Problem Picnic: Attack of the Ants (2017) Board Game

Problem Picnic: Attack of the Ants is a board game designed by Josh Cappel and published in in 2017. It is a fun and engaging game that is suitable for children aged 6 and above. The game features a picnic theme with players trying to protect their food from a colony of pesky ants.

Game Components of Problem Picnic: Attack of the Ants

Picnic cards forming the picnic area

Scoring cards and Majority card

Reward tokens

Round cards

Puddle card

Anthill cards

Dice (Soldier, Workers, Scouts) in different colors

Food cards with different point values

How To Setup Problem Picnic: Attack of the Ants

To set up the game, players first lay out a number of picnic cards in a grid pattern, depending on the number of players. For example, a 4-player game uses 9 cards in a 3×3 grid. The scoring for the game is established by placing the Majority card and additional scoring cards face up next to it, with one more scoring card than the number of players. Reward tokens are randomly placed on these scoring cards and the Majority card. Round cards are shuffled and placed face down, and the Puddle card is set aside. Each player chooses a color, takes an anthill card, and receives 6 dice of that color.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Family, Dice, Dexterity

Mechanics: Dice Rolling, Area Control, Strategic Planning

Objective: Players aim to collect and organize food cards to meet scoring objectives and earn the most points.

Game Stages:

Send out ants: Players roll their dice towards the picnic cards.

Bring back food: Players collect picnic cards based on the majority of their ants on each card.

Prepare for the next round: Refill picnic cards from the draw pile and prepare for the next round.

Player Experience

In **Problem Picnic: Attack of the Ants**, players take on the roles of ant colonies competing to steal the best food from a picnic. The game is easy to learn but involves a mix of luck and strategy. Players must roll their dice accurately to land on picnic cards and then strategically place the collected food cards in their colony to maximize points. The game lasts six rounds, and the player with the most points at the end wins.

Pros

Family-friendly: Suitable for players of all ages.

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

Combines luck and strategy: Offers a balance between dice rolling and strategic planning.

Engaging gameplay: The dexterity element of rolling dice adds a fun and interactive layer.

Cons

Luck-dependent: The outcome is heavily influenced by the roll of the dice and the random draw of picnic cards.

Limited complexity: May not offer enough depth for experienced gamers.

Personal Thoughts on Problem Picnic: Attack of the Ants

**Problem Picnic: Attack of the Ants** is ideal for families and casual gamers looking for a light-hearted, interactive game. It is perfect for teaching children about strategy and probability while having fun. However, experienced gamers might find the game too simplistic and reliant on luck. Overall, it’s a great addition to any family game night, promoting both enjoyment and strategic thinking.

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