Equilibrium (Balance game)

This is a player-vs-player tabletop game where players buy unique physical pieces and build balancing structures.  players must pay a buy-in each round to build, and all buy-in money goes into a central pot. The
winner of the round takes the pot.

Core Idea
A competitive tabletop building game where players buy physical pieces and construct balancing towers. The goal is to outlast everyone else and win the central pot by being the last player standing.

Money & Pot System

• Piece purchases → Money goes to the bank

• Round buy-ins → Money goes into the central pot

• The pot grows every round from buy-ins.

• The last remaining player or tallest tower wins the pot.

Starting Setup (Per Player)

This is just a recommendation you can give players as much or as little money and pieces as you want this goes for all rules.

Starting Money:  $15 + 1 Re-do token

Starting Pieces: 5 total

• 1× Block

• 1× Cylinder

• 1× Thin Block (Domino)

• 1× Disk

• 1× L-shaped piece

Buy-In Rules

• Round 1 buy-in: $2 per player

• Increase each round: + $1

  • Round 2 = $3

  • Round 3 = $4

  • Round 4 = $5

  • etc.

• All buy-in money goes into the central pot.

• If a player can’t afford the buy-in:

  • They may sell pieces to other players or to the bank (for half value).

  • If they still can’t pay → they are eliminated.

Round Structure

1. Buy Phase

   • Players may buy new pieces from the bank.

   • Players may trade pieces with each other.

   • Players may sell pieces:

     • To other players (any price)

     • To the bank for half value

2. Buy-In Phase

   • Each player pays the current buy-in to play the round.

   • Buy-in money goes into the pot.

3. Building Phase

   • Players build a tower using any of their pieces.

   • No time limit.

   • A build-limit circle may be used to increase difficulty.

4. Failure Rules

   • If your structure collapses while building → you lose that round.

   • You still lose your buy-in.

   • Sabotage = instant forfeit.

5. Round End

   • The player with the tallest stable tower wins the round and collects the pot with any multipliers that may apply.

   • Special piece effects may activate.

   • The game continues until only one player remains.

Piece Types & Prices

Expensive Pieces (Easy / Low Risk)

• Block — $5

• Cylinder — $5

• Ring — $2

Cheap Pieces (Hard / High Risk)

• Thin Block (Domino) — $1

• Disk — $1

• L-shaped Piece — $2

Special Pieces

1. Ball – Pot Multiplier

   • Cost: $5

   • If used in a winning build, it multiplies the pot payout:

     • 1 ball = 1.5×

     • 2 balls = 2×

     • 3 balls = 2.5×

     • etc.

   • Extra money is paid by the house.

2. Bi-Pyramid (Octahedron) – Redo Token

   • Cost: $3

   • If successfully used in a build and survives the round without collapsing:

     • Player gets a redo token

   • A redo token allows one full rebuild after a collapse.

   • You do not need to win the round to activate it.

Win Condition

• Each round winner = tallest stable tower

• Game winner = last player standing