A pinch of salt, a little basilisk venom and some poached eggs... Your problems (and money) will disapear in not time
The Quacks of Quedlinburg
Designer: Wolfgang Warsch
Artist: Dennis Lohausen, Ryogo Toyoda
Published: 2018
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 45 Mins
BGG Rating: 7.8
BGG Ranking: 70
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Mechanisms: Bag Building, Dice Rolling, Events, Push Your Luck, Simultaneous Action Selection
Sleeves: USA 56x87mm
Game Description:
In Quacks, which was first released as The Quacks of Quedlinburg, players are charlatans — or quack doctors — each making their own secret brew by adding ingredients one at a time. Take care with what you add, though, for a pinch too much of this or that will spoil the whole mixture!
Quick play overview:
Players will simultaneously draw chips (ingredients) from their own bags and placing them on the board (in the cauldron). Depending on the number on the chip, players skip that many empty spaces thus making higher numbers a better draw.
Players can stop whenever they want or when they draw a number of white chips with a value of 8 or more… in that case the potion explodes and they will get fewer rewards at the of the round.
At the end of each round, players will earn some victory points and some cash for buying new ingredients that will be added to their bag for next rounds. In case their cauldron exploded, they get only the points or the cash.
There will be 7+ different coloured ingredients each game and each colour has different special abilities (4 abilities/colour in the base box).
After 8 rounds the player with the most points is the winner.
Final thoughts:
This is one of the best push your luck games out there. Because the game has such simple ruleset, it’s an easy teach. Families and friends will have tons of fun with this game.
FINAL SCORE:
Gameplay & How often I want to play it: 9/10
It’s a simple and fun game. I love the push your luck mechanism and that the game is quick enough that even an explosion or two, will not let you fume for too long.
It’s a lighter game that will fit a lot of groups. It’s always a good game to play.
Art & Graphic Design:
The game is a lovely production for a family type of game. It gives a nice vibe of medieval quacks trying to trick the peasants in the market. There is nothing to complain about the presentation and graphic design.
Rules & Complexity:
Very simple ruleset that everybody will understand in a second. Adding more complex abilities and combos, will keep the game fresh and interesting for the more advanced gamers.
Theme & Mechanism fit:
Charlatans are mixing potions with anything that they find in their bags… if that is not a perfect theme for a push your luck game, I don’t know what it is.
Fun & Replayability:
There are so many combinations of different abilities in the base box. Each play will feel different and even if you play it “too much”, there are many expansions that will let you enjoy the game for many more plays.