Bone Wars: The Game of Ruthless Paleontology (2005) Board Game

Bone Wars: The Game of Ruthless Paleontology is a card game released in 2005, designed by Bryant Johnson and published by Zygote Games. The game is set in the late 19th century during the infamous period known as the Bone Wars, a real-life rivalry between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh. Players take on the role of rival paleontologists competing to discover and assemble dinosaur skeletons for fame and glory.

Game Components of Bone Wars: The Game of Ruthless Paleontology

Paleontologist cards: Representing O.C. Marsh, Edward Cope, Charles Sternberg, and Barnum Brown, each with unique advantages.

Dinosaur cards: 18 cards describing different dinosaurs, grouped by color.

Bone cards: Representing heads, vertebrae, and limbs of dinosaurs, color-coded to match the dinosaur cards.

Event cards: Featuring quotes from historical figures like Darwin and Cope, and events inspired by the real Bone Wars.

Prestige Points: Used to track players’ progress toward winning the game.

How To Setup Bone Wars: The Game of Ruthless Paleontology

To set up the game, each player selects a paleontologist card, which provides a specific advantage such as drawing extra cards or starting with more Prestige Points. The deck is shuffled, and players draw the necessary cards for the initial phase. The game is divided into three phases: Field Season, Museum Work, and Controversy.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: Collect Prestige Points by describing dinosaurs, revising skeletons, and using Event cards until reaching an agreed upper limit.

Game Phases:

Field Season: Players draw Bone and Event cards.

Museum Work: Players build dinosaur skeletons using the Bone cards.

Controversy: Players can revise other players’ skeletons by replacing bones with more accurate ones.

Strategies:

Quick and dirty: Describe dinosaurs quickly but risk revision.

Slow but precise: Describe dinosaurs only when nearly complete and accurate.

Revisionist: Focus on revising other players’ dinosaurs to steal prestige.

Player Experience

Playing **Bone Wars** is a dynamic and competitive experience, often more about hindering opponents than directly advancing oneself. Players engage in rivalries as they continually revise each other’s dinosaur skeletons and steal prestige. The game’s design captures aspects of paleontology, such as taxonomy, publication, and fieldwork, making it both educational and entertaining.

Pros

Complex yet accessible gameplay: Combines strategy and luck, making it enjoyable for both adults and older children.

Historical accuracy: Incorporates quotes and events from the real Bone Wars era.

Replayability: No two games are the same due to the variety of cards and strategies.

Cons

Limited transparency: Event card quotes lack source citations.

Competitive nature: May be too cutthroat for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Bone Wars: The Game of Ruthless Paleontology

**Bone Wars** is ideal for those interested in paleontology, strategy games, and a bit of historical flair. It’s a great fit for families with older children and for groups of friends who enjoy competitive gameplay. The game’s ability to balance complexity and simplicity makes it a unique addition to any board game collection.

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