Dramatic elements give context to gameplay, overlaying and integrating the formal elements of the system into a meaningful experience. Basic dramatic elements, like challenge and play, are found in all games. More complicated dramatic techniques, like premise, character and story, are used in many games to explain and enhance the more abstract elements of the formal system, creating a deeper sense of connection for the players and enriching their overall experiences.

For today's lab assignment, you are going to play Battleship. Find a partner in the class, doesn't matter who, and grab a few sheets of blank paper and a couple of pencils. The game is a lot easier to play and manage if you use the entire sheet of paper. Reference the rules, below, to play the game. After you are finished playing though the game once, play the game two or three mores times until I prompt you to stop playing.

Rules of the Game

Battleship is a game for two players where you try to guess the location of five ships your opponent has hidden on a grid. Players take turns calling out a row and column, attempting to name a square containing enemy ships. Here's how you play:

Contents: Each player gets a board with two grids, five ships, and a bunch of hit and miss markers. (Alternatively, the game can be played with pencil and paper by drawing the grids.

Goal: To sink all of your opponent's ships by correctly guessing their location.

Setup

Give each player a board with two grids, one of each type of ship, and a bunch of hit and miss markers. Pen and paper players should note there is one length 2 ship, two length 3 ships, one length 4 ship, and one length 5 ship.

Secretly place your ships on the lower grid. Each ship must be placed horizontally or vertically (not diagonally) across grid spaces, and can't hang over the grid. Ships can touch each other, but can't both be on the same space.

Play

Players take turns firing a shot to attack enemy ships.

On your turn, call out a letter and a number of a row and column on the grid. Your opponent checks that space on their lower grid, and says "miss" if there are no ships there, or "hit" if you guessed a space that contained a ship.

Mark your shots on your upper grid, with white pegs for misses and red pegs for hits, to keep track of your guesses.

When one of your ships is hit, put a red peg into that ship on your lower grid at the location of the hit. Whenever one of your ships has every slot filled with red pegs, you must announce to your opponent that he has sunk your ship.

Victory: The first player to sink all opposing ships wins.

Check out these awesome learning resources! I've collected a number of assets that I think will help you conquer this week's homework and laboratory assignment. Please download the following materials to your local hard disk or flash storage device (AKA thumb drive).