Fun boardgame based on Munchkin

First off I would really recommend this for people who are familiar with the Munchkin card game. If you like the card game chances are you will enjoy the board game. Although the gameplay is somewhat different it definitely helps to know how to play the card game. It is more complicated because of the fact that you lay down dungeon tiles and have to keep track of monsters and such but that is what makes it fun! The additional rules on the dungeon tiles add to the fun as well.



I bought this for my boyfriend as a Christmas present and we brought it over to his friend's house so we could try it out. We played it with four people and just glanced over the rules and delved into the game. We figured that we could consult the rules as we went along (This makes it more fun but it can take longer). Of course we did some things that might be against some of the rules but we learned for the next time. We also noticed that the game came with a die that had 6 colored sides to it two of which we did not have player tokens for. The reason for this is that the expansion Munchkin Quest 2: Looking for Trouble has the two extra player pieces along with additional cards rules etc... It took us longer than usual to play through the game because we were trying to get the monster movement and who owns what monster down but after a few turns we were more confident. Next time we play it will probably take less time because we would know how everything works.



I enjoyed the game and everyone else seemed to like it as well. The only problem is that we can't always play because it takes up so much time.



Overall it was a very fun game as long as you don't mind the complexities of Munchkin's transition to the board game. And as with most board games it takes some time to play (the box actually states that gameplay can take up to 3 hours!). However I would check out the reviews on [...] as they do a better job explaining it than me!More detail ...

Mad Munchkin Fun for those in the Know

Munchkin Cthulhu is the newest branch on the Munchkin family tree and as its predecessors this is a game for gamers made by gamers and making fun of gamers.



Game Mechanics

In terms of game mechanics and concept Munchkin Cthulhu is almost identical to its predecessors. The players kick in doors fight monsters steal treasures and stab their buddies. Traps are now known as Curses but are otherwise the same.



The new Classes are the Investigator the Monster Whacker the Professor and the Cultist and of these the Investigator seem to be the one with the most useful abilities (they are particularly neat when combined with the Feline from Star Munchkin) while the Monster Whacker seems to be the most puny. There are no Races (or an equivalent such as Loyalties from Munchkin Impossible) which is a bit of a disappointment as it limits the possible character combinations.



There are some special rules for the Cultist printed in the rules but not on the Cultist card and it is very important to read these if you want to keep the game from going awry and the players from going mad. Finally similar to the "...in Black" monsters from Munchkin Impossible Munchkin Cthulhu offers "Goth" monsters such as the Shog Goth and the Froggoth which can aid each other and cause havoc in combat.



Theme

Not surprisingly Munchkin Cthulhu is concerned with the game Call of Cthulhu and so it takes on a great challenge. As a game Call of Cthulhu is by many considered an all-time classic among roleplaying games but the truth remains that it is also a relatively obscure and narrow game. The universe of Call of Cthulhu is complex and a veritable treasurechest of gods and monsters but even if many roleplayers know and have played the game the mythology is undisputeably esoteric. This makes it a difficult topic for satire. While the illustrations by John Kovalic do that cards such as the Nightie-Gaunts and the Fun Guy from Yuggoth are amusing in and by themselves they are probably more so to someone who has encountered Night Gaunts and Fungus from Yuggoth in their games. But many gamers think of Call of Cthulhu as a style of gaming more than an actual game and so these references to mythos monsters are often for naught. Therefore the challenge of Munchkin Cthulhu is to capture the essence of this style as much as it is to get the references right.



To a large extent Munchkin Cthulhu succeeds in both. In mythos specific references we find monsters such as the Shallow Ones the Dunwich Snorer and the Grape Old Ones as well as Curses such as Learn Yet Another Awful Truth and a card declaring that the Stars are Wrong. It is not a huge surprise that beside the Necronomicon itself there are no less than four Necronomi-puns (I made that one up myself).



More interesting maybe are the cards trying to reflect the sillier aspects and problems of Call of Cthulhu games such as the players being railroaded into the plot (Tchoo-Tchoo People) finding circumstances to be against them (Flashlight Goes Out!) taking drastic measures to defeat the monsters (Backpack Full of Dynamite) abandoning their friends (Shoes of Only Having to Run Faster Than You) and then finally involving outside authorities to deal with the problem (Report Creatures to the FBI) after which they are declared insane (Dragged Off to Snarkham Asylum).



Conclusion

Munchkin Cthulhu is a fun game and overall the game designers have done a good job of getting the atmosphere of the game just right with a good selection of references and jokes. It shows though that the premise of the game - the original Call of Cthulhu - is not as broad a "genre" as for example fantasy or science fiction.



While the many puns on the Necronomicon and the various "Goth" monsters are amusing they are also a bit repetitious. Likewise there is a great emphasis on the Cultist which steals some focus from the other Classes. This is only made worse by the fact that there are no second character-defining trait such as Race in the game.



Even more so than the other incarnations of Munchkin Munchkin Cthulhu is highly dependent on the players having a specific frame of reference to understand the jokes. While a wide audience can probably appreciate the more universal and pop-cultural jokes of games such as Star Munchkin and Munchkin Impossible it is doubtful that the same appreciation will be found for the Cruller Out of Space or Gnarlyhotep. But if you do know your Cthulhu Mythos it is very funny.More detail ...

a swashbuckling twist on an already great game

Munchkin Booty successfully takes the Munchkin series of adventure card games to the world of pirates. It plays very similar to other Munchkin games with very few differences in rules and gameplay. I personally feel this is the most accessible version of Munchkin due to the pirates theme.



For those unfamilair with the Munchkin series the object of the game is to outfit your character with an arsenal of items and weapons to do battle against a number of villians and sea creatures. You can both help and hinder the other players depending on which opportunities are in your best interest at the time.



The cards often have some instructions on them. Thus players who have difficulty reading will have difficulty playing as well. The instructions (both on the card and in the book) are detailed but the game is not very complicated. You'll likely have to refer to the rules for the first few rounds of play but players pick it up quickly. Game length varies a lot. Experienced no-nonsense players can get in a game in 30 minutes. If you're playing with multiple new players or a chatty group a 2-hour game is not unusual. Like the other Munchkin games it's technically possible to play with just 2 people but 3 or more is preferable.



My only complaint is that players must provide their own level counters. You can buy official Munchkin level counters which are essentially oversized 10-sided dice. Coins decorative glass stones or pen and paper work just as well.More detail ...

A most excellent addition!

Munchkin 2 makes the original Munckin card game even better. This item arrives in disposable packaging and is meant to be slipped into the box you got along with your original Munchkin game. The cards from the two decks are fungible so once you have put them together you will never find the need to seperate them.

I purchased this game along with Star Munchkin about eight months ago. The latter game was fun but the addition of all these extra cards to the Munchkin deck made Munchkin my group's game of choice. If you are considering either buying Star Munchkin *or* the expansion sets to Munchkin (Munchkin 3 Clerical Errors was recently released as of this writing) then I would suggest that you buy the two expansions. If you want to add an "Oriental Adventures" flavor to your card gaming Munchkin Fu another new release should do the trick. It can be added with the other Munchkin cards or played seperately.

You will enjoy the Munchkin card game if you are able to get a group of players together that will harbor no ill feelings towards backstabbing and general treachery. I find that four works best three being too few because two have a tendancy to gang up on one and five being still quite fun but taking a little longer between plays to progress.More detail ...

Best add on pack yet!

This add-on definitely improves the original Munchkin! It contains sidekicks like an elf sidekick and dwarf sidekick who can use race-specific items and take some devices off your hands (literally!). It also has modifiers like High and Dark (high elf dark wizard...) which can be used ALONG WITH race cards (dark characters gain a level when bad stuff happens to other characters which adds a fun dimension). The other notable addition is the steeds "items" which you can ride for as much as a +5 bonus with the all-powerful Dragon Steed. There's the perpetually terrified Chicken Steed 9-Lived Tiger Steed Giant Mutant Gerbil and plenty of others. Plus all the cards have that brilliant Munchkin humor. Since this repairs the race and hand restrictions in original Munchkin I'd definitely suggest getting this one even if it's the only add-on pack you collect!More detail ...

the hand teether is good

I wanted the teether which looks like the palm of the hand but i got the feet which is not so good. The fingers are small and can be easily chewed on by babiesbut the feet is not that easy to chew on. But one good thing is they are easy to hold.More detail ...

the hand teether is good

I wanted the teether which looks like the palm of the hand but i got the feet which is not so good. The fingers are small and can be easily chewed on by babiesbut the feet is not that easy to chew on. But one good thing is they are easy to hold.More detail ...

Brand new in factory sealed boxMore detail ...

2+ Years
New!
A magnetic fishing pole that catches seaMore detail ...

Go down in the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run.More detail ...

Munchkin Dora the Explorer Bath Squirters Your children will love these fun floaters! Just fill the Dora the Explorer Bath Squirters with water and have a splish-splashing good time. With these four toys in the tub your child may start looking forward to bathtime. The Bath Squirters make a great pool toy as well.More detail ...

The Mozart Magic Cube is a true breakthrough in music education. This exciting learning toy teaches how sounds combine to form true polyphonic music and is appropriate for all ages. Just press one of the musical sides and hear the instrument play on. Your child can compose and arrange millions of musical masterpieces. Measures approximately 6" x 6" x 6". Requires 3 "AA" alkaline batteries (not included).

Awards:

• 2000 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval
• 2000 Parents Choice Approved Award

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23 in Baby Product
  


• Brand: Munchkin


• Model: 3106


• Number of items: 1


• Dimensions: 5.60" h x
  6.00" w x
  7.60" l
  1.60 pounds
  

Features

• Toy cube provides musical foundation for little ones


• Interactive cube teaches how sounds combine to create 8 Mozart masterpieces


• Made with soft rounded corners


• Includes harp French horn piano flute and violin instrument sounds


• Recommended for budding young composers of all ages

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