Game Review and a (sort-of) Recipe

I will admit I've been pushing to play this game for a while, and the kids were a bit dubious. I don't blame them - it's more my topic than theirs. We have several versions of Fluxx, and have had more over the years that got lost along the way - Pirate Fluxx, Zombie Fluxx (where you have to moan and mumble braiinnnzzz during play), Chthulu Fluxx (which we haven't yet played) and this one: Chemistry Fluxx.

I'll say this for Looney Labs - they happened onto a good thing with the original, and they have been riding it like a rented mule since. Now, this could (and often does) lead to branded games branching off from originals (think Monopoly) that are nigh unplayable. I sold my LOTR Risk game because of that - and made a profit because it was collectable, but that rarely happens. So when I saw Chemistry Fluxx in my local game shop, and scooped it up, it was partly because it was chemistry, and partly the fun illustration style. I wanted it to look at.

But I sat down at the table with three teens, and the First Reader who reluctantly agreed to play (he's not a table-top gamer) and we dealt out the first hands. Fluxx is the game where the rules are constantly changing, hence the name. You begin the game with a set of basic rules: draw one, play one card. Also with Chemistry Fluxx there is a meta rule card that can be played if all the players agree to add it before the game begins, and it allows you to trash the goals in your hand and replace them with fresh cards as a free action once during your turn. From there... the rules change. Cards offer 'goals','action', and 'keeper' options, which can be used strategically to manipulate the rules, set the winging goalpost of the game..... and then move that goalpost. The keepers in any Fluxx game are the key to winning. You collect keepers in front of you, but keeping them there can be difficult!

The First Reader bowed out for round two.

It's not a long game. We played two full rounds in less than an hour. The fun of it was that we started to have conversations about what reactions we could do with the elemental keepers. And there's a rule where you can draw an extra card if you have the lab coat keeper - or if you are wearing a lab coat. I got up and made for my closet when I played that card, but my family laughingly shouted me down again. If you haven't guessed, we had more fun playing this than we expected. As I'd thought when I bought it, this would be a fun tool for reinforcing science lessons, whether you are a homeschooler or simply an involved parents.

And now, for the sort-of recipe. When you are playing a game, you want something to drink, and non-greasy snacks (so you don't mess up the cards). I opted for a childhood favorite:

chocolate-covered cherry cocoa

Which has no cherries in it at all. You will need:

• Hot water

• cocoa mix

• a bag of cranberry tea

pour the hot water in your mug, over the tea. Allow to steep for about three minutes, then remove the bag and stir in the desired amount of cocoa mix (two heaping tablespoonfuls, for me). Marshmallows are optional.

Variations on this that we have tried successfully are mint tea, lemon tea, and pomegranate tea.