Billabong Boardgamers - 9th June 1998

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I picked up this game yesterday and gave it to Janet as a gift. She reallyenjoyed her only game of it and often asked me to add it to the collection.I find it an interesting Knizia game, where information is revealed graduallyand always holds a suprise or two.

Our game tonight lasted 3 rounds, as I managed to sneak my score for thegreen bets (Big Ben's) into the 5 and above area and end the game on thethird round.

I'd been acknowledged the leader after the first two rounds with scoresof 6 and 5 on two tracks (any track with 4 or less counts for nothing atthe end of the game), and green was the only track that didn't have a markerabove 4 (preventing the game to finish).

On what was to be the last hand, Alan put a strong bid in for "7 or more"green. David and Julian protested that if it came off then I would win.Alan claimed that he was trying to lose a marker on a mad bet in order toregain his lost betting markers. I wasn't so sure... and I was holding thetwo "NO" cards for green, allowing me some power over that suit. I coveredthe "6 or more" green with my double bet marker (which only gave me 4 ifit came off - not enough to force the end).

The others started loading up green with the big ben cards, but didn't coverthe "5 or more" bet, worth one (I later realised they were out of bets).I gleefully claimed that spot and we had to discard a card, before playing ourfinal two cards each. I did some hard thinking, I had the two "NO" cards still, and there were 5 green cards out. I banked on two more appearing anddiscarded one "NO". I guessed right, as the final tally was 6 greens and Itook the 5 green points and the win, while denying the "7 or more" green bet.

If I sound pleased with myself, well, I am :) Scores were:

Doug: 19
Julian/Alan: 12
David: 6
Janet: 0

Doug's rating: 8

Adel Verflichtet

This 'classic' (those flames are getting warm already) has only seen one playsince I'd joined Billabong - and Julian had never played it. This game wouldhave to be the "hardest to explain, easiest to play" winner, as time and timeagain it gets blank stares as the rules are explained, yet one turn in andeverybody is an expert...

Our game saw the usual opening and closing of the gaps as we struggled forthe dining room table. Alan was protesting loudly that he was having bad luckyet was always in the lead!! Janet gots lots of unopposed advances, and hadgreat luck with her detective. She only exhibited three times, never losinga card, and took the game comfortably in the end. Positions were:

Janet: 8 from the last space,br> Julian: 3 spaces back,br> David: 5 spaces,br> Alan/Doug: 7 spaces,br>

Doug's rating: 7

A rule query came up that I'd like resolved, if anyone can help please ?I own the Avalon Hill version of this game, and the rules there for thievessay that higher thieves 'thieve' first at exhibits, and lower thieves go intogaol first (and thus are released earlier than higher thieves). By "higher"and "lower" I'm talking about the number on them.

David disagreed, and his rules indicated (not too clearly, a bit murky) thathigher thieves rob and go into gaol before lower thieves. Which is correct ?What does the German version say ? Any help is most appreciated.

Zankapfel

This was the second time I'd played this interesting game of apple farming,with the clever 'apple field' that varies the prices of the four types ofapple. This game was a bit of a blur to me as I was feeling a bit ill, butI do remember losing some battles early quite easily before comeing back inthe midgame. Janet had a dream run around the board, with little contentionin apple selling, while everyone else was battling their heads off :)

I had an opportunity to secure second place and end the game (Janet was wayway way ahead), so I deliberately lost a battle with her to end the game (Janetcompleted a lap) and gave me second position.

Scores were:

Janet: 1 lap Doug: 19 spaces behind David/Julian: 23 spaces behind Alan: 32 spaces behind

Rating: hmmmm, 6 or 7, but it's probably better than that...

Janet and I left at this point, I think Der Ausreisser was coming out ofthe shelf. Apologies this was brief, maybe the others can fill in some gaps.