Run for your lives!

In the Beatles' 1965 album "the Revolver" John Lennon wrote and sang: 

You better run for your life if you can, little girl

Hide your head in the sand little girl

Catch you with another man

That's the end'a little girl 

Not the kind of song we'd like to impress our new date, you may argue that he wrote this after some tumultuous events, well, Lennon is known for being more than frank with his feelings. Perhaps Sting did better with his "Every breath you take” a subtler post-divorce look at the love of his life that which many have mistaken a mushy love song.

Many applaud the honesty of these songs, why not, they argue that these thoughts are real, they occurred in our head. Well, the question is how do we respond to these thoughts, do we concur or should we be checked by a higher value yet at the same time acknowledging these feelings.... hmmm food for thought...

Another event that many may consider that which has the least to do with any higher value but rather propelled by their practical needs: the "run for your lives" exercise by the runners or taunters in the friendly neighborhoods of Pamplona every July. The famous Bull Run, where bulls are let loosed after the frenetic runners on a course of a town's streets; damned if you are overtaken by the bulls. The prize of making it to the finishing line is not only saving your butt but also to uphold this tradition that began in 14th century Spain and to some the bragging rights to post their bravado on Facebook.  In case we are confused with whom are having the most fun, the animals rights group has made it very clear.

Pamplona - Viva San Fermi! attempts to capture the euphoria, foolhardiness of this race for those who could not make it to Pamplona or, really! Do we have to make the trip? Now if you are serious in paying a visit, this could be your credential on paper / cardboard... 

How do you play?

In Pamplona, you control an ox, a bull and a foolish runner. The goal is to get your runner across 4 sections of the city streets without being gored by the opponents' bulls. You get a hand of 5 movements cards for each ox and bull you control. Once the bulls and oxen are released i.e. in player order, each player places their ox and bull; the runner is then placed within five rows from the first bull of the herd. Each runner is rewarded with bravery points- the closer a runner is to the first bull the more points they get. 

The race begins with the order of the playing pieces positions, the one ahead moves first. Each runner must move 2 squares straight or diagonally ahead. Likewise, Oxen and bull are governed by the same movement rule except the cards played; the value ranging from 2 to 5, determine the number of movement squares. The runner cannot share places with another playing pieces, or the unfortunate bystander printed on the board, except in situations when an ox tramples a runner or a bull gores the runner. You get 1 point from having your ox tramples your opponents' runners, 2 points goring them with your bull. When a bull gores a runner, he is carried to the hospital; he converts all of his bravery points to stupidity points, which counts for nothing! Heh heh. And he gave his clothes to another friend who would embrace the color of his stupidity and continue on with the next sections.  Oh! You also get special ability cards that are one time use only that can avert one goring, move the runner an extra square, slows down your opponents' runner and etc. (you get the idea) ; ). 
 

Dangers Looming?

How do we feel?

Meeple*: The theme is really cool. I appreciate the bull miniatures and the board's artwork, which bring the players to the space where they can experience the atmosphere of a bull race. This is not quite a race game but rather of maneuvering my ox and bull into defensive positions that "protect" my runner, or attacking other runners. Although I am concerned with the well-being of my runner, I do not feel too worried as the actions by other player are quite predictable since the only exceptions to the rule of the race is the special ability card and that is also public information. I feel like I have full control of the race and I do not feel the movement cards restrict my options yet there is very little I can do in reacting to the others actions apart from crying "I see that coming", when my beloved flattened runner...

I do enjoy Pamplona as a quick filler game, the revised rule set is easy to understand, however, one do need to get over the hurdle of what each special ability cards can do. Publishers, we are looking at you! Do not skimp on player’s aid!

U**:  I appreciate how the initial placement at the beginning of each sections is crucial to the outcome of the race. Taking into the consideration of the special ability card selected at each round, and the positions of the other playing pieces, one can picture the outcome of the whole race. This also has the unfortunate implications that there are very few surprises how the race will finish and the initial placement is the "meat" of the whole race. Not quite what I have expected from a race game. There is a lack of excitement and tensions in the actual race. 

I do see the merit of the theme and I am trying really hard to like the game. I feel the execution could be better. There are too many starting points (or placement rounds) in the race, I wonder if the race is a continuous section with different scoring junctions will the game then lend itself to a more meaningful hand management of the movement cards. Save for the theme and miniatures, I wouldn't have missed the game a bit.

Is it fun? 

Meeple:  I like it. I will play the game once in a while. I'd break it out when my non-gamer friends come around, when we need a change of scenes from the usual likes of Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne.

U: You really want to play this?! Let me search online for a variant.

 
by Aliensean on a surprising sunny day in Vancouver. 

* Meeple is a family gamer who loves ... hmmm of all the games who would have thought- Carcassonne, and Ticket to ride. She prefers a lighter rule set and games that last around 30mins to an hour.

**U is gamer who likes games with little more "depth", not necessarily heavier rules set. Games that he would break out once in a while to annoy others.