Dangerous Games Night - 26th April 2012

Cosmic Encounter, one of my oldest games, played like crazy when I was a Student when we only had a few games to choose from. Recently it's faded off the radar, the fault lies with the 2000 Avalon version,

2000 Mayfair Version - Boo

awkward stacking pieces, poor character selection, only four players and no extension packs all led to it being played less and less. Even when we played it, somehow the magic of cosmic was lost.

My original Mayfair version, with every extension going was overly complicated for casual gamers, and I never wanted to introduce newbies to it, so it lay in the loft, replaced by the newer, less enjoyable Avalon Version. I'd assumed it was due to Cosmic just not appealing to us anymore. So it was with trepidation that I picked up the most recent version from Fantasy Flight - in fact, if not for the discount I got, I have in the past refused to pay 40 GBP for a game I've already bought twice before.

Am I glad I did.

DGN start with cosmic for four players. We have all played it loads before, but it had been a while. Once we'd establish the new rewards and technologies we were back into having a laugh. Once concern of mine can be that each game can go on too long, it's better if it just lasts for the hour. In an unusual turn of events at the end I was really keen to start again, knowing how different each game can be. Next game, with Tick Tock, we had an even bigger laugh, even though we knew Sean would win, we battled hard and almost managed to stop time running out. A good time was had by all, and good for Sean to win both times. 

Next up was Louis XIV:

A favourite of ours, but neglected recently due to the rules being forgotten and the previous game we had was awkward and slow and we had to refer to the rules. Some time was spent in the afternoon to suss the rules out and it made a huge difference. The game isn't that difficult, it can just be a challenge to remember some of the smaller rules. I enjoyed the session, a clever game, and would like to get it out soon - as we say with every game. Wiped everyone out, and won by a mile.

Closed the evening with a games we've played quite a bit since I got it this month - Santiago de Cuba - or unfairly I think 'Cuba Light'.

It's got the same theme, drawings and it uses tobacco and rum, but I would draw the line there. It's a different game altogether and shouldn't be compared to Cuba. It's light, quick, random set up each time leads to different game experiences.

I won!



Another successful, enjoyable games night. Roll on next Thursday when we plan to bring out Game of Thrones for it's second play - I hope it works well, and doesn't last too long.

Games Night April 19th 2012

Another great games night. Ray, Dad & Sean.

Started the night with Olympos.

A game by the same person who published Small World, it was our second playing.

 A straight forward game, but loads of options. None of us elude to being experts, but Ray charges into the lead again and wins for a second time. I was a close second - same results as we had last time.

Everyone enjoyed it.



Next game was a new one for us and another cheapy from The Works - Highland Clans:

It's rated extremely low in the boardgamegeek ranks, but after a quick rules read I like the idea of taking cubes from the bag and taking actions with them depending on the colours. Made a change from 'rolling dice' and the actions available were straight forward. Basically you have to collect coloured cubes and the person with the majority during scoring is better of. Attacks against other players are optional every turn, but with nasty consequences. We all had a laugh, and we started the game having no idea what we were doing. Looking forward to playing again - no more careless attacks from me! Ray won again!! He always wins new games.

Sean was off at this point and it was already 9:45 so we pulled out an old favourite that we know we can dive straight into - London:

Good ole Martin Wallace games. This is a clever card game with a board. My Dad usually ends up with loads of pollution markers, however he turned it around this time and had the least at the end. Ray ended up with tons, and as a result lots loads of VP's at the end. I won!

Another great night, only 3 games played, we didn't have time for that final small card game.

Drank too many beers as usual.