A few weeks ago, we discussed The Games People Play. On this episode of The Unadulterated BS Podcast, we are the people and the game is Public Assistance. Join us as we traverse the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade in this special podcast edition.
ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Welcome to a very special edition of The Unadulterated BS Podcast. On this episode, we welcome in our friends and past podcast guests Beth, Greg, Craig and Simple Nate as we go bouncing between the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade and the Working Person’s Rut in the game that asks “Why Bother Working for a Living?” On this episode, we sit down and play Public Assistance.
THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TAXPAYERS’ HARD-EARNED DOLLARS
This episode will be like none we have ever recorded. First of all, it’s a long podcast clocking in at over 90-minutes of gameplay. Second, we feature none of the normal segments that The Unadulterated BS Podcast is known for. Instead, this is a full 90-minute playing of Public Assistance.
Public Assistance is a board game created in 1980 by Hammerhead Enterprises, Inc. Needless to say, it’s politics are of a certain persuasion and you’ll hear that as we play. There are ideas and language in this game that are not the sort that’s heard often in 2018. So, be forewarned. We are playing the game precisely because it is offensive and to laugh at its expense.
For the gameplay, Brian will act as the custodian of the taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars while Melissa, Simple Nate, Craig and Greg will play this 2-4 player game. Beth steps in to help both the custodian and a few players throughout the 90-minutes.
There is an extensive rule reading in the early part of the recording. I know, despite reading them thoroughly, that we missed quite a few items. Feel free to send any glaring rules omissions to [email protected] and we’ll discuss them in upcoming podcasts.
PAYING THE TAX MAN
At the end of the night, we do have a winner. We won’t spoil it here in the podcast notes, but it’s an entertaining ride. Players gained and lost Illegitimate children to the Working Person’s Rut. Government jobs were claimed and lost by live-ins and spouses. Crimes were committed. Players engaged in prostitution, gambling, playing the lottery and either took advantage of the system or were taken advantage of by those on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade. Our winner managed to stay on the Able-Bodied Welfare Recipient Promenade for the bulk of the game and was able to escape tax-free. Other players were not so lucky. All-in-all, Public Assistance is a politically incorrect, complicated game with words printed too small on the game board and lots of different actions to keep track of. We actually had a pretty great time playing it.
Being that the game is almost impossible to find or extremely expensive if you do, we hope our play-through was able to give you a good enough peek at Public Assistance.
A special thank you to Robert who works with me at our day job for providing a copy of the game through his cousin. Without you, this episode wouldn’t exist.
We’ll be back with a regular episode of The Unadulterated BS Podcast next week!
Music In This Episode
“Rock Thing” by Creo is licensed under an Attribution License.
“March Madness” by Jahzzar is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike License.
“End Titles” by Lee Rosevere is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.
