Pentamid
| Pentamid | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Zeitlin | ||
| Get five pieces in a row on a Volcano board | ||
| Players: | 2 | |
| Length: | Medium | |
| Complexity: | Medium | |
| Trios per color: | 4 | |
| Number of colors: | 2 | |
| - - - - - - Other equipment - - - - - - | ||
| Volcano board | ||
| Setup time: | 2 min | |
| Playing time: | 5 min - 30 min | |
| Strategy depth: | Medium | |
| Random chance: | None | |
| Game mechanics: | piece placement, piece movement | |
| Theme: | abstract | |
| BGG Link: | Pentamid | |
| Status: Complete (v1.0), Year released: 2006 | ||
Pentamid is a two-player game played on a Volcano (5X5) board with one partial stash per player. The objective is for a player to be the first to get five of his pieces in a row, horizontally or vertically.
Each player starts with twelve pieces, four each of each of the three sizes. These pieces are arranged in nests off the board (the "reserve"). The extra pieces in the stash are not used.
The players use any method that seems good to them to decide who plays first. Play alternates.
On a player's turn, one of the following actions may be taken:
- Take the top piece from one of the player's reserve nests, and place ("drop") it on any vacant square on the board, or
- Move one of the player's pieces on the board one space horizontally or vertically. Any piece may move to a vacant square; a medium piece may move onto (and cover) a small piece belonging to either player, and a large piece may move onto (and cover) a small or medium piece belonging to either player, or onto a medium piece which is covering a small piece. A covered piece may not move; if the covering piece is moved, the covered piece is once again permitted to move. A covered piece does not count for making a line of five pieces.
It is not permitted to knowingly duplicate an earlier game state.
Variations[edit | edit source]
- Play on a 6x6 (MegaVolcano) board with each player using all fifteen pieces in a stash, or play on a 8x8 board, using two complete stashes per player.
- Allow a diagonal line of five pieces to be made. If playing on the 5x5 board with this rule, a piece may not be dropped onto the center square.
Pentamid is listed at BoardGameGeek.