tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709215523516742492024-03-13T22:56:42.435-04:00Adventures in Board GamingAlso known as the Up With Meeples blog!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-44640544354028759492012-07-22T15:15:00.001-04:002012-07-22T15:17:44.736-04:00Yarr! Pirate Dice: A Kickstarter Game to Believe In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNSQ2NiFwD8/UAxQLmZoJKI/AAAAAAAABrM/TpyyUXR7dcc/s1600/pirate+dice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNSQ2NiFwD8/UAxQLmZoJKI/AAAAAAAABrM/TpyyUXR7dcc/s320/pirate+dice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Five days. That's all you have left if you want to back a phenomenal, piratey, swashbuckling, fun board game on Kickstarter called Pirate Dice. <i>Yarr</i>. (Don't know what Kickstarter is? <a href="http://adventuresinboardgaming.blogspot.com/p/what-is-kickstarter.html" target="_blank">Read about it here</a>.) If you're reading this too late, then you've already missed the boat, er, <i>pirate ship</i>, and I hope that you can get your hands on a copy soon, <i>or ye be a scurvy dog!</i> Sorry, this just isn't going to get old for me. I really wish I was a pirate.<br />
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Here's the deal, <i>matey</i>: At this year's Origins 2012, the husband and I got to try out a lot of new games and prototypes, and (with all due affection to the many games we tried), Pirate Dice is the game that we are still talking about and we desperately want to play. Right now.<br />
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Here's what you need to know about <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Pirate Dice</span></i> and why you should go support it. Right now, <i>me bucko!</i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Pirate Dice: Voyage on the Rolling Seas</span></i> is a game that was designed by Clint Heron, an awesome gamer whom I am now proud to call a buddy. He came up with the basic concept for this game when he created a print-and-play version of <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">RoboRally</span></i>, called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>RoboDerby Express</i></span>. Remember? <i>RoboRally </i>was that awesome game where the robots moved through the twists and turns of a factory trying to reach a goal that always was just one turn or belt away? This new dice-based version of the game was a massive print-and-play success, winning several awards, and causing my husband to visit numerous thrift stores in search of Disney Yahtzee, which he could strip for parts to make <i>RoboDerby</i>. Go, husband! (Down with Disney, t<i>he scurvy dogs!</i>)<br />
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Well, for obvious lawyer-y reasons to do with licensing and blah, blah, blah, <i>RoboDerby</i> was never meant to be published. But thanks to Clint's ingenuity, he was able to re-imagine the game as a great, compact piratey adventure.<br />
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Here's how it's played:<br />
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Each turn, players secretly roll their custom dice to reveal directional orders for their pirate ships, which sit perilously in a sea full of pirates all wanting to get their hands on a treasure chest full of booty, bobbing in the current. The goal is to get a ship to the treasure first and safely deliver it back to the goal. The players, or <i>captains</i>, as I'll call 'em, <i>yar</i>, set the dice actions in order and let the chaos ensue as each captain carries out the orders for his or her boat. The ships are sailing across a gridded sea filled with obstacles and chaos, which is no place for pirate ships that want to move straight to the treasure. The result is that the pirate ships bump, bruise, and spin all over the board, and--if you're playing with me--piratey insults are flung, <i>ya bilge rat! Ya raft-riding salmon smuggler! Ya rum-swigging hogshead!</i><br />
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Such a simple game can turn into a heated race that can flummox advanced players trying to calculate moves five steps ahead (<i>if the mutinous dice don't destroy yer plans, arrr.</i>). Or it can be a silly game for the family that encourages kids to work on their logic and spacial relations skills.<br />
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Overall, I adore this game. It isn't just the piratey theme that has me <i>singin' a sea shanty,</i> but the simple brilliance of a challenging, sometimes frustrating, laugh-outloud game. I not only played the prototype a few times at Origins 2012 (once until about 3am), I am also proud to be a backer on Kickstarter.<br />
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The good news is that the game is getting published. Clint and Gryphon and Eagle Games originally asked for $7,500 to get it published, and at this moment have raised <b><i>$25,293!</i></b> That means the game has reached both of its stretch goals, and people are excited about this game! You should be too. And that's the bottom line of this post. I'm not telling you to back this game because I'm counting on you. I'm doing this as a public service, because if you're one of the few gamers who isn't getting a copy of this game in the mail months from now, you're going to be a sad buccaneer.<br />
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Visit the Pirate Dice Kickstarter page <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/167427101/pirate-dice-voyage-on-the-rolling-seas" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<i>Arrr.</i>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-46282405730812135562012-04-05T14:10:00.001-04:002012-04-05T14:10:42.815-04:00The Case of the Missing Board Game Android Appsor "<i>A Missed App-ortunity?</i>"<br />
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The husband and I recently leapt into modern day by purchasing phones that actually connect to the Internet, text message, and whatnot. <i>By the way, I'd like to give a shout-out to AT&T for holding us in a contract under which we actually paid more per month for our camera phones with constant dropped calls then we do now for contract-free droid phones and unlimited data through T-Mobile. Suck it, AT&T</i>. Anyway, I have naturally gone app crazy and have been busy ninja-slicing digital fruit, rocketing birds at militarized pigs, and similar things. But what I have been desperately missing is some serious gameplay on these phones. Particularly with an upcoming vacation that is going to mean long wait-times at airports, I'd really love to play some real board gaming on my new awesome blinged-out droid. Maybe a little Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, or some Alhambra?<br />
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But, hark, where are the apps for these board games?<br />
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It turns out that since I have an android phone, most board game makers would like to piss on me and my decidedly non-hipster technology. After much research, I have found that various acclaimed board game makers have only made apps in iOS format (read: for iPhone posers). Granted, there is a version of "Settlers" and Carcassonne, both of which appear to be not-necessarily officially licensed from the game makers. Both also share a common thread of having generally terrible reviews about their simplicity and general bugginess. And they cost $4.99 each. Ouch. I might just pay it though and risk them not loading right on my Samsung Admire because I want my board game crack that badly. It might be bad crack--overpriced and shady, but at least it's crack.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWLbTOr_f8U/T33fJtsPVPI/AAAAAAAABkU/Oee1eHErIHY/s1600/carcassonne+app.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWLbTOr_f8U/T33fJtsPVPI/AAAAAAAABkU/Oee1eHErIHY/s320/carcassonne+app.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The possibly ill-conceived Carcassonne android app</i></td></tr>
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So then I wondered, are the game makers all just really behind the times? The answer is no. They're not. Not exactly, anyway. A couple major names in the board gaming world have developed sophisticated and popular apps for iOS format, including Days of Wonder (Small World) and Ravensburger (Puerto Rico), but have completely ignored the android market. Why? After all, according to one source, in the last quarter of 2011, android sales accounted for 47% of the market share, where as iOS-formatted devices only accounted for 43%. And while I understand that Apple contracts, user demands, and general tech snobbery may have caused board game makers to develop iOS apps <i>first</i>, the perplexing trend is that once the iOS apps were developed, game makers seemed to have swished their hands together, chafing off the dust of a job well done, and settled back into their nerdy game chairs, feet propped up on the boxes of all of the different versions of iPhones they've bought in the last three years. Screw you, android users--you're not trendy enough to waste our time on. <i>Humph!</i><br />
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Well, I think that's a fair vision of what's happened, don't you?<br />
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Consider Days of Wonder in particular. This is a game maker (Ticket to Ride, Small World, Memoir '44, Shadows Over Camelot) that has developed its brand with the specific goal of integrating board games and technology. Of all the game publishers, I would have bet good coin that this publisher wanted to attract as wide of a technological audience as possible. But as of this posting time, there is no word that android apps are even in development. Their Ticket to Ride Pocket iOS app, however, is a widely praised award-winning success. It's a shame that so much of their fan base will never see it and never enjoy it.<br />
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Ravensburger (Puerto Rico, San Juan, Glen More, Tikal) is guilty of the same charges--ignoring android users while faithfully developing iOS games. But at least their website has a <a href="http://www.ravensburger-games.com/en/mobile-apps/android.html" target="_blank">hopeful message</a> posted as of this post date that reads: <br />
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dear Android fans,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </b>We are currently working on various Android apps which we shall present here soon. <b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The Ravensburger Digital team"</b></span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Based on this tease, I have subscribed to receive updates on these advances by email, and will keep you posted if I hear anything.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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There is no information that I could get my paws on about Queen Games's (Alhambra, Fresco, Wallenstein) or Rio Grande's (Dominion, Carcassonne, Race for the Galaxy) plans, or lack thereof, for any official app games, but I did have a bit of limited success in contact Mayfair Games (Settlers of Catan, Nuns on the Run, Witch of Salem, Atlantis). A customer service rep let me know that they have no plans or interest in developing their games electronically--aside from the separate Catan license, which is a different entity altogether. <i>Harumph.</i> At least they're fair across the board--ain't nobody gettin' no games no how on no phones. (<i>Ow, my brain just pinged and hurt from even the mockingly bad grammar.</i>) </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GOKDZCVxN9c/T33gC5KTvJI/AAAAAAAABkc/kBKsErZVHrc/s1600/android+gamer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GOKDZCVxN9c/T33gC5KTvJI/AAAAAAAABkc/kBKsErZVHrc/s1600/android+gamer.png" /></a>I am not at all upset with publishers like Mayfair, since I think it's very valid, fair, and even somewhat pure to sidestep electronic possibilities. After all, just as I loathe e-readers for removing the romance of paper pages and bent spines, I respect board games for the tactile satisfaction of rolling dice and holding cards. Electronic versions and apps will never be on par with my favorite boxed games, and I'd buy a boxed game ten times over before buying an electronic version (especially for $4.99--that's a lot, isn't it?). Nope, the only grudge I'll ever hold over electronic versions is inequality among devices. Geeks use androids, too. Geeks use androids, too.</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-20204757638143991012012-04-02T22:21:00.001-04:002012-04-02T22:21:20.840-04:00'Sup, Gameland?Life has a terrible way of interrupting your gaming hobby sometimes, doesn't it? Well, no worries. Board gaming is a patient hobby that waits for you no matter what distractions life cooks up. So I'm really excited to be carving out some very special gaming time coming up in the near future. In celebration, here is a list of a few game-related things that have me mega-hyped up right now, enough so that I'm doing "The Carlton" right here in my living room.<br />
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1. Origins, baby, Origins. May is almost here (right?), which means its time for what is (in my humble opinion) the best damn game convention in the nation. I'm very psyched for another crazy week of gaming marathons, Vietnamese takeout food, chilly echoey halls with folding chairs, and nerds galore.<br />
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2. Pinterest! I'm currently working on integrating Pinterest in with this blog to give it a new facelift. Stay tuned.<br />
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3. Alien Frontiers expansion. The kickstarter wrapped last fall, so we're bound to get a copy in the mail any time. Right?<br />
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4. The Great Magic Card Box Project. I am in the middle of crafting a custom storage box for The Greatest Husband in the World. Undoubtedly I will be documenting this, as it is almost too ridiculous to believe. Plus the hubby has been trying to distract me away from the enchanting world of board games with the demonic-laced evil that is the world of Magic cards. (I never draw the right mix of lands, damnit).<br />
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So lots of good things going on in gameland right now. Lots to look forward to, and somehow the warm weather only makes me more excited for game time.<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-75553249367968507952012-02-09T15:16:00.001-05:002012-02-09T15:16:59.737-05:00ROFL Race 2 - Season 1 - IndianapolisCRASH BURNS THE FIELD IN EPIC WIN!<br />
<br />After taunting most of the field throughout the race, Chuck "Crash" Endreszl pulls away at the end to take an easy win in Indianapolis. We caught up with Chuck in victory lane to talk about his view of the race: "Yeah I wasn't really sure how it was going to work out there a few times... I was definitely feeling the heat, or maybe it was the burning gaze from the other 6 guys at the table? Either way, I was sweating every dice roll like there was real money in play..." (ROFL officials quickly reminded Chuck of the Fabulous Prizes at stake, evoking a stare of disbelief; more on this next time) Chuck's Team Crash-N-Burn cohort, Bob "Burnin" Eickholt, had a less successful day, bringing home his SuperMod 69 Camaro in one piece as the last car running, in 6th place. "That was a good run, I guess... the damn dice still hate me though... for a while I just felt like running the car into a wall but after those other guys had trouble I figured - Heck, I can pass a wrecked car... right?" Look for Bob starting 3rd at our next track...<br />
<br />Second place was claimed by Jake "5-Time" Billcheck of Team Wacky Waving Inflatable Flailing Arm Tube Men (WWIFATM), who was neck and neck with Chuck for most of the last lap. "I thought I had him, to be honest," said Jake after the race. "he was sweating over every dice roll like a whore in church, and I felt sure it was a matter of time before he blew one. Our new Fisker Karma was fast, but then he rolled the damn 20... Bah." With a disgusted shake of his head, Jake concluded the interview and headed back to his team garage to check on the health of his partner, Adam "The Plague Bearer" Capps. It was Capps who finished last, after crashing out in a bizarre sequence of events on lap 3... capping off an entirely forgettable race for the big fella. "I felt like ... in a haze out there... like, I wasn't.... really all there.... surreal, I guess." and with that, Adam turned white, slumped back in his Barco-Lounger, and fell asleep.<br />
<br />Coming in third, again, was Jon "Teamkiller" Brudnak. As part of the bizarre incident that claimed Capps, it was Brudnak running up on the back of his partner Matt "Hammered" Hampton that sent his own teammate into the stands! We reached him as he climbed out of his car after the race: "First, I want to say, I am so so sorry for Matt, his sponsors, his fans, and all of our Team Monkeywrench crew members that build us great cars. And his hair stylist... pretty sure I saw scorch marks on his helmet. I was so focused on running down Endreszl, I got careless and it cost him a race. But at least Capps went first, right?" He was of course referring to the fact that even as he was punting his own partner off the track, Capps ran into the back of Brudnak, wrecking HIS car as well! This left Capps in 8th, and a disappointed Hampton in 7th - "Yeah well.... I don't know WHAT he was thinking exactly.... I mean, I get it, we're all out here racing for the win, but dang...." brushing some singed hairs from his neckline, he continued "I guess we'll have a talk in the hauler about this and move on... hopefully next race he runs me a little more careful."<br />
<br />Careful readers will have of course deduced that out our team roundup finishes again this race with another 4-5 result, this time for Team Odd-Job - as Dave "Phone Call" Schumm and Jason "Juh-Bah" Boes claimed the 4-5 finishing spots. "I felt fortunate to finish 4th today, to be honest" Dave said from the pits, as he autographed Verizon's new Razor XXV phones for adoring fans. "I mean, I expected it to be tough starting last, and then in the middle of the race I felt really out of it... towards the end though, I just didn't have anything for the guys up front, they ran away with this." For Boes, it was a better result, and another learning experience - "I just felt like, I was missing those turns by just a little bit... just enough to screw me. I got kind of mad there a started slamming my head on the steering wheel. Crew said I bent it pretty good. Anyways, I am starting to get the hang of this - watch out for me next race!" <br />
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Individual Standings after 2 Races:<br />
<br />Schumm - 23<br />Brudnak - 20<br />Billcheck - 18<br />Endreszl - 17<br />Hampton - 14<br />Boes - 10<br />Capps - 9<br />Eickholt - 5<br />
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<br />Team Standings after Race 2:<br />
<br />Team Monkeywrench - 34<br />Team Odd-Job - 33<br />Team WWIFATM - 27<br />Team Crash-n-Burn - 22<br />
<br />NEXT RACE: BARCELONA! ENGINES! WEATHER!<br />
<br />BARCELONA - Next up is the fast-paced track in Spain - Barcelona! This race always seems to simulate with lots of body damage taking place, and only a few brief 6th gear options... consider your car design carefully!<br />
<br />ENGINE PUSH - Sometimes, you need just ONE MORE SPACE to get where you want to be... and if you're willing to shorten the useful life of your motor - you can have it! Once per turn, you may spend ONE engine point, and move ONE extra space. All other associated penalties must be paid on this extra space; if its used to overshoot, you must pay tire penalties. If you use it to gain a slipstream, and slip into the corner you must still pay a brake point. <br />
<br />WEATHER – Tracks are located all over the world, and in all kinds of climates. From track to track, the weather could be a major factor. Each track has a range assigned to each of the three weather types – Rain, Changeable, and Sunshine. You may wait until weather is determined to allocate your car-build points. Keep in mind, in the rain a collision occurs on a d20 roll of 1 -or- 2... Engine damage for a 20 or 30 roll is reduced from 1-4, to 1-3... <br /><br />THE START OF THE RACE – A die roll is made prior to the start. The driver on the pole position rolls the D20 and again looks at the table for the track. The affect of the roll is as follows:<br /> Sunshine = Sunny throughout the entire race.<br /> Rain = Raining throughout the entire race.<br /> Changeable = At the start of the race, the weather is sunny. The sky is overcast, but not raining yet. The weather must be checked during the race to see if it changes. A weather check is made each time a driver in 5th gear rolls a 20 or a driver in 6th rolls a 30. The driver who rolled that, rolls the D20 to see if the weather has changed again:<br /> <br />- If the weather roll is CHANGEABLE, ignore the result and wait until the next weather check.<br />- If the weather roll is Sunshine, then it is only TEMPORARY SUNSHINE, lasting until the next weather check.<br />- If the weather roll is Rain, then it is only TEMPORARY RAIN, lasting until the next weather check.<br />- If the weather result is changeable after temporary Rain or Sun, it goes back to Overcast, until the next weather check.<br />- If the result is RAIN or SUN twice in a row, then the weather is finally settled and stays the same for the rest of the race.<br />- If the result after TEMPORARY SUN is RAIN, then it goes to TEMPORARY RAIN – and vice versa.<br />
<br />RAIN TIRES: Naturally with Rain, you have the option of using Rain Tires.<br />
<br />Wet Tires – Specially grooved to handle water on the road, these tires work well in the rain, but are a slight handicap in the dry.<br /> Sunshine – Movement as normal, but penalties for overshooting are multiplied by 2. If no tire change is made during the 3rd lap, penalties are multiplied by 3.<br /> Changeable – Identical to Sunshine<br /> Rain – The car skids only one extra space on each of its moves inside a corner. The penalties for overshooting a corner are normal. (1 point per 1 space of overshoot)<br />
<br />FINAL NOTE: With race #4 we will add the final element to the game - Road Hazards and Suspension points...Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14623331275403136557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-75436209025443989762012-02-01T20:21:00.000-05:002012-02-01T20:21:30.347-05:00ROFL - Season 1 - Race 1 Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have the recap courtesy of the Hamburgler himself: We are slowing rolling out some of the trickier rules over the first few races.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">With decisive mastery of Loews Corner, it was Dave "Phone Call" Schumm coming home victorious in race #1 of the inaugural ROFL season. Congrats Dave!</span><br />
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"That sequence of rolls was decisive" said Dave afterwards, "but I also have to thank my crew chief for giving me such a tough car today - skipping the pits is what put me out front there towards the end. And I also need to thank the fine folks at Scion for everything they do sponsoring our team. Oh, and ahh... thats my phone ringing, gotta go." Dave's partner, Jason "J-Bomb" Boes was a little more upset after the race - "I kind of missed a section of lap 3 there... like I blacked out or something.... I was feeling good going into lap 3, but then all of a sudden - BOOM - my Team Odd-Job Scion Tc was chugging along with barely any brakes left, I'm pretty sure the crew left my right rear tire loose, and that was that." After promising a better result next week, Jason stormed off to the team hauler to talk with his crew.</div>
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Second place Matt "Hamptonium Chloride" Hampton was happy with his result, all things considered; "Yeah I thought we had a shot at winning this thing there on the last lap, but Dave was just real smooth through the slow spots on the track, and I couldn't quite get past him at the end. He totally pulled on me coming out of Loews and I knew it was over. Was happy to see my teammate bring his Honda S4000 home right behind me though." His teammate being Jon "Bridesmaid" Brudnak, of course, who commented as well - "Good race. I thought I was a little too conservative there at the end, might have been more aggressive through the tunnel, but man - seeing those wrecks out there, it just made sense to take the sure thing and be a little conservative. I don't mind being 'bridesmaid' to my partner if it means Team Monkeywrench moves ahead in the standings."</div>
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Team Wacky Waving Inflatable Flailing Arm Tube Men (WWIFATM) finished 4-5, a bit of a disappointing result for Jacob "5-time" Billcheck - "Man... I had 3rd there.... stupid 4... stupid 12... eh." Partner Adam "The Shuffler" Capps was a bit more outspoken; "You know, for everything that happened to me out there today, man.... this isnt so bad. I hate that my teammate spun out there at the end, but our Dodge Minivans were pretty stout out there, and I look forward to next week's trip to Indianapolis. I *was* happy to hold of J-Bomb there at the end though, he was coming on like a madman." Jacob nodded wordlessly, and the two headed back to their motorcoach, probably already planning their next moves...</div>
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Which takes us to the self-fulfilling prophecy of the race - Team Crash-n-Burn. First out of the infield care center, we talked to Bob "The Burn" Eickholt; "Blew up... man, that was ugly. Thought we had a good motor in it, had a good plan for the race... my SuperMod 69 Camaro was bitchin fast out there, but I guess not as durable as she needed to be. We'll get them next week." Shortly before press time, we squeezed in a few words with Chuck "The Crash" Endreszl as he left the track via ambulance - "Stupid....30.... damn..... floor.... so cold.... need better ....car .....next time." Chuck then proceeded to pass out, and was taken away. Speedy recovery, Chuck!</div>
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And so here are the point standings after Race 1:</div>
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Schumm - 15</div>
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Hampton - 12</div>
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Brudnak - 10</div>
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Capps - 8</div>
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Billcheck - 6</div>
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Boes - 4</div>
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Endreszl - 2</div>
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Eickholt - 1 </div>
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Team Standings:</div>
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Team Monkeywrench - 22</div>
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Team Odd Job - 19</div>
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Team (WWIFATM) - 14</div>
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Team Crash-n-Burn - 3</div>
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KEEP IN MIND - Each player gets to drop their two worst finishes in the final season point standings! One bad race doesn't mean you're out of it...</div>
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NEXT WEEK - We are off on Friday (travel day for the race teams) with Race #2 starting on Monday the 16th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway! </div>
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ALSO NOTE - Next week we will also be adding the rules for TIRES to the mix; your choices will be HARD or SOFT tires.</div>
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<b>Hard Tires - </b> These tires are good for anything other than Rain.Here’s how they handle the various weather types:</div>
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<b>Sunshine – </b>The movement of the car and penalties incurred when overshooting corners are normal. (<b>THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN USING)</b></div>
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<b>Rain – </b>The car skids<b> 3 extra spaces</b> on each stop inside the corners. The penalties for overshooting are normal.</div>
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<b>Soft Tires – </b>These are generally better than hard tires when its sunny or changeable, but even worse in the rain. </div>
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<b>Sunshine –</b> A car fitted with Soft tires gains a <b>optional </b>one space bonus on all its moves, whatever gear its in. However, the penalty for overshooting a corner is multiplied by 2. (<b>OVERSHOOT BY 1 SPACE = BURN 2 TIRE POINTS)</b> Use of this one space bonus is not compulsory. In a race, soft tires are not effective for more than 1 lap. If a car does not make a pit stop at the end of the lap to replace tires, then it will not benefit from the 1 space bonus move on its next lap. If a driver is very lucky, or very stubborn, and elects not to stop on the 3<sup>rd</sup> lap as well – the tires actually become a handicap! All moves in the straights are reduced by 1 space, and all tire penalties for overshooting are multiplied by 3!</div>
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<b> </b><b>Rain – </b>There is no movement bonus, and the car skids 3 extra spaces each time it moves in a corner space. The penalties for not changing tires on laps 2 and 3 are the same as above.</div>
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ONE MORE TIRE NOTE - You can elect to change tire TYPES on a pit stop, but this will NOT change the number of tire POINTS your car has. </div>
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FINAL NOTE - Going forward I anticipate we will add the remaining "Advanced" rules as follows: Weather in Race #3, Suspension and Road Hazards in Race #4.</div>
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And thats a wrap for week 1... hope you all had fun with it!</div>
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-M</div>
</span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14623331275403136557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-59984792407090038382012-02-01T20:09:00.001-05:002012-02-01T20:24:05.747-05:00The Peanut Butter Cup<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpaFi2zX7_E/TynVa0rLAZI/AAAAAAAAANA/VqfppaV9g_Y/s1600/peanut+butter+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpaFi2zX7_E/TynVa0rLAZI/AAAAAAAAANA/VqfppaV9g_Y/s320/peanut+butter+cup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have a confession. I have been cheating on the best wife in the universe. It started small, a few games of Dominion, beta testing the Alien Frontiers expansion, but now I have a full blown gaming group playing every day at work during lunch. I will save the story of the nearly Infinite City for later, but the least I can do is recap our latest craze: a Formula De 6 race championship.<br />
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The rules are below, crafted by the our own 2 time national champion Matt "Hamburgler" Hampton.<br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.5063575860112906"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 29px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Race Of Friendly Lapterians (ROFL) League</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are the specific rules governing the ROFL league. All standard published rules for actual racing will be observed in the course of play; these merely govern how the League works.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Season is comprised of 6 races. At the end of 6 races, the driver with the most ROFL points will be awarded the Drivers Championship. The Team with the most points will win the Team Championship.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drivers Championship: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A driver’s point total is determined by combining the points of their </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(four) best finishing results. A race that a driver did not participate in is scored as 0 points. Points are awarded at the end of each race based on finishing order, as follows:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place finish: 15 points</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place: 12 points</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">rd</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place: 10 points</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place: 8 points</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place: 6 points</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place: 4 points</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place: 2 points</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place: 1 points</span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Should two drivers end the season tied in points, the first tie-breaker is number of wins. Second tie-breaker is finish order in the final race of the season. Winner will receive a to be determined later trophy.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Team Championship: </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the start of each season teams will be randomly assigned. Two racers comprise a team. For purposes of the Team standings, each driver’s point total is added together, accounting for drop-weeks as normal. First tie-breaker in the Team standings is number of wins, then finishing order in the final race of the season. The members of the team will receive the the one pound peanut butter package above, provide your own insulin.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Race Procedures – Week by Week</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first race of the season, starting order is determined by random D20 dice roll; a roll of 1 awards pole position, 20 starts last. Break ties with a roll-off. Successive weeks, the starting order will be the inverse order of the previous race’s finish order. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since most races will likely not complete during one lunch period, the following rules will apply.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of a lunch period, if a race has not completed: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">positions of all cars will be clearly marked on the track, and all current wear points will be noted and collected and stored with the game board. Everyone will document the player to their left.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a driver is not present for the first day of a race: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A driver joining on the 2</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> day of a track will start at the corner spot of their choice, 1 stop behind the last place car that is still running, in a gear appropriate for the location on the track. If there is more than one driver joining a race in this fashion, they will roll off with D20s to determine who places their car first. If there is disagreement about gear selection, the current leader will make the final call. The cars joining this way will start missing 1 tire point, and 1 wear point of their choice.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a driver is not present on the second day of a race: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Their car will go into “safe mode” for the remainder of the race – the current leader will make all dice rolls for that car, and will make them in a prudent and safe manner. This means a gear/movement cannot be made which could result in either: Overshoot by more than 3 spaces OR a result that would potentially eliminate a car by use of resources (use up too many brakes, risk last engine point in 5</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">/6</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> gear). If this means rolling in a lower gear to avoid any chance of disaster, that must be the option taken by the person “driving” that car. Be nice.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea with both of these rules is to reduce the penalty on racers who cannot be there every day, while continuing to provide a chance for them to remain competitive in the overall Championship standings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for bearing with us the first race results will be published shortly.</span></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14623331275403136557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-24498307984606439072011-12-31T18:13:00.001-05:002011-12-31T18:13:24.271-05:00The "Up With Meeples" Awards: 2011I'll just tell you guys that this has been one rough year. Most of my family and friends can suck it, and I'm ready to get shitfaced, pass out face-first in a bowl of M&Ms, and put a bow on this turd of a year. For me, perhaps the worst indication of how turdish this year really was, is that my board gaming suffered. Sometimes, I went weeks--<i>weeks</i>, people!--without even looking at a board game. I can't remember the last time I sold or traded a board game, and our closet is full of shrink-wrapped dust collectors. <i>Le sigh</i>. <br />
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So I am proposing right now that we all give 2011 the finger in one final hell of a sendoff tonight, and then get ready for the pure joy that will be 2012--up with board games! Down with poor losers, tantrums, family in general, and anything that doesn't make me shake my ass in victory celebration. Up with meeples! <i>(Hey, wait...that's an awesome blog name. All rights reserved! All rights reserved!) </i>Down with Cranium and anything with a Hasbro stamp! <br />
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To help with the big 2011 sendoff, let's chuck some awards at some games that made my excremental year slightly less awful. Hey if the entertainment industry can throw itself awards banquets and galas all year 'round, why can't I? This is the first year for my awards, so maybe if I can stay focused I'll bring it back next year...and hopefully in a slightly more cheerful mood. Maybe Billy Crystal will host. Either way, let's hope Courtney Love shows up and falls off some scaffolding.<br />
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Before we begin, let me just adjust my tiara and gown. Cocktail? Check. Mocked up picture of what I look like while typing up these awards?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBocgrmQRd8/Tv-HgjkAPnI/AAAAAAAABec/rNBewx4PEIk/s1600/katieschumm+awards+show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBocgrmQRd8/Tv-HgjkAPnI/AAAAAAAABec/rNBewx4PEIk/s400/katieschumm+awards+show.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Check.<br />
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Now, without further ado, here are the 2011 (Let's Never Have Another Year Like This) Up With Meeples Awards!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Katie's Top Board Game of the Year</span><br />
<i>Presented for excellence in gameplay, fun, challenge, and great memories in the past year</i><br />
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<b>Twilight Struggle</b></div>
For its role in husband-wife rivalry, and promoting both communism jokes, and shoe-banging gags<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQzAFtoacd0/Tv-VKyKY83I/AAAAAAAABeo/nIF7BUy6xKo/s1600/twilight+struggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQzAFtoacd0/Tv-VKyKY83I/AAAAAAAABeo/nIF7BUy6xKo/s320/twilight+struggle.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most Surprisingly Great Board Game of the Year</span><br />
<i>Presented for surprising excellence in gameplay and challenge from a game or situation that was totally unexpected<br />
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<b>Glory to Rome</b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">For its role as the ugliest packaging concept ever, hiding a brilliant little card game</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Katie's Even-Though-I-Hate-Kids-Games-This-One's-Actually-Fun-For-Adults-Too Award</span></div>
<i><span style="color: black;">Presented for excellence in adult captivation while entertaining kids at the same time</span><br />
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<b>Hey! That's My Fish!</b><br />
<span style="color: black;">For its role as Lily's after-dinner game that doesn't make me throw up my Hamburger Helper</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKYVkp9swhc/Tv-VkWMXzeI/AAAAAAAABfA/jrurIroVIdw/s1600/hey+thats+my+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKYVkp9swhc/Tv-VkWMXzeI/AAAAAAAABfA/jrurIroVIdw/s320/hey+thats+my+fish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> </span><b> </b><br />
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Worst Reminder of How Bad Board Game Expansions Can Be</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i>Presented for convincing gamers that it's worth just one more try<br />
</i></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Seafarers of Catan</b></div>
<div style="color: black;">
For its role as just a shitty expansion in a <i>sea</i> of shitty expansions. Not worthy of picture.</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Best Dice Game of the Year</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i>Presented for excellence in making games full of chance enjoyable<br />
</i></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>To Court the King</b></div>
<div style="color: black;">
For its role as an understated, beautiful game with a fun dice mechanic </div>
<div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzioveAPZi0/Tv-Vvz-sTGI/AAAAAAAABfM/T7aNmUIOBaI/s1600/courttheking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzioveAPZi0/Tv-Vvz-sTGI/AAAAAAAABfM/T7aNmUIOBaI/s320/courttheking.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Best Actor in Any Show or Movie Anywhere</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i>Presented for excellence in acting and portrayal of one of the greatest literary characters of all time<br />
</i></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Peter Dinklage</b></div>
<div style="color: black;">
For his role as Tyrion Lannister in <i>Game of Thrones </i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm2iCfEIDlY/Tv-WUKeD0nI/AAAAAAAABf8/wuaPipHgdg0/s1600/tyrion+lannister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm2iCfEIDlY/Tv-WUKeD0nI/AAAAAAAABf8/wuaPipHgdg0/s320/tyrion+lannister.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Best Play-Testing Experience of the Year</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="color: black;">
<i>Presented for excellence in play testing. Duh.<br />
</i></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Alien Frontiers</b></div>
<div style="color: black;">
For its role among a handful of games I play-tested this year, as the most enjoyable and unbroken among its rivals </div>
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<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Best Expansion of the Year</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i>Presented for excellence in expansions that Katie tried this year. I don't care if they're not new. These awards are all about me, get it?</i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<b>Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries</b></div>
<div style="color: black;">
For its role as a stand-alone expansion of sorts (debate has ensued about the status of expansion vs. sequel) and for its outrageously crowded map. <i> </i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3SMURDy6s4/Tv-V_aAZleI/AAAAAAAABfk/bofifKaHxps/s1600/ticket+to+ride+nordic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3SMURDy6s4/Tv-V_aAZleI/AAAAAAAABfk/bofifKaHxps/s1600/ticket+to+ride+nordic.jpg" /></a><i> </i></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Best Party Game of the Year</span></span><br />
<div style="color: black;">
<i>Presented for excellence in rowdy shenanigans <br />
</i></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Telestrations</b></div>
<div style="color: black;">
For its role inciting penis drawings and one of the scariest "porno" drawings I've ever seen or imagined. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAxVzK2d8mE/Tv-WxRAL41I/AAAAAAAABgI/gI7hsndOG9E/s1600/telestrations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAxVzK2d8mE/Tv-WxRAL41I/AAAAAAAABgI/gI7hsndOG9E/s320/telestrations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Best Game You've Never Heard Of</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i>Presented for excellence in gameplay goodness without the backing of a publisher<br />
</i></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Quintessential: The Fifth Element</b></div>
<div style="color: black;">
For its role as a frustratingly wonderful dice game with a high-production-value prototype. Dice box anyone?</div>
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<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
And that concludes our ceremonies for this year! Mainly because I need to go change out of this designer gown, put on some of my gross clothing, and slog myself to a New Years party where I intend to carry out my threats as described at the beginning of this article. Thank you for attending this year's Up With Meeples Awards. </div>
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Here's wishing you all a happy 2012!</div>
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<i></i></div>
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</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-12653585921053101542011-12-16T18:01:00.000-05:002011-12-16T18:01:15.794-05:00Pimping Out Our Castle Panic Game - Part 2Okay, so maybe part one of this post was published over a year ago. Meh. If I wasn't a slacker, I wouldn't be the charming nerd I am today. The point is, I am taking time out of my chaotic holiday schedule just to show you the amazing results--so sayeth the most humble person in the world--of our attempt to craft some upgrade pieces for our Castle Panic game.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzvxdZ00seM/Tuu-8kq75DI/AAAAAAAABd0/KtLmT7UiZn0/s1600/Castle+Panic+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzvxdZ00seM/Tuu-8kq75DI/AAAAAAAABd0/KtLmT7UiZn0/s200/Castle+Panic+game.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
If you'll recall from Part One, we decided that the cardboard pieces that come with the Castle Panic game--cardboard castles and walls stuck in plastic stands--we insufficient for our panicky castle hijinks. So we devoted some time last year to crafting some 3D walls, castles, and fences, primarily using Crayola's Model Magic as our medium. The crafting was trickier than we figured it would be (who's surprised?) and we had to scrap our game plan a couple times.<br />
<br />
To read the full nitty-gritty, <a href="http://adventuresinboardgaming.blogspot.com/2010/08/pimping-out-our-castle-panic-game-part.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE for Part One</a>.<br />
<br />
The good news is that they all dried beautifully, and were ready to paint! Here are some pics showing the results. Sorry the pictures aren't better, but I'm a gaming nerd, not a photographer, so you get whatcha get.<br />
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<br />
Above is a side-by-side of the original pieces (on the right) with the new pieces (on the left). Dave was in charge of the painting, and decided to make the walls a steelier gray, with lots of dirt and moss covering each one. The towers, on the other hand, looked more like weathered stone with the occasional subtle blood spatter. The fence barricade pieces have the best blood spatters, and are painted to look like battered rails.<br />
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Here is the final assembly (okay, minus a few pieces, but you get the idea).<br />
<br />
The bottom line is that this was a lot of fun to put together, and I'd especially recommend this as a family project with kids. Not only does it add another dimension to the game, quite literally, but it makes the game more personal and exciting. Maybe one of these days we'll add some custom-built creatures to the mix.<br />
<br />
On the other hand....maybe we'll just make some cocktails and get back to gaming. Crafting is nice and all, but only in gaming can I delight so much in squashing my husband. When I squash him (read: his clay pieces) during crafting, he just tends to cry.<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-11724947721015567202011-11-27T16:57:00.001-05:002011-11-27T18:04:20.306-05:00Notes on Losing a Board Game Gracefully<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-- Robert F. Kennedy </i></div>
<br />
In the past several years that I have been playing board games, it has come to my attention that most people are terrible losers. Dreadful, petulant children in adult nerdy skins. Pouting, sulking, accusations, and the most childish of eye rolls come at different points of some of the most brilliant games. I have seen people indignantly declare the game "broken," stomp off to disprove some element of the game, and I've even seen a pawn or two chucked in anger. Certainly more than once a companion has waived his or her arms in the air and walked away from the table, refusing to continue and see the game through. Poor sportsmanship at its most raw and awkward.<br />
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That red-cheeked child lives in all of us. We all want to master and excel, and we all want to think that our own reasoning and strategy are the best. Especially those of us who call ourselves true "gamers," we want to believe that our hobby makes us the elite, the best at what we do. And perhaps we buff our own fingernails on our shoulders a little too often, self-praising our own intelligence with coy grins. So if we fail, surely the game is broken. If we can't master the rules after a few trials, then the effort is clearly not worthwhile. Or when defeat clobbers us over and over again, certainly someone has sabotaged our game. <br />
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For those of you reading this who shake your heads and think boastfully that this isn't a reflection of yourselves, consider, are you so noble after a couple of losses? What about after a dozen consecutive losses? Perhaps the greatest character-defining moment of any gamer is the grace with which he or she conducts herself after losing for the twentieth, thirtieth, or hundredth time in a row. Loss is a humbling exercise in sharpening our wits and crafting strategies.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"If you are not big enough to lose, you are not big enough to win." <br />
-- Walter Reuther</i></div>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zM2CRpkqksA/TtLA4-x4RlI/AAAAAAAABdk/BdqWCFehiBE/s1600/chuck+norris+winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zM2CRpkqksA/TtLA4-x4RlI/AAAAAAAABdk/BdqWCFehiBE/s320/chuck+norris+winning.jpg" width="256" /></a>I realized this after taking stock of my own record among my favorite gaming group: Two men, two women. We play worker placement games, trivia games, party games, and more. My record? I lose more than my fair 75% share. I would estimate my victories rate at about 10%. And perhaps I'm even being a bit generous. It is not because I am a bad gamer. And most games I am not shaming myself in defeat--these games are often close, hotly contested matches during which I may come in a close second, or at least a very respectable, strong third place. The losses don't weigh heavily on me, no matter how many there are, though, because as the evening cools, I am simply glad to be surrounded by sharp, humorous gaming companions who tease, nosh, and challenge many times a month over a game board. I am, you might say, the perfect loser.<br />
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And so it pains me that when I am finally afforded a victory by the gods of chance and strategy (or alcohol), that others scoff so harshly. Shouldn't we all "take turns" at losing? Doesn't that naturally come with game play?<br />
And would our games be nearly so enjoyable if we won all the time?<br />
<br />
So the next time you begin rubbing your temples furiously after a loss, or consider challenging the rules, stop and think about the merit of your distress. Is a game truly invalid because you have not yet mastered it? Is the pursuit void if your strategy never pans out? The luxury of the board game is that we <i>can </i>afford failure. What gamers cannot, however, afford, is causing tension and animosity among our dear friends. <br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<i>"I
was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail
than not be among the best."</i></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<i>
-- John Keats </i><br />
<br /></div>
Therefore I will make a New Year's resolution for all of us gamers, wishing that all of us may recognize the glory and challenge of complete loss and failure in gaming. Enthralling, enticing, and exciting. A dare from the universe: Try again. Dare to fail again. The gripping thrill of defeat is that we still have a challenge to conquer, and goal to achieve. And if you fail to understand the beauty of failure, then there is no place for you at my gaming table. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-- Confucius</i><br />
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<br /></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-20607563935521605682011-09-29T16:26:00.000-04:002011-09-29T16:38:38.447-04:00Game Review: Bears!<i>"Sometimes you eat the b'ar, and sometimes the b'ar eats you" </i><br />
<br />
Straight from the campfires, tents, and outhouses of Fireside Games comes a brand-new dice game called Bears! The perhaps inopportunely timed end-of-summer release has a woodsy camping theme that makes me think of s'mores, a crackling fire, and hard-ass feeling of logs and pebbles under my butt. Mmmm. Too bad s'mores weather is almost over. I mean, except for that inevitable dangerous snowy evening when I decide that s'mores can be made in my fireplace because June is just so far away. But earlier this year, it seemed a lot more timely and exciting at Origins when I first heard about the game. Fireside Games had a booth where one little demo set of Bears! was available, preorders were being taken, and people were elbowing to see what all the fuss was about. Okay, that was mostly me elbowing. But that's only because I never did get to demo the game, even on my eighth stop over at the booth. Finally, when my elbowing and glares failed to payoff, I took the plunge and preordered a copy sight-unseen.<br />
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This is a review of how that gamble turned out.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iM6Yk8t-8uo/ToTPn9XRnKI/AAAAAAAABck/gRivLxECOcs/s1600/Bears+Dice+Game.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iM6Yk8t-8uo/ToTPn9XRnKI/AAAAAAAABck/gRivLxECOcs/s400/Bears+Dice+Game.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Play Scenario:</b></div>
This review is
based on about ten different plays of the game, each being about 15 seconds or less. Some of the plays were with four players, others with two players.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Game Objective:</b></div>
It's not just you versus your opponents, it's you versus bears...<i>and</i> your opponents. Make fight-or-flight dice pairing decisions in a big hurry in order to escape (or crush) the bear population. You, as a poor camper, have been startled by bears, and must decide, in a big damn hurry, whether to grab yer gun and shoot 'em (hope you don't miss!), or run for your life. Oh yeah, and there's always the chance you'll get caught snoozing in your sleeping bag by the bears, in which case you're about the be shredded into fluffy down ribbons. Dice grabbing determines your fate.<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">Turn Mechanics & Game Play: </b><br />
Twenty dice are rolled in the center of the table, with
each player concurrently rolling five personal dice. The moment the dust has settled, all players get grabby trying to pair the community dice, which have either bears or tents on them, with their own personal dice.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xozx0iqsZ7w/ToTQEhMc7sI/AAAAAAAABcs/Sb0AFeLEH-g/s1600/Bears+Dice+Game+-+community+dice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xozx0iqsZ7w/ToTQEhMc7sI/AAAAAAAABcs/Sb0AFeLEH-g/s400/Bears+Dice+Game+-+community+dice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the personal dice, players will find a gun, running camper, or sleeping bag. Bears can be paired with guns, meaning you're looking to shoot yourself a b'ar. The running man and snoozing sleeping bag can only be paired with tents, meaning you're hoping to avoid the bears.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RwUx5rNSLU/ToTQPIy8NRI/AAAAAAAABcw/7UJt5bTz2FY/s1600/Bears+Dice+-+Sleeping+Bag%252C+Gun%252C+Running+Man.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RwUx5rNSLU/ToTQPIy8NRI/AAAAAAAABcw/7UJt5bTz2FY/s400/Bears+Dice+-+Sleeping+Bag%252C+Gun%252C+Running+Man.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Each round ends when either <i>all</i> the bear dice <i>OR</i> the tent dice have been snatched, thus prompting an apoplectic shout of <i>BEARS!</i> by one or more panicky players. If the bears are left, and you're caught in your sleeping bag, then you're going to lose points. If everyone chased off the bears with their shotguns and you slept through the attack, then you are going to earn big points. Slacker chicken.<br />
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Points are totaled: 1 point for each bear you shot (TENT + BEAR), 2 points for each bear you outran (RUNNER + TENT), 5 points if you slept through a bear attack and the bears fled (SLEEPING BAG + TENT + no bear dice left in community pool), or -2 points if you got eaten in your sleeping bag (SLEEPING BAG + TENT + only bear dice left in the community pool). People swear. No one likes to be bear trail mix. And then the next round begins. The rounds continue until someone reaches 50 or 100 points, which doesn't take very long at all.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CCyOcZf4mHs/ToTQbUi_B8I/AAAAAAAABc0/Sw4MAWmkSF8/s1600/Bears+Dice+Game+Scorecard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CCyOcZf4mHs/ToTQbUi_B8I/AAAAAAAABc0/Sw4MAWmkSF8/s400/Bears+Dice+Game+Scorecard.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Out of the Box:</b></div>
This is a sweet little travel-friendly package. The tall, slender box has charming cartoonish artwork, and is made well. The ads for another Fireside Games release, Castle Panic, that have been plastered all over the inner box didn't even bother me much. Inside the box is pretty much just what you'd expect: A whole slew of dice, tiny rules pamphlet, and a couple scoring cards. Simple. Straight-forward. Probably they didn't need such a tall box, but I enjoy it because it can be used as a dice cup for your many rolls. Some thoughtful creativity clearly went into the design, and I really appreciate how portable the box is. Kudos, Fireside Games!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta_43rN6ebw/ToTT9EEW-EI/AAAAAAAABdI/gMuYF19fs-E/s1600/Bears+Dice+Game+Box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta_43rN6ebw/ToTT9EEW-EI/AAAAAAAABdI/gMuYF19fs-E/s400/Bears+Dice+Game+Box.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Praise:</b></div>
+<i>Shazam!</i> What was that? Was that just another round? Man, this is one fast-paced game. Need to fill five or ten minutes while someone's answering a phone call, greeting the pizza dude, or using the bathroom? Break out Bears! <br />
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+Portability. True to its theme, this might be one of my top game picks to pack in my camping bag. Or for a picnic, party, long wait in movie theater lines, etc. This game can be played on just about any stationary small surface. Car trips and airplane rides aside, this game will travel really well.<br />
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+Cute and humorous theme. The whole funny premise of being eaten by bears, and running from your tent keeps the game light enough so you almost forget that you're getting stupidly railroaded by grabby friends.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zskGKnNvg1M/ToTRENoZ6JI/AAAAAAAABc8/4fHLFp61iwQ/s1600/Bears+Dice+Game+-+bear+on+the+run.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zskGKnNvg1M/ToTRENoZ6JI/AAAAAAAABc8/4fHLFp61iwQ/s400/Bears+Dice+Game+-+bear+on+the+run.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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+Wide appeal. Serious gamers, party gamers, non-gamers, and everybody in between can easily jump into this game and enjoy it. I could probably play this with my mom. Ugh. But drunk people--<i>and trust me, I have a little insight on this</i>--probably won't do so well, and will just be eaten by bears. I hope bears like tartinis.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RBpO8FwIJiA/ToTSRdFjK3I/AAAAAAAABdA/Mi1n4EobbMQ/s1600/Bear+drunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RBpO8FwIJiA/ToTSRdFjK3I/AAAAAAAABdA/Mi1n4EobbMQ/s400/Bear+drunk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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+Challenge. For all its silliness, there really is a serious challenge for players to exercise quick-thinking strategy. Just when you think it pays to be the fastest, you realize that sometimes hanging back is the best strategy. Players who care enough to put some thought into strategy will enjoy some creative, if lightly consequential, approaches to play.<br />
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+Works with different numbers of players. The game flows well and is equally interesting, I think, with either two or four players. Many will suggest that four players is best since it creates a party atmosphere and gets people laughing and competitive. But, I think with two players, the head-to-head style is still a lot of fun and does not suffer from lack of competition. Somehow, the game is more serious with two players, or at least it is when TGHITW and I play.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HFUwBPSCNco/ToTQyxnxV_I/AAAAAAAABc4/1TmqIMjEE3c/s1600/Bears+Dice+Game+-+scarybear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HFUwBPSCNco/ToTQyxnxV_I/AAAAAAAABc4/1TmqIMjEE3c/s400/Bears+Dice+Game+-+scarybear.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Complaints:</b></div>
-I will start with the obvious: It's a dice game. There's a whole lot of chance involved, even though one can have unlimited rerolls of personal dice. Chance is so strong, there really can be no true <i>mastery</i> of this game, and your success is left to the fates. Mostly. <br />
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-Simple strategy. Once players have rolled just a few times, the strategy of stockpiling RUNNING DUDE + TENT becomes an obvious no-lose strategy. You can't win strictly on this combination, but it will get you far. Yes, the strategy <i>can</i> go deeper, but many players won't take it any further than that. And then you risk getting bored. Fast.
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-Yes, it's just dice in a box. This isn't exactly Agricola or <a href="http://adventuresinboardgaming.blogspot.com/2011/09/game-review-twilight-struggle.html">Twilight Struggle</a>.
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-Based on our assessment that the four-player party atmosphere is where this game shines, it's a pity that more than four can't play. Might there be a multi-player expansion idea in the works? Getting six, eight, or more people involved could make this riotous.<br />
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-Honestly, I don't think I could get endless hours of enjoyment here.The game will get pulled out now and then for a little peppy infusion of gaming laughs, but this is not solid enough to be the backbone of your evening of gaming fun.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqxnoZMjVPc/ToTT0HUQRVI/AAAAAAAABdE/A3YmEVd4SVA/s1600/Bears+Dice+Game+scene+-+running+girl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqxnoZMjVPc/ToTT0HUQRVI/AAAAAAAABdE/A3YmEVd4SVA/s400/Bears+Dice+Game+scene+-+running+girl.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Overall:</b></div>
This is a light, fun game to tote out for some levity and great summer fun. Snowy weather, hopefully, won't detract from the summery theme, and certainly has a mass appeal. I will, no doubt, get hours of laughs out of this wacky, manic, frenzied game. And I'm grateful for a new portable selection for my tote bag. But its poetic simplicity keeps it from being anything truly brilliant. Don't expect too much from this game, and you won't be disappointed. It's pretty much dice in a box.<br />
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Yes, I think the game is a fun addition to any gamer's collection for its quickness, levity, and broad appeal. Not every game can be Diplomacy or Dungeon Lords. There is a place for simple games like this, and I'm glad it fills a certain gaming niche. I'll proudly play Bears! for some time to come, and I am patting myself on the back <i>(whap, whap, whap!)</i> for taking a chance on this game. The reason it doesn't receive a higher grade is only because it's dice in a box. And it's $20. At a lower price, the bargain value may make it even more attractive to a wider audience. Plus, I have to reserve the highest grades for games that have a rich complexity and brilliance to them. Is this game brilliant? Maybe not. But is it fun? Most certainly.
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<b>Pimpability:</b></div>
Not so much. I mean, one could get cutesy with little tents, or bear minis, and such. But really, no one's going to put too much effort into pimping this game. It's just fine and simple on its own.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Game:</span> Bears!</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Designer:</span> Anne Marie De Witt</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Published by:</span> Fireside Games, 2011</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Players:</span> 2-4</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Playing Time:</span> 10 minutes</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">AIBG (that's us!) Age Recommendations:</span> 8+</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Average Retail Price:</span> $20 </b><br />
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<b style="color: blue;">Grade:</b> <span style="color: red;">B- </span>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-61295997578634793172011-09-20T16:27:00.000-04:002011-09-20T16:27:06.581-04:00Crappy Birthday to MePack the kids in the minivan, pa, the world must be coming to an end! The Greatest Husband in the World actually posted on this blog! Aside from his normal greatness, he is not, <i>how shall we say?</i>, always cooperative with my silly little projects. And of course, whenever the topic of board games comes up, he'd rather be playing them than writing about them. Touche, sir. So naturally I was quite flattered when he secretly created an entire blogpost without my knowledge. Thanks, husband.<br />
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I have other exciting birthday news to add to the feast. Exciting, no? A couple weeks ago, just as my birthday was feeling really redundant, depressing, and stale, I got a treat in the mail (and apparently started rhyming my thoughts sporadically. Balls.). The peeps at NorthStar games sent me a copy of the newly released Crappy Birthday! I actually won this copy in a BGG contest by quipping about homicidal lawn gnomes. (If you want to read the contest thread,<a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/59151/item/1736697#item1736697"> here it is</a>. Look for WonderWitch's comments under item #4.)<br />
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Now, getting this Crappy Birthday game is awesome because,<br />
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A.) We all really <i>should</i> be afraid of lawn gnomes,<br />
B.) I absolutely love free games, and<br />
C.) This is the first game EVER where my name has been mentioned in the rules booklet! <i> </i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sLsU65Xz_Ls/Tnj2RDiH6gI/AAAAAAAABcM/v4Df_bQ5BYk/s1600/Crappy+Birthday+credits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sLsU65Xz_Ls/Tnj2RDiH6gI/AAAAAAAABcM/v4Df_bQ5BYk/s400/Crappy+Birthday+credits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i> Haahh</i>. That's the sound of me breathing arrogantly on my fingernails and polishing them on my shirt shoulder. <br />
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If you will remember back to February,<i> bdloop, bdloop, bdloop</i> (the sound of my wayback machine) that was when <a href="http://adventuresinboardgaming.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-very-crappy-birthday-to-us-all.html">I helped to rate and review the Crappy Birthday cards</a> along with dozens of other geeks from BGG. Hence, the name in the "Special Thanks" section. The free copy was just a happy coincidence due to my gnome paranoia and knowledge of ABBA lyrics. <br />
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This is a proud, proud moment for me--the moment where I officially have stepped all the way into the board game box and have entered a new dimension of board game <strike>fanaticism</strike> appreciation and interaction. Any moment I expect to see a <i>Jabberwocky</i> book appear on my coffee table, and have a rook shout at me.<br />
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Granted, I am excited for a few other games, (many of which are being released very soon), that will also have my name in the credits. But this one, this is the first. So crappy birthday to me, and crappy birthday to all the crappy gamers out there. Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-86959284832312820912011-09-08T15:34:00.000-04:002011-09-08T15:34:38.327-04:00Print and Play BirthdaySo in honor of this birthday for the best-wife-ever, I have decided to get off my lazy rump and finally post. As you can tell by now we are a little obsessed with gaming. So much so that I decided to craft a game for Katie's birthday. Now let me say this right up front.... Despite the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">plethora</span> of craftiness on this blog I am not a crafty guy. C+ was the highest my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">penmanship</span> score ever reach. And just between you and me I need my four-year-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">old's</span> help with scissors.<br /><div align="center">
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My initial plan was some amazing new game involving <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dinosaurs</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Steampunk</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Caylus</span>. <br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649606980291009170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoE4ibW4kN8/TmdvnZzQGpI/AAAAAAAAALw/DB5x4GDnhtI/s400/tripic.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 109px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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The problem with this was three fold.<br />
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1. The only thing '<em>Amazing</em>' about it was me calling it '<em>Amazing</em>'</div>
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2. Crafting the truncheon wielding raptors was a little out of my wheelhouse.<br />
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3. Key actions cards involving anabolic steroids failed to fit my overworked theme.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649623359431386514" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCBQpG2d3uc/Tmd-gy2oJZI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Wovps4I1SII/s320/anchorman_fight.jpg" style="display: block; height: 173px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 274px;" /><br />
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Back to the drawing board I went. Deciding that actually getting her a game she might enjoy, caused me to just buy her a game. Thanks to a friendly co-worker going to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">GenCon</span> I was able to secure a copy of ......(Wait that would be spoiling, Katie you will just have to find that gift later). But alas, I was still left with an empty hole where my Grinch-like craft heart should be. I decided to turn to my good old friend Mr.<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BoardGameGeek</span>. And thankfully he offered up a delicious <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">selection</span> of Print-and-Play games both fun and reasonably <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">buildable</span>. </div>
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First I turned to Clint <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Herron's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">RoboDerby</span>: Express. As a bonus I had a left over copy of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Jurassic</span> Park III that wasn't completely devoured by raptors, and a few other indented dice. This game turned out to be fun to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">build</span> with lots of fan made extras, a variety of art, and it serves as a nice fast homage to one of my favorite games that takes too long <span style="background-color: yellow;">to</span> be fun: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Roborally</span>.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649635837551374706" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWJjF0G-VfU/TmeJ3HeQ8XI/AAAAAAAAAMY/B_7JPBq3_Yg/s320/sunshiny.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 262px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Courtesy sunshiny via BGG </span><br /></div>
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But again I felt hollow because this is much more of a game for me than for Katie. Then I found it. Artfully detailed in his own blog <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Matt S. (tasajara)</span> posts about his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">own Ticket</span> to Ride expansion creation. Northern Egypt. You can read about his creation process <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/3516/the-creative-gamer-making-ticket-to-ride-norther">here</a>.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649634710046300258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RzJxIGIhiAY/TmeI1fMG2GI/AAAAAAAAAMI/yWrZbJsIsSE/s320/Egypt.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 213px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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This was perfect. It is a game best-wife-ever loves. Most of the parts are from something we already have and the cards were already uploaded to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><a href="http://www.artscow.com/">Artscow</a></span>. Now all I have to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">do</span> is make the board. I could have just had a poster printed and laminated, but that would have been WAY too easy. I decided my best bet would be to print the game on 8.5 x 11 label sheets and stick them to a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">thrifted</span> game board. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Jurassic</span> Park board was the right size but it was only 4 fold and wouldn't fit in the Ticket to Ride box, Trivial Pursuit boards were a good option but I would have had to seem two together. Luckily I had a copy of the Ann Arbor Trivia game, and for some crazy reason I wasn't attached to it.</div>
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Next step was resizing the image. While it was close to the board size(good for scaling) it would have cut off the edge(bad for keeping score). So I used <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><a href="http://posterazor.sourceforge.net/">PosteRazor</a></span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">resize</span> it into a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">convenient</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">PDF</span>. <br />
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<a href="http://posterazor.sourceforge.net/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649643379819788226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSgnn0YaemA/TmeQuInLt8I/AAAAAAAAAMg/SiBdluSzoPk/s320/posterazor.png" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 245px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
So one night when best-wife-ever was out doing her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">civic</span> duty disposing of stockpiles of dangerously flammable ethanol, I set up my project. At this point I would like to thank my aforementioned daughter Lily who did her best to help me work the paper cutter. To her I say I did the best I could. After cutting and applying the sticker sheets I came to realize that the toner did not hold up as well as I would have liked. So in an effort to save the project I used a few markers and a couple coats of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">sealant</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">patch </span>it up.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jY_8w7JvRQw/TmkWb8wNaaI/AAAAAAAAAMo/wDudPa8p3wo/s1600/demotivational-posters-permanent-markers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jY_8w7JvRQw/TmkWb8wNaaI/AAAAAAAAAMo/wDudPa8p3wo/s320/demotivational-posters-permanent-markers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All in all it is a fairly impressive creation and I have to take my hat off to the creator who put a tremendous amount of time and fan love into the art and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">playtesting</span>. If I were to make another one of these I would print on some high quality glossy paper and glue that down rather than use labels. I was pleased with my choice to get the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><a href="http://www.artscow.com/">Artscow</a> </span>cards. They may not be perfect but they are far nicer than you would make anywhere, plus <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">cheap</span> is good. For any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">poor</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">soul</span> that made it this far in this post, I thank you and ask you to join me in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">wishing</span> best-wife-ever a Happy Birthday.</div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14623331275403136557noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-88501351107384919702011-09-06T16:05:00.005-04:002011-09-06T20:34:50.826-04:00Game Review: Twilight Struggle<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMHBd7qyqrw/TmZgt9jETzI/AAAAAAAABbQ/IlBjmo7vLkQ/s1600/Twilight+struggle+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
<img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMHBd7qyqrw/TmZgt9jETzI/AAAAAAAABbQ/IlBjmo7vLkQ/s200/Twilight+struggle+cover.jpg" width="146" /></a>John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address,<br />
<blockquote><i>"Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out..."</i></blockquote>And because of that one speech, today I am reviewing a game that sounds, to most people born after 1995, like a board game about sparkly vampires. Make no mistake, folks, Twilight Struggle--the number one game on Board Game Geek--is about something far different from vampires. I mean, I assume anyway. There were those rumors about Gorbachev, but I never saw any fangs or anything, so we'll file that away as unconfirmed. I digress. Twilight Struggle is a war game about the struggle for power between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.<br />
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Yes, that's right, a war game. Wait, what? How did a war game get to be number one on BGG.com? And more importantly, how did I end up playing it...and actually liking it? A lot? Read on for my full review and answers to your burning Cold War-themed gaming questions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efhmy0tfpds/TmZgJYXiIDI/AAAAAAAABbM/Vr2V2l4ngak/s1600/DSC_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efhmy0tfpds/TmZgJYXiIDI/AAAAAAAABbM/Vr2V2l4ngak/s400/DSC_0276.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Twilight Struggle, <i>WE WILL BURY YOU!</i></div><br />
<div style="color: blue;"><b>Play Scenario:</b></div>This review is based on two initial plays of the game on two separate occasions. Being that this is strictly a two player game, you can guess how many players we had for each game. If not, I'll get the frying pan. <br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Game Objective:</b></div>To <b><i>BURY!</i></b> your opponent. Sorry, if you could hear that, it would sound like my Kruschev voice, which is also kind of like my Soup Nazi voice. Be prepared for lots of corny Soviet references. I'm feeling like 20 years on since the end, I think it's finally kosher to make Soviet jokes, right? I mean, no one here wants to be blacklisted or anything. Ha. Right? Ha. Anyway....in this game, one player takes the U.S. side, and the other becomes Muzza Russia (okay, technically, USSR, whatever). You both battle it out for control of countries around the world, compete in a space race, and try to avoid nuclear war.<br />
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<b style="color: blue;"> Turn Mechanics & Game Play: </b><br />
Laid out in front of you is a daunting map of the world. Study it, see where your opponent has carefully placed their control chips (as originally dictated by the rules booklet set-up instructions). Now you will use your turns to mess up their control around the world. Mwa-ha-ha!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDuS2dMRhoU/TmZhxQX2C-I/AAAAAAAABbk/sVG25o_Qv5k/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDuS2dMRhoU/TmZhxQX2C-I/AAAAAAAABbk/sVG25o_Qv5k/s400/DSC_0222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CCmFJjSp9Y/TmZunhjsJFI/AAAAAAAABb4/Xiv_GhuhLSM/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CCmFJjSp9Y/TmZunhjsJFI/AAAAAAAABb4/Xiv_GhuhLSM/s400/DSC_0223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>To do this, you will play cards in your hand. There are three different decks opponents draw from: Early War, Mid-War, and Late War. Each card has the name of an event/person and text about what the card effects are. I have to tell you, it's pretty straightforward, and not nearly as heavy and dry as I feared a war game could be. Some of the cards are even a bit humorous. Surprise!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MgwNJrh-oz8/TmZiIkfaOQI/AAAAAAAABbo/J7jJ3qT5gRg/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MgwNJrh-oz8/TmZiIkfaOQI/AAAAAAAABbo/J7jJ3qT5gRg/s400/DSC_0217.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <i>That's right, this card declares that if the U.S. controls more battleground countries, then the U.S. player gets to poke the other person in the chest and gain 2 VP.</i></span></div><br />
Okay, here's how the turn flow works: Each round starts with a "Headline Phase", in which you select one card from your newly dealt hand and both opponents execute the actions on these headline cards. This is usually a biggie, and--if you're lucky--will impair your opponent's abilities to play effectively for the rest of the round.<br />
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After that, you and your opponent take turns playing cards, either for their text effect, or for the points on the corner of the card, which can help you manipulate your control of the map--by adding "Influence" to a new territory, attempting a coup, or realigning power. A single D-6 die will help decide a lot of these power struggles.<br />
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OR, you can use your card points to move your chits along the Space Race track and attempt to gain a game advantage. Launch that chimp into space first and you will not only make Tom Hanks and Ron Howard cry, but you also get either VPs or a special advantage. <br />
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The round ends when the cards are spent from each player's hand. The game continues like this for a set amount of rounds, with points being constantly won and lost until the end of the game. The whole time there is a constant threat of thermonuclear war, and a Defcon counter at the bottom of the board warns everyone just how close nuclear annihilation is. Duck and cover, kiddies!<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Out of the Box:</b></div>The game is a bit underwhelming. Frankly, it looks like a pretty typical war game, with tiny little square cardboard counters, a few decks of cards, and a big-ass map.<br />
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The map itself is a bit disappointing because it's made of flimsy cardboard that never really flattens out totally without weights to hold it down. This means that those little cardboard chits slide around easily or can be bounced in a heartbeat by a devious cat paw. Even the box art is mediocre--nothing to complain about, but nothing to get excited about either. Overall, diehard fans will drool for a deluxe edition with nicer pieces.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Praise:</b></div>+The game is straightforward enough to make it fully accessible for non-war gamers. I had reservations, but we were smoothly playing a full game within an hour of opening the box. <br />
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+Combat! This is a GREAT game to settle in with on a chilly Saturday afternoon or evening. Get some snacks. Put on some good tunes. Get in pajamas. And then get cozy for a long game of strategy, cunning, and all-out war.<br />
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+Humor! Normally a game about the perils of the communist threat, thermonuclear war, and struggles for global domination are generally humorless. Pity. While most of the cards in the game are serious and historical, just a few of them have a little bit of humor interjected to lighten up the game. Consider the card mentioned above that requires the US to poke the USSR in the chest. Some of the cards even reference movies, including one thermonuclear war card that asks us "Would-We-Like-To-Play-a-Ga-ame?" Or there's the above card with a cheeky nod to Dr. Strangelove.<br />
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+The scoring mechanism works perfectly for this style of combat game. As you can see below, the score counter starts at zero, and a tug of war ensues between the USSR pulling the score into the "red", (Ha. Get it? Somewhere Lenin's laughing) and the U.S. trying to pull the score into the positive.<br />
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+No player who's down should ever count themselves out. There's always a reason to fight in this game, as the decks are always changing, and there are always ways to cheese off your opponent. <br />
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+There is an end to the madness. Unlike some combat quagmires, like Risk, there is a finite set of rounds to this game--10 total. While the game still takes quite a few hours to play (usually), the game's conclusion does not hinge on one player being utterly and totally crushed or wiped off the map. This gives both players reason to fight through the whole game and never give up.<br />
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+The historical context of the game is really interesting and educational. For those of us who remember at least part of the Cold War, reading the headlines on the cards will bring back memories. <br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Complaints:</b></div>-The game quality is straight-up war game all the way. So I hate to rag on a classic style, but the component and board quality really is lacking. A special game like this deserves a little better. The good news for some of you, is that a Deluxe Edition is available. We just don't own it. Sad.<br />
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-Chance. Another excellent game with an element of that infuriating beast, CHANCE. In order to decide a lot of contests to invade and area, boot someone out, or advance in the space race, players roll two little dice. It's a strong enough influence that the game outcome can entirely hinge on the sum luck of all the dice rolls.<br />
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-Game play length is a slight problem. Because games can take as long as 4-5 hours, potentially, this might not be a game you can play on the average weeknight after dinner. <br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Overall:</b></div>This is an amazing intense, competitive game for two gamers who want a serious head-to-head brawl. Lighter gamers (<i>you know who I'm talking about</i>) will probably not enjoy this game, as it does require focus, stamina, and a cutthroat nature. However, despite all of these scary qualifiers I've attached to the enjoyability of the game, it's actually not too dry! And most importantly, it's not too fidgety. <i>Da, darling! </i>It's true!<br />
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By all rights, a war game like this should be complicated, and have all the lightness of running through a swimming pool of molasses. But somehow it flows really smoothly and keeps players on edge and excited for every turn. It's intelligent, but not pretentious and stuffy. And THAT, my friends, is how a war game found its way to the top of the BGG rankings. <br />
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I love that just when Europe seems lost to the USSR, those naughty Ruskies pull out some VPs in the Space Race, or over in Asia. And in spite of the fact that the game is intentionally slightly biased in favor of U.S. victory, us comrades can still pull out a victory over the American dogs on the other side of the table. If only the game weren't <i>sooo</i> reliant on chance and dice rolling, I think I'd really love this game even more. Fate is a fickle friend, and does not always smile down upon Soviet Russia, my friends. Oops, I mean, <i>comrades</i>.<br />
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The Greatest Husband in the World and I have been pulling out the game about once per weekend, especially if we really feel like locking horns. And aside from the fact that I've been banned from using my Russian accent (which mainly is derived from Boris Badinov and Natasha Fatale), we have been having a really great time. Throughout our plays, we've done some laughing, some shouting, a good amount of swearing, and I have banged my shoes on the table more than a few times. It's just good raucousy fun. But fair warning: This game is not for the tired or cranky. Go into this fresh and full of piss & vinegar to really enjoy the poetic simplicity of war. <br />
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We will be keeping this copy in our Board Game Closet of Glory and Doom for quite some time, perhaps only swapping it out if we can get our cheap hands on a nice copy of the deluxe edition. I just wish it wasn't going to collect so much dust, as I sense that its intensity and play length will limit how often we pull it out.<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">Similar Games: </b><br />
You'll be hard-pressed to not draw a lot of comparisons to Risk while playing this game. Domination of the map, and dice rolling to determine geographical challenges will have you reminiscing about the last time you fortified Kamchatka in Risk. But fear not, where Risk utterly fails--in its monotony, and shallow gameplay--this game shines. This is a deeper, smoother game than Risk will ever be, with a real historical twist that makes it riveting and disquieting all at once. If you ever <i>wanted</i> to love Risk, but just couldn't get past its tedium, then this is the game for you.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Pimpability:</b></div>The board almost demands pimping, as it's so uneven and flimsy. An inventive person may attach the board to some foldable wooden panels, or may print the map on tin paper that can be rolled up. Or you could just shell out a couple more bucks for the deluxe version. Whatever. <br />
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I think I might also be inclined to get some little astronaut/cosmonaut player tokens to replace the cardboard chits on the Space Race track. A nice rocket figure would work well on the Defcon track. And wouldn't it be great to have a little mini of vodka for the score track? I'm just sayin'.Okay, barring someone actually making mini vodka tokens, it would make a lot of sense for players to print and assemble tuck boxes for the three main decks of cards (early war, mid-war, and late war). This game is totally pimpable, especially for someone with a sense of humor about communism and nuclear war. Shoes for hitting table optional.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Game:</span> Twilight Struggle</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Designer:</span> Ananda Gupta, Jason Matthews</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Published by:</span> GMT Games, 2005</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Players:</span> 2</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Playing Time:</span> 2-5 hours</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">AIBG (that's us!) Age Recommendations:</span> 14+</b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Average Retail Price:</span> $40-50 (maybe a little more for the Deluxe version with nicer pieces)</b><br />
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<b style="color: blue;">Grade:</b> <span style="color: red;">B+ </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVPgp_wQ1OA/TmZ6-lUnLQI/AAAAAAAABb8/zkEvQU_mt28/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVPgp_wQ1OA/TmZ6-lUnLQI/AAAAAAAABb8/zkEvQU_mt28/s400/DSC_0267.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-20403391963137751472011-08-08T12:03:00.001-04:002011-08-08T12:06:25.327-04:00Is it fair to review a game after the first play?After spending a lot of time on BGG and reviewing a number of games, I have been confronted with the dilemma over reviewing games after one or two plays. Is it fair? Or should a true, accurate review be formulated from a foundation of multiple plays and a seasoned understanding of strategy?<br />
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Well, allow me to give my perspective, so that my point of view on future game reviews can be very clear: Yes, I think that reviewing a game after the first play is entirely fair. Before you guffaw, consider a few of my points. First, most other forms of entertainment and culture are reviewed based on initial impressions--consider movies, restaurants, and books. Roger Ebert was not required to watch <i>Glitter</i> five times before deeming it to be crap. Sometimes you just know from the first go-around. Granted impressions may change over time--I hated <i>Anchorman</i> the first time I saw it, but then grew to cherish it as comedy gold--but first impressions are critical in our short attention span-ish lives.<br />
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I also contend that first-impression reviews are adequate, as most gamers will generally only get their friends and family to try a game once before everyone decides whether or not it will get subsequent table play. Let's consider Dungeon Lords--a great game with a lot of fun and a sense of humor. The problem with DL, though, is that it requires a lot of patience to learn and sit through. The virtue of the game will be decided by most gamers on their first play. If your friends hate the game that first time through, they'll likely never let it see the table again. So if your friends can be that snap judgy, why can't I?<br />
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Plus, provided that the review is noted as a first-play evaluation, there's no reason to take it for anything else. I would readily consider writing follow-up reviews if a game is given a more substantial amount of play, and don't feel that an initial review is prohibitive of an impartial experienced review.<br />
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So let me just say that I will continue to happily review games based on early impressions and will do so with every confidence that readers can realize and infer that further gameplay and strategy development may alter perceptions. Just as a I may review a game without the ideal number of players seated at the table, sometimes my play experiences will be far from ideal--but isn't that the point of an honest game review? After all, how many of us truly play these games under ideal circumstances each time?<br />
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With all of this said, I always welcome feedback on reviews from seasoned players with a trove of experience. Contributing different perspectives to a dialogue is always a good thing, ne c'est pas?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-22739783885931304812011-08-02T22:25:00.000-04:002011-08-02T22:25:48.885-04:00New Gaming Commentary Coming Your WayHey gaming fans, I am very excited to announce that we may see some new contributors around this little blog, here. It seems that life can get really swamped, and I'm not always able to keep the conversation as fresh as I'd always like. The answer? Bring in two of my favorite gaming buds to write some articles, opinions, insights...or just post whatever gaming rubbish they like. I'm really excited to get some new insights into gaming here, and I hope you will all welcome them as they (hopefully) start posting. Welcome, Shawn and Jameson!<br />
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If the two of them read this, now would be an excellent time to maybe post a "hello" message and introduce yourselves. Maybe? Or maybe not. I know Shawn's at GenCon right now. Damn him. Meh, at least I know I'll keep posting.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-20524429234677835782011-07-13T23:57:00.001-04:002011-07-13T23:59:41.584-04:00This Just in: Yahoo! Games Article Proves Smoking Crack is Wrong<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-XyYlVBxMw/Th5pBU4FtXI/AAAAAAAABac/Lvmv9kaiLj8/s1600/yahoo+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-XyYlVBxMw/Th5pBU4FtXI/AAAAAAAABac/Lvmv9kaiLj8/s200/yahoo+games.jpg" width="200" /></a>I don't disagree with the general principle of promoting new family games for the sake of bonding and disconnecting from the electric fun boxes. But if a website--let's say...Yahoo!...for example--were to publish and promote a list of "<a href="http://blog.games.yahoo.com/photos/292-ten-games-every-family-should-own/11">Ten Games Every Family Should Own</a>," that was conceived after some obvious crack smoking, followed by bashing their skulls into a concrete wall over and over again, then that's just plain wrong.<br />
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Let's take a look at the "Ten Games Every Family Should Own" and dissect their selections while smoke slowly pours out of my ears and my soul dies just a little. Just a little.<br />
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1. Qwirkle<br />
Okay, they're not starting out terribly here. Yes, it's a Spiel des Jahres winner. This year's winner, in fact. And I've enjoyed games of Qwirkle here and there. But is it in my top ten games for a fun Saturday night? Top one hundred? No. Is this really the best way to start out the list? Fine, Yahoo!, I'll give you a pass on Qwirkle since it's probably so accessible to the masses. But you're on probation. <i>Double secret probation.</i><br />
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2. Carcassonne<br />
Here's Yahoo!'s prob- ....wait, what? Did Yahoo! actually just recommend my beloved favorite game? For reals? Okay, they've won some respect. I'm proud that their game editors have even heard of Carcassonne, let alone esteem it. Nice work Yahoo! I'm almost not embarrassed to be reading something from your site.<br />
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3. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga.<br />
Sigh. Sighhhhhh. [Exhale] Really? Really? I mean, fuckin' really? Yahoo!....a video game? A cross-promotional video game that's hawking toys and a tired movie plot? Fine. Let's just move on. <br />
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4. The Magic Labyrinth<br />
Okay, I can breathe again. True, I know almost nothing about The Magic Labyrinth, as I have not yet embraced children's games. But at least it has a respectable BGG page, right? Good. Breathe. Okay.<br />
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5. Scrabble (iPad)<br />
Here come the headaches and spots in the vision again. I love Scrabble. We have a <i>love thang</i> goin' on. But what the eff is up with the iPad version? I think I'm going to have to carry an old-fashioned lady's glove so I can properly slap with offense the next time someone mentions how "cool" iPads are. (Just go with me here for a second, even if you like them.) They're just oversized iPhones, people! They're way too pricey in a sour economy, and people who buy them talk about them WAY too much. And clearly, that includes the crack-smoking editor who put together this list. For the iPad? Really? What's the point? Just get out the Scrabble board and wooden tiles. Save some electricity. Save your souls!<br />
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6. You Don't Know Jack<br />
It's okay, I've got a paper bag now that I'm huffing into. But through the crumpling sound of brown kraft paper, you should be able to decipher me yelling <i>what the crap?</i> This game was hot and amusing back in 1998 when I first got to college. And even then, as their target audience, we were so over the game inside of three wee-....Oh. I see. An iPhone app just came out a few months ago for this game. <i>Hey, kiddies, let's all huddle around an iPhone for family fun night.</i> I'm not sure what makes me angrier, the fact that I'm wasting time and anger on this article, or that the dickish editors probably got free Apple products for writing this list.<br />
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7. Cranium<br />
I'm so glad we're back to actual board games that I've almost gone numb to the fact that this is a terrible game. I mean, really terrible. What few qualities it does have are pale copies of what other games have done better. It's shit. There. I said it. Families: Do not buy this. You're welcome.<br />
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8. Go<br />
Okay, now they're just messing with us. I play Go now and then with my brother-in-law. Can I tell you, it's brilliant? It is. It's been around for thousands of years, and is requires a mastery of strategy, planning, and the highest intellect to play adequately. Mastery takes years of study, and usually many books, challenges, leagues, etc. In fact, they have a whole ko rating system for how proficient you are. <i>Here, Junior, while you're at it, could you please master fencing, read </i>The Seven Kingdoms<i>, and do....something else that's really hard and takes years to perfect? </i>Why would Yahoo! think every family should own that game? Does Yahoo! know who American families are? I'll give you a hint, the smaller miniature people are called kids, and they don't want to play Go.<br />
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9. Blokus<br />
Better. Better. Again, maybe not my top ten for a family fun night, but I'm just so relieved it's not made by Apple that I'm willing to give a thumbs up.<br />
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10. Settlers of Catan<br />
Finally. The one game that actually really should be on that list. With all due affection to Carcassonne, Settlers really is the number one game families should be trying out. And best of all, to the best of my knowledge, there isn't currently an app for it.<br />
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In case you're still reading and interested, here's how I would've stacked up my list of ten games every family should own. They're not the greatest games of all-time, necessarily, but they're ones that every family should try together at least once. And never, ever, on an Apple product.<br />
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<i>(in no particular order)</i><br />
1. Settlers of Catan<br />
2. Apples to Apples<br />
3. Ticket to Ride<br />
4. Scrabble<br />
5. Boggle<br />
6. Bohnanza<br />
7. Bang!<br />
8. Carcassonne<br />
9. Zooloretto<br />
10. The ClimbersKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-85231908859871582422011-06-29T11:05:00.001-04:002011-07-14T00:01:56.122-04:00Lotus Dice Bags, Ahoy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U5ViV8UxNzo/Tgs_AtUZqUI/AAAAAAAABYg/vZ6WkkLIYbA/s1600/dice+goblin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U5ViV8UxNzo/Tgs_AtUZqUI/AAAAAAAABYg/vZ6WkkLIYbA/s200/dice+goblin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Here is one really peachy keen find from last week: The lotus dice bag. Now, if you know me, you know that I have way too many dice and dice bags. In fact, I have a <a href="http://www.dicegoblins.com/">Dice Goblin bag</a> (pictured at right--isn't it cute?) that hasn't found a proper use yet. Sad. So there's no way in hell I needed more dice or more dice bags/boxes/jars/buckets. But, alas, I bought a new one anyway. This one's different though--I swear!<br />
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These lotus dice bags are the bomb-diggity because they close like a normal pouch, but when they open up, they act more like an open dice box. Their opened flat-bottom design allows you to view all of your dice easily. Below is a hey-I-took-a-crappy-picture-after-midnight-because-I-was-punch-drunk-on-coffee-and-didn't-realize-how-bad-the-lighting-was-in-the-convention-hall image of my brand new dragon brocade lotus bag.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fpK35Gt6gf4/Tgs9yP0wcMI/AAAAAAAABYU/YKpJDq4hcHE/s1600/DSC_1235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fpK35Gt6gf4/Tgs9yP0wcMI/AAAAAAAABYU/YKpJDq4hcHE/s400/DSC_1235.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6iOd8DtLCM8/Tgs-gnXA1qI/AAAAAAAABYY/t5z0oHfzrRw/s1600/DSC_1238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6iOd8DtLCM8/Tgs-gnXA1qI/AAAAAAAABYY/t5z0oHfzrRw/s400/DSC_1238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I bought the medium size, which, according to the manufacturer (<a href="http://www.gbgpublishing.com/acc.htm">Games by Gamers</a>), should hold about 100 regular dice. Plenty for any D&D excursion. Not that I play D&D much anymore. But if I did!.....<br />
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Well, anyway, I paid just $9.00 for this adorable <i>handmade</i> bag. (They were hand-sewing new ones on-site last week to keep up with demand!) Now, even though I have a recognized illness for buying excessive amounts of dice and dice bags, I am daring to admit that I think I might still need to order their MEGA size. It holds 2-3 lbs. of regular dice. Man, I have no idea when on earth I'd ever need to carry 2-3 lbs. of dice around, but what I find really need about the jumbo size, is that it's large enough to function like a cloth dice tray (when mostly empty). Trust me, I've lugged around my wooden dice tray to more than a few gaming events, and the damn thing is clunky and chunky! This pouch is perfect for those of us who love dice-rolling implements, but don't want to lug around something ginormous. If you haven't checked out these dice bags yet, I suggest you go do it. Right now. Okay, maybe wait until you've read a few more posts here. But then, go.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-46176204025115752432011-06-27T16:03:00.000-04:002011-06-27T16:03:20.081-04:00The Super Long Origins Recap PostVacation is over. And unlike most people, I would take a chilly buzzing convention hall over a warm sandy beach any day of the week. Origins 2011, the much-anticipated gaming festival down in Columbus, OH, was held this past week and I have a full recap of exciting things we saw--which sadly does not include the Secret Service scanning and probing LARPers when Joe Biden was attending a political dinner at the convention center. Here <i>are</i> some of the things I actually did get to see and do, in a random and sort of manic picture-ific recap:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KTCx6iIXAmA/Tgi8uXi_mKI/AAAAAAAABW4/rm4x3Q-NAAI/s1600/DSC_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KTCx6iIXAmA/Tgi8uXi_mKI/AAAAAAAABW4/rm4x3Q-NAAI/s400/DSC_1171.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jameson, Shawn, and Dave in the Board Room</i></div><br />
We arrived on Tuesday afternoon, well before the con began, mainly because we just really needed the vacation. One easy night of A Game of Thrones card game and some Max & Erma's burgers, and we were ready for some real gaming starting Wednesday. The Board Room--the giant-ass room where you can check out games from the con's extensive library--opened up on Wednesday and we started things off with a game of Wok Star. Snaps to GAMA for instituting new orange traffic cones to help signal when a game needs more players. We had our orange cone out for Wok Star, and ended up snagging the next two guys to walk by, roping them into the game. Turns out, these two guys--Shawn Storie and Jameson Orndorff--ended up being some of the greatest gaming buddies in the world.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozX5khyyUNM/Tgi9hH1KiVI/AAAAAAAABW8/ZbvgGPqLWlE/s1600/DSC_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozX5khyyUNM/Tgi9hH1KiVI/AAAAAAAABW8/ZbvgGPqLWlE/s400/DSC_1222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Quintessential: The Fifth Element</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Once we lost badly...really, really badly at Wok Star, we moved on to a game that Shawn had actually designed himself called Quintessential--an alchemy game that involves placing and bidding with dice to make new formulas. It actually ended up being my favorite new game of the whole trip. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aS06u8Eu7Eo/Tgi_dx5yIcI/AAAAAAAABXA/g7NiVZ30E4g/s1600/DSC_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aS06u8Eu7Eo/Tgi_dx5yIcI/AAAAAAAABXA/g7NiVZ30E4g/s400/DSC_1225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So naturally I had to snag Shawn's last prototype copy for myself. Ohhh Yeaaahh. Expect to hear more about this game down the road. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHP-9LZw8No/TgjB3-RImcI/AAAAAAAABXI/ErqFVbsLrYs/s1600/DSC_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHP-9LZw8No/TgjB3-RImcI/AAAAAAAABXI/ErqFVbsLrYs/s400/DSC_1190.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over in the Mayfair Games room, TGHITW and I got to play some <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GIANT</span> Toledo (pictured above), <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GIANT</span> Atlantis, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GIANT</span> Alchemy. Each of the games was decent, but I think Atlantis definitely had the most promise...especially when it isn't on a giant board that requires me to pace. Shout out to Jen for a spectacular win at Atlantis.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arlm_2JR050/TgjCSmSOymI/AAAAAAAABXM/OA9brPVBJDk/s1600/DSC_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arlm_2JR050/TgjCSmSOymI/AAAAAAAABXM/OA9brPVBJDk/s400/DSC_1193.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The peeps in the Mayfair room were helpful as always (okay, except for the annoying new use of wristbands for snacks in the evening). My apologies go out to Vex (pictured above, left) for making her lose her voice while teaching us Alchemy. Poor woman was hoarse for the rest of the con, and blamed us the whole time. Whoops.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5c2k-Yrc-lE/TgjCuuqtD7I/AAAAAAAABXQ/VZMbqGjPMA8/s1600/DSC_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5c2k-Yrc-lE/TgjCuuqtD7I/AAAAAAAABXQ/VZMbqGjPMA8/s400/DSC_1195.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And just for anyone who's never seen giant Settlers of Catan, here are some pics of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GIANTER</span> Settlers of Catan--an upgrade from last year's boring somewhat over-sized version.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQBEFol37E4/TgjDH7tgcwI/AAAAAAAABXU/2StskFcu8XY/s1600/DSC_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQBEFol37E4/TgjDH7tgcwI/AAAAAAAABXU/2StskFcu8XY/s400/DSC_1196.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This was a clever crossover, using the Shear Panic sheep figures for the sheep tiles in Catan.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kaJHI_u82FA/TgjFxmqNkfI/AAAAAAAABXY/plDmguLWNdI/s1600/DSC_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kaJHI_u82FA/TgjFxmqNkfI/AAAAAAAABXY/plDmguLWNdI/s400/DSC_1185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Over at the dealer hall, there were tons of products to check out, including this. If you really, really squint you can see that I'm holding some wooden train meeples for Ticket to Ride. <a href="http://maydaygames.com/">Mayday Games</a> makes these wooden sets of train engines, cars, cabooses, etc. to replace the cheap plastic pieces in TTR. The whole set was only $40. Already on my wishlist.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHJNALd11j8/TgjHXmprfAI/AAAAAAAABXc/yMotewSxdxQ/s1600/DSC_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHJNALd11j8/TgjHXmprfAI/AAAAAAAABXc/yMotewSxdxQ/s400/DSC_1202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of Mayday Games, here is a game called Woodman that they were demoing in the dealer hall. The plastic tree above has bark that might fall off when you tap the tree with the plastic ax, but don't knock off the core of a trunk, or you lose points. This was a lot of tense fun that could work for kids or adults.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFTbrCqmr6Q/TgjIB-zs2YI/AAAAAAAABXg/YaN-Vbxdxqk/s1600/DSC_1243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFTbrCqmr6Q/TgjIB-zs2YI/AAAAAAAABXg/YaN-Vbxdxqk/s400/DSC_1243.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Back in the Board Room, I came across a few guys playing Dominion with a killer storage filing box for their cards. Take a look below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcGbzUhw73k/TgjIlwAgh9I/AAAAAAAABXk/-WeZWGkQRWA/s1600/DSC_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcGbzUhw73k/TgjIlwAgh9I/AAAAAAAABXk/-WeZWGkQRWA/s400/DSC_1246.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In this box is each one of the Dominion cards from every expansion, sleeved, and filed. It may not be a <a href="http://adventuresinboardgaming.blogspot.com/2010/08/dominion-never-looked-so-good-and-sexy.html">deluxe wooden case</a>, but this system was incredibly impressive and gives me some ideas.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IlIWloR_Mw0/TgjAO5C-84I/AAAAAAAABXE/z_D7toxFBOc/s1600/DSC_1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IlIWloR_Mw0/TgjAO5C-84I/AAAAAAAABXE/z_D7toxFBOc/s400/DSC_1174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In the Board Room we also got to demo a new game from designer CW Karstens called <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/87200/dragon-valley">Dragon Valley</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaJV2nx92as/TgjLK5x-GgI/AAAAAAAABXs/8EA_NFC8UyI/s1600/DSC_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaJV2nx92as/TgjLK5x-GgI/AAAAAAAABXs/8EA_NFC8UyI/s400/DSC_1176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dragons, and some other nasties, are invading from a valley and you have to defend your turf and then go after your opponents with some stronghold building. This prototype copy was getting a lot of buzz around the con.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wl3zfIc428U/TgjL6Ojj4NI/AAAAAAAABXw/-aDZR2BVZuw/s1600/DSC_1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wl3zfIc428U/TgjL6Ojj4NI/AAAAAAAABXw/-aDZR2BVZuw/s400/DSC_1212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here is one of my big purchases at the con: The big bullet edition of Bang!, a spaghetti western-themed card game in which you have a shoot-out with all of your opponents and try to be the last woman standing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QmBs9uwyDM8/TgjNIOZ7DUI/AAAAAAAABX4/a3r9iTY8KrI/s1600/DSC_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QmBs9uwyDM8/TgjNIOZ7DUI/AAAAAAAABX4/a3r9iTY8KrI/s400/DSC_1210.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Needless to say, I got shot a lot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rHSiLSsz9wg/TgjNxmp5qtI/AAAAAAAABX8/K7FcdxwjKj4/s1600/DSC_1235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rHSiLSsz9wg/TgjNxmp5qtI/AAAAAAAABX8/K7FcdxwjKj4/s400/DSC_1235.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another great purchase was this lotus dice bag. It looks like a drawstring pouch, but opens into a cloth dice box. More pics and info to come on this one, as I think the designer of these handmade bags is going to be getting a lot more buzz. Brilliant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIE9JE7Fhro/TgjOppa_L0I/AAAAAAAABYE/GqW2FI-ADO4/s1600/DSC_1270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIE9JE7Fhro/TgjOppa_L0I/AAAAAAAABYE/GqW2FI-ADO4/s400/DSC_1270.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did I mention our little gaming group were raffle GODS? Yes, oh yes, we were. MwahahahaHA! Dave won two games in different raffles: Star Trek: Expeditions and Galactic Empire (promotional copy). Other gamers in our group, Stu and Daveo won big, too. Stu snagged Trollhalla in a raffle, and Daveo won...I dunno...another game (I missed the drawing, so you're guess is as good as mine), and Jameson won a Resident Evil CCG with mat. Even Shawn had his name pulled for some kind of free game, but since he was on his way home driving to Texas...blah, blah, excuses, blah, blah...he missed the raffle. Oh, the raffle power!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNm_z4rtAzs/TgjPMXzBR0I/AAAAAAAABYI/YXc-mZavUUY/s1600/DSC_1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNm_z4rtAzs/TgjPMXzBR0I/AAAAAAAABYI/YXc-mZavUUY/s400/DSC_1276.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here we are on the final night of gaming, at about 12:30 in the morning. A little Arkham Horror going on, alongside some Street Illegal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to send a special shout-out to Kearn, whom I finally got to meet...very briefly...in person. We bumped into each other once, but didn't get to game or grab a pic since there was so much gaming going on all over the place. I hope everyone had a fantastic Origins this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l2BRWmumii0/TgjQDxvAWPI/AAAAAAAABYM/94154uPnEEY/s1600/DSC_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l2BRWmumii0/TgjQDxvAWPI/AAAAAAAABYM/94154uPnEEY/s400/DSC_1294.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dave (TGHITW), Katie, Shawn, and Jameson</i></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Total Number of New Games Played: 19</b></div><ul><li>Wok Star</li>
<li>Quintessential</li>
<li>Dragon Valley</li>
<li>Mimic</li>
<li>Alchemist</li>
<li>7 Wonders</li>
<li>The Resistance</li>
<li>Toledo</li>
<li>Atlantis</li>
<li>Hansa Teutonica</li>
<li>London</li>
<li>Woodman</li>
<li>Vikings</li>
<li>To Court the King</li>
<li>Megamaniology</li>
<li>Bang!</li>
<li>Race for the Galaxy</li>
<li>Chateau Roquefort</li>
<li>Street Illegal</li>
</ul><br />
<b>Total Number of New Games in the Board Game Closet of Light and Doom: 13</b><br />
...plus a new dice bag, several new dice, a new fantasy fiction novel, and a spiffy new pair of goggles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmQrRnXtK5Q/TgjQk5NZMMI/AAAAAAAABYQ/6UiYpOf8yyg/s1600/DSC_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmQrRnXtK5Q/TgjQk5NZMMI/AAAAAAAABYQ/6UiYpOf8yyg/s400/DSC_1206.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<ul></ul>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-62148776193674315972011-06-24T23:02:00.000-04:002011-06-24T23:02:25.952-04:00Checking in from Origins Game FestivalMy eyes are watery and strained, and I've eaten way too many little Japanese candies, tea cookies, and tall caramel coffees, but I just have to say what a fantastic time we are having at Origins. We've played almost two dozen new games so far (a full list to come in the next week), including play testing, demos of independent publisher games, and some overdue runs of classic games.<br />
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Only surprise? We haven't bought more games. Sad. True, we've pre-ordered two games, and have managed to pick up many gaming accessories, including a fetching new dice bag-box and some card sleeves, but our new game pile is really tiny. Here's hoping that the final two days of the show are much more fruitful.<br />
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Watch for plenty of photos and recapping to come in the next few days. Happy gaming, all.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-91452407392487394282011-06-18T20:20:00.000-04:002011-06-18T20:20:45.422-04:00Wacky Dice Dreams: Investing in Dice AgeI've really grown to love kickstarter.com--an innovative website that allows people to invest in inventions or creations that they want to see brought to life. Excitingly, this also includes new board game ideas that are looking for funding. It's the womb from whence <a href="http://adventuresinboardgaming.blogspot.com/search?q=Alien+Frontiers">Alien Frontiers</a> sprang. Would-be investors are pitched about the idea and asked to pledge a varying amount of start-up money in exchange for some thank-you gift (usually a free copy of the game), if the game or creation makes its start-up funding goal.<br />
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Recently, TGHITW and I discovered a game-to-be on kickstarter.com that really caught our attention: Dice Age! This is a unique dice-based game that employs a number of unbalanced, wacky dice in a "game of strategy and risk-taking" (quoting directly from the pitch, here). Here's what the creator also had to say about the game:<br />
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<i> "It was initially a piece of art, and then I developed it into a game. When I first brought them to the university cafeteria, everybody was amazed, wanted one, and couldn't guess how to play. In fact, the rules are pretty simple, but the Dice Age effect is there: You never saw this before."</i><br />
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Take a look at some of these dice, and I think you can see why it made us go "OOoooooOH."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyXFzplmXEk/Tf06C9WXyhI/AAAAAAAABWc/_EpPSBJd0Zk/s1600/dice+age3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyXFzplmXEk/Tf06C9WXyhI/AAAAAAAABWc/_EpPSBJd0Zk/s400/dice+age3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gp6TN1yMnio/Tf06WKDpUrI/AAAAAAAABWg/iIEX0Xzsip0/s1600/dice+age+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gp6TN1yMnio/Tf06WKDpUrI/AAAAAAAABWg/iIEX0Xzsip0/s320/dice+age+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SKbcO-r9uUM/Tf06lj3RZ8I/AAAAAAAABWk/HQ4dMfIstPs/s1600/dice+age2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SKbcO-r9uUM/Tf06lj3RZ8I/AAAAAAAABWk/HQ4dMfIstPs/s320/dice+age2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oOjYJpAPca4/Tf06w3I40BI/AAAAAAAABWo/gCUXAzoohxU/s1600/dice+age4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oOjYJpAPca4/Tf06w3I40BI/AAAAAAAABWo/gCUXAzoohxU/s320/dice+age4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I'm already stoked to start rolling and have some amazing matches. True, I don't even know how it's played yet, but I can already imagine the possibilities and can only guess how competitive this game could be. Its creators are already drawing comparisons between this and Magic the Gathering, and in our household, Magic gets ugly. So damn competitive. So much of my husband stealing a card from my deck, then claiming he didn't and calling me crazy.<br />
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I'm also just plain excited because it's so different from anything else I've seen out there. So TGHITW and I decided to make the leap and invest a little mad gaming money into this new game. We've donated enough that we'll be getting a copy of the 23-dice alpha set of the game. Sadly, we couldn't quite afford to donate at the "Adopt a Die" level, where you actually get to godfather (or godmother) a die into existence and get your name listed in the rules book. That would've been something really amazing and special. Sigh. <br />
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But, good news! They've already made their funding goals, so the game is definitely going forward! In fact, the funding exceeded even the highest dreams of the creator, and as a reward, each investor is getting a bonus secret Olympus Mons die. More OOoooooOHing. There are 471 total investors as I type this, including yours truly. <br />
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I encourage all to go check it out: <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1536325846/dice-age-the-new-era-of-dice?ref=live">DICE AGE</a>. In fact, if you check it out by tomorrow (Sunday, June 19), you can still hop on board as an investor. Or, at the very least, you could just make yourself familiar with this interesting new dice game that I will surely be reviewing this September or October. See it at its genesis.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="410px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1536325846/dice-age-the-new-era-of-dice/widget/video.html" width="480px"></iframe>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-6749712462447401822011-06-07T11:02:00.001-04:002011-06-18T20:33:45.739-04:00Top Ten Things I'm Looking Forward to at Origins 2011First, I'd like to apologize to all the people out there who don't give a fig about Origins. My mania will subside soon. But not only is it the highlight of my gaming year, it's also the only vacation I get all year long. For once, someone else will make my bed and I don't have to boil water for dinner. Plus, may I say, if you don't give a fig about Origins, why the hell not? Start rethinking your fig giving standards! It's an ideally located midwestern board gaming festival that is affordable and fun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tBCS_Pcoy4/Te478bf1P5I/AAAAAAAABV8/zxRG64DyHfA/s1600/Origins+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tBCS_Pcoy4/Te478bf1P5I/AAAAAAAABV8/zxRG64DyHfA/s1600/Origins+logo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Okay, enough preaching. I'll just explain what has me doing some jazz hands right about now.<br />
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10. My hotel is connected to the convention center this year. So bring on the rain!<br />
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9. Finding out what crazy ribbon-collecting contest Mayfair Games has in store for us this year. Oh, I hope it's ridiculous for a teeny-tiny prize. I love making an ass of myself collecting those ribbons!<br />
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8. Gluttonous food gorging. Sushi, cheese steaks, cheeseburgers...ah, the joys of eating junk while on vacation<br />
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7. <a href="http://www.smitheeawards.com/">The Smithee Awards</a>. This will be the first year I am checking out this tribute to the worst, cheesiest films in history. It's supposed to be hilarious and memorable.<br />
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6. Mini painting. I don't play D&D as often as I used to, but I still find a lot of joy in painting those little minis. And it's a nice break when I start to go cross-eyed from reading so many rule books--I'll just kick back with some minis, free paints, and the focused painting nerds nearby.<br />
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5. Closing down the Mayfair Room each night. Aside from Origins After Dark, the Mayfair Room is pretty much the latest "room" that is open each night, and therefore it is the room that closed down the gaming day for us each night. There's something about that ten-minutes-'til-midnight-dash to finish a game that caps a day off perfectly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slMAHyV7UQo/Tf1DOENLRNI/AAAAAAAABWw/_AbXipEdOME/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slMAHyV7UQo/Tf1DOENLRNI/AAAAAAAABWw/_AbXipEdOME/s400/DSC_0099.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-8FRV8EJ7c/Tf1Dm8aPO0I/AAAAAAAABW0/0lk92KvuRBw/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-8FRV8EJ7c/Tf1Dm8aPO0I/AAAAAAAABW0/0lk92KvuRBw/s400/DSC_0102.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
4. The Origins Auction. Used games at low, low prices! All in a calm dark room where I don't have to read any rule books for an hour or two. It's the perfect respite. Plus, I'll have a few items to sell as well.<br />
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3. The steampunk costumes. This year's theme is Victoriana, and I can't wait to see all the awesome garb people come up with...and then seethe at them with jealously and loathing.<br />
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2. The <a href="http://adventuresinboardgaming.blogspot.com/2010/12/board-game-review-alien-frontiers.html">Alien Frontiers</a> tournament!<br />
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1. Did I mention all the games, games, and more games!? I wonder if I can get to 30 new games played by the end of the festival? Any wagers?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MfcZ6V9fFiI/Tf1Csi_aWkI/AAAAAAAABWs/FIMIiwSWxiU/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MfcZ6V9fFiI/Tf1Csi_aWkI/AAAAAAAABWs/FIMIiwSWxiU/s400/DSC_0083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5S-udyRM0ro/Te49YKuthNI/AAAAAAAABWA/qZw0Xv64ShA/s1600/Origins+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-18614431155702187422011-05-24T15:10:00.008-04:002011-05-25T18:28:09.389-04:00Origins Game Fair: Which Ribbons to Buy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs_cC_2MyEg/TdwBfG8szbI/AAAAAAAABVE/SNAxc3qpPcI/s1600/Origins+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs_cC_2MyEg/TdwBfG8szbI/AAAAAAAABVE/SNAxc3qpPcI/s1600/Origins+logo.jpg" /></a></div>Gamers, have you made your reservations for <a href="http://www.originsgamefair.com/">Origins Game Fair</a> yet? If not, it's not too late. The gaming convention is being held (as usual) in Columbus, OH from <span style="color: red;">June 22-26</span>. Hotel rooms are still available (I should know, I just switched hotels yesterday.), and it is a ton of concentrated, crazy gaming for people who are dying to try new games, meet new people, and see what's new in the gaming world. The Greatest Husband in the World (GHITW) and I had so much fun last year, we're already counting down the days until we boot Lily and her cute little Barbie suitcase over to my mom's house and hit the road to Columbus! <br />
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This is our second year attending, and I know that for Origins first-timers, it can be a bit tricky figuring out which badges to buy, or how many generic tokens ("generics") or events to sign up for. Here's a run-down based on my experience from Origins 2010. I can't say for sure that it will be just the same in 2011, so don't egg me if you see me in the halls of the Columbus Convention Center just because a few things have changed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jueGvwkih5w/TdwBtumguZI/AAAAAAAABVI/Ttrzm1TpJPw/s1600/Origins+2011+dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jueGvwkih5w/TdwBtumguZI/AAAAAAAABVI/Ttrzm1TpJPw/s200/Origins+2011+dragon.jpg" width="171" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><u><br />
<b>Ribbon Run-Down:</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Board Room Ribbon -</span> </b></span>This is a giant section of the main hall that requires a Board Room Ribbon to access. The area is lined with dozens (maybe even hundreds?) of gaming tables waiting to be used by patrons who check out games from the massive library that sits just inside the Board Room entry. All day long gamers can play as many or as few games as they please with whomever they please, and just have fun. Game selection is excellent...but has some gaps. Food concessions are nearby (if only open occasionally, and usually packed), and raffle tickets are handed out at random throughout the gaming day by event organizers to anyone gaming in the Board Room. At the end of Origins, dozens and dozens of these tickets are pulled for board game prizes. I didn't win anything last year...but that was a statistical wonder I didn't. So many games! Oh, and did I mention that just for entering the Board Room for the first time, I was handed two free board games in shrink? Yeah, free games. The only bummer is it closes a bit on the early side (we're remembering about 10:00pm?) compared to, say, the Mayfair Room. Word on the street (ie the Origins official website) is that the War Room has been combined with the Board Room this year, so it should be a pretty packed house. <span style="color: red;">VERDICT:</span> Definitely worthwhile, get this ribbon!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RckmZ0Gs4D0/TdwCGNtJ1yI/AAAAAAAABVM/X4YvmWGx0s4/s1600/Looney+labs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RckmZ0Gs4D0/TdwCGNtJ1yI/AAAAAAAABVM/X4YvmWGx0s4/s200/Looney+labs.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Big Experiment Ribbon -</b></span> This is the room off of the main concourse that is set up for Looney Labs games. They have a library of games, events, and tournaments. Meh, it's a great room for kids, but I'm not a huge Looney Labs fan. The premise of their games is a little...wacky and juvenile for my tastes. I played one event in there last year, and that was enough for me. But families seem to have a really good time, and first-timers will want to at least pop in and check it out. Fluxx seems to be popular with the teen-boppers nowadays. Down side? The ribbon doesn't qualify you to play in any of the Looney Labs werewolf games...for that you need to buy an extra ribbon. Weak. <span style="color: red;">VERDICT:</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>Maybe pass on this one unless you're traveling with kids or you really love Looney Labs.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Werewolf Ribbon -</b> </span>Entitles you to play in any of Looney Labs' "Are You the Werewolf?" games. This is a great game for group interaction, and is a fun diversion if you want a change of pace. But...I never was interested in playing enough "Werewolf" to make it worthwhile. <span style="color: red;">VERDICT:</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>Make sure you're a Werewolf fan.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gL1NLJZnR-E/TdwCZO3Z_8I/AAAAAAAABVQ/piNpQrkz3z4/s1600/mayfair+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gL1NLJZnR-E/TdwCZO3Z_8I/AAAAAAAABVQ/piNpQrkz3z4/s200/mayfair+logo.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mayfair Ribbon -</span> </b></span>This gives you access into a room off the main concourse that is set up for Mayfair Games (ya know, the peeps who make Settlers of Catan, Pillars of the Earth, Hey That's My Fish!, etc.). Their full library of currently available games are ready for playing. Last year they had several custom-made GIANT 3-D versions of games set up, like GIANT Pompeii, and GIANT Settlers. Plus they have the usual tournaments and special events. They're also known for holding special ribbon collecting contests and giving away prizes. And as of 2010, they toted out bowls of chips each evening for late-night gamers, and always had pros on-hand to teach the games. As a bonus, they're open just about the latest of any room (midnight each night).<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">VERDICT:</span> It's a really popular ribbon, and an excellent place to game if you even remotely like Mayfair's style of games. I'm already signed up for this ribbon, and you should, too.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Origins After Dark Ribbon -</b> </span>The "after dark" room was upstairs last year in a little area with a bar and plenty of gaming for peeps 18+. The late-night availability is nice for some people, but I found it wasn't very hopping last year...or maybe I popped in at the wrong times. Either way I won't be getting this ribbon, but may use a few generics in there if the mood strikes me. <span style="color: red;">VERDICT:</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>If you're a night owl and want some cocktails, this might be for you. Otherwise, you might want to wait and just check it out casually your first time through.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Puffing Billy Ribbon -</b></span> The train game room. <span style="color: red;">VERDICT:</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>Listen, if you know you're nuts about train games, get it. If not, you'll probably never step toe inside. Train game people tend to know who they are.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Amtgard Ribbon, War College Ribbon, & HOT Ribbon -</b></span> If you know what "boffer combat" is, or have a hard-on for war games or historical miniatures, please check out the Origins website for more info on these ribbons. Go on. It's okay. I have nothing for you here.<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">VERDICT:</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>Phthbbttttt.<br />
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As for the rest of the signing up you'll need to do? Sign up for a handful of events you're reeeeally excited about, but leave your schedule pretty loose and open (<i>dirty!</i>). You'll want a lot of time just to cruise around and check things out...plus, you can use generics to buy into most game events you come across (the ones that aren't full). How many generics should you buy? Don't be like 2010 us and load up on generics. That was silly. You really probably only need about 1-5 generics per person (they cost $2 each). The good news is you can buy more at the event, or you can cash them out if you have unused ones. The bad news is that means waiting in lines. Bummer. Or you can be like me and just trade in all your excess generics for D&D minis at the mini painting booth. Ha.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKgIh5xs-qE/TdwA3ypjPWI/AAAAAAAABVA/jVHnSf8GOb0/s1600/D%2526D+mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKgIh5xs-qE/TdwA3ypjPWI/AAAAAAAABVA/jVHnSf8GOb0/s1600/D%2526D+mini.jpg" /></a></div>Well, phew! That's a lot to take in. If you're still not certain, feel free to ask questions either here in the comments section, or head over to the Origins Facebook page where you can find all sorts of nuts with opinions.<br />
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Hopefully I'll see many of you at Origins. If you recognize me or my name badge (Katie Schumm), be sure to say hello and get a pic so I can share all the cool people I met at Origins here on the blog!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-44724222165253385082011-05-23T15:55:00.000-04:002011-05-23T15:55:57.584-04:00Origins Update: Goodbye, Mr. Fun BusAttention, attention! Only 29 days until <a href="http://www.originsgamefair.com/Home/tabid/2737/Default.aspx">Origins Game Fair</a> commences! I am amazingly stoked for this year's marathon of gaming fun. My Board Room pass is all set (because you have to have access to that beautiful library of games), my Mayfair Room pass is all set (because it's just plain fun in there, and they have snacks!), and I'm about ready to rock. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r-vBWqHhmOw/Tdq7XboVH_I/AAAAAAAABU8/3VMQa0BKrG0/s1600/Sad+Fun+Bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r-vBWqHhmOw/Tdq7XboVH_I/AAAAAAAABU8/3VMQa0BKrG0/s400/Sad+Fun+Bus.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
I did get some interesting, if disturbing, news though today from the Origins Facebook page. It seems the beloved "Fun Bus" shuttle will not be running this year. In previous years, the Fun Bus was free bus transpo to all the major surrounding hotels and the convention center. It ran every 15 min. or so and kept on truckin' until 1:00am. I think some of the sweetest memories from last year are the 1:00 rides back to the hotel, packed elbow-to-elbow on the Fun Bus with people drunk from gaming. We'd all share our purchases of the day and recommend games to everyone else. Good times. But alas, we must say goodbye to Mr. Fun Bus. According to one source, the Fun Bus's sponsor, "Experience Columbus," faced budget cuts and decided to dump the shuttle.<br />
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As a result, my lazy ass has already switched my hotel reservations over to a facility with an enclosed walkway to the convention center. I had a lovely time staying at the Doubletree last year, and would recommend it to anybody, but it's a hike. And the Doubletree <snooty voice> "never provides any form of shuttle service for any events"</snooty voice>. Well then, ta-ta! <br />
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If you are lucky enough to attend Origins this year, it might be worth checking your transportation plans given the lack of shuttle...'cause, you know, your ass will be walking in the middle of a midnight thunderstorm if you decide to take your chances. That's what would happen to me, anyway.<br />
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By the way, don't ask why there's a Victorian era toddler crying over the Fun Bus above. It was just the creepiest crying baby picture I could find, and I had to have it. Besides, if creepy Victorian babies went to Origins, I'm sure they would cry over the loss of the Fun Bus, so it makes sense, right?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-28545160939008476532011-05-11T14:38:00.007-04:002011-07-14T00:02:19.506-04:00Building a Jenga Dice Tower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wRSXmoprcM/Tcq9SLrDCVI/AAAAAAAABT8/SUjdSBRSWao/s1600/DSC_0956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wRSXmoprcM/Tcq9SLrDCVI/AAAAAAAABT8/SUjdSBRSWao/s320/DSC_0956.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Let's start with the obvious question: What in tarnation is a Jenga dice tower? For those of you not<i> in the know</i>, a dice tower is any kind of small tower (usually made of cardboard or wood), in which you place dice in the top of the tower, and they roll out the bottom, effectively rolling the dice for you. Because, ya know, it's a lot of work to roll those dice. All those days playing Alien Frontiers or Risk, I've been thinking "Blast! If only there was <i>some</i> way--<i>SOME WAY!</i>--I could relieve this dice-rolling wrist stress and still have a perfectly random outcome." Well, a dice tower is the answer.<br />
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So granted, I rebuffed, rejected, and roundly mocked the idea of making (or worse, buying) a dice tower for a long time, but the greatest husband in the world persisted. Stubborn monkey. And thank goodness he did; It turns out that the function of a dice tower is to be just plain FUN! It's another cool useless gadget that makes people smile. So consider me pro-dice tower from here on out.<br />
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Now to get ourselves a dice tower, we turned to a particularly creative mind over at BGG: user <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/user/BadgerWithAGun">BadgerWithAGun</a>. He has posted a brilliantly created PDF mock-up of directions for building a cheap and awesome dice tower using Jenga blocks (view the plans <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/56626/badgerwithaguns-reasonable-priced-free-dice-tower">HERE</a>).Yes, Jenga--that game that no one plays anymore, and dumps off at every thrift shop in the world. <br />
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Here is the story of how we sat down last night and decided it was time to build our dice tower, and hopefully you'll see how fabulous and easy it is. Maybe you'll be making one of your own this weekend (If so, we want to see pictures! )<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 1: Gather Your Dice Tower Materials</span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBFHKNg7npc/Tcq85gtfvOI/AAAAAAAABT4/K6DC8lULwa4/s1600/DSC_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBFHKNg7npc/Tcq85gtfvOI/AAAAAAAABT4/K6DC8lULwa4/s400/DSC_0887.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>You'll need the following items to build your Jenga dice tower:<br />
<ul><li>30 Jenga blocks (one complete game set comes with more than 30)</li>
<li>Wood glue</li>
<li>Foam board, or game board that you'd like to chop up</li>
<li>3 wooden clothespins</li>
<li>Sharp scissors </li>
<li>Paper towel</li>
<li>Felt (optional)</li>
</ul>All of this is going to be uber cheap. Check at a couple thrift stores and garage sales, and you should be able to get a used Jenga set for about $1.00-4.00. A new bottle of wood glue cost us $3.00. Felt costs you pennies, and the rest we had on-hand. So the total cost of this dice tower, for us, was just over $5.00.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 2: Start Gluing Your Jenga Blocks</span></b><br />
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</a></div>Per the instruction sheet, use the wood glue to start assembling pairs of Jenga blocks into "Ls", and then glue together the "Ls" (as shown in pics) to form 1 Jenga block x 1 Jenga block squares.<br />
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These will be the levels of your tower. In total, you will need 6 of these squares. Hold off on stacking them on attaching the squares to each other--it's not time to stack the tower just yet. (In the pic below, I've just stacked them to make sure they're all coming out even, I haven't attached the squares together yet.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxFDbzvbAyo/Tcq_oC-8SkI/AAAAAAAABUE/K7jpX1cvEjg/s1600/DSC_0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxFDbzvbAyo/Tcq_oC-8SkI/AAAAAAAABUE/K7jpX1cvEjg/s400/DSC_0928.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tip: Make sure you keep a small sheet of paper towel on-hand, and keep wiping away excess glue before it dries. And remember, since the blocks are sitting on their sides, and will eventually be stacked on top of each other, "Jenga" logo orientation doesn't matter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once you have all 6 of your Jenga block squares glued and dried, you're ready to move on to Step 3.</div><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 3: Glue Together the Tower Base</span></b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UlsZ019lDcI/TcrEjBUVGJI/AAAAAAAABUY/n3AEEf7QyI0/s1600/DSC_0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UlsZ019lDcI/TcrEjBUVGJI/AAAAAAAABUY/n3AEEf7QyI0/s400/DSC_0930.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
Now it's time to assemble 6 Jenga blocks into a 2 block x 1 block rectangle. This is going to be your base, your tray that the dice roll out into. At this point in our building process, it was getting a little late at night, hence the goofy shadows in this picture above. There was glue everywhere, and the cats were campaigning to go to bed. But no one can thwart us when we decide to build a dice tower late at night! Good thing our wood glue dries really quickly, though.<br />
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</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Step 4: Cut Out Your Ramps and Base</span></b></div><br />
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</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Set aside your Jenga blocks for now, and pull out that foam board you set aside for this project. Or, if you're crazy like us, you can butcher an old game board for this purpose. We chose an old Stratego board whose pieces had long ago been discarded. Using the scissors, we cut out two identical pieces of the game board that are just wide enough to fit inside one of the Jenga squares, and just long enough to extend from the top edge of the blocks to the bottom edge, so as to form a ramp. You'll have to gauge the angle the best you can. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFCw1hOoGJc/TcrIZBzlW7I/AAAAAAAABUk/ij2tm2ZkAhU/s1600/DSC_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFCw1hOoGJc/TcrIZBzlW7I/AAAAAAAABUk/ij2tm2ZkAhU/s400/DSC_0936.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You'll glue these in place, and then grab those wooden clothespins mentioned in the materials section. Snip off small little wooden bits of the clothespins to use as braces for the ramps to sit on. Above is what the underside looks like once it's all been cut, assembled, and glued. You'll need to make a total of 2 of these, and these will become Layer #1 (top layer of the tower), and Layer #3. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the final ramp, we cut a piece of game board big enough to create a ramp from the top of Layer #6 to the bottom of the dice tray (so it'll be almost twice as big as the other ramps, since it spans two layers). Here is a sneak peek at the diagram from the PDF instruction sheet over at BGG. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2hoPlm9LU4/TcrLc0xDEjI/AAAAAAAABUo/tl9s1hkbNeo/s1600/dice+tower+diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2hoPlm9LU4/TcrLc0xDEjI/AAAAAAAABUo/tl9s1hkbNeo/s400/dice+tower+diagram.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Notice in this diagram that there's also a piece of game board that is cut to the size of the base and attached as the bottom of the dice tray. This is the step where you should go ahead and cut out this base piece and glue it to the bottom of the tray. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd have more personal pictures to show of this step, but this is where it started to get really late, and I started to get easily distracted playing with the cats or doing other important things while the greatest husband in the world (GHITW) did all of this part. Here's a pic of the final result. In the center is the base tray, with the bottom piece of the Stratego board attached underneath, and Layer #6 on top, with ramp in place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 5: Assemble Your Tower!</span></b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Zzzzzz. Zzzzzz. Mememememe. Zzzzzzz. What? What's going on? Oh, that's right. I was off, um, not paying attention while GHITW fidgeted with the ramps for a needless amount of time. Okay, it was really only about 20 minutes, but it felt like a really long time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But now it's time to BUILD THE TOWER! Yeaaa! Before you bust out the glue, practice stacking the layers together (staggering each layer so its block formation alternates), with ramps in proper place, facing the proper direction. Once you think you have it right, do some test rolls of the dice. Try a few different sizes of dice just to make sure everything's lined up and working right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_V-sU98eBhY/TcrQF_q_igI/AAAAAAAABUw/tagK_PuyaUo/s1600/DSC_0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_V-sU98eBhY/TcrQF_q_igI/AAAAAAAABUw/tagK_PuyaUo/s400/DSC_0962.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once you're satisfied, apply a generous amount of glue in between the layers to stack your tower up. Be sure to wipe excess glue away with your paper towel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmyX3-3M4-U/TcrReywQ4fI/AAAAAAAABU0/QyreLGtMnoQ/s1600/DSC_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmyX3-3M4-U/TcrReywQ4fI/AAAAAAAABU0/QyreLGtMnoQ/s400/DSC_0951.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once it dries, you're ready to let the dice roll! That's all it takes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Now, some people find dice towers a little noisy, and suggest gluing in mats of felt on the ramps and the bottom tray. I don't know. The sound with the game board ramps and the Jenga blocks is kind of neat, I think--sort of a fun wooden tinkle that sounds like a steam punk wooden gadget (or so I imagine). We'll be skipping the felt.<br />
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</div>After that, the tower is yours to decorate. Leave it plain, if that's your bag. I plan to do some elaborate sketching and painting all over this one (photos to come at a later date if it turns out well!). Or, you might want to just grab a can of spray paint and go to town.<br />
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The most important thing is to have fun with this contraption. I've heard stories of these towers being built double-sided so that a D&D Dungeon Master can choose which slot to drop the dice into--one so the dice rolls out to a tray facing the players, and one so the dice rolls out to a tray concealed behind the DM's screen. Brilliant. Unnecessary, maybe, but brilliant. Make this tower your own, make it interesting, make it unique, and add a little extra fun to your gaming experience<br />
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And don't forget to share those photos of your own dice tower!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-870921552351674249.post-54673622659062041052011-05-10T12:53:00.005-04:002011-05-10T19:53:16.886-04:00Settlers of Catan Game at McDonald's?If the world was a just and true place, this game would be real at a fast food restaurant near you. McDonald's, listen up, you need to dump that shabby game of yours. You know the one. The one where no one ever wins anything but a hashbrown, small coffee, or small french fries. After years of boredom and disappointment, I'd be happy if I never found another orange St. James Place sticker under the seats in my car.<br />
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Let's try this instead. Screw it if most people are too confused--that's just separating the wheat from the chaff. Let's start awarding prizes to people who actually <i>like</i> board games or <i>know</i> board games. And those of us who do, vote that Settlers would, indeed, be an excellent choice. Although...knowing my luck though, I'd just end up with a game sheet full of soldiers.<br />
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What other games are ripe for a McDonald's promotion? I'm thinking the Puerto Rico board game might be decent--not only do you have to collect that indigo and coffee, but you have to have colonists for them to count. Bohnanza's another prime candidate--just imagine having to buy a third bean field in order to win upper level prizes. Eh? Eh? <br />
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Anyway, I'd like to thank not only CollegeHumor.com for making this beauty of a <strike>dream</strike> video, but also BWE for bringing it to my attention today. It made a morning of parent-teacher conferences much more enjoyable. Sigh.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046994395603015544noreply@blogger.com1