2008 Session reports

[Charlie Davis]

These 2008 session reports will be added as one long thread. There is not as much commentary as usual so mostly this is just a list of games played.

The quality of games is obvious but we didn't play as many games or keep as good records this year. This list only includes Tech Game Day and all the regular game sessions. We did not have a Ted Con in 2008 so we only managed 180 games this year. Hopefully we can do better in 2009.

[Charlie Davis]

January 16, 2008
by Charlie

I think this was the first official game night for the Appalachian Gamers for 2008. We played a Kris Hall's beautiful home in Hurricane.
Attendees: Dave Gilligan, Charlie Davis, Kris Hall, and Kris' wife.
Yes, she has a name but I am old and forgetful. (I remembered. It is Kim.)

Giganten
Race across Oklahoma or Texas drilling oil wells and then shipping your oil to one of 3 companies. Then trying to grab control of the companies to sell the oil. It is slightly confusing early on but the big idea is to control the companies so that you get the most money for your oil. It was a close game. Dave won by about 12,000 which isn't much considering the average price for a barrel is 5000. I took the "drill everywhere you come to" strategy. Dave was a little more picky and then mid game changed plans and did the "drill all of the oil wells near the start line". Mostly because Kris cut him off and his train was way behind. Kris seemed to be picky early and then go for anything he could reach late in the game. I never got a big payoff but never took the minimum for any oil. Kris hit both extremes. Dave had a lot of mid sized payoffs but ran out of oil when he changed plans. With 3 players, I think I got lucky most of the game. If you played with four players the game would be much more cut throat since there are only 3 companies and only the winner gets the big payoff.
Definitely worth playing again with 4 to see how it turns out.

Manhattan
Kris' wife (Kim) joined us. I think the finishing order was Dave, Kim, Kris and me way, way behind. After the end of the first round, everything was close. After the second round, Dave and Kim had made a break. Dave scored the highest building the last 3 turns. In the last round, I tried to meta game the others into attacking Dave but they had their own agendas. I continued to cover Dave's buildings but only managed to slow him down and pretty much did nothing for myself.
I like the game as a quick "move and don't think about it" game but I can see the wrong groups taking forever to play. Also it seems prone to the problem that if all players are not of similar skill the weak player could give the game to one of the others. That may be what happened in our game.

China
Just the 3 guys played. First play for Dave and myself. Kris used his advisers to great advantage. I scored best with houses. Dave tried the all around approach. Kris won. I got second. Dave was right behind me.
I didn't pay attention to the end of the game and neither did the others. All of us ended with potential game changing plays in our hands. Since I was first, I think I could have gotten one more adviser on the board and broken up one of Kris' majorities. Of course he might have been able to score some other way also so it probably didn't matter.

[Charlie Davis]

1/23/08
by Ted

Fire and Axe
The vikings fought furiously with a bunch of ones and twos as Ted's wimpy vikings clawed for last place. Dave jumped to an easy lead and managed to stay there.

Modern Art
Another closely fought battle of wits in the world of international art trading. Ted managed to eke out the victory.

Intrique
It was time for evil screw you buddy on the island of dispair. There were hard fought battles for some very cheap jobs. Dave came out on top.

[Charlie Davis]

1/30/08
by Ted

Jambo
Dave arrived a little early and we decided to run through some rules and play a hand or two. This is a nice little two player game of buying and selling and messing with our opponent. It has grown on me over time.

Candidate
I was hoping Kris would write a report on Boardgamenews...but, it has not happened yet. We had six players and divided up into the most recent six candidates (although 2 had dropped out by the time we were playing). So, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Romney, McCain and Huckabee vied for the leader of the US of A. Kris took the detailed session report so I cannot give you the smutty slanderous details. But, Ted as John Edwards pulled off the win in the final round.

More Backpacks and Blisters
All that schlepping for office made us feel the need for fresh air and a walk. With only a few hours of sunlight before the forest rangers come looking for you, we were off. And, we all spread to various hiking spots for photo opportunities and scenic overlooks. I still am not sure who dumped the backpack on me, but when the snow started falling I lost two turns being unable to move lugging that heavy thing around. Kris managed to take a solid win singing the valderie, valderah song.

[Charlie Davis]

2/6/08
by Ted

Prototype
I have had some interest in a prototype and Dave and Charlie were kind enough to play through some of the recommended changes by the potential publisher.

El Capitan
Dave had purchased this remake of Tycoon. And, since he owns the game it was only fitting that we let him win. We did get one rule wrong but, we all had fun just the same.

In the Year of the Dragon
Off to China to manage the disasters at had. Dave said it reminded him of the rats chasing you in Notre Dame. I really liked this one. Of course, I won. I think it gave you some interesting choices to manage even though it had some feel of solitaire.

Oregon
We closed the night with this quick light game. I was favorable to it and want to give it another go.

[Charlie Davis]

2/13/08
by Ted

(Ted hs this listed on the old site.) In the Year of the Dragon
Corrections from Charlie - As it turns out, that was listed on this date on the old website but was probably a typo from the last game night. The games I have listed for that night are.

Union Pacific
A very good game that is popular with us. It may not get played much at regular game nights but it gets played at the informal get togethers that we have.

Prototype
No idea which one. I wish we had kept better notes on these prototypes that we play.

To Court the King
Dice rolling yahtzee variant. You collect special cards as you make sets. The cards let you add dice or manipulate them in some way. It seems to be a good game and is pretty close at the end. Lots of people like it.

[Charlie Davis]

2/20/08

Ubongo
Rumis
Cuba
Railroad Tycoon Europe
Prototype
Oregon

[Charlie Davis]

2/27/08
by Charlie

From memory, I think Ted, Dave, Kris, and Charlie played this night.

Kronos
Time travel is an interest of mine so I like to play any game with this theme. Kronos works pretty well but it does have a few issues. It becomes a puzzle to be able to move between time periods and still be able to do what you want to do. The cards sometimes don't give you enough options. I think Ted won this game but it was close.

Age of Gods
Ted got off to a bad start and his main race's hidden identity wasn't hidden very well. He got wiped out. The other players struggled through the game. It has some interesting things but the randomness of the early game can put any player at a disadvantage. I didn't really care for it.

Gargon
This one is kinda light with a little thought thrown in. It is a card game based on keeping the cards you play and not collecting others. I liked it but it was more about avoiding confrontations than playing to win. Not sure who won.

[Charlie Davis]

3/5/08
by Charlie

Kris, Ted, Charlie, Travis, and maybe one more.

Merchants of Venus
One of my all time favorite games. It is a pick up and deliver game, with a little exploration, and significant money management. Each planet is populated by a single race and they make a single good (product) and they will buy a few different goods. You first have to discover who is at each planet and then buy goods from them. Next you take the goods to the races that buy those goods. There are lots of obstacles in space so the travel between planets is another challenge. I forget who won but several of us needed to complete the final run to reach the goal. This is a great game.

Svea Rike
I think this is one of the few games that we play consistently every year and maybe more often. I don't remember this session but play this game, if you ever get the chance. It is unlike any other game I know of.

[Charlie Davis]

3/12/08
by Charlie

Kris, Ted, Travis, Dave and me

Wiz War
This is an old game from the 70's I think. Each player is a wizard and must move through a maze and collect treasures while avoiding traps/monster and casting spells on the other wizards. Because of the wrap around board, the game is very good. I don't remember who won.

Amyitis
This game has lots of different things going on. Some of the group liked it and some thought it was just ok.

Starfarers of Catan
I remember losing this one. I had a bad turn early and never recovered.

Vapor's Gambit
I think this was the game that ended with Kris jumping a ramp to cross the finish line and slamming into a trash dumpster. It was a great victory for him. This is a silly race game. If you need a race game with a variable track, this is a good one.