Weed

Cannabis, also known as marijuana or marihuana, or ganja is a psychiatric medication extracted from the plant Cannabis sativa, or more often, Cannabis sativa subsp. indica. But that's not the topic...

I'm talking about card game that was released in 2002 and where players compete each other to grow the most pot plants. At the same time You have to watch out that others wouldn't go too far a head. Sending thieves, hippies, cops and weed-smoking monsters to each other's greenhouse players try to grow plants that would have the most THC (tetrahydrocannabinol - the magic stuff).

The quality of plants varies from one to six (only one six-pack in the box), but the greenhouse only houses five plants without alarming local authorities. And since removing plants from Your own field is always painful You have to consider very carefully which seeds You sow into ground.

Dandelions and Hippies are the most friendly screw-cards in the deck. Dandelions may also be one of the most depressing cards since it takes much room in Your greenhouse and getting rid of it might be a problem. But Hippie comes on Your field, settles down comfortably and starts smoking. Luckily he only takes what he needs - smokes only the lowest-value plant. Of course this might be a issue if You only have the hard stuff...

Cops and Robbers are a bit nastier cards. Cops take away Your most precious plant and skip Your next turn as You are writing an explanation why did You own narcotic substances... If only Estonian laws were so soft... Robber card allows another player take one of Your plant at his/her own choice. We still haven't figured out if dandelions may the the subject for robbery...

The last but not at all the least is the meanest card of the game - Potzilla. Evil weed-addicted field vermin who doesn't stop at nothing. Potzilla may smoke Your whole greenhouse with just one breath.

Even though the cards look like as someone had draw them while being rather drunk they match with the point of the game and enchant it further. The deck contains 54 cards (plus the rules), average play time might be about 30 minutes. Official number of players is 4 but I don't think anything bad would happen if someone sits for the fifth...

In 2006 new edition was released: Weed Deluxe. The number of weed-growers advanced to 8 and many new cards were introduced:

7/10

P.S. Game is not tested under the influence of the corresponding narcotic substance - haven't had a chance...

On the back of the box there is written: "This game is for fun and not meant to encourage drug use. Be smart and don't smoke pot. It's illegal for a reason." Go figure....

P.P.S. Oh-Yeah...Jon Lajoie has made up a new song...

Beowulf: The Movie Boardgame

There's been too long pause. When me and Andrius started this blog we hoped that at least one of us is nice and keeps up the good work... It seems that it didn't work... Well... Let's give it another try...

The game is published by Fantasy Flight Games and is developed by Reiner Knizia. It's one of those games where the best way of winning is screw on others. The cover may seem frightening but the game is rather nice. To be honest it's pretty good entertainment.

Game includes one two-sided gameboard (for 3 phases), lots of playing pieces and three different sort of tiles and bunch of "money." As I mentioned, game takes place in three phases - for each there's different tiles and board. There's only board of the second phase on the picture but the third peeks under the edge...

There are four different type of playing pieces: ships, fortresses, warriors and the hero Beowulf himself. On the base of every piece is their strength. The ship has 1 diamond, warrior has 3. It shows how many times you have to multiply the points the piece collects.

There are also many different kind of tiles. First of all are they grouped by color - in the first phase the gray ones are used, in the second yellow and in the third red ones... There are also numeric value on the tiles. This value is added (or subtracted) to the figures in the same row and column.

So the aim of the game is to get your figures into to rows and columns with the most bonus tiles and at the same time giving minus points to your enemies. It's not that simple as it seems since opponents try to do the same thing to you. There are also many tiles with special abilities. For example Good Counsel allows other player to move your figure from blissful pile of boons into the depth of perils (I exaggerate of course). Some tiles allow you to exchange other tiles (like mead and drunkenness tiles). Gorge may cut your way to many good boon tiles etc...

Beowulf is simple and fascinating game. Perfect for those who hasn't played at all... :)

Number of players: 2-4 ; Average playtime: 30-60 min