Twilight Imperium & December 19th @ Dan's.

Hey All:

I felt non-fulfillment as well, with Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition, but only because we hadn't really cracked it. It's a good rule of thumb that no real judgement can be passed on a game until you "get the basics down". A good strategy game won't show you it's goods until you go forward from there.

I think I'll read the rules myself at some time, and maybe dig it out for a game day weekend, or for SJACon 2006 Friday January 13th. I've got a healthy faith that the game will grow in my esteem the more I dig... just like War of the Ring. When I was bungling through it at first (no one who knew it inside and out taught me... I wasn't lucky like Devon, Shawn & Bryan), I didn't see much reason for hoo-ha: just headaches. But the more I play... the more I stay. :)

I was grumpy Tuesday night late, and Wednesday because I didn't have the opportunity to go back to Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition again and best it. I needed a night sleep, then another crack. I felt I'd been spanked, with no opportunity for a rematch. :) I've got a degree of patience though... and much faith. There's very good reason to believe the game won't be "tapped out" a few hours after nailing down the basics.

For this Sunday, I'm looking at some big stuff. War of the Ring (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/9609) will be a main one. Devon might be so kind as to lead us in an epic battle of A Game of Thrones (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/6472), based on the legendary books by George R.R. Margin (why aren't you beating down our door to teach you, Josh Seamon!). Struggle of Empires (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/9625) is a great potentially 7 player alliance-based imperialism game I've played twice. And there are two cannonical games I've never played: El Grande (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/93) and Caylus (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/18602).

I agree with Dan, too, on his choices. More Catan (with the expansion) would be nice. Goa is supposed to be very good. Dune's a prize, one of the uncommon older games (1979-ish) that still gets much respect. My respect for Power Grid goes, 3 games in, rules finally nailed down (6 players, too). And my one epic game of Railroad Tycoon at the NH Plymouth State College convention went very well (I met the victory conditions just as I was about to implode financially, heh heh).

Ok. Dan's recommended I do smaller bites, over more days. :)

-AnonAmos