Cool am Pool (2016) Board Game

Cool am Pool is a board game released in 2016 by Piatnik. Designed by Hartwig Jakubik and illustrated by Björn Pertoft, this game is suitable for 2-4 players and has a runtime of around 40 minutes. It falls under the category of travel games and features dice rolling, push your luck, re-rolling, and locking mechanisms.

Game Components of Cool am Pool

Game board featuring a pool area with sun loungers

Player tokens and character cards

Action cards and event cards

Dice for resolving conflicts and determining movement

Rulebook

How To Setup Cool am Pool

To set up the game, players start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a token and places it at the designated starting point. The action and event cards are shuffled and distributed according to the game rules. Players receive a set of character cards that outline their abilities and starting resources.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Area Control: Players compete to occupy the most desirable sun loungers.

Action Point Allowance System: Players use action points to move, take actions, and resolve conflicts.

Dice Rolling: Used to resolve conflicts and determine the success of certain actions.

Hand Management: Players must manage their action and event cards effectively.

Game Objective

The objective is to secure the most valuable sun loungers and accumulate points by strategically placing your tokens and using your character’s abilities and action cards.

Player Experience

Playing Cool am Pool is a lively and interactive experience that captures the humor and chaos of a crowded pool scene. Players must balance their desire for the best loungers with the need to disrupt their opponents’ plans. The game is full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping players engaged and entertained throughout.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The vacation setting is relatable and fun.

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to new players.

High Replayability: Random events and variable player powers ensure each game is unique.

Social Interaction: Encourages player interaction and strategic planning.

Cons

Luck Factor: Dice rolling can introduce significant randomness.

Limited Complexity: May not appeal to players seeking deeply strategic games.

Personal Thoughts on Cool am Pool

Cool am Pool is ideal for families, casual gamers, and anyone looking for a light-hearted, entertaining game that doesn’t require hours to play. It’s perfect for short game sessions and is a great addition to any game collection that needs a fun, laid-back option. However, players seeking complex strategies or deep lore might find this game too simplistic.

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