TimeLine

Published 2003

TimeLine is part of the Hip Pocket Games series and includes a deck of 48 cards. Additionally, players will need a pawn and a common supply of about 30 markers in each of four different colors. The cards form a timeline, allowing players to move back and forth through history to find cheap commodities and then sell for profit. Of course, all this time travel will shift the timeline, and thus the market for each of the four commodities. The cards have four pathways from the left to right sides, which cross over each other. They also have a waypoint representing one of the commodities (sheep, neckties, Picassos ... just suggestions from the designer, as they are all pretty abstract!) that can be picked up cheaply at that point in time. The object is to score 21 points by picking up commodities and selling them at points in the timeline where they are worth obscene amounts of money. However, picking up a commodity changes the timeline in subtle ways: in the game, it means moving a card up or down by a slight amount, which disconnects its current pathways and connects them to new pathways.

Mechanics

Commodity Speculation Pattern Building Pick-up and Deliver Tile Placement

Categories

Abstract Strategy Card Game Economic Print & Play Science Fiction

Designers

James Ernest

Publishers

Cheapass Games
TimeLine

Game Info

Players
2-5 Players
Time
10 min
Weight
Light-Medium — 2.04/5
Year
2003
BGG Rating
5.76
BGG Rank
#20429
Min Age
10+

Frequently Asked Questions

TimeLine supports 2 to 5 players.
A typical game of TimeLine takes about 10 minutes.
TimeLine has a complexity rating of 2.04/5.00 on BoardGameGeek, placing it in the 'Medium Light' category. It offers a good balance of depth and accessibility.
The recommended minimum age for TimeLine is 10+. Younger children may enjoy it with guidance from experienced players.
TimeLine has a rating of 5.76/10 on BoardGameGeek, based on 220 ratings. It is ranked #20429 overall.
TimeLine was designed by James Ernest. It was published in 2003.