Played for you

Trench

Attack from the trench

Trench is an elegant abstract game in black and white, albeit with a military background story. The game is meant to emulate the trench battles of WWI, “the Art of War” is also cited in the rules. But this context is not present in the game itself, in analogy to Chess which also was intended to be a battle simulation.

The game board is shaped like a diamond, cases for a player have the color of that player’s pieces and the board is split down the middle by the trench; pieces are set according to a template. Each player guides 1x General, 2x Colonel, 3x Captain, 4x Sergeant, 6x Soldier; each piece moves differently and has a different range. Aim of the game is to defeat all opposing pieces.

In a turn you must move one piece, straight, maximum the possible range according to the pieces rank, that is, its height. When you come up to an opposing piece this piece is defeated and your turn ends. For pieces in the trench there are different rules, for instance a piece can only be defeated from behind, you cannot defeat backwards and you may defeat more than one opposing piece when moving out of the trench into opposing territory. You play two games, one with black, and one with white; when there is no winner after 25 moves for each player you score points for defeated pieces.

As to game mechanics, too, Trench reminds one of chess with the kind of figures and rank and movement, but the trench introduces completely new tactics and strategies. Visuals and tactile feeling capture you instantly, but visuals can be confusing at the start. A game unrestrictedly recommendable for fans of abstract games for two players.

Players: 2

Age: 12+

Time: 45+

Designer: Rui Alipio Monteiro

Artist: Rui Alipio Monteiro

Price: ca. 55 Euro

Publisher: Wise Games 2013

Web: www.wisegames.net

Genre: Abstract, placement, defeating

Users: For experts

Special: 2 players

Version: multi

Rules: de en es fr pt

In-game text: no

Comments:

Fantastic design

Visual design a bit confusing at the start

Basic concept reminds one of Chess, but totally different game play due to the trench

Excellent game for two players

Compares to:

Chess and other position games with different ranges and ways to move for pieces

Other editions:

Currently none

Chance (pink): 0

Tactic (turquoise): 3

Strategy (blue): 3

Creativity (dark blue): 0

Knowledge (yellow): 0

Memory (orange): 0

Communication (red): 0

Interaction (brown): 3

Dexterity (green): 0

Action (dark green): 0