Project Information
This is my take on what Gigamic, the original French makers of Quarto, touts as the most awarded game in the world. That may be true, but what is true is this is a most fiendish and addictive game, where kids and adults quickly play on a dead level field.
The play is this: Each of the 16 pieces has 4 different attributes. In my version they are: Square/rectangle, Tall/short, Dark/light, Plain/brass dot. The aim is to line up 4 pieces orthogonally or diagonally, all sharing just one of the same attributes. The tricky part is that you can't choose which piece you're going to play - your opponent chooses for you. You must look ahead in all directions, in six different planes of thought when offering the piece to your opponent. Yet relax, it all comes naturally, quite easily to anyone after only a few minutes of playing. Each game lasts only about 10-15 minutes at most with an immediate urge to go again. My daughter beat me 4 times out of five in the first few games. See if I raise her allowance.
The universal playing board of nine squares (3×3), or 16 points (4×4), is solid Bird's eye maple with a solid Jatoba border, inlaid on the edge with tulip wood. Size is 11" square. This is the basic surface for at least a dozen games that I can think of and is well worth building. The playing pieces are Bird's eye maple and Kingwood with threaded brass screw covers. About 1" thick, 1 1/2" to 2 1/4" tall.
The simple storage box with a loose lid is from a piece of poplar (American white wood) that I fished from the garbage at work. Sometimes I just don't believe the guys I work with. It also incorporates one of my favourite little box/frame tricks; that of matching the grain on all four corners. The finish on everything is Tried and True oil with varnish followed by Goddard's wax. Prospective builders could think of many variations on a theme - turners and carvers may be especially rewarded.
Travel over to http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/449435/quarto-a-detailed-review for more info and for an funny animated manufacturers video.
About 25 hrs.
Build on LJ's.
gene
The play is this: Each of the 16 pieces has 4 different attributes. In my version they are: Square/rectangle, Tall/short, Dark/light, Plain/brass dot. The aim is to line up 4 pieces orthogonally or diagonally, all sharing just one of the same attributes. The tricky part is that you can't choose which piece you're going to play - your opponent chooses for you. You must look ahead in all directions, in six different planes of thought when offering the piece to your opponent. Yet relax, it all comes naturally, quite easily to anyone after only a few minutes of playing. Each game lasts only about 10-15 minutes at most with an immediate urge to go again. My daughter beat me 4 times out of five in the first few games. See if I raise her allowance.
The universal playing board of nine squares (3×3), or 16 points (4×4), is solid Bird's eye maple with a solid Jatoba border, inlaid on the edge with tulip wood. Size is 11" square. This is the basic surface for at least a dozen games that I can think of and is well worth building. The playing pieces are Bird's eye maple and Kingwood with threaded brass screw covers. About 1" thick, 1 1/2" to 2 1/4" tall.
The simple storage box with a loose lid is from a piece of poplar (American white wood) that I fished from the garbage at work. Sometimes I just don't believe the guys I work with. It also incorporates one of my favourite little box/frame tricks; that of matching the grain on all four corners. The finish on everything is Tried and True oil with varnish followed by Goddard's wax. Prospective builders could think of many variations on a theme - turners and carvers may be especially rewarded.
Travel over to http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/449435/quarto-a-detailed-review for more info and for an funny animated manufacturers video.
About 25 hrs.
Build on LJ's.
gene