- BGG rank
- BGG #6,178
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Vino
- 3–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,651
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Zoff in Buffalo
1998
Rules assistance for Zoff in Buffalo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Zoff in Buffalo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zoff in Buffalo is a board game released in 1998 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Christwart Conrad and its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Once a year, Buffalo City goes beef crazy. Cowboys drive their cows here to the biggest auction in the Wild West. The players must attempt to find grazing for their cows on the limited pasture. Which beef baron will most cleverly play his cards? Players have 10 cards to play which specify a number of cows. Each round features a simultaneous selection of 2 of the 10 cards and a designation of which of the several pastures (the number of pastures in the game depends on the number of players) you'll try to place the cows in. The tricky part starts with the rule that no two players can ever have exactly the same number of cows in a given pasture. So if you plan to put 4 cows in a certain pasture, but somebody else has exactly 4 there already when your turn comes around, you'll only get to put 3 of them in -- and if somebody else has exactly 3 there already, you'll only get to put 2 of them in. And it's very detrimental to your gameplan if you don't get to play all the cows you're entitled to! When a pasture is completely filled with cows, there are bonuses paid in the form of a chance to put extra cows into other pastures, but perversely, the better bonuses go to the players with the second or third most cows, not the first most. This is the *really* tricky part. The game ends after five swift rounds and all 10 of your cards played, maybe half an hour from start to finish. Whoever has the most cows in the pastures wins!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- F.X. Schmid
Questions and answers
Zoff in Buffalo supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Zoff in Buffalo is 45 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 Zoff in Buffalo for ages 12 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.
Zoff in Buffalo has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Zoff in Buffalo belongs to these categories: American West and Farming. Its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Zoff in Buffalo are: Christwart Conrad. 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 Zoff in Buffalo 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.