Games Played: Instinct, Hare and Tortoise, Bucket King
Gamers: Mark, Chris, Rob, Sara, Chip
Sara and Mark started off playing Crash Team Racing (playstation 2). Mark was catching on quickly for a new player, but Sara showed him no mercy. Then Rob arrived with a game he picked up at a yard sale, so we started with that.
INSTINCT (0:55)
Chip: 50
Sara: 40
Mark: 30
Rob: 10
Instinct is a trick-taking game by Wizards of the Coast with references to the 5 colors of Magic. The similarities to the CCG end there, however, as Instinct is a trick taking game with 5 suits (1-12) and 6 identical trump cards. Players must follow suit, and the highest card in the suit lead (or the last trump, if any are played) takes the trick. Players bid on the number of tricks they anticipate taking, and certain bids offer bonus points.
The game is supposed to go until the first player scores 100 points, but we decided to call it quits when Chris arrived.
We came very close to playing Quip Qubes, a scrabble knock-off, until we discovered that it is a two-player (or two-team) game.
HARE AND TORTOISE (0:55 + 0:05 rules)
Chip: first
Chris: second
Rob: third
Sara: fourth
Mark: fifth
I decided early on that 4 squares (for 10 carrots) seemed like an optimal move, and stuck to it wherever I could. I didn't go on any of the rabbit squares because I was usually second or third, and didn't feel that the risk was worthwhile.
I thought that this was an interesting game with a cute theme. The choices are non-trivial, but the turns move fairly quickly. I'd be willing to play it again.
We came very close to playing Electronic Catchphrase, but we had technical difficulties. We decided to play one round of Bucket King with elimintation.
BUCKET KING (0:25)
Rob: first
Sara: second
Chris: third
Chip: fourth
Mark: fifth
We only had time for one round, so we decided to play until all but one player had been eliminated. The last two hands were particularly interesting. Sara had 2 buckets, and Rob and Chris each had a single bucket remaining. Sara led with three cards of a single color to eliminate Chris. Rob led a color that Sara didn't have, so she and Rob were each down to a single bucket Triumphantly, Sara put down three red cards for 14(?) points. Unfortunately for her, red was Rob's strongest suit. He countered with even more red cards to win the game.
I like this game with the "match to reverse direction" varient. This is the first time I've played with full elimination, and I think it works well for a short game.
posted by FlyingSheep @ 2:47 PM
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