Benny’s Weblog

1835(5): A good game at Dockers on Thursday but a little too long. I feel more comfortable with the rules of 1830.

Revolution: The Dutch Revolt(5): Saturday night marathon. Yet more rules confusion and grey areas. We will get it right eventually! I find five to be too many players if one or two are learning. The game is difficult to teach.

ASL Starter Kit S1(2): Sunday double. Attacker lost. Close and fun game though. Hard work re-familiarising with the game.

ASL Starter Kit S2(2): Attacker lost by the smallest of margins. The last building held off with a single 9-2 leader! Normally probably not allowed in full ASL but legal in the starter kit. I made a few crucial mistakes which cost me dearly.

Mystery Rummy Case No 1: Jack the Ripper(2): Finally won a game by the narrowest of margins. 110 to 107. A cool little game.

Reef Encounter(2): First play with two. The strategy still eludes me.

El Grande(5): Nasty game, once again got hosed. Learning the cards is key.

Princes of Florence(4): Played better with 4 than expected. Won the game by picking up cheap jesters. Only the second live play ever.

500(4): Damn good with 4 players. First time I’ve played with that number. My partner and I came within 40 points of winning but failed to prevent our opponents from making their 7NT winning bid. I was too scared to bid 8 hearts for fear of not making it. Now sorry I didn’t… Great game. Lesson learned.

Alhambra(2): Played with Dirk. Pretty average 2-player game.

1830: Railroads and Robber Barons(6): First play, money is a little too tight witth this many players. We had to finish prematurely with quite a long way to go.

Mystery Rummy Case No 1: Jack the Ripper(2): I enjoy it but after 5-6 plays I haven’t won a game!

Titan(2): Played a few turns to get a feel for it. An excellent game but long, very long. Lots of searching through stacks could be reduced by keeping track with pen and paper. Looking forward to playing with 3 players.

Alhambra(2): Played incorrectly, forgot about Dirk

Revolution: The Dutch Revolt(3): First play of a great game, looking forward to trying this one again.

Age of Steam: Southern England(5): A good simple map for new players, easier than the original Rust Belt map.

Age of Steam: Germany(5): A heavy brain-burner. Many opportunities to get in each other’s way. Would be good with four, great fun. Opening position is crucial.

Settlers (4): At TGV

Perpetual Commotion (6): Great fun. Light and quick multiplayer card dexterity game.

El Grande (5): Essentially the first time I’ve played this. Very good game.

Quo Vadis (5): Another Knizia masterpiece. Kind of feels like a light version of Traders of Genoa. The main barrier for me is the artwork, love the game hate the art.

Blokus (4): Always liked this one

Convic Weekend:
Age of Steam: Rustbelt 4 players.

Fury of Dracula: 5 players

Mykerinos: 4 players

Thurn Un Thaxis: 3 players

Maharaja: 5 players

Mu: 5

Timbuktu: 5

Tower of Babel: 5

Thursday 29/6: Age of Steam 5 players rustbelt.

Saturday 1/7: Tikal, Age of Steam Ireland 3 players, Hansa.

Sunday 2/7: Age of Steam Ireland 3 players, China.

Tuesday 4/7: Pax Romana turns 5-7.

Thursday 6/7: Hector and Achiles, Louis IV.