Mads and Cowboys társasjáték

Angol leírás

Mads and Cowboys is a brilliant pocket-sized mental arithmetic multi-game comprising 24 cards and 11 games.
It is first and foremost a game of intuitive calculation with a Western theme suitable for all ages, but it is also an educational game for school (it works wonders on children aged 6 to 12). It is also ideal for anyone who wants to give their brain a workout and show off their skills in public. In fact, each game rewards the winner by letting them put on a show in front of the other players: plenty of laughs guaranteed!

The preliminary version of this game (which has since been revised and expanded) was awarded the bronze medal at the Lépine International Competition in Paris in 2025.

THE MADS (The Grand Expert Game / Level 5/5 – 2 to 10 players): the player whose turn it is (the Leader) asks for 1 to 5 Number cards based on the Hero card visible at the top of the Hero deck. They must then place this Hero card to the left or right of the deck to form a two-digit target number. Everyone tries to reach this target using the available numbers, and must use them all. However, the Leader can get within one of the target, whilst the Horde (the other players) must hit the exact number. If any players in the Horde think this is impossible for them, they must shout “Impossible!” to force the leader to take one of the four available jokers (Joker: add a card, Joker: remove a card, Joker: x3, Joker: x3, Joker: ÷ 2 or ÷ 3). The leader is allowed to take two of the four jokers, but the Horde can force them to take them.
When a Horde player claims to have the correct answer, they shout “I’ve got it!”, and it takes two “I’ve got it!” calls to stop the Leader, who must then say whether one of these two players is lying or not, as Horde players can bluff.
A Leader who claims the last card from the deck (they may ask for more, in which case all the cards are collected and shuffled) earns a bonus point, but is then only allowed one joker.
The player or players with the lowest scores in the Horde may combine two digits to make a number.
This expert game draws on several mechanics: strategy, mental arithmetic, bluffing and memory

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (Level 1/5 – 2 to 5 players): Calculate the value of your two cards to win a card from the centre or steal the face-up card from one of your opponents. Reward: sing and dance like a Native American to celebrate your victory.

SACAGAWEA (Level 1/5 – 0 to 5 players): Turn over 2 of the 10 face-down cards and add them up to reach the visible numbered Hero card. Reward: invent a made-up language that everyone copies after you.

GERONIMO (level 2/5 – 2 to 5 players): Each of the two players lays out 5 numbered Hero cards in front of them. They then each throw 5 Number cards towards the Hero cards, and for each card that lands on top of another, a subtraction is performed (a Number 3 on a Hero 3 gives 0 points!). Reward: sing and dance like a Native American to celebrate your victory.

ONE LESS IN THE WEST (level 2/5 – 1 to 4 players): you must play 3 cards as quickly as possible and calculate their values to reach your target. Reward: mime an animal, an object or a character that the others must guess.

BUFFALO BILL (level 3/5 – 2 players): an impressive game of strategic speed where you must be the first to complete a grid of 10 numbered Hero cards by calculating their values. Reward: tell an incredible story that supposedly happened to you...

CALAMITY JANE (level 3/5 – 2 players): You must draw your 4 cards and calculate them as quickly as possible to hit one of the 2 targets, but you can swap one of your cards with the target to throw your opponents off. Reward: improvise a weird dance or tell a good joke.

NAT LOVE (level 4/5 – 2 to 5 players): Ride round a pen of Number cards with a Number card in hand and throw your calculation lasso to capture 4 cards that add up to the answer. Reward: Let out a cowboy yell whilst galloping on your chair.

THE MAGIC WHEEL (level 4/5 – 1 to 10 players): 4 to 6 ‘Number in a Circle’ cards. You must complete a full round of calculations in either direction, starting from any card, to be the first to reach your target card, which you have just drawn. Reward: do a full spin on the spot with style.

ANNIE OAKLEY (level 5/5 – 2 players): a devilishly tricky turn-based game. You must reach a target Hero card using the two Number cards you’ve been dealt. If you can’t, you draw either the face-up Hero card—which you leave face-up in front of you—or a face-down Number card, which you keep hidden in your hand. When all the cards have been drawn and no one can play any more, the player who has kept the fewest cards or plays their last card wins the game. Reward: everyone applauds you.

THE TRAIN WILL WHISTLE THREE TIMES (level 5/5 – 1 to 10 players): arrange three sets of three cards in order, then arrange the three resulting numbers in order again to reach the locomotive’s number. Reward: you play the locomotive and everyone follows you, playing the carriages (don’t forget to whistle three times!).

Each picture card in the game features two or three lines of biographical information about the character from the history of the conquest of the West that it depicts. And the mechanics of each of the 10 progressive games are inspired by the character in question.

—description from the designer