Don Quixote

Board game by Reinhard Staupe to be published in Spring 2010

It is known far and wide that the country gentleman Don Quixote has a very particularattachment to windmills and knights. So he is now not only attempting to provide his little principality with two fortresses, some churches, and orderly roads, but a complement of knights and windmills as well.

Each player has an identical set of 24 tiles and, in the course of the game, places these on designated fields of his (initially empty) principality. The fields are covered in the identical order for all players, so there’s an almost exactly level playing field.

Whichever player connects the fields of his principality the most ingeniously and protects his castles and borders with knights will receive the most points, emerge victorious, and perhaps even win the heart of fair Dulcinea one day…

PDF-Factsheet

Sticht oder nicht

Card game by Thomas Nezold to be published in Spring 2010

This is a classical card trick game, but with two innovative new ideas.

There are four piles of special cards. You reveal one random card of each pile. These cards will offer all players bonuses (or maluses!), e. g. for collecting cards of a given colour or the fewest tricks or similar. And these cards could decide if you play with a trump or not. Tricky: Only two of the four special cards will be chosen by some players, so in each game round two players have an important influence on the course of the game.

Another gimmick: You may use once per game round a unique +2/-2 card, giving you the possibility to change the value of a card played simultaneously. This let you beat even the highest trump card, but also avoid making a trick you don‘t want to gather.

Easy-to-learn rules, fast playing times.

PDF-Factsheet

Wampum

Card game by Jeffrey D. Allers to be published in Spring 2010

American Indians once made bands of shell beads in decorative patterns called „wampum“. The designs represented certain events and were used as gifts or as a currency for trade. During colonial times, European merchants also often traded for and with wampum, even amongst themselves.

In this game, players are merchants traveling to different villages in canoes, trading maize, tobacco, animal pelts, arms and fire-water in return for other wares or for wampum. The player with the most wampum at the end of the game wins.

PDF-Factsheet

Langfinger

Board game byChristian Fiore & Knut Happel published in October 2009

The night is setting in slowly on the city, but not all of its habitants are asleep. Under cover of darkness, several scoundrels are on their way to perform their big heist tonight. You are playing the role of one of these scoundrels on the hunt for gold and art treasures. Careful planning will let you make the big haul, but be sure not to miss the right moment to cash in your swag at a fence!

A cunning game of tactics with the popular worker placement game mechanic. Short playing time, easy-to-learn rules.

PDF-Factsheet
Rule Booklet

Eine Frage der Ähre

Board game by Jeffrey D. Allers published in March 2009

In the 19th century, the USA bought vast tracts of land west of the Mississippi. This farmland with its square and clearly partitioned fields was ideal for the settlers from the east, who soon turned this region into America’s Heartlands.
Players take on the roles of these settlers, developing their lands and building farms. Each cultivated field yields victory points; however, players need to decide round by round whether they actually want to collect these victory points. They might also forego these points and save up for a farm instead, which might yield even more victory points. Bonus tiles offer further options for strategic play.

PDF-Factsheet
Rule Booklet

Top Race

Classical racing game by Wolfgang Kramer in new luxurious version (already licensed for English and French language)

Kings & Things

Board game classic by Tom Wham (re-edition; already licensed for English language)

The magical land of Kadab has been plagued by incompetent warlocks who have permanently distorted the region. Now, the people are looking for a worthy successor to rule the land with a strong hand. And that ruler could be YOU!

Your task as a minor member of the landed gentry is to increase the size of your barony, and to get the over 200 inhabitants of the land to fight for your cause. Do not be astonished should your army consist of elves, dwarves, dragons, flying squirrels, dinosaurs, killer penguins, Eskimos, and a host of other creatures, all having their own special abilities!

The design of this fantasy classic has been completely redone. Acclaimed illustrators Claus Stephan and Martin Hoffmann have brought new freshness to the characters – while still retaining the spirit of Tom Wham’s original design.

PDF-Factsheet

Steel Driver

Railroad board game by Martin Wallace, published October 2009 (first edition by Warfrog published)

The name refers to the Legend of John Henry. He was a steel driver, someone who hammered blasting holes in solid rock with sharp steel spikes.

In Steel Driver each player represents an investment broker, handling massive capital sums that were available to be invested in the nascent American railway.

The players bid with investment cubes for control of railway companies. Control of these companies earns the players money. After the last of five game turns a final scoring phase is taking place. Now the final value of each railway company is determined. The winner is the player with the most cash at the end of the game.

Do you have what it takes to become the true “steel driver”?

PDF-Factsheet
Rule Booklet

Robotics

Board game about constructing robots, artwork by Michael Menzel

Rules (english)

Adios Amigos

Action card game

Somewhere in Mexico, rival gangs of desperados clash. To survive the inevitable shootout, you need to keep the coolest head and have the fastest trigger finger …

In this fast-paced card game, all players act simultaneously. They need to realize quickly which pistol counter allows them to shoot at which desperado, and then immediately pull the trigger. If you don’t forget to reload and have your stick of dynamite ready, chances are you may get rid of most of your rivals and be the last desperado standing.

Easy-to-learn rules and very short playing times make for excellent replay value.

PDF-Factsheet
Rule Booklet

Circus Maximus

Card game, selling tickets on the black market in the Ancient Rome (already licensed for English language)

Chariot races and gladiator fights – the spectators come in droves, roaring with delight. The prime seats next to the Caesar are hottest in demand. However, you do no get them for free – you need connections.

The black market is thriving! You will need to master the art of queue-jumping to get the best tickets and then be able to sell them with a profit. Who will be able to make the most money at the least expense in this tactical card game?

First, players send their black marketeers to the Caesar’s villa to gain the Caesar’s favor. After this, they vie with others in the Forum Romanum for the best tickets, which they then try to sell to well-off attendants in front of the Colosseum or the Circus Maximus.

PDF-Factsheet
Rule Booklet

Musketiere

Card game to be published in April 2009 (re-edition; already licensed for English language)

In the Queen’s service, the Musketeers are trying to acquire three valuable gems. However, the Cardinal and his dreaded Guard are out to sabotage their mission, leading to lots of duels between Musketeers and Guardsmen.

The most successful Musketeers will be awarded many ducats. Those who will be put behind lock and key, though, will remain empty-handed. The player who has amassed the largest amount of ducats after several rounds of play wins.

Musketeers won third place in 1990’s Hippodice game author contest and was originally published in 1991 by Hexagames. This new edition has been completely re-illustrated.

Easy-to-learn rules and short (even variable) playing times make for great entertainment.

PDF-Factsheet

Die Sterne stehen richtig

Francois Launet artwork, card laying game (already licensed for English language)

The Great Old Ones, bizarre gods from other worlds, were once the rulers of the Earth. Now they have been banished, languishing in their prisons. But when the stars are right, they will return and claim what was once theirs. Or so the story goes. In doing so, they are aided by a host of mad cultists.

The players take on the roles of these cultists. They try to move the stars in the heavens in such a way that the Great Old Ones will find their way back to Earth. But beware: The constellations shift more quickly than you might think, so that in the end the stars can be right for only one cultist.

This game has been lovingly illustrated by Goomi, aka François Launet, whose satirical Cthulhu characters have by now acquired fame due to his Unspeakable Vault of Doom comic books and Munchkin Cthulhu 3: The Unspeakable Vault.

PDF-Factsheet

Ochs & Esel

Card game classic, formerly known as "Einer ist immer der Esel" (already licensed for all languages except East and Southern Europe)

Kleine Helden 1

Fantasy card game (already licensed for Italian language)

They are the country’s cutest group of heroes, but also its most ruthless one. They give one another a run for their money.

Hire (Little) Heroes such as the orc, the warrior, or the fairy for your adventuring group. Equip them with weapons such as the chain whip or the two-handed sword. And once you’ve also given them some fi tting armor and items such as the gloves of deftness or a circlet of intuition, you are all set to go after the heroes of your fellow players. However, should these be accompanied by a witch able to summon a zombie or cast a lightning spell,

the tables might be quickly turned.

This is a fast-paced, action-heavy fantasy game that pits you against the adventuring groups of your fellow players. You win if your hero is the last one standing.

PDF-Factsheet

Kleine Helden 2: Verstärkung

Expansion for “Kleine Helden

The reinforcements have arrived! They number 120 new cards for the country’s cutest (and most ruthless) group of adventurers. Among these, you will find many new elements that will make game play even more fast-paced: special mission cards; runes; and non-player characters, such as the lovely princess or the mighty general. Of course, you will also find many new items, spells, and tactics cards. Eight new heroes, among them the gladiator and the she-centaur, make the game even more fun to play.

This game is an extension set for the basic game, Little Heroes. It is not a stand-alone game – you need the basic game!

PDF-Factsheet