Game: Lifeboat

Thread: Playing cards on characters

Monkatron — 2008-10-27T18:51:11+00:00

The rules are a bit opaque to me. When do you play cards (e.g. cash, jewels) onto characters? Can you choose to play them face down or face up? How many can you play at once? Can you play them on any character or just your own?

Thread: Re: Expansion

One Fat Pug — 2008-10-23T19:22:57+00:00

Hoo ha!

Doctor Harter has been lurking around the photo page since last December. At least his expansion finally caught up with him!

Thread: "Sorry, we could not find anything that matched your search request."

AvatarArt — 2008-10-21T07:27:49+00:00

Me neither, but there's one here: http://boardgamegeek.com/file/info/26403

It also gives an example of scoring. I think it'd be useful to update it as there seems to be several threads with questions.

Thread: cannibalisim: new meaning to 'new flavor'

AvatarArt — 2008-10-21T07:15:26+00:00

Why do I think that they wrote "adds new flavor" on purpose?

Thread: Re: Another question about the rules.

castorex — 2008-10-10T09:56:08+00:00

Considering the character locations A B C
If A switches place with C (by fighting or not),
then if B wants to switch its place with the third place… what does it mean ? B switches his place with A or C ? It is not clear…

Thanks

Thread: Re: Rules, rules, rules ...

Monkatron — 2008-10-05T04:06:45+00:00

I can't find any FAQ at Gorilla Games.

Thread: Re: Should I buy this game?

slyde — 2008-09-16T17:50:04+00:00

for what its worth, i like this game.

but like many negotion games:

1) really should be played with the max players (1 less will work too)

2) the end game is lacking, as with less players left alive, there isnt much left to do.

if u can live with those caveats, then i'd say pick it up.

Thread: Re: Should I buy this game?

sofge — 2008-09-16T17:29:24+00:00

dysjunct wrote:
Yes, but Santiago has no Buckets O' Chum.

Maybe that's the key, sort of a micronized version of the Ameritrash/Eurosnoot flame wars. Between the chum bucket and the dual-use "oar" card, most people I've shown the game to have been able to immediately get a gut feeling of whether they'll like it or not.

Thread: Re: Should I buy this game?

dysjunct — 2008-09-12T11:42:51+00:00

Yes, but Santiago has no Buckets O' Chum.

Thread: Re: Should I buy this game?

cvandyk — 2008-09-11T22:03:33+00:00

Some interesting thoughts. I've never considered playing as a certain character before. I think it's a good game, even if not a great game. The better negotiation game, IMHO, is Santiago.

Thread: Should I buy this game?

rantinronrevue — 2008-09-11T20:07:09+00:00

This is not to be treated as a review per se, but a few thoughts about this particular game. I usually will give my fair and honest evaluation to a game and be done with it. But, after buying this for my son and playing it twice, we have such a wide margin of opinions that I feel my personal opinion of the game is of secondary importance. For the record, I like the game enough to rate it a 7 or 8.

My son showed me the game via him and I simulating a six-player game. I thought that the concept was great, that it was unpredictable and possibly even diabolical (A bucket of chum?!) I loved the thought of six characters being fleshed out, figuring how I’d play each one. This game had all the makings of a winner.

On game night, we split into two groups of four, having one group play this game (not the ideal number for this game). I was in the other group, however. My son and his fiancé were familiar with the rules, but the two other players were not. The game did not go extremely well and got very tepid reviews by the four players, though my son was still optimistic.

A couple of weeks later, I had the chance to join into a 5-player game. Again, my son, his fiancé, and I were familiar with the game, and the other two players (different ones) were not. It was like pulling teeth! The two new players griped and moaned, one of them even going so far as to say ‘That does it. I’ll just keep playing ‘Do Nothing’ until we’re finished or I’m dead’’! (She eventually won, but still didn’t like the game, I played ‘The Kid’ as a snotty-nosed kleptomaniac and was the first one killed off (But I had fun doing it!). Of the seven people who’ve played it, two like it a lot, one is lukewarm, three dislike it and one hates it.

That was about six months ago. The game has not left its box since. Hopefully we’ll give it at least one more chance very soon.

Our group is heavily into strategy games, from gateway (‘Ticket to Ride: Europe’) to sort of heavy (‘Hermagor’), with a few party games thrown in. I realize that this game is a bit different, with a hint of role-playing required, but still can’t explain why we’ve had no luck getting a good game going for this. My son had originally played this at a local store during open gaming day and had loved it (that’s why I bought it for him).

My advice is that before you spend money on this game (though it IS affordable), try to analyze how you think it will go over with the people in your gaming group. Perhaps even get your group to play the game at a local game store if possible. They may not like it as much as you think they would.

Thread: Re: Overboard Question

Sharga — 2008-09-01T05:45:42+00:00

Perfect, just what I needed to know. Thanks!

Thread: Re: Overboard Question

bmeyaard — 2008-08-31T12:55:44+00:00

Q: How long does that person stay overboard?
A: You take a point of damage and then climb back aboard before the next round.

Q: Can normal cards be played face up at any time?
A: Yes, any time.

Q: When do I chum the waters?
A: Because I usually "run" the game for my group to keep things moving, I typically call for actions when someone falls overboard... "does anyone have a life preserver they'd like to throw this poor fellow? ... no? Anything else you'd like to add to the water?" This usually triggers people to use the chum at the right time for the first couple of games.

Hope that helps!
-Ben

Thread: Overboard Question

Sharga — 2008-08-31T06:05:04+00:00

Ok, I don't quite understand how going overboard works.
I know that:
1) You take a hit token (except Frenchy)
2) Lose all face-up cards (except life-preserver)
3) If you are unconscious, you immediately die (unless you have a face-up life-preserver)

But what I don't understand is exactly how long does that person stay overboard and also if they remain overboard for the next round does that prevent them from taking certain actions or being part of the Quartermaster/Navigator phases?

Now that I think about it, maybe they get back in the boat immediately after going overboard. Is this correct?

Also, can normal cards (in other words not special action cards like flare gun, parasol, or medical kit) be played or put face up in front of you at any time during the game? (except, I assume, when the kid is trying to steal a hidden card) I mostly want to know when the chum bucket can be played, but also for other cards as well.

Thanks,
Aaron

Thread: Re: Rowing question

gpren — 2008-08-17T14:07:15+00:00

Thanks! That's what I thought but I just wanted to make sure. The rules are a little unclear on that, as they are on several things.

Thread: Re: Rowing question

dysjunct — 2008-08-17T06:19:29+00:00

The latter.

For each card you draw, look at it and decide if you want to put it in the Row Stack or under the Nav Deck.

It's in the rules, under "Row" on the action descriptions on the first side.

Thread: Rowing question

gpren — 2008-08-16T22:57:25+00:00

When a player chooses "Row" as his action during the Actions Phase. Do they choose one card to place in the Row Stack and one card to put back into the Navigation deck or do they have the option of adding both cards to one deck and none to the other?

Thread: Re: An Average Joe review

ourhero — 2008-07-01T00:08:22+00:00

Thanks for a great review.

I wasn't sure I was going to be able to acquire or fit the glass beads and plastic chits in the box so I left them out of the rules when I went to press. They are a bonus gift for tracking stuff. In retrospect, I should have had more confidence that I'd be able to get them in and included that in the game rules.

If you have any specific rules questions that came up, please email me and I'll be happy to answer them.

- Jeff Siadek
Game Designer
Lifeboat

Thread: Re: A Unique Little Card Game

dysjunct — 2008-05-23T14:44:55+00:00

Great review! Lifeboat is one of my favorites -- highly underrated here IMO.

Thread: Re: A Unique Little Card Game

Yokiboy — 2008-05-23T01:09:19+00:00

Nice review Rick.

Thread: An Average Joe review

rstruve — 2008-05-23T00:29:45+00:00

Average Joe reviews are aimed at the average gamer. You know who you are!

Those of us who:
1) Know what ‘Eurogame’ and ‘Ameritrash’ means.
2) Know that enjoying the game is more important than winning.
3) Don’t own more than 50 games.
4) Don’t consider their FLGS a second home (maybe a 3rd or 4th though).
5) Like to read a review without being overloaded with information.

Lifeboat is a card game that could easily be passed over at your local game store. It's cover is unassuming, it's in a small box and there has been next to no word-of-mouth here on BGG about it. So let me try to encourage you to slow down when browsing games, and give this one a second (or third) glance.

I won't bore you with game instructions, as you can find those elsewhere on the Lifeboat game page. Let's just jump in the boat and see where it takes us, ok?

Art:
First off, I love the artwork. Very simple bold lines, and yet so Orphan Annie-esque. It adds a great 1920's-1930's feel to the cards, which really appeals to the artist inside me.

Components:
Yeah, cheap plastic things... but honestly, who cares? There is no need for anything fancy here. Plastic blue chips and plastic yellow gems, works for me! The cards are the star of the game, not the plastic...

The Rules:
For the most part, the rules are fairly easy to pick up on... with just a quick overview to teach the game and then a couple rounds before everyone will be able to understand how it works, and what needs to be done. Sadly, the rules could be better written... and maybe a little more thorough. There were several times when a rule check didn't really explain well what needed to happen, or what to do - luckily, we just role-played some rules that didn't exist.

The Game:
The game is truly fun! The mechanics are unique, and the guesswork of who loves you and who hates you is quite ingenious. You are on a lifeboat, not much to do but fight and steal as some people try to get the boat to land before they die. What a riot!

Downtime:
The game plays fairly fast, and keeps everyone involved with next to no downtime between turns... mainly because on other player's turns, they may be picking a fight with you... or asking you to help them beat up someone else! There is also little reason for long-term strategizing (I love that word), it is pretty simple to figure out what you need to do next. Analysis Paralysis is next to zero.

Game Length:
To be truthful, the game can be a little long - at least an hour depending on how quick people want to get to shore and who will let them get there quick. I would like to have seen this dropped to more of a 30 minute game. But the time isn't too bad.

Finish:
The ending is a little anti-climatic. You will usually have the winner figured out when the game is 3/4 completed... as many will be dead, and the others are hanging on by a thread. So for more than half the people playing, it's just sitting around waiting for the game to finish so they can maybe get some points. The game is more fun for folks if the lifeboat makes it to land quicker with not everyone dead.

Pros:
Fun game
Easy to understand
Plays well with 4-6 (6 is best)

Cons:
More info in rules
Nothing for dead players to do but wait
Need at least 4 to make game good

Big Con:
I have mentioned the lack of info in rules. One BLAZING example of this would be the lack of explaining what the 3 yellow gems are for that come with the game. There isn't a single word in the rules about these three gems... so for the first 3 games I played, they sat in the box. It wasn't until I checked BGG and found someone else explaining these are to indicate the birds that appear as you get closer to shore. It was one of those 'duh' moments... made perfect sense. But then, why couldn't a single sentance in the rules that come with the game point that out?

Overall:
We truly enjoyed this game - even my brother who was playing The Kid and died in the first 15 minutes of the game. It will make it to the table again in the near future.

I give it a 7/10

Thread: Re: Life on a Boat

Sinister — 2008-05-05T14:42:07+00:00

glad you liked it.

The game is up for an Origins Award and the Origins Game Fair in June.

Thread: Life on a Boat

rstruve — 2008-05-01T14:31:31+00:00

After watching a group at my FLGS enjoying this game, I thought I would give it a go around at our family game day. What a fun little game!

We only had 4 playing, which I think having 6 people in the lifeboat would have been better... we went on our way, trying to reach land.

Me, being the First Mate, had the unique opprotunity to not only Love myself, but I also Hated myself! Hard to strategize that one, but I figured it was our first game... so no strategy needed, just have fun and see what the group thinks.

As we drifted, it was The Kid to first fall victim to getting involved in one too many fights and getting thrown overboard - resulting in injuries that over came him. He spent most of the game in a coma lying on the boat floor while the rest of us stole his loot.

After smartly picking a few fights, I was able to quickly knock my opponents down a few pegs, leaving each of them within an inch of their life. I threw everyone overboard, including myself... but the catch was, I was the only one with more than one wound left. They passed out, and I was nice enough to bring them back on board - only to steal their stuff until we finally saw 4 birds flying, and I knew land was near. Of course, they weren't able to survive the trip - it's not easy to survive in a coma at sea you know.

So I hopped out onto land, declared my victory, and went about my way. Of course, I am going to jump on the next cruise ship I see... and with a little luck, it will sink. With a little more luck, I will end up on a lifeboat with some fellow passengers... who look to me for advice on how to survive the wild ocean waves. Will people ever learn?

Thread: Re: Compass question

Sinister — 2008-04-20T15:53:22+00:00

Ignore the compass if there's no row stack.

Thread: Re: Compass question

kuhrusty — 2008-04-20T07:06:48+00:00

dysjunct wrote:
What happens when the Navigator has a Compass in play, but no one rows? Is the Compass ignored for that turn (since there's no Row stack), representing the lifeboat drifting aimlessly?
Yeah, that's the way I read it. (Or, at least, the end result is the same: the Navigator adds one card to the empty row "stack" for the Compass, and then can only choose that card for Navigation.)

Plus, that's consistent with my experiences at sea in a lifeboat. Fooling with the rudder doesn't do any good when no one is rowing; indeed, as the water runs low and tempers flare, its only effect is to make the other survivors even more irritable.

Thread: Compass question

dysjunct — 2008-04-17T19:34:52+00:00

The Rules wrote:
If there is no Row stack, resolve the top card off the Navigation deck.

Compass wrote:
When you are the Navigator, add one card to the Navigation stack before selecting a Navigation card to play.

What happens when the Navigator has a Compass in play, but no one rows? Is the Compass ignored for that turn (since there's no Row stack), representing the lifeboat drifting aimlessly?

Or does the Navigator draw the top two cards (one for no Row stack, plus one for the Compass) and choose one to play? Since, y'know, even if no one rows he can still use the rudder to maintain some degree of control.

Or something else?

Thread: Re: Similarity to Coach Trip ?

lfisher — 2008-03-03T21:58:47+00:00

That is an interesting question. I think they have quite a different feel. Lifeboat feels a bit lighter and people can get wiped out pretty quickly. Stagecoach has two real teams and everyone carries through to the end. The combat and alliances is a bit similar. Lifeboat also has the "positional" element.

I like both, but I think the hidden team vs. hidden alliance aspect, and likely elimination in Lifeboat are the biggest differences. Stagecoach feels a little longer and meatier to me.

Thread: Re: Similarity to Coach Trip ?

RandallPeek — 2008-03-03T21:32:43+00:00

I haven't played Coach Trip, but from reading about it and comparing it to Lifeboat, which I do have, I would have to say that there is more similiarity than difference. We have two card games in which players have secret alliances and are vying to use cards representing items in order to knock opponents out of the game. I would throw Bang! in as an additional game in this little trilogy of intrigue.

Thread: Re: Is there anypoint in healing a loved one as oppossed to just keeping them unconcious?

Sinister — 2008-02-25T06:22:20+00:00

You would be amazed at the number of times a low level health person goes overboard IF people row and the navagator wants them overboard.

I just won with the kid in the last game BTW.

Don't forget to that characters that are unconscious can be mugged freely losing valuable point cards.

Thread: Re: Is there anypoint in healing a loved one as oppossed to just keeping them unconcious?

boltongeordie — 2008-02-22T17:09:32+00:00

They can also help themselves if they are conscious, and gather equipment. Keeping them unconscious means you have to use one persons equipment to keep 2 alive.

Thread: Re: Do you die if you are unconcious and a thirst card comes up for you?

mrbeankc — 2008-02-22T10:25:06+00:00

Yep. You're a goner.

Thread: Re: Do you die if you are unconcious and a thirst card comes up for you?

kuhrusty — 2008-02-22T07:31:52+00:00

Yes, that's the way I read it, and that others can play water cards on your behalf.

Thread: Re: Is there anypoint in healing a loved one as oppossed to just keeping them unconcious?

kuhrusty — 2008-02-22T07:26:56+00:00

Keep in mind that the life preserver has to be played on the unconscious person before they go overboard; if they go overboard, and then you try to play it on them, it's too late. (See the last sentence under "Unconscious" in the leftmost column on page 2.) And if you play it on them while they're unconscious, then someone else will just take it from them without a fight. So, their odds of surviving are improved if they're conscious.

Thread: Is there anypoint in healing a loved one as oppossed to just keeping them unconcious?

Megasabin — 2008-02-22T05:22:41+00:00

I just got this game and we played a few times and we have found almost no reason to actually help/heal a loved one while they are conscious.

Since you still get points for them if they are alive and conscious, why not just let them remain unconscious and just play waters and life perserves on them.

This strategy especially makes sense for weaker characters who hardly go overboard. In fact this works so well that the game isn't really fun for the lower life characters, because no one will really bother to heal them since there is hardly any risk of them going overboard.

The game was not that fun for all of the lower life characters all three times we played, because of this.

Thread: Do you die if you are unconcious and a thirst card comes up for you?

Megasabin — 2008-02-22T05:17:24+00:00

Would this deal the one wound point and kill you?

Thanks

Thread: Re: Lifeboat PBeM starting

Sinister — 2008-02-12T17:09:45+00:00

Paradigm Games offers free ship in the USA, they do ship overseas with shipping costs.

www.paradigm-games.com

Lifeboat is in the Battlestations area of the site.

Thread: Expansion

Sinister — 2008-02-12T17:07:48+00:00

FYI:

"Lifeboat Expansion #1 Cannibalism" will ship May 1, 2008. The supplement requires the original Lifeboat game to play and adds 10 new cards including a seventh castaway "Doctor Harter" and the new "Cannibalism" card.

Title: Lifeboat Expansion #1: Cannibalism
Product Code: OOC 0801
MSRP: $2.50 US
Product description: one page of rules with 10 cards adding new flavor to "Lifeboat"
This is a supplement to the Lifeboat game system.
Author: Jeff Siadek

Back Cover text:

This expansion adds 10 new cards including a seventh character - Dr. Harter complete with a few extra First Aid Kits, Love and Hate cards and the infamous Cannibalism card.

You Must Have Lifeboat to Play.

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fenolin — 2008-01-03T17:20:45+00:00

Home made version; playing

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fenolin — 2008-01-03T17:19:19+00:00

Home made version; box and contents

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fenolin — 2008-01-03T17:18:26+00:00

Home made version; box

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fenolin — 2008-01-02T18:03:11+00:00

Box bottom

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fenolin — 2008-01-02T18:02:31+00:00

Top box. Board printed at top.

Thread: Re: Mugging

Sinister — 2007-12-24T18:32:04+00:00

You can turn cards up any time EXCEPT when the kid is pickpocketing you.

Thread: Re: How long does a character stay thirsty?

Sinister — 2007-12-24T18:25:58+00:00

After the navagation card is played any remaining fight or thirst tokens are placed back into the pool. Fights and thirsts don't carry over rounds. They either convert to wounds or are discarded.

Thread: Re: Everyone dead or unconscious?

Sinister — 2007-12-24T18:24:04+00:00

The boat will drift. It takes 4 birds or everyone to be dead for the game to end.

Thread: Re: When can you trade?

kuhrusty — 2007-12-24T07:00:17+00:00

lfisher wrote:
Can you trade with anyone at anytime outside of a fight?
That, and during the Quartermaster phase.

lfisher wrote:
If someone is thirsty can they negotiate for water?
I'm inclined to think so: under the Quartermaster phase, it says "no trading is allowed during this portion of the turn," and the Navigation phase doesn't say anything like that.

Thread: Re: Everyone dead or unconscious?

dreadpirate — 2007-12-23T15:39:12+00:00

This happened in my first game (it turned out there were *two* psychopaths on board - both were the last two living at one point).

We played that the boat drifts, to see if the unconscious/dead player falls overboard due to the cards. Seems to make sense because on any given turn if no one rows then the top navigation card is resolved, and no one is rowing.

Thread: When can you trade?

lfisher — 2007-12-23T15:04:48+00:00

Can you trade with anyone at anytime outside of a fight? If someone is thirsty can they negotiate for water?

Thread: Everyone dead or unconscious?

lfisher — 2007-12-23T15:02:43+00:00

If everyone is dead or unconscious do you score immediately or something else happens? I couldn't really find mention of this in the rules, but it seems like it can be relatively likely, especially if a psychopath is on board. It almost happened last night, but someone with one wound remaining managed to navigate themselves to safety.

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One Fat Pug — 2007-12-01T08:28:49+00:00

The rare and mysterious Dr. Harter

Thread: Re: Another "Thirst" Question

kuhrusty — 2007-11-29T13:14:18+00:00

I think the row & fight chips are removed at the end of the turn. I don't see anything explicitly saying this, but the "Row" paragraph says "Place a marker ... to signify that you have rowed and may become thirsty for it at the end of the turn." And under "Fight," it says "the Navigation card that is resolved later may indicate that these characters suffer thirst." Those both sort of imply that it's a one-turn thing.

(Also, if it didn't go away at the end of the turn, then once you row, you might as well row every turn until you get Thirsty for it.)

Thread: Another "Thirst" Question

tkelly — 2007-11-29T12:17:08+00:00

If a character rows, and the "Row" icon does NOT appear on the Navigation card put into play at the end of the game turn, what happens to that "Row" chip on the starboard side of this character's card? Does it go away, or stay until "converted" into a wound by a future Navigation card draw?
Same question applies to a "fight" chip.
TK

Thread: Re: Lifeboat PBeM : Day 2

flyinghogfish — 2007-11-26T15:27:54+00:00

It's been a long time coming, mainly due to my studying for accountancy exams next week, but Day 2 is finally up on the site. Hopefully Day 3 should go a little more swiftly. Of course, playing Eye of Judgment and Call of Duty 4 online hasn't helped, either...

As to where you cn buy the game in the UK, I tend to order from Leisuregames [www.leisuregames.com], but as the saying goes, other internet game companies are available...

Thread: Re: How long does a character stay thirsty?

tkelly — 2007-11-25T14:23:22+00:00

OK, here's another question which is related to my first question. If a character rows, and the "Row" icon does NOT appear on the Navigation card put into play at the end of the turn, what happens to that "Row" chip in the starboard side of his character card? Does it go away, or stay until "converted" into a wound by a future Navigation card draw?

Thread: Re: How long does a character stay thirsty?

tkelly — 2007-11-24T22:41:48+00:00

Gotcha! Thanks!
TK

Thread: Re: How long does a character stay thirsty?

Moviebuffs — 2007-11-24T15:58:54+00:00

tkelly wrote:
If a character acquires a chip for thirst, how long does the chip stay on the character's card? Just until the end of the turn, or for the whole game?
I can see several options, but find no answer in the rules.
A1) Character gets a chip, plays a water card, chip goes away.
A2) Character gets a chip, does not play a water card, takes a wound, chip goes away.

B1) Character gets a chip, plays a water card, chip stays.
B2) Character gets a chip, does not play a water card, takes a wound, chip stays.

Which set of options is correct, I wonder: A or B?

Looks like a fun game. Can't wait to try it.
TK

I think you're adding extra chips.

The chips represent wounds.

Therefore ....

If a character is thirsty, the receive a wound (chip) unless they play a water bottle, in which case they don't take a wound (chip).

N.

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kilroy_locke — 2007-11-08T02:52:34+00:00

The Captain is not a proud man... and parasols are in style this year!

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fenolin — 2007-10-27T15:52:59+00:00

Homemade version: other provision cards

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fenolin — 2007-10-27T15:52:04+00:00

Homemade version: provision weapon cards

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fenolin — 2007-10-27T15:51:13+00:00

Homemade version: provision victory point cards