Metallurgie

A metallic game of cards by Maik Hennebach for 2-4 players aged 10 and up
Playing time: ca. 30 minutes
Illustrated by : Axel Scholz

Flickering candlelight illuminates the meeting of the alchemists. They create a mysterious metal pattern, with each of them trying to draw some metal out of it. But this is only possible if there is enough of it within the pattern. Which alchemist will be able to extract more precious metal than the others?

The pattern starts with seven iron cards. On these, four copper cards are placed, and finally, one silver card is placed on the copper card in the middle. The other metal cards are shuffled and three cards are distributed to each player. The rest of the cards forms the draw deck. When playing cards, the pattern can only be extended with iron cards. All other metals have to be placed in ascending order: a copper card can only be played onto a free iron card, silver can only be played on copper, and gold is placed on silver. During his turn, a player has two basic options regarding the cards he may play: he can either play only one metal or only in one position for example a silver card with a gold card placed onto it. The rules of the pattern have to be followed in both cases.

As an additional choice, the player can either play only cards from his hand, or he can try his luck first with a card from the draw deck. In the latter case, he must mmediately place the card drawn from the deck, but afterwards can follow up with cards from his hand - either more of the same metal or in ascending order on the card just placed. Points are scored when the cards placed by the player create a connected and sufficiently big area of one kind of metal.

The necessary size depends on the metal: the area has to consist of at least nine iron cards, seven copper, five silver or three gold. These minimum numbers are also shown in the upper left corner the metal cards themselves. In their lower right corner, the metal cards show how many cards belonging to the area are removed from the pattern.

One of these cards is placed in front of the player as a victory point, the rest is discarded. If the removal of these cards reveals enough cards in the next layer of metal to form a sufficiently big area, this area is also immediately scored by the same player. The game ends with a violent explosion of the pattern – that’s alchemy for you – as soon as the end card is drawn from the deck. The player who has gained the most victory points wins the game.

Metallurgy is completely language independent.

Components:
44 Iron Cards
30 Copper Cards
18 Silver Cards
11 Gold Cards
4 Bonus Cards
2 Summary Cards
1 End Card
1 Rulebook