The Secret of Monte Cristo (MSRP $54.99), the new board game from Z-Man Games, uses a unique “action slide” instead of dice to determine the order of player actions in the game.  The players are smugglers who learn of a treasure hidden in the castle known as the Chateau d’If. Each player controls a number of adventurers and attempts to place them in the right areas to acquire the most treasure.

 

Each round the players receive cards denoting what type of treasure might be found in the castle. Once a new treasure has been discovered, players take actions based on the order of the marbles on the game’s action slide.  The slide is an inclined rack with four slots, with a different action associated with each slot.  The player whose marble is at the bottom of the slot takes the appropriate action and then place the marble at the top of any other slot.  Players can seize treasure from the rooms if their adventurers outnumber those of other smugglers present, and if they have the right sort of sacks on hand for storing the treasure.

 

The Secret of Monte Cristo board game, which was designed by Charles Chevallier and Arnaud Urbon, takes just 60 minutes to play.  It was designed for 2-4 players, ages 8 and up.  The deluxe game box includes: 1 game board, 1 action slide, 36 adventurer pawns (9 of each color), 4 scoring markers (1 of each color), 30 supply cards, 20 marbles (6 red, 6 blue, 4 green, 4 yellow), 1 cylinder, 30 treasure tokens, 5 treasure markers, 1 cloth bag, and a rules booklet.