Eight for this week's session: Mike, Patrick, Alex, Neville, Rembert, John B, Brad and myself were the attendees. We got in a total of three games: Viticulture (second week in a row for this new game), Lords of Waterdeep and Cloud Nine.
Viticulture was a six-player, consisting of the six of us who arrived at or close to the 6 PM start time. Mike (once again) taught the game, with Alex (runner-up in the first game last night) winning this time, with 21 points with everyone else far back. Patrick was the best of the newbies, coming in second with 13. Three of us (Neville, Rembert and myself) had 11; Mike once again brought up the rear, this time with 7. Interesting game, looking forward to try it again, looks like going through the visitor cards (as Alex did) can be a strong strategy.
John B and Brad couldn't make it until 7 PM or later, so they played a 2-player which was Lords of Waterdeep. A close contest, this one went to John B, 153 to 143.
Four of us from the Viticulture game stayed to play a very quick game of Cloud Nine. Rembert was the winner, getting to 58. Others: Mike and Neville 46, John W (me) far back at 34.
No gaming at the Laurel CC next week, as Thursday falls on July 4th and the CC will be closed. For those of you looking for some gaming in Laurel, I would suggest the Laurel Middle Earth location hosted by Rodney, which has a session scheduled for Sunday, July 7.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
June 20, 2013 Session Report
Total of nine this week. Attendees: Mike, Doug, Alex, Helen, Rembert, Brad, Alison, myself and -- back after a long absence -- Kay. We played a total of three games, two of which were new to the club. One was Viticulture, which Mike had brought; another was Credit Mobilier, which I had brought; then we also played Seven Dragons (two games), which Brad had brought but it's a game I seem to recall having played before.
First up was Viticulture. Mike did the teaching and, after adjusting for a second group of late arriving gamers, it wound up being a four-player with Mike, the teacher, ending up last. It's a game about wine production with seasonal turns. Final scores were Kay 22, Alex 21, Doug 15, Mike 11. Nice win for Kay on his return to the club, particularly in a close finish with Alex who has a penchant for picking up new games on his first try.
Helen, Brad, Allison, Rembert and I wound up playing Credit Mobilier -- a train game with dice. Each turn, the player must select one of the colors (representing five different railroads) and choose among building track, buying stock, or moving cubes. A fourth action (declaring dividends) is only possible with the roll including an orange die and one of the five other colors. Purple plays a unique double role as representing the Credit Mobilier, but also an extra action for another color railroad. The Credit Mobilier RR -- as in real life -- makes money when any track is built, scarfing up government subsidies to encourage development of transcontinental railroads in the 19th Century. Anyway, in our game, some players (notably Brad and Rembert) focused on supporting a couple of RRs while others (Helen and I) tried a more diversified approach, buying up shares in all five colors. Alison was the big stakeholder in the blue RR, but also had stock in three others. Anyway, Helen wound up the winner, but the scores were all fairly close: Helen 17, Brad 13, Alison and John 12, Rembert 9. Interesting game, lots of strategy for a game that plays fairly quickly.
Anyway, there was time for a couple of more games so we played 7 Dragons, which Brad had brought. I seem to have remembered playing it at least once before. I managed to win game one, with Brad taking game two. It's a quick-playing card game where you have to really be on your toes as winning objectives can change quickly.
Good session, a reminder that the club will be closed Thursday, July 4th, for the holiday.
First up was Viticulture. Mike did the teaching and, after adjusting for a second group of late arriving gamers, it wound up being a four-player with Mike, the teacher, ending up last. It's a game about wine production with seasonal turns. Final scores were Kay 22, Alex 21, Doug 15, Mike 11. Nice win for Kay on his return to the club, particularly in a close finish with Alex who has a penchant for picking up new games on his first try.
Helen, Brad, Allison, Rembert and I wound up playing Credit Mobilier -- a train game with dice. Each turn, the player must select one of the colors (representing five different railroads) and choose among building track, buying stock, or moving cubes. A fourth action (declaring dividends) is only possible with the roll including an orange die and one of the five other colors. Purple plays a unique double role as representing the Credit Mobilier, but also an extra action for another color railroad. The Credit Mobilier RR -- as in real life -- makes money when any track is built, scarfing up government subsidies to encourage development of transcontinental railroads in the 19th Century. Anyway, in our game, some players (notably Brad and Rembert) focused on supporting a couple of RRs while others (Helen and I) tried a more diversified approach, buying up shares in all five colors. Alison was the big stakeholder in the blue RR, but also had stock in three others. Anyway, Helen wound up the winner, but the scores were all fairly close: Helen 17, Brad 13, Alison and John 12, Rembert 9. Interesting game, lots of strategy for a game that plays fairly quickly.
Anyway, there was time for a couple of more games so we played 7 Dragons, which Brad had brought. I seem to have remembered playing it at least once before. I managed to win game one, with Brad taking game two. It's a quick-playing card game where you have to really be on your toes as winning objectives can change quickly.
Good session, a reminder that the club will be closed Thursday, July 4th, for the holiday.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
June 13, 2013 Session Report
Seven for this week's session: Mike, Tim, Patrick, Ben, Helen, Rembert and myself. Three games were played, two of which were racing games: Agricola, Legend of the Mille Miglia and Formula De (Monaco track).
Agricola was a three-player, and Tim continued to demonstrate his prowess at this farming game. Final scores were Tim 42, Ben 33 and Mike 19.
The rest of us played a new game I had just bought, Legend of the Mille Miglia which simulates an open-wheel road race across the roads of Italy that covered the years 1927 to 1957, the race being abandoned after a fatal crash killed several spectators in the 1957 edition. The game played at this session featured cars from the very first event in 1927, and so the final average speeds reflected this (we only completed one of the scheduled 15 stages): 1. John 85 Kph, 2. Helen 83 kph, 3. Patrick 81 kph and Rembert (who never really recovered after a stalled start), 74 kph.
The final game of the evening was Formula De on the Monaco circuit. We ran only one lap due to time constraints. Tim started on the pole but ran into trouble and eventually finished last after Chief Steward Patrick gave him a reprieve from what should have been an out-of-race result. The winner was Helen, who took a one-turn lead heading into the tunnel hairpin and never looked back. Patrick edged yours truly in a close battle for second. In poetic justice, Rembert outrolled Tim on the final straightaway to claim fourth.
Some bad weather in the area may have adversely affected attendance, so hope to see the numbers improve this coming week.
Agricola was a three-player, and Tim continued to demonstrate his prowess at this farming game. Final scores were Tim 42, Ben 33 and Mike 19.
The rest of us played a new game I had just bought, Legend of the Mille Miglia which simulates an open-wheel road race across the roads of Italy that covered the years 1927 to 1957, the race being abandoned after a fatal crash killed several spectators in the 1957 edition. The game played at this session featured cars from the very first event in 1927, and so the final average speeds reflected this (we only completed one of the scheduled 15 stages): 1. John 85 Kph, 2. Helen 83 kph, 3. Patrick 81 kph and Rembert (who never really recovered after a stalled start), 74 kph.
The final game of the evening was Formula De on the Monaco circuit. We ran only one lap due to time constraints. Tim started on the pole but ran into trouble and eventually finished last after Chief Steward Patrick gave him a reprieve from what should have been an out-of-race result. The winner was Helen, who took a one-turn lead heading into the tunnel hairpin and never looked back. Patrick edged yours truly in a close battle for second. In poetic justice, Rembert outrolled Tim on the final straightaway to claim fourth.
Some bad weather in the area may have adversely affected attendance, so hope to see the numbers improve this coming week.
June 6, 2013 Session Report
I had to miss this session, so Mike has provided me with some information about attendance and games played. Still awaiting more details (possibly), but here is what I have so far:
Attendance (7): Mike, Ben, Alex, Doug, Tim, Peng and Brad
Games Played (4): San Juan, Lords of Waterdeep, For Sale, Copycat.
Scores:
San Juan: Mike 33, Alex 31, Doug 29, Ben 28 (first time playing for Ben)
Lords of Waterdeep: Peng 152 Doug 133 Tim 123
For Sale: Peng 105 Doug 83 Tim 62
Copycat: Brad 109 Ben 47 Mike 44
Attendance (7): Mike, Ben, Alex, Doug, Tim, Peng and Brad
Games Played (4): San Juan, Lords of Waterdeep, For Sale, Copycat.
Scores:
San Juan: Mike 33, Alex 31, Doug 29, Ben 28 (first time playing for Ben)
Lords of Waterdeep: Peng 152 Doug 133 Tim 123
For Sale: Peng 105 Doug 83 Tim 62
Copycat: Brad 109 Ben 47 Mike 44
Thursday, May 30, 2013
May 30, 2013 Session Report
Nine again for this week's session, with Ben, Tim, Mike, Eric, Ryan, and Neville (who has been away for awhile) plus myself along with Alison and Brad (back for their second session) in attendance. Games played were Fleet, Agricola: All Creatures Great and Small, Power Grid - Spain and 7 Wonders (played twice).
Fleet is a fishing-themed card game that I had learned recently. Final scores in this four-player game were John 63, Neville 61, Tim 51, Rembert 48.
Brad and Alison were the protagonists in the 2-player Agricola game, All Creatures Great and Small, scores were Brad 45, Alison 35.
Finishing just after Agricola was the Power Grid game, won by Eric on the money tiebreaker from Mike. Scores: Eric 17 (56), Mike 17 (23), Ben 16, Ryan 15.
The evening wrapped up with two games of 7 Wonders. First was a six-player, won by Neville with an excellent score of 71. Second was Brad (67), followed by Rembert (59), John (56), Tim (40) and Alison (46).
Mike joined us for the second game. This time Rembert was the winner with 65. Other scores: Alison (60), Mike (53), John and Neville (49), Brad and Tim (40).
I will be out of town for a few days so if you don't see me next week, Mike will fill in as Co-Host.
Fleet is a fishing-themed card game that I had learned recently. Final scores in this four-player game were John 63, Neville 61, Tim 51, Rembert 48.
Brad and Alison were the protagonists in the 2-player Agricola game, All Creatures Great and Small, scores were Brad 45, Alison 35.
Finishing just after Agricola was the Power Grid game, won by Eric on the money tiebreaker from Mike. Scores: Eric 17 (56), Mike 17 (23), Ben 16, Ryan 15.
The evening wrapped up with two games of 7 Wonders. First was a six-player, won by Neville with an excellent score of 71. Second was Brad (67), followed by Rembert (59), John (56), Tim (40) and Alison (46).
Mike joined us for the second game. This time Rembert was the winner with 65. Other scores: Alison (60), Mike (53), John and Neville (49), Brad and Tim (40).
I will be out of town for a few days so if you don't see me next week, Mike will fill in as Co-Host.
Monday, May 27, 2013
May 23, 2013 Session Report
We had nine attendees this week, including two first-time attendees, Alison and Brad, who had just moved to the Laurel area. Others were Doug, Mike, Ben, Tim, Alex, Rembert and myself. We played a total of five games: Puerto Rico, Settlers of Catan - Germany, the Settlers dice game, Tzolkin: The Mayan Calendar game and Gemlok. We had at least two games in progress for almost the entire session.
At one table, Rembert had a really good evening. In a very close Settlers - Germany game, he came from behind to win after Doug and I had threatened victory. In the end, Rembert placed his ninth point on the board and then flipped a 1 VP card for his tenth point to claim the win. At the time, I had 9 VP on the board but none in hand. Doug and Ben, the other players, also had 9 VP -- one in hand plus 8 on the board, so any one of us was poised to win the game had Rembert not done so. Then, Doug, Rembert and I played Gemlok, which Doug had brought. It was another close finish. I triggered the endgame while ahead, but everyone had one more turn so Rembert managed to come from behind to win another close game. Final scores were Rembert 48, John 45, Doug 41.
The other table started up with a game of Puerto Rico, which for some reason I missed out on. It was another nail-biting finish, with Alex edging Mike by one, 44 to 43, followed by Tim with 36. (Mike had originally thought he had won on the tiebreak until a recount showed Alex with one more point.) By this time Alison and Brad had arrived, and they bided the time for the next game by playing the very quick Settlers dice game, which Brad won. Then they joined Mike and Tim for Tzolkin. The game did not quite finish and was scored at the 3/4 mark, before any monuments could be procured. Anyway, this truncated game had Brad as the winner, with 38 to 32 for Alison, followed by Mike (27) and Tim (13).
It's good to see some new people who are gamers moving into the area, so I hope to see both Alison and Brad at future sessions.
At one table, Rembert had a really good evening. In a very close Settlers - Germany game, he came from behind to win after Doug and I had threatened victory. In the end, Rembert placed his ninth point on the board and then flipped a 1 VP card for his tenth point to claim the win. At the time, I had 9 VP on the board but none in hand. Doug and Ben, the other players, also had 9 VP -- one in hand plus 8 on the board, so any one of us was poised to win the game had Rembert not done so. Then, Doug, Rembert and I played Gemlok, which Doug had brought. It was another close finish. I triggered the endgame while ahead, but everyone had one more turn so Rembert managed to come from behind to win another close game. Final scores were Rembert 48, John 45, Doug 41.
The other table started up with a game of Puerto Rico, which for some reason I missed out on. It was another nail-biting finish, with Alex edging Mike by one, 44 to 43, followed by Tim with 36. (Mike had originally thought he had won on the tiebreak until a recount showed Alex with one more point.) By this time Alison and Brad had arrived, and they bided the time for the next game by playing the very quick Settlers dice game, which Brad won. Then they joined Mike and Tim for Tzolkin. The game did not quite finish and was scored at the 3/4 mark, before any monuments could be procured. Anyway, this truncated game had Brad as the winner, with 38 to 32 for Alison, followed by Mike (27) and Tim (13).
It's good to see some new people who are gamers moving into the area, so I hope to see both Alison and Brad at future sessions.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
May 16, 2013 Session Report
There were seven of us for this week's session: Mike, Alex, Tim, Doug, Rembert, Ping and myself. We played a total of five different games: Cloud Nine, Puerto Rico, Lords of Waterdeep, Tsuro and For Sale (played twice).
Mike, Alex, Tim and I were the first to arrive, so we started a game of Cloud Nine (which had been the last game of the prior week's session). Doug joined in a few minutes later, but by then Alex and Tim were off to a strong start and they finished 1-2. Scores: Alex 53, Tim 40, Mike was third, Doug and I were even further back.
We then split into two groups. Four of us played Puerto Rico, and once again Alex was victorious. The scores in that game were Alex 44, Rembert 33, Doug 32, John 25. A forgettable game for me where nothing seemed to work, including getting the Guild Hall late but not getting it manned ....
The four of us then locked horns in a game of Tsuro while waiting for the other group to finish. This time I managed to win and the results were the opposite of the prior game: John first, Doug second, Rembert third, Alex fourth. I even had one more tile I could play after everyone else crashed out.
The Lords of Waterdeep game was very competitive, and Peng won with a builder strategy: Peng 134, Mike 129 Tim 120.
There was still time left in the session, and the four of us that remained got in a couple of games of For Sale. First game ended in a tie between Rembert and myself, and we checked and the tiebreaker in the rules was most money, which favored me as I had more left over from the earlier bidding round. Doug won with a really good score in game two.
Game 1: John and Rembert, 63K; Doug 54K; Mike 50K.
Game 2: Doug 71K; John 58K; Rembert 57K; Mike 53K.
Final reminder: This Sunday, May 19th, there will be a gaming table set up by our sister club at the Beltsville Community. It's part of the annual Beltsville Day event there. The time is 12 Noon - 5 PM at the CC in Beltsville.
Mike, Alex, Tim and I were the first to arrive, so we started a game of Cloud Nine (which had been the last game of the prior week's session). Doug joined in a few minutes later, but by then Alex and Tim were off to a strong start and they finished 1-2. Scores: Alex 53, Tim 40, Mike was third, Doug and I were even further back.
We then split into two groups. Four of us played Puerto Rico, and once again Alex was victorious. The scores in that game were Alex 44, Rembert 33, Doug 32, John 25. A forgettable game for me where nothing seemed to work, including getting the Guild Hall late but not getting it manned ....
The four of us then locked horns in a game of Tsuro while waiting for the other group to finish. This time I managed to win and the results were the opposite of the prior game: John first, Doug second, Rembert third, Alex fourth. I even had one more tile I could play after everyone else crashed out.
The Lords of Waterdeep game was very competitive, and Peng won with a builder strategy: Peng 134, Mike 129 Tim 120.
There was still time left in the session, and the four of us that remained got in a couple of games of For Sale. First game ended in a tie between Rembert and myself, and we checked and the tiebreaker in the rules was most money, which favored me as I had more left over from the earlier bidding round. Doug won with a really good score in game two.
Game 1: John and Rembert, 63K; Doug 54K; Mike 50K.
Game 2: Doug 71K; John 58K; Rembert 57K; Mike 53K.
Final reminder: This Sunday, May 19th, there will be a gaming table set up by our sister club at the Beltsville Community. It's part of the annual Beltsville Day event there. The time is 12 Noon - 5 PM at the CC in Beltsville.
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