This game will change history.

[Phil]

I have to do this, or I’d never forgive myself: Chrononauts is the best card game I have ever, ever, ever played.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/23/off-the-grid-reviews-chrononauts/

I found it originally on Graham Linehan’s blog, kind of thought it was a cool idea for a game, then, a few weeks ago, really started to think about how much fun it might be to get hold of a copy.

So I ordered it online from the makers and it got to me within the week.

Basically the idea is that you have the entire timestream laid out before you, and you make alterations to it based on the cards in your hand. Every time you alter the timestream you flip the card representing that point in history to reveal its alternate outcome. This also causes other cards to flip, which can then be patched one by one into an entire alternate history. Of course, paradoxes are created as well, and one way to play the game is that you make it your business to create 13 or more paradoxes, which destroys the entire universe.

It’s a tough game to explain, but it’s extremely fun to play. So if any of you have dorky friends who dig time travel, it really doesn’t get any better than this. I’m not much of a “role player” but evidently this game is really good for that. I prefer to just kind of sit quietly and work out my strategy, and with so much history on the board in front of you, there’s a lot of strategy to work out.

Two potential complaints:

1) It’s very much centered on American history. I don’t mind, because obviously that’s the history I’m most familiar with, but there it is. I don’t think any of it is going to seem too out-of-place to a non-American playing the game (basically only “big” points in history are represented anyway). World history is touched upon for major things like the world wars, but for the most part you get the feeling that you’re playing the role of an American time traveller.

2) History is too small. There are only 36 (if I remember correctly) points in time that can be altered. Now we ended up playing this game over and over for about 5 or 6 hours, so this complaint–while it did come up at the time and no doubt will again–is completely illusory. There’s enough to do with those 36 points in history that once the game gets going, you won’t be wishing for more.

That said there is a prequel game (Early American Chrononauts) which can be used in tandem with this game to double the size of alterable history. I’ll probably end up buying that just for the fun of it and to see what it’s like to play on a larger time scale, but don’t be turned off by there being “only” 36 points. You’ll be playing every game differently depending on the identity and mission cards you’re dealt with the first hand anyway.

So…I just wanted to bring this game to peoples’ attentions. It’s a lot of fun, leads to some funny (and sometimes deeper) discussions, and it’s a really great way to pass the time with a small group of drunk intellectuals.

Maybe I’ll do a proper review for NTS, if there’s interest. But the short version is: awesome, clever game.

Topic

[Seb Patrick]

So if any of you have dorky friends who dig time travel, it really doesn?t get any better than this.

I’ll be trying this one out at some point, then!

[Tanya Jones]

>History is too small.

American history, there. But seriously, folks, this sounds awesome, and there’s great potential for expansion.

[Ridley]

Is everybody here also posting on Graham Linehan’s blog?

[Seb Patrick]

Graham Linehan linked to Noise to Signal. So there.

[cliff]

heard about this game, where can i get a copy?

[Phil]

Wow, that would have been smart to include, wouldn’t it? Sorry…here’s the actual link to the official site.

http://wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Chrononauts/Default.html

In the upper right there’s a “Buy it” option.

I haven’t played any of their other games, but they all look fascinating (particularly the zombie card game, which will probably be my next purchase). There’s also a development history of Chrononauts on that page, and some musings on time itself and alternate versions of history…all great content (whether I agree with it or not) but probably best saved until after you’ve actually played the game a few times.

[cliff]

Why thank you sir.

[Author]

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