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Snoozing at the Gathering XX
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This was our fourth Gathering (last visit is here, and it was terrific as always! This was the 20th GoF, and we hope to keep coming back for the foreseeable future! There were no real hospital visits this time (one person did go, but probably didn't need to), apparently a first -- hurray! Unfortunately, however, the week seemed to have more than the usual personal tragedies, some of which has already been discussed elsewhere. I know that time with friends in Columbus was helpful! Those of us there strictly on vacation had a great time! I think that Mary and I ended up doing less gaming this year than in years past. Plenty of games played, of course, but not at quite the frenetic pace as before. Part of that was because we slept in more, went to bed early, and left the Gathering for longer than in the past. The other part, though, was because there didn't seem to be any big HIT this year. Yes, Fits got a lot of play -- it would be closest to a HIT, I suppose -- but it's not really a game I'm ever going to pursue much. Anyway, here are my games played...
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Posted Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:06 am
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After a light breakfast at the hotel -- one of our only meals there  ! -- we headed down to the game room. As you'd expect, only a few people were around this early. Enough to play this game, though!
Thanks to airline luggage restrictions, we didn't bring our usual (small) pile of games. The only thing we did bring was a pre-publication version of this, complete with my own rules summary (pretty good, if I do say so myself!). No one else had played it so I taught Kris (Wattsalpoag), Pietre (Czech Games Edition), RickT, and LornaW. This was my second playing and, just like the first time, I came in DEAD LAST! Arrrggh!
Over the next 10 days I played this 3 more times, and taught it at least twice more. It wasn't necessarily as popular as Fits, but I think this might also qualify as one of the more popular games here -- there were 3 pre-publication versions of the game available, and there seemed to always be at least one game in play. I did manage to eventually win (just once, I think) - yay! It's a very good game, although I think I may prefer Tinner's Trail? I dunno ... need to figure it out, I guess! My comments on the game are below:
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If you liked Tinner's Trail but thought it was too light, this might be for you: it feels like TT with added depth/complexity. It's a good economics game ... I just wish I could figure it out!
Compared to TT:
- 4 Turns, multiple steps each turn.
- VERY true to the theme: you face decisions about how many/what type of cars to make, when to make them, how to sell them better and beat the competition, how much effort (actions) to spend on research, how to minimize losses (from inefficient factories and dealerships/distributors), etc.
- turn order changes, based on when you pass the previous turn
- produce stuff. It's cars vs. copper/tin, and you have more control -- build exactly how many cars you like, and of the type you like.
- sell stuff. But not all that you produce -- only what is determined by the demand tiles. And you may not get to sell everything -- you _are_ competing with other players directly here. Also, demand is somewhat random (although you do have limited partial knowledge) so you need to take steps to ensure you can sell what you produce.
- all of the above is modified by which Character/Role you choose, which are also true to theme.
Compared to Lokomotive Werks (which I've only played once):
- cars vs. trains
- similar premise: build factories of varying technology levels, produce stuff, sell based on (randomly determined) demand. But there's a lot more stuff going on here (roles, extra actions, etc.).
- I think this is more forgiving?
Actually, having played Automobile several times now, I think I need to go back and try Loko again!
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Pietr from CGE was there, and he had 2 of V Chvatil's prototypes! Of course I wanted to play them! Unfortunately, the longer board game version wasn't ready yet: Pietr worked on it (cutting and pasting stuff) later on, and the game got plenty of play. Just not by me .
We did, however, play the other prototype -- the quick little card game. Twice. It's very light and easy, but it's fun and works well. Each game took us 15-20minutes.
I played fewer prototypes this year, too. Others played:
- Karl-Heinz Schmiel's card game based on a very popular eurogame: This was very early in the game's development -- the fourth time (ever) that the game had been played! Surprisingly, though, it actually worked quite well. I look forward to seeing future revsions!
- An old K-HS game, a la Carte, with tweaked rules and bits: fun game! I hope it gets republished just for the awesome bits!
- 2 of Ted Alspach's Age of Steam maps: a 3er game, which was pretty cool, and a brutal map on an island. BRUTAL!
- Ted's tile laying game: hopefully to be picked up by a big publisher, 'cause it was pretty good! Actually, probably one of my favorites from this Gathering!
- Dominion: Intrigue: just 2 plays. Good, but even more fun was the next expansion ... ooooh coool! And I don't even like (basic) Dominion as much as most others seem to!
- An Eggertspiele auction-type card game: another favorite. It's not terribly deep, but it works well and has an interesting (new?) auction mechanism. At least, I don't remember seeing it before.
- An Eggertspiele set-collection tile game: medium weight, with yet a different take on auctioning to acquire groups of tiles. Another good one!
- And ANOTHER Eggertspiele game; Peter Hawes' followup to Heads of State. This was not to my taste -- too wargamey, guess-what-they're-going-to-do -- but it's going to be great for people who like that stuff!
- Walter Hunt's game: he's been working on it for a long time now. Still needs some balancing, I think. A bit long / old-style for me, but I could see myself playing it from time to time.
- Race for the Galaxy, the 3rd expansion. Cool! If only I could get the base game to the table more often!
I guess I did play my share of prototypes, but it still felt like less than in previous years. All of them were quite good, though!
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3.
Board Game: Maori
[Average Rating:6.50 Overall Rank:1351]
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Also played on Day 1, but then never again. It's an interesting tile placement game, but just another of those mid-weight games that I already have too many of, sitting on the shelf collecting dust. We didn't bother with the basic game, going straight to the advanced (but not all the way to the "profi" version) and it worked just fine. It was good, but not good enough to play again during the trip.
16 tiles showing islands, peninsulas, or isthmuses are placed in a 4x4 grid. The rest are face down nearby. There's a Hansa-like boat placed on one edge next to one of the 4 tiles. Players start with 5 mussel tokens (# varies with player #). On your turn you must move the boat clockwise up to x spaces (x = # of boat icons on your player board -- start with 2). May spend mussels for extra movement. Then either pass or take a tile from the row/column where the boat ended movement. Pay 0-3 mussels according to distance from boat. Drawn tile may vo on board or in reserve (max 1 tile in reserve). Draw random tile to replace drawn tile. OR remove tile on your board from game. OR move tile from reserve go board. Game ends when board full -- all other players get one last turn.
Remove all nonsensical tiles. Then score according to icons on tiles (palm trees, huts, flowers). Players with most mussels and boats score as many VP. Most VP wins.
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Who's ever heard of this game?? Not any of us! It was Mary, MartinB, WilliamA, Wei-Hwa, and me. It's another interesting tile-laying game, this time with a farm theme. Tiles may be used to either score VP immediately or advance 1 of 5 tracks upward. Getting tracks up evenly allows placement of 2 barns, which score VP every turn. Advancing tracks to end scores semi-random VP, with higher values awarded to earlier players.
Luck of the tile draw, but mitigated by hand size of 3 and by 5 special tiles players begin game with. Also plays pretty quickly. I wouldn't mind playing this again, although I never took the time at the Gathering. Is it getting an English release?
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5.
Board Game: Tichu
[Average Rating:7.72 Overall Rank:37]
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William went off somewhere or other, so the rest of us decided to play Tichu. Martin and Mary teamed up and spanked us pretty good! Actually, they only won 1015-685, but they did it well (I think Martin opened with a Grand Tichu and had another later on, too).
I played this 9 more times (already a dime!) later in the week, including 2 games in the tournament (close game, but Zev and I were knocked out in the second round -- I think we need to call Tichu more often!) and a partial game with Aldie before he had to fly outta there. What's there to say about Tichu? It seems to be an obsession for many people -- not me, but I like it well enough to say "yes" most of the time I'm asked. I do wish I could play it just a bit better, though!
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6.
Board Game: Dominion
[Average Rating:8.05 Overall Rank:6]
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Just a quick game to kill a little time. I played in the tournament, 1 round, and that was it for the entire event. Except for 2 games of the Intrigue expansion, and 3 games of the next expansion. Base game ... pretty good, but the shuffling gets to me (prefer BSW play). Expansion #1: need to try more, but does seem more interesting. Expansion #2: yeah, baby, much more fun!
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I ended my first day with 3 games of this. Finally! We were all new to it, and I was hesitant to join in -- it's always good having at least one experienced player/teacher!. When we went around Germany after Essen, we'd bought a copy. Upon opening it, though, we'd discovered it was German! So we sold it to a friend who was willing to do paste ups. So I've been wanting to try it for a long time now, and I finally decided to join in.
We did the first 3 teaching lessons, and we were AWFUL! I blame it on our first captain (FrankD) and communication officer. I was captain on the 3rd try (the first real mission), and we were almost successful! This real-time, multimedia cooperative game is actually kind of fun! It's pretty challenging, though, but I think we might have to get our own copy.
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Day #2 started off with one of the designer's prototype card games, followed by this game (all with Mary and new arrivee, LeonH). I think I'd seen the components of this before, but never had a chance to play it. He was trying a few design tweaks, although I'm not certain exactly what was new (not much, I think). He crushed us pretty handily. Leon, apparently a good cook in real life, only managed to boil water this game!
And that was all the gaming for the entire day! Why? 'Cause Ken and Robin got married -- yay!
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Day #3 started with a bunch of games already listed above: Automobile, then Tichu, then Ted's 3er Age of Steam map, 2 games of Dominion Intrigue, then 2 more Tichu!
Finally, around 9:45pm, we get to this game, new to me (and most of the players). It's apparently just like Pick Two (which I haven't played), but easier -- you only pick one! Since each game takes 10 minutes at the most (more typically, less than 5min) you play many in a row. This first time, it was 5. Later in the week, it was just 3 -- 'cause Rhonda ruined it for the rest of us by being so much faster. Thanks Rhonda  !
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A fun, fast crossword-style word game. But don't play it with someone with much better skill level ... it's not nearly as much fun!
All the letter tiles are mixed up face down. Then each player takes a number (e.g., 15 with 6 players). Simultaneously flip them face up, then work to put all the letters together crossword style. When you're done, yell "PEEL" and everyone takes a new tile. If you're stuck, yell "SWAP" or something like that, put one letter back and draw 3 more to replace. Keep playing till someone yells PEEL but not everyone can draw a tile; if the PEEL player's words make sense, they win!
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The day ended with yet another game of Tichu!
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10.
Board Game: Keltis
[Average Rating:6.62 Overall Rank:585]
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Day #4
As usual, I got into the game room early (around here, 9:30am is early!). This year there would be a tournament so I thought I should learn the rules first. BTW, I ended up winning the tourney -- yay me! I'd played Keltis once before, which I thought was OK, but never the Rio Grande version. It turns out that it's not a bad little game. Actually, I prefer it over the card game (which I only rate a 5).
It's like playing Keltis, except:
- 3 rounds, scoring artifacts only at the end of the game (keep track of # earned each round)
- all point values are multiplied by 5
- in the basic game you can only play cards in ascending order; a variant allows play in either direction.
Pretty colors and bits but it is a little harder to see what is happening at a glance. One helpful idea: when tokens cross the bridge, knock them over so it's easier to see how close you are to ending the round. I'm not certain whether I prefer the basic game, or the Keltis-like variant.
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A little wandering around led to a play of this, which RickT was kind enough to teach (me, WilliamA, and ChristineS -- she'd played previously). I ended up playing this just once more later on, teaching the others how to play.
The game has a Hansa-like feel although the mechanisms and theme are different enough to warrant having both. Here, the tokens are in a pile, with 5 random ones available for purchase on your turn. You play one tile per turn to the board, now trying go match both color and symbol to score more VP. But each play potentially helps other players score even more, until a scoring area is completely closed out.
This didn't get a tremendous reception, but I think it's a good light-medium game! It plays quickly and I expect fans of Hansa will enjoy this game, too.
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Actually, I next played Ted's tile laying game twice -- I liked it! Afterwards, I joined him and Tom on a road trip. A short road trip, anyway -- Ted's friend Jeremiah was in town and we went over there to pick him up for dinner (at a really good Chinese placed recommended by BruceR, I think). Then, back to Jeremiah's hotel for some gaming.
First, another game of Automobile (yes, I came in dead last again  ). Then an Alspach oldie prototype that nearly killed me, but not quite. Then home to bed way past my bed time!
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Day #5
I'd seen the game last year, and heard all the great comments about it, but I had never actually played it! So this was my first game of the day, with 2 other early risers: agashamirv and James Control Nut Miller (Grrr -- I never did get him to teach me how to play that game! I need a non-Tichu game to play for 4 people!). And I won, so it must be good, right?!
Actually, it is good. In fact, it may be the best of the complicated-Yahtzee-variant genre -- it works well, AND it has a way-cool theme! And I quite like the production, wooden dice and all! I ended up playing this 5 more times later on (a nickel already!).
The game is simple: start with 3 cities. Each city = 1 d6 (specially marked). You get 3 rerolls; can reroll anything except the disaster tiles. Collect food and resources rolled. Then feed cities (1 food each) -- each deficiency = -1 point. Finally, use workers to build cities (dice) or monuments (VP), and coins/resources to buy developments (special powers and VP). Disaster rolls may affect you or other players (more negative points; possibly lose all your goods). The game ends at the end of the round when either someone buys their 5th development, or all monuments have been built by some player(s). Most VP wins.
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Next up, the 3 of us pulled PaulJ into a a game of the latest Mystery Rummy game. He'd played it before, so was able to explain it so we didn't have to read through the rules ourselves!
It's not a bad version of the Mystery Rummy games, but I still prefer Jack the Ripper. This is a simpler game. Game play, including moving the car around looking for Bonnie and Clyde, works well although the artwork makes it a bit difficult to read the cards. It's basically Rummy, but with Bonnie and Clyde cards hidden in 2 of 8 locations (other cards placed in other 6 areas randomly): when you meld or lay off, you can move the car and look/take the card at one of these locations. Bonnie and Clyde are worth 10VP each, but you can only claim them if you meld or lay off at the car's current location.
Played it with four -- I'd guess it's better with 3 (or 2?), where you would have a bit more control over the car. Need to play again, but not necessarily a buy for me.
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15.
Board Game: FITS
[Average Rating:6.87 Overall Rank:412]
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Knizia does Tetris! This quick, simple little game was played almost continuously! It's a nice diversion, although a bit light for my tastes. Still, I did play it twice more this trip. Mary loved it enough that I'm sure we'll end up with a copy eventually.
Each player has the same mix of blokus/tetris like shapes. A deck of 4 starter shapes is shuffled and dealt 1/player --> starting piece. Another deck of cards, 1/shape is shuffled; then each is revealed, one by one. For each, play the piece shown almost like Tetris pieces: the difference is that no lateral movement is allowed. Play through the deck 4 times, each time with slightly different scoring rules (and appropriate backgrounds for each player's play area):
1. complete row = 1VP, visible spot = -1VP
2. visible numbers = +VP, visible spot = -1VP
3. visible numbers = +VP, visible spot or penalty spot = -VP
4. each visible pair of matching symbols = +3VP, each visible unmatched symbol = -3VP
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Next up was an oldie. Not that old, really, but one we've played (and own) already. Just one game now (Ava did much better -- she never did get the hang of Fits!), but I played this 4 more times later on. Yet another nickel already; not surprising for such a quick little filler game!
A nice, quick filler.
Players have the same board and set of numbered (1-12) tokens: each player shuffles their tokens and flips 3 face up. Each round, someone rolls a d20. In the first 12 rounds, you place one of your 3 face up tokens onto the number rolled (if already occupied, may use the first free space to either left or right of that space). Then replace the used chip. After 12 rounds, you may MOVE a token to the number rolled. Continue playing till someone arranges all their tokens sequentially = winner!
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After Finito, I played my other game of Bürger, Baumeister & Co, and another Lost Cities Board game -- just 'cause there were people playing and there was an empty spot. Then, this game. Unfortunately, we didn't take the time to really read the rules and so we didn't play it correctly. It wasn't great the way we played it, but I'm sure it'll be better when played correctly. Another need-to-play-again game.
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An oldie, but one I really love!
Agashamirv was looking for a game, and this is one of his favorites. I never get to play it (Mary doesn't like it!), so we played -- I was the US, he was a commie bast@rd. Sadly, after 2 hours, he managed to win it. Great game, although I just couldn't hold the Pinko off long enough!
After some more Tichu (x 2) and another Roll Through the Ages, I called it a night.
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First game of Day #6.
I own it, but I think I'd only played it twice before? PaulJ, who'd not played much at all, managed to get the military strategy going nicely and crushed the rest of us 40-28-21-16!
I want to play more (I did play this and the basic game once more each)!
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Two people were setting this up, all new to the game. Fresh meat! So I joined them, got FrankB to join us, and we played a 4-player game after going through the (pretty simple, really) rules.
Pretty cool race game, and probably the best so far from Fragor despite (or due to?) the lack of cute sculpted bits! Simple rules but still a lot of strategy/tactics. The card play reminds me of Ausgebremst, but the track is wider so it's less about blocking ... a good thing as far as I'm concerned! I've only played it with 2 but this was a lot of fun -- one of the best race games around! Some randomness (cards), but everyone has the same deck and there are some decisions about how to play the cards drawn (so it's manageable?). And it's not a bunch of annoying dice-rolling like Formula Dé!
I came in 3rd (I think I'd been undefeated before, in my 2 other games).
--- Summary ---
Race courses are built randomly. Players each have a dog sled with 2 dogs (initially valued 3 each) and a brake (also 3). Each player has the same deck of cards (5 sets of cards 1-5, shuffled) from which they draw a hand of 5 cards. On your turn, may play 1-3 cards of the same value to these 3 locations (dog1, dog2, brakes). Forward speed (and distance moved) = dog1 + dog2 - brake + bonus (=position in race) if (dog1 = dog2). Lateral movement distance = dog1 - dog2 (move to the side with the stronger dog). Certain parts of the track have speed limits; you take damage if you exceed them, or if you run into obstacles (ice patches, side of track, etc.). Damage = cards that take up space in your hand (so 5th damage --> out of the race!). The first player to cross the finish line wins!
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Mary and I'd met the designer here one or two years ago. Mary had played this game and liked it enough to buy it. But I've never played it! It sits on the shelf, so lonely! PaulJ has made totally AWESOME version (pictured), and we had Alan to explain it ... how cool is that? It was Paul, Alan, AdamR, and me
This is a tough blind-bidding set collection game. I don't normally like blind bidding, but it works here: you have enough knowledge about what people want to have some basis for your bids. The things I don't like about it: length (a bit too long for me), and the Mystery cards add more chaos than I'd like. Played once with 4 -- 5 would be absolutely brutal!
General idea: players are alchemists collecting materials to make stuff. You acquire materials using bid cards played face down at 5 locations, each providing a different material (with a clever tie-breaking system, and decreasing material handed out based on rank of bids). Locations also have recipes (at most 2 on display at a time) for the stuff, which you can claim by turning in the required materials. Bid cards are also used to bid for turn order. The stuff you build comes in 5 different types (and also 3 groups -- imagine a 3x5 grid; each stuff fits in one box of this grid). You get VP for having multiples of the same thing, sets in the same group (row and/or column of the grid), and for initially making the stuff. Mystery cards through a wrench into all of this, as does the limited supply of material -- not everyone will get what they want/need!
Definitely need to play this again at home!
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After a game of Fits, I found myself joining yet another Alspach Age of Steam Game. I'd played Vermont in prototype form, so this time it was New Hampshire. EVIL! I ended up in the mountains and rapidly reached my 15 shares without making enough money to be competitive!
But hey, at least I didn't go bankrupt! Congrats to LukeH and Octavian (can't remember who actually won, but Matthew had some awesomely twisted track built in the south!).
Luke pulled out his own prototype and we played that next -- worked pretty well! Hopefully it'll keep its theme (related to a popular card game) if/when it's published!
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I joined Chad and Satish for this one ... not sure they were too happy about that! It all would've been OK, except I had limited time -- the Lost Cities BG tourney was starting soon -- and the rules review took a bit longer than expected. In the end, I don't think it mattered: the game would have ended when it did, or no more than one turn later. I think Chad won? I certainly lost!
Similar feel to Goa in some ways:
- auction is on a grid, but choices limited not by path chosen but by previous bids, which increase cost of adjacent goods ... very cool!
- technology tracks which improve abilities in several areas (some with direct VP)
But lighter and therefore maybe more likely to make it to the table?
--- Summary ---
Get 10 coins at the start of each round. Randomly set up the auction grid. In turn order, pass for rest of round OR buy an item from the grid: cost = 1 + #coins in orthogonally adjacent spaces (place spent coins on item acquired). Items include
- boats
- contracts
- gems
- movement on turn order track
- statues?
After Auction round, player furthest on Turn Order track and player with most money each get diamond. Then use boat/contract/gem sets to acquire gems of appropriate color (use smallest number showing in set). May only save 1 of each type of tile from turn to turn. Then, in turn order (till all pass), use action spaces on the board to convert gems to landscape types; pay an additional gem (any type) for every other player marker already in action space.
As players acquire landscape tiles, they may fulfill special VP conditions and acquire the matching tiles (e.g., first to have 5 rose gardens, etc.).
Game ends when any player fills their board. Get VP according to types of landscapes (each gets different amount based on #/type collected). Most VP wins.
The day ended with the LCBG tourney finishing up, and a bunch of Finito! and Fits games squeezed into the empty spaces!
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Day #7
Finally, I got to try this game. I think I heard about it first on Doug Garrett's podcast? It sounded pretty good (although our tastes vary considerably!), and had been getting a fair bit of play here, so I was glad to join GregS, AdamS, and RickT for a game (good thing no one minds it when you invite yourself to join in!).
This is a set-collection pick-up-and-deliver game. Cool bits (wooden books with cards that look like pages of a book, which you flip as expected; plastic gems). The board has 5 cities in corners, and one in the middle. 2 outer cities give you orders for items, the other 2 give you tools to help carry items; the items themselves are at various stops along the paths. So you pick up stuff, going from location to location as efficiently as possible (cities also limit your movement). Not a lot new here, but it works well and plays quickly. Not bad (even though I was dead last, again!).
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5 of us then played this, twice. It's an interesting auction, set-collection game ... sort of an amped up For Sale: use cards to bid for other cards which are worth points. Here, though, the VP gain happens throughout and requires you convert your ability to bid into VP. It plays pretty quickly (~25min) ... nice filler!
--- Summary ---
A deck of Item Cards (0-4 in several colors) is shuffled: players start with a hand of cards, and the rest are in a draw pile (a few are removed randomly if playing with fewer players). There's also a deck of Market Cards numbered 1-n, arranged face up with n on top. Each turn, reveal as many Item Cards as the top Market Card. Players use their cards in hand to bid for this lot of cards: to bid, place 1+ cards from your hand down face up in front of you. Go round and round, raising the bid (play more cards in front of your) or passing, until someone wins. The auction losers retain their cards. The winner places their bid cards, as well as one card from the auctioned lot, into the Market (sorted by type/color); the other won cards are added to their hand. The winner also takes the Market card. There is one exception: if everyone passes without bidding, the first person to pass wins the lot and keeps ALL cards in the lot (i.e., none sent to Market). This auction winner, with a Market Card in front of them, may not participate in the rest of the round. Repeat this process until all the Market Cards have been taken; the first still-active player to the left of the previous auction winner makes the first bid. The final Market Card is the 1: there is no auction; the revealed card is immediately added to the Market and the last remaining player takes the 1.
The round ends with players, in Market Card order, choosing one set of like-colored cards from the Market. At any time in the game players may, or if a player ever has >7 cards in hand then that player must, turn in a set of 3 cards of the same color (0s are wild); the lowest 2 are removed from the game and the 3rd is added to your score pile (0s in score pile are worth 5VP; others are worth face value).
The game ends when the Item deck is exhausted (finish the round). Players turn in their final sets-of-three, then sum the VP in their score piles. The player with the most VP wins!
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Posted Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:59 pm
