GIPF Project

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The GIPF Project is a series of seven abstract strategy games by designer Kris Burm. [1]

Contents

The series is named after the first game, GIPF . All the games take place on some form of hexagonal board. Each of the games, including GIPF, may be played individually. When playing a standard game of GIPF the game is played with normal pieces and GIPF pieces.

However, the series also allows players to link the GIPF game to the other games in the series or even to any game at all. It does this by introducing into the game of GIPF certain new pieces with special powers, called "potentials". Before you start a game of GIPF with potentials, the players decide to which game they link each potential piece. For example, the ZÈRTZ potential piece to a game of ZÈRTZ and the DVONN potential to a game of DVONN. But they could decide just as well to link the ZÈRTZ potential to a coin flip and the DVONN potential to a dice roll. Now, when playing the GIPF game with potentials, they can introduce potential pieces whenever they like (according to the playing rules). As soon as they want to use the special power of one of their potential pieces during the GIPF game, they put the GIPF board aside and play the game linked to that specific potential piece (in the example above ZÈRTZ and DVONN, respectively a coin flip and a dice roll). Upon victory the active player can use the power of the potential piece in the game of GIPF. If the active player loses, the special power of the potential piece cannot be used in the GIPF game. [1] [2]

The idea of introducing additional games that can be used to affect the outcome of the main game came from Burm's childhood, when he and his brother would "race" cars around a rug. For each turn, they would play another game, and the winner of that game would get to roll six dice to determine his car's movement, while the loser would roll just five.

As of 2022, YINSH , TZAAR , DVONN , LYNGK , ZÈRTZ , GIPF , and PÜNCT are, respectively, the 3rd, 8th, 11th, 19th, 20th, 35th, and 80th highest ranked Abstract Games on Boardgamegeek. TAMSK , which was officially removed from the series, is nevertheless ranked 87th. [3] YINSH, DVONN, and ZÈRTZ have each won the Mensa Select award. [4]

List of games in the series

YINSH in play. YINSH in Play.jpg
YINSH in play.

The games are based on elements: TAMSK (time), ZÈRTZ (water), DVONN (fire), YINSH (air), TZAAR (earth), and PÜNCT (the interconnectivity of the brain). These elements are brought together in GIPF.

Most of the games in the series can be played free online (for example, at BoardSpace.net) or against freely available computer opponents.

Different type of potentials

Origin of the names of the games

GIPF derives from the German word for a mountain summit ("Gipfel"), where the original game was conceived.

Subsequent games were named to include one vowel and 4 consonants, but to otherwise remain unrelated to existing language. TZAAR is the only game deviating from these naming conventions, due to disputes with the game publisher. [ citation needed ]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Thomashow, Mitchell. "GIPF Review". The Games Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  2. Blessing, Ron (2005-06-01). "Review of GIPF". RPGnet . Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  3. "Abstract Games Rank, Boardgamegeek" . Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  4. "Mind Games Past Winners (select year)". American Mensa, Ltd. Archived from the original on 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2008-08-24.