Van Helsing

Early September the new game "Van Helsing" from Sirius will be launched.

To promote this game, I'm preparing to shoot a trailer (like for Nuns on the Run).

You may expect the trailer around mid-september.

FAQ Nuns on the run

Here are the answers on a few commonly asked questions:

1. In the first game-turn, do the novices roll for noise?
Yes

2. When do the guards have to select their first path cards?
At the start of their game-turn.

3. Can you chose to re-use the same movement card?
Of course, you can.

4. Do you have to select your movement card before moving?
No, you move first and show the movement card in relation to the distance that you have moved.

5. When does a guard turn after or before moving?
At the start of each movement step, the guard figure is pivoted in the new direction.

6. Can a guard immediately leave her path and start running after seeing a novice?
Yes, she can.

7. When I'm caught, when can I disobey and start moving in another direction than my cell?
As soon as the guard does not see you anymore, you can move in any direction at any speed.

8. When do I flip my card back to the "on the run" side?
At the moment that you aren't walking back to your cell anymore. So, you can remain "caught" (and safe) as long as you are moving in the right direction.

9. When do I have to roll for noises again?
At the end of the turn when you are back "on the run".

10. When do I risk being caught again?
Once, you are back "on the run".

Tactical hints

First of all, a French translation of the rules is now available. You can download it from Board Game Geek, but also from Ludism.

Errata: I've discovered a small missing detail in the English rules. In the first game turn, novices must also roll the die for noises, even though the guards have not moved yet. In this way, guards can detect novices which remained too close to the abbess' cell.

Here are some tactical hints for the guard player :

You need a keen plan to trap the novices in order to catch them easily. First, check were the keys are. Most of them are in the gardens and the chapel. So, there is a big chance that most of the novices will run in that direction at the start of the game. No need to run behind them. Their advance is too big and you will arrive too late. So, you will try to shortcut their plans and run towards the Pharmacy and the Scriptorium. If by chance a novice needs key 7 or 8, he will be surely trapped and caught.
When you arrive at your destination, you are sure that all the undetected novices are in the chapel or gardens. So, now you select paths to cross the whole convent from right to left. When you reach the garden's gate, you will have caught a lot of novices, because most of them will have few escape options.
The game is now halfway and if any novice was still uncaught and undetected at this moment, you must head towards the abbess'cell to block all novices on the way back.
Victory will be yours!

Here are some tactical hints for the novice player :

The guard player thinks that you are stupid, but he is terribly wrong. Instead of moving his guards in opposite directions, he kept them together, leaving a large part of the convent unsearched.
So, at the start of the game he went in the wrong direction. Now you have plenty of time to pick up your key in the gardens or in the chapel. If your key is at the opposite side of the convent, you just need to wait until the guards are gone and you walk quietly behind them, picking up the key without any problem. Then, you go towards the garden's gate and back to your cell, still behind the guards. You win without any problem.
When you are in the chapel or in the gardens while the guards are coming in your direction, take the path outside the convent to pass the guards safely and to reach the kitchen. From there on, you can reach easily your destination and run back towards your cell.
Normally, you should arrive there before the guards. If not, you wait until they move away (without having any idea where you could be) and sneak quickly back in your cell.
It is that easy!

Poker Middelkerke 2010

Saturday April 3th, I've participated together with my sun at the poker tournament in Middelkerke.


Alexander, the youngest player, became 20th on 65 participants. He lost with a straight against a higher one.


Here, I'm sitting at the final table.


My stack of chips is increasing together with my confidence.


The winner of the tournament. She won with a full house of kings and sixs, while I stalled with sixs and kings at the river. Damned!

As d'or - Jeu de l'année Enfant

Cache Moutons, alias Nicht zu fassen, has been awarded again.
After Spiele hit in Austria and a nomination for the Kinderspiel des Jahres, the game has won the prestigious As d'or - Jeu de l'année Enfant. The gala evening took place in Cannes. This new award will surely give a strong boost to the game, and not only in France.

On the picture above, you see from left to right : Jean-Christophe Girez, the French publisher from Gigamic, Albrecht Werstein, the boss of Zoch Spiele (German publisher) and myself.

On the picture below, on the front row, you see all the winners together : myself, Philippe Keyaerts, winner of the Special Jury Prize with Smallworld and finally Emilie from Asmodee with Identik.

Trailer and how to play

Here are three videos to promote the new game "Nuns on the Run".

For the best effect, watch the trailer full screen with dimmed lights and at the highest quality level (480p instead of 360p). Enjoy!

First demos

The first demos are very promising. Apparantly, people are intrigued by the theme of the game.

On the picture, you see the abbess and prioress walking away after having detected and caught novice Theresa (me) in the chapel.