Forest Shade Play

While searching for the name of a board game, I came across what appears to be an amusing German children's game called Waldschattenspiel (Or "Forest shade play", a name that showcases the ability of Germans to throw unrelated words together to make up a new word.)

Basically, the game consists of a board, a die, 10 wooden "trees" of various sizes, seven pawns, a wooden pusher, and a candle, yes, a candle. In a kid's game, no less.  (Ages 5 and up, according to the manufacturer.)

It starts off with all the players but one taking all the pawns and hiding them, one to a tree, on the board such that they aren't visibile by the light of the candle.  (Did I mention that this game is played entirely in the dark?)  The player who was not involved in hiding the "dwarves" then rolls the die and moves the candle that many spaces along the path — using the pusher if need be, as he is not permitted to leave his seat while the game is in session.  If any dwarves are illuminated during this time, they are "frozen" and can't move until they are once again in the shadow and another dwarf comes to unfreeze them.

After the candle is moved, the other players are then permitted to move the dwarves around the board, provided the pawns don't cross over or into the light.  The candle mover is, of course, not permitted to look during either this turn or the initial hiding turn.  Play continues until either all the dwarves are frozen, or they have all succeeded in gathering in the shadow of a single tree.  Think of it as frozen tag without all the running around.

Ok, it sounds simple enough, and amusing as well.  Just the type of game I'd like to track down and play. Unfortunately, it's never been released outside of Germany, however someone has translated the instructions, which would save me the trouble of attempting to do so with my very limited German (eine, zwei, drei, da, nein, auf wiedersehen).  The only other problem is, of course, shipping, with a possibility that the amount would cost more than the 20€ deluxe version of the game.

Ah well, maybe if I fail to get my hands on the Weird Tales issues, I'll buy it.  (Mmmm…. Vintage Lovecraft)