Proposed Game of S.K.A.T.E. Rules

One issue with the game of SKATE is that the first player has a significant advantage by going first. In a random game where each trick has a 50% chance of being made (on offense and defense), the first skater will win 53.125% of the time. However, the advantage is MUCH greater when you consider the entire pool of skateboard tricks (thousands of flatground variations) which allows the "set" skater to select tricks with non-even odds, thus making it WAY more likely for a skater to be able to SKUNK another skater using specialized tricks.

To offset this advantage, both skaters should have equal opportunities. Below is a proposed set of updates to the current rules that would make the game more equitable and less dependent on the winner of Roshambeau. While it will increase the average length of games it will also add more suspense!

1. If Skater 1 receives SKATE before Skater 2, the game ends as usual since both skaters will have had equal turns.
2. If Skater 2 receives SKATE before Skater 1, the turn is handed over to Skater 2.
• Skater 2 now has a chance to bring Skater 1 to SKATE.
• If Skater 2 fails a trick before doing so, the game ends and is won by Skater 1.
• If Skater 2 successfully brings Skater 1 to SKATE, tieing the game, the turn is given back to Skater 1 and a new round of letters begins.
• After the first round, the second round (if reached) could have any number of letters. One possible suggestion is to extend the letters to SKATEBOARD, then SKATEBOARDING, etc. Alternatively, skaters could switch turns every 2 letters or adopt Mano O Mano rules where skaters alternate regardless of whether they make their offensive trick or not.

Roshambeau winner can decide whether to go first or second.