Games Played

Games played

Himalaya

	author Régis Bonnessée
	sponsor Tilsit

Im Schatten des Kaisers

	author Ralf Burkert
	sponsor Hans im Glück

Louis XIV

	author Rüdiger Dorn
	sponsor ALEA

Das Zepter von Zavandor

	author Jens Drögemüller
	sponsor Lookout Games

Summary Himalaya

Each player is the chief of a Hymalayan high plateau tribe trying to extend his tribe's influence in the religious, political and economic spheres. The goal is to become the most proserous caravaneer in all of the Himalaya.

The players collect goods (salt, barley, tea, jade and gold), make offers to monasteries, send out delegations to different regions or bargain to increase their livestock.

The game is played in 12 turns representing the months in a year, resulting in a length between 60 and 90 minutes.

During play, each secretly plots his caravan's moves of up to six steps. Roads between cities are either dirt tracks, ice tracks or stone tracks. The action markers are likewise marked and have an additional hands symbol which allows you to program a transaction in a settlement. On the back is a sleeping yak which represents a pause in the action sequense. This programming phase is limited to one minute.

At the end of the game the winner (in a four-player game) is determined as follows: First, the player with the least religious influence is eliminated. Second, repeat with political influence. Third, repeat with economic influence. If need be, break any remaining ties by scoring the remaining stocks of resources.

The game seems inspired by various classics: Elfenland for the movement rules, Euphrat & Tigris for the multiple influence scores and the victory conditions, El Grande/San Marco for the regional influences, Roborally for the simultaneous turn "programming", etc.

Summary Im Schatten des Kaisers

Germany in the late middle ages! It is a time of flourishing cities, influential bishops, the powerful popes, and a pompous aristocracy. In such a volatile climate, no dynasty can remain in power for long.

Several aristocratic families seek to acquire the crown of the emperor. But this decision lies in the hands of the seven elector. 2–4 imperial candidates use their knights and cities, marry their barons, and work to influence the electors. But all efforts are useless if the candidate is not elected. But, in the shadow of the properly elected emperor are always those who want to displace him.

Summary Louis XIV

The game is about power and influence in the French court at the end of the 17th Century.
The 2-4 players 12 and up take on the roles of members of the Court, and have about 100 minutes in which to carry out their missions and goals at Versailles. By using cards and influence stones, they influence high-ranking Court attendants, such as the King's Mother or one of the countless Royal mistresses
.

Naturally, the Sun King himself has a special role here to.

An excellent time and a high level of tension are guaranteed. The final outcome is in doubt right up to the end. Each game is different. A change of pace but still a highly promising strategy game in the finest alea tradition, one which sits at level 5 on the Alea complexity scale.

Summary Das Zepter von Zavandor

The players represent young students of magic competing for the sceptre of Zavandor which gives the position of archmage. To achieve it, they have to accumulate enough magical power and knowledge.

In game terms, the sceptre is gained by accumulating the most victory points.

While victory points come from many sources (gems, artifacts, mastering knowledge, and sentinels), defeating the nine Sentinels (represented in the game by the auction process) provides the largest source.