Dial It Up To 011

Nov 23, 2011

Coming soon from Elfinwerks is 011. A Steampunk style board game by Paolo Vallerga, author of the 011 novel. It has a lot to do with the band Therion, who I know absolutely nothing about but have inspired Paolo to write a book, make a movie, and create a board game themed around their music.

Elfinwerks describes 011 as a:

“Semi-cooperative game of mystery and adventure. If you are to stop the coming cataclysm, you will need to share your clues with the others, but you must be cautious: for none of your allies can be trusted! One of your number has succumbed to the whispered promises of the Spirit of Fenrir, turning his hand against humanity for the promise of immortality!

But keep your secrets too long, and humanity itself is doomed! You will have to risk that someone else will get the glory, and hope that you have chosen the right people to trust. Clever use of your resources will be the key to grasping victory at exactly the right moment!”

011 is an investigative adventure for 3–6 players. But remember: even though the heroes all have the same objective, this is not a cooperative game! Defeat can be for all, but victory will only be for one!

To win the game, you must gather the pages of the Song of Making and deliver the Chosen One to the Organ of Eternity (or to the spirit of Fenrir!). You begin with only a small amount of information. Using the eight characters, you must scour the city of Turin for clues to the location of the Organ and the identity of the Chosen One—a task that that will require you to share information with your rivals!

Each round of play opens with an auction for turn order. Your position in the order determines how you are affected by the event card draw, and which characters you will be able to use during the round. Selecting a character gives you acces to his or her special ability, and allows you to move through the streets of the city to seek clues. The unique Action Gear system determines the distance your character can move, what mode of transportation you have available, and what action you may take to further your investigation.

You have only 11 rounds to discover the truth and prevent the coming apocalypse.

Locate the Organ, identify the Chosen One, and compose the Song of Making, and victory can be yours. Fail, and all of humanity will suffer the final conflict of the gods!