Dynamo

2+ Players, 2+ Blinks, 5-10 Min.

In the far-off future year of 1902, our Steampunk world will run on the greatest of all inventions: the Dynamo.

Dynamos are powered by touch, but each charge only lasts about a second. If a Dynamo runs out of power before being recharged, it will burn out and die. Once activated, Dynamos must continue to be recharged by clicking them before they die out.

A Dynamo is single-clicked, flashing white and fading down to the filament

A fading Dynamo goes dark, then flashes its color brightly before entering a death state

Dynamo isn’t a single game, but a tool - a mechanism for playing games. Use it to play one of the 3 games included in this rule book. Try adding rules, bending or breaking the rules we've written, or try coming up with games of your own.  All that matters to your dynamo blink is that the lights stay on - it doesn't care much about what else you do with it!

Power Struggle

Dynamo power is scarce, and you must fight to keep the lights on.  The goal is simple: be the last person to keep your Dynamo alive and operational.

Setup

Distribute 1 Dynamo Blink to each player.  Players should place their Dynamos on a table or other flat surface, keeping a finger on their Dynamo at all times. Players can change the color of their Dynamo by double-clicking it.

Double-clicking a Dynamo in setup mode changes its filament color

Try playing with teams, or, for a more intense game, try playing without a flat surface.  But be careful! Dynamos are tough, but not unbreakable!

Gameplay

All players begin the game at the same time by activating their Dynamos with a single-click.

Your goal is to keep pressing your Dynamo to keep it alive... by any means necessary! Distract, tempt, bargain, and befuddle your opponents on your path to victory.

If your Dynamo dies, you’re knocked out of the round.

Win Condition

The winner of the round is the last player to keep their Dynamo alive and operational.

After a Dynamo dies, it can be reset for the next round with a double-click.  It will glow with a new randomized color to indicate that it's ready for play.

Bulb Juggler

You are a street-performer, and juggling Dynamos is your bread and butter.  Try to keep as many of your Dynamos  lit as you can without dropping one!

Setup

Gather Dynamo Blinks together into a group. Double press them to put them in the ready state, each with a random color gently pulsing.

You can also play with a friend by starting with one Dynamo and having them pass you additional bulbs while you play.

Gameplay

Start the round by single pressing any Dynamo.   As it starts to fade, continue to add more Dynamos to the game as you play, pressing their buttons to keep them alive.  If any of your Dynamos die the game has ended.

Win Condition

The game ends when at least one Dynamo dies.  Keep count of how many you can keep alive before any of their lights go out.

A cluster of Dynamos in setup mode, with the first Dynamo being activated

Electron Drift

Electron Drift  is a “hot potato” meets “egg toss” style game for 2 or more players, using Dynamo Blinks. Pass Dynamos back and forth, keeping the current flowing before losing the charge!

Setup

Players sit around a table or across from each other. Assign one Dynamo Blink to a starting player. For added complexity, try letting more than one player start with a Dynamo.

Gameplay

The starting player single presses their Dynamo to start the one second charge. Then  they pass the fading Dynamo either to the player next to them or across from them. Players continue to pass their Dynamos back and forth until one dies. The player responsible for letting the Dynamo die is eliminated from the game.

A Dynamo is activated and passed to the next player

The player nearest to the knocked out player may pick up the Dynamo, reset the charge with a double click, and pass it along to continue the game.

Win Condition

The game ends when only one player is left standing.  The last player to keep the Dynamo alive is the winner!

If only playing with 2 players, players may alternatively pass the Dynamo  back and forth, keeping track of how many passes they make before their Dynamo dies.