![\"Das](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/amulett_t.jpg\")
\n
\nThis relatively recent German offering includes many elements that I like: bidding,
\nvariable player powers, and fantasy. Well, the last element is really flavor only, as the
\ngame is rather abstract. Players collect gemstones – the first player to collect 7
\ndifferent ones (or ANY 8) wins. Similarly to “Die Kaufleute von
\nAmsterdam<\/a>” there is only one token on the map – whoever won the last bid can
\ndecide where it moves next. The board is divided into various areas with 2 different
\ngemstones initially (there are more than 7 different colors, with different total amounts
\nin each color), there are also “cities” with 3 different gemstones. All areas
\napart of cities have one metal symbol (there are 4 different metals of which each player
\ninitially receives one each). In these areas it is only possible to bid with this
\nspecific metal, only in the city can you use all 4. There are also areas with pyramids,
\nand areas close to the “big wall”. These areas grant you special abilities, if
\nyou have certain “power cards”.<\/p>\n
The power phase is the most interesting of the game: each player has a stock of 10 energy
\nmarkers that will either be “free” or bound to cards. As many power cards as
\nthere are players are drawn and auctioned off. The amount of energy that you pay not only
\nbeats the other players amount, it also defines how long you can use a card, as each
\nround one or two energy markers (depending on the strength of the power card) are removed
\n– if there are none left, the card ceases to function.<\/p>\n
Normally players will have from 2-4 “energized” power cards. Some of them let
\nyou draw specific metal cards each round, some of them make you select any metal card you
\nwant, some of them give you special bidding powers (for example forcing players to always
\nbid at least 2 higher than you), some of them let you take energy away, etc. The
\nabilities on the cards are varied and interesting, and basically through these cards the
\ngame is won.<\/p>\n
After the power bidding a number between 4 and 6 is drawn, this is the amount of
\nmovements the single pawn will make. At each stop the players bid their metal cards that
\nfit the area (it is very often possible to bid with ANY card – if you have, for example,
\na power card that allows you to do just that in a pyramid space, for example). The
\nhighest bidder takes the gem of her\/his choice. Then s\/he decides where the pawn will
\nmove next. It is very interesting to watch what gems other players have acquired so far,
\nas it is often possible to move the pawn to a space where the leading player (preferably)
\nwill get a gem s\/he already owns, thus making victory more difficult. But again, beware
\nof the power cards, as some of them can move gemstones on the map!<\/p>\n
The game is over pretty quickly, or rather more quickly than you wished for (“what,
\nalready? I wanted to win!”). It makes you want to play again immediately, which is
\nalways a good feature in a game. Probably not an evergreen, but a very nice and deep
\ngame, with elegant mechanics and nice material. I thoroughly recommend it, though
\nnon-gamers might have to get used to the rather nebulous fantasy theme.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![\"Drakon](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/drakonexp_t.jpg\")
\n
\nDiesmal zwang ich die Kollegen, das nicht so unglaublich gesch\u00e4tzte “Drakon<\/a>”
\ndoch noch einmal auszuprobieren, diesmal mit einer kleinen Regelvariante (geliehen von
\n“Carcassonne<\/a>“): Es liegen immer 3 Dungeon-Tiles offen aus: wenn man
\nnachzieht, w\u00e4hlt man sich ein Teil aus!<\/p>\n
Das hat 2 Vorteile: erstens besitze ich die erste Auflage des Spiels, sah aber nicht ein
\nnur wegen des Expansion-Sets die ZWEITE Auflage des Spiels zu kaufen (in der 2. Auflage
\nhaben die Dungeon-Tiles eine andere R\u00fcckseite, die nur mit der 2. Auflage kompatibel
\nsind, was ein normales “Ziehen” unm\u00f6glich macht). Zweitens kann man die gerade
\nausliegenden Dungeon-Teile noch mal Allen erkl\u00e4ren, was bei diesem zwar simplen, aber
\ndurch die vielen unterschiedlichen Effekte der R\u00e4ume doch recht un\u00fcbersichtlichen Spiel
\nnicht schlecht ist.<\/p>\n
![\"Drakon\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/drakoncov.jpg\")
Noch mal kurz worum es geht: 2-6 Abenteuer versuchen aus einem
\nDrachenverlies zu entkommen, das sie w\u00e4hrend des Spiels selber erstellen. Der erste
\nSpieler mit 5 Goldst\u00fccken gewinnt (anscheinend ist es nicht so wichtig, WIRKLICH dem
\nDungeon zu entkommen- “reich stirbt halt gl\u00fccklich”). Fast alle R\u00e4ume haben
\neinen bestimmten Effekt, der nur beim Betreten wirkt, man bekommt Geld, dreht R\u00e4ume,
\nteleportiert durch die Gegend, klaut anderen Geld, usw. (es gibt unglaublich viele
\nverschiedene R\u00e4ume). Mit dem Expansionset kommt noch ein lebendiger Drachencounter (der
\nbeim Betreten bestimmter R\u00e4ume durch die Gegend bewegt wird) hinzu, der vor allem andere
\nSpieler \u00e4rgert (go back to the beginning, lose 1 gold), au\u00dferdem ein gutes Dutzend neuer
\nRaumeffekte durch neue Tiles.<\/p>\n
Durch die oben beschriebene Regelvariante wurde das Spiel k\u00fcrzer und schmerzloser, und
\nder sonst stark empfundene “Kingmaker”-Effekt trat schw\u00e4cher als sonst zutage.
\nKein supertolles Spiel, aber mal ganz nett zwischendrin. Das Gl\u00fccksmoment sollte man
\nallerdings sehr hoch einsch\u00e4tzen!<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![\"Im](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/izdk_t.jpg\")
\n
\nThis predecessor of “Wallenstein<\/a>” also uses the “dice-tower”, an ingenious
\ndevice which serve as an interesting randomizer for combat. You throw in the wooden
\narmies of the enemy and your own armies at the same time – 50 percent will stay in the
\ntower and come out at a later time. Armies that DO come out are compared, higher total
\nwins. Foreign accidentally released armies will be transformed into reserve armies for
\nyou (i.e. “freed prisoners”). A surprisingly simple and fun system – ok, there
\nis luck, but it makes for much more fun than throwing dice…<\/p>\n
“Im Zeichen des Kreuzes” lets the players reenact the horrible crusades – as
\ncrusaders of varying reputation. The game is played on a map of the Mediterranean. Each
\ncrusader starts with a handful of armies and treasure chests in predetermined areas. The
\ngoal of the game is to reach Jerusalem, which, at the beginning of the game, is fortified
\nwith 15 armies (more will be added during the game). There are also two independent
\npirate and land armies each, which mostly serve as an annoyance for other players.<\/p>\n
Movement works through playing region cards: there are 3 sorts (mountain, plain and sea)
\nand a joker which can be used as any region. Some of the cards bear army or ship symbols
\n– these move the neutral armies. There are an abundant number of both Christian and
\nMuslim cities on the map, ready to be plundered. It is actually often equally good to
\nattack Christian cities, as the booty is the same, but the reputation will suffer
\nslightly (making you redraw less cards, which is bad). Christian cities also serve as
\nplaces to pray (gain reputation) or to hire new armies (with treasure chests, presumably
\nfrom the last ransacked town). Once a city is sacked, it is removed from the board and
\ncannot be used again. Certain event cards force you to never attack a certain city to
\ngain defined bonuses. After conquering a small number of Muslim cities it quickly becomes
\nyour duty to attack Jerusalem. Your first attacks will be hopelessly outnumbered, but the
\npope will give you new armies as a bonus, so next time you will be stronger. After
\nprobably 2 hours of play one player will be the first to conquer Jerusalem and win the
\ngame.<\/p>\n
Basically this is a racing game, not a war game. As battles mostly cost you the same
\nnumber of armies as you will gain through plunder, so you will try to reach your quota of
\nconquered Muslim cities and then proceed as quickly as possible to Jerusalem, to gain the
\nbonus armies for your first attacks (which usually end in losses).<\/p>\n
A light, not very deep game, which still manages to project a reasonably detailed
\n“historic” atmosphere. There are lots of opportunities for annoying the other
\nplayers, which adds to the fun. Combat can become repetitive, but is rather quick, so it
\ndoesn’t matter that much. It is also not important to win ALL battles – you have to
\nwin the RIGHT battle in the end. All in all this is a game that certainly will appear
\nagain on our table.<\/p>\n
But careful: Check if you have assembled the tower correctly before you start playing –
\nwe discovered we hadn’t in the middle of our game, and this forced us to stop playing
\nas many armies had become stuck in the rim and therefore created an unfair situation for
\nsome players without us knowing it!<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![\"Powerplay\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/powerplay_t.jpg\")
\n
\nThis is the German version of the excellent American card game “Slapshot<\/a>“,
\nwhich, slightly inspired by the black film comedy with the same name about ice hockey
\n(starring Paul Newman), became most known in it’s old Avalon
\nHill<\/a> edition.<\/p>\n
You won’t find a Paul Newman card, but rather an assortment of fantasy and parody
\ncharacters very removed from real ice hockey in the German version. Each player randomly
\ndraws a team of 3 attackers, 2 defenders and a goalie. Every turn each player has 3
\noptions: 1) exchange one player card for a randomly drawn card of the same type
\n(presumably in the hope of getting a better player). 2) Randomly steal a card of another
\nplayer and replace it with a card of your choice from your own hand (risky, but worth it
\nif the other player is known to have a strong team). 3) Challenge another players team
\n(you have to challenge each other player before challenging the same player again).<\/p>\n
Who can score 5 matches wins the game.<\/p>\n
Games (or rather battles) work a little like the card game “War” – Each player
\nselects a card secretly, the higher card scores a goal, with some special rules (goalies
\nalways stop attackers, or concede to the higher goalie, certain defenders have the
\nability to incapacitate the opponent’s card, forcing him to exchange the card after
\nthe game, etc.). There are even players with “special abilities”, like the
\n“Hydra”, which is stronger if played late in the game.<\/p>\n
All 6 cards are played and the higher scorer wins (sudden death continuation is
\npossible, if there is a draw). Card play is relatively random for the first 3 cards or
\nso, but becomes increasingly tactical, as you know what cards have been played and which
\nones not. Also, the other players will watch the game like hyenas – if a player is known
\nto have a weak team the others will certainly take advantage of that knowledge.<\/p>\n
All in all this is a really fun game – it plays quickly, uses at least parts of your
\nbrain that other games do not use, and it is also cheap. A true classic, especially as a
\nquick starter or light finishing game.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n
\n’nuff said: Aaron won!<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spielbericht 16.10.2002 Autor: Moritz am Tisch: Peter, Aaron, Walter, Andrea, Moritz auf dem Tisch: Das Amulett, Im Zeichen des Kreuzes, Drakon und Expansion Set, Powerplay, Bluff I was slightly worried about missing the European soccer championship game that evening (Germany against Faroer Islands), but that game apparently was so bad that we surely had better … Spielbericht 16.10.2002<\/span> weiterlesen