March 6, 2014 Session Report

 A huge throng of 15 (!) descended on the Community Center this past Thursday night, including five first-timers, making it one of our largest sessions, attendance-wise, in some time.  The new attendees were Rouslan, John D, Peter, Angel and Wayne -- joined by 10 regular attendees (Mike, Patrick, Ben, Karl, Eric, Ryan, Neville, Rembert, Helen and myself).  We had to ask for an extra table and more chairs, and we had four games going on for most of the session. In all, a total of seven different games were played:  Power Grid (Benelux map), Kolejka, Clash of Cultures, Coal Baron, Bang:  The Dice Game, Gipsy King and Steam Park.

I was at the table which played several games that were played for the first time at the club (to my knowledge).  First up was Kolejka, a game I picked up recently having first seen it played at PrezCon, so it was the first play for everybody.  The game is about standing in line for goods in 1980s Poland, and it would call it similar to a glorified version of the line-jumping game Guillotine with alot more going on.  Anyway, five of us (Karl, Neville, Rembert, Rouslan and myself) took on the game and, after a few moves, we were all comfortable with the rules and the game mechanics.  After one day into the second week, I asked around to see who was closest to the 10 goods needed for victory, and Karl was in the lead, so the rest of us kind of focused on him.  Meanwhile, Neville -- who was being real quiet -- managed to collect four goods to finish out the game as the winner in the very next round!  I had of 8 of my required goods plus an extra to finish second on the tiebreaker ahead of Karl and Rouslan, each of whom had 8, ahead of Rembert, who had 7.  I think this game was well received by all -- looking forward to trying it again soon.

Our group then played Bang: The Dice Game, which Rouslan had brought, and Neville (who was the Sheriff) managed to extend his win streak for another game, joined by Rembert, the loyal deputy.  Rouslan and I, the Outlaws, were quickly found out and Karl, the Renegade, was the last to go.  Game seemed to play alot quicker than the regular Bang.  Then, four of us (Rembert moving over to help finish out a Power Grid game) played Steam Park, which Neville had brought.  This one didn't quite make it to the finish line, but after three of the six rounds, I was in the lead.  Partial scores of John 21, Neville and Karl 11, Rouslan 9.  Neville just had too much dirt in his amusement park and got hit with a -15 penalty.

Power Grid-Benelux was a five-player, consisting of Mike, Eric, Ben, John D, and Eric's son Ryan, with Rembert subbing for the last couple of turns.  Final scores:  Mike 15, John D 14, Ben 13 (12 money), Ryan/Rembert 13 (5 money), Eric 12.   Everyone but Ben stuck around for a second game, Gipsy King, which went to John D.  Scores:  John D 72, Eric 64, Mike 56, Rembert 50.

Helen and Peter played Coal Baron, a game Helen had played the week before that I believe was new to Pete.  Helen put what she had learned to good use, winning by a score of 100 to 45.

The other game was Clash of Cultures, which Patrick had brought.  Angel and Wayne were the other two players.  The game apparently did not finish or, if it did, I did not get a final result to report.  Glancing at the board, it looked like Wayne had been doing well in building cities, while Patrick had a lead in the technology race.

Love to see a similar turnout for next week's session!