Branches & Twigs & Thorns: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:2-player_setup_Branches_and_Twigs_and_Thorns_Artboard_1_with_coins.svg|thumb|none|750px|''<big>Setup for two players. Each player has one Stash and five coins. The first player receives the null token, here represented by an orange die. The second player receives the root token, here represented by a green die.</big>'']] |
[[Image:2-player_setup_Branches_and_Twigs_and_Thorns_Artboard_1_with_coins.svg|thumb|none|750px|''<big>Setup for two players. Each player has one Stash and five coins. The first player receives the null token, here represented by an orange die. The second player receives the root token, here represented by a green die.</big>'']] |
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::That's it for setup! Go back up to the [[Branches & Twigs & Thorns#Rules|Rules]] |
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===3-Player Setup=== |
===3-Player Setup=== |
Revision as of 23:23, 5 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, two pairs of markers | ||
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
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 -- 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, etc. be used as points, at least five coins per player.
Setup
Setup differs substantially depending on the number of players. How many players will be involved?
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. The game begins differently enough with different playcounts that it's best to split the rules up by that factor. 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, but other than setup, the rules are the same for all player-counts.
First, players place the Root or Null tokens they have been given in player order. From then on, players take turns placing their pyramids on the board until it is full. Pieces must be orthogonally connected to, and point at:
- the root
- their own color (for free)
- an opponent's color (for a penalty)
Penalties
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
The game ends when the board is full. Whoever has the most coins wins.
Setup
2-Player Setup
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
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.)
4-Player Setup
Board needed: a chessboard or 8×8 grid.
5-Player Setup
Board needed: Five diamond-shaped sections of Eeyore's chessboard wedges. The overall board shaped like a PacMan.
6-Player Setup
Board needed: Six diamond-shaped sections of Eeyore's chessboard wedges. The overall board is hexagonal.
BTT was published in Hypothermia #15.
Additional Languages
Branches & Twigs & Thorns (Polish)
External Links
- Branches & Twigs & Thorns is listed on BoardGameGeek.
- Official Rules site: http://www.eblong.com/zarf/barsoom-go.html
- This game can be played online at Super Duper Games.