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07.01.18
The year's first games night started with Kingdomino. Mark won by a single point. We followed this with a five-player game of London (it's only meant for four) which was good. Michaela won (I think). The refreshments included coffee from the new machine. 
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14.01.18
Last night we played Waggle Dance, a game about bees. It's a worker placement game where the aim is to produce honey. Many, many agonising decisions and lots of fun. Giro won.
Last night we played Waggle Dance, a game about bees. It's a worker placement game where the aim is to produce honey. Many, many agonising decisions and lots of fun. Giro won.
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21.01.18
Last night we played Pursuit of Happiness with the Community expansion. The expansion adds the ability to spend time in your community increasing your popularity by helping people; it also provides the pieces to add a fifth player to the game which is useful. Michaela busied herself becoming popular but in the end, Giro won by a single point having netted a high powered job and retired early. 
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28.01.18
Last night we played Sidereal Confluence, an intergalactic trading game for up to 14 players that the cats were kind enough to buy me for Christmas last year. It looks to be a daunting game at first but is actually very simple to understand once you start playing and it's a lot of fun. Each of the 14 alien races involved has its own very different way of playing. We started with the suggested simpler introductory races. The basic idea is to pump resources into technologies to produce more, different resources to pump into more, different technologies which, in turn, generate victory points that you score to win. Colonising new worlds and trading with other players ensures you have the necessary resources you need to begin the process and constantly researching and improving your technologies ensures your empire gains efficiency as the game progresses. In theory. In reality, you're never quite there, never quite have exactly what you want and some bastard's colonised the world you wanted before you got there. Thoroughly engaging and a lot of fun. My only problem is a personal one. I cannot distinguish between the green and brown symbols on the cards so had to keep asking. Eventually, I arranged my tableau with the different colours at separate ends which helped me keep track. Giro's insidious plant people won with 39 points, the rest of us trailing with scores in the 20s. |
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04.02.18
We played Sidereal Confluence again last night to introduce it to Mark. I took one of the 'harder to play' alien races so Mark could have a starter race. 'Harder to play' turned out to be 'OMG what am I supposed to do with these?' and I lost by a huge margin to everybody else. Never mind, I've got strategies for next time... Giro won again. Felix was banned from the room until we'd finished and returned crestfallen to have missed the fun. 
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11.02.18
Yesterday we played two games of Happy Pigs which is a game about raising pigs. The game provides a thought-provoking economic puzzle in a deceptively cute package. I didn't win either game but I made considerably more money the second time around so, progress. 
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04.03.18
Two games of Machi Koro last night. I won both :) For the second game, we used the Millionaires' Row expansion for the first time to see what it was like. It lengthened the game, added some new strategies and made the ending very close so that, whilst I won the first game with a lean money making engine involving forests and furniture factories and a little bit of luck, I won the second with a lot of luck as all five of us were just waiting to amass enough cash to build our airports to win. The tax office proved once again to be one of the best cards to strip money from opponents (Mark had this) and Michaela had a card that negated the Tuna boats. In the end my Tech Startup card finally got me the cash (by making everyone else pay me) to win. 
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11.03.18
Last night we played Core Worlds, a science fiction-themed deck building game. Giro won but the point spread for everyone was only 9 so it was close. My main battleship was a Republican Cruiser which I named 'The Donald' (of course) and used to great effect, great effect, it was crewed by the best people, great people. Eventually, I obtained a robot 'Supreme Brain' so The Donald could be steered by a stable genius. Art reflects life once again! 
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25.03.18
Games night reconvened after a couple of weeks off last night. It was a short one because of the clocks changing and various people having to be up really early on Sunday. We played Deep Sea Adventure, a little push your luck game about diving for treasure. In the first game, I ran out of oxygen every round and scored nothing but I won the second. Deep Sea Adventure is a lot of game in a tiny box and well worth getting even if you don't normally do this sort of thing. It plays with up to six.
We finished with a game of Port Royal. Another push your luck game with a pirate theme. I came last again of course but not egregiously. Both games were supplied by Giro but will be going into my collection too come payday.
As you can see from the fur, Felix joined us for the evening as is his custom.
Games night reconvened after a couple of weeks off last night. It was a short one because of the clocks changing and various people having to be up really early on Sunday. We played Deep Sea Adventure, a little push your luck game about diving for treasure. In the first game, I ran out of oxygen every round and scored nothing but I won the second. Deep Sea Adventure is a lot of game in a tiny box and well worth getting even if you don't normally do this sort of thing. It plays with up to six.
We finished with a game of Port Royal. Another push your luck game with a pirate theme. I came last again of course but not egregiously. Both games were supplied by Giro but will be going into my collection too come payday.
As you can see from the fur, Felix joined us for the evening as is his custom.
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01.04.18
Last night we played Escape the Dark Castle, a co-operative game which is essentially a 'choose your own adventure' gamebook in card form. It has a charmingly homemade look and a strong retro feel. Each character has custom dice which is a nice touch.
We managed to escape the castle, everybody surviving the final boss fight with a single hit point remaining.
We finished the evening off with some more Deep Sea Adventure. Karl won but it was very close. We've all learnt to only dive a little way down and not be greedy. I don't think anybody drowned this time out which is good but not as funny. I'm not sure why it's so hilarious to think of people gasping for air as they sink into the dark watery depths, but it is!
Felix joined in wholeheartedly the entire evening even rolling the occasional dice.
Last night we played Escape the Dark Castle, a co-operative game which is essentially a 'choose your own adventure' gamebook in card form. It has a charmingly homemade look and a strong retro feel. Each character has custom dice which is a nice touch.
We managed to escape the castle, everybody surviving the final boss fight with a single hit point remaining.
We finished the evening off with some more Deep Sea Adventure. Karl won but it was very close. We've all learnt to only dive a little way down and not be greedy. I don't think anybody drowned this time out which is good but not as funny. I'm not sure why it's so hilarious to think of people gasping for air as they sink into the dark watery depths, but it is!
Felix joined in wholeheartedly the entire evening even rolling the occasional dice.
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08.04.18
Last night we had a four-player game of Transatlantic. Transatlantic is a solid Eurogame about running passengers and cargo around the world in the early days of steamships. Initially daunting it proved to be an elegant game that was easy to manage. The theme is pasted on as with all euro games but it suspended my disbelief enough to be engaging and it made me feel I was doing what the game suggested I was doing rather than just going through the motions and exploring interesting mechanics. We didn't play to a conclusion but Michaela was well in the lead when we stopped. I took last place as is traditional for the person who actually paid for the game. 
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15.04.18
Last night was a short games session. Karl had to leave early and Michaela was working so didn't arrive until about half-past eleven. We played two games of Port Royal, neither of which I won despite having epic turns. Oh well, I was ganged up on; Sylvester helped Giro, Felix helped Mark and Tonkatsu stood in for Karl after he left. No one helped me at all :(
Last night was a short games session. Karl had to leave early and Michaela was working so didn't arrive until about half-past eleven. We played two games of Port Royal, neither of which I won despite having epic turns. Oh well, I was ganged up on; Sylvester helped Giro, Felix helped Mark and Tonkatsu stood in for Karl after he left. No one helped me at all :(
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22.04.18
No Michaela again this week and Karl had to leave early so we broke out Port Royal again.
We had ice cream for the first time this year and Felix joined us to sit out the thunderstorm.
No Michaela again this week and Karl had to leave early so we broke out Port Royal again.
We had ice cream for the first time this year and Felix joined us to sit out the thunderstorm.
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06.05.18
TransAtlantic again last night. A much higher scoring game than our first outing. Mark won by a good margin although I thought Giro's strategy of completely owning a port and stocking it with just his ships was going to succeed, it was frightening to behold in the early game as his points just kept mounting up.
I came third, must try harder.
TransAtlantic is one of Felix's favourite games too.
TransAtlantic again last night. A much higher scoring game than our first outing. Mark won by a good margin although I thought Giro's strategy of completely owning a port and stocking it with just his ships was going to succeed, it was frightening to behold in the early game as his points just kept mounting up.
I came third, must try harder.
TransAtlantic is one of Felix's favourite games too.
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27.05.18
Last night we tried Tiny Epic Quest. A game where you wander around a map and get slapped by goblins. There are lots of nice but tiny components and the gameplay is straightforward with enough choice and push your luck to keep it interesting. Personally, I could have done with everything being a tad larger, including the writing on the map. Giro won, I came second :) 
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17.06.18
Last night we played Tiny Epic Galaxies which is a much better game than Tiny Epic Quest in my opinion. It's a game of building a space empire that requires a decent amount of thought and involves only a little luck. It fits easily into the 'tiny' box, unlike Quest which needed to perform some serious gymnastics to do so and yet still offers a lot of gameplay. Giro's and my empires began at either end of the Felix nebula as you can see but in the fullness of time open space returned to that quadrant of the galaxy and normal service was resumed. Michaela won :) 
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15.07.18
No Pirates roleplaying last night as Mark was away so we broke out Port Royal again and had a couple of games of this to keep the pirates flavour going until next week. I won the first and Michaela won the second.
Port Royale gives a lot of decision making and gameplay in a small box but is never too taxing or complicated so even non-gamers can understand and enjoy it straight away.
No Pirates roleplaying last night as Mark was away so we broke out Port Royal again and had a couple of games of this to keep the pirates flavour going until next week. I won the first and Michaela won the second.
Port Royale gives a lot of decision making and gameplay in a small box but is never too taxing or complicated so even non-gamers can understand and enjoy it straight away.
22.07.18
More Port Royal last night as we waited for Michaela to finish work so we could start on the role playing. A very close game saw Mark win with 13 points, I chased him unsuccessfully managing only 12.
More Port Royal last night as we waited for Michaela to finish work so we could start on the role playing. A very close game saw Mark win with 13 points, I chased him unsuccessfully managing only 12.
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28.08.18
Last night we played Flamme Rouge which is a fast, card-driven cycle racing game. It's a great game with interesting choices each go. Player turns are quick and the game lasts about 30-45 minutes. There's plenty of atmosphere and it feels like a bike race. Giro won (he'd played before) Karl was second, I was third and Michaela fouth. After this we played Port Royale again and Michaela won a very close game with 16 points. 
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09.09.18
Last night was a very short session so we just played a single game of Port Royal which Giro won.
Last night was a very short session so we just played a single game of Port Royal which Giro won.
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30.09.18
Last night we played Snowblind, a game about the race to the South Pole. It's a push your luck game where making progress forward has to be balanced by the dangers of exposure and death from the elements. I played the British and reached the pole first. The game continues until the ice pack sets in so everyone has a chance to plant a flag and return to their ships. Points are awarded for getting more people back and having supplies left as well as for how close to the pole you got. I won with 29 points despite having to leave two scientists on the ice, one of them incapacitated. Oh well, you can always find more scientists! 
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I won a medal for being first to the pole and then getting back to my ship!
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07.10.18
Last night Michaela had to leave early for work so we broke out Machi Koro for a couple of games. Once again the Millionaires' Row expansion was included in the mix so the games were lengthened without much added enjoyment to show for it. We came to the conclusion that the basic set plus a single expansion was the way to go and since we all prefer the Harbour expansion, that's the way we're going to go from now on. Karl easily won the first game and I won the second. Felix guarded the money with his tummy which made banking a little hazardous. |
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13.10.18
Back to Machi Koro with just the harbour expansion. Two fast games, Giro won both. He won the second game after getting an early lead with a vineyard! Felix was the banker again.
Back to Machi Koro with just the harbour expansion. Two fast games, Giro won both. He won the second game after getting an early lead with a vineyard! Felix was the banker again.
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20.10.18
We played Loot last night. Another pirate themed card game. Nice art, decent choices and a short playtime made this a winner for us. I won which made it even better. Sylvester and Felix joined us but had headed off for food by the time I took this end of game photo |
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27.10.18
Michaela's away at a convention so playing Tales of the Northlands was postponed until she gets back. Instead, we played three games of Machi Koro last night which Giro won all three of. At least the last one was close- I was just pipped at the line.
Michaela's away at a convention so playing Tales of the Northlands was postponed until she gets back. Instead, we played three games of Machi Koro last night which Giro won all three of. At least the last one was close- I was just pipped at the line.
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03.11.18
Last night I was too tired to tackle a first playthrough of a big Eurogame and Michaela was going to leave early to be ready for work tomorrow so we reverted to Machi Koro again. Mark won which broke Giro's winning streak.
Last night I was too tired to tackle a first playthrough of a big Eurogame and Michaela was going to leave early to be ready for work tomorrow so we reverted to Machi Koro again. Mark won which broke Giro's winning streak.
25.11.18
Last night's games night was a subdued affair. Michael's in Japan and Karl was doing something else so we played a three-player Go Nuts For Donuts. I came second in both and Mark and Giro won one each. It's a lot less stressful as a three-player game which perhaps makes it a little less enjoyable. Still fun though! Sadly, because it was only a three-player game I couldn't include my newly purchased zombie donut cards which are for four players and up. Next time!
Last night's games night was a subdued affair. Michael's in Japan and Karl was doing something else so we played a three-player Go Nuts For Donuts. I came second in both and Mark and Giro won one each. It's a lot less stressful as a three-player game which perhaps makes it a little less enjoyable. Still fun though! Sadly, because it was only a three-player game I couldn't include my newly purchased zombie donut cards which are for four players and up. Next time!
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02.12.18
Last night Mark was ill and Michaela was still in Japan so we played Sleeping Queens, a card game designed by a six-year-old girl. It was great :) A fast card game for princesses of any age and any gender. I won the second game with a storming go so I was clearly the best princess in the room. I don't remember who won the first game (honest). Then we introduced Giro to Keyforge and had a few games of that. My deck proved very powerful again despite not seeming so on paper and I only lost one game (and that was close). This is a big hit with Karl and me, I'm hoping Michaela takes to it when she returns. Felix played both games well and Sylvester slept on a chair for the entire evening, he likes games but napping is better. 
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29.12.18
An impromptu Friday night game of Jamaica With Michaela and Karl. I crossed the finish line first but came second on points because Karl had stolen so much of Michaela's wealth (it is a pirate game after all). Felix and Sylvester helped as usual.
An impromptu Friday night game of Jamaica With Michaela and Karl. I crossed the finish line first but came second on points because Karl had stolen so much of Michaela's wealth (it is a pirate game after all). Felix and Sylvester helped as usual.
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29.12.18
A final games night of the year saw a full house of six for a tense Machi Koro outing. Everyone very graciously let me win :)
A final games night of the year saw a full house of six for a tense Machi Koro outing. Everyone very graciously let me win :)
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