Pyramid Review
Through the Desert
Published by Fantasy Flight Games
Designed by Reiner Knizia
English rules by Reiner Knizia, Kevin Jacklin, Kevin Wilson, & Christian T. Petersen
Edited by Greg Benage, Kevin Wilson, & Christian T. Petersen
Art, graphics by John Gravato, Scott Nicely, & Brian Schomburg
Game board, 175 plastic camels, 30 plastic riders, 45 watering hole counters, five plastic palm trees, 40 point chips, & rulebook in eight languages; full color & boxed; $29.95
Fantasy Flight Games doesn't seem content to come out with good new games. They realize there's money to be had by reproducing or reissuing new versions of oldies that have vanished from the market. Although perhaps not a classic in the vein of upcoming items like Fury of Dracula. they shepherd a new one to press with Through the Desert.
The object of the game is to score the most points with your various caravans.
The map uses hexagons to depict a section of desert riddled with oases and watering holes. If you want your trips to be a success you have to get your goods to market, and that means securing the vital water resources and oases. Before the game begins, everyone stakes out a few claims that become their starting points. Camels come in five colors (six, really, but more on that later), and everyone shares these camel "pools." Each player can therefore have five separate caravans, one of each color, and yours are distinguished from the others by your riders. Riders are little . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: November 11, 2005
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