OO Boardgamers, what did you play this weekend?

[hepcat]

You guys ALMOST make me want to live in Chicago. ALMOST.

Hepcat lives here. That's enough of an incentive for anyone!

What I do can't be called living...

[Smoove_B]

Played a 4-way round of Spartacus tonight, starting at 7 influence as recommended by the rules. I think it took us about 3 hours, but we were goofing off a bit. Regardless, it was an awesome experience -- believe the hype. It delivers on multiple levels -- card play, dice rolling, gambling -- all winners. We were completely out of hand with the treachery and I can only imagine how brutal it would have been if we started with 1 influence and clawed all the way up to 12. Starting at 7 you have many more options with the cards. Big thumbs up from us and something we're now looking forward to playing again -- from the beginning.

If the Firefly board game is going to be anything like this, it will be off the charts awesome.

After that we played a round of the Car Wars card game, which was a nice way to come down from gladiator machinations.

[hentzau]

Played a 4-way round of Spartacus tonight, starting at 7 influence as recommended by the rules. I think it took us about 3 hours, but we were goofing off a bit. Regardless, it was an awesome experience -- believe the hype. It delivers on multiple levels -- card play, dice rolling, gambling -- all winners. We were completely out of hand with the treachery and I can only imagine how brutal it would have been if we started with 1 influence and clawed all the way up to 12. Starting at 7 you have many more options with the cards. Big thumbs up from us and something we're now looking forward to playing again -- from the beginning.

If the Firefly board game is going to be anything like this, it will be off the charts awesome.

After that we played a round of the Car Wars card game, which was a nice way to come down from gladiator machinations.

Spartacus really is an awesome game. I've enjoyed every single time I've played, even though I've only won once.

[hepcat]

Horrible loss in a quad game of duel of ages 2 this afternoon. I was just obliterated. 12 characters per side, 16 rounds. I ignored the labyrinths early in the game in favor of some secret cards that gave me some achievements. Unfortunately, by the time I got around to them it was too little, too late. I think it was like 7 to 3.

[MythicalMino]

I have a 3 player game scheduled for tomorrow (should've been a 4 player, but one cancelled). Then another 2 player set for Monday morning.

[Lorini]

I'm playing two player with my son later today (he's 22). Any pro tips?

[hepcat]

Tutorial scenarios or full game?

The biggest tip I can give is be aware of your character's abilities. And don't waste opfire opportunities.

DoA II is a great game because it doesn't make you adhere to a set strategy each game. Depending on what characters you get during the setup, how you play can change dramatically. Some characters you fight with, some you explore with and others you use for challenges.

[Lorini]

Would you recommend the tutorials first or go full bore?

[hepcat]

I just went straight to the rush mission in the basic manual and had no problem. Then we started playing triad missions and beyond. It's not really rules heavy.

[MythicalMino]

So, 2 of the 4 players for our 5 Platter DoA2 game cancelled...so that left me vs. my old nemesis...usually, he wins nearly every game we play. But not this time!!

The teams (10 characters each):

Team White (him) consisted of...Baron Von Krule, Ryder, Ygunna Gecha, Arkin Ironshanks, Wintercreek, Victoria, Quaal, Robert Morris, Cassie Sashay, Baba Yaga

Team Black (me) consisted of...Jerry Gillis, Flicker, Vaxiss, Annah Mischkev, Santiago El Robusto, Kiri Silvertip, Sterling Jack, Gregory, Zera Kail, Brad

I won the game, 7-0 (I managed to take all 4 Labyrinths, plus the Lith, Alliance and the Combat achievements, scoring 7 pts to 0 pts)

I almost won via Valor, but he managed to kill one of my characters...

I have another game set up for tomorrow morning (vs. a new player). Looking forward to it!!

Chris

[Lorini]

Well we stumbled out of the blocks since I assigned my son to read and explain the rules and he did an awful job. The game is not that hard once I understood it. We played four rounds before calling it, as we hadn't chosen very good characters. Also I'm not sure I really like that first mission since you have to run all the characters at once. I'm looking forward to a mission with reinforcements instead. Overall I liked it, I thought they did streamline the rules from the first edition and that it played cleaner than the first edition. LOS is still a pain but it always is in these types of games, so no surprises there. Hopefully we'll play again a full game with more knowledge in picking characters.

[SpaceLord]

DoA has been out 10 years. They still can’t write a rulebook for shit. I’m stumped as to how Adventures work. In a Triad or Quad scenario, for example, are the labyrinths the only way to have Adventures? How in the hell can a character get cards when they can only face Guardians? I’m confused.

Reinforcement is a bit wonky as well. A Triad game is 12 rounds. In my test game, a Black-team Respect 0 character didn't come out until the Reinforcement phase of turn 5. Great, a character starts the game halfway through, way back at a dome.. Heck, according to the rules as I read them, the Reinforcement phase happens at the end of each turn, so on turn 1, nothing happens?

[hepcat]

I would say that all of your concerns will be at the very least lessened, if not outright dispelled after one or two plays. But yes, the rulebook does leave a bit to be desired. If you're reading the basic rulebook, toss it and get the master's compendium posthaste.

Also, the boardgamegeek.com page for DoA2 is invaluable.

Now, on to your questions.

I think Labyrinths are technically the only Adventures. That's the reason they're called Adventure Keys. Also, I think the Alliance Key is also an adventure, but I haven't played that variant yet.

We also treat Encounters as Adventures, but since you don't play with Encounters AND Labyrinths in the same game mode, it's not a big deal to do so. That way some characters with Adventure bonuses in a game without Labyrinths aren't useless.

You'll get cards, so don't fret about that. You can get cards by:

1) Going to your base vault and pulling half (rounded up) during a Free Action phase.
2) Doing Guardian challenges (you don't even have to succeed some of the time) and Encounters, as well as killing other players and stealing what they drop or imprisoning them and getting the cards through interrogation (not the preferred method since the VP change for imprisonment, imho).
3) Many characters start the game with cards.

Reinforcement is not the only way of deploying characters. There are more than a few game modes that use Distance based deployment. Try those if Reinforcement isn't gelling for you. Personally, I've grown quite fond of Reinforcement. It gives me a chance to ramp up the game and provides me with another reason to pay close attention to my character selection during setup. Going with a team full of grunts is great for a Distance deployment game, but backfires when playing Reinforcement.

In a game with 8 or more characters on a side, you'll have plenty to do before all your characters make it to the board. Don't forget that the characters you HAVE deployed can take their full turn when it comes.

Give the game a play before you start worrying too much about these things. I think you'll find your fears addressed after a few rounds.

[SpaceLord]

There's 8 characters per side in the Triad scenario. There's just two cards in the Vault. Stealing cards is a great idea, but if both sides have squat for cards, that doesn't help much. Heck, to trade cards, you need to spend effectively the whole turn of two characters.

In my learning game, it took 3 turns, on average, to march across the map to even get to a labyrinth. So the first test for any character Reinforcing on round 4, for example, doesn't happen until turn 7. Pass or fail, they get sent back to a dome, which necessitates another trip of 3 turns back to a labyrinth. On average, it seems, without even fighting other characters, any single character can perform 2 Adventures a game. Weird. If you fight another character, or go back to your base, you'd be lucky to get 1 labyrinth in.

I guess I'll have to play a whole game to see.

[MythicalMino]

Barely won the game earlier...2-1. We were both tied in 3 out of the 4 adventure labyrinths (I won the colonial), tied in the alliance key (I really like this key...for one, it gets Henchmen on the board), he won the base achievement (he destroyed my Main Gate and my HQ, I destroyed his Main Gate), but I ended with the Combat Achievement (19-15), giving me the 2-1 lead.

Hep, I think that, under the right circumstances, and the right time, imprisoning opponents can help. You deny them 2 points in the combat achievement, while gaining a point for your own team. Althought, you gotta make sure you can KEEP the character in prison, which could be difficult, especially in the early to mid game. But, it can boost you in the points to win the achievement to imprison instead of killing.

[MythicalMino]

you can send characters to other labyrinths (ex: Colonial character to a Future Labyrinth). Not sure if you knew that already, but from reading your post, it seems as though you were not doing that. Plus, it can move your character around the board easier by doing the other labyrinths.

[hepcat]

In my learning game, it took 3 turns, on average, to march across the map to even get to a labyrinth.

Why are all the labyrinths are on the other side of the map? You and the other player choose where to place those adventure keys during setup. You don't HAVE to place all of them on the other side of the map. Also, when you're dismissed, you can choose a dome near a labyrinth to respawn. I usually get at least two labyrinth visits out of a character...even if they come in on turn 3 or 4...without a problem.

[SpaceLord]

you can send characters to other labyrinths (ex: Colonial character to a Future Labyrinth). Not sure if you knew that already, but from reading your post, it seems as though you were not doing that. Plus, it can move your character around the board easier by doing the other labyrinths.

Yeah, I was sending them to the closest labyrinth, in general, though the potential bonuses for matching the card seemed really helpful. I'll try a different key configuration next time.

[Chaz]

So are there enough opportunities to get cards that you don't feel like you're limited? Does that vary by game type?

[hepcat]

So are there enough opportunities to get cards that you don't feel like you're limited? Does that vary by game type?

You get enough, that's my assessment. If they showered you with cards, it would make the game less tactical and more opportunistic. The way they do it now, you have to work for them. I was worried about the difficulty in getting additional cards myself before my first game. After that first game though, I was satisfied that the recipe was just right.

[Chaz]

I may want to tweak the number of cards up from time to time. I feel like I should have a ton of options for what to give to Napoleon as he rampages across the land.

[MythicalMino]

I feel the amount is just right. I agree with Hep. But I will add, too many cards and it becomes a different game, in my opinion.

A different topic about the same game...for those of you who are just learning (like I am), a character does not need incredibly high combat ratings to be a "good character". Each character is "good", in their own way...it is up to you, the player, to figure out how to use them with the other characters you have. In my last 2 games, there really wasn't much combat (well, that is not entirely true...last nights game, the first 3/4 of it, there was not much combat...the last 1/4 of the game, thoug...a bloodbath). The game I played today, there wasn't much at all...only a few instances of melee...my guys had some opfire, but even then, not that much. The game shines, in my opinion, with needing to move your characters around without getting shot up (charging a guy with an unrevealed Satchel Charge ended up being suicide for him). Use the cover...but if you are the guy with the gun, get into a good position to shoot. The game, to me, focuses more on manuevering than the actual combat itself. Besides, combat is only one achievement point out of anywhere between 5-7 or more achievements (my games so far has been 8 achievements...4 adventure labyrinths, alliance, Lith, Bases, and Combat).

I know that I really enjoy the game...not much that I can really say so far that I dislike, other than prep time, and that is mostly finding the character tokens...

[hepcat]

Sidebar: I got my mother's birthday present in the mail today. One copy of Mage Wars. That's one hefty box!

[Chaz]

Is this a present for your mom like Homer's present of a bowling ball was for Marge?

[hepcat]

Sorry, I meant a present FROM my mom.

[coopasonic]

Sidebar: I got my mother's birthday present in the mail today. One copy of Mage Wars. That's one hefty box!

You need to be up on the rules with a deck built for octocon.

[hepcat]

Will do, sir!

Watched the IV part walkthrough on their site. God I love the Internet.

[Chaz]

Holy hell, that's a TON of DoA2 that just showed up. Sucker is super heavy.

If you want a good laugh, check out the back of the box. Marvel at the terrible layout that features a full third of the box is dedicated to showing off the background art of a waterfall, while a text box partially covers the art for the characters. Read the text and try and figure out what the hell they're trying to say. Question why the heck they aren't talking about the crazy character and equipment combos. It's just a hilarious hot mess.

[baelthazar]

Lord help me, I'm considering printing out the DoA II Master Compendium at Kinkos and having it bound. It really is a much clearer version of the rules than... er... the actual rules.

[LordMortis]

Lord help me, I'm considering printing out the DoA II Master Compendium at Kinkos and having it bound.

It's good to work in an office. I'd do something like that an pay for it. $.0009 per color page side and $.10 for plastic binding. Another $.20 if you want an acetate cover. Why people steal office supplies when they are so cheap for offices to purchase and sell to their drones, I'll never know.

[coopasonic]

It's good to work in an office. I'd do something like that an pay for it. $.0009 per color page side and $.10 for plastic binding. Another $.20 if you want an acetate cover. Why people steal office supplies when they are so cheap for offices to purchase and sell to their drones, I'll never know.

Because in 21 years of working in an office environment with seven different companies I have never had such an option.

[LordMortis]

It's good to work in an office. I'd do something like that an pay for it. $.0009 per color page side and $.10 for plastic binding. Another $.20 if you want an acetate cover. Why people steal office supplies when they are so cheap for offices to purchase and sell to their drones, I'll never know.

Because in 21 years of working in an office environment with seven different companies I have never had such an option.

I'm sorry to hear that. It's simple. It's convenient. It's cheap. It discourages theft and easy way to promote loyalty. No one in my office ever needs to go to the post office because walking over with a note and $.46 to petty cash gets them a stamp. It takes a crappy small time thief to want to risk losing the convenience and yet an office of 50 would probably lose $25 - $50 a month in stolen stamps if they didn't make that easy option available, simply because people don't want to be bothered with going to post office.

It's sort of annoying for the petty cash person to keep track of but that small annoyance more than pays for itself in things that people pay for where there's a good shot they're going to take supplies out of convenience without thinking about theft anyway.

[Isgrimnur]

Phantom Leader arrived yesterday. I may get around to cracking the plastic this week. I'd like to run an AAR with volunteer pilots at some point.

[Chaz]

Man, I want to start punching bits on DoA2, but I need, like, a lot of bead bags before I even think about doing that. I'm thinking just sorting the character tokens by number, and writing the number range on the bags. I know there's a ton of alternate methods, but they all seem stupidly complicated to me.

[hepcat]

I just bagged mine in sandwich bags. Picked up some freezer bags for the larger stacks of cards (Commons deck, Characters).

I put all my platters in the basic box and the cards and counters in the master box. The basic box lid bulges up slightly, but it's not that noticeable.

I'm going to grab a small plano box or something this week and sort the character counters into subgroups. Probably just male/female/alien/robot right now to avoid hours and hours of sorting. Finding the character counters for a game is the longest part of setup.

I'm dreading taking DoA II to something like Octocon because the game has so many small bits and pieces. It's going to be easy to lose components on this one. I may be selfish and just keep it in my car and play one or two games that I participate in because of that.

[Chaz]

See, that's why I'm thinking bead bags with maybe 10 counters per. If you need character 76, just grab the "70-79" bag, and you're almost home.

I usually use sandwich bags too, but bead bags are cheap and work better for smaller bunches of counters sometimes. Otherwise, snack- and sandwich-size ziplocks should get me there.

[hepcat]

Hmmm....good idea. Thanks.

[MythicalMino]

Spoiler:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/52qf.jpg/

Here is my storage for all the bits and pieces.

Across the top row (from left to right): Experience Markers, Team Markers (white/black), Level Up Markers, Team Markers (red/orange), Blue Adventure Tokens, Dice (20-sided, 4-sided, 6-sided)
Middle Row (from left to right): Henchmen, Pets/Creatures, Sentinels (I think that is what they are), Monuments, Yellow Adventure Tokens
Bottom Row (from left to right): Muli-Token Characters, Ancient Characters, Colonial Characters, Modern Characters, Future Characters, Dice (to track HP's, and various other stats) plus LoS Tokens plus Lith Tribute Tokens

All the Platters, plus the keys, I store in the Master Set Box, with all the cards in the Basic Box.

The storage tray I use is "Symmetry" #9421. Bought it at Walmart in the Hardware Section (by the tool boxes), NOT in the sporting goods section where they are usually located at.


Question: Why is my image not showing up like a normal image? I have to put it in here as a link instead of an image...Am I doing something wrong?

[coopasonic]

Mage Wars is getting two new mages next month, Druid and Necromancer.

I am not sure I am even interested in either mage, I just want their spells!

[hepcat]

I either play rogues or necromancers in any fantasy based MMORPG, so that set's a no brainer for me.