HP-related Games (was Re: Killing off Characters)

[rcraigharman at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20704

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Jim Ferer" <jferer at y...> wrote:
> As far as the games go, check with people here before buying one. 
> they've been disappointing. All of the merchandise was a rush job, 
> IMO.

I would not be surprised that the HP-based games would be pretty
weak.  It seems that most games developed with a marketing tie-in
to a movie or tv show wind up that way.

OTOH, let me speak in favor of Harry Potter Uno.  First, the tie-in
to Harry Potter is *very* weak, but the game itself is great fun.
Four of my friends and I played it for several hours over Memorial
Day Weekend down at the beach.

The rules are in essence the same as common Uno rules, with the
fairly standard house exception of being able to defend against
penalty cards by matching them (Draw 4 on Draw 4, for example).

The differences between HP Uno and normal Uno are as follows:

(1) "Draw 3" cards, instead of "Draw 2".
(2) Wilds may be played any time (even if you have matching colors).
(3) A player caught not calling Uno is penalized 5 cards (not 4).
(4) Invisibility wild - makes the player immune to attacks.
(5) Howler wild - which makes the player next in line *shout* out
all his or her cards.

The two new wilds are poorly explained, so we used them as follows:

Invisibility wild - we figured that a card that gave a player whole-
round immunity was not a very good idea, so we decided that it must
have been intended as a Get-Out-Jail-Free card.  If previous players
had played penalty cards onto the pile, the player holding the
Invisibility wild would play his/her card and it would nullify the
previous cards.

Example:

Player A plays a Draw 3.
Player B plays a Draw 3 (taking advantage matching penalty cards).
Player C plays a Draw 3 (same advantage).
Player D plays an Invisibility wild and thus avoids a "draw 9".

Play continues, and player D does not have immunity against future
penalties.


Howler wild - this card is a real kick, especially if the people you
are playing with are real hams and are willing to shriek and squeal
their cards in great "agony".  We decided that the player who plays
it gets to wait to call a new color until after he/she hears what's
in the next player's hand.

Example:
Player B has "uno" (one card left) and the pile has a Red six on top.

Player A plays the Howler wild.
Player B screams out "I have a Red 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Player A changes the color to Green and avoids player B going out.

Play continues.


We really liked the game and once we had clarified the rules in a
logical and consistent way, it kept us busy most of the afternoon.
It comes in a mock chest and the cards are adorned with the usual
movie-tie-in HP graphics.

....Craig