Handelsweg

This is a kind of racing game, played with pieces, coins, a dice and a board. The object of the game is to move ones piece from one city to another with as many profit as possible.
Two cities are on the board, one on each side. The cities are connected with several roads. The roads have different lengths and cross each other regularly. The roads are split in little squares, and on some squares the player can get more coins, on others (s)he loses coins. On better game boards the “get” and “loose” squares have a theme to them, such as “Robbers attack you and take four coins” or “You sell some of your stuff to a passing merchant and receive 2 coins”. The themes vary with each edition.

The game is relatively simple. Each player takes a piece, and 40 coins. The one who rolls the most points with the (eight-sided) dice starts the game by rolling the dice again. The player may only depart from the city when a one is rolled. A player may decide from which city he departs, and plays towards the other city.
The piece is moved as many squares on the roads as there are points on the dice. On a road crossing, the player can decide which way is taken. Two pieces are not allowed on the same square. If a player wants to pass another player, (s)he has to pay 2 coins or stay on the square just in front of the other player (if this player wants to pass, (s)he has to pay as well).
The player who reaches as first player the other city, receives 10 coins bonus. The player with the most coins wins the game.

The game is played regularly in the Weslanan and De Erflanden. It is a good game to play with both adults and children, because luck is more important than strategy. A child can win easily from an adult.
The boards, pieces and coins are available in many forms. The most beautiful games have a miniature landscape as board, very detailed, and worth looking at even if the game is not played.