Board game Bridge Troll presents old story from new perspective

You know the story of the "Three Billy Goats Gruff," who have to cross a bridge in the forest without being eaten by the resident troll.

But the story is always told from the goats' point of view. What if, wondered Alf Seegert, you were the troll? What if you had to get by with only the food and money you could extort from visitors crossing your bridge?

And that, he thought, could be a fun board game.

Bridge Troll was born. The game, designed by Seegert and illustrated by local artist Ryan Laukat, is being published by Z-Man Games, a major game company for designer games.

The game debuted in Germany last week and at the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend. It will make its Salt Lake debut on Saturday at a special launch party at Game Night Games. The event will offer demonstrations, a chance to play the game, discounts and lots of fun, says store manager Mike Compton.

To have a game simultaneously published in the United States and Germany is any game designer's dream, says Seegert. "Germany is where all the really good games go; they love their games."

Seegert has been designing games since 2001. Five of his games have been end-round finalists at the annual Hippodice board game design competition in Bachum, Germany, which is considered one of the best — if not the best — game competitions in the world. Bridge Troll is his first published game.

In this game, each player gets to be a hideous troll who guards a bridge. In each round, players bid with colorful boulders for first chance at the travelers who may come along. (The number of travelers is determined by a roll of the weather die; more come on a sunny day than a rainy day.)

But the trolls must balance their need for money with their need for food. And they also have to watch out for knights, bandits, dragons and vicious Billy Goats Gruff that all may have to be driven away with some precious boulders.

On the other hand, king's messengers, fortune-tellers, garlic merchants and others may be of help.

At game's end, when all the travelers are gone, the player with the most points (and thus the most impressive bridge operation) wins.

It's a game for 3-6 players, approximately age 10 and up, that plays in about 45 minutes to an hour, says Seegert.

It has been classed as a family game, a fantasy game, a European-type strategy game, so it appeals on a lot of different levels, he says. "There was a review from a guy in Hong Kong who loves playing it with his family."

It's not Monopoly, he says. "That seems to be the point of reference for American games. This is as different from Monopoly as 'Matrix' is from old Flash Gordon movies."