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Eclipse box art
Rich game profile

Eclipse

The Ball and Chain Game is an abstract game for two. The oblong board contains hexagonal spaced holes for the ball-shaped pieces to rest. Each player has one large Guard and five pairs of smaller Prisoner pieces. Each pair of Prisoners is connected by a metal chain: two short cha...

Players

2

Time

?-?

Age

8+

Weight

1.89

Rating

6.18

Should this hit the table?

Quick read before the metadata.

Moderate level of interaction with a mix of direct and strategic confrontation.

Teach 2.4

Teaching signal

Replay 4.0

High replayability

Interaction 3.6

Highly interactive

Scaling 4.0

Scales well

Strategy 4.5

Deep strategy

Control 3.5

More strategic control

Table feel

Moderate level of interaction with a mix of direct and strategic confrontation.

Replay value

Eclipse has a high replayability score due to its high variability gameboard, expansions available, strategic depth, and scalability. The game offers different experiences each time it is played, with multiple paths to victory and variable setups. The presence of expansions adds new content and gameplay elements, enhancing the replay value. The game also allows for deep strategic possibilities and room for improvement over time. It adapts well to different player counts without compromising its appeal or balance. While it may not be the easiest game to learn, it offers enough depth to keep players engaged and coming back for more.

Luck profile

Eclipse has a moderate influence of luck. Random elements have a notable but not exclusive impact on the game outcome. Players have substantial ability to mitigate randomness through strategic decisions and planning. The game outcome is primarily determined by player strategy and decisions, with luck playing a minor role.

Overview

What ABG knows about this game

The Ball and Chain Game is an abstract game for two. The oblong board contains hexagonal spaced holes for the ball-shaped pieces to rest. Each player has one large Guard and five pairs of smaller Prisoner pieces. Each pair of Prisoners is connected by a metal chain: two short chains and three long. A Prisoner may move as far as the chain will allow (1 or 2 spaces) while its partner stays put. The opponent's Prisoners may be temporarily immobilized by crossing one of your chains over theirs. The Guard moves one space at a time in any hex-axial direction. If, on your turn, you are unable to move your Guard, you lose.

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