Branches & Twigs & Thorns

Branches & Twigs & Thorns

Designer: Andrew Plotkin
Type: Abstract, Icehouse
Status: Free (appeared in Hypothermia #15)
BGG entry: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/17298
Available at: http://www.eblong.com/zarf/barsoom-go.html

Branches & Twigs & Thorns (a redevelopment of the now obsolete Martian Go) is an elegant little strategy game for two or four players. It is a turn-based game, unlike Icehouse or IceTowers; and there is no luck involved. You need a chessboard, a set of Icehouse pieces or Zarcana pieces, and a collection of tokens (at least ten per player).

Players seek to build chains of pieces of their own color and to force their opponents to branch of from opposing pieces of their opponents' colors, which results in a penalty determined by the sizes of the pieces involved.

The game can also be played with three, five, or six players. You'll need Eeyore's Martian Chessboard sections to make a suitable board.

BTT was published in Hypothermia #15.