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Only the cleansing power of indulgences helps to overcome greed and lust. During the Middle Ages people could sin as much as they wanted to. Absolution was simply bought in the form of indulgences officially sold by the Catholic Church. The new game by Zoch is set against the background of these dark times. Three popes and their entourage – including a considerable number of courtesans – congregate for three days at the Council of Constance. At “The Wild Boar” a fortune-teller predicts that one of them will enter heaven as soon as the two new cathedrals are completed. The game fits neatly to the events of the day: About 100 years later Martin Luther takes a swipe at the church trade in indulgences. 1517 he writes his 95 theses.
The game revolves around the lives of poor sinners between heaven and hell. First, you commit sins. But be careful – they always take you one step closer to purgatory. Afterwards, you try to change the odds in your favour by buying indulgences. Mea Culpa has an abundance of those. Thus petty sinners put wine, bread, and precious stones on the side to support the construction of the cathedral. The game features four settings: the market, the brothel, the cathedral’s construction site and the den of vice. When it’s your turn, just swivel the stick and move the pope, the emperor, the trader or the petty sinner. The pope decides on deadly sins and never enters the brothel – at least, he is never seen inside. The emperor employs the builders. The trader collects goods on the market. The petty sinner enjoys preferential rights at the brothel but commits two sins in doing so. The choice of characters is tactical foreplay in its own right.
The board game Mea Culpa is designed by Klaus Zoch and Rüdiger Kopf and fascinates players aged 14+ and whole families at the same time. Concept and rules of this extraordinary piece of art are clearly composed. Exciting auctions make this tactically challenging game 90 minutes of heavenly-devilish play fun, tailor-made for the upcoming year of Luther. Thanks to beautiful design and ample material – including the tally stick and a treasure chest for personal donations – the game is also a real treat for the eyes. |
