by Steph
Monday was off to a super start with work being cancelled due to MORE SNOW! yippee...Ron and I got to play a bunch of games though, so I am happy!
We didn't get to Monday night group- snow is ruining fun times.
Ron and I played Amerigo first. We hadn't played it in a long while and I had all the mini expansions I wanted to try out. We played with the volcano in the center. This has special tokens to collect $ in game. It was pretty cool.
I got some end game bonus tiles. Ron got some in game bonus tiles. I ended up winning by 20 points thanks to my end game bonus tiles :P
It is quite a fun 2 player game. It is really just a shame that set up is such a huge factor into why the game isn't played more. The Cube tower is fun and totally random. I want to play the other games with cube towers.
It is not my favorite Feld game but it is up among the favorites. Definitely fun to bring out a couple times a year.
Volcanic tile!
Since I was talking about Castles of Mad King Ludwig I really wanted to play. It had been a few weeks and all- we can't allow that!
Ron ALWAYS loses! :p So Sorry Ron!
The day before we played Suburbia so it was my turn to pick. Ron really couldn't care less anyways - he will play whatever. I am way more picky than he is and everyone knows it.
So I felt I was doing quite poorly all game but Ron was collecting all the stairs and hallways and he had a bonus card that turned out didn't give him that many points. I was focused on everything. I managed to get the only blue tile and got first place for both common goals. I don't think he got either 2nd place he was too focused on getting stairs or something.
I got some good end card bonus cards and had probably 30 points more than him by the end. Needless to say he probably doesn't want to play for a few days.
Such a great game!
We had a little bit before dinner so we played a game of Cribbage. It is just so easy to get up and play in 20-30 minutes. I was also on a Cribbage winning streak so I had to keep it up.
I totally destroyed him. I double skunked him. He was soooooooo sad :p
He was not getting the cards. Its a fun little game!
After dinner I wanted something with some more meat to it so it was suggested we play 2 player Le Havre. This game is so great. Definitely one of my top favorites. There is so much to consider and do in the short time frame of the game. Do you spend a whole turn to pick up some clay or construct a building.
Ron manages to get all the buildings each game. I always end up with my favorites (wharf and Shipping line) but it is not enough. He has ALL the other buildings. It makes my game play very tricky. I don't want to spend $ on HIS buildings. That's too much of a benefit to him. I tried to keep it at a minimum.
I got to buying some special buildings and those were big help. I ended up not doing too badly I got 216 but Ron killed me with 245 or something way higher.
I rarely win that game. When I do, it is the best!
I should teach some of the regulars this game since I think they would like it.
Still a favorite image of mine:
Tuesday night we found Deus at our step!
YAYYAYAYA FINALLY!!!!
I have played it a bunch since its release in Oct. Mostly online, however. It is a fine way to play with whoever is willing. There is something just more satisfying by playing it in person though.
Ron and I played a late game of this. It went on a really long time and it was pretty close by the end. I won 79 to 76.
I am missing a red disc which is only needed for a 4 player game. But we were using Treasure Chest that was KS by Jamie Stegmaier:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jameystegmaier/treasure...
They are awesome and totally make this game better ;)
Wednesday night Ron and I revisited this game and I kicked his butt again. It was a much faster game this time and I ended with 37 to Ron's 32. he probably should have tried to end it sooner because I was able to get a few temples down and score a 5 barbarian so my final turn I could just get lots of resources and score points that way.
He will get me it is only a matter of time.
Wednesday night we also played Roll for the Galaxy since it had been at least 2 days since the last play. We can't go THAT long! hahah
With our 2 player variants we played. I got HOSED. He was lining up everything I could get a roll to save anything. I fell behind fast and in a few rounds Ron ended it by taking all the points away. He destroyed me.
I think I might have gotten mid 20s and Ron was mid 40s I think. I blocked it from my mind because it was a disgrace!
Awesome game :thumbsup:
To cap the night we declared winner with a game of Cribbage. I was feeling good cause I was on a roll with this game and that pride ended on the first hand. I got stomped on. Not quite as badly as I stomped Ron on Monday but he did end up skunking me.
It was lousy. So Ron was the winner of the night. Jerk.
Thursday night Ron and I only played 1 game of Russian Railroads. I had the urge to make it on. My favorite engineer didn't show up and that was sad. I decided to go top track only. *something I have never really done* Or at least I don't recall it.
I don't think it is as much fun as the other tracks so I try and challenge myself with the industry the most. This time the engineers didn't call for Industry but all track movement. I focused strictly on that.
Might have been a bad idea because I didn't get my bonus chits until really late in the game. But in a 2 player game there is only the double worker black track spot and that was taken almost immediately (besides $ and engineer) I wasn't pushing as much black track as I should have been. I also wasn't collecting 2x tokens early. I ended with 7 but it all came together late.
In the end I ended with 352 and Ron had 350 but he may have forgotten to pass for 2 points at the end. So the game MAY have been a tie. We both decided it would be best to call me the winner! YAY!
Hey, As Brandon (vacabck) said - a Win is a win!
Good game. I will be looking for the mini expansion. I hope it becomes available soon from the BGG store.
Nothing on Friday :( But Game day on Saturday!!
To start the day we played nothing other than Roll for the Galaxy. We played a 4 player game teaching 1. My starting tiles were awful. I am almost sure the game ended before any points were taken from the middle. Dan got all the 1 pointer develop worlds and ended the game which seemed to be under 10 rounds. It was crazy! maybe the fastest game yet. I think I still managed to get above 20 points but Dan creamed us that game.
We weren't sure if others were going to show up so we played a game of Qwixx gemixxt. We played with the multi-colored side. It wasn't really my game. I think Dan won that won too. :(
Still people didn't show up so we played a 4 player game of Sanssouci. It's a game that doesn't get to the table that often but it is pretty easy to teach and play. It could definitely be an entry level game.
For those not familiar with the game it is tile placement. And you have to do your best to walk the noblemen down the garden paths. The further they go the more points they score. Not the deepest game but certainly some interesting choices. I can see why people wouldn't like this game. But it is not stressful and plays under an hour so it is a good fit!
I ended up winning this game. I just had the best garden and all my noble men wanted to smell the roses. You know how it is.
A few others showed up and Snow Tails was requested. Just because we have so much snow! Carrie knew nothing about the game just that it had snow in the title. Good choice!
Turns out I remembered the rules incorrectly for the past few games i have played with my new copy. Turn order is based on first position to last position. I duno how I feel about that but it worked fine with either way we were playing it. I will play correctly from now on. Rules are hard! This is why I try not to read them. :D
Carrie owned us this game. Well she and Dan were ahead the whole time but Carrie zoomed by him in the final turns and took the win. I managed to pull out of 4th position... Hahah it is so hard going last like the entire game.
Still fun and I will play this a bunch more as long as there is snow on the ground- which at this rate will be through Aug anyways.
Next we played 3! games of Mysterium. Pretty much a big hit. Me, Carrie and Dan each played the ghost once. I was off to an amazing start. Everyone guessed their weapon on the first round. I figured we were a shoe in to win it. yeah, no.
We lost all three games. Carrie was leading everyone into the cards I needed them to guess and Dan was opposed to her response so they never went with what she was saying... Dan you suck! :p
Carrie and I were on the same wavelength. Go with what you feel. The ghost gives the card for a reason. (generally...) I brought up that Dixit cards could easily be used. Turns out Carrie and Eric hadn't ever played Dixit... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAaat. So they were able to get in a few plays of that later in the day.
3 losses but that is OK. The game is so fast and it is still so fun. I don't know. It is a challenge to be in the other players heads :)
Scott and I recruited 2 others who had played before Tuscany: Expand the World of Viticulture. We played a 4 player game. We didn't have to explain viticulture or very much of Tuscany. Just a quick recap and we were playing. It was awesome. This game is just amazing. I love everything about it.
Tuscany really opens the world of Viticulture. I don't think I will ever go back to the base game. The problem is I didn't teach anyone viticulture because I didn't own it. (KS the collectors edition) To teach Tuscany would be A LOT for any new player. It would certainly help to know viticulture. The game is so long and then to add rules explanation it is a big task. After playing a few times I think I could teach it well enough but I would feel better about them knowing the base game.
It is a glorious game. I am not even a worker placement fan so much so this is ranked very high in that category for me. Up in the worker placement games is Russian Rails and tzolkin. Other than those I can't think of any I like quite as much.
I don't even do the alcohol thing. This is just an A+ game. really nice. I would happily play it when looking for a heavier- longer game. Also A+ for production value.
Highly recommended!:thumbsup:
Mid game -game
Since I wanted to play with Joe C I suggested we play Nations. We played a 4 player game. I got first pick of nations and I choose Rome since I don't trust anyone. I should have gone with my favorite Greece because there were about a billion yellow cards that appeared in this game. No one was going for them so Joe C ate them all up with distaste. I kept saying that's what he should be doing. He was skeptical.
Ron B. was playing with Egypt and totally destroyed Joe C in the first round with the wonder that makes low stability pay $4. Of course Joe had no books or $ so he lost a lot of points and resources in the first turn. This put Joe on a rage against Ron B or as we like to call him Faux Ron. Ron B is fun times but he doesn't get to make it very often for games. Always a pleasure when he does! Especially when he makes for entertaining game plays.
Anyways, the game continued and there were no food upgrade buildings and I got like all my guys not they were all on my G DAMN level 1 food building. It was painful and pat screwed me over by taking the food building I needed. Needless to say that hosed my game and I ended with 38 points. Joe c and Pat tied at 42 with Pat winning since he was higher in turn order. Faux Ron got 33.
Not a bad game but with Joe whining the whole time and trying to make Ron's life miserable during the game he did well. He kept dissing on my favorite Greece race and then he wins. I should just always play Greece- they are my favorite. Everyone hates them... I duno why. It really depends on the cards they get drawn. Greece is not so great with 2 players since even less cards are drawn but oh well I still enjoy them.
Before the night ended we played Joe C's Xmas gift from his mom. LCR. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't mention this "game". Shocked me that he had it with him. I would not have guessed that was the game in 100 guesses or more. Joe hates dice and luck. We played- not with real $ - sad because I totally kicked butt. I won the pot.
I won by taking amazing pictures of a game with nothing to really take pictures of either.
This first one Joe wanted to get artsy with it and have a back light. this was the result through my eyes.
The final game of the night with 5 players was Coloretto. It is possible we have been playing it mildly wrong. I didn't realize you had to subtract points based on the scoring chart for each color you go over the limit with. I don't think it would have changed the other games I have played very much. I totally destroyed in this game. I got 3 colors and 4 +2 cards with a wild. Owned it. Certainly a good way to end the night!
Yesterday Ron and I got in a bunch of gaming while the snow came down. Still coming down as I type this. Work was canceled and snow is still piling up.
Joe C let us borrow his copy of Fidelitas. New to me!
It is a little card game. There are mission cards to complete and score and there are your worker cards to play and activate their abilities. First player to score 10 vps wins.
The game is not very hard to pick up. There are 8 guild/factions and the mission cards have to do with getting certain guilds in certain places or having 8 soldiers in the town. Stuff like that. When you accomplish these things you can play them and draw a new mission card. Each turn you play a worker in a building and do as the card says. It might be to move 2 cards from one location to another or swap a card with another card.
There were KS cards which were confusing and awful. If I were to play again I don't think I would add them in. They were not clear and seemed rather impossible. they are the cards with the VP's on the bottom. You can kind of tell they were not meant to be in the game and I don't think they really added anything but their guild faction.
I don't think i want to play it again. I would play with Joe C to teach him but I don't think I would play again. With any more than 2 players I think the game would be too long for what it is.
I got Notre Dame a few months back. Ron and I took it out to play. He hadn't played before and I had played many months ago- or so it seems now. I couldn't really recall how to play. Fortunately, the rules are not so hard and it is actually a pretty simple game to play.
In a 2 player game you have to have the board set for 4 players but you are only passing cards between 2 players.
there are a # of things you can focus on but you need to try and be balanced in $ and cubes. If you are out of $ and can not hire a worker at the end of the round it will be a pretty big loss. You should always have $ to do that if nothing else.
It was actually quite a good 2 player game considering you are passing cards. I think it would be a very good 5 player game. The streets would be crazy. I will have to suggest it now I think I could teach it after having played again.
I did end up winning but I think Ron will take what he did wrong and basically destroy me next time. I think i had 48 and he had 33 or something. He never got his trusted friend on the board and I think that hurt him a bit. He also focused too much on the car movements and not enough on the $ and cube income.
Since neither Ron nor I got in a game of Deus we decided to play that. I had to continue to beat Ron in all the colors. This time I played as black and beat him by 9 points. He was mad at me. I drew a hand of 6 temples (discarding 1 yellow card) and I said this was not shuffled. I was going to shuffle them back in and he got mad at me.
That pretty much ruined the game. I kept the temples and continued to crush him anyways. The game ended by barbarians being beaten. I had about 28 to Ron's 19 points. It was a rather fast game. We choose not to play again ans just pack it up.
Continuing to love the game. Maybe I just beat him too hard. His time will come I am sure.
Since we hadn't played Roll for the Galaxy very much this week we played a fast game just the 2 of us. We played with the variants. I got some awesome combos and I ran away with the game. I got all 24 vp tokens and scored about 15 more in tiles. Ron lost baaaadly. He is unsure about the variants now. i was producing and shipping every turn it seemed so he thinks it is a bit broken. I don't even think he had a colored planet to produce on.
We played a couple rounds of Qwixx gemixxt. Once with each side. I basically destroyed in both games. Dice were my friend yesterday. Rather they hated Ron more than me. I got 94 for the first gameand 69 for the second game. I should have had more in the first one but I did a few wrong guesses towards the end of the game. I still killed Ron by a bunch so its all good!
We broke the shrink to my copy of Coal Baron. That's good because I have been wanting to play it for a while now but see it is in shrink and if people are there to play I don't want to have to break the shrink and punch a game if possible. Now it is done and we can play next time people comes over!
It is actually quite a good 2 player game. Better than what I would have thought. You just have to block some spaces out.
The game is a pretty simple worker placement game to best optimize your resources and $. It is about planning and seeing what your opponents might be doing so you can try for another way. there are 3 rounds (pretty fast game!) where you produce materials in the mines and ship them off with the orders you have taken in. 4 types of orders and 4 types of materials. The further down the mine shaft the more valuable the resources. shipping 2 black goods will gain more points than shipping 2 yellow resources.
Its a fun little game. Light weight and could be used for entry level gaming I think. I would like to play it more.
Our game was super tight the whole time. I ended up winning by 4 points with 132 points to Rons 128. His mine was unbalanced and he actually lost 4 points. Those 4 were what he needed to tie me!
The final game of the night we played was Ubongo 3D. I felt we needed a little abstract thinking time. It is a pretty fast game and I was on a full day winning streak.
I nearly had him in this game too if I didnt screw up the final round and not figure out the pattern. GRRRRRRRRRRrrr
I still managed to get him for all the other games though.
I have to say i enjoy abstract 3d building games. Quite fun! Ubongo YOUR FACE. Oh Snap!
That's about all for this week. I have not learned very many new games this month yet because Monday night games keeps getting canceled due to snow. Not like I would be leaving my house in the snow but it still bytes!
Hopefully it will start to clear up in the coming weeks and I get get to learning some new stuff!
I enjoy snow days though. :)
Till next week! Thanks for reading and Happy Gaming!!
-Steph