Ergo (2009) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Ergo is a card game that was released in 2009 and designed by Catalyst Game Labs, Closet Nerd Games, and DriveThruCards. It falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy, Card Game, Educational, Math, and Print & Play. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 12 and up.

Game Components of Ergo

Double-sided rules page

Variable cards (A, B, C, and D) representing 2 to 4 players

Logical operator cards (Not, Or, And, If/Then)

Parentheses cards

Wild cards

Miss turn cards

End the round card

How To Setup Ergo

To set up Ergo, players start with the variable cards that represent each player. The logical operator cards, parentheses, and other special cards are shuffled and made available. The game begins with an empty “proof” area where players will build their logical arguments.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Turn Structure: Players take turns adding up to two cards to a shared “proof” of up to four lines or premises.

Logical Rules: Additions must follow the rules of sentential logic, though the game simplifies these rules with a brute force approach when parentheses are not used.

Scoring: Players earn points if their variable is proved to be true; no points are awarded if a contradiction is introduced into the proof.

Objective: The goal is to logically prove your variable while potentially disproving those of your opponents.

Player Experience

Playing Ergo can be a complex and sometimes frustrating experience due to several ambiguities in the rules. The game requires a good understanding of logical operators and their precedence, which can be confusing without proper clarification. The lack of clear instructions on how to handle certain logical constructs, such as the priority of multiple “then” operators, can lead to disputes and confusion among players.

Pros

Unique Concept: Ergo attempts to bring logical reasoning into a game format, which can be appealing to those interested in logic and puzzles.

Engaging for Logicians: For those familiar with logical reasoning, the game can provide an interesting challenge.

Cons

Ambiguous Rules: The rules are not clearly defined, especially regarding the absence of brackets and the precedence of logical operators.

Scoring Issues: The scoring mechanism is problematic, leading to situations where no points are awarded due to contradictions.

Confusing Graphics: The rules page contains errors in the graphics examples, adding to the confusion.

Personal Thoughts on Ergo

Ergo is not a game for everyone, especially not for non-logicians. It requires a strong understanding of logical reasoning and can be confusing due to its poorly defined rules. While it might appeal to logicians with some house rules to clarify ambiguities, it falls short as a teaching tool or a casual game. For those interested in logic games, there may be better alternatives that offer clearer rules and more consistent gameplay.

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