From: starback@student.docs.uu.se (Per Starb{ck)
Newsgroups: rec.games.abstract
Subject: A Gamut of Games (Was: Eleusis, and _New Rules for Classic Games_)
Date: 15 Nov 92 12:18:58 GMT
	eastern.edu><DBH.92Nov11102845@wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk><1992Nov11.122137.10243@pel
	lns.alleg.edu><pquince.721508467@blacks><BxKyF7.4xw@cs.psu.edu>
	<If0Wab600Vp583dn4f@andrew.cmu
Organization: Uppsala University, Sweden
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In-reply-to: "Jonathan R. Ferro"'s message of Thu, 12 Nov 1992 04:53:43 -0500

Jon Ferro <jf41+@andrew.cmu.edu> wrote:
> This [the posted table of contents of _New Rules_] was VERY
> interesting, and has just been added to the list of game books that
> I must at least have a prolonged look at, if not buy.  Could someone
> post a similar list for Sid Sackson's "A Gamut of Games"?

Sure.
Not all of these games are appropriate for this group, but for sake of
completion I list them all---I hope nobody minds.  The information,
including the short descriptions is straight from the contents pages of
the book.

*1*  In Search of Big and Little Game

MATE by G. Capellon
2 players, cards
Game of pure skill. Takes a good bit of thinking.

BLUE AND GRAY by Henry Busch and Arthur Jaeger
2 players, easily modified checkerboard and checkers
An exciting change from the usual game of Checkers.

LE TRUC, Anon.
2 or 4 players, cards
Little French Poker.  A fast-moving game with lots of bluffing.

PLANK, Anon.
2--4 players, some simple pieces made from cardboard.
Tic-Tac-Toe grown up---with color and movement.

ZETEMA, Anon.
2--4 or 6 players, cards.
Takes judgement but not brainbusting analysis.  Relaxing.

HEKATON, Anon.
2 or 4 players, cards.
Teaches how digits work---but makes it fun.

*2*  Game Inventors Are People Too

LINES OF ACTION by Claude Soucie
2 players, checkerboard and checkers.
Presents a new way of moving and a novel objective.  A game of skill
but easy to learn.

CUPS by Arthur and Wald Amberstone
2 players, jar covers and beans (or beads).
A modern version of Mancala, the world's oldest known game.

CROSSINGS by Robert Abbott
2 players, checkerboard and checkers.
A fast-paced battle where pieces surge forward in a group.

LAP by Lech Pijanowski
2 players, pencil and paper.
A cousin to Battleships, with much more scope for strategy and
deduction.

THREE MUSKETEERS by Haar Hoolim
2 players, 5x5 board drawn on paper or cardboard; checkers.
Try to force the Three Musketeers onto the same line.

PAKS by Phil Laurence
2--4 or 6 players, cards.
A delightfully original game which could easily start a craze.

SKEDOODLE by Father Daniel
2--4 players, pencil and paper.
Fun with numbers that are manipulated to reach a scoring number.

KNIGHT CHASE by Alex Randolph
2 players, checkerboard; 2 large markers and 30 small ones.
Hide and seek on a checkerboard as one knight tries to catch the
other.

ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR I by James Dunnigan
5 (or 3--4) players, boxes drawn on paper or cardboard; markers; 1 die.
Something very different.  Teaches history as each player guides a
nation.

*3*  Those Protean Pieces of Pasteboard

ALL MY DIAMONDS by Sid Sackson
4--7 players, cards and chips
A continuing auction where you can win by either buying or selling.

OSMOSIS by Sid Sackson
2--4 players, cards.
A very subtle game.  What constitutes a good hand?  A good play?

PATTERNS by Sid Sackson
2 players, cards and 12 chips.
Really more like a board game.  Some find the relationships clear,
others obscure.

SUIT YOURSELF by Sid Sackson
2--4 players, cards.
A simple (or is it?) game of choosing cards from the table.

BOWLING SOLITAIRE by Sid Sackson
1 player, cards.
A solitaire game where a red 9 is not placed on a black 10.

CARD BASEBALL by Sid Sackson
2 players, cards.
Some familiarity with the sport required.  A game of skill rather than
luck.

SLAM by Sid Sackson
2 players, cards.
A two-hand bidding game that departs a little from the form of Bridge,
but which keeps all of the flavor.

POKE by Sid Sackson
2 players, cards.
A two-hand Poker variation which can be played for fun rather than
money.

COLOR GIN by Sid Sackson
2 players, cards.
Hollywood Gin plus 1.  But more than just a scoring gimmick.

*4*  New Battles on an Old Battlefield

FOCUS by Sid Sackson
2 or 4 players, slightly modified checkerboard and checkers.
A new game of strategy.  Learning the rules takes five minutes.
Mastering the play a lifetime.

NETWORK by Sid Sackson
2 players, checkerboard and checkers.
Checkers are placed and later moved.  Object is to complete a
"network."

TAKE IT AWAY by Sid Sackson
2--4 players, checkerboard and chips.
Scoring points by jumping.  With a twist ending.

*5*  Grab a Pencil

HOLD THAT LINE by Sid Sackson
2 players, pencil and paper.
A simple, but challenging game with no chance of a draw.

CUTTING CORNERS by Sid Sackson
2 players, pencil and paper.
Also simple, also challenging.  Some possibility of a draw.

PAPER BOXING by Sid Sackson
2 players, pencil and paper.
A double-board game with each player constructing his own board.

LAST WORD by Sid Sackson
2--4 players, pencil and paper.
Choose a letter and make words in two, three, or four directions.

PATTERNS II by Sid Sackson
3--6 players, pencil and paper.
A game of inductive, rather than deductive logic.  A rarity in the
world of games.

PROPERTY by Sid Sackson
2--6 players, pencil and paper; cards; chips.
A full-fledged board game with money and rents.  Lots of choice in
making a play.

*6*  A Miscellany of Games

SOLITAIRE DICE by Sid Sackson
1 player, 5 dice.
A different dice game.  Each throw calls for a new decision.

DOMINO BEAD GAME by Sid Sackson
2--4 players, 2 sets of dominos.
Weaving the pieces into intricate patterns.  Not the easist game in
the world.

HAGGLE by Sid Sackson
Party, Colored cards; secret information sheets.
Easy to play but you'll need some volunterr "brains" to score it.

THE NO GAME, Anon.
Party, ribbon and pins.
A very simple game which really sparks the conversation.

CHANGE CHANGE by Sid Sackson.
1 player, 11 coins.
A "sliding puzzle" with infinite solutions.  Easy to start, but hard
to stop.

*  Appendix---Short Reviews of Games in Print
--       "
Per Starback, Uppsala, Sweden.  email: Per.Starback@student.docs.uu.se
 "Life is but a gamble!  Let flipism chart your ramble!"