Tag: Marked

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Catan Review

What were the player interactions?

Trading, Negotiating, Blocking

Was it fun?

Yes

How long did it take to learn?

15-20 min

Would you play it again?

Yes

Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.

  1. Setup and build initial settlements.
  2. Conflict starts to arise from resources and trading.
  3. The final starts when strategies start to unfold and someone wins the game

What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?

Trading resources and building / scoring

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

Metaphor for resource management and community building. The trading and building stand out to me.

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game reviews

anansi’s web of tricks

  1. the rules not being on the cards and having to look in the rules over and over again.
  2. it was like uno
  3. no
  4. no
  5. more cards, suits
  6. cultural, fun, trickster

word relay

  1. nothing was very frustrating.
  2. the fast pace.
  3. no
  4. more ways to get points to make it more even points wise.
  5. more points
  6. fast, fun, intuitive

dillon’s game

  1. knowing how to start and how the damage parts work
  2. i don’t think i had a favorite moment , maybe going into the negatives of stats for fun.
  3. no
  4. have more points possible for skills and have more health.
  5. how the damage system works.
  6. challenging, dnd, interesting
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JAM SESH and WORD RELAY

JAM SESH

Game Overview

In Jam Sesh, players collect musical notes and build chords to create a unique song. The player with the best song at the end of the game wins!

Components

  • Note Cards: 35 cards (5 of each note: C-1, D-2, E-3, F-4, G-5, A-6, B-7).
  • Chord Reference Cards: 15 cards showing examples of basic chords (e.g., C Major, D Minor, G7) that players can build using their collected notes.
  • Song Sheet: A sheet where players write down their collected notes and chords.
  • Dice: A six-sided die to determine actions.

Player Count

  • Players: 2 to 6 players.

Setup

  1. Shuffle the Note Cards and place them face down in a draw pile.
  2. Lay out the Chord Reference Cards face up for all players to see.
  3. Give each player a Song Sheet and a pencil.
  4. Decide on the number of rounds to play (e.g., 5 rounds).

How to Play

Starting the Round: Players take turns rolling the six-sided die and follow these actions based on the roll:

  • 1: Draw 1 Note Card.
  • 2: Draw 2 Note Cards.
  • 3: Trade 1 Note Card with another player.
  • 4: Discard 1 Note Card to draw 2 new Note Cards.
  • 5: Skip your turn and collect 2 Note Cards from the draw pile next round.
  • 6: Draw 2 Note Cards and then immediately discard 1 Note Card of your choice.

Collecting Notes and Building Chords

After drawing cards, players can add notes to their Song Sheet. Each note can only be added once per song. Players can also build chords using the notes they’ve collected by referring to the Chord Reference Cards.

Chord Building Example:

  • To build a C Major chord, a player needs to collect C-1, E-3, and G-5. They can write the chord on their Song Sheet as part of their song.

Creating a Song

After all rounds are complete, players create their songs using the collected notes and chords. They can write a title and describe the song’s theme or mood.

Scoring

At the end of the game, players share their songs. Scoring is based on:

  • Variety of Notes: 1 point for each unique note collected.
  • Chords Built: 2 points for each chord successfully built.
  • Creativity: 1 bonus point for a unique song title or theme.

The Game Ends..

The game ends when all of the note cards have been drawn!

Winning

The player with the most points at the end of the game wins!

Enjoy making music with Jam Sesh! 🎶

Word Relay

Game Overview 🪐

“Word Relay” is a team-based or single-player team word association game where players take turns saying words related to a specific category. The goal is to keep the relay going without repeating words or taking too long to respond.🏁

Number of Players 🔢♾️ 

  • 4 or more (can be played with larger groups)

Setup 🥱

  1. Divide into Teams(if needed) ➗: Split players into two or more teams. Each team should have at least two players.
  2. Category Cards ❓ : Prepare a set of category cards with various themes(Or use the 5 premade ones instead, this will affect the game time making it a shorter game), such as animals 🐸, food 🍱, movies 🎥, or countries 🇺🇸. Shuffle the cards and place them face down in a pile. (you have 5 minutes to make your cards if you dare 👹)
  3. Choose a Category 📄 : The first team draws a category card to determine the theme for the round.

Rules 📏

  1. Starting Player 1️⃣: Teams decide who will go first. The first player from Team A starts by saying a word related to the chosen category.
  2. Relay Turn 🔁 : The next player from Team B must respond within 8 seconds ⏱️ with a word that relates to the last word said. This continues back and forth between teams.
  3. No Repeats 🚫 : Players cannot repeat any word that has already been said in the current round.
  4. Time Limit ⏳ : If a player takes longer than 8 seconds ⏱️ to respond, their team loses a point.
  5. Challenge Rule 🟥🟦 : If a player believes that another player has said a word that doesn’t fit the category, they can challenge it. If the challenge is successful (determined by a vote or consensus), the challenged player’s team loses a point. If the challenge fails, the challenging team loses a point.
  6. Winning the Round  🎉 : The round continues until one team either fails to respond in time or repeats a word. The last team to give a word earns a point.

Points System 🌌

  1. Scoring Points:
    • Winning a Round 🎉 : When one team successfully gets the other team to fail to respond or repeat a word, they score 1 point.
    • Challenges 🟥🟦 : If a challenge is successful, the challenging team scores 1 point; if it fails, the challenged team loses 1 point.
    • Bonus Points 🤯 :
      • Creative Words 🧠 : Award an extra 1 point for unique or creative words (team votes).
      • Speed Round ⚡ : If a player responds in under 3 seconds, their team earns 1 bonus point.
  2. Losing Points 💔 :
    • If a player takes longer than 8 seconds ⏱️, their team loses 1 point.(womp womp)
    • If a team repeats a word, they also lose 1 point. (double womp womp)
  3. Tracking Points 🐾 : Keep a visible tally for each team to enhance competitiveness.

Winning the Game 🥳

  • Play until one team reaches a predetermined score of 10 points or play for a set duration (e.g., 15 minutes) and see which team has the most points at the end.

Enjoy playing “Word Relay” 🏎️

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Game Maker’s Play Test Notes Garden Glory

What Questions did your players have?

Where you you discard cards/tokens? What do all of the buffs do? Do the event cards carry over? Why are most of the plants summer cards?

How quickly did they learn to play?

They learned the game fairly quickly, reading through the rules once and refrencing it when they were confused

What confused players?

My old rules, The season tracker, turn structure.

What made players excited?

Trading(!), completing bundles, and using buffs.

What did your players enjoy doing?

I would say the players favorite part of the game play was the market phase where they could trade and sell their cards.

Did any aspect of the game frustrate players?

Players were confused at times, but never got frustrated. Perhaps some annoyance when they weren’t drawing the cards they needed for their bundles.

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Splendor Game Review

  1. Was it fun?

Splendor is definitely fun! It’s a game of strategy and resource management that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

  1. What were the player interactions?

Player interactions in Splendor are more about indirect competition. You’re all trying to collect the same resources and cards, so you have to keep an eye on what others are doing and plan accordingly.

  1. How long did it take to learn?

I already knew how to play, so a quick scan of the rules refreshed my memory.

  1. Would you play it again?

Absolutely! The game has a lot of replay value because of its strategic depth and the different approaches you can take to win.

  1. Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
  • Act 1 : Players start with a few resources and begin collecting gem tokens and development cards.
  • Act 2 : The competition heats up as players build their resource engines and vie for the most valuable cards and nobles.
  • Act 3 : The game ends when a player reaches 15 points, and everyone tallies their scores to determine the winner.
  1. What are the collaborative and/or competitive aspects of the game?

Splendor is primarily competitive. While there’s no direct conflict, you are constantly competing for the same resources and cards, which can lead to some tense moments as you race to complete your strategies.

  1. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics stand out?

The metaphor in Splendor is about being a Renaissance merchant, collecting gems and developing your trading network. Standout mechanics include:

  • Resource Management: Collecting and managing gem tokens to purchase development cards.
  • Engine Building: Creating a system where your cards generate more resources, allowing you to buy even more valuable cards.

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Bonanza (BEST GAME) Review

Absolutely! Bonanza is a super fun game, too! Here’s the lowdown:

  1. Was it fun?

Bonanza was hands down one of the best games I’ve played in a while! I would consider it more than fun 🙂

  1. What were the player interactions?

Players are constantly trading beans with each other, trying to get the best deals while also keeping an eye on what others might need.

  1. How long did it take to learn?

Learning Bonanza was pretty straightforward! We picked it up rather quickly.

  1. Would you play it again?

YES YES YES! The trading aspect makes it really dynamic, so I want to play again to try out different strategies and see how the game unfolds.

  1. Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
  • Act 1 : Players get their bean fields and start planting beans.
  • Act 2 : The trading begins, and players try to maximize their points by planting and harvesting beans.
  • Act 3 : The game ends when the bean deck runs out, and everyone counts their points to see who wins.
  1. What are the collaborative and/or competitive aspects of the game?

Bonanza has a competitive edge since everyone’s trying to score the most points, but there’s also a collaborative feel during the trading phase. You’ll find yourself negotiating and making deals, which can lead to some fun alliances! (Or some heated rivalries)

  1. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics stand out?

The metaphor in Bonanza is all about farming and managing resources. The standout mechanics include:

  • Trading: It really drives the interaction and strategy.
  • The fixed hand: You can’t rearrange your cards, which adds a layer of challenge to your decisions.

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Hanabi Game Review

1. Was it fun?

Hanabi is a super fun game! It’s all about teamwork and communication, which makes it really engaging, especially when you’re trying to figure out the best moves together.

  1. What were the player interactions?

Player interactions in Hanabi are crucial since you can’t see your own cards! You give clues to each other, trying to help your teammates figure out what cards they have while keeping the game moving.

  1. How long did it take to learn?

Learning Hanabi was pretty quick, as we understood the rules in about 5 minutes.

  1. Would you play it again?

Absolutely! Hanabi has a unique twist with its cooperative gameplay, so it’s definitely a game I want to play again. I would be interested to see how the gameplay might change with a different group, however.

  1. Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
  • Act 1 : Players receive their cards and start figuring out their hands without seeing their own cards.
  • Act 2 : The game progresses as players give clues and play cards, trying to build the fireworks without making mistakes.
  • Act 3 : The game ends when either all the fireworks are completed, or time runs out, leading to a tense finish as players hope they’ve done well.
  1. What are the collaborative and/or competitive aspects of the game?

You work together to create the best fireworks display. There’s no competition between players; it’s more about collective success or failure.

  1. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

The metaphor in Hanabi revolves around creating a beautiful fireworks show together. The standout mechanics include:

  • Clue-Giving: You can only give limited information, which really emphasizes teamwork.
  • Memory: Players need to remember the clues given to them, making it a fun mental challenge.

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Photosynthesis Game Review

  1. Was it fun?

I found this game fun for the most part. The unique theme of growing trees and the strategic depth it offers can be very appealing. However, the game requires careful planning and tactical decisions, which can be quite stressful rather than not.

  1. What were the player interactions?

Players compete for sunlight, which is crucial for growing their trees. The placement of trees can block sunlight from reaching other players’ trees, adding a layer of strategy and competition. Additionally, players need to anticipate and react to the moves of their opponents.

  1. How long did it take to learn?

It took our group one very long and hard read through the rules to understand how to play. .

  1. Would you play it again?

I found Photosynthesis to be enjoyable enough to play multiple times! The strategic depth and variability in each game make it replayable.

  1. Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
  • Act 1 Players start by placing their initial trees on the board. They learn the basic mechanics of collecting sunlight and growing trees.
  • Act 2 (As the game progresses, players start to compete more aggressively for sunlight. They strategically place and grow their trees while trying to block their opponents.
  • Act 3 The game reaches its climax as players harvest their largest trees for points. The final rounds are critical as players make their last moves to maximize their score and outmaneuver their opponents.
  1. What are the collaborative and/or competitive aspects of the game?

Photosynthesis is primarily a competitive game. Players compete for limited sunlight and space on the board. There is little to no collaboration, as each player aims to outscore the others by growing and harvesting their trees more effectively.

  1. What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?
  • Sunlight Collection: Players collect sunlight points based on the position and size of their trees.
  • Tree Growth: Players use sunlight points to grow their trees from seeds to large trees.
  • Blocking Sunlight: The strategic placement of trees can block sunlight from reaching other players’ trees, adding a competitive edge.

These mechanics highlight the game’s theme of growth and competition in nature.

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Jam Sesh Play Test Notes

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

Lack of diverse notes.


What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

All player’s songs being played at the end of the game.


Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

I wanted to stack my notes to create chords and be able to use both sharps and flats.


If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

Add more to the dice rolling aspect of the game, or even just go into more depth on the mechanics in the rules.


What should be improved with the next version?

I would love to see some work on the aesthetics of the game!


Describe the game in 3 words.

Musical, Funny, Luck

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Treasure Hunt Testing Notes

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

Lack of specific instructions within the rule book.


What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

The act of building the ships out of various wood pieces.


Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

I wanted to build my ships with my wood pieces closer together, but was told it wasn’t allowed.


If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

Player mats!!


What should be improved with the next version?

Create more detailed rules, and add player mats.


Describe the game in 3 words.

Competitive, Quick, Dexterous