Out & About Summer 2018

You are a band of wizards who have worked together to take down a dragon guarding a hoard of gold. But, struck by gold lust, you then turn your spells on each other. The board – which is the dragon’s cave – has the gold at one end and the cave mouth at the other. The aim is to finish closest to the gold at the end of a round to pick up five coins. The first player to collect 25 coins wins.

An oriental martial arts-themed game aimed at budding and experienced chess players. Players control four students and one master who have traveled to the ancient shrine of Onitama seeking enlightenment and to prove their martial mastery. The pieces are set up on a 5x5 grid, but, whereas chess assigns each piece a fixed movement, Onitama provides more flexibilty. Each player is dealt two of 16 move cards representing an animal spirit, which dictates where any piece can move on the

board, eg elephant form is a U shape. The first player moves any piece to a legal space on the board, based on one of their cards, which they then pass to the side and collect a fifth card waiting in the wings. Player two then chooses a move from their cards before passing it into the middle. They then collect the last card that player one played. This simple, yet complex, system offers tactical depth as you analyse your opponents moves and your own moves. Like chess, you aim to take your opponents’ pieces and capture their master, known as the way of the stone. An alternative path to victory is the way of the stream, whereby you have to move your master onto your opponents’ shrine. Pandemic Age 8+ / 2-4 players / Approximately 45 mins If you want something a bit more in-depth and tense, but relatively straightforward after a rules run-through, this is the must-own for boardgamers everywhere. One of the best ‘beat the game’ games out there, players must work together to contain and then eradicate four strains of virus that have broken out across the planet. Players assume a unique role within the team to find a cure for each virus by collecting cards and trading them in at research stations.

You cast spells that either advance you closer to the gold, fling your opponents back to the entrance, or just steal gold from them. The choice of spells are based on cards in front of you. When you’re ready, raise your fist in the air. When everyone is ready shout ROCK! PAPER! WIZARD! and shape your hand to match the corresponding spell on the card, eg a fireball is a closed fist pointed at another player, while levitation sees you make a thumbs up gesture. Encourages tactical thinking and offers entertaining, interesting and sometimes hilarious, situations. Love Letter Age 10+ / 2-4 players / Approximately 20 mins

Easy to learn and incredibly quick, a card game of risk, deduction and luck. Players attempt to smuggle their love letter to a princess locked away in the palace by relying on members of the court – they must evade detection while trying to knock out their opponents.

However, the game is working against you and each turn sees new cities become infected, causing a fresh outbreak if they aren’t treated quickly enough. There is one way to win Pandemic, but three ways to lose, so players must plan ahead and co-operate if the world is to stand any chance of surviving Many games run close to the wire and you get a real sense of satisfaction when your strategy prevails.

Each player is dealt a card. Player one receives an extra one and chooses which to play – the next player then draws a card from the pack and chooses which one to play, and so on, until one player is left. Cards represent characters in the court and each has a special ability. A priest, for instance, allows you to look at another player’s hand. Love Letter has won 11 awards and has spawned themed versions, including Batman and The Hobbit . Onitama Age 14+ / 2 players / Approximately 15 mins

All these games are available online and from specialist game shops – try www.hoylesonline.com in Oxford, or Waterstones can order them in.

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