Long Shot: The Dice Game

To set up Long Shot: The Dice Game, place the central racetrack board in the middle of the table. Each player receives a personal dry-erase player board and a marker. Deal one secret starting horse card to each player, which gives them a hidden leg up on specific horse types before the race begins. Set all eight numbered and color-coded horses at the starting gate on the racetrack, and ensure the dice tray and dice are ready for play.

The main objective of the game is to accumulate the most money by the end of the race. Players achieve this by placing strategic bets on horses, purchasing horses mid-game for passive income and abilities, and utilizing concessions and jockey sets to boost their final cash total when the race concludes.

On a turn, the active player rolls the 8-sided horse die and the 6-sided movement die. The rolled horse moves forward by the number shown, and secondary movement triggers based on the horse's card. Then, every player takes one action related to that rolled horse, such as marking concessions, helmets, or jerseys, placing a bet, or buying the horse.

Scoring happens at the end of the game by tallying all player wealth. Players add their accumulated purse money, bonus money from jockey pairs, leftover cash, and payouts from their bets. Bet payouts are calculated by multiplying the player's wager on a horse by the specific multiplier associated with that horse's finishing position.

The game continues round by round until exactly three horses cross the blue finish line. Once the third horse finishes, the race concludes immediately. Players then move into final scoring, calculating their total cash from purses, bonuses, and bet multipliers to determine the winner.