JetLagAux game rules

JetLagAux is a location-based multiplayer game built around the lines of the Augsburg public-transit network (AVV). You ride real tram, bus, and train lines and claim each line for yourself by completing the longest single uninterrupted ride of all players on it.

Goal of the game

Collect as many AVV transit lines as possible. At any point in the game a line belongs to whichever player has the longest single completed trip on it (measured in stops). The player owning the most lines when the game ends wins. On a tie, the player with more total stops ridden takes first place; if those are equal too, multiple players share first place.

Setup

1. One player creates a new game by setting a name, password, start time, and end time. The interval in between is the active play phase during which trips are scored.
2. Everyone else opens the lobby, joins the game with the same password, and picks a player name. Each name can be used once per game; every player gets a unique colour automatically.
3. Joining is allowed during a running game. Once the configured end time is reached or an early end is triggered by majority vote, no further joins, trips, or trip edits are accepted.
4. There are no accounts and no central login. The session is stored locally in the browser.

Allowed vehicles & stops

• Only city buses, trams, and trains count for trips. Regional buses outside the city network, long-distance coaches, taxis, your own vehicle, and rental vehicles are not allowed.
• Only stops printed on the AVV network map are valid boarding and alighting points. Stops outside the network map cannot be used.
• You can open the AVV network map directly inside the app at any time during the game. Tap the map icon next to the timer to quickly look up lines, directions, or eligible stops.

How to play

1. Once the start time is reached, pick a line and a direction in the app and confirm your boarding stop at the actual stop. Only then is the trip considered open.
2. During the trip you actually ride the vehicle. When you get off, tap your destination stop in the app. The system computes the distance from boarding to alighting in stops and closes the trip.
3. If you change your mind or take a wrong turn, you can cancel an open trip at any time. Cancelled trips are removed completely and count for nothing.
4. Only one trip per player can be open at any given moment. Once your current trip is completed or cancelled, you can start the next one.
5. You can also delete completed trips of your own from "My trips" while the game is still running. A deleted trip retroactively no longer counts towards your line scores.

Scoring

• A trip counts every stop from boarding to alighting, including both endpoints. Example: boarding at stop 2 and getting off at stop 4 counts as three stops.
• For each line, only the longest single trip of a player counts; multiple trips are not summed. A shorter second trip never lowers your value, a longer one replaces it.
• A line belongs at any moment to the player with the highest record on it. Ownership only switches once another player strictly exceeds that number. On a tie, the previous owner keeps the line; whoever first hits a given length holds it until somebody beats them.
• Some lines have a different number of stops in each direction. The maximum reachable score for a line is defined by its longer direction, regardless of which direction you ride.
• A player may ride a line in both directions or repeat the same stretch. As long as the resulting single trip is longer than their previous best, it improves their record.

Special icons

Two icons in the line overview and the final results highlight special achievements:

• 👑 Gold crown next to the line owner: the player reached the maximum possible stop count on this line, meaning a full end-to-end ride along the longer direction. Such a line can no longer be taken from them.
• 👑 Gold crown in the "Lines per player" list: the player currently leads (or is tied for the lead) by the number of collected lines.

End of game

• The game ends automatically at the configured end time. From that moment on no trips can be started, completed, cancelled, or deleted any more.
• Players can vote for an early end at any time during the game. A two-thirds majority (rounded up) ends the game immediately. A vote that has been cast can be withdrawn at any time as long as the game is still running.
• After the game ends, the winner, the line distribution, and an interactive map of all routes are shown. The protocol section lets you expand each player to see their full trip log.

Tips

• Prefer lines that run irregularly or rarely. If nobody can ride them quickly again, your record on them holds longer.
• Watch out for lines whose two directions differ. It pays to know both, because one direction may have more stops and therefore a higher possible top score.
• It is not just about claiming new lines for yourself; equally important is "stealing" lines from other players. When you take someone else's line, you score a point and they lose one at the same time. A single good steal moves the table by two.
• You do not have to ride non-stop. Targeted single trips on strategically important lines can be more effective than constantly riding around.
• Watch the table. Lines with a crown (full end-to-end ride) cannot be taken any more; invest your time in lines whose current record can still be beaten.
• Many short trips and a few long ones each have their value. Many short trips put more lines on your account at once but are easier to steal. A few long ones are more robust but each only holds a single line.