Café Board Games

Once upon a time, in far-off China, there lived a mandarin duck. This duck was very sad because he wanted to give his sweetheart a special gift, but didn't know what would please her. One night, when the moon was full, the frogs that shared his pond decided to help him by gathering a beautiful bouquet of water lily blossoms (the rare and beautiful lotus flowers) for him to give his beloved. The frogs divided into teams of 3, and hopped frantically from lily pad to lily pad, each team trying to gather the most beautiful lotus blossom bouquet.

Relive this loony leap-frog race and lead your team to victory by aiding your opponents' frogs - who can't help but do the same for you. Well, let's hope so, anyway!

1695... The Caribbean... At the head of your crew of cutthroat pirates, you set full sail for a small island indicated on the treasure map you took from the most feared pirate of the Spanish Main while he was on his deathbed. This map also shows you the spots where he buried all of the treasure and rum he “collected” over his career. As you approach the island you see another suspicious ship approaching the tiny island. It’s another pirate… In fact, it’s your brother! How did he find you? Throughout your life he has always tried to steal what was rightfully yours. He must have a copy of the map too, and is trying to claim the booty for himself! A merciless struggle ensues. To win, you must be the first to land on the island and claim the treasure, you must conquer the greatest number of territories, and you must throw the most enemy pirates into the sea... Yo-Ho-Ho and a Race to the Rum!

The Savannah is hot, and the animals are thirsty. Really thirsty! So the race is on to the Savannah Café for some refreshing drinks... Who will be first? Will the winner be the fast but edible gazelle, the lazy lion with the dangerous fangs, or the slow hippo with the frightening roar?

Players create the island of Tempus by placing the map tiles on the sea hexes. Each player starts with a small civilization made up of 3 Tokens, and tries to expand their presence on the island as they move forward through time from one era to the next. Each era is broken into a number of action rounds in which a player can choose to move, have babies, have an idea, build a city, or have a fight. How effective each action is depends upon the era, with the actions in later eras being more powerful. At the end of each era, Progress Points are calculated, determining which civilization makes the leap to the new era. Progress Points are awarded to players with tokens in the terrain type corresponding to the terrain of the New Era. Those players who did not advance in this era will automatically advance at the end of the next era.

Two political parties vie for the control of the city. Elections take place in the citadels, markets and temples around the city. These elections will name the nine representatives who will sit at the high council. Each party must carefully divide its soldiers, merchants and priests, to obtain the majority of votes during the elections. These elections follow each another in each of the areas of the city. The struggle is tense and all manner of dirty tricks are allowed. Each faction has the capacity to apply pressure on the others and has the chance of canceling their votes. Tyrus is thus a game of careful application of power, force and influence in order to affect the best outcome possible for your political party. Throughout the game you must try to carefully conserve your troops, because you never know when they will be needed. Both parties start the game with equal forces, so Bluff and misdirection are your main weapons to win the day, and become Master of the city.

In their quiet pasture, two rival herds of sheep face off in order to graze the best patches of grass… all the while keeping watch so as not to be devoured by the wolves that prowl the area. In this seemingly bucolic world, nothing will stop these sheep from waging war without mercy… Baaaaaa!