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swuyau — 2008-05-27T12:11:29+00:00

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Thread: Kismet - A Light Review

Neil Thomson — 2007-04-12T11:49:32+00:00

All of my reviews aim to offer a brief overview that allows people to get a good feel for what the game may offer them. I feel that other reviews can be sought if detailed game mechanics is what you are after.

Summary

Game Type - Dice Game (Educational)
Play Time - 15+ minutes
Number of Players - 3-8
Mechanics - Maths (Addition)
Difficulty - Pick-up & Play (Can be learned in under 10 minutes)
Components - Fair to Good (Poor quality box)

In Kismet each player is given the same 11 cards and places them face-up on the table for all to see. Each card features a number from 2-12 and this is meaningful as 6-sided dice are rolled during the game.

On a player’s turn they roll the dice once. They can then choose to add any two of the dice together to make a total. If that total is visible on any of their face-up cards then they can flip it over to indicate that it is no longer available. They then pass the dice on to the next player to indicate that their turn is finished.
Play will continue in this way for a number of rounds. Provided that a player rolls 3 different numbers, they will always be able to create 3 different totals with which to choose from. But eventually someone will roll a set of dice that will not form a total that they have left to flip. This is where the game gets somewhat interesting.

The other players are also allowed to calculate the totals in their head. If they realise that the rolling player cannot flip a card with the possible totals, then they can call out one of the totals and turn over their matching card (if it is still available) and score out of their turn. Only the fastest players will prevail though.
This is the nature of Kismet and when one player manages to turn their last card over the round ends. All other players will score negative points based on the cards they had left un-flipped. Each card has a small negative value in the corner of the card. These numbers start at -1 for the ‘7’ card and get higher as they approach 2 and 12 (the extremes). Any number of rounds can be played and the player with the highest score at the end of the agreed number of rounds is declared the winner.

There is one other twist that Kismet throws in. If a player flips a card incorrectly (no total matched the value of the card) and another player can spot the mistake, the player in error must not flip the card and must un-flip another card as a penalty. This penalty is also paid if the rolling player believes they have not rolled a total to match their cards and passes the dice on to end their turn. This penalty can also apply a 3rd and final time. If a player makes a roll they cannot use and another player rushes in to call a total that they have on their cards, they may make a ‘total call’ that was incorrect (due to their haste). In this case the same penalty applies.

The final consideration is that a player could roll the same number on all 3 dice. This is called a ‘joker roll’. If this roll still allows the player to flip a card they are rewarded and can flip any other card immediately.

The Final Word

Kismet is a very simple game on the surface and luck certainly plays a hefty role. For this reason alone it will not appeal to everyone and I must admit it isn't a game that will draw me back very often, if ever.

But there is perhaps more here for children than may first appear. Initially children may be drawn to Kismet because the game offers a level playing field. All players start exactly the same and dice are a familiar resource. But there is more here that is actually educational.

Kismet helps develop quick addition skills and due to the nature of the game, the children will use mental maths to hide the answer from their opponent’s until they shout it out. In addition (pun intended) Kismet also helps children subconsciously learn about the probability of rolling different numbers in the range of 2-12. They will begin to see why the cards at the end of the range have the highest negative values for scoring and look for every opportunity to flip them as quickly as possible. Like any game I recommend letting children make these discoveries for themselves. This is the most rewarding way to learn!

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2007-03-15T14:36:26+00:00

from german insert

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moxtaveto — 2006-10-08T17:16:28+00:00

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Nekura — 2005-09-02T12:39:16+00:00

Game played on CCGWorkshop.com

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breakmanynecks — 2003-05-22T12:53:01+00:00

Game: Kismet

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Thread: Kismet - A Light Review

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