OO Boardgamers, what did you play this weekend?

[Smoove_B]

Makes sense that game hoarding is ramping up - need to stock up for those cold winter months when you're trapped inside.

[hepcat]

I've been doing relatively well lately. I bought my first game yesterday (Blood Rage on sale for $45) since the summer B&N sale (June?). Considering that prior to that I was buying a game or two a month, that's pretty good!

You are going to love Blood Rage. It's probably in my top 10 games of the year (hey, I buy a lot of games!). I don't own it, but Zarathud does...and I'm looking forward to playing it again.

[Chaz]

I splurged the day of the FFG announcement, then splurged some more a week later and got the BB:TM base and one expansion I passed on. Now I'm waffling about Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle and Mythos Tales.

[coopasonic]

<- successfully kicked the uncontrollable buying habit

It's possible to rein it in. It took me close to a decade, but I have a much better idea now of what I can and will get played and what I enjoy so I spend a lot less money on games that will just take up space. I actually have openings on my board game shelves! In fact, I have "decorations" on those shelves because I don't have enough board games to fill them. That doesn't mean I don't have stuff incoming, but it's much more carefull selected.

Kickstarters incoming:
Evolution Climate (conversion kit for vanilla evolution)
Hero Realms - the campaign hooked me
Apocrypha - I want to see what the next evolution of pathfinder adventure card game becomes
Fugitive - 2 player quick playing game that won't take much space

Outstanding online orders:
Legendary Encounters: Firefly
Arena of the Planeswalkers
Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad
Legendary: Civil War Expansion
Last Friday
Robinson Crusoe Second Edition
Legendary Encounters Alien Expansion

The Legendary system is something my oldest and I both enjoy.
After selling my heroscape stuff for a pile of money spending $45 on the replacement seemed reasonable.
I am not sure why I am replacing Robinson Crusoe, but I am. I'll find a home for the z-man edition.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

I've been doing relatively well lately. I bought my first game yesterday (Blood Rage on sale for $45) since the summer B&N sale (June?). Considering that prior to that I was buying a game or two a month, that's pretty good!

You are going to love Blood Rage. It's probably in my top 10 games of the year (hey, I buy a lot of games!). I don't own it, but Zarathud does...and I'm looking forward to playing it again.

Just reading through the rules and it looks pretty cool. Unfortunately, probably the main reason I haven't been buying board games as frequently lately is because my key members of my board gaming group have moved away. I've got find some new people to play with!

[LordMortis]

Just reading through the rules and it looks pretty cool. Unfortunately, probably the main reason I haven't been buying board games as frequently lately is because my key members of my board gaming group have moved away. I've got find some new people to play with!

Quit your job and come be my neighbor.

[hepcat]

Yeah, I need to get out to some local game meetups and expand my group. It's down to only about 3 others now...and they rarely can all meet at the same time.

[LordMortis]

Yeah, I need to get out to some local game meetups and expand my group. It's down to only about 3 others now...and they rarely can all meet at the same time.

You and me both. I swore up and down I was going to the local meetup this last Saturday. Then Saturday happened and my shoulder hurt like I pulled a nerve a pinched a muscle and the lawn needed mowing and laundry wasn't doing itself and Oriental Empires asked for me to play a few turns and then I was plugged into the TV wishing I could take pain killers for my shoulder to just sleep the rest of the day away.

[hepcat]

I need to learn how to be less selfish when gaming. I tend to force my own games on people.

[Isgrimnur]

Yeah, I need to get out to some local game meetups and expand my group. It's down to only about 3 others now...and they rarely can all meet at the same time.

You and me both. I swore up and down I was going to the local meetup this last Saturday. Then Saturday happened and my shoulder hurt like I pulled a nerve a pinched a muscle and the lawn needed mowing and laundry wasn't doing itself and Oriental Empires asked for me to play a few turns and then I was plugged into the TV wishing I could take pain killers for my shoulder to just sleep the rest of the day away.

Laundry is best done on weeknights when you're not going anywhere. If you have your own machines and you're staying in on weekends because of laundry, you've screwed up.

[coopasonic]

I need to learn how to be less selfish when gaming. I tend to force my own games on people.

When you own all the games...

[hepcat]

Still, there are people who get a game and are excited to play it...and I should be more cognizant of that instead of just throwing my game onto the table the majority of the time.

LordMortis, Chaos and Remus are polite about it when they come to Octocon, thankfully. They should just tell me to shove off.

[Bad Demographic]

Still, there are people who get a game and are excited to play it...and I should be more cognizant of that instead of just throwing my game onto the table the majority of the time.

LordMortis, Chaos and Remus are polite about it when they come to Octocon, thankfully. They should just tell me to shove off.

I was going to be a smartass and tell you we tried that ("shove off!") but it didn't work. But actually, you guys at Octocon have played so many more games than I have that I'm happy to try your games. Not only do I get to try new (to me) games but I get to play them with somebody who can explain how to play.

[hepcat]

Well, you did get me to play that fantastic little card game the last time that I enjoyed so much. I can't remember the name now though. You had to discard cards from your hand based on dice rolls?

[LordMortis]

Still, there are people who get a game and are excited to play it...and I should be more cognizant of that instead of just throwing my game onto the table the majority of the time.

LordMortis, Chaos and Remus are polite about it when they come to Octocon, thankfully. They should just tell me to shove off.

I was going to be a smartass and tell you we tried that ("shove off!") but it didn't work. But actually, you guys at Octocon have played so many more games than I have that I'm happy to try your games. Not only do I get to try new (to me) games but I get to play them with somebody who can explain how to play.

This and when I don't care for a dynamic I'm not afraid to say so. I'm not afraid to hepC that Duel of the Ages is not my game but hat he should have at it if that's what he wants to play. I'm also not shy about saying Archipelago was really interesting to me, I'd like to try that again rather than moving on to something else.

I love trying new games and if I like them and they are under an hour I love to play them a few times just so I can really experience them.

Well, you did get me to play that fantastic little card game the last time that I enjoyed so much. I can't remember the name now though. You had to discard cards from your hand based on dice rolls?

Deer in the headlights? I enjoys me some parlour games too.

[hepcat]

Yeah, that was it. I enjoyed it.

And I bring Archipelago to every Octocon. It's not a well liked game here, unfortunately.

I'm not afraid to hepC

You should be.

[Zarathud]

Hepcat has saved me a ton of money because he buys many games before I even know about them. Of course, I then spent that money on pre-painted D&D miniatures and organizers. And plenty of unplayed games, too.

[Archinerd]

Hepcat has saved me a ton of money because he buys many games before I even know about them.

Plus he even lets you organize them! You're living the good life.

[hepcat]

He's also painted my fence after I told him how much fun it was.

[coopasonic]

Last night my gaming group got a four player game of Food Chain Magnate to the table. Easily my number two game right now. The game was close all the way with some real cut throat games. I went the guru route and trained up find of staff. It was a slow moving machine but once the ball started rolling I was raking in the dough.

One opponent took the same route as me and ended up besting me just slightly by getting the CFO a single turn before me and pulling in huge income.

My wife went heavy on waitresses and ran a lean machine that was slow but steady. It worked really well except... She had one turn where due to pricing she lost her sales and had to fire all of her senior staff. It was rough sailing for her from the on out. She stayed in the game though. The fourth player tried going heavy on building new locations eventually having three locations open and developing rich neighborhoods around her locations. This actually went pretty well except... I had to fight to stay in it and finally took the discount manager to undercut her prices and bring all those rich families to my location.

The game was a blast as always. There was no run away winner this time. I lost by about $100 but it was so fun seeing all the different strategies. Can't wait to get it to the table again.

For some reason I watched four videos about this game last night. It's pretty much the opposite of what I would typically go for (primarily due to length), but for some reason the idea of the game fascinates me. I can't bring myself to buy it because of the price and how little I expect I would get to play it, but it is really capturing my interest for some reason.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

One benefit of this upcoming hurricane in Florida - I get to head inland to stay with my gf and gamer friends. There will be blood (rage)!

[coopasonic]

<- successfully kicked the uncontrollable buying habit

Last night my gaming group got a four player game of Food Chain Magnate to the table. Easily my number two game right now. The game was close all the way with some real cut throat games. I went the guru route and trained up find of staff. It was a slow moving machine but once the ball started rolling I was raking in the dough.

One opponent took the same route as me and ended up besting me just slightly by getting the CFO a single turn before me and pulling in huge income.

My wife went heavy on waitresses and ran a lean machine that was slow but steady. It worked really well except... She had one turn where due to pricing she lost her sales and had to fire all of her senior staff. It was rough sailing for her from the on out. She stayed in the game though. The fourth player tried going heavy on building new locations eventually having three locations open and developing rich neighborhoods around her locations. This actually went pretty well except... I had to fight to stay in it and finally took the discount manager to undercut her prices and bring all those rich families to my location.

The game was a blast as always. There was no run away winner this time. I lost by about $100 but it was so fun seeing all the different strategies. Can't wait to get it to the table again.

For some reason I watched four videos about this game last night. It's pretty much the opposite of what I would typically go for (primarily due to length), but for some reason the idea of the game fascinates me. I can't bring myself to buy it because of the price and how little I expect I would get to play it, but it is really capturing my interest for some reason.

I just found that funagain had FCM in stock for $99.99 and ordered it. Perhaps "kicked the uncontrollable buying habit" was overstating things.

On the plus side I have sold 6 or 7 games already in the BGG.CON sale, including Mercs: Recon at only a 55% loss.

[Chrisoc13]

Honestly it's worth it. I didn't think I would like it at first but it is just so fun.

[Bad Demographic]

Yesterday we did an initial play through of Defenders of the Last Stand. Once through isn't really enough to offer any kind of "evaluation", nor enough to be sure we're playing it right. We'll need to do at least one more before taking it to the Monday night gaming group.
A couple observations - it needs more Defender cards (the cards drawn by the heroes). You run out pretty fast with 4 characters, 12 Defender cards each (and one character got to have 2 extra cards - I forget why, a trait of that character?).
I wish it came with more characters so the players could choose among a couple instead of getting just one each. Yeah, I've gotten spoiled by other games. And, yes, I found out that the kickstarter came with 4 additional characters.
The little motorcycles for the green raiders are pretty flimsy - we had several tailpipes and some handlebars on the table after one play through.
It was nice that the invading leaders were all much bigger than their minions - it was easy to tell which were leaders and which were not (three of the Defenders of the Realm leaders are just a little bigger than the minions).
I found the mutations intriguing, even though I kept getting the "take D3 damage" cards.

[coopasonic]

Honestly it's worth it. I didn't think I would like it at first but it is just so fun.

I sorted Food Chain Magnate out and set it up for a learning game against myself just to work out the rules and whatnot. This is a *really* cool game. It's a lot to wrap your head around at first with all of the options. I didn't do the recommended intro games, just jumped in with both feet. Now I see why they recommend you start off with a limited setup.

I also see what people mean when they say an experienced player will wipe the floor with a new player. I learned a ton just playing by myself. Amazing game. I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and I hope to get a few plays at BGG.CON. I'm sad I won't be able to make it to DGM (the monthly local "convention") this month.

[Chrisoc13]

I'm glad to hear you like it. The game is very cool and deep. Something that helps with set up are the dry erase boards for milestones and the accordian available for organizing staff cards in the bgg store. Or you could just go for the insert organizer on etsy.

I've only played four games of it but I have immensely enjoyed it. It isn't my typical game either but it just clicks.

[Chrisoc13]

Played the new ticket to ride: rails and sails. I thought it would be a bit lackluster but it ended up being really good. A nice addition to the ticket to ride franchise. It's a bit more strategic as you have to carefully plan harbors and using ships vs trains. It's not a beginner version to be sure. But it is will produced and I would recommend it to fans of the system. Anyone else given it a shot yet?

[Holman]

My sons and I are playing our first game of War of the Ring with the new Warriors of Middle-earth expansion (plus Lords of Middle-earth as well).

I wasn't immediately impressed by the new content when it was announced, but in practice it adds a lot of options to the game. The new faction armies (not all of which are likely to be active in the same game) add new on-board strategic choices, and the new cards and their narrative possibilities feel fresh but still very Tolkien.

We're having a great time with it, and it does feel different. My son just moved the Fellowship to the Grey Havens to take advantage of a new card ("The Western Way") that allows movement to a Gondor coastal region.

[Chaz]

That's interesting. WotR has been one of my favorites for about a decade now, but I haven't managed to pick up the Lords of Middle Earth expansion yet. I barely snagged the 2nd edition conversion kit, then waited to long, and the expansion was out of print. Adding some utility to the western half of the board is interesting. Most games, there's just nothing doing out there.

[MythicalMino]

We FINALLY got Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn to the table. I have had it for months, but never played it, and was even actively looking to sell/trade it off. Glad none of those deals went through!

The game works great. The art is incredible. Gameplay is fun and very deep.

My oldest boy (Christian) really took to it and seems to really like it. Looking forward to eventually playing draft games. I have also ordered the two expansions (with promo Phoenixborn) from Plaid Hat Games.

Looking forward to playing more of this one.

[Holman]

That's interesting. WotR has been one of my favorites for about a decade now, but I haven't managed to pick up the Lords of Middle Earth expansion yet. I barely snagged the 2nd edition conversion kit, then waited to long, and the expansion was out of print. Adding some utility to the western half of the board is interesting. Most games, there's just nothing doing out there.

Lords of Middle-earth is really a must-have addition to the game. Everything about it is great.

So far I think Warriors is not quite as indispensable, but it is all good stuff.

Both of the expansions have the virtue of widening the scope of available strategies while staying true to the original spirit. Nothing about "classic" play is nerfed or spoiled, but the new options make the game less predictable.

[Chaz]

That's interesting. WotR has been one of my favorites for about a decade now, but I haven't managed to pick up the Lords of Middle Earth expansion yet. I barely snagged the 2nd edition conversion kit, then waited to long, and the expansion was out of print. Adding some utility to the western half of the board is interesting. Most games, there's just nothing doing out there.

Lords of Middle-earth is really a must-have addition to the game. Everything about it is great.

So far I think Warriors is not quite as indispensable, but it is all good stuff.

Both of the expansions have the virtue of widening the scope of available strategies while staying true to the original spirit. Nothing about "classic" play is nerfed or spoiled, but the new options make the game less predictable.

That's what I've hear, which is why I'm sad that it's been out of print so long. Still, I've got the expansion for the first edition, and that does a solid job of patching up some weaknesses of the original. Not that the original had many weaknesses.

I taught my wife to play Rebellion last night. She was a bit overwhelmed, since she's not used to strategy games of this scale, but she held her own. I had her play Empire, figuring that having all the guys and having a clear goal would be easier. She focused on probe cards, and eventually played a mission that let her drop a handful of ground troops on my base. Turned out she had the possibilities narrowed down to three, and picked the right one. I held off the attack, then we called the game for time. I actually might have been able to pull off a win, since I had enough objectives in hand to win in two turns, so it would've been a race to do that and move the base vs her trying to bring the hammer down on it. We'll see if she's willing to play again.

[El Guapo]

That's interesting. WotR has been one of my favorites for about a decade now, but I haven't managed to pick up the Lords of Middle Earth expansion yet. I barely snagged the 2nd edition conversion kit, then waited to long, and the expansion was out of print. Adding some utility to the western half of the board is interesting. Most games, there's just nothing doing out there.

Yeah, that's my experience as well. Although sometimes if the Shadow player gets "Rage of the Dunlendings" and/or some of the "monsters" cards, I've seen the occasional attack on the Shire / Grey Havens.

[Chrisoc13]

First game of Seafall in the books. It's just the basic rules first with no real changes. Looking forward to seeing where this game goes.

[Chrisoc13]

Anyone else looking at Mechs vs Minions? It's coming out tomorrow. From the designers of league of legends (yes the video game). But they really did their homework from what I can tell. This game is being rave reviews. They aren't doing a kick starter campaign or pre-order campaign they are just releasing them on their website tomorrow at 2pm eastern time.

The game is a cooperative programming gaming where each player controls a mech destroying minions. It isn't a legacy game but it does have a campaign and secret things that open as you go further through the game. But it can be test and played again or made harder. Like I said all of the reviews say the game is fantastically fun and plays in an hour or so.

The real surprise is the component quality for the price. Tons of mini miniatures, painted mechs, beautiful boards and dice. Even the minions are washed. Specially molded inserts for everything. The highest production quality possible really for $75.

The designers specially said they didn't do a pre order because they didn't want people focusing on the production value so they kept it quiet until reviews stated coming out. Really cool. Anyways I'm planning on picking up a copy tomorrow. They are distributing it only through their website.

[coopasonic]

*cough*http://octopusoverlords.com/forum/viewt ... 15&t=93336*cough*

[coopasonic]

But yes, I am in. Co-op and programming = win for me. The price and production quality is secondary but nice.

[Chrisoc13]

But yes, I am in. Co-op and programming = win for me. The price and production quality is secondary but nice.

That's what I get for just perusing topics I've already participated in.

[baelthazar]

Meh. I like the look of it, but this seems like a sort of "new hotness" style game that is a lot of flash and not a lot of substance. I do not see much in the way of replay value (it has the same "kill the hoards trash mobs" mentality of Arcadia Quest with about 1/5th the number of characters). But my FOMO almost had me pulling the trigger... It's like saying to an alcoholic - want some Karl Marx brand Vodka? It tastes like crap, but it is still alcohol.

[hepcat]

To be fair, a lot of trusted reviewers seem to really like it.