You'll notice
that each player is given a numerical rating, expressed as a fraction.
The top number represents the player's ability on pass plays, he bottom
number his ability on runplays. "2" indicates superior ability,
"1" average ability and "0" indicates a deficiency.
Note also that there are various symbols appearing after some players'
ratings. These are additional ratings that further alter play, depending
on field position and time left in the game. All ratings are fully explained
in the instructions.
To begin,
you'll select the offensive play and intended receiver or ball-carrier.
There are six basic offensive plays--inside run, outside run, play-action pass,
short pass, medium pass, and long pass--and several limited-use plays
such as a bootleg or trick play. Since it's first down, we'll keep it
simple and call an outside run, giving the ball to the running back, Darren Ward.
Next, we
roll one die to determine which of the four basic defense settings Ottawa has called--deep, up, safe or blitz. The solitaire defense table
is printed on the playing field for easy reference, but you'll quickly
memorize it! You roll a "3," which indicates a "safe"
defense has been called.
To resolve
the play, you turn to the "Outside Run vs. Safe Defense" page
of the COLD SNAP game book, page 11. The game comes with colored tabs which you can affix for faster reference.
You roll the dice, reading the result as a two-digit number; the black
die first and the white die second. Thus, a "6" on the black
die and a "2" on he white die is read as a "62."
Checking
result "62," we are directed to defensive player "G,"
the middle linebacker, Bruno Toscano. The game book asks us if Toscano
is a superior run defender--and we see that he IS! THAT means that Toscano
slashes past the Quebec blocker and hauls down Ward for a one yard
loss! (Had Toscano NOT been a superior defender, Ward would have accelerated past
Toscano for a nine yard gain!) Toscano gets a high-five as the players
un-pile, and Quebec now faces second and eleven.
In Canadian pro ball, with only three downs to gain ten yards, second and thirteen is an obvious passing situation. You decide
to test the airwaves with a medium pass to Quebec's slot receiver, Lonnie Peterson. Ottawa rolls another "3" on defense, but in this case that means they're playing "deep" to prevent the medium gain. You roll both dice for the play result--a "13."
Turning to the "Medium Pass vs. Deep Defense" page, the game
book directs you to check the quarterback's CMP grade, which is a measure
of his passing accuracy. Quebec's Randy Carlson is rated "AAA," a VERY accurate passer, which
in this case means the pass was complete for 15 yards--first down, Quebec!
You decide
to start out this new set of downs with a short pass to wideout Jerome Bell. You roll for the Ottawa defence--a 5, the "up" defence--they smelled it out this time. You roll a "23." Checking the "Short Pass vs. Up Defence" page, we're directed to check players GB and SB, the right left guard and running back, to see if either has superior ability. Both Sam Brooks and Derrick Ward have only average ability, not enough to create a play, so feeling the pressure, Carlson is forced to throw the ball away, incomplete. Too bad, because--as the game book illustrates--Bell had a seam, and with a little more time provide by Brooks, OR a stronger decoy from Ward, that ball could have been caught for a nice gain.
We'll
leave the game here, with another key second down call coming up. That's how
COLD SNAP Canadian Pro Football board game works! It's a lot like watching a game on TV! COLD SNAP
gives you a perpsective on the game of pro football like no other board
game out there--except for its American football companion board game, SECOND SEASON!
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