:strip_icc()/pic1060523.jpg)
/pic803142.jpg)
For the "fighting monsters" half of this mutant game, we look to TSCHAK!, a trick-taking game of sorts from designer Dominique Ehrhard for 2-4 players that plays in 30-40 minutes. Each round in TSCHAK!, players will make three teams, each comprised of three characters from the ten cards in hand, to confront what awaits them on the three levels of a dungeon. Whoever has the strongest team collects treasure, earning positive points, while the weakest team gets attacked by a monster, costing points and making them feel like losers. After the three levels, each player will have one card in hand, and these cards are compared as well, with more gold to be gained.
At the end of a round, each player passes his hand left, which means that over multiple rounds of the game you will play with each set of adventurers, which means that every game will come out to a tie, right? No, of course not – you'll make better decisions that your opponents and scoop up all the treasure for yourself. I have faith in you.
:strip_icc()/pic1072614.jpg)
:strip_icc()/pic1072616.jpg)
Monsters and heroes
For the "candy" portion of this game we'll take inspiration from Bonbons, a memory game with a twist by newcomer Marc André for 2-6 players that takes 10-20 minutes to play. Mathieu Leyssenne, illustrator of Animalia and Jamaica, supplies the delectable artwork.
Eight types of candies, each in four colors, are hidden in the central 6x6 field on square tiles, along with four special tiles. Each player receives a set of four round tiles. On your turn, you try to pair one of your tiles with one from the center. When you succeed, both tiles stay face up. The first player to turn all of his tiles face-up wins.
Sounds familiar, yes? Well, the little twist is that on your turn you can also rob candies from your opponents if you can match them with candies from the center.
:strip_icc()/pic1072921.jpg)
Well, I don't know about you, but I'm heading down to the store to buy me some candy. At least there I'll know where to find what I'm looking for without having to fight monsters – although perhaps then I'd have enough energy to face the monsters and loot some more candy...
I just want to eat them – could they possibly taste as good as they look?
/pic1073685.jpg)
/pic1017479.jpg)
/pic1068166.png)
/pic1067469.jpg)
/pic1045316.jpg)
