Wednesday 18 February 2015

The one that's a bit like Seinfeld




Apparently a very quiet night way back on 18th Feb, or just not a particularly memorable one! So this weeks post may appear to be a blog where nothing much seems to happen. Kudos to Noel though, who has managed to grace us with some fairly terse recollections of some of the evenings games.




Thanks to Noel for the following reports:

Scoville

AP inducing, nicely produced brain burner. Probably plays better 2/3 player. Soren won 2nd John B, 3rd Noel, 4th Jon
 




 
Medieval Academy

Great 45 min card drafting game won by John B, 2nd Soren, 3rd Noel & Jon







Also seen played tonight were… Asteroyds, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Mini Make’n’Break, Spyfall, amongst others.

  

IBG Q&A
On
our Boardgamegeek Guild page James has initiated an open Q&A session with a new question each week. Feel free to play along at home, and even if you are not a regular IBG attendee you are more than welcome to join in with your own answers!

Last weeks question was: “What do you look for in a game that makes you really keen to play it... and on the flip side... what puts you off before you've even seen the game in action... ?”


James: "For me, I really like worker placement and negotiation games... I'll be keen to play anything with those mechanics. And also novel innovative themes... eg Waggle Dance, Arctic Scavengers, Tragedy Looper, Battle at Kemble's Cascade, Mysterium etc... even if the game sucks, I'd be interested to see how it plays. Alternatively things that make me look the other way include themes involving orcs/goblins... playtime over 100 minutes... medieval themes that we've seen 1000 times before, dry 'euro' mechanics... basically anything game that Gareth brings along (sorry Gareth http://cf.geekdo-static.com/images/tongue.gif) "
 
Paul A: "Plus points: designed by Phil Eklund, asymmetrical roles, a "real" economic system, different or odd themes. Negative points: zombies. Boilerplate descriptions (e.g. "a challenging game of strategy and tactics with different paths to victory that requires planning in advance as well as skillful use of short-term opportunities"). "
 
Tom 1: "Plus points: Designed by Reiner Knizia; area control; card drafting; simple rule-set; player interaction. Negative points; two hours plus game time; lots of downtime between turns"
 
Paul D: "Things I look for
A theme that I find interesting (difficult to define, as I could go for many things, but generally I like realistic themes - even if they're historical - there's something about what we're playing being at least somewhat possible). I like party games and dexterity games too. An original idea is good as long as it the game isn't relying purely on originality and it has a good game in there too. Generally I prefer games that last up to 90 minutes, but I could easily enjoy a really long one if I've got the time and energy (I haven't Twilight Struggled for a long time and I'd love to find the time to try that again). I like randomness in games, as long as it is managed & balanced randomness.
Things I steer clear of
There are a few themes that I shy away from, including fantasy, most war-games (although I have enjoyed some simple ones such as battle line or even Memoir 44) and a good proportion of science fiction (although I have found myself enjoying games within each of those genres). Most Wednesday evenings, I'd prefer to play 2-4 shorter games than one 3+ hour beast. Games that require too much reading of cards as you go along are not my favourite - the ones where different cards come out every turn and they're all different and they've all got different text one which needs to be quickly digested - must be my dyslexia. "

 
Dan: "No Ta: tired, derivative retreads of another game "but with a twist!" Anything with Zombies (Dead of Winter was my last tilt at giving a Z-themed game a chance, but it was a bit rubbish really). Anything where you have to impress some miserable noble f***wit from an indeterminate medieval kingdom by putting rubble into piles/trading cloth/harvesting grain. Pointless hobsons choice mechanics (hmmm, do I gain a victory point or make everybody else lose a victory point? Let me fetch my pipe and slippers and ponder on this for a few minutes) Speaking of which, the biggest no-no is paint-drying grass-growing shoe-staring downtime; I don't think this is so much to do with the players as much as a game being so terribly dull and lacking in meaningful interaction that there is no reason to pay attention during turns. Boy, I'm getting a bit ranty, better stop here! Yes Please: Anything a bit left field, whether in theme or design intent (although not so much where an unusual theme is pasted on to a dry puzzle). Asymmetrical gameplay, card combos, manageable randomness, tactical gambles with long-term strategic payoff. Anything where you get to punch the face of some miserable noble f***wit from an indeterminate medieval kingdom. I really get a kick out of family friendly and party games too, If we're laughing and having a good time then who cares about what the actual game itself was like? "
 
Tonio: "Like: Games with other people who don't pick on me too much. Shorter games that make defeat quick and easy rather than a long, drawn out affair where I know I have lost but I still have to sit tight for another hour while my opponent ensures that he beats me by another 27 points. Don't like: AP (in others, it's okay if I take ages) and playing against people who are better than me to a supernatural degree. I'll generally give most games a go. I don't mind not winning, thankfully! That's what I think this week. Ask me again and I will possibly contradict myself. "


This weeks question:In all the games you've played, what is your favourite component...? Or to put this in another way... what part of a game do you secretly fondle under the table when no-one is looking... (anyone answering The King piece from El Grande, will be banned!”

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