Game: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Thread: Re: This game rules!!!! Sue me!!

Axelfudge — 2008-11-27T07:29:59+00:00

I've never thought of myself as a person who likes games based on books but enjoy all the games you mentioned. Still looking for Around the World in 80 days.

Great review! I also love the game and am surprised to see so few people owning this game. I always thought the card play reminded me a little of Blue Moon City. I like playing the card combos and how turns play quick. Draw cards or move an adventurer. Works great and is easy to teach!

We always get a few laughs when going through the Sea Adventures! Nothing like when chain lightning causes someone to lose a prized fossil.

Thumbs up!

Thread: Re: This game rules!!!! Sue me!!

volnon — 2008-11-26T22:56:24+00:00

I won't sue you! I would rather join you playing this game! I agree it is very exciting and not at all dry. I love the theme, and it feels like you really are on a journey to the center of the earth (as much as a boardgame allows, anyway.)

I, too, highly recommend this game to all gamers AND non gamers. It is very user friendly, and a lot of fun when as you set out collecting fossils and quartz.

It really is underrated and seems way below the radar of BGG.

Thread: Re: This game rules!!!! Sue me!!

Sarge77 — 2008-11-26T20:15:33+00:00

"This game rules!!!! Sue me!!"

Um...my lawyer WILL be in contact with you soon. See you in court.

Thread: This game rules!!!! Sue me!!

dragonblaster — 2008-11-26T10:15:19+00:00

Before I begin, I must admit this game hits a certain sweet spot for me. I have a weird gaming kink and I hope I'm not alone. I really love board games based on books! Okay I said it, but it's true. I just really enjoy seeing how a game works with the ideas from a book, and how it translates it to mechanics. I'm a big fan of Beowulf the Legend, many of the LotR games, Pillars of the Earth interested me as a book idea but was a little flat, the many Camelot related games. I'm not a big fan of videogames turned into boardgames, that ain't my kink.

Another thing I must mention before I review this game is I really like Rudiger Dorn's games, but hadn't tried one of his family games, except for maybe Arkadia which I found to be a little dry.

Anyhow I picked up this game not really expecting too much, but I knew I liked both of the above qualities beforehand. Journey to the Center of the Earth is a family game, so if you where expecting a gamer game Goa this is not. BUT as a family game this is fantastic.

It is just as easy as Ticket to Ride to teach, and turn wise just as intriguing. I give Ticket to Ride a higher rating because it has fantastic tension and that tension is so graspable to people who don't usually game. What makes Journey so much fun is that it's sort of the same draw cards play awesome card combos type game, but it is about an adventure. The game is very evocative of the adventure into earth theme.

At the beginning of the game all players use the same three explorers to travel into the caverns deep inside a mountain. By playing matching explorer cards a player can move a matching figure deeper into the earth. With the help of tools players can pick up fossils, move about and search easier. Fossils are your victory points throughout the game, but many of them are divide into several parts. You may pick up half a skull, but you need to find the other half to really score victory points.

The first part of the game takes about 30-40 minutes. Players will move about collecting fossils, event cards and water droplets. I think the droplets add a great subtle goal. Players will need water to save their fossils from being destroyed by the end of part 1. It's a great little detail that makes the cavern searching even more interesting.

Just as this part of the game gets old the journey leads the explorers to a Petrified Mushroom Field!!!!... The second part of the game begins. All the explorers board a raft and travel across the underground ocean. The second half of the game last around 20 minutes and is similar to the first part except now every one can earn fossils at the same time. The boat sails from one end of the ocean to the other and there's many fossils to be found, BUT every time the boat moves a sea adventure occurs. Cards are drawn from a sea deck and more points can be made by possibly anyone. Lightning bolts can also zap you and steal fossil cards. It's fantastic.

When the explorers find land it's time for the final adventure. The explorers must hold tight and pop out of the volcano. This takes about 2-5 minutes. Every turn is one that can take away your fossils if you don't have the correct tools to save them. After the volcano the game is scored.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is the best family game I've played in a long time. I've played it 5 times now and it gets better every play. Figuring out how to collect the fossils and keep them is a fun challenge. It really is a great adventure that has all the take cards/play awesome card combos ideas but so much more somehow. To me, as a boardgame it has a certain magic quality that many family games lack. It seems like it's getting lost amongst the massive amounts of new games coming out which is a shame.

I should also stateagain this is not a gamer game in any way, if it was approached as such it'd be a real let down. Nope it's a game you can teach in 5 minutes and be off adventuring deep into the earth, figuring out great card combos, picking up fossils, and dodging lightning bolts.

Any true fan of Goonies may enjoy Journey to the Center of the Earth. It has nothing to do with the guy from Encino Man. It's a great Rudiger Dorn adaptation of the Jules Verne adventure. Pick up this game if you want some excitement in your family games.

Thread: Re: So where are the Dinosaurs?

sisteray — 2008-11-25T18:47:10+00:00

If you are looking for Dinosaur action you won't find it here.

Only fossils and one event card with pretty art and an abstract resolution mechanic.

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:42:54+00:00

All fossil cards of 2 points value

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:40:11+00:00

A complete skeleton

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:39:15+00:00

Quartz, gold and a complete skull

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:37:40+00:00

Event cards

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:36:57+00:00

Event cards (immediate use)

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:35:36+00:00

Explorer cards

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:34:44+00:00

Equipment cards

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:33:50+00:00

Samples of "Adventures in the Sea" cards

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:32:02+00:00

"Forest of mushrooms" and "Ruined city" bonus cards

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Tetsuo [LiF] — 2008-11-16T11:30:19+00:00

You can use waterdrops to simulate the sea journey with the raft!

Thread: Re: Water spaces

Great Dane — 2008-11-12T10:23:50+00:00

Although the (German) rules are ambiguous, I believe you are right (1 move card plus 3 for 3 rocks).

However, in the case of the Pick Axe this is well documented in the rules with an example (#2, page 3): Each space only costs 1 card if you have played a Pick Axe.

Thread: Re: Water spaces

wolper — 2008-11-12T00:07:51+00:00

I was going to start a new thread for my question, but it follows from what skeletodoc said. When you want to move into a rock space with 3 rocks in it, how many cards do you have to play? Do you have to play 1 to move into the space and then 3 for the rocks (as skeletodoc said)? Or, do you play 3 total (one for each rock)?

Similarly, if you play a pickaxe, do you then pay 1 card to move and 1 card for the rocks (regardless of how many there are), or just 1 card?

I'm pretty sure that you don't have to play the extra "to move" card, but I found the rules confusing. Even more so when I saw skeletodoc's comment.

Thanks.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

heli — 2008-11-10T17:07:43+00:00

Another thing you could have been doing wrong is permitting players to get fossils during their turn's traversal when actually you can only get them for the space that the figure ends on. We made that mistake and ran out of cards.

Thread: Re: What if neither player can move?

Colorado_Jeff — 2008-10-29T11:44:41+00:00

That makes sense. I missed the sentence about drawing another card beyond the hand limit and immediately discarding one. Thanks!

Thread: Re: What if neither player can move?

Walt Mulder — 2008-10-28T23:07:57+00:00

You can always take the "Draw Cards" action. The only limitation is that if you go over your maximum you must immediately discard down to the maximum allowed (including the card(s) just drawn).

Thread: Re: Time Lapse Video and Session Report

reapersaurus — 2008-10-20T20:00:35+00:00

Now THIS angle shows some good board action (sadly, as you say missing some card action), and shows some honest-to-goodness fiddly-bottom syndrome with your son moving all over the place, snacking, playing with the sub a bit, etc etc.

Quite the contrast to the relative statues in your Touch of Evil timelapse.

I like this angle better than aToE - I think the boardplay is the most important thing, and some games would require such zooming out to capture all the components that it would not allow for enough board details to warrant watching.

I'm sure it's a tough balancing act, and it changes with each game, each table you're playing at, and each group of participants.
But I think these timelapses really provide valuable information to prospective players and buyers. You "get" more info about the flow and action of a game with 5 seconds of this than you do reading thousands of words in review or comments.

I'd like to see a timelapse made of a Heroscape session - the amount of movement might blind the viewer.

Also, you should consider bringing your video abilities to dexterity game reviews - Sorry Sliders, Tumblin' Dice, etc.
Some games (Crokinole) it's more vital and informational to see the action than others (Race for the Galaxy).

Thread: Time Lapse Video and Session Report

chaosjenkins — 2008-10-20T16:42:05+00:00

Vimeo Video

In this time lapse video, my wife Becky (off camera to the right), son, Harrison (center) and I (off camera to left) play Mayfair Games’ Journey to the Center of the Earth board game.

As this was Becky’s first experience with the game, and Harrison is still learning it as well, we played with our cards showing so that I could help the others evaluate their options from turn to turn.

“Journey” is an interesting game because although there are three separately colored pawns, any player can move any pawn (or none if he chooses to draw cards) each turn. This makes for an interesting turn-to-turn situation as a move you had planned may end up hindered or bolstered by what the other players do with the explorers.

Movement is made by playing a number of “explorer cards” of a color matching any one given explorer each player turn, in conjunction with helpful items that can also be used to make discoveries of fossils — the object of the game.

The game has three distinct segments, the longest of which is the first — the descent down through the various caves and caverns of a dormant volcano, all the while avoiding dangers and finding “treasures.”

Becky had the highlight of this phase, in one turn utilizing a rare combination of movement and item cards to move the blue explorer down to the bottom end of the cave picking up an event (which would let her take a second consecutive turn), a water stone (to preserve fossils) and a “discovery” of two fossils. She used her extra action to draw back up, so had quite the action-packed turn.

Once a player reaches the end of that phase (in this case, Harrison maneuvering the blue explorer out of the cave and discovering the mushroom forest), the players all hop on the raft to make it across the underground sea.

After the caverns, Becky was well ahead with 20-something fossil points, Harrison was right behind with 18, and I was dragging up the rear with 13.

In the ocean, however, Harrison caught up quickly with a fortuitous sea adventure card. Then I took my chance, making several discoveries, avoiding penalties, and also reaping the benefits of a sea adventure card. Becky, only making two discoveries in the entire second phase, found her lead eroding away quickly — especially as she lost fossils to ball lightning events. She made a final surge, pushing the raft to the end of the phase and claiming the bonus points for finding the hidden city.

We were all quite close as we found ourselves on the raft being shot out of the very active volcano in the final phase. We only hit a couple of penalty squares which I was able to survive thanks to a couple of well-held event cards, but the others also came out relatively unscathed.

In the end, Becky and I counted up our fossil and bonus cards to find we each had 24 points. We looked over to Harrison who counted once, twice, three times and asked us to verify. Sure enough, he’d made out with 26 points, earning the most recognition on this expedition, and winning the game.

Journey to the Center of the Earth, by virtue of its fantastic components and somewhat unique gameplay, is an excellent family game, although it can run a bit long (about 90 minutes in this case).

As for the video, I had wanted to move the camera (the isight built into my MacBookPro’s bezel), as close to the board as possible to capture the movement of the adventurers. In hindsight, I regret that I did not capture the table space in front of Becky and me, so that viewers could see the ebb and flow of our item, explorer, and fossil cards. A separate camera angled for a more overhead view may be in order.

Thread: Re: Fossil Card Discards

smiler63 — 2008-10-18T15:47:42+00:00

Actually, when you have not enough waterstones and therefore loose fossil cards we have always put them back into the box. So they are out of the game. You won't hand in valuable cards anyway.
Thus said, we never experienced to run out of fossil cards.
But perhaps it is easier to have one rule for all cases. So, I suggest to put fossil cards not selected or lost under the draw pile.

Thread: Fossil Card Discards

Colorado_Jeff — 2008-10-18T04:07:09+00:00

After playing my first game of this today, I'd like to hear opinions regarding fossil discards. Based on the rules as I interpret them, I'd say all fossil discards are returned to the bottom of the fossil deck, rather than forming a discard pile of their own. Does this seem right to everyone else?

I'm asking because another post here spoke of running out of fossil cards. That question was cleared up by making sure the questioner was always advancing a row/column with each movement. If fossil discards are always returned to the bottom of their deck, that would further insure a plentiful supply.

Regarding discards in general, page 2, 1st column mid-page reads:

If you draw the last explorer or equipment card from a deck, immediately shuffle the discard pile for that type of card and create a new face-down deck.

The last sentence in that same column reads:

After completing your movement for a turn, place all used explorer and equipment cards into separate discard piles.

That takes care of explorer and equipment cards with no problems.

Fossil cards first gave me pause, though, when I read on page 3, paragraph labeled "End of Stage 1". Mid paragraph it reads, "If you do not have enough water-stones, you must discard fossil cards until you have enough water-stones to pay for them." Nothing more about fossil discards is stated in that section.

This implied to me a discard pile is created for fossil cards. However,
I looked over the rules again and on page 2 in the "Electric Lamp" paragraph, it explicitly states, "Place discarded fossil cards face down at the bottom of the fossil deck." This makes me think any instance of fossil discards should be to the bottom of their deck.

Another example to reinforce this is the event card "Favorable Opportunity", which reads "Discard 0 to 3 Fossil cards to the bottom of the Fossil deck and draw the same number from the deck."

So I'm thinking all fossil cards should be discarded to the bottom of their deck, rather than having a discard pile. Does that sound reasonable? Is this really obvious, and I'm just stating something that is already apparent to everyone but me?

Opinions appreciated. Seems like this will be a light but fun game as we come to know it better.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

Axelfudge — 2008-10-01T19:08:41+00:00

Ok, I've now played using the right rules for movement.

It makes a huge difference as you can imagine!

Everyone I've played this with has wanted to play again right after. Good sign!

Thread: Re: So where are the Dinosaurs?

Luke the Flaming — 2008-09-29T19:08:05+00:00

They're hidden in the cards you draw during "Stage II - the lake".

Thread: So where are the Dinosaurs?

walter konkrete — 2008-09-29T19:00:47+00:00

There's a dinosaur on the box. The reviews and pictures don't seem to reveal any dinosaur elements, so, does this game have dinosaurs? I want some frickin dinosaur action if there are dinosaurs on the box.

Thread: Re: [Video Review] Journey to the Center of the Earth

volnon — 2008-09-27T17:04:17+00:00

Give the game more of a chance! With the right people or person it is very fun. My wife and I wandered about the opening cave having a grand time picking up items, then I made a dash for the mushroom bonus hex and had just enough cards to make it!

The trip across the in-world sea was fun, too. All of us on one raft, using our individual cards to pick up items or stave off ball lightning added enough difference from the first part of the game to make it interesting.

The final section, being shot out of the volcano, had the feel that you were really on an express ride out of the underworld- FAST AND FURIOUS!

I liked the game so much I hope they make an expansion using the base game's cards and game figures. Maybe a small box with a new map and a few extra equipment cards.

Thread: Re: [Video Review] Journey to the Center of the Earth

Axelfudge — 2008-09-27T15:42:35+00:00

Tom, reviews are getting better.

When we played we had a hoot on the sea crossing which we found added a little tension to the game. I wish you'd spent a little time on that as we found this part quite fun.

I think this game settles in quite nice to most other hand management games. It's almost like a Blue Moon City light to me which may not be saying much for most but it's a game that's right up my alley.

Thumbs up!

Thread: [Video Review] Journey to the Center of the Earth

TomVasel — 2008-09-27T14:53:39+00:00

Quick Comment: Follows the book well, but the game lacks excitement or tension. Good mechanics, but can feel repetitive.

Youtube Video

Thread: Re: A First Review

volnon — 2008-09-25T01:52:05+00:00

Nice review! I played this game with the wife last week and loved it! We both had a great time and will be playing it again this week.

I have to agree with everything you said. This really is a fine easy-going game that keeps you interested and waiting for your next turn- thankfully there is very little down time for the players.

I had thought about writing a review, but you did such a nice job there is really no need.

Those of you holding back on this game- hold back no further. It really is quite good, with high quality components and a wonderful, atmospheric theme.

So good in fact, all I can say to Mayfair is...

...we need an EXPANSION!

Thread: A First Review

sloniewski — 2008-09-24T23:23:38+00:00

Journey to the Center of the Earth is described on the box as a social game and that’s exactly what you get. It’s an easygoing, quick-playing entertainment that takes up about an hour of your time and can be enjoyed by all ages above five or six years.

Based on the 19th century novel by Jules Verne, it details the story of three explorers who venture down the crater of a dormant volcano in Iceland, traverse the centre of our planet, and after various adventures and escapes from danger, emerge again from an erupting volcano in Italy. Well, this game is actually closer in spirit to the 1960 movie version starring James Mason, Pat Boone and Arlene Dahl.

Components

The English version from Mayfair comes packaged with a mounted playing board containing some very nice artwork depicting the playing surface underground, and small cards representing different fossil and geologic discoveries that might be found down there as well as random events that can occur. There are also larger cards representing opportunities for the explorers to move around and various tools and equipment 19th century spelunkers might bring with them to the Earth’s core. A separate deck provides for a set of encounters that may occur while crossing the subterranean sea featured in part 2 of the game.

The actual playing pieces consist of three little plastic explorers, red, yellow and blue, and a plastic raft on which they all get to ride in part 2 of the game. There are no dice in this game as all the chance elements are provided by the cards. There is also a set of lovely blue polished stones called water stones, which are meant to represent the explorers’ fresh water supply.

Gameplay

The game is structured into three separate parts corresponding to the three main segments of the film: wandering in the underground caverns, crossing the subterranean sea, and the final ride up the erupting volcano’s lava chute. Players play and finish each segment in order before moving to the next and the game ends when the raft with the explorers is expelled from the Italian volcano.

Every turn each player can choose to draw cards from the movement and equipment decks, no more than three per turn, or to expend cards in moving the explorer figures.

The three colored explorer figures start on the entrance square in the volcano in Iceland and players (2-4) can play up to five appropriately colored explorer cards to move any figure they wish to any square it can legally reach. Some of the squares consist of difficult terrain, such as ravines or fields of rocks, which slow or stop the figures’ movement unless the controlling player plays specific pieces of equipment to ease their path. Many squares can be searched for fossil or geologic finds which will provide victory points at game’s end to the player who discovers them. But the players have to be in possession of these finds when they exit the Italian volcano for them to count in the final scoring.

Searching is conducted by moving on to a designated square and paying the listed equipment card(s). A card is then pulled from the fossil deck for each equipment card paid. Each fossil drawn will be worth a certain number of VP. Some will be a fixed amount, others will be based on a sliding scale depending on how many of that type a player has, and still others will be part of a two or three card set which will pay off different amounts depending on how complete the set is.

Besides fossils players can acquire water stones by entering certain squares. These will be useful at the end of the first stage in preserving fossils. Each stone pays for three fossils and any fossils not covered by the required number of water stones will disappear before the explorers set sail on the raft. Any stones left over count for VP at game end.

There are also event cards which players can get. These provide positive bonuses for the player using the card and can be played anytime.

Eventually, when a player maneuvers any figure to the end square of part 1, the Mushroom Forest, he earns bonus VP and the “wandering in the caverns” phase is done. All figures, regardless of where they are standing, are then inserted into their spaces on the raft and part 2, the “sea crossing” segment, begins. In this phase of the game players take turns guiding the raft across the sea to the destination square on the far shore while taking time to search for fossils and geologic finds while afloat. This is more of a mutual phase than the first one as all players get a chance to search a designated sea square, not just the player who lands on it (they are, after all, together on a raft). Meanwhile, random events, in the form of the sea adventure cards are pulled at the end of every player’s movement turn and take immediate effect. Most events provide more victory points, but only to the first player who chooses to pay the event’s required movement cards. One event, “Ball Lightning”, will steal fossils if players fail to pay.

There are the standard roadblocks along the way: whirlpools to avoid and large rocks which block the raft unless the correct equipment cards are used. The end space in the Ancient City will be reached at last and part 2 concludes. Part 3, the “ride up the lava chute” segment now starts.

This is the quickest part of the game and takes only about five minutes or so. The raft is placed at the bottom of the Italian volcano’s lava chute, a track of spaces with printed colored rafts depicted on them. Some spaces cause everyone to lose fossils if they can’t pay the penalty cards required, others are neutral. The ride is one way to the top and impelled by drawing cards from the movement deck. It is possible to hit all the bad spaces or to miss them all on the way up, but usually players will hit a mix of good and bad. Once the raft exits the top of the lava chute the adventure, and the game, are done.

All that remains is to count up the victory points from players’ remaining fossils, sea adventure cards and water stones plus any bonus points earned for arriving at the Mushroom Forest or the Ancient City first, and any provided by event cards. The player who scores the highest final tally is the winner.

Opinions

The box says this game takes a bit over an hour to play and I found that to be accurate. The first part of the game lasts around 40 to 45 minutes, the second part takes another 20, and the last part only 5 or so. That makes this a good game for a family game night or for those times when your game group just wants something light and quick.

Light is the key word here: this is an easy game to learn and an easy game to play. The theme is nicely realized with beautiful fossil illustrations on the cards, a very well illustrated game board, finely detailed figures and raft, and overall good design quality. The overall concept of the game is advanced enough to give casual and younger players a challenge at managing their hands and looking for fossils while advancing the game from stage to stage, but it’s not overwhelmingly difficult.

Because each player can choose to move any of the three explorer figures, depending on his hand, there is a fair amount of strategic choice involved in the first part of the game, which is essentially a scramble for fossils and water. Later, when everyone is in the same boat together, the strategy changes into a choice between heading the raft towards the far shore or taking side trips to hunt even more fossils, with a little bit of danger thrown in to spice things up. Player interaction is fairly minimal in that they may try to obstruct and hinder each other only to a limited extent in the first part of the game.

More serious players may find this game not challenging enough but at least it doesn’t take too long to play so it is recommended as a break between the heavier games many of us go in for. It’s ideal for casual gaming groups.

I’ve long had a thing for the adventure novels of Jules Verne and would love to see more of his stories translated into boardgames. There is already an “Around the World in Eighty Days” game out there and I would encourage game producers to consider “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “Mysterious Island”, “Five Weeks in a Balloon” and “From the Earth to the Moon” as bases for future games.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

Axelfudge — 2008-09-24T01:47:23+00:00

silvers211games wrote:
Axelfudge wrote:
I think part of the problem is players not advancing explorers and staying in the same row. It is possible in the second row to go from the Compass to the Light. Next player goes to Compass. Next player goes back to Light and then continues on.

I don't think you can do that. I think the rules say you only collect fossil cards at the end of your movement. So an explorer cannot collect fossils cards from more than one space on a row. He only collects fossil cards at the end of his movement and he has to move at least one row.

Yup, it's all coming together... thanks!

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

Axelfudge — 2008-09-24T01:46:43+00:00

I see my problem:

It's the line:

You may move "forward" (i.e. to a space in a row of spaces closer to the "end space" and further from the starting area)

I guess this is just saying can't end in the same row? What confusing language.

Thanks guys!

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

silvers211games — 2008-09-24T01:02:40+00:00

Axelfudge wrote:
I think part of the problem is players not advancing explorers and staying in the same row. It is possible in the second row to go from the Compass to the Light. Next player goes to Compass. Next player goes back to Light and then continues on.

I don't think you can do that. I think the rules say you only collect fossil cards at the end of your movement. So an explorer cannot collect fossils cards from more than one space on a row. He only collects fossil cards at the end of his movement and he has to move at least one row.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

TheRook — 2008-09-23T21:46:37+00:00

Those maximums still apply even in a 3-player game. Our end scores were 15, 11, 11, and 7.

I think the difference in our games was that you allowed an explorer to move sideways and stop. So you could move back and forth over and over. The way I interpreted the rules in our game was that you could not JUST move sideways...and since you could not collect a fossil unless you END on one, once an explorer got a fossil in a given row, that explorer had to move forward before getting another fossil. Therefore, each of the three explorers, maximizing their trips downward, could get no more than 18 fossils.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

Axelfudge — 2008-09-23T21:18:13+00:00

Perhaps that's the difference between a four player and a three player game?

In the three player, there is an explorer for each player. I would imagine in a four player game the amount of times you play explorers in phase one is less thus less chances for fossils.

In our three player game we scored 56, 53, 47. We had about 12-16 fossils at the end of round one.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

TheRook — 2008-09-23T21:12:04+00:00

We actually had the exact OPPOSITE problem. Everyone almost completely ran out of fossil cards. Final count: Player One = 6 cards, Player Two = 4 cards, Player Three = 2 cards, and Player Four = ZERO cards.

If anything, I think it's too tough to get and hang onto fossil cards, at least the way we played it. Maybe we played it wrong, though.

I count a maximum of 18 possible cards that each of the three explorers can get in phase one. This is assuming that you go by the rule as I understood it that you MUST move an explorer at least one space forward each turn and that you can't collect a fossil unless you END on that space. With that, it is impossible to move an explorer sideways only and still collect a fossil and I am pretty sure that makes a maximum of 18 fossils per explorer, or 54 total for Phase One.

In Phase Two, using the same rule that you MUST move at least one space forward and you cannot collect unless you END on a fossil space, I see a total of 16 maximum.

This would make a maximum of 70 cards you could conceivably get out of the 64 there. But that assumes maximizing at every step and never losing a card. Also, it assumes everyone has enough water to keep their fossils at the end of Phase One.

The way we played it seems like it would be next to impossible to actually run out of fossils.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

Axelfudge — 2008-09-23T20:59:59+00:00

I think part of the problem is players not advancing explorers and staying in the same row. It is possible in the second row to go from the Compass to the Light. Next player goes to Compass. Next player goes back to Light and then continues on.

You're right, it's probably going to happen sometimes that cards will run out.

This sort of move happened a few times in our game.

Look forward to more games of this.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

silvers211games — 2008-09-23T14:23:07+00:00

Taking a quick look at the board online it does look like if you maximized the number of fossils cards drawn from the discovery spaces you could definitely run out, especially when you factor in the sea adventure cards. I'd be interested to see how often this happens. It wasn't an issue in the one game I played, but that was just one game.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

silvers211games — 2008-09-23T12:56:16+00:00

Axelfudge wrote:
We did move back and forth on a row sometimes so that some spaces we're taken advantage of more then once

Are you saying with the same explorer? Or are you saying the same space was taken advantage of more than once, but by a different explorer each time? I'd have to check, but I think you can only search for fossils at the space you end your movement on. If I have that rule right, a single explorer could only search for one fossil on each row in the first stage (each column in the second) because they'd have to move at least one row down on their next movement, they could not end their movement in the row they started in.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

Axelfudge — 2008-09-23T04:22:20+00:00

Yeah, we followed that rule. We did move back and forth on a row sometimes so that some spaces we're taken advantage of more then once but I don't see anything in the rules preventing that.

Thread: Re: Running out of Fossil cards

silvers211games — 2008-09-23T02:02:12+00:00

Are you playing with the rule that each time an explorer is moved they have to be forward at least one space and can never be moved backwards? So in the first part, explorers must always move down at least one row when moved and cannot move up. And in the second part, the explorer must always move right one column and cannot move left at all.

I ask because I heard this rule has been missed by some. And playing without this rule would make it more likely to burn though fossil cards.

Thread: Running out of Fossil cards

Axelfudge — 2008-09-23T01:41:44+00:00

Has anyone else run into the problem of running out of Fossil cards?

We were playing a three player game we ran out about half way across the sea. It made some of the Sea Adventure cards irrelevant.

We managed the Chain Lightning and did not end up replenishing the supply.

Thread: Re: Preparing for the journey: Thoughts after reading the rules...

brel — 2008-09-22T15:21:21+00:00

volnon wrote:
I play the game with the wife tomorrow- review to follow.

I'll wait for the review before I decide whether to get the game or not.

Thread: Re: Preparing for the journey: Thoughts after reading the rules...

volnon — 2008-09-20T02:14:49+00:00

I just got my copy from Pozy and read the rules, too. Looks pretty good so far! I like the way the game is card driven and boy, are those cards nice looking! Some really nice art is going on here!
Love the raft and plastic discoverer pawns.

I play the game with the wife tomorrow- review to follow.

Thread: Re: Preparing for the journey: Thoughts after reading the rules...

pezpimp — 2008-09-20T02:00:57+00:00

I just got my copy and read the rules also and I had the same impressions. Hand management and more of a family game that would be fun for adults playing with kids. I just wonder if my gaming group (all adults) would like it.
Based on my read, I think I personaly would enjoy it.

Thread: Preparing for the journey: Thoughts after reading the rules...

Axelfudge — 2008-09-19T23:49:14+00:00

There wasn't a whole lot of info on Journey to the Center of the Earth so I thought I'd come on and post a few impressions after reading the rules.

Note: I am a huge fan of the book and have generally liked all the movies. The new 3D version was much better then I thought it would be.

The game takes place over three episodes: The Decent into the Dormant Volcano; The Crossing of the Lindenbrock Sea and Riding the Volcano.

Throughout the game ALL players are moving the three explorer pawns (red, yellow and blue) through the three episodes and you will be managing two types of cards. Explorer cards (red, yellow and blue) and Equipment cards (Pickaxe, Rope, Compass etc..) There are different spaces you need navigate; some have fossils (pts), various obstacles, ways of getting water. You will be using your cards to best navigate to the most optimal spaces. I like part as it seems there is good amount of creativity to how you will use your cards. (in a way that reminds me of Blue Moon City - these games are in no way similar - at all)

In the volcano you are moving the explorers using the same color Explorer cards through the volcano and using Equipment cards to help navigate certain spaces. (ex. using red explorer cards to move forward and using rope to traverse a ravine, in the sea adventure it would using the rope to navigate past a whirlpool)

The object of the game is to gather fame through the collection of fossil cards comprising of cards with different values. There are some cards which are 2pts each (bone, snail) but there are other skull cards which you need to collect sets of. For example, there is a kind of porpoise skeleton which is in three fragments. Have 1 of them, 1pt, then 3 and 12 respectively for a full set.

There is also quartz and gold which may be collected. 1-3-6-10-15-20 and 5pts for each additional.

There are some spaces where you may collect fossils. You need to have the equivalent equipment cards to collect the fossils. If there is a picture of a rope, discard a rope from you hand and you collect one fossil. If there were two symbols, do the same but get two fossils. There are also lamps which allow you to draw two more additional cards but you have to discard two cards so you end up with the same amount of fossils but more options. (I like this).

Once one explorer gets to the bottom of the volcano you end the decent. You collect water by going through rock spaces and you need water to keep your fossils. Then, all explorers go onto a neat little raft and begin their journey across the sea. You travel across the sea in a similar fashion to the volcano but instead all explorers move together so the round is much shorter. Additionally there are Sea Adventure cards which come out on each players turn. The current player gets a chance to meet the challenge (discard certain cards) and gets a reward if they do so. If not the next player gets a chance or passes until someone wins it. You get fossils for most the challenges but there is one negative one (Ball Lightning) where you you lose fossils if you can't discard the necessary explorer cards. Everyone has to complete this challenge.

Once you get to the end of this episode there is a bonus card for whichever player got the boat there.

Then you start your way up the Volcano. This part plays quick. You won't be using your Explorer cards for this part but your Equipment cards. In this part you flip over an Explorer card from the draw pile and the boat travels to that color space. Then an Equipment card from it's respective draw pile is turned and all players have to match this card. If they can't they lose a fossil or two depending on the space. This continues till you escape. This part shouldn't take more then 5-10mins at most.

At the end you add up your points which equal fame and the winner is announced.

This is definitely a hand management game through and through but I love these kind of games and I think the theme elements are incorporated nicely enough that I will enjoy playing this. While you are managing the same cards throughout the game it looks like each episode brings it's own flavor which should keep the game interesting during it's suggested 70min playing time.

Looks like this could be a fun journey.

Cheers!

Thread: Re: Pickaxes?

chaosjenkins — 2008-09-19T20:44:51+00:00

If I recall correctly, you can use the pick axe through the duration of the explorer's movement (through more than one rock space, provided you play the requisite number of explorer movement cards). This is unlike ravines, where you'd need a separate rope card for each one.

Thread: Re: Pickaxes?

Vulch — 2008-09-17T02:01:31+00:00

After playing a pickaxe, you will only need to play one explorer card to move into a space with two or three rocks - regardless of the number of these spaces - for the remainder of the turn.

Thread: Pickaxes?

ivefa9 — 2008-09-14T15:06:42+00:00

Hi to you,
I just want to make sure; if I have a pickaxe card, and play it, do I move for only 1 explorer card in each rock spaces that I move through in this turn? Or I have to always pay a pickaxe in every spaces I move through that has rocks?
Thanks for your help!
..Yves

Thread: Re: Been slow here, any release news?

ScottE — 2008-09-09T21:19:52+00:00

jtakagi wrote:
Boardgame News is quoting a release date of September 11th, the day after tomorrow!

Ohh, thanks for the info!

Thread: Re: Been slow here, any release news?

jtakagi — 2008-09-09T19:08:28+00:00

Boardgame News is quoting a release date of September 11th, the day after tomorrow!

Thread: Been slow here, any release news?

ScottE — 2008-09-09T17:41:53+00:00

Was wondering if anyone has heard a release date on this recently?

Thread: Re: Water spaces

skeletodoc — 2008-07-28T01:46:54+00:00

There are no rock cards, only explorer and equipment cards. We play that you have to discard a colored explorer card to get to the space and then discard 2-3 additional same explorer cards to be in the rock space, unless you play a pickaxe with only one additional card of that color. I think it's correct.Also the bread equipment card plays as an extra 2 explorer cards either to move 2 spaces or to offset rocks on a space.

Thread: Re: Water spaces

Etrigan64 — 2008-06-20T20:31:29+00:00

He he he... It would have been too easy I suppose...

Thanks for the quick reply Mik!!

Thread: Re: Water spaces

Great Dane — 2008-06-20T18:39:19+00:00

In order to enter a space with rocks, you must play a number of ~~rock~~ Scientist cards equal to the number of rocks shown. If the space happends to have water as well, you may pick up water droplets on your way through.

- you didn't really think you could get that precious water for free - did you?

Thread: Water spaces

Etrigan64 — 2008-06-20T18:27:00+00:00

I have just received the game and have not had the chance to play yet. While reading the rules, I noticed that the water spaces in the first stage of the game (the descent to the Earth Core) show images of rocks (besides the water drop).

Should those be paid with cards as for the other spaces with 2 or 3 rocks or is the water space just to be considered a bonus space?

Thread: preview from Gamepack website

anto — 2008-03-02T09:30:26+00:00

here is a report with pictures from the International Toy Fair Nuremberg 2008
(scroll down, it's among other games from Kosmos)

http://www.gamepack.nl/gamepack/nuern-2008-kosmos.html

Thread: release to correspond to the new movie coming out?

ropearoni4 — 2008-01-30T02:00:14+00:00

Good timing with a new movie of the same name to be released this summer/spring or because of the movie?