The Bottle Imp
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The Bottle Imp

€12.00
Tax included TVA FR 20%

The bottle imp brings riches...if it can be given away before the round ends.

 learn more +
10+
2-4
30 min.
3760372232948
Fantasy Abstract Trick Taking hot potato Matagot Family games Card games
Game language :
In stock Order now and your order will dispatched on 05/12/2024
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Rules Difficulty

Simple
Moderate
Complex

Concentration

Casual
Focused
Intense

Atmosphere

Relaxed
Exciting
Engaging

Publishing

Language:
FR
EN
Game Designer:
Günter Cornett
Creative director:
Maxime Erceau
Illustrator:
Jere Kasanen
Carsten Fuhrmann
Günter Cornett
Rok Kim
Tom Agnetti
Tuuli Hypén
Original publisher :
Matagot
The Bottle Imp

Universe

In this trick-taking game based on the short story by Robert Louis Stevenson of the same name, the goal is to gain the most points over a series of hands (usually the goal is set to 200 pts). Cards are numbered 1-37 and are found in three colors, red (comprising largely the highest numbers), blue (mostly in the middle) and yellow (mostly the lowest numbers) with colors being analogous to the suit in a standard deck. There is one neutral card, the 19, that sets the "price of the bottle."

The entire deck is dealt to the three or four players in the game and then, similarly to hearts, cards are exchanged and a card is played to the bottle. As per the usual elements of a trick taking game, players must follow suit if possible with high card taking the trick (regardless of suit). The unique feature about this game however is how trump is determined. Any card of value lower than the current price of the bottle (starting with 19) is considered "trump" and will win the trick. If multiple cards are less than the current bottle price, the card valued closest to the current price (so highest card below the bottle) takes the trick AND THE BOTTLE, the bottle price is adjusted by the player taking the card that represents the current bottle price and replacing it with the card they used to win the trick. Thus the price of the bottle will decrease with each trump card played, and the bottle is increasingly harder to win/purchase. Ownership of the bottle will pass from player to player and the number of possible trump cards will decrease both as a factor of cards being played and cards being skipped as the bottle price descends. One player will be stuck with the bottle at the end of a hand (when players have played all the cards in their hands).

In the 2003 edition the complete story by R.L. Stevenson http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/bottlimp.htm is included (in both English & German) and the bottle is a nice wooden piece. Earlier versions had a stand-up cardboard piece that you cut out.

Gameplay

Cards have point values from 1-6 (not directly based on numerical value), at the end of the hand players will score points for the cards of tricks they've won, except the player who holds the bottle who will score NEGATIVE points for all the cards played to the bottle at the beginning, scoring nothing for the cards they won during the hand. Play continues until the point goal is reached.

Technical sheet

Board Game Geek

Go to game page

Reference

MATBIM001294

Release date

2023-04-27

Age

10+

Number of players

2-4

Game length

30 min.

Rules Difficulty

Simple

Concentration

Casual

Atmosphere

Engaging

Theme

Abstract , Fantasy

Language

EN , FR

Game Designer

Günter Cornett

Creative director

Maxime Erceau

Illustrator

Carsten Fuhrmann , Günter Cornett , Jere Kasanen , Rok Kim , Tom Agnetti , Tuuli Hypén

Product type

Game

Mechanics

Trick Taking , hot potato

Collection

The Bottle Imp

Box size

122 x 96 x 30 mm

Weight

0.21 KG

Package size

10.00 x 12.00 x 3.00 CM

Reviews from players

No customer reviews for the moment.

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Posted in: News
2024-09-19
The classic trick-taking title gets new game modes and visuals
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