Material im Spiel:
3 street bends, 1 triangular central piece
3 double-sided game board pieces
104 alien artifact cards and 6 reference cards
6 game pieces in 6 colors (1 scoring marker and 5 tower cards)
60 security tokens
Number markers for trucks/trains
20 storage towers (5 each in 4 colors)
4 trucks and 4 trains
Area 51 is a card-driven strategy game. What is unusual and interesting in terms of gameplay is the multiple functions of the cards and the fact that activating a set of cards always leads to points for the other players. This creates a bit of a dilemma for the active player.
The author approached us back in 2010 because the game is part of the Runner edition, i.e. it was part of the author competition that was held at the time. However, due to the complexity and also the high costs of implementation, it took another 5 years until the game was released. The optimization process required many rounds of play and adjustments. The financing was ultimately achieved through crowdfunding at the Spieleschmiede. Also not insignificant was the fact that there were two graphic designers working on the game.
A mini expansion for Lignum that consists of 1 wooden disk in each player’s color and a special rules supplement. This expansion allows for more accurate planning.
Lignum is a demanding, multi-player product that leads from a basic game to advanced and expert play. The author sets it up for two to four timber contractors in the 19th century. With just four thalers, one lumber yard worker and one forestry worker, everyone has to make their lumber yard economically viable in two years.
The clever Ismail Ben Nafi, Caid (tribal chief) of the Chleuh Berbers who live on the northern edge of the Sahara, is concerned with two problems. For his daughter Fadua he is looking for a lovable and intelligent man who has both feet in life. The other problem lies with the predatory Glaoua roaming around again. You have to be prepared for attacks by these unloved neighbors.
This an expansion to the game Takamatsu. The green pagoda is placed on the lowest Shogun beside the game board, doubling the value of that card.
When taking foreign samurai with you, the following applies: If samurai of several colors are in the room, you have to take at least one other color with you. With 2 players this means: If one of the other player’s samurai is in the room, he has priority.
Additional game pieces are added that can be placed as markers on the drilling rigs. These mark particularly productive mining sites, i.e. these marked towers count twice (both negatively and positively) at the end of the game.
Atacama is a 2-player tactical game with no chance involved. While one player optimizes in rows, an opponent does so in columns. Each player has one resource that counts positively for him and one that counts negatively. Since this is the different raw material for each player, strong influences arise from the actions of the other player.