rri1's WBC
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Here is my report on the 2010 WBC. As usual, I had a great time. Without further ado....
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
I flew out on July 31, but the night before I went to Giants game against the hated Dodgers. They were giving out a free beach towel (I fortunately forgot to pack one.) Even better the Giants won, though they almost gave the fans heartbreak in the ninth inning.
My brother picked me at the Harrisburg airport (Another piece of fortunate.) We went the Harrisburg Senators game vs. their maybe not hated rival the Portland Sea Dogs. He bought the "best available" seats, which happened to behind the left field wall. It was still a fun game.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
The first game I played was this re-working of Ra. Nothing really wrong with it, it uses the same bidding system as Ra, but Ra's scoring system is more interesting.
Not bad, but nothing to scream "Buy me"
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Next, I met up with my roommate, Mark Geary, who was trying to make the 18XX semis, but just missed out.
Afterwwards we played this new game, not to be confused with Samarkand. This is a desert trading route game that feels a bit like an 18XX game, the marry into families (with pootntial brides and grooms available), expand your camel (not track) network, etc. When one family moves into anothers space, they form an alliance (or merge) paying off players who are members of both families. The players also get paid for reaching various supply sources for more VP.
Has some clever game mechanics, but may be too dependent on luck.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
On Monday I tried this new gamw from designers of 1960. Very clever mechanics melding events with voting mechanics. Each card represents a delegate to the Constitutional Convention who can cast a vote for his state, participate in debates over the issues of the day or be used a special event to mix up the action.
Very clever game that I'll have to track down a copy.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
This was the first tournament of the WBC I got into. I haven't played this much except yearly here at WBC so it acts as a nice palate cleanser to get into the action.
I finished with 2nd, 1st and 3rd, not really good enough to make the finals, The GM had my second place as a first due to some illegible hand writing. (Note to other GM's, ask for each player's place in the game as a doublecheck on the results.), so I thought I may have had a chance. But after the error was cleared up, I wasn't really disappointed.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
I played this "not really a war game, but wargamers like it" game. I lost my first two rounds, once when I made a rather weak gamble not rallying a key unit.
One problem I have with the event. For a game that takes about an hour, as this does, the time limit should be about 80-90 minutes. There should be enough time for the game that's slow due to circumstances, but not enough to encourage AP. Far too many games were getting cut off early, which detracted my enjoyment of the event.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
After dropping 2 games in Manoeuvre, I hit this favorite events. The game is not as good as Race for the Galaxy, but still quite entertaining.
I lost my first game, but stormed back 3 wins to make the playoffs and then had one of those games where I had too many good cards and no way to build them all in time. Which is what happened.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
After getting knocked out, I had some time until my dinner guest was also eliminated, time to pull out a quick filler. I won the game, taught a couple new players who enjoyed it, but I don't remember a lot of details on it.
After finishing, went out to dinner with Richard Meyer to the Texas Road House, close enough to the hotel, decent enough fare. The waitress asked us about "the game thing" in town, what type of games we play, etc.
-
-
9.
Board Game: Agricola
[Average Rating:8.25 Overall Rank:2]
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Rich & I came back after dinner and we played a game of this classic with at least one newbie. It was a close game that I won.
-
-
10.
Board Game: Macao
[Average Rating:7.47 Overall Rank:132]
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
On dead Tuesday (due to the Auction, no events are scheduled before 6), so I was "forced" to open game. The auction holds no appeal to me, because A) Luggage space is far more valuable than cash and B) I don't have enough space in my home for the games I already own.
I am not entirely sure what I played, but I think I got at least one game of Founding Fathers and this newer game that has been quite popular. It has an interesting timing mechanic for goods production which you use to buy various cards/goods tokens and deliver the goods to islands.
Good, but not so good that I have to own a copy.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Now for the "work" part of the convention for me. I GM this event, which really isn't that much work. But I do commit myself to run a demo. Basically I just start a game, starting with movement and basic trading. Have them play a few turns. By the end of the hour I will have explained all the nitty gritty they need to know: equipment, demands, fares, ports, and factories.
I had 4 players, 3 of them showed up at the heats. Which makes it worthwhile.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Played an epic game (i.e. 2 teams on a large map.) of this great wargame. It came down to the last roll when we couldn't finish off the final units needed when they retreated away. The other side pounced for the win.
But a lot of fun anyway.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Later it was time the first Flying Circus of the event I am the defending champ. In this event, games can be played anywhere, anytime, but in practice, most of the games are held during these 4 hours to get 15 dogfights in.
One player brought his Flying Machine books. It's possibly my favorite set, but never can get a game due to balance issues (The Allied plane fires at an angle, but gets 1/2 points for hits (except direct hits at close range). We played two games switching sides and not unpredictably, the Germans won both times.
Fun for me nonetheless.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Then I played this dexterity, the only "all skill" game at the WBC (Even in 18XX you draw for seating position)
This year my flicking just was working right--tough to train in this event with many possible table surfaces. I bowed out with my horns handed to me in the first round.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
I played the mulligan round for this game. I didn't roll enough camels. I lost. But it was an enjoyable cap on the day.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
First heat of Merchant of Venus and 41 players (including myself) arrived to play come to Stitches Comedy Club. (More laughs were generated during the games than usually at Stitches) A large turnout.
As GM I sat out to make 10 four player games. (No problem, there were two more heats to play in.)
The most interesting game was Allen Stancius's win in his heat, not the least of which because he is blind! The help he got was I read the IOU he could peak at secretly. But keeping track of everything well enough without looking is an amazing feat.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Since I sat out that heat of Merchant, I played the Empire Builder event which features all Mayfair Rails games, also in Stitches. Played an enjoyable game of this fighting neck and neck with Ken Gutermuth, until he pulled away with a good load of Dragons for the win.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
A little later played possibly the best game of El Grande I have ever played--even though I finished fourth. First to fifth was separated by a mere 8 points!
A very defensive battle, most of the scoring cards were rejected so someone could not go out to large lead. Very tight! Great game!
This is the type game that people who they don't want to play tournaments miss out. Outside of tournaments you just don't find a full table of very good players. Usually one or two weaker than everyone else and it shows.
-
-
19.
Board Game: Agricola
[Average Rating:8.25 Overall Rank:2]
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Then I played a tournament game of Agricola and I probably got the worst hand of occupations and minor improvements. The only really worth building was the Turncrest Plow, but it needs 2 occupations, only worth building at all were the ones that give the 3 free fence when you build them and another that gives a free stable.
I did pretty well to challenge for second.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Back to the WBC's midterms (can't be the final exam being only Wednesday)
As usual, the GM, Arthur, picks his favorite categories. When I ran the event I tried to make a wide variety of subject matter and usually threw in a couple gimme categories. No such luck from Arthur.
In order to win this event, you have to have known the GM since high school. (Just because you need the same background to have a chance,) Fortunately, my good friend Richard Meyer has that attribute and walked away with the title again. I finished 6th despite not knowing acts at Woodstock, Tony Best Musicals, or Jethro Tull Albums.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Next up is the late nigh lite event: Can't Stop.
As usual my home made set (card stock board, 3 black pawns, pokers chips) gets appreciative nods from the attendees.
It doesn't help me win though...
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Next up is my favorite wargame: Up Front. Infinitely replayable, 1000's of possible scenarios, different national characteristics and in rarely plays over an hour.
I was just one of those years where my opponents kept getting good fire cards that I couldn't recover from. The worst beat down came from John Emery who I played Partisans with: No only he draw a woods to put his fire base in, he keeps drawing low fire cards (4 or less) and concealment cards, which allows adding their value if the they fire from woods--ambush. Pretty soon I was wiped out. OUCH!
Finished up with a paratroop drop, which is always fun if incredibly random scenario and this one lasted until final deck, well played game.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Another games where I bring a homemade set (or at least the board.
I rarely play more than one heat, but I enjoy the game. So it was a fun way to kill a hour hour while eating dinner.
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Second heat of Merchant of Venus, this time there were exactly 32 players (including myself), so I had to play!
I won my game pretty easily, but it was getting close to the my annual round of....
-
-
Richard Irving
United States
Salinas
California
-
Pro Golf.
I grabbed golfers for myself, Rich Meyer and defending champ Eric Brosius. No Phil Nickleson's this time. Just faceless PGA automotons.
I had 6 bogies of the first 7 holes at Augusta National--no chance of making the skins game final. But on the back nine, I got 2 eagles on the par 5's to pull back to even par. I even beat the defending champ! (Demonstrating his "skill" admirably.
I think we turned in our scores a few minutes late, but it hardly mattered, none of us would have made the skins game.
Case study #1 showing the quality of the game matters less than the quality of people you are playing with.
-
-
|
|
