deduction

It’s year “011” in an alternative 19th century. The Inscrutable Organ of Eternity is hidden somewhere in Turin, and it’s the only instrument that can prevent the coming Ragnarök. Only one of the 8 Characters in the game is the “Chosen One” who can play the Organ. One of the others, meanwhile, has been possessed by the Spirit of Fenrir the Wolf, and will try to prevent the Chosen One from reaching the Organ.

The goal of the game, is to identify and deliver the Chosen One and the song of Making (which is composed as part of the game play) to the Inscrutable Organ of Eternity before the 12th hour.

011 is played over 11 rounds, called Hours. Each Hour is divided into 5 phases. All players, in order, must complete one phase, before the next phase begins:
1. Reveal Event
2. Bid for Turn Order
3. Place Clues on the Map
4. Character Actions and Movement
5. Play Location Tiles

Once all 5 Phases are complete, advance the Hour Hand one space on the Ragnarök Clock. If the Hand reaches XII (and so, the 11th Hour has passed), the game ends and all players lose! Otherwise, a new Round begins with Phase 1.

At the beginning of the game each player receives a different set of picture tiles. To start a round, a theme is shown, e.g. "Women like it..." Everyone thinks about this and selects a tile from his set, but does not show it to the other players. Players lay their tiles picture-side down on the table, and these tiles are mixed up with random tiles from the stock.

On the board there are slots which are numbered from 0 to 6. Tiles are placed next to slot 3 so that everyone can see the pictures. The goal for each player is to have his tile reach the top (slot 6) of the ranking of items that best meet the requirement. Each player receives points equal to the slot number where his tile is at the end of each round. The point total is reduced if another player correctly guesses which tile belongs to whom and marks it with the player's color.

When it is your turn, choose two tiles in the same row/slot and compare them to one another in meeting the requirement of the theme. (Important: You can only compare two tiles in the same row. If there is only one tile in row 4, you cannot compare this tile to one in a different row!)
For example, say, "I think women like lipstick more than a car." Then, you move the lipstick tile up one row and the car tile down one row. After you have done that, the others can guess your tile, by placing a stone of your color on any tile. Each player has only one stone of each color and can only guess the active player, so this must be done selectively and timely!

The round ends when one tile reaches the 6 slot and another is in the 0. Then, you calculate the points. Each player gets points equal his slot, minus every correct guess stone on the tile. So, if your tile is in slot 4, but there are 2 correct color stones are on it, you get only 2 points (4 - 2 = 2).

Before the beginning of the next round everyone gets a new picture tile from the stock and a new theme is shown.

The first player to score 15 points after a round ends the game and is the winner. He is the RanKING.

Each human being has his dark side, often well hidden behind a friendly smile. This game is about the friendly unveiling of such secrets. The players try to reveal the dark sides of the other players and to hide their own secrets well. There are points for revealing secrets, for which the players move forward on the success track. In the end, whoever stands farthest up on the success track wins, but only if his dark side was not revealed.

The cards in the players' hands represent the secrets. The players can brag about them in order to get points, but they must be careful that their own secrets are not revealed by the other players, because then the other players will earn points.

From the publisher...

The Revealing Game of Secret Words

LETTERFLIP is the head-to-head word game where players use clever deduction and a little luck in a quest to reveal secret words.

Players take turns searching for the letters that make up their own secret words. As letters are revealed the secret word comes into focus. Be the first to reveal all your secret words and win!

LETTERFLIP is quick and easy to learn for all ages and levels.

Discover the fun of LETTERFLIP!

A strategic two-player abstract with a heavy deduction element. At the start of the game, neither player knows how their own pieces move. Via performing attempted moves, each player tries to deduce the movement of their own pieces. As you determine how to move your pieces, your goal is to capture the neutral piece, initially located in the center of the board, and deliver it to your opponent's side of the board.

From the new Stronghold Games version, Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War:

The Cold War. A dangerous time for the world. A dangerous time to be a spy... but that is exactly what being a spy is all about. As the shadowy clouds of intrigue and subterfuge settle across the globe you have been called upon by your country to obtain the Top Secret information that will ensure your country's safety and supremacy. But not all is as it seems; your spies are difficult to control on a global scale, and even worse, there's a Double Agent in your midst who threatens the entire mission!

At the start of a game of Confusion, players aren't aware of the talents and skills their own spies possess! Your opponent can see what your spies can do, but you cannot. Your job as a wise leader is to first deduce exactly how each of your spies move, then employ your knowledge by using each spy for maximum effect. But be on alert, because your opponent has placed a double-agent in your team of spies! The first player to take the Top Secret Briefcase from the middle of the board and deliver it to his opponent's capital is the winner.

Can you achieve your goals at the expense of your opponent, or will the entire operation collapse in a sea of Confusion?

Confusion is game #1 in the Stronghold Games "Castle Line".