nobody is singled out and effort is spread across a team
When not to use it
The group is under about 20 people: a Marshmallow Challenge or Human Bingo gives the same mixing with far less preparation
You have no helpers and no time to build the board, since the game depends on both
The venue is a tiered auditorium or a room full of fixed furniture with no open floor
The group includes people with limited mobility and the tasks cannot be adapted so that everyone can take part
The purpose of the session is serious reflection or a difficult announcement; a rowdy game beforehand will feel out of place
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
What is BlueStarOpoly?▾
BlueStarOpoly is a giant floor board game for large groups, published by playmeo. Teams of 8 to 12 roll dice simultaneously and move tokens around a board of 40 to 60 squares, and about a quarter of the squares require the team to complete a short task before rolling again. It is used as a large-group energiser and mixer.
How many people can play BlueStarOpoly?▾
It is designed for 30 people or more, split into teams of 8 to 12. Groups of 100 and above are possible if the board, the hall and the number of helpers grow with them. Below about 20 people the preparation is hard to justify.
How long does BlueStarOpoly take?▾
Play lasts 30 to 45 minutes, or until the first team completes an agreed number of laps. Add time beforehand to form teams and explain the rules. The larger cost is preparation: making the board, writing the task list and briefing helpers.
What kind of tasks go on the activity squares?▾
Short team tasks that take one to three minutes, need no equipment and can be confirmed by a helper at a glance. Examples are lining up in a given order, finding things everyone in the team has in common or creating a team pose. The original task list is part of playmeo's member material, so you need to write your own set.
Do you need helpers to run BlueStarOpoly?▾
Yes, for the standard version. Each helper supervises one or two teams, hands out the task when the team lands on an activity square and confirms it is done. Without them, teams tend to skip tasks and the game becomes a dice race.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from playmeo (Mark Collard).