From time to time a new game hits the market that is just stunning in its simplicity - this is one such game. Fantastic for parties it should be a must for any discerning gamer.Pass the Bomb is a game of words. Each game consists of thirteen rounds and the idea is to come up with words that fit a given criteria whilst playing pass-the-parcel with a bomb. Confused? Never - it's too easy for that.
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Playing pieces
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A game set consists of:
lots of cards on which between 2 and 4 letters are written
a dice
a bomb
(see I said it was simple)
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How to Play
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Basically, thirteen cards are drawn and placed in the centre of the group. A card is drawn from those 13 and over the course of the round the idea is to come up with a word that contains the letters written on that card in sequence. To make it slightly harder the dice is rolled and this determines where the letters on the card may not be used within a word (at the beginning, at the end or no restriction).
The person to start then sets of the bomb (by pressing a button on its base) and says the first word passing the bomb onto the next player. This continues round and round with each player having to come up with a different qualifying word from the others as the bomb is passed round. The bomb, once set off, ticks an almost cartoon-like tick (very Tom and Jerry) which can't fail to set your own heart on a faster track until suddenly the bomb explodes! If you have possession of the bomb when it explodes you lose that round and claim the card. The winner is the person with the least number of cards at the end of thirteen rounds with ties concluded by sudden death rounds.
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What Makes it Good
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+ The look of panic on someone's face when the bomb is passed to them and they haven't thought of a qualifying word is wonderful.
+ Simplicity - This game is so simple that one read of the rules (and they are short) is all that is required.
+ The bomb - not for the easily scared but it really adds to the tension. The bomb may explode at any stage between about 15 seconds and three minutes! (random each time) and so it is almost impossible to cheat!
+ Fairness - because the bomb is random the best person may not always win so it enables mixed age family groups to play without the standard cry of "I always lose cos I'm the youngest!"
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Levels
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The game can be played on various levels depending upon the players participating. You do not have to use the dice to determine where you may or may not use the letters. You can also allow or disallow derivatives (eg play, players, playful, played etc).
