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Patchwork: Halloween Edition
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Description
Add a spooky twist to your board gaming with this Halloween themed version of the popular 2-player game Patchwork. In Patchwork, two players compete to build the most aesthetic (and high-scoring) patchwork quilt on a personal 9x9 game board.
To start play, lay out all of the patches at random in a circle and place a marker directly clockwise of the 2-1 patch. Each player takes five buttons - the currency/points in the game - and someone is chosen as the start player. On a turn, a player either purchases one of the three patches standing clockwise of the spool or passes. To purchase a patch, you pay the cost in buttons shown on the patch, move the spool to that patch's location in the circle, add the patch to your game board, then advance your time token on the time track a number of spaces equal to the time shown on the patch. You're free to place the patch anywhere on your board that doesn't overlap other patches, but you probably want to fit things together as tightly as possible.
If your time token is behind or on top of the other player's time token, then you take another turn; otherwise, the opponent now goes. Instead of purchasing a patch, you can choose to pass; to do this, you move your time token to the space immediately in front of the opponent's time token, then take one button from the bank for each space you moved. In addition to a button cost and time cost, each patch also features 0-3 buttons, and when you move your time token past a button on the time track, you earn "button income": sum the number of buttons depicted on your personal game board, then take this many buttons from the bank.
What's more, the time track depicts five 1x1 patches on it, and during set-up, you place five actual 1x1 patches on these spaces. Whoever first passes a patch on the time track claims this patch and immediately places it on their game board. Additionally, the first player to completely fill in a 7x7 square on their game board earns a bonus tile worth 7 extra points at the end of the game. (Of course, this doesn't happen in every game. )
When a player takes an action that moves this time token to the central square of the time track, they take one final button income from the bank. Once both players are in the centre, the game ends and scoring takes place. Each player scores one point per button in his possession, then loses two points for each empty square on his game board. Scores can be negative.
The player with the most points wins.
Do you have a favourite ghoul? If you do, then Patchwork Halloween could be a perfect game for you!
Pumpkin Patches!
If you have played the original Patchwork, then you will know how it works. The gameplay hasn’t changed in this version. So, what is Patchwork Halloween Edition exactly? Well, it is exactly what it says on the box. A spooky, witch, bat, and pumpkin covered rendition of Uwe Rosenberg’s classic two-player puzzly powerhouse!
Spooky Set Up!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the great quilt-off, here’s a super spooky, speedy run down. It’s simple to set up, easy to learn and more tactical and strategic than the sharpest needle in your sewing box.
And in this fabulous Halloween edition, each player starts by taking an empty purple or orange board, as well as 5 eyeball tiles. The colourful double-sided time track is placed in the centre with the players’ pumpkins on the starting patch. All the pretty (terrifying!) patches are then placed in a circle around it.
On the time track are placed five additional patches, which will be handed out to the first player to reach them as the game progresses. The grave inspired neutral token is then placed immediately to the right of the small 2 eyeball-1 space patch, and that’s it. You are ready to get quilting!
Playing With Patches!
On your go, you can either trade your eyeballs for one of the three patches to the right of the grave token, or you can skip. If you go buying batty and purchase something, you’ll pay the allotted price, and move your pumpkin the required number of spaces along the time track (indicated by an egg timer icon). You can then place that patch in any orientation anywhere within your own quilt board. No overlapping or overhanging, mind you!
If you skip the purchasing phase, you’ll pass over your fellow pumpkin, and earn an eyeball for every square on the track you have skipped. If you cross an eyeball on the track at any time (whether due to buying or skipping), you’ll also earn income for each eyeball equal to those printed on the patches already making up your quilt.
The grave token replaces the patch you just picked to show the trio of spooktastic patches available next. Your turn continues until your pumpkin is ahead of your opponent on the time track, and the game ends once you both reach the centre. Note that if you fill a complete 7×7 square on your own quilt at any time, you’ll automatically receive the special bonus tile that is worth 7 points at the end of the game!
Witch Winning Strategy To Pick?!
However you play Patchwork Halloween, it’s a wicked game! And spooktastic strategic skills are a must. You want the pick of the patches every time, of course. But you’ll often spend more in eyeballs and time to get them.
Sometimes, sacrificing a scary shopping spree and skipping a few spaces to earn something is therefore the best option. As well as upping your purchasing power, it could also stop your fang-tastic foe from having their pick of better patches further along the circle.
Other times, you’ll want to zoom ahead on your broomstick to scoop up the more expensive, but eyeball laden patches before your opponent can get them. Witch-ever way you play, Patchwork Halloween is a terrific two-player game offering plenty of tactical play.
Frightful Fun!
Look behind the ghoulishly gleeful artwork and the tense, tight, tactical gameplay of the original Patchwork remains. There are also two sides to the time track for different game experiences, just like the first edition.
There has, however, been a slight adjustment since Uwe first put patch to paper. Nothing that will send shivers down your spine, don’t worry. But those eagle-eyed players amongst you will spot a small but significant change. 14 out of the 33 in total have been adjusted so that cost v reward v quilt coverage is a little more in balance. This is not an in-your-face change, but our final positions have been considerably closer in Halloween than our previous games using either the original and Christmas versions. Now, this could be a coincidence, of course. But I would like to think that the efforts to rejig the gameplay have upped the challenge.
Overall, for a game that is 100% “perfect information” (i.e. nothing hidden from sight), Patchwork Halloween cleverly manages to keep you guessing as to what your Ogre-ish opponent has in store. We love this seasonal edition, and will definitely be playing it long after the pumpkins are put away. Halloween hate-drafting has never brought so much ghoulish glee!
Zatu Score
You might like
- The Halloween wrapping and eyeball income are stunning on the table!
- Rebalancing almost half of the patches makes for an even tighter game!
- Double sided boards are back for even more varied game play!
Might not like
- We found the tiles to be a little tricky to pop out of the punchboards without damaging them.