Overview
Beppo der Bock (Beppo the Billy Goat) is a children’s dexterity and racing game for 2-4 players aged 5 and up, published in 2007 by HUCH! & friends in collaboration with Oberschwabische Magnetspiele. It won the Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children’s Game of the Year) award in 2007. Players race their wooden figurines along a track by launching a metal ball at a magnetic goat named Beppo. Where Beppo lands after being struck determines how far the active player moves, but Beppo can also kick other players’ pieces back to the start.
Components
- Game board with a circular track and central area
- 1 magnetic goat figure (Beppo)
- 4 colored wooden player pawns
- 1 metal ball
- Magnetic mechanism embedded in the board
Setup
Place the game board on a flat surface. Each player chooses a colored pawn and places it on the starting space. Place Beppo the goat on the designated magnetic spot in the center of the board. Place the metal ball nearby.
Turn Structure
Players take turns in clockwise order. On each turn:
- Launch the Ball: The active player places the metal ball and flicks or rolls it toward Beppo.
- Beppo Reacts: The magnetic goat figure is knocked away by the ball’s impact.
- Check Landing: Determine which space on the board Beppo has landed on or nearest to.
- Move Pawn: The active player moves their pawn forward a number of spaces determined by where Beppo landed.
- Check for Kicks: If Beppo landed on or passed over any player pawns, those pawns are sent back to the starting space.
Actions
- Flicking the Ball: The active player launches the metal ball toward Beppo. The skill lies in controlling the force and direction to land Beppo on a favorable space without knocking opponents back to start.
- Movement: Move your pawn forward the number of spaces indicated by Beppo’s landing position. The goal is to reach the finish space first.
- Beppo’s Kick: Any pawn that Beppo contacts or passes over during his movement is “kicked” back to start. This applies to all players’ pawns, including the active player’s own pawn.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The first player to move their pawn from the starting space to the last space on the track wins the game.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
- Beppo Off the Board: If the ball or Beppo goes off the board, the turn is wasted and the next player goes.
- Own Pawn Kick: Beppo can kick your own pawn back to start if he lands on it, so players must be careful with their aim.
- Magnetic Attraction: The embedded magnets cause Beppo to react unpredictably to the ball’s impact, adding an element of chaos.
- Multiple Kicks: Beppo can kick multiple pawns in a single turn if his trajectory passes over or lands on multiple pieces.
- Young Players: The game’s simple rules and physical component make it accessible to children as young as 5.
Player Reference
| Action |
Result |
| Hit Beppo (good aim) |
Move forward based on landing zone |
| Beppo lands on a pawn |
That pawn returns to start |
| Ball/Beppo off board |
Turn is lost |
| Reach final space |
Win the game |