Mr. HomoLudens: Well, I just spent a week at a cottage north of Toronto and played some games. Oddly enough, BGG user Ender Wiggins (EndersGame) and his family were at the cottage next door, so we decided to let him and wife play too. Sometimes we even let one or two of his kids play. Yes, the man has kids, although they don't often appear in his many, many photos. We did not let him take any pictures of our games, because the man's made enough GG already.

Mr. Ender: There's nothing like being on vacation and discovering that the random person in the cottage next door is a fellow gamer. The Very Clever Pipe Game was Game #15 in the many game sessions (see the first here) that resulted from this amazing discovery.

The Very Clever Pipe Game Goes to a GeekAuction

This was the final game we played at the cottage. I'd picked up this game at a GeekAuction a long time ago. Apparently, all those pictures and all that GeekGold is worth something after all! (ha!)

The Very Clever Pipe Game Goes to a Cottage

Altogether we had half a dozen plays of this, mostly with the Junior Enders. It's a clever little puzzle type game, regarded by many as one of the better choices in the Cheapass line. The components are quite basic, but it's a fun diversion, and quite different from most other games. Given that it is so inexpensive, it's worth picking up, especially if you like puzzle type games.



Upon my return from vacation, The Very Clever Pipe Game has since been played twice, both times in restaurants. The story of both is worth telling:

1. The Very Clever Pipe Game Visits Burger King

Mr. Ender and Mr. Bean (a friend of Mr. Ender who shall remain nameless) have recently initiated a "Society Crawl". What's a Society Crawl, you ask? Well it's a mission where a pair of Society members visit as many fast food establishments as they can in one evening on a budget of under $20. Pico 2, Loco, and Hive also saw play during Society Crawl #2, but it was the Very Clever Pipe Game that made an appearance at Burger King (only after the staff had first been grilled with two random questions from The Complete Book of Questions, in accordance with Society Crawl Regulations, and a discounted Whopper negotiated and purchased.) As for the game, Mr. Bean pipped Mr. Ender by a few points, displaying great natural Pipe Playing Talent. Apparently playing clever pipe games heralds back to medieval times (although at that time it was played with clever sticks instead of clever pipes), and his professional interest in medieval history gave Mr. Bean a natural advantage. His close affiliation with papal funds might also be a factor. At any rate, of the four two-player games that saw the table as part of our "Society Crawl" that evening, he said it was his favorite of the night. For the record, the table top dance also ranked highly, and the Whoppers were excellent (but please, no pickles. I said: No pickles!).

2. The Very Clever Pipe Game Visits Buccaneers Bar and Grill

Remarkably, Mrs. Ender and me happen to celebrate our wedding anniversary on exactly the same day as one another. Really, what are the odds? 1 in 365? Perhaps it's because we got married to one another on the same day? At any rate, it's awfully convenient, because at least one of us is bound to remember the date!

So anyway Mr. & Mrs. Ender decide to go out for a romantic wedding anniversary meal by the beach, to celebrate the occasion. Buccaneers Bar and Grill is the place of choice, although oddly enough no pirates seem to be in attendance, although the steak knife provided with the ribs could serve as a good cutlass in a tight spot. But I digress. So what romantic wedding anniversary meal is complete without some very clever pipes? Really, when is the last time you considered adding very clever pipes to your wedding anniversary festivities? It's a must!

So Mr. & Mrs. Ender sit down on the outdoor patio at the Buccanneers Bar and Grill, awaiting their drinks with a very special session of The Very Clever Pipe Game. Only snag: the waitress arrives with the drinks tray, promptly drops the drinks on the table, and splashes Diet Coke all over the very clever pipes! Not very clever, Ms. Waitress! I have not consulted the rules, but I'm quite certain that this kind of play is illegal. Not to mention that cola clogs up pipes! She mutters a hasty apology and toddles off to get some dry cloths, so that we can wipe down the table and attempt to dry off the cards, and try to regain our dignity.

Warning: Do Not Try This At Home! Very Clever Pipe Cards Turn Brown When Drowned In Diet Coke! I'm not sure why the manufacturer doesn't include this warning in 27 different languages with the game. I suppose it's because it is a Cheapass game, and they are trying to cut costs and don't have room for that kind of thing.

At any rate, needless to say, this particular game comes to a rude and abrupt conclusion before it is anywhere near completed. Perhaps I should launch an official grievance with Diet Coke? Because now I'll never know whether it was the white or black pipes that would win! As it turned out, Ms. Waitress didn't offer to compensate us in any way for ruining our game session plus DietCokerizing some of our game components! I'd like to think that my Scrooge-like tip of 15 cents was more than justified, don't you think? At any rate, our marriage survived this terrible ordeal, so happy anniversary to Mrs. Ender.

Question for the wise: What would you have done in this situation? 1GG prize for the best answer!

Well thank you to Mr. & Mrs. HomoLudens for a wonderful week of company, and some excellent sessions of gaming and other fun. I will be sure to introduce myself to my neighbours when cottaging in the future, and who knows what manner of scurvy troubadour or wendell buurman in the adjoining cottage might prove to be a fellow board game geek.

NB: My final session report in this series (for Game #11, War of the Ring) should be forthcoming shortly.