Medieval board game

**Rinan** · September 08, 2009, 08:47 AM

Hey there!

Some time ago I’ve been to an open-air historic museum nearby the place I live. In that museum they’ve built a small historic town resembling what the city was supposed to look like during the Iron Age and the middle ages.
That particular day there were re-enactments and also a fair. On this fair I encountered quite a funny medieval game. Unfortunately I didn’t catch the name of the game and I can’t seem to find it with google either; hence why I ask here. With all those smart people here, we’re bound to find the game I’m looking for!

So, I’ll describe the game;
It’s perhaps a bit similar to Tic-tac-toe or the modern-day four-in-a-row game
There are 16 pieces of wood/stone/whatever material you use. They have different shapes. Basically there are these variations:
tall or short
cylinder or cuboid
Flat top or cut top

The goal of the game is to get four pieces sharing an attribute on one row. (The board is 4x4). This means that if I get 4 cuboids in one row, I win. If I get four tall pieces in a row I win. The fun part is that there can be variation. You can have two short cylinders (one with a flat top and one with a cut one) followed by one short cuboid followed by another short cylinder and you win. (4 times a short piece)

The final rule is that once you had your turn, you get to choose the next piece for your opponent. So you can try to make it as difficult as possible for him/her.

I hope my explanation was clear, my native language is not English. If you think you know the game I’m describing, please inform me/us. I would like to know the name of the game for personal reasons as well as for an assignment for school.

Thanks in advance!

**SonOfAlexander** · September 08, 2009, 10:10 AM

Sorry, never heard of that game, though it sounds quite good

Your english is absolutely fine - in fact, very good. I could tell, but not that much

- where are you from?

**Rinan** · September 08, 2009, 10:33 AM

Thanks

I am Dutch. But English is sort of becoming my second language. Still not native, so I just wanted to let you people know why I make a silly mistake if I make any.
Pity you don't know the game, thanks for your reply though.

**ThiudareiksGunthigg** · September 08, 2009, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Rinan

Hey there!

Some time ago I’ve been to an open-air historic museum nearby the place I live. In that museum they’ve built a small historic town resembling what the city was supposed to look like during the Iron Age and the middle ages.
That particular day there were re-enactments and also a fair. On this fair I encountered quite a funny medieval game. Unfortunately I didn’t catch the name of the game and I can’t seem to find it with google either; hence why I ask here. With all those smart people here, we’re bound to find the game I’m looking for!

So, I’ll describe the game;
It’s perhaps a bit similar to Tic-tac-toe or the modern-day four-in-a-row game
There are 16 pieces of wood/stone/whatever material you use. They have different shapes. Basically there are these variations:
tall or short
cylinder or cuboid
Flat top or cut top

The goal of the game is to get four pieces sharing an attribute on one row. (The board is 4x4). This means that if I get 4 cuboids in one row, I win. If I get four tall pieces in a row I win. The fun part is that there can be variation. You can have two short cylinders (one with a flat top and one with a cut one) followed by one short cuboid followed by another short cylinder and you win. (4 times a short piece)

The final rule is that once you had your turn, you get to choose the next piece for your opponent. So you can try to make it as difficult as possible for him/her.

I hope my explanation was clear, my native language is not English. If you think you know the game I’m describing, please inform me/us. I would like to know the name of the game for personal reasons as well as for an assignment for school.

Thanks in advance!

Sounds like a variation on Nine Mens Morris.