- BGG rank
- BGG #3,405
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Kupferkessel Co.
2001
Rules assistance for Kupferkessel Co.
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Kupferkessel Co.
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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kupferkessel Co. is a board game released in 2001 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Günter Burkhardt and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Memory, and Modular Board.
About the game
In Kupferkessel Co. (Copper Kettle, or since it's about witches, Copper Cauldron Co.) we imagine witches or wizards shopping for ingredients for their magic potions. Your token moves around the perimeter of an array of cards (ingredients) and you pick one from the row or column where you stop. The number on the card you pick dictates how many spaces you move on your next turn. You try to collect sets of four matching ingredients and get penalty points if you have only one of a particular ingredient. The scoring rules can be made more complicated if the players desire, but for most the basic rules are satisfying. A touch of memory is involved since you can see only the last ingredient you picked up on your stack of cards. Game Summary Create a 6x6 grid of ingredient cards (numbered 1-4, 14 ingredient types; 2 each in 5 colors, and the player colors black and white) minus the corners. Place the 2 player pawns on opposite corners. Each player gets a random card (not of their color) in front of them. For the advanced game, players also get 2 recipe cards = bonus points at end of game if you meet the conditions (e.g., at least 3 cards of both ingredients in a color; fewer 4s than the other player, etc.). On your turn, move clockwise as many spaces around the grid as the number showing on your card stack, then take a card in that row and place on top of your stack (may never look through your stack) -- if land on corner, get nothing. Place the top card from the draw deck in the empty spot. If you drew a card with a magic hat/wand icon, take a second turn (max 2 consecutive turns). If you got a card with an exploding icon, the other player places their top card on the bottom of the draw deck (if deck empty, remove card from game instead). The game ends when any row is empty. Then sort your cards by ingredient type and score according to number of each type: - 1 = negative points - 2 = 0 - 3 = sum - 4 = sum + 5 (i.e., 15 VP) - then, if in your own color, double the value - score any bonus points from end-game recipes. Most points wins!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Goldsieber Spiele
Questions and answers
Kupferkessel Co. supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Kupferkessel Co. is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Kupferkessel Co. for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Kupferkessel Co. has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Kupferkessel Co. belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Memory, and Modular Board. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Kupferkessel Co. are: Günter Burkhardt. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Kupferkessel Co. as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.