The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Ursuppe, I'm reliably informed by some friends of mine translates roughly from it's native German as soup (Primordial variety), and that's the basis for this excellent game from Doris and Frank. At first glance, it looks expensive, at around £35, but as with most German games, when you open the box, you can understand the pricing.

Inside, is a large (but thin) fold out board depicting a play area delimited into large rough squares, and a scoring track down one side. There are several sturdy wooden playing pieces (seven per player) with wooden dowels sticking out of the top. These represent the amoeba under each player's control. There are about a million small wooden cubes in each of the four main colours which represent food, and a selection of cards, together with some wooden tokens for currency.

The aim of the game is to be the first player to successfully reach the end zone of the scoring track. Should more than one player make it, it's the player who's furthest past the post who wins. Points are awarded for the number of amoebas each player has in play each round, together with how many genetic defect cards that player holds.

Once the order of play is decided, each player picks a position on the scoring track numbered 1-4. Pieces at the 4 end are starting further up the scoring track, but are at a disadvantage because of the turn order.

Two food counters of each colour are placed in each of the playing squares on the board and each player is given some money in the form of biological points.

Each player then places two amoeba on the board, one undamaged, and one with one damage counter. Amoebas can normally live until they have sustained two damage counters.

A card is then played in the middle of the board to indicate the environmental conditions in play for the coming turn. This will be a direction, and a maximum genetic points allowable.

Play then proceeds with the first, and most important round, Movement and feeding. The player in last place begins the round, and starts with his lowest numbered amoeba.

He has to choose to either 'Go with the flow' as indicated on the environment card, or, if he wants to actively move, it costs him a biological point, and he has to roll a dice. On a 1-4, the amoeba is moved in the direction indicated by the table in the middle of the board, on a 5 the amoeba stays put, and on a 6, the player may choose a direction.

Wherever the amoeba ends up, it has to feed. A worthy meal consists of one block of each of the other players' colours. After a good meal, what better than a good dump, two blocks of the amoeba's own colour.

If there is not enough food available in the amoeba's square when it has moved, then it sustains a damage point.

After movement, there is the opportunity to buy genetic modification cards. These allow all amoebae under your control to do cool things, like move twice, eat other amoebae, eat less food, bring food with them etc. etc.

There is a down side to genetic modifications, in that they also have a magic number. If the total of all the magic numbers of your cards exceed the maximum genetic points on the environment card when it's turned over, you either have to throw away cards, or biological points to cover the surplus.

Some of the modifications are more prolific than others, so there's real tactics in which ones you buy.

A new environment card is then turned over. Money is paid to each player, and they then have the choice as to whether they wish to spawn any new amoebae.

Then any amoebae with too many damage points are removed and replaced with two food cubes of each colour.

The final phase is the scoring round.

Evaluation

If you like wooden pieces, this is your game. There's absolutely oodles of them. The amoeba tokens do require assembly though, and in the case of our set, the dowels were to large for the holes provided, so some brute force and ignorance was required.

An English translation of the rules is provided, but what would have been really handy would be a translation of the quick reference cards. After a few rounds though, all becomes clear.

There is a deceptive amount of depth to this game, and your choice and timing of genetic modifications govern whether you win or lose.

You can just play this as a vindictive 'Take that you fiend' game as well.

I love it. A classic.

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

What do you think?

Visit the above forum to let us know!

Ursuppe
Author: Doris & Frank Category: Company/Publisher: Doris & Frank Line: n/a Cost: £35 Page count: n/a ISBN: n/a SKU: ? Playtest Review by Martin Bailey on 02/10/00. Genre tags: none	Ursuppe, I'm reliably informed by some friends of mine translates roughly from it's native German as soup (Primordial variety), and that's the basis for this excellent game from Doris and Frank. At first glance, it looks expensive, at around £35, but as with most German games, when you open the box, you can understand the pricing. Inside, is a large (but thin) fold out board depicting a play area delimited into large rough squares, and a scoring track down one side. There are several sturdy wooden playing pieces (seven per player) with wooden dowels sticking out of the top. These represent the amoeba under each player's control. There are about a million small wooden cubes in each of the four main colours which represent food, and a selection of cards, together with some wooden tokens for currency. The aim of the game is to be the first player to successfully reach the end zone of the scoring track. Should more than one player make it, it's the player who's furthest past the post who wins. Points are awarded for the number of amoebas each player has in play each round, together with how many genetic defect cards that player holds. Once the order of play is decided, each player picks a position on the scoring track numbered 1-4. Pieces at the 4 end are starting further up the scoring track, but are at a disadvantage because of the turn order. Two food counters of each colour are placed in each of the playing squares on the board and each player is given some money in the form of biological points. Each player then places two amoeba on the board, one undamaged, and one with one damage counter. Amoebas can normally live until they have sustained two damage counters. A card is then played in the middle of the board to indicate the environmental conditions in play for the coming turn. This will be a direction, and a maximum genetic points allowable. Play then proceeds with the first, and most important round, Movement and feeding. The player in last place begins the round, and starts with his lowest numbered amoeba. He has to choose to either 'Go with the flow' as indicated on the environment card, or, if he wants to actively move, it costs him a biological point, and he has to roll a dice. On a 1-4, the amoeba is moved in the direction indicated by the table in the middle of the board, on a 5 the amoeba stays put, and on a 6, the player may choose a direction. Wherever the amoeba ends up, it has to feed. A worthy meal consists of one block of each of the other players' colours. After a good meal, what better than a good dump, two blocks of the amoeba's own colour. If there is not enough food available in the amoeba's square when it has moved, then it sustains a damage point. After movement, there is the opportunity to buy genetic modification cards. These allow all amoebae under your control to do cool things, like move twice, eat other amoebae, eat less food, bring food with them etc. etc. There is a down side to genetic modifications, in that they also have a magic number. If the total of all the magic numbers of your cards exceed the maximum genetic points on the environment card when it's turned over, you either have to throw away cards, or biological points to cover the surplus. Some of the modifications are more prolific than others, so there's real tactics in which ones you buy. A new environment card is then turned over. Money is paid to each player, and they then have the choice as to whether they wish to spawn any new amoebae. Then any amoebae with too many damage points are removed and replaced with two food cubes of each colour. The final phase is the scoring round. Evaluation If you like wooden pieces, this is your game. There's absolutely oodles of them. The amoeba tokens do require assembly though, and in the case of our set, the dowels were to large for the holes provided, so some brute force and ignorance was required. An English translation of the rules is provided, but what would have been really handy would be a translation of the quick reference cards. After a few rounds though, all becomes clear. There is a deceptive amount of depth to this game, and your choice and timing of genetic modifications govern whether you win or lose. You can just play this as a vindictive 'Take that you fiend' game as well. I love it. A classic. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!) What do you think? Visit the above forum to let us know!