Game: Volcano

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manutd03 — 2008-06-18T01:52:45+00:00

Solitaire Volcano End (Goal: Capture all Large pieces, no others)

Thread: Re: End Game Option

manutd03 — 2008-06-06T16:42:42+00:00

Yes. The point spread is usually 5-10 in a longer game, whereas it's almost always 1-2 when we play the usual rules.

Thread: Re: End Game Option

ctalbot — 2008-06-06T12:03:19+00:00

manutd03 wrote:
I'd say when we play the standard game, winner has 10-12 points, but when we play this option, the winner has around 30, or more.
How many points does the loser usually have? Is the point spread much larger?

Chris

Thread: Re: End Game Option

manutd03 — 2008-06-05T21:58:15+00:00

NateStraight wrote:
We always have the opposite problem, with neither of us ending the game and instead just collecting more points. Whoever's in the lead collects points to extend their lead while they're looking for the last color, and the other person obviously doesn't try to end the game while they're behind.

Whoever's in the lead just keeps going even if they can end it? That's our real problem--we're too cutthroat about winning to keep going for that perfect tree. If you can steal the win with just one point, you take it!!!

Thread: Re: End Game Option

manutd03 — 2008-06-05T21:56:15+00:00

ctalbot wrote:

How much does it change the scoring? Are you finding a big change in the point difference?

I'd say when we play the standard game, winner has 10-12 points, but when we play this option, the winner has around 30, or more.

Also, regarding the last post, I have played Mega-Volcano with 4 players, but it seemed to go on forever and ever. I'd be willing to give it another shot, though. But usually I'm stuck playing against just my husband.

Thread: Re: End Game Option

cerulean — 2008-06-05T19:13:22+00:00

Want longer? Try 6x6 MegaVolcano... more colors makes for a longer game. When I set this up, I use 4 nests each of nine colors.

Thread: Re: End Game Option

NateStraight — 2008-06-05T13:22:14+00:00

We always have the opposite problem, with neither of us ending the game and instead just collecting more points. Whoever's in the lead collects points to extend their lead while they're looking for the last color, and the other person obviously doesn't try to end the game while they're behind. The open scoring / perfect information really bogs this game down for whatever reason. Seems almost like it needs something other than the scoring system to determine victory.

Thread: Re: End Game Option

ctalbot — 2008-06-05T12:56:51+00:00

Maybe my opponents and I are just slow, but I find standard end-game to still make for a good, satisfying game. However, over several plays (I don't get to play as often as I'd like), I do find I aim to end the game quicker if I can get a lead on points, so it sounds like your variant end-game would be a good fix if the games seem too short.

How much does it change the scoring? Are you finding a big change in the point difference?

Chris

Thread: End Game Option

manutd03 — 2008-06-04T22:02:46+00:00

I've been playing this with my husband a bit lately, and some of our games have degenerated into seeing who can rush to get all 5 colors and win by a point (or two). This was making the games last about 10 minutes, which I'd say is a little short for Volcano.

Our variant, to keep the game going a little longer while still making it competitive to get the pieces you need, is to trigger the end of the game when one player captures at least two pieces of each color.

This ensures that neither player can get ahead easily very quickly in the beginning (and then end the game), but doesn't make the game drag on and on if you play a variant such as 'first to capture an entire tree in one color' (trust me, a bad idea).

We're liking this variant so far. Any thoughts?

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ddyer — 2008-02-27T23:17:52+00:00

Volcano as rendered at Boardspace.net

Thread: Online at Boardspace.net

ddyer — 2008-02-27T02:32:50+00:00

Volcano is now online at Boardspace.net.

Thread: Volcano joins the 2008 IAGO World Tour

docreason — 2008-01-24T19:04:09+00:00

Volcano joins the 2008 IAGO World Tour. It will be at Noncon 2008, which is held at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. The event will be on Saturday, February 23, 2008. You can learn more about Noncon here:
http://noncon.vassar.edu

For more information on all 2008 IAGO World Tour events, visit:
http://www.IAGOWorldTour.com

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locarno — 2008-01-05T02:32:06+00:00

My backlit version of the Volcano board.

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nycavri — 2007-11-07T03:04:03+00:00

Volcano in play at SDG

Thread: a very unconventional abstract

Gnomekin — 2007-08-29T19:39:57+00:00

Like quite a few people, I first learned about Looney Labs when I discovered Fluxx, which has to be their best selling game. Fluxx is a light, incredibly luck-based game, enjoyed by many and loathed with a passion by many as well. When I discovered the Icehouse system and games like Volcano or Martian Chess, I discovered a whole different side to Looney Labs.

Volcano is a perfect information abstract strategy. There isn’t any luck in the game. There aren’t even any cards in the game so it doesn’t resemble Fluxx in any way. How well you play is what’s going to decide whether or not you’re going to win.

As I mentioned earlier, Volcano uses Icehouse pieces. Icehouse pieces are sets of hollow stackable pyramids that come in caches, which are sets of fifteen. Each cache has five small pyramids, five medium pyramids and (are you noticing a pattern?) five large pyramids. Most of the caches that Looney Labs are a transparent plastic and they sell a variety of different colors.

If you want to play Volcano, you’re going to need five caches of Icehouse pieces and a set of volcano caps, along with a five by five board. Each cache needs to be a different color. The caps can come from a sixth cache of sixth color or you can buy a set of opaque gray caps from Looney Labs. Looney Labs also sells a rather nice five by five board that is sized perfectly for Icehouse pieces but you could just draw on in on a piece of paper.

To set up the board, first divide up the pyramids by color. Than, you make nests of each color, which is the little pyramids in the medium pyramids in the large pyramid, just like the fishing stories my grandpa used to tell me. That way, you have five sets of each color.

You take one set of colors and place it in a diagonal line across the board. Put the caps on each of these sets. Then you place the other colors in thicker lines along each side of the diagonal line, keeping each color together. Well, if you play the game, there are plenty of diagrams out there that can do a better job explaining what it looks like than I just did.

As you will see, though, it is important to make sure that you have five different colors and that those colors are in uniform groups.

Okay, the game is set up. Now it’s time to tell you how to play it.

On your turn, you move one of the volcano caps. You can move it one space in any possible direction, just like it was the king in chess, including diagonal. If you set off an eruption, that’s the end of your turn. If not, you get move a cap again. Basically, you keep moving volcano caps until an eruption goes off.

Now, what is an eruption? An eruption is when the top pyramid hops over the cap you just moved (thus moving in the same direction) and lands on the next square. If there are pyramids on that square, it goes on top of them. The next pyramid in the stack that’s erupting jumps TWO spaces to land on that square, and so on until you either run out of squares or pyramids.

So what stops an eruption or blocks on from continuing? Three things. The side of the board. Volcano caps. Moving a cap from an otherwise empty space so there’s noting there to actually erupt. Just so you know, as long as at least one pyramid can move to a new space, it’s an eruption.

Okay, so you’re reading this and thinking about how you can move pyramids about the board. However, you say to me “Gnome boy, what’s the actual point of this game?” Well, I’m glad you asked.

When you cause an eruption and a pyramid lands on a pyramid that is the exact same size, you get to take the pyramid on top (the one you moved) and put it in your scoring pile.

Now, scoring works like this. Each single pyramid is worth one point. However, when you get a pyramid in each of the three sizes, you stack them on top of each other to form a tree. A tree made up of different colors is worth five points, as opposed to the three points it’d be worth if they were just lying about. If all of the pyramids in the tree are the same color, though, ah, now it’s worth seven points.

In the course of the game, you are allowed to rearrange your trees in order to make them worth the most points possible, in case you were worried.

Okay, now that you know how you get points, here’s how the game comes to an end. When one player has a pyramid in all five colors, the game comes to an end. Whoever has the most points when the end of the game rolls around, they’re the winner.

Although it is an abstract, Volcano is a game that’s all about thinking out of the box. The movement system is kind of unusual. The pieces pretty much belong to everyone and, while scoring through set collection is nothing new, it’s not something I’m used to seeing in an abstract.

In the games I’ve played, the tactics of the game have been all about setting up the best possible eruptions while doing your best to give the next guy as few options as possible. Not counting solitaire play, Volcano plays two to four pretty easily, although some variant boards will let you add even more players.

Personally, I think it is best with two players, since each player has a lot more control over the board. With a lot of players, the board can change so much in between your turns that you can only plan on your turn and can’t make any long term strategies.

Volcano is an unusual game but it’s a solid game and a pretty good one to boot. It shows off what you can do with the Icehouse system and it has a lot of replay value. If you’re not scared off by the absence of luck, Volcano is well worth trying.

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fractaloon — 2007-08-18T08:25:58+00:00

A volcano board from Looney Labs with a rules summary.

Thread: Re: Question regarding cap movement

NateStraight — 2007-08-09T02:51:34+00:00

lsamadi wrote:
I think of moving only one cap until it causes an eruption as a variant.

A very necessary variant, I think, as the game just bogs down way too much if you're allowed to move all of the caps around willy-nilly until you cause an eruption. The board changes entirely and completely between moves if you play that way, because you can almost always maneuver all of the caps in such a way as to cause an eruption from any single space in any chosen direction given enough time and fiddling around. If you're only allowed to move one cap, however, your choices usually run thin after about 2 or 3 movements of that cap, which is more reasonable.

Thread: Re: Question regarding cap movement

lsamadi — 2007-08-09T02:06:38+00:00

From how I read the original rules, I play that you can move any cap if no eruption occurs. I think of moving only one cap until it causes an eruption as a variant.

Thread: Re: Question regarding cap movement

kuhrusty — 2007-08-09T01:02:43+00:00

I think the answer is 1, and if it were 2, the rules would have said something like, "...you are allowed to make another move with that cap. You may continue to move that cap in this fashion until..."

Thread: Question regarding cap movement

velgarath — 2007-08-08T22:18:30+00:00

Hi:

Volcano is a great game. But we have a question regarding the following rule:

If a move does not cause a volcano to erupt, you are allowed to make another move with one of the caps. You may continue to move caps in this fashion until an eruption does occur, at which point your turn ends and play passes to the player on your left.

1.- Does it mean that, if I move a cap and an eruption does not occur, I can move ANY of the caps in the board?

Or

2.- Does it mean that, if I move a cap and an eruption does not occur, I can move again ONLY THAT cap?

When we read the rules for the first time, we thought that "1" is the correct statement. BUT we have recently started to play Volcano in www.superdupergames.com, and we realized that you are only allowed to move the SAME cap.

Does Anyone know the correct answer?

Thank you.

Regards

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kirbyattack — 2007-07-04T22:00:43+00:00

Mini-Volcano

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erfalucho — 2007-04-24T07:12:27+00:00

DIY board using self-adhesive foam sheets affixed onto the storage case.

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Verkisto — 2007-03-25T22:06:51+00:00

Home-made Volcano board.

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fractaloon — 2006-12-17T04:16:27+00:00

Volcano caps

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Maeglor — 2006-12-06T19:09:38+00:00

Thread: Re: Handicapping

maka — 2006-10-07T09:21:39+00:00

What about starting with a negative score?

Thread: Re: Handicapping

NateStraight — 2006-10-06T18:24:16+00:00

You could simply forbid yourself either from moving multiple caps (I don't use this rule at all, anyway) or from moving any given cap multiple times.

Thread: Handicapping

cerulean — 2006-10-06T17:40:51+00:00

Are there any good handicapping techniques, subtle or otherwise?

As an experienced player, I tend to trounce newbies which is a turn-off to them. It'd be great if there was some way I could lightly handicap myself without making the newbies feel like I'm throwing the game in their favor out of politeness (which many adults feel is condescending).

How can I compete with newbies without making them feel stupid or pandered to? How about for those who teach this to children? Do you have a handicapping scheme for those times?

(I remember it took me 3 years to beat my Dad at chess. It was a great thrill when I finally accomplished that, but then again I was 10, and expected to lose many early games.)

Thread: Re: Mega-volcano rule adjustment

fteplin — 2006-05-30T22:45:15+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions!
cerulean wrote:
Use fewer nests of more colors. If you've got at least 10 colors of pyramids, you can make a 6x6 setup using 4 nests of 9 different colors and use the remaining unused color for the caps. Now you have no need for an extra Wild Color, and it makes the game longer as there are more colors to capture.
In this case, do you also start the five caps on random pieces?

Thread: Re: Mega-volcano rule adjustment

cerulean — 2006-05-26T17:40:26+00:00

White pyramids do not guarantee victory, but here are two suggestions anyway.

Vary the Setup. Experienced players often prefer to arrange the board randomly, rather than go with the traditional setup. This should put the white pyramids out of reach.

Use fewer nests of more colors. If you've got at least 10 colors of pyramids, you can make a 6x6 setup using 4 nests of 9 different colors and use the remaining unused color for the caps. Now you have no need for an extra Wild Color, and it makes the game longer as there are more colors to capture.

Thread: Mega-volcano rule adjustment

fteplin — 2006-05-25T00:31:47+00:00

Here are the rules for Mega-Volcano, found at www.looneylabs.com:

Mega-Volcano
A Volcano Variant for 9 Icehouse Colors

If you dig Volcano and you happen to have a full set of 9 Icehouse stashes, here's an advanced version of the game you can try. It's played just like regular Volcano, but with the following differences. First, it uses a 6x6 board-space, instead of the 5x5. Put the 7 translucent colors together in nests, and arrange them however you wish within the 6x6 space, leaving one hole open in one of the centermost squares. Fill in this last space with a single nest from the white stash, then place the 5 small blacks onto the red pieces just as you would in the standard game. (Set aside the rest of the black and white pieces... they will not be used.)

The game then plays as before, except that now you need all 7 colors to trigger the end. The white pieces are not counted towards this total, because they are treated as wildcards. During score-counting, a white piece can be considered any other color you wish, thus making them very useful for completing monochrome trees. More importantly, any player who captures all 3 of the white pieces automatically wins the game.

In practice, however, if you use the "traditional" setup for Mega-Volcano...
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...the first player to go can instantly capture the large solid white pyramid. Simply move one of the center-most black caps diagonally onto the white nest (the eruption is blocked by the other black cap), then move in any direction to cause an eruption.

This seems unbalanced in favor of the first person to play, as they instantly get a very useful wildcard piece, as well as preventing everyone else from "capturing all 3 white pieces to automatically win."

So, my friend and I came up with an additional rule:

A player may not capture a white piece until they have at least one complete tree, made up of any colors.

That is, no one may take a solid white wildcard pyramid until they have at least one small, one medium and one large piece captured on previous turns.

This prevents the first player from gaining an unfair advantage, and postpones the capture of the white pieces to a little bit later in the game, when the board can get more complex and a capture can be more challenging.

If you have enough Icehouse pieces, I truly recommend Volcano. It's one of my favorite pyramid games. And if you have enough stashes, I HIGHLY recommend Mega-Volcano.

Thoughts, questions, opinions?

Thread: Melting Volcano

Aldaron — 2006-04-12T13:38:36+00:00

Played this way by accident, but liked it: In Melting Volcano the matching-sized piece that is landed on, rather than the erupting piece, is captured.

Thread: Volcano Review

chriskl — 2005-12-08T09:23:56+00:00

Volcano is a game that uses the popular Icehouse Pieces. Unlike many other Icehouse games, it requires that you own six stashes, and it looks nicest when one of those stashes is black, and none of the rest are opaque.

Setup
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The game begins by arranging five of the stashes into a 5x5 grid. At each grid point is a stack (small inside medium inside large) of one colour of Icehouse piece.

Finally a small black 'capping piece' is placed on each stack across a diagonal.

Basic Gameplay
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The basic premise is simple. You may move one of the caps in any direction (including diagonals). Then, either an eruption occurs, or you get to move again.

An eruption occurs like this:

* You move the cap

* The top piece in the stack where the cap was previously jumps over the new cap position and into the position after that. (ie. it jumps in a straight line over the cap just moved.) The piece cannot jump out of the board or onto another cap, so in that case no eruption occurs.

* Pieces continue to be taken from the top of the old cap position and jumping further and further until the stack is empty or the eruption cannot continue.

* Then, any piece from the original stack that has landed on a piece of the same size can be taken as your score.

Scoring
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Scoring is based on trees. A tree is one each of a small, medium and large piece. A tree of all the same colours is worth 7 points, trees of mixed colours are worth 5 and remaining pieces are worth 1 each.

Conclusion
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This game is a clever little tactical/strategic game. It has different qualities with different numbers of players, and can even be played solitaire. It is perhaps one of the best Icehouse games of its class.