The Brotherhood (1972)

About this game

Originally published by Conflict in 1972, then re-published by GDW in 1983. You are a Godfather of a criminal family struggling to control the city's rackets, winning by amassing the greatest amount of wealth in a year's time. Hire thugs and hit men, control rackets in neighborhoods and bribe judges and politicians to get opposing thugs arrested or their rackets shut down. Placements are done simultaneously by having players write down their purchases. When the shooting starts, it is resolved by the ever-reliable die roll. Random Grand Jury Investigations are always there to upset any plan. Includes negotiation and features nice strategy dilemmas between diversification and concentration and how much one wants to try for the more lucrative but more targeted areas.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 5.
• Rules load. At 2.2/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 10 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.