Crosstrack
Game box
Players	2-4
Age range	8+
Setup time	30 seconds
Playing time	10-30 minutes
Random chance	None
Skills required	Tactics, Strategy

Crosstrack, the “unique track switching game,” is an abstract strategy game created by Shoptaugh Games in 1994. Players place special track pieces onto an irregular octagon board, winning by being the first to create an unbroken path between two opposite sides. An abstract strategy game is a board game with perfect information, no chance, and (usually) two players. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

Rules

All games

Play begins with an empty board, and players choose certain color groups as their individual “stocks.” To win, a player must connect any two opposite sides of the board in an unbroken path, regardless of whose pieces the path goes through. Game players move according to three “basic rules,” one and only one of which is to be executed every turn:

1. A player may place a piece from his or her own stock onto a unoccupied spot on the board.
2. A player may rotate a piece already on the board to any chosen orientation, if it was placed by him/herself.
3. A player may move one of his or her pieces already present on the board to any unoccupied space, in any chosen orientation.

Two-player game

In a two player game, each player chooses two colors (two sets of six) to form their stock.

Three-player game

In a three player game, each player chooses one color (six shapes) to form their stock, and the last color is set aside as a common stock. Any player may play from the common stock on his or her turn, and rotate or move common pieces on the board. However, after a common piece is acted upon in one of these three manners, it cannot be moved or relocated on the next two turns. In other words, if player A rotates a common piece on the board, neither player B nor C will be able to move or rotate it on their immediately subsequent turns. However, once play returns to A, any player is free to rotate or relocate the piece again– unless, of course, A chooses to move or rotate the piece again.

Four-player game

Players choose one color each as well as a partner, and play as two opposing teams. Partners sit opposite each other, with play passing between teams every turn. Players have the power to rotate or relocate a team member’s piece if it is already on the board, but do not have the ability to play unplayed pieces from their partners’ stocks.

Strategy

Control of the “ports” at the edges of the board is important, as control or successful manipulation of these is necessary in order to establish a path across the board. Players should also be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the different pieces.

External links

• Official page at Shoptaugh website
• An example of a game that has just been won