Exxtra

From:Amigo Cost:$24 Players: 3-6 Playing Time: 30 minutes Type of game: Beer 'n' Pretzels Skill level: 3 Complexity: 3 Reviewed by: Peter Sarrett, Issue 5.2 (18), Spring 1998

Exxtra is a dice-throwing game. The game board fits together like a simple jigsaw puzzle to make an x-shaped board. Beginning from the Start space, there are 20 spots along the outside of the board to the Finish. In the center of the board is a "dice ladder:" six rows numbered from 0 to 5. Each player takes an x-shaped wooden marker (got the theme yet?), the two dice of the same color, and an identifying marker. The identifying marker is placed in front so everyone knows what color you are, and the markers are all placed on the Start space. The first player to reach the Finish space wins. Now the rolling begins.

Each player holds two dice, one having faces of 1-2-3-5-6-X and the other 1-2-3-4-7-X. The first player rolls both of their dice, and reads the result as a two-digit number with the high number always being first. For example, a roll of 4 and 6 is read as "64." Given the dice layout, the highest roll is "76." Every turn, a player's first roll can't hurt them, as an X counts as a zero. So, a first roll of X and 5 is read as "50." The player can accept the first roll, and place the two dice on one of the rungs of the dice ladder. Or, they can choose to roll again to better their score, but with a consequence: If an "X" is produced on a subsequent roll within a player's turn, the turn immediately ends, no dice go on the ladder, and the player's marker is moved backward one space for each X.

A player chooses to end their turn by placing the pair of dice on any empty rung of the dice ladder. The newly-placed dice bump any dice above it showing an equal or lower value off the ladder. If doubles are rolled (1, 2, or 3 are the only possibilities), the player advances their marker 1, 2, or 3 spaces respectively and then chooses to roll again or end their turn by placing the dice on the ladder.

When the turn gets around to you again, if your dice have survived on the ladder you move your marker the number of spaces designated by the rung and start the process over. The winner is the first to reach the Finish spot.

Here's a simple example: Reiner begins by rolling 3,2 and chooses to roll again. He rolls a 1,1, moves his piece 1 space, then chooses to roll again. He gets a 6, X, his turn ends, and his piece is moved back one to the Start spot.

Klaus is next and rolls 6,4. He places the "64" on rung 4 of the ladder, and play passes to Stephan. Stephan rolls a 7,1. He could roll again, but instead chooses to put the 71 on rung 5, which will not bump Klaus. He could have chosen to place it on a rung below 4 and bump off Klaus' dice. His choice probably depended on the relative position of all players at the time.

Strategy is fairly straight forward: this is a game which is much more about rolling doubles and 70-something more than it is strategic. You do have decide if its worth rolling again and chancing the dreaded X's, and positioning yourself on the dice ladder can be aggressive (bump people and claim your spot) or defensive (try to hide out on a lower rung and survive until your turn comes around again). Play passes from player to player quickly, since there aren't many decisions to make.

Sounds exciting, fast and fun, right? Well, actually the game bogs down quite a bit and the rolling becomes quite tedious. In practice, a player can effectively freeze out everyone else's turn by placing a high value roll on a lower rung, bumping everyone else off, then waiting for their next turn to come around. This is in fact a good strategy when you're behind, but becomes tiresome and annoying for everyone else. The continual "move up slowly" and "move back when you roll an X" dynamics gives the game a frustrating pace. I've found myself wishing for an opponent to just roll double threes and end the game so we could get on to something better! The game does play within the 30 minutes suggested on the box, but it always seems longer.

Like many people, I am a fan of Reiner Knizia and therefore it disappoints me to find a new game of his to be so weak. He still has a great batting average in my book, though. But, if you want to roll dice and have fast-paced fun, leave Exxtra in the closet and pull out Can't Stop.