\n– The Hundred Years War<\/a><\/h2>\n
reviewed by Moritz Eggert<\/i><\/p>\n
Out of the blue (or out of a sunny river, one might say) comes a very enjoyable card
\ngame that probably also rides on the wave of the recent poker revival, but is so much
\nmore\u2026.<\/p>\n
As any poker player will attest, poker is very often battle-like in structure. Like
\nZhukov or Patton or Wallenstein you let the enemy in doubt about your actual strength,
\nand when it’s time to strike you reveal your full power. Some give up before it comes
\nto this moment, and some bluff their way to victory and some win with a simple pair,
\ncomparable to the victory of the 300 Spartans.<\/p>\n
The Hundred Years War is the perfect setting for a battle-like poker game, as it was a
\ntime of constant upheaval, short periods of peace followed by another outbreak of
\nviolence. A series of battles is played to complete a full game of “Havoc”;
\neach battle gives different amounts of victory points to the victor and the players on
\n2nd or 3rd or even 4th place, while giving additional benefits to the player who actually
\nstarted the war (usually drawing more cards than anybody else). The player cards are
\nnumbered 1-18 (when playing with less players the number of cards will be reduced) and
\ncome in different colours and with beautiful illustrations taken from original art from
\nthe time period of the game.<\/p>\n
After the “peacekeeper” (or starting player) is determined by an ingenious
\ndevice, a rotating finger that soon will be geek item no.1, players take turns either
\ntaking cards from the pile (a selection of open and face-down cards) or declaring
\n“havoc” and starting a poker battle round. The problem is that the longer peace
\nendures the more the peacekeeper will profit from it, as he will keep his cards after two
\n![\"cards\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen2\/havoc_b1.jpg\")
full turns, whereas the other players have to discard one of their cards in
\nhand. The battle card will then be discarded (if there’s peace there is no battle,
\nobviously). But this happens rarely, more likely the cry of “havoc” is heard at
\nsome point and the game of poker begins. Each player now has to place two of his cards on
\nthe table or pass, if s\/he passes, s\/he can take two cards but is out of the round. If
\nyou stay in the game you have to play another card in front of you (up to a maximum of 6)
\nor fold. All cards played are lost\u2026 usually, but there are also “dogs of
\nwar” cards, which prove to be very useful. They can either retrieve cards played in
\na battle (up to a maximum of 2) or be part of a winning hand (number 0). They also help
\nwhen drawing cards – two dogs can be exchanged for any card in the discard pile, and one
\ndog can be exchanged for any open card.<\/p>\n
![\"cards\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen2\/havoc_b3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The rank of a played hand follows standard poker rules with 6 cards, first come pairs,
\nthen simple flushes, then triples etc., up to a 6 card straight flush, the best combo.
\nAlthough 6 cards are the limit that one can play in a battle, additional dogs of war can
\nbe played to increase the number of cards up to 8, theoretically.<\/p>\n
After the battle the victors get the spoils of war and a new round begins, with the
\nwinner of the battle becoming the new peacekeeper. The final battle is a special affair,
\nas it begins directly after the last battle, with only limited ways to improve your hand.
\nNot surprisingly the final battle gives the most VP’s as well\u2026<\/p>\n