Branches & Twigs & Thorns: Difference between revisions
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stashes = 1 per player |
sets = 5|
other_equip = Chessboard,
setup_time= 1 minute |
playing_time=??? |
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==Summary==
In '''Branches & Twigs & Thorns''', you are growing your plant organism, claiming new territory with each turn by branching out in all different directions. Choose your placement wisely and you may get others to branch off of you — and pay you handsomely for the privilege.
'''Branches & Twigs & Thorns''' (AKA ''BTT'' and formerly known as ''Barsoomite Go'') is [[Andrew Plotkin]]'s refined version of [[Martian Go]], tweaked to produce fewer tied games and a bit less of a first-mover advantage. ▼
==Materials==
*Board (exact layout of the board depends on number of players
*15 pyramids in a [[Stash]] for each player, each in a distinct color
*Small tokens to represent the root (must fit on a chessboard square)
*Small tokens to represent the null (must fit on a chessboard square)
*Coins
==Setup==
:[[Branches & Twigs & Thorns#2-Player Setup|2 players]]
:[[Branches & Twigs & Thorns#3-Player Setup|3 players]]
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==Rules==
In general, players take turns placing their pyramids lying down on the squares of a chessboard until the board is full. Points are distributed based on what direction their pyramids point.
<br>
First, players place the Root or Null tokens they have been given, proceeding in player order. From then on, players take turns placing their pyramids in empty squares on the board until it is full.
*the root (for free)
*their own color (for free)
*an opponent's color (for a penalty)
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The game ends when the board is full. Whoever has the most coins wins.
[[Image:2-player_finished_gameV4.svg|thumb|none|750px|''<big>Finished game. Purple wins with the most coins.</big>'']]
==Setup==
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([[User:Cerulean|Cerulean]] observes that a 7 x 7 square board is also good for three players, with two nulls and two roots. That version is not shown here.)
[[Image:3-player_board_raster_Eeyore_Chess_Wedge_setupV2-01.svg|thumb|none|750px|Beginning materials distribution for a three-player game. The roots can be placed next to each other, but don't have to be.]]
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::That's it for setup! Go back up to the [[Branches & Twigs & Thorns#Rules|Rules]]
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Board needed: a chessboard or 8×8 grid.
[[Image:4-
<br>
::That's it for setup! Go back up to the [[Branches & Twigs & Thorns#Rules|Rules]]
===5-Player Setup===
Board needed: Five diamond-shaped sections of Eeyore's [[Chessboard_wedge|chessboard wedges]]. The overall board is shaped like a PacMan.
[[Image:5-player_game_Setup_with_rasterized_board-v6-01.svg|thumb|none|750px|Setup for 5 players. The first two players receive nulls to place. The next three receive roots to place.]]
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::That's it for setup! Go back up to the [[Branches & Twigs & Thorns#Rules|Rules]]
===6-Player Setup===
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[[Image:6-player_game_Setup_Branches_and_Twigs_and_Thorns.svg|thumb|none|750px|In a six-player game, the first three players receive null tokens to place (represented by the orange dice) and the next three players receive root tokens (the green dice).]]
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::That's it for setup! Go back up to the [[Branches & Twigs & Thorns#Rules|Rules]]
==Trivia==
*The game is also known as ''BTT''.
*The game was formerly known as ''Barsoomite Go''.
▲
==Additional Languages==
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* Official Rules site: [http://www.eblong.com/zarf/barsoom-go.html http://www.eblong.com/zarf/barsoom-go.html]
* This game
[[Category:Abstract]]
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Latest revision as of 21:09, 13 May 2024
Branches & Twigs & Thorns | ||
---|---|---|
Andrew Plotkin | ||
Players build branching tree structures from a root, trying to always branch from their own pieces, not their opponent's. | ||
Players: | 2 - 4 | |
Length: | unknown | |
Complexity: | Medium | |
Trios per color: | 5 | |
Number of colors: | 1 per player | |
- - - - - - Other equipment - - - - - - | ||
Chessboard, tokens, coins | ||
Setup time: | 1 minute | |
Strategy depth: | Medium | |
Random chance: | None | |
Theme: | Horticulture | |
BGG Link: | Branches and Twigs and Thorns | |
Status: Complete (v1.0), Year released: 2002 | ||
Summary Edit
In Branches & Twigs & Thorns, you are growing your plant organism, claiming new territory with each turn by branching out in all different directions. Choose your placement wisely and you may get others to branch off of you — and pay you handsomely for the privilege.
Materials Edit
- Board (exact layout of the board depends on number of players — see your specific player count below)
- 15 pyramids in a Stash for each player, each in a distinct color
- Small tokens to represent the root (must fit on a chessboard square)
- Small tokens to represent the null (must fit on a chessboard square)
- Coins to be used as points, at least five coins per player.
Setup Edit
Each player receives one Stash of pyramids, five coins, and a token representing either a null or a root. Specific setup differs substantially depending on the number of players. How many players will be involved?
Rules Edit
In general, players take turns placing their pyramids lying down on the squares of a chessboard until the board is full. Points are distributed based on what direction their pyramids point. Although Branches & Twigs & Thorns is based on Martian Go, these rules are written so that someone with no prior experience with Martian Go can learn this game. They are written in the format of an example two-player game, which will teach you the game regardless of how many players will participate. The rules after setup are the same for all player-counts.
First, players place the Root or Null tokens they have been given, proceeding in player order. From then on, players take turns placing their pyramids in empty squares on the board until it is full. Pyramids added to the board must be orthogonally connected to, and point at, one of these:
- the root (for free)
- their own color (for free)
- an opponent's color (for a penalty)
Penalties Edit
When your pyramid points at an opponent's pyramid, you must pay penalties in two ways. Look at the size of the opponent's piece. That's how many coins you pay to the pot. The size of the piece you just placed determines how many coins you must pay to your opponent. The blue player would like to point at the smallest possible piece, and so pay the smallest penalty to the pot. However, the purple player has no small pyramids available to point at. So Blue has to settle for pointing at a medium piece with the smallest pyramid he has. He pays two coins to the pot for pointing at a two-pip pyramid, and one coin to his opponent for using a one-pip pyramid to do it.
If a player runs out of coins but still needs to pay, everyone, including the player who just ran out of coins, takes five more coins from the pot. This is fair because only relative scores matter.
End Game Edit
The game ends when the board is full. Whoever has the most coins wins.
Setup Edit
2-Player Setup Edit
Board needed: an 8×4 grid, or a chessboard with half the squares covered up.
Player 1 takes the null token and places it, then Player 2 takes the root token and places it.
- That's it for setup! Go back up to the Rules
3-Player Setup Edit
Board needed: Three diamond-shaped wedges of Eeyore's chessboard wedges. The overall board is triangular. (Cerulean observes that a 7 x 7 square board is also good for three players, with two nulls and two roots. That version is not shown here.)
- That's it for setup! Go back up to the Rules
4-Player Setup Edit
Board needed: a chessboard or 8×8 grid.
- That's it for setup! Go back up to the Rules
5-Player Setup Edit
Board needed: Five diamond-shaped sections of Eeyore's chessboard wedges. The overall board is shaped like a PacMan.
- That's it for setup! Go back up to the Rules
6-Player Setup Edit
Board needed: Six diamond-shaped sections of Eeyore's chessboard wedges. The overall board is hexagonal.
- That's it for setup! Go back up to the Rules
Trivia Edit
- Branches & Twigs & Thorns was published in Hypothermia #15.
- The game is also known as BTT.
- The game was formerly known as Barsoomite Go.
- Branches & Twigs & Thorns is Andrew Plotkin's refined version of a previous game, Martian Go. This newer version was tweaked to produce fewer tied games and a bit less of a first-mover advantage than Martian Go.
Additional Languages Edit
External Links Edit
- Branches & Twigs & Thorns is listed on BoardGameGeek.
- Official Rules site: http://www.eblong.com/zarf/barsoom-go.html
- This game could be played online at Super Duper Games.