Attendance for this week's session was nine: Clayton, Gabe, Mike, Paul, Ron, Nick, Jonathan and myself were joining by Jim, who was attending his first session. We played a total of six games: Take It Easy, Agricola, Railroad Tycoon, New England, Wits and Wagers and Cloud Nine.
The short warm-up game for this session was Take It Easy, which I managed to win competing versus Clayton, Gabe and Paul. Soon others arrived and we started two longer games: One was Agricola, using the introductory family game, and that was won by Gabe ahead of Paul, Jim and Jonathan. The other five players (Mike, Ron, Nick, Clayton and myself played Railroad Tycoon after appropriating a second table for the oversized mapboard. Mike wound up the winner after securing a key route into Chicago. I was ahead until then and should have played a bit more defensively to keep Mike from winning. Final scores were 69 for Mike, 65 for John, 53 for Nick, 48 for Clayton, 41 for Ron.
New England was played after the Agricola game finished, and it was a real close game, won by Paul (34) ahead of Gabe (33) with Jim and Jonathan not far behind. The five of us from the Railroad Tycoon game followed up with Wits and Wagers (again won by Mike after I squandered an early lead) and then we finished up with Cloud Nine, which Nick won right before the clock struck 10, ending the session.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
January 22, 2009 Session Report
We had a total attendance of eight for this week's session: Mike, Paul, Doug, Don, Clayton, Gabe, Chris and myself. We played a total of seven different games: Parlay, Toledo, 1830, Vegas Showdown, Boomtoom, Pandemic and Aquadukt.
For most of the evening, two different tables of games were going. Mike, Gabe, Paul and I were first to arrive and played a hand of Parlay while waiting to arrive. Mike had brought 1830 and Don was interested in learning it, so the three of us played a three-player game that took just about the entire time. Mike wound up winning, combining the PA, C&O and Erie RR lines en route to victory. I was in contention until I had to pay around $1 K out of pocket for a diesel right before the end.
The other group of Gabe, Doug, Clayton and Paul played Toledo, which was won by Gabe with Doug in second. Then next up was Vegas Showdown, won by Paul (67) ahead of Doug (64) with Gabe and Clayton trailing. Then Clayton took a bit of a break while Chris arrived for one game, which turned out to be Boomtown. Gabe won by a substantial margin, 158 to 82 for Paul who was second. Then it was a cooperative game, Pandemic, pleased to report the players won and the epidemic lost. Finally, last up was a three-player Aquadukt, Gabe winning a close one, 34 to Paul with 32 and Doug with 29.
For most of the evening, two different tables of games were going. Mike, Gabe, Paul and I were first to arrive and played a hand of Parlay while waiting to arrive. Mike had brought 1830 and Don was interested in learning it, so the three of us played a three-player game that took just about the entire time. Mike wound up winning, combining the PA, C&O and Erie RR lines en route to victory. I was in contention until I had to pay around $1 K out of pocket for a diesel right before the end.
The other group of Gabe, Doug, Clayton and Paul played Toledo, which was won by Gabe with Doug in second. Then next up was Vegas Showdown, won by Paul (67) ahead of Doug (64) with Gabe and Clayton trailing. Then Clayton took a bit of a break while Chris arrived for one game, which turned out to be Boomtown. Gabe won by a substantial margin, 158 to 82 for Paul who was second. Then it was a cooperative game, Pandemic, pleased to report the players won and the epidemic lost. Finally, last up was a three-player Aquadukt, Gabe winning a close one, 34 to Paul with 32 and Doug with 29.
Friday, January 16, 2009
January 15, 2009 Session Report
Attendance was 9 this week: Gabe and Greg were back after a bit of a hiatus, along with Jonathan, Mike, Doug, Paul, Clayton, Don and myself. We played a total of seven different games: Hoity Toity, TransAmerica, Age of Steam, Tribune, Puerto Rico, Powerboats and Turn the Tide.
Hoity Toity was a five-player, won by John over Gabe on the longest set tiebreaker, Doug, Paul and Jonathan also played. The other table started up with TransAmerica, three players (Mike, Don, Greg) and no report on who won. Then Clayton arrived and joined Mike, Don, Greg and very long, intense Age of Steam game. Clayton was apparently close to bankruptcy in this unforgiving game, but managed to survive to the end. It was a real close finish among the other three, final scores were reported as Mike 90, Greg 85, Don 81, Clayton far back at 29.
The five of us at the other table elected for Tribune, which lasted longer than usual, with four of the five reaching the four of six victory conditions. It came down to the tiebreaker, with Doug getting the two-point bonus for triggering the end, and the game was still a tie (no further tiebreakers in the rules) with Doug and Jonathan at 29, John at 24, Paul at 23, and Gabe was not far back, with three of the four winning conditions.
The five of us then played an old favorite, Puerto Rico, which wound up in a win for Gabe (56) ahead of Doug (51), Jonathan (45), John and Paul (44). The other table played Powerboats, which saw Mike narrowly edge Clayton for the win. Greg crashed near the end, and Doug abandoned the race to get home a bit earlier. Finally, there were a couple of four-handed rounds of Turn the Tide (Doug, Gabe, Paul and myself), didn't keep track of the scores.
Hoity Toity was a five-player, won by John over Gabe on the longest set tiebreaker, Doug, Paul and Jonathan also played. The other table started up with TransAmerica, three players (Mike, Don, Greg) and no report on who won. Then Clayton arrived and joined Mike, Don, Greg and very long, intense Age of Steam game. Clayton was apparently close to bankruptcy in this unforgiving game, but managed to survive to the end. It was a real close finish among the other three, final scores were reported as Mike 90, Greg 85, Don 81, Clayton far back at 29.
The five of us at the other table elected for Tribune, which lasted longer than usual, with four of the five reaching the four of six victory conditions. It came down to the tiebreaker, with Doug getting the two-point bonus for triggering the end, and the game was still a tie (no further tiebreakers in the rules) with Doug and Jonathan at 29, John at 24, Paul at 23, and Gabe was not far back, with three of the four winning conditions.
The five of us then played an old favorite, Puerto Rico, which wound up in a win for Gabe (56) ahead of Doug (51), Jonathan (45), John and Paul (44). The other table played Powerboats, which saw Mike narrowly edge Clayton for the win. Greg crashed near the end, and Doug abandoned the race to get home a bit earlier. Finally, there were a couple of four-handed rounds of Turn the Tide (Doug, Gabe, Paul and myself), didn't keep track of the scores.
Friday, January 9, 2009
January 8, 2009 Session Report
First session of the New Year -- we had a total of eight in attendance. Clayton, Doug, Paul, Mike, Ben, Jonathan, Don and I played a total of four different games with two tables going at just about all times.
Games played: Ra, Lost Cities, Cosmic Encounter, Wealth of Nations.
First hour saw the early arrivers (Clayton, Doug, Paul, Mike and myself) start off with a five-player Ra, which saw Mike come from behind in the third Epoch after Doug and Clayton had each threatened to win the game, while Paul and I trailed badly. Final scores: Mike 53, Doug 46, Clayton 44 then a big gap, Paul with 30 John last with 28. Ben and Jonathan had arrived a completed a two-player Lost Cities game, not keeping track of the scores.
Don had arrived and wanted to play Wealth of Nations, while Mike and Jonathan were pushing Cosmic Encounter -- each of these longer games took up the rest of the session time. Ben and Paul joined Mike and Jonathan in the Cosmic Encounter game, no report on the game except Jonathan was the winner. The Wealth of Nations game pushed right up against the time limit. To make a long story short, Don crushed us -- when we hastily tallied up the points, he had more than twice the VPs of anyone else (124). Clayton with 60 was a distant second, closely followed by John (59) and Doug (55). Since it was Doug's first play, he kind of had a good excuse for losing, but Clayton and I had both played before and we still got creamed.
Games played: Ra, Lost Cities, Cosmic Encounter, Wealth of Nations.
First hour saw the early arrivers (Clayton, Doug, Paul, Mike and myself) start off with a five-player Ra, which saw Mike come from behind in the third Epoch after Doug and Clayton had each threatened to win the game, while Paul and I trailed badly. Final scores: Mike 53, Doug 46, Clayton 44 then a big gap, Paul with 30 John last with 28. Ben and Jonathan had arrived a completed a two-player Lost Cities game, not keeping track of the scores.
Don had arrived and wanted to play Wealth of Nations, while Mike and Jonathan were pushing Cosmic Encounter -- each of these longer games took up the rest of the session time. Ben and Paul joined Mike and Jonathan in the Cosmic Encounter game, no report on the game except Jonathan was the winner. The Wealth of Nations game pushed right up against the time limit. To make a long story short, Don crushed us -- when we hastily tallied up the points, he had more than twice the VPs of anyone else (124). Clayton with 60 was a distant second, closely followed by John (59) and Doug (55). Since it was Doug's first play, he kind of had a good excuse for losing, but Clayton and I had both played before and we still got creamed.
Friday, December 19, 2008
December 18, 2008 Session Report
With the Community Center being closed for the Holidays for the next two Thursdays, this week's session would be our final one for 2008. We had strong attendance once again, a total of eight, including one newcomer (Chris) who joined Don, Ron, Paul, Mike, Jonathan, Clayton and myself for the session. We played a total of five different games, one game twice: Mississippi Queen, Can't Stop, Ra (x2), Agricola and Ticket to Ride.
First up were Can't Stop and Mississippi Queen, which Don had brought. Mike, Jonathan and I were the Can't Stop game, joined by Clayton starting the second round of turns. The game turned out to be a tough one after three of us got two markers each to the top. Mike, who was behind, battled his way back into contention. Clayton was just one space away but missed rolled the needed number, and I finally won it by rolling a 12 when needed. A really close game.
I was keeping my on the Mississippi Queen game which finished just about the same time as Can't Stop. Ron had raced ahead to an early lead, but at some point he was slowed down by picking up a passenger, facing the wrong way, running low on coal, maybe all three, and Don came blazing back from behind to take the win. I believe it may be possible that Paul, who was trailing most of the way, may have nipped Ron for second. Don't recall hearing anything about anyone ramming into another paddleboat, but who knows, anything was possible.
We then resplit into two groups, with Mike, Jonathan and Don playing a three-player Agricola game that took up most of the rest of the session. Ron, Paul, Clayton and I played Ra, joking that we might finish the game before Mike finished with the Agricola explanation. Well, this didn't quite happen, but as I recall they were still looking at their cards (not the Family Game this time) when we finished scoring the second epoch. We were close to wrapping up when Chris (whose daughter was in a ballet class across the hall) wondering in, having looked at one of our flyers. In part because I was distracted talking to Chris, I lost track of whether I had been given a proper 5-point scoring token, which wound up being the difference in the game between Paul and myself, who had the top scores. So, I was credited with the points but was quick to think my win might be tainted.
Chris had been watching us for the last few plays of the Ra game, and we readily agreed to include him in a second game since it fit his time requirement. The second game also ended in a five-point win for me with Paul again in second, 43-38, but at least this time I believe we got the scores right. Clayton was third with 26, followed by Ron and then Chris. We hope to see Chris back at future sessions of the club!
Clayton, Ron, Paul and I then had a little more than an hour left for the final game of the evening, and we played Ticket to Ride -- another close finish between Paul and myself, Paul winning 115-112. It was Ron's first time playing Ticket; he did really well, finishing in third with over 100 points. Finally, that left the Agricola game that had been going on for two hours or so. I recall Jonathan and Don expressing dismay when Mike played the "Ratcatcher" occupation -- apparently there were a couple of interactive-type cards that worked their way into the supposedly "easy" deck. Anyway, it was a close finish, and the final scores of that one were Mike 37, Jonathan 35, Don 28.
Wish everyone a Happy Holiday season -- our next scheduled session will be Thursday, January 8th -- next year, of course.
First up were Can't Stop and Mississippi Queen, which Don had brought. Mike, Jonathan and I were the Can't Stop game, joined by Clayton starting the second round of turns. The game turned out to be a tough one after three of us got two markers each to the top. Mike, who was behind, battled his way back into contention. Clayton was just one space away but missed rolled the needed number, and I finally won it by rolling a 12 when needed. A really close game.
I was keeping my on the Mississippi Queen game which finished just about the same time as Can't Stop. Ron had raced ahead to an early lead, but at some point he was slowed down by picking up a passenger, facing the wrong way, running low on coal, maybe all three, and Don came blazing back from behind to take the win. I believe it may be possible that Paul, who was trailing most of the way, may have nipped Ron for second. Don't recall hearing anything about anyone ramming into another paddleboat, but who knows, anything was possible.
We then resplit into two groups, with Mike, Jonathan and Don playing a three-player Agricola game that took up most of the rest of the session. Ron, Paul, Clayton and I played Ra, joking that we might finish the game before Mike finished with the Agricola explanation. Well, this didn't quite happen, but as I recall they were still looking at their cards (not the Family Game this time) when we finished scoring the second epoch. We were close to wrapping up when Chris (whose daughter was in a ballet class across the hall) wondering in, having looked at one of our flyers. In part because I was distracted talking to Chris, I lost track of whether I had been given a proper 5-point scoring token, which wound up being the difference in the game between Paul and myself, who had the top scores. So, I was credited with the points but was quick to think my win might be tainted.
Chris had been watching us for the last few plays of the Ra game, and we readily agreed to include him in a second game since it fit his time requirement. The second game also ended in a five-point win for me with Paul again in second, 43-38, but at least this time I believe we got the scores right. Clayton was third with 26, followed by Ron and then Chris. We hope to see Chris back at future sessions of the club!
Clayton, Ron, Paul and I then had a little more than an hour left for the final game of the evening, and we played Ticket to Ride -- another close finish between Paul and myself, Paul winning 115-112. It was Ron's first time playing Ticket; he did really well, finishing in third with over 100 points. Finally, that left the Agricola game that had been going on for two hours or so. I recall Jonathan and Don expressing dismay when Mike played the "Ratcatcher" occupation -- apparently there were a couple of interactive-type cards that worked their way into the supposedly "easy" deck. Anyway, it was a close finish, and the final scores of that one were Mike 37, Jonathan 35, Don 28.
Wish everyone a Happy Holiday season -- our next scheduled session will be Thursday, January 8th -- next year, of course.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
December 11, 2008 Session Report
Total attendance of 10 tonight (despite some rainy weather): Jonathan was back for a second time, along with Doug, Paul, Nick, Ben, Ron, Mike, Clayton, Don and myself. We played a total of seven different games (one of them twice), and we had two tables going at once throughout the entire session. Games played this week: Can't Stop, Wasabi, Lost Cities, Power Grid, Ra (played twice), Dominion, and (for the second time in the club's history), The Amazing Labyrinth.
First game up was Can't Stop, played by Paul, Doug, Ron and Mike -- Paul won that one. Nick, Ben, Jonathan and I played Wasabi, which was played for the second week in a row. Final scores were Nick 26 John 23 Jonathan 19 Ben 11. Don and Clayton had arrived by this time, making it a literal three-ring circus; they played one hand of Lost Cities while waiting for the Can't Stop game to finish.
Next up was a five-player Power Grid, using the US map but with the new Power Plant deck. It came down to a three-way tie on money, with Don winning ahead of Doug and Ron, as all three of them powered 15 cities. Doug and Mike also played. Clayton moved to the other table and joined Jonathan, Ben, Nick and I in a five-player Ra game, won by Ben with a whopping 56 points while Nick and I (who tied for second) had just 22 points. We then played Dominion with the new club game brought by Ben courtesy of John Goon. I managed to pull out a win with just 25 points despite having only two Provinces to four for Nick (who came home second with 22). Clayton took third with 18 points, followed by Ben (14) and Jonathan (10). We then wrapped up the session with a four-played Amazing Labyrinth game -- Clayton and I played as teammates against Ben, Jonathan and Nick. Ben, Jonathan and Nick got their six victory conditions first but successfully blocked each other from making it back to base, giving Clayton and me a chance to catch up. We abandoned the game -- calling it a four-way tie -- with just a few minutes left in the session.
The other table, once the Power Grid game was concluded, played Ra -- final scores in that one, which barely finished by 10 PM -- were Mike 36, Ron 33, Doug 30, Don 23 and Paul 21.
A reminder that this coming Monday, December 15, is a scheduled Family Game Night from 7 to 9 PM at the Laurel public library. We have one more regularly scheduled session at the Community Center, next week, before the Holiday season which happens to occur on Thursdays this year, causing us to cancel on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
First game up was Can't Stop, played by Paul, Doug, Ron and Mike -- Paul won that one. Nick, Ben, Jonathan and I played Wasabi, which was played for the second week in a row. Final scores were Nick 26 John 23 Jonathan 19 Ben 11. Don and Clayton had arrived by this time, making it a literal three-ring circus; they played one hand of Lost Cities while waiting for the Can't Stop game to finish.
Next up was a five-player Power Grid, using the US map but with the new Power Plant deck. It came down to a three-way tie on money, with Don winning ahead of Doug and Ron, as all three of them powered 15 cities. Doug and Mike also played. Clayton moved to the other table and joined Jonathan, Ben, Nick and I in a five-player Ra game, won by Ben with a whopping 56 points while Nick and I (who tied for second) had just 22 points. We then played Dominion with the new club game brought by Ben courtesy of John Goon. I managed to pull out a win with just 25 points despite having only two Provinces to four for Nick (who came home second with 22). Clayton took third with 18 points, followed by Ben (14) and Jonathan (10). We then wrapped up the session with a four-played Amazing Labyrinth game -- Clayton and I played as teammates against Ben, Jonathan and Nick. Ben, Jonathan and Nick got their six victory conditions first but successfully blocked each other from making it back to base, giving Clayton and me a chance to catch up. We abandoned the game -- calling it a four-way tie -- with just a few minutes left in the session.
The other table, once the Power Grid game was concluded, played Ra -- final scores in that one, which barely finished by 10 PM -- were Mike 36, Ron 33, Doug 30, Don 23 and Paul 21.
A reminder that this coming Monday, December 15, is a scheduled Family Game Night from 7 to 9 PM at the Laurel public library. We have one more regularly scheduled session at the Community Center, next week, before the Holiday season which happens to occur on Thursdays this year, causing us to cancel on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
December 4, 2008 Session Report
Attendance tonight (7): Ron, Paul, Mike, Doug, Clayton, Rodney and myself.
Games played (7): Can't Stop, Daytona 500, Wasabi, Industrial Waste, We Didn't Playtest This Game At All, Dominion, Slide 5.
First game up was Can't Stop, played by four of us but Clayton subbed for Paul who wasn't doing very well, at least Clayton got one number to the top. Mike won after he and John had two each. Ron also played.
Next we split into two groups. Mike, John, Rodney and Paul took on the role of sushi chefs in Z-Man's new game, Wasabi. Final scores were Mike 27, John 21, Rodney 19, Paul 17. Meanwhile, Ron taught Daytona 500 and Industrial Waste to Clayton and Doug; no details, I heard Ron won both games, though.
Mike, Paul, Rodney and I played a couple of shorter games while waiting for Industrial Waste to finish. One of them, We Didn't Playtest This At All, ended real quickly, hard to say who won (either Paul or Rodney), as it depended on how you interpreted a particular card play. We threw up our hands and played Dominion, this one won by Rodney over Mike, 20-16, with Paul and I finishing far, far back with 4 apiece (and quite a few curses).
All seven of us participated in the final game of the evening, Slide 5, which lasted for five hands. Paul won with a score of 38. Ron, Rodney and Mike tried playing a hand or two at random, generally it didn't work too well, except for Mike, who managed to take zero points once.
Games played (7): Can't Stop, Daytona 500, Wasabi, Industrial Waste, We Didn't Playtest This Game At All, Dominion, Slide 5.
First game up was Can't Stop, played by four of us but Clayton subbed for Paul who wasn't doing very well, at least Clayton got one number to the top. Mike won after he and John had two each. Ron also played.
Next we split into two groups. Mike, John, Rodney and Paul took on the role of sushi chefs in Z-Man's new game, Wasabi. Final scores were Mike 27, John 21, Rodney 19, Paul 17. Meanwhile, Ron taught Daytona 500 and Industrial Waste to Clayton and Doug; no details, I heard Ron won both games, though.
Mike, Paul, Rodney and I played a couple of shorter games while waiting for Industrial Waste to finish. One of them, We Didn't Playtest This At All, ended real quickly, hard to say who won (either Paul or Rodney), as it depended on how you interpreted a particular card play. We threw up our hands and played Dominion, this one won by Rodney over Mike, 20-16, with Paul and I finishing far, far back with 4 apiece (and quite a few curses).
All seven of us participated in the final game of the evening, Slide 5, which lasted for five hands. Paul won with a score of 38. Ron, Rodney and Mike tried playing a hand or two at random, generally it didn't work too well, except for Mike, who managed to take zero points once.
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