Games of the Month - March 2024

Here is my Games of the Month Vlog for March 2024! These are snippets from my Patreon exclusive Opinions vlogs, where I discussed my favorite games of the month. You can gain access to my thoughts on all the other games I played this month, as well as hundreds of other games, by becoming a supporter of the channel. Visit patreon.com/jongetsgames to learn more!
Introduction - 0:00
Königrufen - 1:14
City of the Living - 13:02
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[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Jon, I suspect you might enjoy Sheepshead. It has some similarities to Königrufen. It requires 5 players (at least by standard rules). You use a 32 card deck (no 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) and the trump suit is massive (all clubs plus all J and Q). Each player is dealt 6 cards and 2 are the face down "blind" (similar to Königrufen's talon I think). Each player around the table left of the dealer has a chance to "pick" by selecting the blind a burying any 2 cards. Like Königrufen, you are playing for points (aces 11, tens 10, K, Q, J are 4, 3, 2 for 120 total points). The picker has to win 61 points (one more than half); the hand is doubled if the picker gets 91 (1 more than 3/4); doubled again if the picker wins all tricks. The picker is helped by an initially unknown partner (the player holding the J of diamonds). However, the picker can call "alone" to double the hand, or can secretly play alone if they have the J diamonds. A picker with the J diamonds who does not want to play alone can call J hearts as partner. Picker can call "double"; opposition can call "redouble". Hands can get really exciting when there's a double/redouble. (Hands are automatically doubled also if the picker loses the hand, so there's a risk to getting those extra 2 cards.)
Sheepshead is a must-follow game with one exception: trump can always be played. This creates interesting dilemmas. For example, if you were in opposition, say the picker leads an ace of hearts, and the next player plays a 10. This might be a good time to trump in because 21 points are sitting there; also, it might signal other players on your side to add more points if they can. But you are also possibly helping the picker bleed your trump this way.
If no one picks, you play a different game: leaster. Now everyone plays for themselves, and the player who claims the fewest points wins the hand. Leaster hands are always doubled. (So if you are playing for a dime a point, you'd win 80 cents and everyone else loses 20 cents). The scoring always adds like it does in Königrufen.

[@JonGetsGames]

Interesting, I'd certainly be up for trying it. Thanks for the overview!

[@FloLedermann]

Great to see the cardgame I watched my grandmother play with her group of friends all the time, featured on JonGetsGames! 🎉😎

[@JonGetsGames]

That is so cool :)

[@dominiquebelanger1828]

Have you ever played tarot? I have a grandfather that used to play that all the time and now I play on BGA with my sister and a friend almost every weekend. Fun game.

[@JonGetsGames]

I've played some tarot based games, but Konigrufen and Hungarian Tarok are the only traditional one I've tried.

[@craigsomerton2359]

Konigrufen sounds intriguing. On which platform are you running the virtual tableop mod?

[@JonGetsGames]

Virtualtabletop.io is a website, typing that into any browser will get you there :)

[@MrDump]

Are you planning on doing any Arcs coverage?

[@JonGetsGames]

Not at the moment, but never say never :)

[@DarrinLauritzen]

what were the zombies called in prosperity?

[@JonGetsGames]

I believe they were simply polution.

[@wolfstritt598]

The name of this game is German.