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I was so excited to add the 1922 Parkers Brothers Game of Cottontail and Peter to my collection. Not only for the reason of the cute subject matter, but also for its unique lead game pieces of two hares and two foxes. I love actual character pieces, like the Knights in Shining Armor in Knight’s Journey or newer ones like what are found, for example, in the games Where the Wild Things Are, Wind in the Willows, and even the pieces in the game of Monopoly. There’s just something about moving a special game piece around the board instead of a simple pawn.
In addition to these aspects, I love the fact it is an implement box and board. Earlier games would not be packaged all together in a big rectangular game box, like how Monopoly is today. They were separate. There was the game board and then an implement box which contained all that was needed to play the game. Within my collection of board games, is a smaller collection of games that come this way.
The Game of Cottontail and Peter is for 2 or 4 players. The board consists of spaces arranged on a grid. Five special red spaces, called the Briar Patch are positioned in the center of the board. In the corners are spaces where players start, and in the center outside path are two Home spaces for the White and Brown rabbits.
If there are two players, one player takes on the role of the White Rabbit, and the other player takes on the role of the Red Fox. If four players are playing, two players are Rabbits (White and Brown), and the other two are Foxes (Red and Gray).
The object of the game is either to reach the Rabbit’s Home before the Fox catches the Rabbit, or to catch a Rabbit before it reaches safely at Home.
Players move on the board according to the role of two die.
To begin, players choose their characters and take turns rolling the dice. Players must move their pieces in two directions in the amount of each die. For instance, if a player roles a 3 and a 4. He moves ahead 3 and must make a right angled turn the other 4. Or vice versa. He never moves in a straight line- somewhat how rabbits and foxes run.
A Rabbit Player wins if he reaches his spaced marked Home by an exact count. A Fox Player wins if he lands on the space of the Rabbit by exact count, and if the Rabbit doesn’t escape. When a Fox lands on a Rabbit, the Rabbit is allowed to roll the dice. If the Rabbit can move onto one of the 5 red Briar Patch spaces with this roll, he is said to have escaped and play of the game continues. However, if he can’t, then the Rabbit is considered Captured! Game over.
Rules compensate for the opportunity of the Rabbit escaping, by allowing the Fox to roll again if doubles are rolled.
Rules are the same for a 4 player game except it should be noted the Fox can catch either Rabbit.
That’s it. Simple but actually quite fun!
Enjoy a game today!
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