\nHiebe<\/a><\/h2>\n
reviewed by Moritz Eggert<\/p>\n
\u201cKabale und Hiebe\u201d is a difficult to translate title, as it refers to a famous play
\nby German classic author Schiller called \u201cKabale und Liebe\u201d, which translates to
\n\u201cIntrigue and Love\u201d. By changing the first letter of the word \u201cLiebe\u201d to
\n\u201ch\u201d it becomes \u201cHiebe\u201d, though, and that means \u201cSlashes\u201d
\ninstead of love. Therefore the correct English translation of this title would be \u201cIntrigue
\nand Slashes\u201d.<\/p>\n
Sounds funny to you? Well, that\u2019s the magic of German humour for you.<\/p>\n
\u201cKabale und Hiebe\u201d is a very humorous game, though, and \u2013 unusual for a game
\nfrom \u201cHans im Glueck\u201d, it has a clear fantasy theme. No wonder, as the designer Lutz
\nStepponat is known for his richly themed fantasy games like \u201cReturn of the Heroes\u201d.
\nCurrently Stepponat is working on a more complex fantasy game called \u201cMidgard\u201d, based
\non the German role-playing game of the same name.<\/p>\n
But I digress \u2013 \u201cKabale und Hiebe\u201d might be one of the German games influenced
\nby American games, not the other way round as is more common. In fact we were all reminded during
\nour first game of the old Fantasy Flight game \u201cOrcz\u201d, where players place hidden orc
\nunits under scoring cards which then proceed to fight each other with special abilities. In
\n\u201cKabale und Hiebe\u201d there is an even wider array of special character cards that one can
\nplace under various scoring cards, which then…well proceed to fight each other with special
\nabilities.<\/p>\n
But we should also remember that \u201cOrcz\u201d on the other hand was heavily influenced by
\nthe light EURO-game \u201cCorruption\u201d by none other than Bruno Faidutti, which has players
\nplace secret mobsters under various mafia jobs which then proceed to fight each other…no, not
\nexactly, but there are similarities…<\/p>\n
![\"card\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen2\/kabaleuhiebe_b1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cKabale und Hiebe\u201d now gives us a huge noodle-soup of theme along with chopsticks.
\nYou see, each player has the same huge stack of character cards, each with unique special
\nabilities. Basically each card has a strength number, and is placed secretly under one of several
\nscoring cards that depend on the number of players. Each of these scoring cards also has a
\n\u201climit\u201d which says how many cards can be played under it. Although one can also
\ncontinue to play character cards under scoring cards that have already reached their limit, the
\nactual round ends when all scoring cards have reached the limit, a little like the end of the round
\nin \u201cTitan \u2013 The Arena\u201d.<\/p>\n
Now all cards are uncovered and the player who has the highest score from his characters gets
\nthe scoring card, and another round begins, until the scoring cards run out and the highest sum of
\nvictory points wins.<\/p>\n
So far so good \u2013 but I have already mentioned that theme and special abilities come
\naplenty here. You see: the first character under a scoring card is played secretly, but the second
\ncharacter who comes along uncovers the one played before him, a little like in
\n\u201cOrcz\u201d.<\/p>\n