Billabong (game)

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Billabong
Game data
author Eric W. Solomon
graphic Ralf E. Kahlert (franjos),
Franz Vohwinkel (Amigo),
Klemens Franz (franjos 2018)
publishing company Franjos (1994, 2002, 2018),
Amigo (1995)
Publishing year 1994, 1995, 2002, 2018
Art Board game
Teammates 2 to 4
Duration 30 - 45 minutes
Age from 10 years on

Awards

Billabong (German: "Waterhole in the Australian Outback" ; English name: High Tail It! ) Is a tactical board game based on the Halma game , which was first published in 1984 by the English mathematician Eric W. Solomon in the book Games Programming published by Cambridge University Press has been described. In Germany it was released in 1991 as a computer game by Amigo and from 1994 as a board game by Franjos . In the same year it was put on the shortlist for Game of the Year . In 1995, Billabong was also released as a board game by Amigo. In 2002 and 2018 Franjos brought out a new edition each.

The game is suitable for two to four players ages ten and up and, according to the manufacturer, takes about 30 to 45 minutes. The aim of the game is to be the first to circle a lake ( billabong ) with your playing figures ( kangaroos ) and then to bathe in it.

Style of play

matchfield

Is played Billabong on a playing field with 14 × 16 square fields. In the middle there is a rectangular “lake” that takes up 2 × 4 squares. From this lake, a “stream” leads to the edge of the field on one side. This brook represents the start and finish line. Each participant has to circle the lake twice with his five pawns (which have the shape of a stylized kangaroo).

At the beginning everyone alternately places their figures on any playing field. Even here you have to act tactically in order to choose the best possible starting position. After all pieces are in the game, similar to the Halma, each player in turn will move one of his stones one square in any direction (horizontally, vertically, diagonally) or make one or more jumps over several squares. However, the jumping rules have been expanded compared to the classic Halma: A kangaroo can now jump over any other tile if the starting point is just as far away from the kangaroo it has jumped as the landing point. He can jump over his own as well as foreign kangaroos. However, there must be no other kangaroo in the way and it must not jump over the edge or over the billabong. You can jump as often as possible. A neutral referee kangaroo can be used to plan longer jump sequences and also jump sequences in which the jumping kangaroo is involved.

If the player no longer wants to move his kangaroo by jumping, the turn ends. There is no obligation to jump. Long jump sequences work best with a maximum of four players, as the board is then sufficiently occupied with animals.

The winner is the player who was the first to move all his kangaroos twice across the stream.

expenditure

The game Billabong was developed by Eric W. Solomon and appeared for the first time in 1994 at franjos Spielverlag with a graphic design by Ralf E. Kahlert . In 1995 it was also published by Amigo with a design by Franz Vohwinkel . Further editions appeared again by franjos in 1995, 2002 and 2018, the latter designed by Klemens Franz .

In 1994 Billabong was included in the selection list of the jury of the Game of the Year , in the same year it was voted 10th in the German Game Award .

Web links