The Mind Card Board Game - Panda Saurus Games

Description: CONDITIONPlayed only a few times, perfect condition. No missing components. ABOUT THE GAMEThe Mind is more than just a game. It's an experiment, a journey, a team experience in which you can't exchange information, yet will become one to defeat all the levels of the game. In more detail, the deck contains cards numbered 1-100, and during the game you try to complete 12, 10, or 8 levels of play with 2, 3, or 4 players. In a level, each player receives a hand of cards equal to the number of the level: one card in level 1, two cards in level 2, etc. Collectively you must play these cards into the center of the table on a single discard pile in ascending order but you cannot communicate with one another in any way as to which cards you hold. You simply stare into one another's eyes, and when you feel the time is right, you play your lowest card. If no one holds a card lower than what you played, great, the game continues! If someone did, all players discard face up all cards lower than what you played, and you lose one life. You start the game with a number of lives equal to the number of players. Lose all your lives, and you lose the game. You start with one shuriken as well, and if everyone wants to use a shuriken, each player discards their lowest card face up, giving everyone information and getting you closer to completing the level. As you complete levels, you might receive a reward of a shuriken or an extra life. Complete all the levels, and you win! For an extra challenge, play The Mind in extreme mode with all played cards going onto the stack face down. You don't look at the cards played until the end of a level, losing lives at that time for cards played out of order. POPULAR REVIEW FROM CHRIS WRAYThe Mind is cooperative and played over a number of rounds depending on the number of players. In the two player game, you play over 12 rounds, but you only play 10 rounds with three players and 8 rounds with four.In the first round, all players receive one card from the deck, which has values 1-100. The players must put down all of the cards face up in increasing order, but the players need not take turns in any particular order. Whoever thinks they have the next card simply puts it down. Then, after everybody has put out their cards, they are returned to the deck, which is shuffled, and then the second round begins with two cards for each player. The third round will have three cards per player, and so on and so forth.It helps if, before gameplay, everybody “syncs” by putting their hands on the table and agreeing to start. This is suggested in the rules, and it is important that everybody knows exactly when gameplay is ongoing, since timing is everything in The Mind.The trick is that players can’t discuss anything about their own cards, or as the rulebook says, “no sharing of information, no secret signs.”In the event of a misplay --- because a player has a card in their hand lower than the card just played --- gameplay stops. All lower cards are discarded, and the team loses a life. You start with a number of lives equal to the number of players, and you can earn additional lives as a reward by completing levels 3, 6, and 9. Everybody syncs, and gameplay continues.Another helpful tool are the throwing stars. You start with 1 of these, but you can earn additional ones by completing levels 2, 5, and 8. To use one, a player interrupts play and suggests the use of a throwing star. If there is agreement around the table, players each play their lowest card face up. Everybody syncs, and gameplay continues. This is exceptionally helpful: not only does it get cards out of the game, but it also can give you significant information about what your fellow players hold.The game ends when either the team has run out of lives (a loss) or has completed the last level (a victory).My Thoughts on the GameI watched Eric Martin’s preview, and then I read the rules. I have to be honest: I didn’t think the central mechanic would work that well. But it does, and the first time we played it, I found it novel and fascinating. The Mind is one of those highly addictive games that you’ll want to play again and again.The best line I've heard about this game comes from Eric Martin: "Playing it feels like you're participating in a magic trick without knowing it.” It’s a sentence that perfectly summarizes gameplay: I’ve played with several groups, and it is an amazing show of human perception that the cards flow as easily as they do. People naturally sync up, and it is engaging to watch.Timing is everything in The Mind, and how well you judge the internal clock of your other players will determine whether you’re successful. If the 35 was just played, and you have the 37, you should play it relatively quickly, while still giving just enough time for the 36 to be played if it is out there. We’ve had a lot of sliding cards onto the stack just in the nick of time.The first few rounds are easy. The real challenges come in later rounds when --- despite there being a large chunk of the deck in play --- there’s a jump of 10 or more numbers between cards that need to be played. That’s when you’ll find yourself using lives or, better, a throwing star. The throwing stars were an exceptionally nice touch: they reveal more information than you’d expect, since you get a sense of everybody else’s hand when the lowest card is revealed.You can find the English-language rulebook on NSV’s site, and it is especially well written. I like the art on the cards --- much better than I like the art on The Game --- and the cards are high quality.It’s fun to try this with different groups. Some groups play fast, some play slow. Some groups have a bit of awkward laughter as they’re getting ready to make a big play, some groups sit stone faced. Every group I’ve played with strategies how to use the throwing stars differently. Regardless, you’ll learn a lot about your teammates with The Mind.I love this game, and I could see it getting a nomination for the Spiel des Jahres. If The Game can garner a nomination (which it did in 2015), so can The Mind, which is every bit as innovative, addicting, and tense. Every group I’ve played with has enjoyed this, and every group has asked to play it again. It looks like NSV and Wolfgang Warsch have a hit on their hands. Review Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1949857/mind-game-review-chris-wray

Price: 12.59 USD

Location: Brooklyn, New York

End Time: 2024-05-15T12:11:05.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD