Chops, Game Review

Hey, we're pulling together a band. You interested? We got room for a total of five people. You know the traditional stuff: a front, base, lead keys, and drums. I'm working as the manager and I already have some places lined up where you can play and make some money. So, are you in or out?

Chops, from Quirky Engines Entertainment, is a game of building your band then managing them to get gigs to earn money and create buzz. The money allows you to buy better equipment and hire better musicians.

I was able to sit down at SaltConand play Chops with the developer, Craig Nybo. We only played a two-person game, you can have up to six. And, with his help we were able to complete the game in about the time frame it has listed.

Don't let the theme of Chopsfool you about the strategy involved. There are several layers of as you move through the game. There are the band members, the instruments they play, and there are the venues they play at.

The musicians are not created equal. Some are just better than others. Some have egos that have to be dealt with. This affects how well you are able to keep them in the band. Others do better with other musicians who are available during the game. Reputations have been built where some musicians get a better reception at the right venue.

There are different types of places to play. Some of them have requirements of how good the band is. Some have limited space while others require a larger band. Some know the musician in the area and because of their reputation those players do better or worse when they play there. As the manager you have to decide how the band fits together with the venues available.

You start out by recruiting musician. Then you work at building up your band. There are certain bonuses during the game like matching up who is playing with who, and what instruments they play. The limitation is there can only be five members. Because of the limitation your musicians will start out with fewer options on where they can play. You have to manage your band to get more and better musicians and better equipment so they can get better recognition, or create a buzz.

Buzz is the victory points you earn in Chops. In the end, the manager who has been able to create the most buzz about their band is the winner. Chopsends when you work your way through a deck of cards, so everyone plays till the end. I lost my inaugural game against Craig, but it was close throughout and it was fun.

The number of musicians, venues, and alternate strategies built into Chops allow for multiple games in a single sitting. The rotation of the cards, what's available when, means a player has to be alert to the different options presented every turn.

The strategy, like I said, is much higher than I thought it was going to be initially. There is a bit of a learning curve that I think is enjoyable. This isn't just a fill-in the blank needed for the band. The characters of the musicians have their own quirks which provide advantages and disadvantages, and so do the venues.

I watched another game between four people and I could see how my own strategy was already progressing as I learned more about the intricacies of the cards. And, there is more than just the game.

Craig Nybo is an author and musician who has added those talents to the development of Chops. There is a soundtrack he developed and performed with friends to create the sounds of the characters. He also wrote a collection of stories bringing the characters to the page with backstories about how they got to where they are. This provides a setting for a game that is rare, and really fun.

The amps and the speakers are loaded in the moving van. The drum set is in the back of the minivan. And, the members are anxious to get to the club and set up for the show. You know it is not the best venue to be playing, but it was available. You just hope the band makes it through without anyone ending up in the hospital.

 

Chops is developed by Craig Nybo, illustrated by Oleskii Kavalov and is from Quirky Engine Entertainment(threeheadedgiant.com). It is designed for 2 – 6 players of ages 14+. It is expected to last about 40 minutes.

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