TAMSK
Encyclopedia
TAMSK is the second board game
in the GIPF Project
of six abstract strategy games and was published in 1998
. Players move sand hourglass timers and drop plastic rings around spaces on a hexagonal board in an attempt to limit their opponent's moves. Each player starts the game with 32 rings, and the player with the fewest remaining rings at the end of the game is the winner. The game is unique among the GIPF Project games in having time as a central game component, and the manner in which time is used is possibly unique among board games in general.
A timer must have sand running through it in order to be moved, and when it is moved, it is also turned over. Thus, rather than giving a set amount of time in which to make a move, each player's set of 3 timers all have variable amounts of time remaining in which they can be moved, and that time changes whenever a move is made. At any point during the game, it may be beneficial to delay moving or to move as quickly as possible, and an opponent can use another timer to force a move if it is in their interest. Timers that have run out cannot be moved for the remainder of the game.
Each move increasingly restricts the usable playing area of the board (a mechanic it shares with its companion games, ZÈRTZ
and DVONN
), which means TAMSK games move toward an inevitable conclusion in a reasonable amount of time.
TAMSK has had fewer critical plaudits than other games in the GIPF project
, and its elaborate production has meant a significantly higher retail cost, but it generated enough demand and kudos to justify a second print run.
With the 2006 release of the third set of GIPF potentials, Kris Burm announced that the GIPF project
was complete, but he changed his plans in 2007 with the release of TZAAR
, which replaced TAMSK as part of the GIPF series. Therefore TAMSK is no longer on the market.
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
in the GIPF Project
GIPF project
The GIPF Project is an award-winning series of six abstract strategy games by designer Kris Burm.The series is named after the first game, GIPF, and the idea behind the project is that the reward for winning each of the other games in the series is to allow the winner to introduce new pieces with...
of six abstract strategy games and was published in 1998
1998 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 1998. For video and console games, see 1998 in video gaming.-Game awards given in 1998:* Spiel des Jahres: Elfenland - Alan R...
. Players move sand hourglass timers and drop plastic rings around spaces on a hexagonal board in an attempt to limit their opponent's moves. Each player starts the game with 32 rings, and the player with the fewest remaining rings at the end of the game is the winner. The game is unique among the GIPF Project games in having time as a central game component, and the manner in which time is used is possibly unique among board games in general.
A timer must have sand running through it in order to be moved, and when it is moved, it is also turned over. Thus, rather than giving a set amount of time in which to make a move, each player's set of 3 timers all have variable amounts of time remaining in which they can be moved, and that time changes whenever a move is made. At any point during the game, it may be beneficial to delay moving or to move as quickly as possible, and an opponent can use another timer to force a move if it is in their interest. Timers that have run out cannot be moved for the remainder of the game.
Each move increasingly restricts the usable playing area of the board (a mechanic it shares with its companion games, ZÈRTZ
ZÈRTZ
ZÈRTZ is the third game in the GIPF Project of six abstract strategy games. The game features a shrinking board and an object that promotes sacrifice combinations...
and DVONN
DVONN
DVONN is a two-player strategy board game in which the objective is to accumulate pieces in stacks. It was released in 2001 by Kris Burm as the fourth game of the GIPF Project. DVONN won the 2002 International Gamers Award and the Games magazine Game of the Year Award in 2003.- Equipment :DVONN is...
), which means TAMSK games move toward an inevitable conclusion in a reasonable amount of time.
TAMSK has had fewer critical plaudits than other games in the GIPF project
GIPF project
The GIPF Project is an award-winning series of six abstract strategy games by designer Kris Burm.The series is named after the first game, GIPF, and the idea behind the project is that the reward for winning each of the other games in the series is to allow the winner to introduce new pieces with...
, and its elaborate production has meant a significantly higher retail cost, but it generated enough demand and kudos to justify a second print run.
With the 2006 release of the third set of GIPF potentials, Kris Burm announced that the GIPF project
GIPF project
The GIPF Project is an award-winning series of six abstract strategy games by designer Kris Burm.The series is named after the first game, GIPF, and the idea behind the project is that the reward for winning each of the other games in the series is to allow the winner to introduce new pieces with...
was complete, but he changed his plans in 2007 with the release of TZAAR
TZAAR
TZAAR is the seventh game released in the GIPF series and Games Magazine's 2009 Game of the Year. It is the announced replacement for TAMSK, the second board game in the GIPF Project. With TAMSK being taken out of the series, the GIPF Project series is still at its intended final number of six...
, which replaced TAMSK as part of the GIPF series. Therefore TAMSK is no longer on the market.