[Icehouse] volcano question

[Brian Campbell]

On Dec 19, 2006, at 7:30 PM, Kimberly Terrill wrote:

> Does color matter? When I look at the picture they use all Rainbow  
> sets with the colors in a pattern. Yet when I read the instructions  
> I don't see that color really matters as long as all 3 in a nest  
> are the same color. (or when doing the extra challenges)

Yes, color matters. You get 1 point per piece, but a tree of three  
pieces of mixed color is worth 5 points, and a tree of 3 pieces of  
the same color is worth 7 points. So, playing with all the same color  
wouldn't work, because then there wouldn't be any 5 point trees, and  
you'd get the 7 point ones too easily. And, of course, the game ends  
once someone has all 5 colors.

You can certainly play with Xeno pieces, or any set of 5 colors you  
want (or fewer colors if you're playing mini-Volcano).

The actual arrangement of colors doesn't matter all that much.  
Different people have different preferences, and different  
arrangements might allow for slightly different strategies. Try out  
some different arrangements, and see how they work!

You mention "extra challenges". Are you talking about the solitaire  
Volcano variants?