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Rosliston Forest Lodge weekend away 16th June 2006 Gordon Robinson
Five of the Halesowen boardgamers spent the weekend in comfort at the Cedar Lodge in the Rosliston Forest Park. Steve Hilton, Matt, Richard, Mike and I played many games over the time we were there which spanned from Friday evening through to Monday morning.
I arrived at about 6 on Friday, went out and got some provisions. In the mean time Mike had arrived with Steve and Richard. I don’t think we retired to bed until about 1 in the morning.
Richard Our trip in was good, we found the place without getting lost and didn't hit any major jams. My first impression of the Lodge was fantastic and indeed first impressions turned out to be right in this case.
On Saturday we started play when Matt arrived just after 10. We had cereals and croissants for breakfast and Matt later made us all bacon butties for lunch. Matt also brought a huge home made fruit cake with him some of which I got to take home with me after the event – thanks Matt (who made it?). On Saturday evening Mike warmed up a very nice Balti he had brought with him which was much appreciated.
Richard I thought we did fantastically with the food, thanks to all who provided and cooked.
On Sunday we had the 5 of us up until about 7 then Mike left. We ate more bacon sandwiches for lunch with Steve braving one of the pot noodles I had brought on Friday. We ordered a Chinese take away in the evening. Matt left after the Poker at about 11:30.
Richard Then I 'watched' the end of the US Open Golf on teletext. Very exciting it was too.
Richard, Steve and I left by 9 Monday morning.
We didn’t just play games. The accommodation was based in tranquil woodland with rabbits and black birds ever present within yards of the window. Steve took early morning jogs around the site. The rest of us walked round later in the day. There were swings for the big kids to play on and an assault course to clamber over.
Richard Not forgetting the giant 'bird' to climb on as well.
I for one had a fantastic time. I knew I would. If you guys fancy going off to a desert island any time, I’ll grab some games and come and join you.
Matt It was a great weekend, and thanks for getting the logistics of it all sorted out Gordon. Alice, my wife, baked the fruit cake as it was my 30th birthday the Wednesday before (which was marked by a stuffing at Caylus, a theme that was to be repeated). Mike It really was a terrific weekend, thoroughly enjoyed everything about it (I even got used to the hard bed by the 2nd night!) Steve What an excellent event, at a great venue. Many thanks to Gordon for organising it. One of the things I enjoyed was how well we got on together; we didn’t even argue over the washing up! I hope we can do this again next year, maybe with a few extra punters. Richard Overall 10 / 10, just excellent, wonderful games, some incredibly intense ones included, with a great group of players and fantastic surroundings and facilities
Friday 16th June 06
Settlers of the Stone Age Richard 10, Steve 9, Gordon 8, Mike 6
Gordon – This is the best game I have played of this version of Settlers. We managed to keep it close without a runaway leader. Steve – First time playing, I went for exploring and it really paid off. I was one dice roll from winning so I was pleased. It’s made me interested in trying the other Settlers variants. Mike – Lost the 2VP exploration to Rich by one turn, shouldn't have risked my success on it I guess, suspect Steve would have won had I succeeded. Richard – I can't remember anyone getting a very large hand of cards over any round. Did anyone get hit by a 7 and have to discard? I did right at the end but it turned out not to matter. I grabbed the 2 points for being first to have all 4 tribes, just ahead of Mike, which made the difference. If Mike had got that then the game, incredibly, would have been even closer.
Ra Gordon 45, Steve 39, Mike 34, Richard 32
Gordon – This was a close game as I remember it with Mike scoring very little in the first 2 rounds but getting a large monument bonus. I led throughout on Pharaohs. Steve – We played this for prizes, ie choice of beds! I could have won this one through more favourable draws when I finished two epochs. Mike – It's not always a mistake to duck out early in an epoch, but I did it in the 1st and the Ra's were slow to come for the others so the gamble didn't pay off, I was always struggling after that. Richard – Thankfully perhaps I can't remember too much about this one. No doubt if I waited the Ra's arrived in abundance. If I spent early Ra went on holiday. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Taj Mahal Steve 53, Richard 46, Gordon 45, Mike 41
Gordon – This game was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. The province tiles were equally split between us with Steve making the best job of connecting his palaces. Steve – I feel I’m alright at this game – it suits my general gaming strategy of adaptability. At one point it just opened up for me to link 5 areas so I grabbed that chance to clinch the win. Mike – I don't like starting last in this game as a 4-player, though I cannot give any conclusive evidence as to why it's a disadvantage - his play was excellent but I can't help feeling we laid this on a plate for Steve by not making him really pay for putting palaces in Province 11 Richard – I had a good set of connections in one corner but it wasn't enough. I only picked up one province tile and that was early on. My plan was to pick up more gems as I had picked up a gem chip early but when the time came they were too costly for me to compete in. So I scored from connections, quite a few from the +2 card and beat Gordon 9 – 8 on the final count of longest suit to nick second.
Poker Richard, Gordon, Mike, Steve
Gordon – This was to be our late night game of choice. We got through about 30 beer bottles over the weekend and most of these were downed while playing Poker. Steve – I got absolutely killed and went off to watch the footie. Mike – The most promising hand I had was Ace + 9 which made it difficult but I bluffed a couple of smallish pots to last slightly longer than Steve Richard – I had some pretty good hands in this session and was getting callers for all my raises which put me into a good lead in chips, then I knocked over Gordon in quite a long final battle.
Saturday 17th June 06
Amun Re Richard 42, Mike 37, Matt 36, Gordon 32, Steve 29
Gordon – 5 Player Amun Re is wonderful. What a game. If I had won this and no other game I would have been proud of myself. With 3 Camel provinces coming out on the first turn of the first epoch I thought we were in for a low money game but having 5 rather than 4 players pushed up the offering and kept the money plentiful. Steve – I got greedy on temples in the second epoch and everyone quite rightly screwed me on the final sacrifice. With 5 it seems you have to go for balance in Amun Re. Richard did that very well I recall. Mike – Pushed Rich very very close, amazingly I think it's the first time I've ever had a zero province which I've been able to dump the '8' card on - twice, which really helped, but generally I played pretty steady on this one. Matt – I've only played this once before and I think that with this, as with all bidding games, the more you play the more accurately you can judge the correct bids. I had a pretty good game, though. I maybe could have built a little more aggressively. Richard – This certainly was intense. I started out with provinces with few power card symbols and decided not to bother with then too much and build pyramids. I had a lead at the half way point, then continued building pyramids in the second half. I was helped by good power cards, I ended up getting 4 of the turn 2 blocks to a pyramid ones, and a bonus card that I could easily complete. With a couple of temples in the first phase paying off well and a bonus for most money, just ahead of Mike as I remember, I held on for a win!
Medieval Merchant Gordon 44, Steve 41+, Mike 41, Matt 40, Richard 39
Gordon – I enjoyed this game. It played quicker than I recall. Steve – What is interesting about this game is that you don’t really know who’s won until the final count, so the suspense is good. But it is slightly dull. Another one of my several second places. Mike – I really like this with 5, but I appreciate it doesn't set the table alight. I know why I didn't win, but will keep quiet about it as it's a bit of a trade secret.... Matt – I made a few tactical errors in this one and got shut out of the southern regions before when I should have expanded into them. For a first play I liked it. Richard – I tried to spread out and get to all of the 10 sections, which I achieved, but I didn't use my extra turns well enough and finished in (a very close) fifth.
Pitch Car Steve, Matt, Gordon, Mike, Richard Mike, Steve, Richard, Gordon, Matt
Gordon – We stood in a circle around the track and when we had taken our flick we walked on in a funny procession round and round the table. Steve – The amusing thing here was how Gordon fully expected to win and was mediocre throughout! Playing this crosses the boundary of geekiness, but it IS fun. Mike – Just one victory, as the song goes.... Matt – It all went horribly wrong after a double flip on the third corner of the second race. Richard – Well we need some silliness right? At least I know to avoid this at any conventions to spare myself embarrassment in a larger crowd. Was improved in the second race though I remember being at the back through most of that one too.
Medici Gordon 108, Mike 103, Matt 93, Richard 84, Steve 65
Gordon – This was the first of 2 games of Medici we played this weekend. Steve – My first play of Medici, I overbid and paid the price. But I love all Knizia so I wanted to try again. A good short game for club nights. Mike – Gobsmacked to lose this. Played very steadily and thought I'd done enough. Matt – Took a while to find the groove with this after a very long absence from the game. It came back quickly enough though. Richard – In both games I got the 10 gold card on the first ship but my goods were too much of a mixture and I couldn't get high enough up the pyramids to score any bonuses.
Caylus Richard 57, Mike 42=, Gordon 42=, Matt 39=, Steve 39=
Gordon – Richard played the victory point track on the favour table. Steve – I’m starting to develop strongly my money strategy in this game. You wouldn’t believe the paranoia that collecting cash and using bribes generates in the other players. I was last throughout but everyone seemed to think I had tricks up my sleeve. Meanwhile Richard cruised past unnoticed. Mike – Absolutely amazed to get 2nd after the disastrous start, I really grafted from then on so was pretty pleased to get some reward Matt – Ug. I seem to have more and more trouble with this game after a strongish start to playing it. I started this game poorly and never really developed a position I was happy with. My mind started to wonder mid-way through and I was mentally developing a strategy for my next game whilst losing at this one. Richard – I just kept hitting them favours, jousting and castling . I never had much money but it was enough to keep me in favours and to build up a nice lead. No one else was able to convert their favours/money into enough points to catch me.
Poker Richard, Matt, Gordon, Steve, Mike
Gordon – Another late night Poker game. Steve – Another trouncing for me. Mike – I had some decent hands this time, sadly at the same time as other players. Didn't bluff enough, again. Matt – The end of this game was great. I frightened Gordon off with a bluff then got a decent hand. Richard had a handy chip lead on me by teh end though. Richard – Two wins in a row, this was getting dangerous. It didn't last.
Sunday 18th June 06
Antike Gordon 8, Matt 6, Richard 6, Steve 5, Mike 4
Gordon – This game ended in an anticlimactic way when I built 4 temples in one turn to take the victory just as the fighting was about to kick off. The game did generate more discussion than any other game played. The discussion was not all positive with concern being expressed about the disadvantage the players in the middle of the board have. I do not have a problem with the starting positions though I do consider the first player on the first round who goes on Gold, has a real advantage over the others because he will go on to claim the market development along with a victory point card and he will remain ahead of the pack on claiming further vp cards from the know how developments. Steve – I adore the theme and the attacking each other but I remain doubtful about this game. I think the balance is wrong, and the fact that there is no random element in the combat means it’s more like World War One than the ancient world. I intend to give it a few more tries though. Maybe 5 is not the best number of players? Mike – Piggy in the middle this time, and I have no idea yet what strategy could give me a fighting chance. Maybe it's pure aggression, but even that needs temples in order to tool up quickly enough both for Iron and Arming, and that then makes you a target. My general play however was a bit flabby. I really want to play this with 4 next time to see what it's like, I haven't done so yet. Matt – Brilliant game. Had I had a few more plays I could have won from my position. I had a good start and got scared of an attack that never came when I should have been innovating. This is a good game, it seems to hold my interest harder and for longer than others I've played recently, including Caylus.
Richard – Every time I've played this before I have gone for gold first, which I do now think is best for sure, but this time I tried early temples. Matt expanded quickly so I grabbed roads intending to knock a city or two off him if he failed to defend them. I missed out on getting the bonus for having seven areas by a turn when Steve grabbed 14 areas just before I had the chance to get my seven. In the end Gordon built his way to victory unopposed, there wasn't much I could do directly about that, except perhaps I could have noticed it earlier and talked Matt into attacking him. Still I enjoyed the game but I do have concerns that it could really bog down at the end if everyone's expansion is kept in tack. It took me a good number of turns to knock over one temple and I can hardly imagine where I would have got another two.
Medici Matt 101, Gordon 98, Mike 82, Steve 77, Richard 61
Gordon – Steve wanted to play again following his dismal showing in this his first game. He managed to pull himself up from last place so we did not have to go on and play this game again. I almost enjoy this as much as Ra. Steve – I achieved my goal of not finishing last by miles. Mike – My early play was much poorer than in the 1st game, and I didn't recover Matt – Found my groove. Got lucky with the final three cards off the stack. Richard – Again I grabbed an early 10 gold which was overvalued looking back.
Caylus Gordon 73, Steve 58, Richard 56, Matt 47, Mike 42
Gordon – I played the buildings track well, even if I say so myself, ending the game by placing the 25 victory point prestige building. Steve – Money strategy again – it worked better because I used the castle more. One of my favourite moments of the weekend was when I streaked through at end-game from last to second due to my collection of gold. It has to be said Gordon played the perfect game. Mike – Got exactly what I deserved for switching strategy halfway through when the original plan wasn't working too badly Matt – All the thinking in the previous game paid off then... Next time, though, next time the strategy I've got planned could be great. Lost my concentration, then lost the game again. Richard – I was also on the building favour track but was always one step behind Gordon. I built my prestige building, a modest one which Mike had his eyes on, on the second last turn and had few resources left for the last turn. The building track is the more fun one to play taking a good deal more planning than going for Vps.
El Grande Gordon 81, Richard 75, Mike 74, Matt 73, Steve 64
Gordon – It has been a long time since I played this game. There is so much going on in this game that play feels more of a romp than a strategic exercise. Still it is a pleasant enough romp. Steve – I was very last but didn’t think I played badly. I seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time throughout. Good fun but rather random. Mike – I love this game, and this certainly was fun. I got severely screwed by the Mobile Scoreboards, and could never manipulate myself out of>it - those 8 points lost could have won it. Yes there's random stuff going on but if you don't like it, win it and don't action it! There were at least two occasions where others actioned cards which could have badly backfired on them, and they were lucky they weren't damaged. Matt – What? I thought I had a good first 6-7 rounds, then my homeland got invaded and I made a 4 point error with my final Castillo placement. I felt a bit robbed at the result- I thought I’d played pretty well. I stayed pretty much on the ball until the end and I'd play it again, but my first impression is that it can get a bit random if multiple events that screw your position all turn up at once. Richard – I was wanting to play this again as I haven’t since being back in England so it must be at least 6 years since I've played it. Newer games have solved its problems of too much chaos but it is still fun enough.
Ra Gordon 46, Steve 38, Richard 32, Matt 29
Gordon – I won all but the first epoch. Steve came in with another 2nd place. Steve – Unlike the first game, I had a lovely run of tiles to finish an epoch and loads of Pharaohs’. Matt – The most miserable game of Ra I've played to date. Gordon sat to my right and called auction after auction whilst I drew either stuff I would get outbid from or Ra tiles. Predictable and boring. I was going to buy a copy before the weekend, this game has made me rethink. Richard – I had a great plan here of going for monuments which usually I ignore completely. This plan was sailing along nicely until I was forced (I must have been forced though I can't remember why) to take a set with an earthquake and I simply never recovered.
Poker Steve, Richard, Gordon, Matt Gordon, Steve, Richard, Matt
Gordon – We set up Power Grid but just could not muster the energy to play so we scrapped it and played a couple of games of Poker. The most memorable hand was when Matt went all in with Steve prior to the flop with Matt on King Ace of clubs and Steve on 2 3 of clubs. Steve caught a 2 on the flop and won the hand. Steve – I think no game weekend is complete until you’ve tested yourself to mental exhaustion by playing something tough till 4am, so I would have played Power Grid. Maybe next year. That said, winning at poker was very satisfying, particularly as I bluffed most of it. Matt was not happy when I beat him on twos! Matt – I was bidding a bit rashly towards the end as I was getting a feel for the odds of various hands winning. It's not much like playing the computer in the respect that hands you end up playing can be worse than you'd expect and the bidding was more aggressive than I was used to. Richard – Yes power Grid would have been a step too far in hindsight. In the poker I remember losing the last hand to Steve, I had an A4 and felt I would have an even chance at least but when he showed A6 I knew I had had it. In another big hand I needed a club in the last 2 cards but it didn't come.
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