The Inside Scoop on Gaming

One of the latest entries into the recent string of real time card games, Nodwick is a perfect example of what the genre can be - entertaining, fast-paced, and yet still very much based around strategy.

The basic premise is that you've got to repair a henchman in time for him to take part in the next event in the Hench Games (something that will make far more sense if you follow the Nodwick universe, admittedly). However, you've got an assortment of divine powers and body parts from several different henchmen to put together. The goal? Trade body parts and the cards needed to activate them with the other players, trying desperately to be the first one to put your henchman back together - or, failing that, to have the most pieces from the *same* henchman when you do finish.

The plot, explained in part by the excellent (though short) comic included with the game, isn't really important - this is a good thing, since it means you don't have to be a Nodwick fan to enjoy it.

And you will enjoy it.

The illustrations range from mundane to cute to funny, each one done by Aaron Williams (creator of Nodwick). The Piffany cards (the divine powers needed to activate a hench-part) are particularly good.

Thus far, I have only played the game with the minimum of three players - I haven't been able to pull together 6 people on campus, yet, but I hope to do so soon. The game is relatively fast-paced most of the time, unless you get into a trading deadlock where nobody wants to give anything up for what they're being offered, but nobody has cards to get out of their hand or pick up. However, even these situations are avoided by the use of the timer (an effective distraction from trading quite a bit of the time, I assure you) as a way to draw more cards without having to trade them. Unlike many RT card games, speed isn't the only thing that matters. Out of four games played, the first to finish wasn't the winner in any of them, since they lost out on a large number of points for having mostly the same henchman on the table in front of them.

In summation, if you're looking for a game that can be both mindless and strategic at the same time - and is worth more than a few laughs - buy this game. It's well worth the cost.

Nodwick: The Card Game
Nodwick: The Card Game Capsule Review by Jason Leisemann on 14/12/02 Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 4 (Meaty) In what other game will you hear the line, "Can anybody spare a spleen?" Product: Nodwick: The Card Game Author: Frank Branham Category: Card Game Company/Publisher: Jolly Roger Games Line: Cost: $18.00 Page count: N/A Year published: 2002 ISBN: SKU: JOL200 Comp copy?: yes Capsule Review by Jason Leisemann on 14/12/02 Genre tags: Fantasy Comedy	One of the latest entries into the recent string of real time card games, Nodwick is a perfect example of what the genre can be - entertaining, fast-paced, and yet still very much based around strategy. The basic premise is that you've got to repair a henchman in time for him to take part in the next event in the Hench Games (something that will make far more sense if you follow the Nodwick universe, admittedly). However, you've got an assortment of divine powers and body parts from several different henchmen to put together. The goal? Trade body parts and the cards needed to activate them with the other players, trying desperately to be the first one to put your henchman back together - or, failing that, to have the most pieces from the same henchman when you do finish. The plot, explained in part by the excellent (though short) comic included with the game, isn't really important - this is a good thing, since it means you don't have to be a Nodwick fan to enjoy it. And you will enjoy it. The illustrations range from mundane to cute to funny, each one done by Aaron Williams (creator of Nodwick). The Piffany cards (the divine powers needed to activate a hench-part) are particularly good. Thus far, I have only played the game with the minimum of three players - I haven't been able to pull together 6 people on campus, yet, but I hope to do so soon. The game is relatively fast-paced most of the time, unless you get into a trading deadlock where nobody wants to give anything up for what they're being offered, but nobody has cards to get out of their hand or pick up. However, even these situations are avoided by the use of the timer (an effective distraction from trading quite a bit of the time, I assure you) as a way to draw more cards without having to trade them. Unlike many RT card games, speed isn't the only thing that matters. Out of four games played, the first to finish wasn't the winner in any of them, since they lost out on a large number of points for having mostly the same henchman on the table in front of them. In summation, if you're looking for a game that can be both mindless and strategic at the same time - and is worth more than a few laughs - buy this game. It's well worth the cost.

Nodwick: The Card Game