{"id":1004,"date":"2017-04-20T23:47:11","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T23:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traversecityboardgamers.com\/?p=1004"},"modified":"2017-04-20T23:47:11","modified_gmt":"2017-04-20T23:47:11","slug":"month-in-review-january-thru-march-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traversecityboardgamers.com\/index.php\/2017\/04\/20\/month-in-review-january-thru-march-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Month in Review – January thru March 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

My year has started on down a chaotic path. \u00a0One at which that has not allowed much in the way of doing my normal routine of doing our monthly stats. \u00a0I wanted to apologize for that to anyone who has enjoyed them in the past. \u00a0Moving forward I decided that I will not be posting these statistics until the end of the year. \u00a0I find that the amount of work it took was turning the fun of our group into more of a job than a labor of love. \u00a0I will be posting a monthly review but in a different fashion than before. \u00a0Much like how I streamlined the reviews we post here on the site, I will be posting a month review with a \u201cless is more\u201d mentality. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In these reviews I\u2019ll pan over some of the games that I had some thoughts about in relevance to how they have been effecting game nights. \u00a0These will include opinions of gamers in the group and my personal thoughts on the game. \u00a0This is not a review but rather a perspective on which games work well in a community group of gamers. \u00a0I will also include in these any or all attained gamer achievement pins. \u00a0This has become a staple of the group and do not want to discontinue that. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This first \u201cMonth in Review\u201d will be a bit different from the usual fair as I\u2019ll be lumping the past 3 months together so this one will probably be a bit longer than usual and also more focused on March as its still fresh in my mind. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

January 2017<\/b><\/p>\n

\"january\"<\/p>\n

\n

We were able to squeeze in quite a few events in the month of January. \u00a0It\u2019s a special time in northern Michigan when the snow is really starting to get old. \u00a0I personally love the snow but you can tell that a lot of people would rather move directly from Christmas into the Summer. \u00a0This allows for a lot of friends to make their way to the gaming table to forget their winter blues. \u00a0We were also able to get many new games to the table this month as everyone had their Christmas gaming loot ready to be played. \u00a0Here are some the games we played this month.<\/p>\n

\n

Games Played<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Game<\/b><\/td>\nQty<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Artifacts, Inc.<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Candy Land<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Imhotep<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kanagawa<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potion Explosion<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Birds of a Feather<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Captain Sonar<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oceanos<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Orl\u00e9ans<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Splendor<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Takenoko<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Above and Below<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best Treehouse Ever<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blood Rage<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blueprints<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boss Monster: The Dungeon Building Card Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bring Your Own Book<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ca$h ‘n Guns (Second Edition)<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Catan<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
City of Iron: Second Edition<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coloretto<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Concept<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dominion<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elder Sign<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elysium<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Euphoria: Build a Better Dystopia<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Evolution<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flash Point: Fire Rescue<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HUE<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Imaginiff<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jaipur<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joking Hazard<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Machi Koro<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medieval Academy<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mysterium<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pandemic<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pandemic: The Cure<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Steam Park<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stone Age<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sushi Go Party!<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Talisman<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ticket to Ride: USA 1910<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Viticulture<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welcome to the Dungeon<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n

\"oceanos\"
\nOceanos<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was a new acquisition for the group in January and was able to play it a couple of times in January. \u00a0This game has players drafting cards that represent discoveries of the ocean and collecting points. \u00a0They also will be able to upgrade their submarine to make themselves more efficient at this task. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m generally a fan of drafting games but they can be difficult to teach new players to gaming as the concept is foreign. \u00a0This one solves this issue with a very beautiful and fun theme that is approachable. \u00a0It would not be my entry level pick for a drafting game like \u201cSushi Go!\u201d is but it is closer than anything else i have come across. \u00a0Given the option I would rather play \u201c7 Wonders\u201d as I feel the drafting in that game is more of a difficult decision. \u00a0This one does bring some interesting mechanics as if worth a look if you’re a bit spent on Sushi Go. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"best
\nBest Treehouse Ever<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was informed from a local store owner that they had acquired a ton of games that will be open for free play. \u00a0We ventured out to check out the loot and was not disappointed. \u00a0There was a lot to pick from and could have easily filled an entire day’s worth of gaming. \u00a0We decided to simply play a small card game that I was interested in when we attended our \u201clocal\u201d convention, Grand Con. \u00a0\u00a0This game was Best Treehouse Ever. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is yet another little drafting game that I would truly place in the entry level game category. \u00a0In this title players will be placing cards that they draft into a treehouse that will score them points based off the types of rooms they choose to build. \u00a0Players must always be mindful of the the trees balance as each room could tilt the tree to either side. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This one is a quick and cute card game that could easily be played with smaller children with a bit of help. \u00a0This one may well be an easier entry into the concept of drafting than Sushi Go but with a single play I can\u2019t be sure. \u00a0I did have quite a bit of fun playing it and may have to add it to the collection in the future if the price is right. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"capt
\nCaptain Sonar<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have had great success with our Wednesday game nights. \u00a0New games are coming to the table and I cannot get enough of it. \u00a0This one is one of those games that another founding member had purchased and brought to play. \u00a0This game has players in 2 teams trying to sink each other’s submarines. \u00a0Each player has a specific role on the sub that has its own goals and responsibilities. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"capt<\/p>\n

Captain Sonar has some wonderful capacity for a game group. \u00a0It can carry up to 8 players on two different teams which can really help when you have a lot of players that don\u2019t want to break up. \u00a0I also really like the games ability to cater to different play types as the beginners method is turn based and the alternative is real time. \u00a0We only played the turn based system which I imagine is quite docile in comparison. \u00a0This is one that I’ll be looking forward to in the future. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"blood
\nBlood Rage<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was not the first time I played Blood Rage. \u00a0In fact, I posted on the page my review of it. \u00a0I\u2019ve nothing new to report here on the gameplay but rather just some thoughts I was having about the game. \u00a0Initially when we played this game it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. \u00a0It had nothing to do with the game as it’s a very well put together game. \u00a0My perspective was a bit tainted by the fact that i wasn\u2019t very good at the game. \u00a0Area control games have never been my strong suit and my opinion of the game suffered because of it. \u00a0We were able to get it back to the table and play again which I feel went better than it went before. \u00a0This type of game goes over very well with players that like very competitive and combative games. \u00a0I cannot deny its popularity. \u00a0It will continue to come out and I’ll continue to give it another shot. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"kanagawa\"
\nKanagawa<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was also another acquisition of mine this month that really surprised me. \u00a0\u00a0Lately I’ve been moving in the direction of heavier games and haven’t been getting the enjoyment out of smaller games that I used to. \u00a0I was willing to give this one a shot as it\u2019s made by one of my favorite designers, Bruno Cathala. \u00a0It didn\u2019t disappoint and has been happily brought back to the table many times by the members of the group. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kanagawa has players painting a mural. \u00a0This mural will contain things like buildings, people, animals, seasons, and settings. \u00a0Each one will score out differently depending on how many of each kind that you have. \u00a0Players will also have to plan carefully as the will have a limited supply of paints that they will be able to use. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This one has found a great home in our groups collection. \u00a0Its beautiful and elegant. \u00a0The gameplay is easily followed but still challenging and engaging. \u00a0I\u2019m looking forward to future games of this and how it will be perceived in the long run. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"imhotep\"
\nImhotep<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t overstate enough how much I enjoy playing another player’s game and be taught that game by them. \u00a0It\u2019s nice to be on the other side of the table once in awhile. \u00a0This one is one of those games. \u00a0Another game that is simple in concept and play but doesn\u2019t lack in strategy. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Imhotep will have players building various structures in ancient Egypt. \u00a0Stones will be coming in by boat and the players will have to load the boats up with their stones and send them to the building site of their choosing. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this one timing is crucial as when you load the ships with your stones then the other players may send that ship to a destination that you didn\u2019t intend. \u00a0This is where the game gets interesting. \u00a0It\u2019s been on the request list quite a bit and even borrowed a few times as well. \u00a0I can\u2019t blame the enthusiasm though as I quite enjoyed the game myself. \u00a0Yet another one that I look forward to seeing where this game is after a few months. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

February 2017<\/b><\/p>\n

\"imhotep\"<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

February was the month of the classics. \u00a0Lots of titles that we have come to love found the table yet again and some that I have had for quite some time that we were able to introduce to new players. \u00a0Our attendance has been slowly gaining ground lately with many new faces from Meetup.com finding our group and coming to game night. \u00a0The variety of different personalities has been very challenging when planning out the games that I place in the bag to bring. \u00a0I\u2019ve settled on the \u201cless is more\u201d mentality with the collection lately. \u00a0I really don’t want to haul more than is needed. \u00a0Anxiety on what to play is already difficult so this helps to limit that problem. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Games Played<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Game<\/b><\/td>\nQty<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lords of Waterdeep<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Small World<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Splendor<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tem-Purr-A<\/b><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dominion<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
For Sale<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kanagawa<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scythe<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tsuro<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blueprints<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carcassonne<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Castles of Mad King Ludwig<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deus<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Imhotep<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Innovation<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Islebound<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
King of Tokyo<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Libertalia<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mancala<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monopoly Deal Card Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Orl\u00e9ans<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Patchwork<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pirate’s Cove<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potion Explosion<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RoboRally<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T.I.M.E Stories: Under the Mask<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ticket to Ride<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timeline: Inventions<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welcome to the Dungeon<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n

\"small
\nSmall World<\/strong><\/p>\n

Small World has been in my collection for quite some time. \u00a0It was one of the first games I bought when I started really getting into the hobby. \u00a0Oddly enough, I\u2019ve only played this one a half dozen times at best. \u00a0I wish I had a better reason for my disinterest in playing this one but it simply comes down to amount of games. \u00a0There was always something else that was new and needed to be played. \u00a0This one seemed to be the unnecessary victim of neglect. \u00a0Recently I\u2019ve been dusting off some of my older games as my buying habits have slowed down. \u00a0This one found some table time and some much needed love.<\/span><\/p>\n

This little area control game is quite fun. \u00a0Normally I have a hard time enjoying area control games as I can get frustrated but this one fixes that with a simple solution. \u00a0Your units that you spread across the map will eventually die out and will need to redeploy. \u00a0Your commitment bad decisions are not condemning if you make a poor choice. \u00a0I find most area control games can really come down to one or two mistakes. \u00a0Hopefully we can see this one to the table a bit more as multiple member now own their own copy. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"dominion\"<\/p>\n

Dominion<\/strong><\/p>\n

I played Dominion to death when i first got into the hobby. \u00a0It was not my entry point but was the follow up to my entry game. \u00a0The cards provided so much variability that multiple games was a no brainer. \u00a0Before too long the game had been played out and I was ready to move out to greener pastures. \u00a0How this one came back into the gaming rotation was quite by accident. \u00a0Our secondary game nights have been hosted by a local brewery called Earthen Ales. \u00a0They happen to be gaming enthusiasts and that happens to be their favorite title. \u00a0During some slower times they like to jump in and play a game or two. \u00a0This has brought the game back from the dead for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

This one is the grandfather of deck building games. \u00a0The mechanic that a lot of modern board games use in their game. \u00a0You have a starting group of cards that make up your deck and you draw a hand of cards to play from each turn. \u00a0Using those cards will provide you the resources to buy victory point cards and additional action cards which will be added to your deck making it stronger. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These plays really got me excited about the game again. \u00a0A few more people were introduced to the title as well. \u00a0I haven\u2019t heard of requests for the game as of yet but i will jump on the opportunity if it should arise. \u00a0The game can play quick and has very simple mechanics. \u00a0Something that can really prove to be an asset if there are a lot of new gamers at the table. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"scythe\"
\nScythe<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was one of the new acquisitions in February. \u00a0I have really been looking forward to playing this one since I missed the opportunity to jump on the kickstarter campaign. \u00a0Once at the table it didn\u2019t disappoint. <\/span><\/p>\n

Scythe is set in an alternate history where the ashes of World War 1 still loom over Europe. \u00a0Mechs were used in the war and still hang around to this day. \u00a0This one is a worker placement game with a little area control fused in there. \u00a0Each player will take on a role of one eastern european nation in an attempt to acquire the most money. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not usually a fan of area control games as they are not my style of play but this doesn\u2019t centralize its mechanics around direct combat. \u00a0In fact, the game will punish players who get too aggressive with their advancement. \u00a0The game play runs very smoothly with an action selection mechanism that keeps turns short and sweet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"scythe2\"<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t yet introduced this one to the group as a whole quite yet as it takes quite a bit of time to set up and also takes quite a bit of time to play. \u00a0The learning curve can also be intimidating as the wealth of choices comes quickly. \u00a0A smaller game group would probably have more use for a monster like this one. \u00a0That will not stop me from bring this to our game night though as this really knocked it out of the park. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"innovation\"<\/p>\n

Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Little box card games usually are very easy to learn and quick to play. \u00a0This one doesn’t fit that mold. \u00a0Players will be developing innovations starting from prehistory to the present day. \u00a0Each innovation will build on the previous ones and will provide various abilities through the innovations played. \u00a0The winner is the one that completes certain achievements. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I really enjoyed this game but I\u2019m afraid this may not make its way to game night unless it is specifically asked for. \u00a0My reasoning for this is the game play itself. \u00a0This is a very dense and complicated game to learn and play. \u00a0Our first game was very slow and cumbersome. \u00a0I\u2019m dreading teaching this one so i may put it off until i can slowly teach the others in the group to play before i bring it to the table. \u00a0I really enjoy the game otherwise. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"legendary\"<\/p>\n

Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marvel comics were one of my favorite things growing up. \u00a0The stories and characters hold a very special place in my heart. \u00a0This game brings that universe to the table and allows each player to recruit the characters they love in a deck building game like Dominion. \u00a0Each player will use their deck to defeat a mastermind villain that all players will be going after. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"legendary2\"<\/p>\n

My love for Dominion and Marvel was tapped in this one. \u00a0The gameplay is very tense and difficult making a fun experience. \u00a0The amount of characters that come in just the base box is very immense so replay value is very high. \u00a0My concern with this one for any game group is the cards. \u00a0There are a lot of them and spills could result in a costly replacement. \u00a0I would suggest many sleeves as I did for my copy. \u00a0This will be coming to game night frequently\u00a0<\/span>as many players have already developed a fondness for it.<\/p>\n

\n

March 2017<\/b><\/p>\n

\"march\"<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

March was yet another month of replaying the classics in the group. \u00a0I\u2019ve decided moving forward that i will be bringing the same games two weeks in a row. \u00a0This I feel will help encourage repeat plays and help the members find the games that they truly love. \u00a0I will still be taking requests and rounding out the collection each week with those titles but the emphasis will be put on the games that were played the previous week. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We also have had a bit of a location change up. \u00a0Our normal Wednesday and Sunday nights may flip flop in the future to better accommodate the needs of the group. \u00a0I feel that our new Sunday location is in the best interest of our group. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Games Played<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Game<\/b><\/td>\nQty<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blokus<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carcassonne<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Champions of Midgard<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diamonds<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Discoveries<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pandemic<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Splendor<\/b><\/td>\n2<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Above and Below<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BANG! The Dice Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bohnanza<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BOO<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Break the Safe<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cat Tower<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Codenames: Deep Undercover<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dice City<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eight-Minute Empire: Legends<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elysium<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flash Point: Fire Rescue<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GYM<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Imhotep<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kanagawa<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Machi Koro<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marvel Dice Masters<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monopoly Deal Card Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New York 1901<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nippon<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oceanos<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potion Explosion<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Red7<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scoville<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sentinels of the Multiverse<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SPY<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Takenoko<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tammany Hall<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n

\"nippon\"<\/p>\n

Nippon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nippon has not seen the table at game night until this month. \u00a0This is despite the fact that I\u2019ve owned Nippon for quite some time. \u00a0The complexity has really held it back unfortunately. \u00a0Often at game nights we have a large mixture of players that have a varied amount of experience. \u00a0I would definitely not spend anytime trying to explain this one to anyone without any heavier gaming experience. \u00a0It\u2019s the reason I was apprehensive in the past but lately I\u2019ve been slightly more less apprehensive to bring the titles that I want to play personally. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Nippon, players are Zaibatsu (Large Japanese Companies) trying to establish feudal Japan in the the modern era. \u00a0Players will be making and shipping various goods to Japan or other countries. \u00a0The game has an interesting action selection mechanism that I find rather unique. \u00a0Each different color worker is placed on a grid that is associated with a particular action. \u00a0Each separate color of worker taken will force the player to pay out more in payroll. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I found that this game can take quite a bit of time to teach but that wasn\u2019t anything I didn\u2019t suspect. \u00a0The reward of playing far exceeds the hassle of teaching this one. \u00a0I love the brain burning feel that this one offers. \u00a0Every move is crucial which is only enhanced by the random placement of the workers on actions and other players moves. \u00a0This one will see the table more often as I\u2019m excited to see how it holds up to future play. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"sentinels\"
\nSentinels of the Multiverse<\/strong><\/p>\n

This game was introduced to me by gamers that are rather new to the group. \u00a0They don\u2019t show up often but when they do I was welcome the opportunity to play with them. \u00a0Recently on a visit to their home we were able to play this game from their collection. \u00a0It hasn\u2019t come to game night but I\u2019m sure the opportunity would be welcome. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sentinels of the Multiverse is a cooperative card game that has players taking on the roles of Super Heroes defending the world from a super-villain. \u00a0\u00a0Each hero has their own distinct deck of cards that they will use exclusively. \u00a0Each deck of cards has a specific feel to it to match the superhero it belongs. \u00a0The supervillains also have a specialized deck of cards that they will use to try and destroy the heroes. \u00a0This deck is automated so no player has to play this part. \u00a0Play ends with the heroes triumphant or the villain defeats the heroes. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t tell you how often the game felt bleak. \u00a0This was especially the case at the beginning of the game. \u00a0The problems start soon and start piling up just as fast. \u00a0That soon diminishes as the game progresses and your card effects start to stack. \u00a0This has a great story element and also a tense atmosphere that builds a great experience. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"gum
\nBoo, Gym, and Spy – Pack O Games 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaming on the go has never been so easy with the Pack o Games. \u00a0Each game in the set are about the size of a pack of game hence the name. \u00a0This was something that I had backed on Kickstarter and received in March. \u00a0We haven’t had the opportunity to play all of the games yet but I\u2019m sure they are soon to come. \u00a0I\u2019m not going to cover each game in how they work but rather my thoughts on the games.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boo was quick and simple. \u00a0I could almost equate it to Go as a concept. \u00a0The mechanics are easy to understand but I see the potential for it be a masterful game. \u00a0The theme does seem a bit silly but it works for what it is. \u00a0A great little two player game if you’re looking for a game to fill some time. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gym is a team game about picking a kids for a team. \u00a0This has a lot of tactical decisions to make with a slight amount of variability as the cards will be played differently. \u00a0I\u2019m not quite sure on how i feel about the gameplay yet as it was played incorrectly. \u00a0I’ll hold on that but i will be playing this in the future and looking back. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gym\"<\/p>\n

Spy has been my favorite so far. \u00a0It is a deduction game that fills a bit of a gap in my collection. \u00a0\u00a0This one also challenges me in a way that most games do not with memory. \u00a0Each card in your opponent’s hands will have to be remembered in order to knock them out. \u00a0The gameplay is fun and interactive with every player. \u00a0It has some potential for \u201cKing Making\u201d so be mindful of that. \u00a0I had a lot of fun with this one and look forward to introducing this one to the others in the group. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"quarriors\"<\/p>\n

Marvel Dice Masters<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Pictured above is not Dice Masters but is a similar game mechanically called Quarriors)<\/p>\n

I had no intention of playing collectible card games in our game group. \u00a0I find they have a tendency to take over and become the group’s activity. \u00a0I do play them from time to time but find them to be a bit dangerous as they can become expensive and time consuming. \u00a0I enjoy the change from game to game. \u00a0That said I did start building a small collection of Dice Masters with a focus on the Marvel universe. A contradiction I know, but one that i can justify a bit in the way that I\u2019m setting up the game. \u00a0I built a few decks to play so that everything you need to play is sitting at the table and ready to play. \u00a0There is no need for the gamers to build and bring their own dice and cards. \u00a0I\u2019m hoping that people get excited enough to play and see what CCG\u2019s have to offer but not to let it take over. \u00a0I\u2019m not too worried but thought I would touch on this. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\"clank\"<\/p>\n

Clank! A Deck-Building Adventure<\/strong><\/p>\n

My most recent acquisition has been Clank. \u00a0Players will be diving into a dungeon in an attempt to steal an artifact from the depths and carrying it out before the dragon takes them down. \u00a0If that sounds intriguing then let me tell you about the gameplay a bit. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this one you will be building a deck of cards that will allow you to plunge further into a dungeon and also steal loot and kill monsters. \u00a0The ongoing threat of the dragon looms over each player as the game progresses so speed is of the essence. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The game itself is quite simple once the core elements are learned. \u00a0It is especially simple if the players are already familiar with deck building games but here is my initial hesitation with this game. \u00a0It is so much like Dominion in its mechanics of deckbuilding that the simplicity is working against itself. \u00a0This would be a great entry point for players that are new to the mechanic but a step backwards for players that love an existing game of this mechanic. \u00a0The theme is woven in quite nicely so this may carry it through. \u00a0So far the response has been positive from the members of the group that aren\u2019t heavy gamers. \u00a0The heavy gamers on the other hand have had little to say about the game. \u00a0This will need a bit more plays to have a solid opinion on the matter. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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