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Rosliston 06
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Talislanta

6th September 06....................................................15 Players

There was a committee meeting in our usual room so we were downstairs in the bar. Karen braved a return visit after a long absence. No concession was made to the fact we had a lady present with the guys choosing to play a football game and Poker. I am sure Karen would not expect it to be any other way.

Power Grid – 170 min

This was the most grinding boardgame I think I have ever sat down to. This was intense to the extreme with every decision calculated. I loved it.

The Italian map changes the rules by removing some of the starting coal and oil. The regions that were randomly selected for removal were the cheap northern areas. This made a long thin territory to play on. Only Mike started in the south, the rest of us were crammed into the north.

Dave D fought with me over coal from the start. He also fought with me for territory with his opening move he leaped across me blocking my expansion south. Our board positions were completely entwined early on. Dave was a whisker off winning on what turned out to be the penultimate round.

Gordon. I made a massive jump from the centre of the board to the South West to break us into the second phase. It was a bold move which I feared would have been carried out by Dave if I had not done it. Dave could have made the jump slightly more efficiently than me. In fact just about every decision I made in the game was done as much with a view to hitting Dave as it was in benefiting me.

Steve H. Worked his way through the plants starting with a number of small wind powered plants. In a normal game this slow build up usually looses out to a player who buys fewer but bigger plants.

Mike playing in his first game for ages had to be told the rules over again and was thus awarded the learning game bonus. Like Steve he worked his way through a variety of plants before getting ones that powered many cities.

Dave and I lost this game by fighting over coal and board position. Steve and Mike made a better job of adapted their play to the map. I like it that board play was more significant on this map and I liked it that the poor coal and oil availability made trash, nuclear and green plants more viable. Dave and I were paying around 25 Euros a turn for our fuel around twice what Steve and Mike were paying, in a shorter game the larger quantity of cities Dave and I could power would have given one of us the victory but the high fuel cost and connections cost prolonged the game allowing Steve and Mike to catch up on their plant capacities. 

Mike’s comment’s:

While I was highly chuffed to win what turned out to be a fascinating and hard-fought game, sadly the victory ought to be filed under 'outrageous' rather than 'convincing'.  I think I won solely by a mixture of good fortune and others making bigger mistakes than I did.

 

The person I felt most sorry for was Gordon, sins of omission rather than action - I thought at the time that Dave's purchase of the big coal-guzzler was going to cause grief as it would push coal demand way beyond the parlous state it was already in, but he just didn't pipe up to try and talk Dave out of it, which I would have.

 

The guy who then should have won after the coal-barons crashed and burned so close to the winning line was Steve.  After all, at the start of what was the penultimate turn, my stations were a miserable 4-4-3, with 18 probably a minimum need to win I had to buy two 7's to get 7-7-4.  There were only 3 of those available and one was a coal-burner and hence worthless, all he had to do was buy one of those other 7's and I couldn't possibly win, but I'm guessing he didn't spot it, went straight for the fusion #50 and I then had a chance.

 

The only thing I think I got consistently right was the route building, the first squeeze across central Italy during Phase #1 was useful, but I also used Gordon's cities down the Rome side of the map to get another little squeeze at end of Phase #2 into #3, it was the easy unopposed cruise from 15 to 18 cities behind this expensive blockade that kept my cash just high enough to win.  This playing has greatly increased my enthusiasm for Power Grid, but it is a very intense game that I wouldn't want to play every week!

 

Gordon’s response to Mike:

The coal drops off from a refresh of 6 to a refresh of 4 in the 3rd phase of the game. I think if this phase had been delayed a turn then the coal would have lasted long enough for either Dave or I to take the win. This is just one example of a minor change in events which could have led to a very different result. Dave and my game long fight over coal need not have lost us the game.

 

Steve, Dave and I can all claim to have nearly won. I think we could consider ourselves misfortunate not to have won but you maintained your shape to pick up the ball when the wheels fell off our carts .... so to speak!

 

Dave D:

I'm not sure I agree entirely with Mike's analysis. I agree that it was my purchase of that coal plant that lost me the game, but not the fact of having bought it, rather the price I paid for it.

 

At the stage of the game that I purchased it seemed to me that Gordon was the major threat, he already had a good lead in plant capacity and (as I saw it) if he had been allowed to buy the plant he would have been in a game winning position because the other plants available would not have allowed competition. It is now my belief (in retrospect) that he had actually too seriously damaged himself in triggering step 2 by spending far too much in connection costs and by putting himself at the rear in the following turns building meaning he could be blocked out of most of the cheap connections in the north for a second time. Gordon it seems also saw me as his major threat. As a result of this we engaged in bidding war which pushed the plant up to 20 above face value. Mike suggests that Gordon should have tried to talk me out of purchasing the plant to avoid the trouble, but that would have been the wrong thing to do. I don't remember the exact figures but if I could have bought that plant for something like 8 less I would have had enough money to finish the game on the previous turn and so won it. If Gordon had said to me before bids were placed "Don't do it Dave you're asking for trouble", I wouldn't have accepted that and been right not to. Once the bidding started of course the plant was going to be bought by someone and the coal supply problem was inevitable. If Gordon had bought the plant he would have found himself in the same position as I was, but may have got away with it because after my purchase he bought a 4 power plant to stay ahead of me (I'm sure that was a mistake because it was essentially wasted cash as he had to replace the plant before the end), which he wouldn't have otherwise.

 

I echo Gordon's last paragraph. (Before the pasted comments)

 

As regards the Italian board, I wonder if it might in future be a good idea (at least with 4+) players to arrange to have at least 2 of the top areas available. The rules actually say to choose the areas for play and while the other 3 maps are probably usually OK with a random selection, perhaps Italy, because of its shape needs a more studied choice.

 

As I think I mentioned at the club a few weeks ago, I'm now at the stage where I would happily play Power Grid every week alternating the boards (I plan to get hold of the new ones as soon as available). As a game it seems to me to be leaps and bounds ahead of virtually anything else we have available. It is intense, but it's a "nice" sort of intensity.

 

Steve H:

I think what's refreshing about this discussion (as opposed to, say, Antike) is that it's focussing on what we did and didn't do as players, rather than any design flaws. Dave's minor point about choosing an area is a sensible house rule, in fact you could apply it to all the maps.

 

I don't mind playing it a lot although my success rate isn't too clever. It is an excellent game.

 

I think Mike had it right about me. On the final turn I opened the door to him, but it was a calculated risk based on my cash in hand and not wanting to pay over the odds for a plant, and also saving money on raw materials with the Magic Plant. As it was, I only missed out by 3 electra, not bad considered the hundreds spent in the game.

 

I hope they do a UK map one day.

Elasand – 120 min  bgg

There is more interaction in this Settlers variant than in any of the others I have played.

San Juan – 50 min

I believe Matt only had 1 production building throughout the game. As has been noted previously the attraction of shipping in the 3 player game is less than in the 4 player game.

World Cup Game – 80 min  bgg

I think this is the most players we have ever had playing a single game.

Poker – 70 min

13th September 06....................................................12 Players

We have been talking about getting some new tee-shirts. We have to use our club funds for something! I wonder if giving Barry some money for a decent sets of blinds might be a better idea.

Dave C:

I wouldn't pay Barry any money for the blinds, he doesn't work there anymore :)

 

Steve H:

If you want an interior design suggestion for the room, forget the blinds, let's have a large mural of a dragon. Or a unicorn...

 

Matt:

Great idea BTW Steve. To back the theme up I think we should also invest in a 20 year old stereo system and Clannad's back catalogue on cassette. New members will soon be queuing at the door.

 

Dave D:

I would heartily support the introduction of Clannad as suggested by Matt, but I fear the Conservative club may have issues with Steve’s suggested mural.

 

Dave C:

The mural should be something from Talislanta, a Skalanx or an Urthrax or possibly even a Vasp

 

Luke:

.....which is way way beyond my sphere of fantasy interests. Hell, anything more fantasy than Lord Of The Rings and I'm outta there (wherever there may be).

Antike –  90 minutes

Do you ever wish you could re-play a few turns of a game? Normally it is the last turn of a game I most want to re-take with the benefit of hindsight but this time it was my opening. I felt I messed thinks up during the first couple of minutes and I never settled into my play from the off. I started in the centre of the board, uncomfortably close to Mr Stretch and I opened with a marble temple (gold and iron openings had been taken). Quiet rightly Mark took it out within a couple of rounds, quiet rightly I countered taking a territory or two and quiet predictably we were both taken out of contention for the win from then on. All this within the opening minutes of the game.

On reflection I could have better defended the temple but it would never have been left alone by Mark because it was a dangerous launching point for me to attack into him. There would have been a draining arms race and in Antike arms races always go in favour of the attacker because attackers can draw men from several spaces where the defender can’t. No, the mistake was building the temple in the first place. Starting in the centre of the board in Antike is tough when you have a neighbour who is not afraid to kick out, especially when that neighbour gets to start before you. Maybe I should have gone for a diplomatic negotiation of boarders before the game even began.

Keith built up in a very solid logical manor and was perceived as the threat throughout the game. Following our early tussle, Mark and I left each other alone allowing us to threaten Keith at least to the extent that he needed to waste actions defending. Luke was left alone. It was largely my job to keep him in check. I mixed it up a bit with him but I wanted Luke’s aggression when it came to go Keith’s way so I didn’t annoy him too much.

When Luke did unleash it was an effective strike that tumbled two of Keith’s temples giving Luke the points he needed for the win.

We played at a blistering pace. This is one of my favourite games at the moment to play on a Wednesday night and then we went on to play two of my favourite fillers so it was a good night for me.

Mark Stretch says:

Yes an entertaining game of Antike. I still don't understand how it normally takes you lot 3 1/2 hours for a game.

 

Gordon may have been out of it after the initial skirmish, but I didn't think that I was. In the mid game I did after all have more VPs than everyone else (I was the 1st to 6), but I blundered badly (and got no further). I should have built up to 6 temples and boosted my production. If I was going to build as many men as I did I should have got the advance that made them fast as they were worse than useless at slow speed. As a result of the blunders I put myself out of the running.

 

Guess I need more practice at this game.

10 Days in the USA – 15 minutes

Dave Dudley has recently put together lists of the games we have been playing this year and it is notable that we have not latched onto any one filler in 2006. I suppose Poker is the exception to this. 10 Days in the USA seems to fill 15 minutes without upsetting anyone. This game feels like a low key classic to me. I think in some shape or form it will be played for decades to come.

Poker – 50 min

When 2 or more players both go out in the same hand I believe the eliminated player who put in the fewest chips is considered first out. This would make me 4th and Steve H 5th. If anyone wants to speak up against this please do. Two or more players going out in the same hand occurs quiet often so we need to establish a rule.

Dave D comments:

My problem is that Poker does not seem to be being used as a filler. As of this week, the average length of game was 47 minutes, which to me takes it out of that category. Also when you consider that 5 of the games were played in 2 continuous blocks, this means that they should be considered 2 games making the average 70 minutes ahead of (for example) Settlers, Torres and Ra, which are certainly not fillers but 1 half of a 2 game session. Poker does not seem to me to fit in any way what the club should be about (to use Gordon's own expression). This is my personal opinion.

 

Gordon retorts:

Poker is a lifestyle game and I think you are right to flag up a warning about it possibly dominating club nights (I am reading between the lines). Other lifestyle games are; Magic, Diplomacy, Warhammer, Chess, Go, Settlers, PR... These are games that have the potential to become all consuming and we certainly don't want the club night to become a single game event.

 

We are currently way off having Poker or any other single game stifling the clubs varied appeal. Let us know Dave if you think otherwise.

 

Steve H:

Dave's dead right about poker. I am crap at it, but c'mon it's not really appropriate is it? If we were doing an open day, would we showcase this? This is a different hobby altogether. If it's going to be a free-for-all, I'll start bringing my wargames stuff. Anyone for Korean War?

 

Duncan:

I’ll do Korean War Steve !

Also, we have an option of NOT playing Poker don’t we?

 

Matt:

Absolutely. The options are:

 

1) Being the dealer.

2) Playing San Juan against me.

3) Painting the HBG fantasy mural wall.

 

Gordon concedes:

I accept that Poker is taking us away from our core activity. I think the "If we were doing an open day would we showcase this" test is a good one and yes Poker fails that test. It is a shame because it has become a favourite of mine and I know Luke, Steve G and Chris are all well into it. We should probably use other outlets to play the game other than club nights.

 

I will go a month without bringing Poker just to peg back the plays. There are other card game fillers out there that we could latch onto such as "Poison", “6-Nimmt”, "Coloretto" and "Great Dalmuti"

 

Mike:

I don't personally have any problem with Poker as a Club game with the amount of play it currently gets, as long as it's for points not money, any more than I have a problem with anybody playing DC's FRP stuff with the kids in the hols.  If the FRP became a regular, taking up a table every week, then perhaps we'd have to reconsider, but as it currently stands I think what Dave does is great.

 

Luke:

Agreed. If such things (including poker - which of course as games guru I have to stand up for) continue to be played casually, from time to time, then surely it's not a problem as long as there are plenty of other options. The second we get there on a Wednesday and all there is to play is poker, then something's gone wrong...

 

Dave D:

I seem to have started something here don’t I? To clarify, I took issue with Gordon’s suggestion that Poker was being used as a filler, when it clearly is not. I also suggested that I didn’t think that it wasn’t really a game that fitted in with the club, which I stated was a personal opinion. Steve agreed and others did not. I did not mean to say this should never be played, but I do think it a bit unfortunate that since May when the game was introduced only 3 games (excluding Talislanta*) have had more table time and in terms of games played there are no games ahead.

 

*I exclude Talislanta because it is a seasonal thing for the younger members and I echo Mike’s comments regarding the great job Dave has done in this regard.

Tempus – 120 min