Humans are interesting creatures to keep as pets. They are fickle. Their depth of understanding is as shallow as one of those wading pools they put their children in on hot, summer days. Because their traits are such, Simone, the Siamese a couple of houses over, and I, Popov, a fine Russian Blue, came up with a game we have introduced to other cats in the neighborhood. It a wonderful experience watching our humans traverse the emotional spectra. And, to see who really is the best feline.-----
Cantankerous Catsby Al Gonzalez is a card game of cats having fun, in pure cat fashion. I was introduced to Cantankerous Cats at Salt Lake Gaming Convention 2018 (website). I was also able to visit with a person who has Cantankerous Cats in their game library.
Concept
Cantankerous Cats has each person playing a cat who is balancing the gaining of affection against causing mischief. The statement on the box sums up the concept very well, "A ferocious feline card game of cunning, mischief, and schadenfreude." (I had to look up schadenfreude to make sure its meaning—pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune.)
Mechanics
Cantankerous Catsis scalable to allow for easier play and additional elements to create more strategy. Players start with a hand and draw cards to add to it. Cards represent different actions the cat takes.
Basic play is to draw three and play two. This method of play has each player taking actions to affect events in their own household. They must build up affection with their humans to a level that they can create mischief. If there isn’t enough affection available, then they cannot do crafty little feline tricks. Mischief improves your score until a player wins.
Advanced play introduced paws. Paws are used for attacking and defending. You can shift the blame to another cat. If they don’t have a paw to protect themselves they lose affection with their humans. You can even force another cat to be cast out and become feral if they don’t have enough affection built up with their people.
Feral cats are still in the game. When a cat becomes feral they must earn affection from new humans who will take them home. Until then, the cat is unable to score points while the rest of the cats on the block are taking actions.
Don’t let the write-up of the rules get in the way of the basic concept of the game. Also, the developer told me they are working on redesigning the rules to make them easier to understand. If you are familiar with a variety of games, I don’t think you’ll have problems.
Art
Cantankerous Catshas wonderful art that builds on the style and feel of the game. Everything is done in a tea room motif reminiscent of the Victorian age. In talking with Al at the convention I was informed every portrait they use on the cards has been done as a full size watercolor and that level of detail shows through. The back of the deck cards carry the motif and the cards for the cats have a domesticated and a feral side.
The cats introduced in the game are from the homes of the developer and friends. The art shows the caring relationship with the cats.
The artwork was done by Jose Pimienta (web page), Heather Gross (web page), and Elise Spacek (web page).
Overall
Cantankerous Cats will appeal to those who share their home with a cat or two. The write-ups on the cards telling the actions are recognizable and people were having a good time just reading the cards as they enjoyed the art.
Cantankerous Cats by Al Gonzalez is from Mentha Designs (Facebook). It is for 2–6 players of ages 8–10+ (based on the rules used) and is designed to last 25–60 minutes.
Cantankerous Cats is available on Amazon (link).
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Unbelievable! Simone and I were doing well in our little competition until the little runt of a litter, Hobbit, got all cutesy. Playing off being a puff ball, Hobbit was able to get away with gambits short of killing one of her humans. And she even got the dog put in obedience school.
Well, I’m not going to let Hobbit triumph again. We’ve already recruiting a pair on the next street, a Tortoiseshell and a Maine Coon and we are doing this again.
If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.
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