1st September 04.....................................................9 Players

We got another good turnout tonight. The children will be back at school next week so we can expect a more sombre mood.

We split into two tables, one of 5 and one of 4. Between us we played 7 different games the results of which have all been squashed onto a scrap of paper about the size of the foot print of my mouse. Please let me know if I have got any of the scores wrong.

Elfenland – 60 minutes  bgg

This game has recently gained favour in our house. We played 3 times over the bank holiday weekend and I still had not had enough. I am glad I got to play again tonight. There is a rule that niggles me. I think that keeping a hidden tile is annoying. It is a rule that does nothing but add “fiddle” to the game. Ben and Becky did not play to get to a destination town, the rest of us did. I communicated a part of the rules poorly to Jonathan which messed his first turn up a bit. He thought he needed to return to his destination town at the end of each of the 4 days rather than just on the last day. To balance out the effect of this on the results I have resolved the draw between him and Becky in his favour. Have you noticed that there is never a dragon around when you want to cross the desert!

Quo Vadis – 60 minutes  bgg

This is the first time I have played this Reiner Knizia negotiation game. It is quiet different from other games of his I have played but then you do know it is one of his. What a talent to be able to create such varied and wonderful games. With 5 players space is tight in the top chamber and I was the one who missed squeezing in thus the zero points. The kids made some wild deals but it all balanced out in the end to give a reasonably tight game.

Guillotine – 30 minutes

Our group of 5 had now split into a 3 and a 2. Ben was keen to play this game again after the fun he had with it last week. I think he might pester his dad into buying it.

Alexandros – 30 minutes

Becky requested another two player game of Alexandros, we had played it together last week.

Web of Power – 60 minutes

It was nice to see Web of Power getting played again. Shame I again missed out on joining in.

San Juan – 60 minutes

This is our clubs hottest game. We must now have played SJ more than any other game. Remarkably close scores. Dave has made comment that more producing takes place with more players. I am sure this is the case and therefore a different approach is needed dependant on the number of players. I enjoy playing with 2, 3 or 4 players. I think the 4 player game offers the most interesting strategic options. Incidentally Steve P got a score of 50 last week when he came over for some games with Keith and me.

La Strada – 30 minutes

It plays quick and looks good other than that I know nothing.

8th September 04.....................................................6 Players 

It was nice to have Karen visit us this week. She got to play 2 great games and I think she went away happy. You are very welcome to come again Karen and you mentioned a friend who was also a gamer, any chance of them giving us a visit?

I must get on because I don’t have much time to put this report together.

Tigris & Euphrates – 90 minutes

Steve has had some experience with T&E and it showed in the constructive way he built up empires. He built his pieces into a latticework of red tiles for protection against internal conflicts. I just floundered about with a focus only on scoring the colour I had least of. I spent most the game with a couple of my pieces off the board which as far as I can see did not hamper me. Dave stirred things up, usually with a view to disrupting Steve’s plans, Steve being the perceived leader. It is only the second time I have played T&E. It is probably a genius design, many notables say so, but I am disturbed that I won. I played terribly, with no strategic plan and sloppy tactics. Both Dave and Steve handled their play more competently. I want to play again soon and again and again.

Formula Motor Racing – 40 minutes

We just played the one game. I have played once before and that was with 6 players. The game scales well. Possible with only 3 players some of the cards should be removed because with so many goes the early turns really have no impact on the race outcome. The game is light and a bit silly. It fills the same spot as Guillotine for me. Please keep it in your bag Dave.

Ra – 80 minutes

I did not see what went on with this playing of Ra. Steve ended the first epoch with no civilizations and least pharaohs apparently. The scores are well spaced.

Vinci – 60 minutes

This game was played to 120 points rather than 150 to cut down the play time. Karen was the newbie and did well to beat the two old hands. Steve has been having a duff run lately maybe that will change when we give his copy of Amen Re a blast. I yearn to play that game.

15th September 04.....................................................4 Players

The meeting opened with the sad news that Dave D’s mother had recently died. Dave looked tired. I hope the games and company provided Dave with some comfort.

San Juan – 60 minutes

This time the game started slowly with no early libraries or persistent shipping. All but Steve had a Prefecture which meant he missed out on the regular extra card in the councillor faze. I am with Dave on this, the Prefecture is one of the best early cards. Later in the game 3 of us built towers on the same turn. Then Dave and I built chapels on the same turn. We are all playing in a similar way now we are more experienced. I was the only one to build a library but it came quiet late in the game so it was not as powerful an advantage as it might have been. Steve was just a card or 2 off ending the final build round with a City Hall which would have won him the game.

Saint Petersburg – 80 minutes