India's Epic Mahabharata Game (1996)

India’s Epic Mahabharata Game is a track game based on the most magnificent epic of Indian mythology. Players gain support from one of the two warring families, either the Pandava or Kaurava. To win, players must obtain 1 Celestial Weapon card, 1 Flag or Conch card, 8 Virtue Cards and 18 Coins. Players roll 2d6 to move around the board, each square of which is an event. Warrior squares grant the support of individual warriors (such as Arjuna or Karna), or require a Joust (if the warrior square denotes someone who is in the same family as those that support the player) or a Fight (if from the other family). Karma squares confer a card with random events, such as “you grab 2 Coins from each player!” or “Give up 2 coins to receive 2 Virtue Cards.” Prowess squares give cards that confer either Virtue cards (needed to win) or Wrath cards (which cause a Virtue discard) to the various warriors. Many squares are a people (Krishna, Queen Kunti, etc.) or places (Indraprastha, Abode of Yama, etc.) that confer a random event, often a Blessing or Coins. Subtracks allow special 1d6 movement through Exile or Trial where players can obtain the key winning elements of Celestial Weapons and Flags/Conches. The cards and board both relate some of the many events from the epic. The designer is a noted educator, and this was clearly intended to be an educational game.