Memory

Infunitum

Infunitum is a hot new party game that was debuted at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair during November 2009 and it won the award for 'Best In Show - Game'. Not suprising with an overwhelmingly favorable rating from people that have played. The object of the game is to get to the center of the board. Players get to the center by earning points for unique answers to topics listed on game cards.

One player selects a card, chooses one of the three topics listed on the card and then reads the topic aloud to the other players. The one-minute sand timer starts and players write down as many answers as they can that relate to the chosen topic. Each unique answer earns one point. Each point represents a space on the game board.

On the way to the center of the board, there are some positive and some negative places to land. A player may land on +3 and move three spaces ahead. Conversely, a player may land on -3 and move three spaces back. There is also a sad-faced character for players that land on this space, go back to start.

The dynamics of the game always change depending on who plays. Topics are unique and sometimes have double, triple or more meanings, so creativity really helps. Infunitum is a fun party game, is excellent as an ice-breaker, and helps people get to know more about other players.

Catan: Cities & Knights

Adds several new aspects to Settlers of Catan but the two major ones are creating knights to protect the land from invading barbarians and building city improvements that confer benefits upon that city's owner. Adds tactical complexity to the game and game length.

Belongs to the Catan Series.

The game changes the base game in three main ways:

First, there are 3 new commodities in the game, distinct from resources - paper, cloth, and coins, which can be acquired from Forest, Meadow, and Mountain spaces, respectively. Cities that would normally produce two of one of those resources instead produce 1 resource and 1 of the corresponding commodity. (To make commodities easier to obtain, each player starts the game with 1 city and 1 settlement on the board.) These commodities allow players to build city improvements that confer various advantages and eventually points.

Second, the deck of development cards is replaced by three different decks, each corresponding to one of the commodities. Building city improvements gives players a chance to draw these cards with every roll of the dice. Building more improvements will increase these chances, but cards cannot be bought directly in any way. These cards are similar to the development cards in the base game, but with a wider range of effects. (Some cards are balanced better as well - the new Resource Monopoly card, for example, can take no more than 2 of the named resource from any one player.)

Finally, players can also build knights on the island along their network of roads. These knights can be used to claim certain intersections and move the Robber (taking the place of Soldier cards), but are also used to defend the island from periodic barbarian attacks. If the island is successfully defended, the player(s) with the most knights are rewarded. If not, the player(s) with the fewest knights each have a city downgraded to a settlement.

Catan: Seafarers

This is an expansion for The Settlers of Catan. Players can build shipping lanes, which are very similar to roads. Additionally, the game comes with many different water-hex-heavy variant setups. The American version (Mayfair) should only be used with the American base game, instead of the German one (Kosmos), because of matching components and for the same reason, the Kosmos German version should only be used with the German base game. Additionally, several different editions exist; 4th edition is the most recent. Editions should only be used with same edition, otherwise the purchase of adapter kit is required.

Part of the Catan Series.

This game requires The Settlers of Catan. Ideally, using the same publisher and edition of the game.

Catan: Cities & Knights; 5-6 Player Extension

Now up to six players can muster their knights against the scourge threatening Catan! The 5-6 Player Expansion for The Cities and Knights of Catan allows you to expand and inject more excitement into your games without sacrificing ease of play. Designed for five or six players, it adds even more drama to the award-winning game of culture, politics, and warfare.

Belongs to the Catan Series.

Expands (all are required):

The Settlers of Catan
The Settlers of Catan: 5-6 Player Extension
Catan: Cities & Knights

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