This is an RPG supplement, but its usefulness comes from its subject matter and fiction regarding the Holocaust. It is a VERY serious and intense book which provides an idea how the Holocaust can be explained/taught in alternative fashion.
Players are stereotypes in a banana republic responsible for voting on graft/corruption as well as whether to overthrow the president. It should not be taken seriously! Teachers should be aware of the stereotypes being parodied.
The saving of souls. Game forces cooperation--no one wins if any of the players dies.
If Axis and Allies is already known, this is a World War One variant to use the same rules and play the same game.
The value is in the use of the cards. 36 possible results along with the various on-base situations allows calculation of possible results and probabilities. The statistics for likelihood of each on-base situation are researchable. This would work with moderate to high level math classes. Students could recreate player abilities/make their own cards by researching past baseball season stats.
Better to tweak the rules and emphasize the creation of things and the riddles. Be prepared to provide extra play-doh or model clay!
It looks pretty and will have some critical thinking issues: do you press on with exporation or go back and claim your fame and hope no one else finds other, more famous things. Similar to “Source of the Nile†by Avalon Hill.
It is essentially a 4-player chess variant.
Players look at cards and try and form words from the letters on at least three cards. First to blurt a word gets those cards. Simple, fast, affordable.
Nice easy word game. The caution would be with older kids who could try and push the limits of word choices, but that is a rare problem. It is also easy to make your own cards for the game.