This game is how I got my Gathering of Friends invite - ordering it directly from White Wind, which meant I got to talk to Alan on the phone way back when (1996). Phantoms is still great fun with the right crowd.

last update: October 28, 2004

Extra Characters

These extra characters originally appeared in issue #3 of The Color of the Wind, the newsletter of White Wind Games. The actual cards were included with the newsletter.

These extra characters should only be used if all players agree to use them.

Double Trouble
If Double Trouble scores a goal, he scores two goals. If the opposing player scores a goal, the opposing player scores two goals. [Conductor's Note: Double Trouble is a Forward valued at 4.]

Magician
When played, the Magician is treated like every other player. However, thereafter, the owning Manager may tell the opposing Manager what type of player to play for the rest of the game. He may tell the opposing Manager to play a Forward, a Defenseman, or the Goalie. The opposing Manager must play this type of player. If the opposing Manager has only Forwards, only Defensemen, or only the Goalie left, the Magician's power is ignored. If the game goes to Sudden Death, the Magician must be played again to activate his special ability. [Conductor's Note: The Magician is a Forward valued at 3.]

ATTENTION!

These characters were produced by making color photocopies and then sticking them on the cards. I do not know if they will be as durable as the regular cards, so you should be careful handling them. I hope to have extra cards professionally produced in the future.

Because I am already considering publishing an expansion set for PHANTOMS OF THE ICE, I am very interested in receiving ideas for names and special abilities for characters. I have quite a few names and a few special abilities, but I would love more and all submissions will be greatly appreciated. I can't guarantee I'll use your idea, of course, but if I do use it, you will receive credit in the next game, or the Newsletter, whichever the idea is used in.

Variants

Substitutes
This variant for 4-5 players comes from Frank Nestel c/o Godwin Solcher and may be the best possible fix for those who believe that the game is too random.

Each player receives an extra defenseman & forward. (This variant expands the hand size to eight cards.) In a match, players can now decide which forwards & defensemen they will use. However, players are still restricted to the original lineup of 3 forwards, 2 defensemen, and 1 goalie.

Two Divisions
This variant is slightly adapted from the optional rules section of the rules to Slapshot, the Avalon Hill version of the game.

When all managers agree, managers may be placed in two divisions, with managers divided as equally as possible between the two.

During the regular season, managers may only play games against managers in the same division. Managers may still trade with any other manager, regardless of division.

The regular season ends when one manager wins X number of games. [In Slapshot, the regular season ends when one manager moves his puck onto the space marked PLAYOFFS. In Phantoms of the Ice, X = 9 in the regular rules, but we often play to 7 for a slightly shorter game.] In the other division, the team with the most wins finishes first. During the playoffs, the first & second place teams in each division play a 7 game series and the winners play a 7 game series for the championship.

This system should only be used when there are six or more players.

Non-Scoring Goalies
This variant is also slightly adapted from the optional rules section of Slapshot.

Goalies NEVER score goals.

When 2 goalies come up against each other in a game, there is no goal.

When a forward or defenseman comes up against a goalie in a game, the two players' numbers are compared. If the goalie's number is higher, no goal is scored. If the numbers are the same, the manager with the forward or defenseman rolls a die: if he rolls a "6" a goal is scored, if he rolls a "1-5" no goal is scored. If the forward or defenseman's number is higher, the manager rolls a die: if he rolls a "4-6" a goal is scored, if he rolls "1-3" no goal is scored.

In Slapshot, there are special rules about Golden Gums & Superstar with this variant that I chose not to import.

Departures

Phantoms of the Ice is like a cat with nine lives - it was published as Team (Gamma Two), Slapshot (Avalon Hill), Phantoms of the Ice (White Wind), and Powerplay (Amigo). The designer, Tom Dalgleish, must be very proud. :-)

Boardgame Geek entry for Elfengold

The Game Cabinet from Stuart Dagger