Triagonal

From:  Acumen Board Games
Reviewed by:Ron McClung

Triagonal is a new Board Game from Acumen Board Games.

There was a silly pen-and-paper game that my wife use to play with her son when he was like 9 or 10 years old, and she is now teaching our 4 YO daughter.  In the game one draws lines trying to form as many boxes as possible along a grid of dots.  When you made a box, you put your initial in it.  Count up the initials and the one with the most wins.  I was never really any good at that game because it required a lot more look-ahead ability than I was willing to put into the game.  It was a little less mindless than something like tic-tac-toe while you wanted for food at the restaurant but I never really had any interest in getting involved.

From the back cover :
“We have created for your pleasure – not just one – but multiple game options in this super value game.”

Triagonal is a game like that pen-and-paper game that I remember.  Instead of squares, the goal is to form triangles.  However, there are at least seven (and more if you go to their website) ways to play the game.  On the back are rules for seven different ways to play.  The basics of the game are first explained.  In the game you have the triangle board with 49 triangle spaces.  Each are defined by groves in which the “black sector formers” (lines) fit.  84 of these sector formers come with the game.  There are also 120 triangular colored tiles in 4 different colors (30 each color).  You form triangles by placing the sector formers, and you score points by forming triangles and bonus points for forming hexagons.

Pure Strategy:  This version gives the players a reward for forming a triangle by giving them another chance to place a sector former.  Towards the end, this could end in a chain of triangle formations.  This is a fairly mundane way to play it, much like the pen and paper game I remember.  It is always a case of figuring out a way to force the other player into making a bad decision.

More Chance:  This version uses the die with the number on it – the Value die.  This die has the numbers 0 through 3 on it, with three 1s, and one of each of the others.  You roll the die and place the number of formers as the die tells you.  It doesn’t say it either way, but I guess you do not get a free placement after making triangle.  This is generally minimal strategy and leaves more up to chance, as the name implies.

A Quicker Game:  In this game, you use the other die – the one with the colors of the tiles on each side – to determine who’s turn it is.  At the start of the game, all players must agree on a number of sector formers that will be played on a players turn.  When that player’s color is rolled, he may play the number of formers agreed upon, placing colored tiles in the completed triangles.  This is not all that much different from the strategy play, except in the number of formers.

Confusion:  In this version, you use both dice.  Special rules are given for each different color possibility and the value die dictates the number of sector formers you place.  This is a fairly chaotic way to play.

Place Your Bets:  In this version, you use both dice and the players bet on the color that will win the most sectors before starting play.  Place the number of tiles based on what is rolled on the value die, and the color of the tile(s) is based on the color that is rolled on the other die.  This seemed kind of silly to me.

First One Out:  Using the first, second, third or fourth option, at the start of the game, the players decide how many tiles each person gets and the first person out wins.

Marathon:  This simply plays a set number of games of any of the above versions.

In conclusion, this to me is more a fun game for kids.  It is not really all that fun as an adult game.  It is a good game to use to teach your kids to look-ahead and general strategy, however. It does have replayability value in that it has so many different ways to play.  I personally did not find the game satisfying, however.

For more details on Acumen Board Games and their new Board Game “Triagonal” check them out at their website http://acumenboardgames.co.uk, and at all of your local game stores.

Triagonal

From: Acumen Board Games

Type of Game: Board Game/Abstract Strategy

Game Design by: Dave Barnes

Developed by: Acumen Board Games

Game Components Included: Type List of Items

• 120 x Marker Tiles moulded in 4 colours. 30 each of red, blue, yellow, green
• 84 x Sector Formers moulded in black.
• 1 x Custom printed numeric die.
• 1 x Custom printed colour die.
• 1 x Game Board moulded in white.
• 1 x List of Playing Options.

Retail Price: £9.99 (UK)

Number of Players: 1-4

Player Ages: 5+

Website: acumenboardgames.co.uk

Reviewed by: Ron McClung