Timeline: Inventions

As you pop open that can of soda or erase that stray pencil marks from your paper do you ever wonder when these things were invented or which was invented first?  Was the ball point pen invented before or after the rubber band?  Was penicillin discovered before the rabies vaccine?  They are all important inventions and discoveries, but do you know the answers?

Timeline provides those answers in a novel little game.  It that takes something very educational, a timeline, and makes it into a fun, fast paced trivia game. 

Components / Set - UP

There aren't many components that come with Timeline, but the ones that do are very nice.  There are 109 small cards with the name of the invention and its image on one side and the same information plus the inventions or discovery date on the other side.  These cards are very small.   I would prefer larger cards, but the size works for the game.  The artwork is lovely and the cards are all easy to read.  The different themes of the cards (Inventions, Discoveries, Historical Events, Monuments, Arts & Literature, Music) are color coded on the date side of the cards.  Those who are color blind don't need to worry, the colors are not critical to the game.

The other great component of the game is the nice tin that the game comes in.   It is small but all the cards fit nicely in the insert. The tin is very eye catching sitting on the self.

To set up the game you first shuffle all the cards and deal a certain number to each player.  For 2 to 3 players each player receives 6; for 4 to 5 players 5, and 6 to 8 players 4.  Experienced players are free to agree at the start of the game if they wish to start with a different amount of cards.  These cards are placed "date side" down in front of each player.  The rest of the cards are placed in the middle of the table.

The first card from this pile is placed "date side" visible in the center of the table.  This will be the first card in the timeline.

Goal of the Game

To be the first player to place all your cards correctly in the time line and be the only player with no cards remaining in front of you at the end of a round.

Game Play

The game is played over a number of rounds.  In each round, the players take turns clockwise.  A round is complete after all players have taken a turn.  To begin the game, the first player must play one of his or her cards next to the starting card.

If the start player thinks that the invention or discovery on the card was made before the starting card, he or she places the card to the left of the starting card.  If they think the invention or discovery was after the starting card, they place it to the right of the starting card.

After a card is played, turn it over so the "date side" is showing, and check that the card has been placed correctly in chronological order.

If the card was placed properly, it is left there, "date side" up, and the player's turn is over.  If the card was not placed properly, it is returned to the box.  The player must draw the first card from the card pile and place it in front of him or her "date side" down, next to their other cards.

Now the next player begins their turn.  If the first player has played his or her card properly, the second player can now choose between three spaces in which to place their card: to the left of the two cards already player, to the right, or in between them.

If the first player hasn't player their card properly, the second player has two options (to the right or to the left of the starting card.)  If the second player is able to play their card properly, it remains on the table with the "date side" visible.   The timeline is simply rearranged so that the a space is left between each card.  

Players continue taking turns this way until one or more players has successfully added all their cards to the Timeline. 

Special Rules

During the game, it is possible that a player will play a card with the same date a a card that has already been played.  In this case, he or she must play the two cards adjacent to each other.  the order of these two cards does not matter.  

End of the Game

At the end of each round, check to see if any player have no cards in front of them.  If no one was able to play their last card correctly, start a new game round.  If one player correctly player this last card they win the game.

If more than one player correctly played their last card in the same game round, the game continues.  All players who played their last card remain in the game and the other players are eliminated.  The remaining players each draw one card from the card pile, and they continue playing until there is only one player in the game round who plays his or her last card correctly.  The player who does this wins the game.

In Short

When it is your turn, you must play one of your cards in the correct "point in time."  If you play the card correctly, you will have one less card in front of you.  If you play incorrectly your card is returned to the box and you must draw a new card.  If you are the only player in a game round to correctly play your last card, you are the winner.

 
My Thoughts

Timeline is an incredibly simple game.  The rules can be taught in five minutes are less.  Games usually last less than 15 minutes and are surprisingly fun.  There are usually some tense moments as players debate where do place their inventions.  That tension increases as the game progresses and the timeline grows longer.  Table discussions and laughter abound as players' thoughts are confirmed or they are devastated to learn they were incorrect.

Of course people who are good at trivia, history, or science may have an advantage over the rest of us.   Yet, I've seen even the best trivia people, stumped by a few of the cards.  Also a good guess is sometimes just as successful as knowing the right answer; and it can elicit an even greater celebration when the player gets it right.

Timelines are great learning tools.  Seeing the linear development of our history puts events, discoveries and progress of human knowledge into perspective.  Families can use Timeline as both a fun game, and a learning exercise for their children.  

Younger children may struggle with the dates and unfamiliar inventions so 8 seems light a good starting point for this game.  Parents probably would also have the advantage of age and prior knowledge over their children, but you might be surprised on knowledge and thought process of your children.

There are certainly some concerns will players eventually learning and remembering the dates on the cards.  There can also be some debate about whether some dates are correct.  The new versions of the game, Historic Events and Discoveries, should add some re-playability as cards can be mixed in or removed.   I haven't been able to pick up these but I they are on my want list.  I love the novel, simple, and elegant game play of Timeline.  It great to play with family and a fun filler for hobby gamers.  If you end up memorizing some of the dates should you really be upset at the game, or thank it for teaching you something.  Either way, Timeline is yet another game that makes learning fun!

Quick Stats:

Designers: Frédéric Henry
Artist:  Xavier Collette, Nicolas Fructus
Publishers: Asmodee, Hazgaard Editions, Kaissa Chess & Games, REXhry
Players: 2 -8
Game Length: 15 minutes
Ages: 8 and up


Picture Credits:  Rob Robinson (zombiegod), Rafal Szczepkowski (cnidius)(2), Rob Robinson (zombiegod), Rafal Szczepkowski (cnidius), Rob Robinson (zombiegod),  Dashiell Pinar (Chuke95)

Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures!