A look under the hood of various Games, Rules and Systems.
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Showing posts with label Card Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Card Games. Show all posts
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Systems Saturday - Fluxx Capacity
Kristin and Andrew Looney have been living the American dream for a couple of decades designing games for their family business, Looney Labs, with games like the Fluxx card game and it's many expansions and sequels. Over on washingtonian.com, a recent article "They Once Worked at NASA. Now They Make Card Games." Read more here.
Saturday, June 8, 2019
Systems Saturday - Battling Space Ships by Tom Wham
Brad and I joined Tom Wham for a game of Battling Space Ships. Recently, Dave Conant took the rules Tom has been tweaking for a while and gave them the Game Crafters treatment, so Tom would have a prototype. Tom was quick to point out this one wasn't really quite ready but I found it to be pretty well complete. A couple of clarifications and some physical component adjustments, along with an art upgrade, and this one will be good to go, I think!
In Battling Space Ships, each player builds a number of ship in their dock attempting to send them out on cargo runs, send them to disrupt the cargo runs of other players, or to engage in space piracy in the shipping lanes against random deck-drawn ships. Each turn, a player collects for cargo shipped the previous turn then draw cards face up from the main deck up to the number of players plus one. The active layer then selects a card from the cards drawn as do the rest of the players in clockwise order. All players may they build or upgrade any ships in the space dock. Finally, the active player may choose to send any of his completed ships on a cargo run or out to battle. Once someone builds three complete ships, the active player finishes their turn and the round is over, so victory points are tallied. A game consists of two rounds. Ship size gleans victory points, as does the number of ships and some special ship parts give bonuses. These add to whatever was gained from cargo runs and battling during turns (which are scored right away) and the highest score wins.
In Battling Space Ships, each player builds a number of ship in their dock attempting to send them out on cargo runs, send them to disrupt the cargo runs of other players, or to engage in space piracy in the shipping lanes against random deck-drawn ships. Each turn, a player collects for cargo shipped the previous turn then draw cards face up from the main deck up to the number of players plus one. The active layer then selects a card from the cards drawn as do the rest of the players in clockwise order. All players may they build or upgrade any ships in the space dock. Finally, the active player may choose to send any of his completed ships on a cargo run or out to battle. Once someone builds three complete ships, the active player finishes their turn and the round is over, so victory points are tallied. A game consists of two rounds. Ship size gleans victory points, as does the number of ships and some special ship parts give bonuses. These add to whatever was gained from cargo runs and battling during turns (which are scored right away) and the highest score wins.
A look under the hood of various Games, Rules and Systems.
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Friday, May 31, 2019
Tabletopper Friday - Lake Geneva May 2019 Tabletopping
As May 2019 comes to a close, I find myself at Nexus Game Fair, which is now in Brookfield, WI. I think this will prove to be a good move for this convention. I've been unable to go for more than a day the last couple of years but worked out some vacation time to go for a little longer this year but more on that next week. For this post, I want to just look back over a few of the games I played that I didn't highlight along the way. for a few of them, I didn't get pictures but I'll be more attentive next time, I hope. Earlier this week, Jesse broke out his newly acquire copy of Machi Koro (2012). It's a fast, little card game with some interesting challenges, an engine-building component, and just enough ways to mitigate the dice rolling aspect to keep it from feeling like you need to be lucky to win. Granted, being lucky can help but it can be overcome by solid strategy, so I enjoyed it. I guess Anthony, Rick, Jesse, and I owe some thanks to Dennis for putting it in the Blind Auction for Jesse to win.
We got Rise of Augustus (2013) back to the table early this month. I like to call this Roman Bingo. It's amazing how tense it can get hoping your needed symbol is drawn from the bag before someone else gets what they need. Great fun!
I've already mentioned Architects of the West Kingdom (2018) in other posts and I played it a lot the last couple of months but I don't doubt I will play it more throughout the summer. It's a clever game but I think it is going to need some expansions to keep it fresh beyond a few more plays. In this instance, we were happy Tom's longtime friend Mike Bell was in town to join us. Don't ask him what the "A" on his hat stands for because it seems to change with some frequency. Later in the month, but before getting in that game at the Pizza Ranch, Tom, Brad, and I knocked out yet another game of Architects!
There was also a good deal of Love Letter, Magic the Gathering, Stone Age, and more squeezed in at one time or another but it's time to gear up for a lot of boardgaming and card play at Nexus Game Fair, so I say, So long," to May and look forward to gaming in June. Go, Cubbies!
We got Rise of Augustus (2013) back to the table early this month. I like to call this Roman Bingo. It's amazing how tense it can get hoping your needed symbol is drawn from the bag before someone else gets what they need. Great fun!
I've already mentioned Architects of the West Kingdom (2018) in other posts and I played it a lot the last couple of months but I don't doubt I will play it more throughout the summer. It's a clever game but I think it is going to need some expansions to keep it fresh beyond a few more plays. In this instance, we were happy Tom's longtime friend Mike Bell was in town to join us. Don't ask him what the "A" on his hat stands for because it seems to change with some frequency. Later in the month, but before getting in that game at the Pizza Ranch, Tom, Brad, and I knocked out yet another game of Architects!
There was also a good deal of Love Letter, Magic the Gathering, Stone Age, and more squeezed in at one time or another but it's time to gear up for a lot of boardgaming and card play at Nexus Game Fair, so I say, So long," to May and look forward to gaming in June. Go, Cubbies!
Mostly about card games and board games,
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
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Friday, September 2, 2016
Tabletopper Friday - Conspiracy: Take the Crown
A big thank you to everyone who was able to participate in the Conspiracy: Take the Crown draft at the store last Saturday. It was a huge turn out, almost to capacity, and it helped the store tremendously. My blogs and Facebook will be (mostly) dark for the next couple of weeks so I leave you with some crowded store pics to tide everyone over. Thank you!
Mostly about card games and board games,
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
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Sunday, August 21, 2016
The Sunday Miscellanea - Mystic Vale (2016)
I've had the chance to play a couple of games of Mystic Vale (2016). It's got some neat components and ideas. Once we played with three players and once with four, as pictured. Everything I saw before learning the game made sure to mention it has a Card Crafting System. I wasn't sure what to make of that idea.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
It is a deck building game in which you can change your cards, rather than exchange your cards. Kinda neat on its face but the Vale area whence come the overlays can be tricky for more than a couple of players to view, in practice, unless others don't mind leaning over the cards each time a new one is added or picking them up to read them, thus tipping your hand. Plus, because they are transparent, one can look at the draw piles and see what's coming, in some respects. I think the game design needs a bit of refinement but shows promise. Once all players are familiar with all of the overlays and if the draw piles could be hidden somehow, this should mitigate the flaws I see with this design. Other than that, it's an enjoyable race for victory points which can be had a number of ways.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
A curse has been placed on the Valley of Life. Hearing the spirits of nature cry out for aid, clans of druids have arrived, determined to use their blessings to heal the land and rescue the spirits. It will require courage and also caution, as the curse can overwhelm the careless who wield too much power.
In Mystic Vale, 2 to 4 players take on the role of druidic clans trying to cleanse the curse upon the land. Each turn, you play cards into your field to gain powerful advancements and useful vale cards. Use your power wisely, or decay will end your turn prematurely. Score the most victory points to win the game!
Mystic Vale uses the innovative "Card Crafting System", which lets you not only build your deck, but build the individual cards in your deck, customizing each card's abilities to exactly the strategy you want to follow.
It is a deck building game in which you can change your cards, rather than exchange your cards. Kinda neat on its face but the Vale area whence come the overlays can be tricky for more than a couple of players to view, in practice, unless others don't mind leaning over the cards each time a new one is added or picking them up to read them, thus tipping your hand. Plus, because they are transparent, one can look at the draw piles and see what's coming, in some respects. I think the game design needs a bit of refinement but shows promise. Once all players are familiar with all of the overlays and if the draw piles could be hidden somehow, this should mitigate the flaws I see with this design. Other than that, it's an enjoyable race for victory points which can be had a number of ways.
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on MFWARS.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.
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Saturday, August 20, 2016
Systems Saturday - Valley of the Kings: Afterlife (2015)
Having played Valley of the Kings (2014) a couple of times and now Valley of the Kings: Afterlife (2015) twice as well, I have a fair handle on how the games are meant to be played.The two have somewhat different playstyles thought the basics are the same. They've done a nice job expanding on the original game, or rather extending its playability with a second set of treasure cards. That the game can now be played with more players is an additional boon. I'd like to try each out solo some time too.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
I think I might like some of the mechanics of this second set more so than the first. It seems to make the game more interactive and bring the boneyard into play to a greater extent. It's another solid game that should do well in any game collection. Perfect fit card sleeves work well with these decks too.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
Take on the role of Egyptian nobles at the time of the pharaohs, preparing for their death and burial in the valley of the kings. Using an innovative deck-building mechanism with a crumbling pyramid, players fill their tombs with jewelry, chambers, weapons, tomb art and other treasures. The player who collects the most valuable artifacts in their tomb wins the game!
Valley of the Kings: Afterlife is a standalone game that can also be combined with Valley of the Kings to allow for play with up to six player
I think I might like some of the mechanics of this second set more so than the first. It seems to make the game more interactive and bring the boneyard into play to a greater extent. It's another solid game that should do well in any game collection. Perfect fit card sleeves work well with these decks too.
A look under the hood of various Games, Rules and Systems.
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Saturday, August 13, 2016
Systems Saturday - Valley of the Kings (2014)
Tom came back to Lake Geneva Games with a copy of Valley of the Kings (2014), so we got right to trying it out. We liked it enough to put in an order for the first expansion, or rather integration of it, Valley of the Kings: Afterlife (2015), but more on that soon.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
It's very important to keep track of the precise names of the cards and be sure to entomb them before it is too late. While you don't want to get rid of all of your starting cards (the Shrabti are useful in the end game), you might drop one or two of them early into the tomb while cheaper cards are available. You'll need value five cards quickly, so grab some of those but having fewer cards overall will also help you get the more valuable cards in the midgame. Make no mistake, this is a memory game and the rules are specific about when you can look into your discard pile, so keeping track of what you've collected is tricky. Good game!
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
Take on the role of Egyptian nobles at the time of the pharaohs, preparing for death and burial in the Valley of the Kings. Players want to fill their tombs with food, canopic jars, statues, amulets and other treasures, and to do so they acquire cards that are laid out in the shape of a pyramid; purchase cards at the base of the pyramid, and it "crumbles" to bring cards higher in the pyramid to the base where they can be bought. The pyramid resets each round with new offerings.
You score only for cards that you remove from your deck and stash in your tomb, so if you keep using valuable cards for their effects and don't entomb them before the game ends, you could lose out on big points! Whoever collects the most valuable artifacts in her tomb wins.
It's very important to keep track of the precise names of the cards and be sure to entomb them before it is too late. While you don't want to get rid of all of your starting cards (the Shrabti are useful in the end game), you might drop one or two of them early into the tomb while cheaper cards are available. You'll need value five cards quickly, so grab some of those but having fewer cards overall will also help you get the more valuable cards in the midgame. Make no mistake, this is a memory game and the rules are specific about when you can look into your discard pile, so keeping track of what you've collected is tricky. Good game!
A look under the hood of various Games, Rules and Systems.
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Thursday, August 11, 2016
Nostalgia Thursday - Magic the Gathering (1993)
A LOT of Magic the Gathering (1993) gets played at Lake Geneva Games and some folks forget this game has been around for almost a quarter century. It's had it's share of "lesser" sets released over the years and there was even a time when Wizards of the Coast was likened to Games Workshop for the business model that rotates sets of cards out of the current standard play format. But with Legacy play being its own thing and the value of older cards rising, most got over that. Now there are many two-player and multi-player formats, special sets, restricted and banned lists of cards for various formats, as well as a no-reprint list to protect the value of some older cards.
From the description on Board Game Geek:
If you've played any other games, you'll see parallels in MtG in the mechanics either because they predate the invention of the game or because so many other games have been built with MtG in mind as inspiration. There are some events coming up at Lake Geneva Games (check the calendar here) that are notable for regular players and new players alike. This weekend is the Eldritch Moon Gameday where players can bring their current decks and play for prizes including a champion's game mat. Next week is the release of From the Vault: Lore, a special set with a limited run. Finally, new and old players are invited to sign up in-store for the August 27th, 1 pm, Conspiracy: Take the Crown draft. It's a simple format of drafting (will be taught) with a fun, multi-player game to follow. Join us for the fun!
From the description on Board Game Geek:
From the official website: In the Magic game, you play the role of a planeswalker—a powerful wizard who fights other planeswalkers for glory, knowledge, and conquest. Your deck of cards represents all the weapons in your arsenal. It contains the spells you know and the creatures you can summon to fight for you.
This is the grandfather of the collectible card game (or CCG) genre. Cards are categorized as common, uncommon, rare, and mythic rare. Players collect cards and build decks out of their collection.
Players build a deck of cards and duel against an opponent's deck. The first player to reduce his opponent to 0 life (or meet another set win condition) wins the game.
Deck building is major part of the game. There are over 17,000 different cards from which to build your deck!
Players randomly draw spells to see what they get and can play each turn. Although this limits your choices, there is a lot of strategy in how you play those spells. A robust list of game mechanics, including intricate rules for reactive card play called "the stack," provide for rich tactics and tough choices each turn.
Though traditionally a two-player duel, there are several casual and tournament formats to Magic that allow more players to play.
If you've played any other games, you'll see parallels in MtG in the mechanics either because they predate the invention of the game or because so many other games have been built with MtG in mind as inspiration. There are some events coming up at Lake Geneva Games (check the calendar here) that are notable for regular players and new players alike. This weekend is the Eldritch Moon Gameday where players can bring their current decks and play for prizes including a champion's game mat. Next week is the release of From the Vault: Lore, a special set with a limited run. Finally, new and old players are invited to sign up in-store for the August 27th, 1 pm, Conspiracy: Take the Crown draft. It's a simple format of drafting (will be taught) with a fun, multi-player game to follow. Join us for the fun!
Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.
with an eye toward the last century and before.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Sunday, August 7, 2016
The Sunday Miscellanea - Mystic Vale (2016)
There is a new game that my buddy Mark brought round to Culver's called Mystic Vale (2016). Tom and I gave it a go with him on a day when they were particularly crowded, so I can't say it got its best showing. Brian was around to see us get started but had to take off before we could really get going, so we played with three players. We played most, I think, of a game before deciding we were taking up too much space on a day when they needed it but I feel we got the gist.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
A curse has been placed on the Valley of Life. Hearing the spirits of nature cry out for aid, clans of druids have arrived, determined to use their blessings to heal the land and rescue the spirits. It will require courage and also caution, as the curse can overwhelm the careless who wield too much power.
In Mystic Vale, 2 to 4 players take on the role of druidic clans trying to cleanse the curse upon the land. Each turn, you play cards into your field to gain powerful advancements and useful vale cards. Use your power wisely, or decay will end your turn prematurely. Score the most victory points to win the game!
Mystic Vale uses the innovative "Card Crafting System", which lets you not only build your deck, but build the individual cards in your deck, customizing each card's abilities to exactly the strategy you want to follow.
I had seen this game in a trade publication last month and wondered if the "Card Crafting" aspect was more gimmick than worthwhile mechanic but now think it is a good one While it makes for a bit of setup and clean up time after can be more than typical, I think it is worth it. I was also concerned about the potential for component damage harpooning the game but it seems a sturdy one. It might be a good idea to grab and extra pack of the non-standard card sleeves the game uses to ensure they'll always be available to you. In any event, the overlaying mechanic is a good one and crafting the cards as a way of deckbuilding adds an almost three-dimensional component to the game much like the UP! expansion for Lords of Vegas really adjusts the way that game works exponentially, albeit in Mystic Vale it is there from the start. That's not to say this is overly complex. I've only played the once but that's not my gut reaction under conditions that weren't ideal. There's a good amount of complexity to this that's worthy of more exploration by me. It feels like a good game that might even be a great one so I'll check this out further.
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on MFWARS.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.
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Friday, August 5, 2016
Tabletopper Friday - Legendary Encounters (Alien, 2014)
It had been a while since I had played a full-on deckbuilding game when Norm busted out Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game (2014). A few of the guys were playing the first couple of scenarios for Open Boardgaming Thursday at Lake Geneva Games and then I tagged in for the third round for Grant, to join Norm, John, and Dennis.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
This seems like a very balanced game with tension throughout. There was no point at which I thought we would get out ahead of the ongoing crisis nor where I lost all hope. In the end, it came down to some well-played cards and timing but we managed to eke out a victory in the final moments. I'll need to play this again, perhaps a different themed version of it, to really understand more of the nuances but my gut reaction from a single play is that this needs to see the tabletop more often.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game, based on the four movies of the Alien series, is a fully cooperative game with original art. While based on the Marvel superheroes version of Legendary, the two games will be compatible but cannot be fully integrated.
Legendary Encounters is a deck-building game in the same family as Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game, but now players must cooperate in order to survive against hordes of aliens. Taking on the role of protagonists such as Ripley, Dallas, Bishop and Corporal Hicks, players take turns recruiting cards for their deck from a central selection in order to improve their deck and defeat Xenomorph cards that are added to the central game board
This seems like a very balanced game with tension throughout. There was no point at which I thought we would get out ahead of the ongoing crisis nor where I lost all hope. In the end, it came down to some well-played cards and timing but we managed to eke out a victory in the final moments. I'll need to play this again, perhaps a different themed version of it, to really understand more of the nuances but my gut reaction from a single play is that this needs to see the tabletop more often.
Mostly about card games and board games,
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
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Thursday, August 4, 2016
Nostalgia Thursday - Playing Cards
Over on mentalfloss.com, they tell us "This Was Once the Fifth Playing Card Suit" here.
Also, on medievalnews.blogspot.ca, they profess that "400-Year-Old Playing Cards Reveal Royal Secret" here.
Finally, on ebay.com, check out what is revealed by a search for Vintage Playing Cards here.
Also, on medievalnews.blogspot.ca, they profess that "400-Year-Old Playing Cards Reveal Royal Secret" here.
Finally, on ebay.com, check out what is revealed by a search for Vintage Playing Cards here.
Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.
with an eye toward the last century and before.
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Sunday, July 17, 2016
The Sunday Miscellanea - Eldritch Moon Prerelease
The Eldritch Moon prerelease weekend at Lake Geneva Games has been going pretty well so far and there is one day left. I was worried that the Pokemon Go trend would put a damper on it but we've has some good events so far with a couple more taking place today. The additional game space has served us well for our events the last couple of months.
The 1 pm event is a 2-Headed Giant, which means you play with a partner, one you bring or we can find you a good one on site from among our casual card playing crowd. Either way, you win just by signing up for $30 per team member ($60 per team), because you get an Eldritch Moon prerelease kit which includes four booster packs of Eldritch Moon, two booster packs of Shadows Over Innistrad, a spindown die with the Eldritch Moon set symbol on it, a two-sided zombie token, and a fine little box (which is very nicely constructed). Plus, for each round your team wins, should you manage that feat, the team gets two more booster packs of Eldritch Moon. Win all three rounds and take home a kit plus six extra booster packs.
Finally, at 5:30 pm, we have one final Eldritch Moon sealed event. It's only $15 and there are two rounds of play. No additional prizes but, of course, you get your own Eldritch Moon prerelease kit with the aforementioned six booster packs and more. That's a damned good deal so come on in to Lake Geneva Games today for Eldritch Moon!
The 1 pm event is a 2-Headed Giant, which means you play with a partner, one you bring or we can find you a good one on site from among our casual card playing crowd. Either way, you win just by signing up for $30 per team member ($60 per team), because you get an Eldritch Moon prerelease kit which includes four booster packs of Eldritch Moon, two booster packs of Shadows Over Innistrad, a spindown die with the Eldritch Moon set symbol on it, a two-sided zombie token, and a fine little box (which is very nicely constructed). Plus, for each round your team wins, should you manage that feat, the team gets two more booster packs of Eldritch Moon. Win all three rounds and take home a kit plus six extra booster packs.
Finally, at 5:30 pm, we have one final Eldritch Moon sealed event. It's only $15 and there are two rounds of play. No additional prizes but, of course, you get your own Eldritch Moon prerelease kit with the aforementioned six booster packs and more. That's a damned good deal so come on in to Lake Geneva Games today for Eldritch Moon!
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on MFWARS.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.
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Thursday, June 30, 2016
Nostalgia Thursday - Fantasy Tabletopping
Over on examiner.com, they put forth a list of their "10 greatest fantasy tabletop games of all time" here.
Also, on toddcannon.com, Todd Cannon asks "What Is Old School Role Playing?" Find out what he thinks here.
Finally, on the David Megarry's Dungeon! YouTube channel, enjoy "How to Play Dungeon! with Ross Maker."
Also, on toddcannon.com, Todd Cannon asks "What Is Old School Role Playing?" Find out what he thinks here.
Finally, on the David Megarry's Dungeon! YouTube channel, enjoy "How to Play Dungeon! with Ross Maker."
Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.
with an eye toward the last century and before.
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Sunday, June 26, 2016
The Sunday Miscellanea - Etsy Items
Over on the DragonFishTreasures Etsy store, have a look at the "Tabletop RPG Dice Box" here.
Also, on the LadyHelenSoaps Etsy store, check out the "Star Trek Insignia novelty soap" here.
Finally, on the ElephantCraftsShop Etsy store, there's a fine "Splendor board game wooden organizer" here.
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on MFWARS.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.
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Friday, June 10, 2016
Tabletopper Friday - Love Letter (2012)
Love Letter (2012) hasn't been around long but the mechanics have spawned many variants published by Alderac Entertainment Group as well as a couple of local changes. AEG reskins to leverage properties like Lord of the Rings and Batman but locally it is done to extend the game to five and even six players.
I can't go into the mechanics of the individual additional cards too much but it is fair to say that each variant we play thematically works well. We play a Three Musketeers version that works up to five players and an Alice in Wonderland theme that handles six. They definitely help out around here where we have lots of gamers!
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
All of the eligible young men (and many of the not-so-young) seek to woo the princess of Tempest. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the palace, and you must rely on others to take your romantic letters to her. Will yours reach her first?
Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2–4 players. Your goal is to get your love letter into Princess Annette's hands while deflecting the letters from competing suitors. From a deck with only sixteen cards, each player starts with only one card in hand; one card is removed from play. On a turn, you draw one card, and play one card, trying to expose others and knock them from the game. Powerful cards lead to early gains, but make you a target. Rely on weaker cards for too long, however, and your letter may be tossed in the fire!
I can't go into the mechanics of the individual additional cards too much but it is fair to say that each variant we play thematically works well. We play a Three Musketeers version that works up to five players and an Alice in Wonderland theme that handles six. They definitely help out around here where we have lots of gamers!
Mostly about card games and board games,
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
unless they have a decidedly wargamey feel.
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Thursday, June 9, 2016
Nostalgia Thursday - For Sale (1997)
A quick and easy card game that we play locally from time to time is For Sale (1997). As far as card games go, we don't play this as often as Love Letter or its variants but it might be in the top five.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
It has both bidding and hand-management aspects to it but there is an element of bluffing as well. Table talk seems to be very big in this game and coaxing others to overbid is often a good strategy to implement. There's a lot to be said for getting the highest value property but making sure to secure the middle values seems just as important.
The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:
For Sale is a quick, fun game nominally about buying and selling real estate. During the game's two distinct phases, players first bid for several buildings then, after all buildings have been bought, sell the buildings for the greatest profit possible.
The original Ravensburger/FX Schmid edition (1997/98) has slightly different rules than later English editions, and only 20 buildings instead of 30.
The Überplay 2005 Edition has new art, rules and card distribution changes, and it accommodates 3-6 players.
The Gryphon 2009 Edition uses the Überplay art for the faces of the property cards, while replacing most other art. The rules are the same as the Überplay edition, with the exception of the rounding rule (which was stated in different ways in different printings of the Überplay edition).
Rounding rule
The rounding rule preferred by the designer Stefan Dorra is that players get back half of their bid rounded DOWN (not UP), as confirmed in correspondence with him here and here. A history of how the rounding rule has changed in different editions is documented here.
It has both bidding and hand-management aspects to it but there is an element of bluffing as well. Table talk seems to be very big in this game and coaxing others to overbid is often a good strategy to implement. There's a lot to be said for getting the highest value property but making sure to secure the middle values seems just as important.
Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.
with an eye toward the last century and before.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Sunday, May 22, 2016
The Sunday Miscellanea - Bloktown
Late last week, I blogged about Tom Wham and his wonderful game The Awful Green Things From Outer Space (1979) but I also got a chance to play a game he has in the playtesting phase called "Bloktown" over at Lake Geneva Games.
I won't say too much about this game except that it is an auction style game with victory points dependent on clearing properties to ready them for constructing various building.
For four and a half decades, Tom has had games published through many companies in the US and abroad. This is one of a dozen I have been lucky enough to play during pre-release and I look forward to playing more.
I won't say too much about this game except that it is an auction style game with victory points dependent on clearing properties to ready them for constructing various building.
For four and a half decades, Tom has had games published through many companies in the US and abroad. This is one of a dozen I have been lucky enough to play during pre-release and I look forward to playing more.
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on MFWARS.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.
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Sunday, May 8, 2016
The Sunday Miscellanea - Sheriff of Nottingham (2014)
It's been a little while since I last played Sheriff of Nottingham (2014) but it is just as fun as I remembered. We had to refresh ourselves on a few of the rules, but one of the players was new to the game, so that worked out just fine. The sequence of how things happen in a turn are very important to a game where bluffing and bribes are also important. Mistakes were made and pressure was brought to bear, so in the end it was all about the contraband.
From the description on Board Game Geek:
I gave total honesty a shot this time through, as long as that includes always saying honest things no matter what inflection I might be using. I probably should have spread my bonus point acquisition around but I had to play the cards I was dealt. I think contraband might be too import to the bottom line not to try and slip some through. I'll make some adjustments next time and see.
From the description on Board Game Geek:
Prince John is coming to Nottingham! Players, in the role of merchants, see this as an opportunity to make quick profits by selling goods in the bustling city during the Prince's visit. However, players must first get their goods through the city gate, which is under the watch of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Should you play it safe with legal goods and make a profit, or risk it all by sneaking in illicit goods? Be mindful, though, as the Sheriff always has his eyes out for liars and tricksters and if he catches one, he very well may confiscate those goods for himself!
In Sheriff of Nottingham, players will not only be able to experience Nottingham as a merchant of the city, but each turn one player will step into the shoes of the Sheriff himself. Players declare goods they wish to bring into the city, goods that are secretly stored in their burlap sack. The Sheriff must then determine who gets into the city with their goods, who gets inspected, and who may have their goods confiscated!
Do you have what it takes to be seen as an honest merchant? Will you make a deal with the Sheriff to let you in? Or will you persuade the Sheriff to target another player while you quietly slip by the gate? Declare your goods, negotiate deals, and be on the lookout for the Sheriff of Nottingham!
Sheriff of Nottingham is the first game in the Dice Tower Essentials Line from Arcane Wonders.
I gave total honesty a shot this time through, as long as that includes always saying honest things no matter what inflection I might be using. I probably should have spread my bonus point acquisition around but I had to play the cards I was dealt. I think contraband might be too import to the bottom line not to try and slip some through. I'll make some adjustments next time and see.
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