A point on the past

I have been thinking about ways to enjoy game night more. It occurred to me that I always use to have a great time at game night, which is not always the case now. I asked myself why this was and this is what I found out. In the beginning we always use to play Puerto Rico and Tigris and Ufraties. In fact we played these game so many time that I found myself really understanding how to play and the ways to win

Most recently thought we have been playing many game that one take to long to learn and two can’t be played in a 3-hour block of time. Compile on top of that that we seem to played a different game every time and you really start to see how un enjoyable game night can be.

So the solution I think should come from the past and it is easy. Choose a few game that are one easy to learn, two can be played in 3 hours, and three play these game for a month of game nights. In this way I think we can all find more enjoyment and fun out of game night.
DC

Battle Lore, Chatting, Devon Departing, & El Grande!

Greetings:

Brief note.

Thursday night at Shawn's went swimmingly. A brief, intro game of Battle Lore. Didn't really show any of what'll separate it from Memoir '44 or C&C Ancients. In fact, I'd say gameplay-wise, that particular simple scenario had less than the other two. It's the potential the game offers once past the intro that looks epic. Special monsters, multiple races, campaigns, etc.

Did some chatting afterward, before Bryan arrived. Devon says he's committed to getting out of the area soon. Better get the notion out there. Better to prepare than have it sneak up. It is a tough area to live in, the Kingdom. I feel the pressure sometimes. I admire Devon for taking on the "itch".

Game of El Grande once Bryan arrived. Some scary memories of the very first game night, when the painful, naked first play of The Lord of the Rings almost killed Game Night at birth. :) but once the clearly mapped-out learning game had its three rounds, we got the hang of it, and quickly saw signs of brilliance. Needs a full play. We stopped 2/3 of the way through, as it was past 9:30.

Hopefully a 5 player game with Dan can happen soon. We'll pay him to come. :) In-joke...

On a side note, I'll be gone the week straddling Jan. & Feb. In the Caribbean. Devon's in California this week. Possible Game Night move to Thursday. Will suit Dan & I much better. I need to do some emergency work coverage Tuesday evening.

On another side note, the party with Dan, Ken & I at tonight's AFC championship seemed like it was going to be a blast. It was, in hang-out, funny ways. But... it turned out to be a truly historic football game, a true classic... that we were on the wrong end of. Kind of the sick feeling I had after the Sox lost to the Yanks in '03... except I can fall back on 3 Pats Superbowl victories & a Sox World Series to make myself feel better. :)

Later!

-AnonAmos

Dungeons & Dragons... Convention... Double Agent... & Borat!

Greetings!

Not much activity in my absence... :) Get on yer horses, peeps! Do I have to do everything around here. :)

A few things happened since last time I checked in.

Quick-notice Dungeons & Dragons session at Jay's, which I didn't think I could come to, but did, sans a created character (half-orc monk!). Devon had been there for a while. Seemed like everyone was having a grand time, though I spent most of my time exploring the Player's Guide, version 3.5 (which Shawn says he helped playtest the rules for, back in the day). I'm very interested.

Two days later, there was a 4 person thing at Devon's, with Bryan, Shawn & myself attending. When I arrived, Bryan and Devon were playing co-op mode in the GameCube version of Splinter Cell: Double Agent. I tried some myself at the convention 4 days later. Once Shawn arrived, we talked for an hour about the usual hilarious, fascinating stuff (ha!), then left too late to get dinner at Anthony's and see Borat! (We were 10-15 minutes late) Still a blast, though. "I can still taste your testes on my moustache!"

Saturday was Bryan & myself at the St. Johnsbury Academy Geek Alliance first annual StJACon. A one day thing, focused on LAN parties, console videogames, some marathons of geeky stuff, & board games (run by Bryan and myself). Ticket to Ride (original & Europe), War of the Ring (those who have not played... must play soon!), Frag & Pirates: Quest for Davey Jones' Gold. BAWLS (I believe it's called) was everywhere. New energy drink that makes Red Bull drink like a Shirley Temple.

This week, looks like a 5:30 session at Shawns, so that Michele's scrapbooking night overlaps with game night. Might even try to hook up with Ken, see if having game night at his place would allow him to do weeknights... even if we have to be hosted by Heather for an hour and a half first. :) Might pop up the 10 minutes to see him once he gets home about 7. My thoughts were to play one of two games that are high on my list of desires... El Grande or A Game of Thrones. Maybe watch the mythical Fight Science DVD, or my skydiving video. :)

Bryan's expressed interest in his place for next week. Epic game of Pirates! He's fiendin'.

Also, Devon's Superbowl party (renting a big TV) which I can't come to, but you should. And Shawn's planning a weekend game day for sometime... early February, I believe.

Game On!

-AnonAmos

3 Guys and a January 2nd.

Greetings once again...

Tuesday night this week. Thought it'd be Devon, myself & Stewart. Turned out to be Devon, myself, & Bryan. Had Worms World Party (no passing one controller) all lined up, then pulled up and hit the "Abort!" button when sick-again Stuart switched to Bryan. You see, Bryan's tired of Worms... so that ruined the whole evening.

Damn you, Bryan! :)

Seriously. Had some good talking, aside from both of them saying they may well move away in the next 9 month. Then played a short & (theoretically) medium game of Pirates: Quest for Davey Jones' Gold (I crushed everyone in record time in the 2nd). Not bad. Winning always helps. :) A bit more luck and bauble-esque theme coolness than real deep gameplay, as with Frag!, but not bad to play every once in a while.

After, saw a new horror movie called The Descent, which has been getting raves from more quarters than horror movies usually get raves from. Featured adults with real character development. Real people with real backstories & issues going through more than simple B-movie trama... when the goblins were munching on them. Not things that make a movie better for everyone, but for me, gives a film much more meat and "legs" (that's where the meat goes). I wanna see it again.

Skipped on the videogames, and on Fight Science (that's copied, so no Netflix timetable rush). Also skipped on El Grande, which is the next cannonical BGG game I want to explore. #6 (now that the new and almighty Battle Lore has passed it).

Looks good for next Tuesday. Might have 6, if the new guy Andy can get over the "come first time" hump and see it's worth it.

Also... Borat will be at Catamount next week! Just got the new schedule in the mail. Gotta do that. 7pm Tuesday. Time for a bit of this and that at Devon's beforehand.

Over and out.

-AnonAmos