Monday, August 10, 2009

6Nimmt!

The Basics
There are 104 cards numbered from 1 to 104. Every card has at least 1 small flag on it, which will score against you. The deck is shuffled and players are dealt 10 cards each. 4 more are dealt up on the table to form the start of 4 rows.
When each player has chosen a card from their hand, these are revealed and put on the ends of the rows according to simple rules.

As the rows get longer, a row with 5 cards in it is full. If your card is to be the 6th, you pick up the 5 cards in the row, and your 6th card goes to the front to restart the row. The cards you pick up do not go into your hand, but sit in front of you to score against you at the end of the round. Play rounds until someone hits 74 (the minimum speed of a hurricane) and the lowest score wins.

The game plays from 2 to 10 players and the dynamics change the more you have. Whilst luck of the draw has effect, there are some tactics you can apply and timing your choice makes a difference.

As a slight rule difference between 6 Nimmt! and Category 5, 6 Nimmt! ends when one player has a score greater than 66, and Category 5 ends when one player has a score greater than 74.

The new version is called Slide 5.


How to Play
Where to Play Online
Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)
  • Not needed
Game Hints
Views
  • Opinion: I enjoyed this game as a filler.
  • Online: Works fine online, and a great way to learn the game.
  • Work: Real quick play time, could be played multiple times after lunch.
  • Home: A good family game, probably a good math game for little kids.

Other Info
  • Plays best with: Works fine with 2-10 players, best with 4-8 (others say 4-10).
  • Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn.
  • Spouse Suitability: Chrissy has played this, and thinks its very easy (and random).
  • Re-playability: It doesn't see table action, except as a filler.
  • Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just shuffle the cards and deal
  • Real Life Time/Length: 30 minutes (less if you play online, or with fewer rounds).
  • Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/432
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Sunday, August 09, 2009

Pico 2

The Basics
Description: The game is composed of 11 cards. These are numbered 4 through 13 plus 16 and each also bears a number of "pips". (From one on the 4 card to four on the 16 card.) A round is played as follows: each player is dealt 5 cards with the eleventh card discarded face-up. (Note that this means that you know exactly what cards your opponent holds.) Each turn both you and your opponent secretly select one of their respective cards and reveal them simultaneously. The higher card wins and that player sets that card aside scoring the number of pips on it. The loser retains his/her played card. However, if the higher card is more than twice the lower card then it's the lower card that is placed aside and scored. So the 13 will beat the 10 but lose to the 6. Play continues until one player is left with but a single card. Points are then scored and, here's the clever bit, players swap hands and do it again. This ensures that each game is exactly fair as both players will have equal opportunity to play a strong/weak hand. After these two rounds the points are totaled and a winner declared. There are, at most, fourteen card plays in a game and so the game is usually over in two or three minutes.

How to Play
Where to Play Online

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)
  • Not Needed
Game Hints
  • Not Needed: Plays like your a mind reader
Views
  • Opinion: I enjoyed this game.
  • Online: Works fine online.
  • Work: Very quick filler for lunch time.
  • Home: Could be a good family game.
Other Info

Plays best with: Its a two player game, but works fine online against AI.
Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn.
Spouse Suitability: Chrissy liked it as a filler.
Re-playability: It doesn't see table action, but does see online action.
Real Life Setup: A few seconds of card shuffling.
Real Life Time/Length: 5 minutes.
Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/606
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Saturday, August 08, 2009

Red November

The Basics
Description: Red November is a cooperative game in a gnomish attack submarine where everything is going wrong. The sub is descending and the water pressure increasing, the nuclear reactor is overheating, the nuclear missile launchers are pre-igniting, fires and water leaks are everywhere, there's a giant Kraken looming nearby and there’s very little oxygen and vodka left. While the storyline feels more and more like a disaster movie, the players must get organized to solve the problems, divide the tasks among themselves to minimize the risks, and sometimes accept to sacrifice themselves for the common cause.

The game is played on the map of the submarine. The conditions in the submarine are represented by three disaster tracks: Asphyxiation, Heat and Pressure. During the game, these conditions get worse, and if anyone of them reaches its maximum value, the submarine is lost. In addition, various emergencies can occur which have to be dealt with swiftly, or they'll also lead to the loss of the submarine.

Each turn, a player can move to a new location, and perform some action there. Such an action can be repairs (which will improve conditions on the sub and/or fix emergencies), removing obstacles (unblocking hatches, removing flooding or extinguishing fires) or stocking up on equipment (which will help with later actions). Each action is paid for with time. The more time a player spends on an action, the greater the chance of success. After each player's turn, a number of events will happen; the more time was spent, the more events will occur. Such events will be the worsening of conditions in the submarine, or the triggering of emergencies.

If the Gnomes can keep alive long enough, rescue will arrive and the game is won.

How to Play Where to Play

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

Game Hints
  • Basic Strategy: Have not played it enough to give you any.
  • My Tips: Have not played it enough to give you any.
Views
  • Opinion: I enjoyed this game the first time I played it at Unity Games. It is an easy game to learn (either through Mark or via the YouTube videos). It is a cooperative game, so I would recommend playing this with folks you like. I can teach it and go over it at lunch time or at the house.
  • Online: Works fine on the PC, more of a teaching tool (IMHO).
  • Work: Will be long for lunch.
  • Home: Great game for the family.

Other Info

  • Plays best with: Works fine with 3-8 players, best with 4 or 5 (IMHO).
  • Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, might take a round or two to grasp.
  • Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played this yet.
  • Re-playability: If your into short Co-op games, this would fit the bill.
  • Real Life Setup: A few minutes, of sorting cards and tiles. Putting it back in the box is the real issue.
  • Real Life Time/Length: 50-60 minutes.
  • Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36946
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