Ravens

RAVENS is a modern twist on a classic German card game, Tod und Leben, for 2 to 6 players.

You'll have to move fast, very fast. The goal is simple, gather all the cards into your hand but getting there...that's quite the challenge. Forget what you know about fighting fair and time your attacks by counting other Raider's cards.

In clockwise order, players lay the top card of their face-down hand in the center of the field. All players must watch carefully for certain rune combinations/color series and slap the pile first to lay claim to it. Each weapon card challenges the gathering cards in the playing field, the strength of each indicated by hash marks along the edge of the card. The player following a weapon card may choose to meet the challenge or forfeit the plunder.

Watch carefully for the Ravens, they hold the fate of the game. The Blue Raven is an instant slap condition whereas an ill-timed claim of the Red Raven may leave you amongst the ranks of the dead.

A player who has emptied their hand has become a Valkyrie and they may no longer challenge or add to the field. Valkyrie may at any time slap combinations. These cards enter Valhalla and are no longer in play thereby thinning the deck and raising the stakes. If the Valkyrie is able to gather both Ravens into their hand, they have won the game.

Will you dominate your foes by implementing Weapons of War or join the ranks of the Valkyrie as harbingers of Ragnarök? Be cautious of strangers, a new Raider may join the fray at any given opportunity.

-description from designer