Gaming plans for the rest of 2007

I still have several games I would like to play by the end of the year, otherwise they look like decorations, and not games. Since I have been working more this month than any other I have racked up less than ten games played for the first time since June 2005! This lack of gaming has made me think about games more, and I have a list that I want to play now.

The first on the list is Europe Engulfed (EE) and Asia Engulfed (AE). These are two different WWII block games that can be combined into one big game or played separately. EE takes about 12 hours to play the full game but there are later starts for the game that can be playable in about half that time. EE is designed for 2-3 players (Allies, Germans and Russians), and AE is a 2 player game.

Combat Commander: Europe is a two player Card Driven Game (CDG) that is not difficult to learn and also has the advantage it can be played in a single evening. The game comes with scenarios as well as the ability to create your own. I think there would be some interest in this in my wargaming friends, less so in my euro friends. I think they could enjoy it, but would have to get used to the direct combat aspect of the game.

Arkham Horror is a Fantasy Flight (FFG) game based on the writings of HP Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. It is playable in an evening an can have from 1-8 players. I have two of the expansions for this as well. I love HPL’s stuff and I think this will be a smoking game for a Halloween themed game night in late October. We could combine it with some lighter games as well, like Torches and Pitchforks or Zombies!

A Game of Thrones is another FFG game that is a board game that has some roots in Diplomacy and some in the war game world. I have the first expansion for this as well. This game is based on the books by George R.R. Martin. AGoT is for 3-5 players, so I will need a group.

Merchants of Venus is a “train game” of sorts, it is more of a “pick up and deliver” game in the railroad style. It is an older game, about 20 years old, but it is quite fun. I have played this a lot with my wife and friends back in the late 80’s. I think it still translates well. MoV is for 1-5 players and I think it scales well up to 5.

Soldier Raj/Kings/Emperor, these are three similar style games that are all CDGs as well with some Diplomacy tossed in for fun. They look pretty light in style and they come with a variety of scenarios too. They can range from 2-8 players.

Panzer Grenadier Eastern Front is a traditional 2 player hex and counter war game that I purchased for a great price. It comes with 112 scenarios in the booklet, so it could be a source of enjoyment for years. I have a friend that plays this so I am going to get him to teach me the game.

Twilight Struggle, to me, the best game of 2006, it has a strong theme (the Cold War), tense play (I call this game two hours of painful decisions) and is downright fun as you get to screw over your opponent (it is 2 player) and yourself. There are times when you cannot help but screw yourself over, but you are trying to minimize the damage. The disadvantage that the new player has is due to the experienced player knowing the cards. It is usually better to have the new player be the USSR, as they are easier to play in the Early-Mid Game. I will teach two people this game this year or my name is not J Alfred Prufrock!

Tide of Iron, a WWII plastic game, it is a dream game to players that like Memoir ’44 but want a little more. I don’t have much to say about it yet as it just arrived today. This is for 2-4 players but I believe it is better suited to 2 than 4. This could have been called "Tide of Plastic".

If there is any interest on your part in playing any of these, reply here and we can try and get a game day going.

Remember Fallcon is in 3 weeks.

Game night August 11th in review

The night started with four of us so we learned Fiji a quick 2-5 player filler. Shawn won in a game that was not difficult to learn but was difficult for all of us to wrap our heads around. It is an interesting game but I do not think it is for everyone.

Meanwhile at the other table the stragglers played a game of Fearsome Floors, Jay was the winner in a 6 player game. While we waited for them to finish we played Bohnanza, a five player game that was won by Brenda in a close scoring game over Lenora.

We swapped tables and the glass table had a game of Munchkin using the 2nd and 3rd expansions. Brett won using the Paul Rubens defence (he wore a raincoat). The kids table played Grand Prix: Detroit & Cleveland. I won by winning the first two races and finishing last in the final race. Grand Prix finished before Munchkin so I taught a few 2 player games to Tracy, Robert and Brenda.

First I did, then Brenda, then Tracy laid a whipping on Robert in Le Passe-Trappe, micro edition, Tracy and Robert played Deflexion, now called Khet: The Laser Game. Robert won 2 of the 3 games. Brenda and I played Hive, a game of insect tile laying. I mis-explained a rule and won on a technicality.

We had a total of 11 players and played 8 games a total of 12 times.

The next game night will be the 29th of September as I am probably working the weekend of the 15th

FallCon is on September 21st-23rd this year and I will be running the BattleLore tournament on Sunday. There are loads of games to be played and the players are low key and eager to teach new games. The fee for the entire weekend is 30 bucks, but you can play only Friday or Sunday for 10 bucks or all day Saturday for 20 dollars (this includes the auction...)

August 11th, 2007

Anyone up for the 11th as the game night for this month? Normally I would schedule the game night for the weekend afterwards but I am most likely working that weekend.

Let me know.

It was a dark and stormy night...

The year is 1926, and it is the height of the Roaring Twenties. Flappers dance till dawn in smoke-filled speakeasies drinking alcohol supplied by rum runners and the mob. It's a celebration to end all celebrations in the aftermath of the war to end all wars.

Yet a dark shadow grows in the city of Arkham. Alien entities known as Ancient Ones lurk in the emptiness beyond space and time, writhing at the gates between worlds. These gates have begun to open and must be closed before the Ancient Ones make our world their ruined domination.

Only a handful of investigators stand against the Arkham Horror.

Does anyone want to get in on an Arkham Horror game session? I have the game and I would love to give it a try. The first session would be a learning session as I have not played it, but I would love to try it! The game is said to take about 3 hours so I would add half an hour for the delay caused by new players.

Let me know if there is any interest. The game supports up to 8 people, so 7 others can play. If you want to be a keener, you can ever read the rules online.