It’s always interesting when a game hits the table and teaches you something new.
HOD is one of those games.
For instance, according to an online dictionary, a hod is “a builder’s V-shaped open trough on a pole, used for carrying bricks and other building materials.” That’s a new one for me — and, who knows, maybe it’ll help me snag an extra clue on Jeopardy! Someday.
But back to the game.
HOD is another title from designer David McCord and publisher New Venture Games (newventuregames.com) — a combination that usually guarantees a well-crafted, quality product.
This one is played on a 4×4-inch wooden pegboard with 64 colored wooden pegs, all of which are nicely made. There are also a couple of dice used only during setup, so luck doesn’t play a role once the game begins.
HOD is a peg-placement game for two to four players, and in our experience, the gameplay becomes more engaging with a higher player count.
On your turn, you place a peg and score points equal to the product of the numbers on the intersecting axes — for example, a peg placed at the intersection of 3 and 5 scores 15 points. Some holes are blocked before play starts (that’s where the dice come in), ensuring the board layout changes slightly each game.
The game plays quickly — making it a fine “rainy-day-in-the-cabin” option — but it lacks the depth to earn frequent return visits to the table. The main reason is that the final peg placement tends to decide the outcome: the last available space is often the intersection of six and six, worth 36 points, which is a huge swing.
Because of that, scores tend to stay close until the end, and whoever places that last peg usually wins. Going last, then, is a significant advantage in HOD. We’ve found the fairest way to play is to run several rounds, rotating the start player each time, and total the scores across all games to determine the true winner.
In short, HOD features charming components and offers short-term enjoyment, but it doesn’t have the lasting appeal of some of McCord’s stronger designs.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Going Last Typically a Key
HOD is one of those games.
For instance, according to an online dictionary, a hod is “a builder’s V-shaped open trough on a pole, used for carrying bricks and other building materials.” That’s a new one for me — and, who knows, maybe it’ll help me snag an extra clue on Jeopardy! Someday.
But back to the game.
HOD is another title from designer David McCord and publisher New Venture Games (newventuregames.com) — a combination that usually guarantees a well-crafted, quality product.
This one is played on a 4×4-inch wooden pegboard with 64 colored wooden pegs, all of which are nicely made. There are also a couple of dice used only during setup, so luck doesn’t play a role once the game begins.
HOD is a peg-placement game for two to four players, and in our experience, the gameplay becomes more engaging with a higher player count.
On your turn, you place a peg and score points equal to the product of the numbers on the intersecting axes — for example, a peg placed at the intersection of 3 and 5 scores 15 points. Some holes are blocked before play starts (that’s where the dice come in), ensuring the board layout changes slightly each game.
The game plays quickly — making it a fine “rainy-day-in-the-cabin” option — but it lacks the depth to earn frequent return visits to the table. The main reason is that the final peg placement tends to decide the outcome: the last available space is often the intersection of six and six, worth 36 points, which is a huge swing.
Because of that, scores tend to stay close until the end, and whoever places that last peg usually wins. Going last, then, is a significant advantage in HOD. We’ve found the fairest way to play is to run several rounds, rotating the start player each time, and total the scores across all games to determine the true winner.
In short, HOD features charming components and offers short-term enjoyment, but it doesn’t have the lasting appeal of some of McCord’s stronger designs.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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