Marauders (2012)

Overview

Marauders is an adventure-strategy game in which players explore a treasure filled island and try to outwit each other in a race to unlock a series of 6 clues that reveal the location of a hidden ancient artifact. The game is unique in that there is no "point system". The game is simply won by the first player to find and recover the artifact.

Players take turns rolling the dice, moving "Scouts" throughout the island, collecting jewels and other resources, and unlocking and trading clues.

The game's signature feature is its suspense inducing mechanism for trading clues: before any trade takes place, the two players involved must secretly decide whether to honor or dishonor the trade. Dishonoring a trade gives a player the chance to steal the clue from the other player without giving up his or her own clue, but is risky and can have serious consequences. Throughout the game, players balance the risks of earning clues on their own (which takes time), trading clues with other players (which means giving up hard earned secrets), or dishonoring trades and stealing the clues (and making enemies).

The game ends in a flurry of last minute deals and trades as Players try to outwit each other and unlock that one last clue...

HISTORY

Marauders was released in 2012 by Tolman Games. The 1st Edition is a prototype ready version and has a limited print run of 1,000 copies. Tolman Games released this 1st Edition through a Kickstarter campaign in September. The 2nd Edition will be updated based on feedback from Players of the 1st Edition, and is scheduled to be released as a larger print run in 2013.

Marauders can be played by 2 players, but 3 to 4 players are recommended.