With both Adrian and David sadly suffering from the lurgy, the four remaining Rivals sat down to the Germany board of Power Grid. Andy straight away attempted to box James into his Western starting position with Kieron threatening to complete the job, but fortunately for James, Kieron and Stuart set up in the East and North respectively, providing them both with plenty of Lebensraum, and James an escape route around Andy's cities.
All players made steady and similar progress in building cities and as the game was about to tip into Step 3 (when six powerplants are available to select from each turn) things were very close with Stuart, Andy and James all with the ability to power thirteen cities and Kieron able to power fourteen.
All players were sitting on fair amounts of money at this stage and Kieron was able to easily build from 11 to 17 cities in a single turn, ending the game that turn to win (for the second week in a row). With everyone else able to power their thirteen cities, it was cash in hand that decided the rest of the places - 2nd for Stuart, 3rd James and 4th Andy (trailing James by just 1 credit). As always, a great game.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Did you spill my pint? - 2 July 2008
Have you heard the one about the governor who walks into a pub? Perhaps emboldened by the personal escort of five marines, he climbs on to the bar and accidentally knocks over a pint. Looking down from the bar, he sees the owner of that pint... and his big, black beard.
The ensuing fist fight between Governor Flack's men (Pugh, Barley McGrew, Cuthbert Dibble and Grubb) and Edward Teach and his gang, was swift and bloody. Bottles flew across the inn - and were patiently swept up by the barmen as they crashed harmlessly against walls.
After the governor and two marines were knocked out, the remaining marines legged it. The victorious pirates felt somewhat sheepish when they realised that one of their two losses was Blackbeard himself. But a win for Adrian, Kieron and James, over Andy, David and Stuart - the first full turn-out for many months.
We then had a game of Carcassonne with the Inns & Cathedrals extension. We hadn't played this at a games night for years. A clever game with lots of options and opportunities to make your own luck. In a completely unconnected way, Kieron had a massive win with 136 points, David 102, Adrian 96, James 94, Stuart 73 and Andy 32.
The ensuing fist fight between Governor Flack's men (Pugh, Barley McGrew, Cuthbert Dibble and Grubb) and Edward Teach and his gang, was swift and bloody. Bottles flew across the inn - and were patiently swept up by the barmen as they crashed harmlessly against walls.
After the governor and two marines were knocked out, the remaining marines legged it. The victorious pirates felt somewhat sheepish when they realised that one of their two losses was Blackbeard himself. But a win for Adrian, Kieron and James, over Andy, David and Stuart - the first full turn-out for many months.
We then had a game of Carcassonne with the Inns & Cathedrals extension. We hadn't played this at a games night for years. A clever game with lots of options and opportunities to make your own luck. In a completely unconnected way, Kieron had a massive win with 136 points, David 102, Adrian 96, James 94, Stuart 73 and Andy 32.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
New England - 25 June 2008
Rivals were thin on the ground this evening, with David and Adrian otherwise engaged, and Andy having a senior moment over the day of the week, but happily Kieron and James were joined by returning long-lost gamer Stuart.
The New England board was set up and narrowly escaped a Smith-made flood of Badger's Poacher's Choice (the mouthful I had first was lovely ;-). After a quick review of the rules, we got stuck into what turned out to be an extremely close game.
The last few rounds were characterised by players taking the expensive 10 marker in order to guarantee they selected tiles and cards first. Having enough money to do this a couple of times, James was able to take the tile that would otherwise have enabled Stuart to win the game well ahead by building his stored red square card for 10 points. As it was, the final scores were James 30, Stuart 29 and Kieron 27. A perfect Rivals game: not complicated but complex in its options, plenty of opportunities to thwart others, and looks really nice.
The New England board was set up and narrowly escaped a Smith-made flood of Badger's Poacher's Choice (the mouthful I had first was lovely ;-). After a quick review of the rules, we got stuck into what turned out to be an extremely close game.
The last few rounds were characterised by players taking the expensive 10 marker in order to guarantee they selected tiles and cards first. Having enough money to do this a couple of times, James was able to take the tile that would otherwise have enabled Stuart to win the game well ahead by building his stored red square card for 10 points. As it was, the final scores were James 30, Stuart 29 and Kieron 27. A perfect Rivals game: not complicated but complex in its options, plenty of opportunities to thwart others, and looks really nice.
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Steal that ship! - 18 June 2008
Our first game using Warhammer Historical's Legends of the High Seas. This is the pirate remix of Legends of the Old West so we were already familiar with the rules. James and Kieron's crew entered a port intent on stealing the pirate ship defended by David and Adrian. The port comprised a set of painted resin buildings that James recently liberated from eBay.
The players quickly realised that the flintlock weapons weren't much use, being not very accurate (we might have to look at a rule modification for that) and taking a turn to reload. So hand-to-hand was the way ahead, and the attackers left the relative safety of the port buildings to attack the shipmates on the dock.
Quite a few losses on both sides and Adrian's character "Black Eyed Pea" deserves a mention for his double cutlass action and use of fame points to finish off James' figures. But the attackers eventually won when they satisfied the victory condition of having more sailors on or within 6" of the ship that the defenders.
The players quickly realised that the flintlock weapons weren't much use, being not very accurate (we might have to look at a rule modification for that) and taking a turn to reload. So hand-to-hand was the way ahead, and the attackers left the relative safety of the port buildings to attack the shipmates on the dock.
Quite a few losses on both sides and Adrian's character "Black Eyed Pea" deserves a mention for his double cutlass action and use of fame points to finish off James' figures. But the attackers eventually won when they satisfied the victory condition of having more sailors on or within 6" of the ship that the defenders.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Antika - 4 June 2008
A welcome return to a game we haven't played for a long time. A good turn out this evening with five of us around the table. We each started along different strategies focussing on land, temples, or inventions, and the first third of the game was all peaceful coexistence.
But then Kieron attacked Deej. Who then counter-attacked. As then did Kieron (and so on). Neither would (or could) break away first and their slog carried on for the rest of the evening.
Meanwhile Andy, Adrian and James continued to develop their empires in size and inventions, making steady progress, with James getting to the required 8 victory points just before Adrian was about to.
Final scores: James (Red) 8, Adrian (Blue) 7, Andy (Green) 5, David (Black) 4, Kieron (Yellow) 2.
But then Kieron attacked Deej. Who then counter-attacked. As then did Kieron (and so on). Neither would (or could) break away first and their slog carried on for the rest of the evening.
Meanwhile Andy, Adrian and James continued to develop their empires in size and inventions, making steady progress, with James getting to the required 8 victory points just before Adrian was about to.
Final scores: James (Red) 8, Adrian (Blue) 7, Andy (Green) 5, David (Black) 4, Kieron (Yellow) 2.
Monday, 2 June 2008
Struggle For Rome - 28 May 2008
This evening we tried out a new game - an impulse purchase of Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome. I really must sort out getting mobile phone access to Boardgamegeek when faced with a shop full of boardgames...
The game is based on the well-known Settlers of Catan rules, but set during the time Rome was collapsing under the threat from multiple barabarian invaders. To begin with the players control invading tribes - moving around the map sacking cities and collecting resources. At some point the players have to decide to settle and take control of a city, at which point they start expanding, city by city.
There were some interesting decisions that we had to make - such as:
In the end it was a close run ending - Kieron won with 10 points, David finished on 9 and Adrian on 8.
Not sure if it qualifies as a great game, but straightforward, fun, and worth another play.
The game is based on the well-known Settlers of Catan rules, but set during the time Rome was collapsing under the threat from multiple barabarian invaders. To begin with the players control invading tribes - moving around the map sacking cities and collecting resources. At some point the players have to decide to settle and take control of a city, at which point they start expanding, city by city.
There were some interesting decisions that we had to make - such as:
- go for the bonus for 5 sacked cities or settle and start earning earlier?
- position the barbarian for an attack or to maximise the chance of getting resources?
In the end it was a close run ending - Kieron won with 10 points, David finished on 9 and Adrian on 8.
Not sure if it qualifies as a great game, but straightforward, fun, and worth another play.
Friday, 9 May 2008
Bank Robbery - 9 May 2008
A second outing for Legends of the Old West using the rulebook's Bank Robbery scenario and the Whitewash City cardboard buildings. James and Adrian were the robbers starting in the bank in the centre of the town. David and Kieron started on two edges of the playing table, one of which had already been nominated by the robbers as their exit point.
For added fun, the side who got the initiative each turn could move three of the dozen "innocent bystanders" into tactically advantageous positions. Remarkably, very few of them got in the way of gunfire. After several exchanges of lead, the town defenders were overcome and the robbers escaped with the loot.
For added fun, the side who got the initiative each turn could move three of the dozen "innocent bystanders" into tactically advantageous positions. Remarkably, very few of them got in the way of gunfire. After several exchanges of lead, the town defenders were overcome and the robbers escaped with the loot.
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