Pandemic, 2 March

James, Orhan, Stu, Adrian and a sick Kieron met for a couple of goes at (appropriately given Kieron's condition and David's absence) Pandemic. This was a purchase from Leisure Games last weekend which had been so entertaining to Fred and Felix that they had bought the expansion. This allows five players as well as introducing new game variants.

We played two games using the basic rules, with four Epidemic cards in the deck and random roles from the full expanded set. The game is fully co-operative and is certainly luck-dependent to quite a degree. In the first play as we got used to the rules, we were struck by a quick succession of Epidemics and Outbreaks and were overwhelmed such that we couldn't make the sets of cards necessary to cure the diseases. In game two, we focused much more on getting the sets of cards and ruthlessly pursuing cures. So we lost the first one and one the second.

The game attracted mixed reactions. I have to say I'm a fan and like the artistry of the game mechanics and the fact that it is touch and go. Orhan didn't like it particularly, other views were mixed. A good evening nonetheless; as ever.