| Game
Overview
Fish Eat Fish allows up to
5 players to battle it out for the right
to be called 'Biggest fish in the sea' -
literally! Each player controls a group
of 5 fish and the action takes place on
a seaboard that contains a 5 x 5 grid with
a circle on each intersection. Each player
places their fish on these intersections
and the remaining spaces are filled with
neutral purple fish. Each player then takes
an identical set of 11 cards made up of
the following; 0, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, two
octopus cards and two shark cards. These
cards are used to determine the outcome
when two fish challenge for the same space
(of sea as it were). On a player's turn
they must select a fish and move it to another
circle on the board. If this brings them
to a space that contains another fish then
a contest is fought. If the fish is neutral
victory is guaranteed, no cards are played
and the player places their fish on top
of the eaten fish, thus making their fish
bigger. However if the fish being attacked
was owned by another player then things
will not be so easy. Both players must select
a card from their hand and place it on the
table face down. When both cards have been
selected they are revealed and the result
is calculated. If a player used a number
card then they add the card number to the
number of fish they have in the conflict.
For example if they played the number 3
and had a stack of 4 fish, then their total
would be 7. The opponent does likewise and
the highest total is declared the winner.
The used cards are discarded from the game
and the victor can happily eat his opponent's
fish, which will make him bigger and stronger
for future conflicts. The game continues
in such fashion until only one player remains
on the board or all players run out of cards
to play. When a player runs out of cards
they are out of the game and take their
fish from the board for scoring at the end.
At the end of the game it is the player
with the most fish that will win. To keep
the game from stagnating into a case of
best memory wins (i.e. what cards do they
have left) the game includes the shark and
octopus cards. A shark will guarantee victory
against any other numbered card. Although
powerful, each player only has two and must
be careful to use them wisely. If the octopus
card is played, it cancels any outcome from
being decided - both players remain where
they were and all cards played are lost.
This is a great way to stop an opponent
from using high valued cards and the shark
and it allows players to develop strong
bluffing and counter bluffing tactics. By
the way if the total of both sides cards
result in a tie, then both sides get eaten
and both sets of fish are removed from the
game!
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