Five budding scientists had assembled appropriately enough in the local Church (Leighton Buzzard Gamers June 2007). Our mission was to determine who really knew the secrets of creating life.

I certainly did not like the look of the motley crew of misfits and reprobates ... particularly that one calling herself Gina.... mmmhhhh I am worried that she won't have the stomach (hahahahaha) for playing with these body parts ( )

oh dear, I seem to be going down the path to a Carry-On film here, so maybe I had better back up a little.

We were playing one of the new games from Reiver Games, launched recently in the UK, and which I had been recommended to buy by Richard Tyson (RichardT). I was also forced into buying it by the game designer Jackson Pope (CaptainJax) and owner of the company. http://www.reivergames.co.uk

What chance did I stand? I am not sure what mind tricks he had used to get me to buy his two games, but obviously he could give Derren Brown a run for his money.

The bits of the game consist of a stack of cards detailing body parts (head, heart, torso, legs, feet, etc). Each card also has a value ranging from 2 through to 10, not all values being applicable to all parts though. Additionally there are cards showing a coffin - which acts as a Joker, and cards showing a Villager's Uprising.

Each player has a screen showing an evil dungeon, which is used to hide the scientist's nefarious activities from the eyes of us more normal people. There is also a card representing their 'slab' or operating table on which they place the grisly burden of bits. Each player keeps all cards and money well hidden - because let's face it, someone who is willing to work up to their armpits in blood and guts can't exactly be trusted to not take advantage of knowing your secrets.

Each player on their turn has 2 options:
1. turn over the top-most card from the central stack and place it in the centre of the table
2. Pay the price of a visible card in any player's graveyard, and place it in the centre of the table

This resulting available card can now either be bought outright by the player for the value given on the card, sold to the anatomists for half its value, or offered it up for auction. The first option means you can drag it back to your lab straight away and add it to your nice homely collection.

The auction is interesting. It goes for 1 round, starting with the player whose turn it is. The card is won by the person who bids the highest.
The Money goes to the player who offered it for auction, or the bank if the player who won the auction is also the player who started the auction.

Sounds very simple ... and actually is quite deep. It is the 'single chance' bit which leads to a lot of careful thinking, bluffing, and double bluffing.

It may be that I don't want or need the body part, and start low, or I might need it but have not got much money, or maybe I just want other players to think I don't want it.
Maybe I go in middle or high... just to give the impression I really do want this part, so forcing up the price to make the maximum profit I can.

Or I really do want it, but don't want to pay the full price, and so I want the other to think I am forcing up the price, and don't want it really ..... oooohhhhhh my head is hurting now...

It actually felt a little like a Game Theory as part of a class in Psychology !!

Great fun though!

If you Sell the body part (for half its face value), it gets placed in front of your laboratory, on your graveyard pile, face up. This top card can be payed for in later turns and put up for auction, bought outright etc.

If a Villagers' Uprising card is turned over then your blood-curdling activities have come to the attention of the locals who quite rightly are offended and want a little justice. They are easily bought off though with money or body parts from your laboratory - the parts probably came from someone's dearly beloved, and so the Villagers take them away to be buried properly again .... what poor trusting folk !!! - you will be stitching some new parts together in a jiffy - don't you worry!!

Eventually someone will have managed to get all the bits together they need to create their new best-friend, so apply the electrodes, shout "It's Alive!!!", show their creation, and they have won the game

There is a slightly more advanced version where you can sum the values of the gory bits you collected together, and see who actually comes out with the most points .... so you want only the primest bits of brains and heart in your body!!!

All in all a great game - and works really well right up to 5 - everyone said they had a really good time playing it. Simple Rules but some thinking has to be done in order to optimise your moves.
It can be played with 2, but a very different game and with 2 it does feel even more like a Psychology Experiment!

I really do highly recommend the game.

Hiya David,

First a minor correction, I'm merely the publisher, not the designer of this game, Yehuda Berlinger has the honour of that role.

Secondly: Look into my eyes, not around the eyes, look into my eyes, now repeat after me: I was not coerced, I bought the game because it looked so good.

Cheers,

Jack

P.S. Nice write up!

Excellent report David, but I have sent a link to Gina.........

WELL excuse ME!
How very dare you ?!
Misfits AND reprobates?!!!!

I'll have you know that I have a degree in anatomy and physiology and am quite capable of handling anybody's body parts......

That was a fab review of a brilliant game David!
It really was loads of fun enhanced by your salesman's pitch!

A good summary of the game and how it plays out with the auction. It's very quick to learn but has depth in the play, as you described.

I suspect that the general name calling is sour grapes as I soundly thrashed him at Border Reivers earlier that morning!

Seriously though, a fun game. I liked it that much I snagged a copy from Jack this morning. Recommended if you like fun themes, and hurry while stocks last, this is a limited edition.