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Game Review: iOS Agricola

| Introduction |

Twenty-one days ago Playdek's iOS Agricola was released to the world!  This universal app made its debut at the low price of $6.99 (compared to the +$40 price of the actual board game). 

As I stated with my previous post about the Uwe Rosenberg games, Agricola was not my favorite game (http://bit.ly/1cVAteX). Now that I have had twenty-one days of practice, I can now officially say I don't complete hate Agricola!  I even beat my BF once in an Online game! Woot!

| Graphics |

iOS Agricola's graphics are amazing. There are a lot of moving parts going on in the background. Examples include: The Start Player rooster moves; wood chopping on the Build a Room Square; when you pick up an animal, its legs move about, etc. All of these little touches really enhance the game play. 

| Sound & Music |

I use to not play with sound or music only because I sometimes play in public. When I got my iPad that all changed. I have played with the music and sound many times, and neither is too overpowering. 

| Tutorials |

iOS Agricola features 7 tutorials: Intro: New Players; Animals; Cooking; Renovation; Scoring; Basic Game; and, Intro: Advanced Players. Being a poor Agricola player, I complete all of these tutorials twice (once on my iPhone and once on my iPad).  While all of these tutorials were helpful, an additional strategy one would have also been useful, especially for people like me. 

| Game Play |

True to the original game. I have yet to notice any cheating on the part of the game and/or AIs. 

| AIs |

There are 3 AIs levels: Apprentice; Journeyman; and, Master. When I first started playing (mostly to not suck so badly) I would play 2 player games against the Apprentice AI, which I easily beat. I have since moved on to playing against the Journeyman regularly, and against the Master occasionally. I am still not confidante enough to play more than two player games at this point. 

| Play Options | 

iOS Agricola features several options. Offline play can be against AIs and/or Pass-N-Play. Online play though a Playdek system is also available, as oppose to Game Center.  Both Offline and Online play features a choice of a Family Game or the Basic Game (E-Deck). Solo Series play is also an game option. 

One major compliant is that the original game comes with the E-Deck, I-Deck, and K-Deck, yet the iOS game only comes with the E-Deck. I understand making the other decks in-app purchases will make money, but it does seem really greedy, given what decks were originally included in the board games.  

| Bottom Line |

Agricola lovers and board game enthusiasts both love and rave about the Playdek's iOS Agricola. If you have never played the board game, you should still check out the iOS version since it's a great game. Plus it might even convert you too into a board game enthusiast! 

| Stats | 

36-7 Offline; 1-0 Online.*

* I didn't release online profile could transfer to offline play at first, so I had to do some math. 

Game Review: Eight-Minute Empire

| Introduction | 

Want to take over the world, but only have eight-minutes*? Eight-Minute Empire (8ME) is the perfect game for those power-hungry individuals short on time. 

| Overview |

8ME is a delightfully light, yet deceptive area control game by Ryan Laukat, produced by Red Raven Games (http://bit.ly/ZKSE6r). A Kickstarter alumni, 8ME is short and sweet, with its claim it can be played in around eight minutes*.

| Components |

Keeping with the high standards of Euro Games, 8ME has nice wooden pieces. It also features high quality cards, coins and good tokens. The artwork also varies from the vibrant wild cards, to the duller good/ action cards and boards. The art work is good and does fit the theme, though. 8ME features two double-sided game boards (four boards total), including the Kickstarter backer Europe board expansion.  Each board features continents, each with regions ripe for conquering. Additionally, there is a key at the top of each board with six cards and their associated cost. 

| Rules |

| Setup |

Setup is super easy. Pick a board. Prepare the cards by removing any, if required, and then shuffle and lay out them out.  Players claim their preferred colored armies and cities, as well as the prescribed number of coins per the rules. 

| Play |

Players bid for First (Start) Player. Youngest player wins in ties. Then place three of each players' armies start in the same Start Region. No one starts with a city. 

One at a time, starting with the First Player, players take a card either for free or pay the cost based on the card's position. First card is free; Second and Third cards each cost one coin; Fourth and Fifth cards each cost two coins; and, the Sixth card costs three coins.   

Cards give players both actions and goods. Actions allow players to place new armies; move armies over land or sea; build a city (allowing a new entry point for armies); and, destroy armies. Players may choose to ignore their card's action(s), if they wish.  Sets of goods are worth victory points at the end of the game. 

Once a card is bought the remaining cards shift down position to make room for new cards.

|Game End| 

Based on the number of players, the game ends anywhere from thirteen rounds for two players to seven rounds for five players. 

| Scoring |

The following are ways to score points at the end of the game. As usual, the player with the most points wins. Several tie breakers are included in the rules to help alleviate sharedvictories.

Regions. Players score one point per region they control with the most armies. (Cities count as one army for scoring purposes). If players have the same number of armies in a region, then no one scores points. 

Continents. Players score one point per continent in which they control the most regions.  If players control the same number regions in a continent, then no one scores points. 

Goods. Players score victory points based on sets of goods. Cards outline how many victory points a set is worth. Wild cards can be assigned to any good a player already owns. 

| Variants Included | 

8ME includes three variants: full (extended) game; goods available to player who controls certain regions; and, alternative bidding tie breaker. I have yet to play with any of these variants. 

| Review |

First off, the question everyone asks is can this game really be played in 8 minutes*?! 

*Real time for at least my first plays were was eight to twenty minutes, but you get the idea. I think in my first plays everyone playing tried to over think the game too much.  Plus it took some extra time to learn how to play (about fifteen minutes).  The rules are only four half pages, but are clearly written. 

One concept that puzzles me is the bidding for First Player.  Since there is no way to get more money during the game, bidding too much for First Player is too limiting during the game.  

Strategically, there is more than meets the eye going on in 8ME. The game is short, which means you need to manage your time (rounds level) and balance that with your army movement/ area control, and your good set collection. While there is an element of luck either the cards, undesirable cards become cheaper and more desirable if not used. 

I found myself focusing on more on area control than on goods. One specific stragety that worked well was getting a city early and vacating the Start Region. Getting a city early allows armies to enter the board from a point other than the Start Region. Vacating the Start Region means you can conquer more region, since you aren't focusing your time on gaining control of the start region.  While I did focus more on area control, if multiple cards with the same action were available, I would always pick the one with good I already had started collecting. I never really had a money managent issue, but my sister and/ or my boyfriend - can't remember who - at one point did. 

There also seems to be an advantage to going last, especially since the order of the players each round does not change. Going last, rather than first, allows a player to react to moves rather than to take actions that later will be mitigated. 

| My (Untested) Variants |

Coins. Perhaps there should be an action card that gets you more money, but isn't a wild or a goods card. A tax card could be added too, though I'm not sure if that would work as well. Would it be from one player, or from all? 

Cities. Cities could count as 3 armies, rather than one at the beginning of the game, with the stipulation that one real army must always occupy a region with a city in order to get thisbonus. That way it's more like the cities have defenses, rather than automatically comes with 'free' armies. 

| 8ME: Legends Kickstarter | 

Eight-Minute Empire: Legends (8ME: L) is currently on Kickstarter (ten days left!) as the stand alone sequel to 8ME. According to its page, there are new boards; new cards with special abilities; and, new variants. It is also is probably the only way to get a copy of 8ME & 8ME: L at this point. 

| Thank You | 

A special thanks to my Uncle Eric, who bought me my copy of Eight-Minute Empire.

| Administrative | 

I was not paid to write a favorable review, nor did I receive a free game in exchange for a favorable review. I was also not paid to endorse the current Kickstarter campaign. If you would like me to review your game, please contact me at ladyofcarcassonne@gmail.com. I will either accept a loaner copy that I must return, or a free game with the stipulation that giving me a free game does not mean I will give you a favorable review. 

Kickstarter's Impact on Board Gaming

As with other industries, Kickstarter has left it's mark on the gaming community. Through Kickstarter, emerging game designers and games are given a chance to be published and circulated among a wide audience.

What impresses me the most about these Kickstarter games is the quality and professionalism of the product. I would have never known games like D Day Dice and Carnival were Kickstarter games by looking at them. These are real professional games, not some half-assed attempt. The rules are well thought out and thoroughly play-tested. The pieces, cards, boards, etc. are made out of quality materials and feature great artwork.

Thanks to Kickstarter, anyone with a good game idea can fund its publishing.

First Ever International TableTop Day

Saturday March 30th, 2013 was the first ever International TableTop Day. Brain child of the one, the only, Wil Wheaton of Geek and Sundry's Table Top, this day was to celebrate board gaming.

This new gaming holiday is needed. Actually playing board games in person, rather than than video games, computer games, or iOS games is important. Gaming the slow way promotes critical thinking and problem solving. No machine to assist in calculating strategies or the most points. 100% human brain power at work!

TableTop Day also spreads board gaming awareness. I have been gaming since I was born... Ok 5, but still. My first games were not the traditional Monopoly (barf!) I love sharing my gaming hobby in the hopes that new players will love it as much as I do!

Hope you had a great TableTop Day! Perhaps we should invent some lore to go along with this day, like Santa Claus or the Easter bunny?! I'm thinking the dice fairy or game gnome or something. Any thoughts?!

Could President Obama Become a Gamer?

My BF and I talk about how we think President Obama could become a gamer. Politics aside (not that I'm against talking about it, but because this is a gaming blog and a celebration of nerdom we'll avoid it), President Obama does represent nerdom well being that he is an intellectual president. He's interest in Harry Potter and other nerdy things does make me want to launch a campaign to teach him a board game or two (Then the question is which one? Small World? Carcassonne? Ticket to Ride?).

Of course there are some logistical issues behind trying to get the President into to gaming. For one how would you get him a game or two? If you send it to the White House, I doubt he'll get it. (DC Area people know these things; he wouldn't get it). Maybe the best way is to get a Senator involved in gaming first and then have them teach the President? Maybe Wil Wheaton needs to meet the President! Who knows?! Clearly we haven't figured out all the details yet.

If anyone has any ideas on how to introduce the President into gaming, let me know! I am certain once we taught him a game or two, he would be hooked!

Not Playing By The Rules

Have you ever modified the rules, or made up new ones for a game? I am not talking minor modified rules, or House Rules, but significantly changed or brand new ones.

I just created a new solo version of Agricola: All Creatures Big & Small (ACBS) & it's expansion All Buildings Big & Small (ABBS). Why make up a solo version when Agricola has a solo version? Per my previous post I have, let's call them issues with regular Agricola. Plus I don't own regular Agricola.

Any ways as you can see below I assigned each spot on the board a number based on the roll of three six-sided dice, since I don't have have a D20 (I know I'm a bad gamer!). I decided it would be most annoying if the easiest rolls to make (9-12) should be on the animals. Animals are the point (and worth the most points) of ACBS, so it makes sense.

Each round the player with the start goes first. Yes the "other player" (aka Dirk) can go first. On my turn I take it as normal; pick a space and take the stuff/ do the action. On Dirk's turn I roll the dice and take the stuff/ do the action unless the action has already been taken. Then I re-roll. Refill & Repeat for the usual 8 rounds, with 3 actions per round.

The solo version is better than the first that I first created. That one is play the 8 round game with 3 actions each round. Because there was no competition the resources and animals would easily build up, making the game easier. But that first solo version was a great introduction to how to play Agricola (all flavors) well by conserving actions.

The addition of ABBS did not really change either solo version that much, since there are still only 4 special buildings still available (2 from ACBS & 2 ABBS; all randomly chosen).

Secret Gaming Project

Today there was a giant box blocking my door when I got home. I was so excited to open it and reveal my secret project to all of you.

My secret project was to finally come up with a suitable storage option for my Small World Collection (Small World, Underground, Realms, and all the mini expansions and promos). Alas my project has FAILED (for now...[dun dun dun]).

My requirements were that all of my Small World Collection had to fit in 1 box with the races, powers and other bits properly secured and divided. I refuse to condense my collection into either the the Small World or Underground, or use bags for the races. To me that is just wrong.

Hearing other gamers raving about Plano fishing tackle boxes, I did some investigating. I found this lovely Plano tackle box that had an open top and 4( !) divided boxes that pull out for use. I opened my package to open my tackle box and pulled out my Small World game board.

The board DID NOT fit!

It was about a quarter inch too big :( The measurements I had taken I compared to the outside measurements listed on Amazon. They didn't listen the interior measurements. Plus where the box closes the clasp takes a bit of the top's open space where I would have put the game boards. It takes up at least a quarter inch that I need. (Insert size does matter joke here.)

I am not giving up. I will be going to the sporting goods store with my game to measure the inside of the box versus the game board. If that doesn't work, perhaps a trip to the Container Store is in order.

iOS Stone Age Review

On December 7th another iOS board game adaption was born. Campfire Creations created a seamless adaption of Stone Age, originally by Micael Tummelhofer.

Graphics: Awesome. Not too slow. No real glitches.

Sound & Music: I never play with sound or music only because I sometimes play in public and I don't want people on the bus or metro to look at me funny.

Tutorial: I already know how to play Stone Age, but I always play the tutorial just so I learn how to work the App. Overall I think the tutorial is good, but could use some pointers like this is how you see what you have and others have.

Game Play: True to the original game. Dice seem to be fair, unlike in Catan.

AIs: There are 3 AIs, Og, Mogg & Grogg. Grogg is the "hardest" AI, though as an avid Stone Age Player I have managed to defeated him on several occasions. The next App update says it will include more AIs. I hope they have skill levels and maybe a few more lady AIs.

Play Options: Stone Age features Solo, Pass-N-Pay & Online Multi Player via Game Center. Online play has two options Friendly and League. League has a 5 day time-out period. I have yet to play League, but it does intrigue me.

Overall I am very impressed with the first app by Campfire Creations. They have followed The Coding Monkey's Carcassonne Gold Standard of iOS board gaming adaption apps.

Why I hate poker

Many who know me always suggest I try poker. When I finally did, I hated it.

I couldn't get past the fact that a "good" poker player folds at half their hands. Why would I play a game to only really actually play half the time?! I guess those televised World of Poker games make the game seem much more exciting. They at least look like their playing each round.

My second gripe with poker is the strategy seems pretty basic compared to various strategic board games I play. Poker really seems to only have one strategy - only play the hands you can win. This seems so boring.

Myrmes: The Ant Game

Last weekend at €uroQuest I learned how to play the Essen release Myrmes, which revolves around controlling an ant colony.

Overview.
Over the course of three years, each comprised of four seasons. The first three seasons, you lead your ants to explore, harvest food and goods, birth new ants, and fight other bugs like spiders. When winter comes the ants must have enough food to survive, or face harsh penalties.

Mechanics.
Much like Castles of Burgundy, dice determine the event of each season. They can also be modified.

Each player's colony is managed by their individual player boards. In a way it's a modified worker placement. You do not necessarily compete directly with other players for specific actions.

There is also a development track aspect where players can increase their colony's efficiency and effectiveness by spending actions and resources.

Victory.
Like with many games, the player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Players get points by defeating other bugs, completing missions, and laying down special titles and larger sets of pheromones.

Impression.
I enjoyed this game for its complicated and deep aspects. Planning is definitely involved. My first game was very close despite everyone just learning it. In fact all throughout the game it was close.

Play Online.
Want to try out Myrmes? You can play online at www.boiteajeux.net (for those not Francophonely inclined that's box of games!).

Essen: The Gaming Mothership

The Internationale Spieltag SPIEL this year is Oct 18th to 21st. This four day game trade fair is usually just called Essen after it's German host city. This trade show features game designers and publishers and is open to consumers. Nuremberg also holds an International Toy Fair; however, general consumers are not allowed. Essen holds the title of the world's biggest gaming convention, followed by Gen Con and Origins.

Although I have yet to attend Essen, I know from my sister's BF and the Board Game Geek that a big appeal of Essen is not only the new games that are introduced, but also the promo items available. Of course Essen features Euro Games or German-style games. Another highlight are the gaming awards awarded during the trade show.

Someday I will get to Essen. First I have to save up lots money so I can buy all the new games, so I can get them all signed. Surprisingly I have been to Germany before, but failed to go in Oct. Perhaps someday I will be able to go.

A gamer girl can dream!

Learning New Games

How do you learn new games?

Some are better at just reading through rules in order. Unfortunately rules are not always written in the best order to learn the games. If I am reading the rules in my head its fine, but if it's out loud the my brain reads faster than I can talk.

On the flip side, there is listening to someone explaining the rules. For me, the best way to learn a game is to be taught be someone who knows the game well and can "show and tell". If this is not an option then I do better with verbal directions supplemented by visual diagrams from the rules. Is you are listening to someone literally read through the rules, then I have a time limit on what I can absorb before everything starts running together.

What's in a Theme?

How much does the theme really matter in a game? Short answer is it depends on the game.

The theme really matters when the game is built around the game. In this case the game is theme dependent. If the theme is a secondary characteristic that can be swapped out with another and the game still works as is, then the theme does not matter as much.

Examples.
1. Dominion. It's medieval theme is really independent of the game play. In this case the them doesn't matter as much whether it's medieval or pirates.

2. Agricola. It's farming them is so intwined with the game, that if you switched the theme to pirates, it wouldn't work.

3. Vinci/ Small World. As evident by the updated version, Vinci/ Small World can transcend its theme reality/ fantasy war game.

4. TV Wars. Again another game, where if you change the theme to say pirates, the game play would fall apart.

5. St. Petersburg. This game, although theme oriented, is not theme dependent.

6. Vinhos. Wine making just would not work as a pirate game. (What pirates are awesome!) ... Even if it was a pirate rum-making game.

Furthermore, a game that is built around a theme must be more detail-oriented towards the theme. Example: If you're playing a French game, the money should Francs or Euros, not Dollars. The game should also feature uniquely French things like the Eiffel Tower, wine, French phrases, etc.

Uwe Rosenburg's Worker Placement Games

Game designer Uwe Rosenburg continues to revolutionize worker placement games. His Harvest Trilogy (Agricola, Le Havre, & At the Gates of Loyang), as well as his latest game Ora et Labora, all focus on complex economic themes. Although Bohnanza, his first game, was not a worker placement game.

Agricola (2007)

I have mentioned some of my feelings regarding Agricola before. I have played Agricola a few times. My main complaint is not that the game is "too hard", but rather that I feel like I have lost in the first round. Before I had played any of his other games, I had written off Rosenburg's worker placement games as something I just could not do.

It feels as if too much is going on in the game. First you start with a negative score. Not only do you need at least one of each animal, you have to expand your family, feed them, upgrade your house, etc. I get tired just thinking about it. Then throw in occupations, minor and major improvements and fighting over Start Player, it gets even more overwhelming. I'm still willing to attempt to play Agricola again, but it does really frustrate me. And I have found playing with certain people make it even more frustrating.

Most games of Agricola have at least one player who has a much lower score. This is usually due to the fact that that player is getting screwed on expanding your family, upgrading your house and/ or resources. I honestly do not know why so many people enjoy Agricola. Why would you play a game you can get screwed over badly (in the first turn in my case)?

I did manage to successfully not suck at Rosenburg's new 2 player game Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small (ACBS) (2012). This version is a shorter, lighter version of Agricola that focuses on just acquiring animals, not feeding your people, getting more people, upgrading your house, etc. ACBS does not penalize you for empty board spaces, though it does if you have fewer than 3 of each of the types of animals. Overall this is a less frustrating version of Agricola.


Le Havre (2008)

I have only played the board game version of Le Havre once, but have played the iOS version numerous times. Le Havre is a much more relatable game. Feeding your people is easier given the relative ease in stockpiling food, building ships, etc. Although there are a lot of choices to make through out the game, there is a lot less direct competition for resources and buildings. Additionally, buildings can be shared (with entry fee payment), which reduces frustration levels. I would claim that this is my favorite Rosenburg worker placement game, but I think that's based on the fact that I have played it more than Ora et Labora.


At The Gates of Loyang (2009)

I have played At The Gates of Loyang several times. It does not seem to fit well with the other two games of the Harvest Trilogy. It is a much simpler game (but not in a bad way). There is no feeding your people aspect. Furthermore you actual buy your points at the end of your turn, instead of buying buildings and acquiring animals worth points. There is the farmer aspect of planting veggies like Agricola. Aside from Agricola, this is my least favorite Rosenburg game.


Ora et Labora (2011)

I just learned Ora et Labora and I only played Ireland. Ora makes use of double-sided resource tiles (à Le Havre) but introduces a new resource wheel. This resource wheel allows players to more easily keep track of growing available resources each turn. Buildings have resource costs, as well as terrain restrictions. Some buildings each player has in their own deck, while others players compete to build. Players can also make use of other players' buildings, like Le Havre. I would definitely want to play this game again.

Final Thoughts.

One aspect all of Rosenburg's games have in common, is that they all feature a solo game variant. This provides game owners with much more versatility.

Final Scores.

Listing Rosenburg's worker placement games from my favorite to least:

Le Havre
Ora et Labora (though this could surpass Le Havre if I play it more)
Agricola: ACBS
At The Gates of Loyang
Agricola (though this has the potential to surpass and possibly ACBS if I can ever get the game!!)

Labor Day Weekend Gaming at TCEP

Over Labor Day Weekend I attended TCEP in Laurel, MD. Below is an overview of the new games I learned.

Eclipse: This space exploration and combat game is the "it game". Although I enjoyed both games I played, the replay value might be limited. Sure there are several different alien races and the humans. The title board also changes. Plus it is an extremely long game. Overall I enjoyed the game, but don't see it on my regular purchase and/or play list.

Ora et Labora: I'll cover more on this Uwe Rosenburg worker placement game in my next blog post focusing on Agricola, Le Havre and At the Gates of Loyang.

Village: This morbid game focuses on killing your family certain locations to get the most points. The game also features an interesting mechanic of deciding on your actions by removing a goods cube, sort of the opposite of worker placement games. Overall I really enjoyed this game. It actually a lot more strategic than it looks on the surface. I would definitely play and purchase this game.

Vinhos: Portuguese for wines, Vinhos is a wine making worker placement game. Do you focus on making one/ two good wines, or several lesser ones? Gain points by exporting, selling and showing your wines at the wine points. Overall I really enjoyed this game. As with many worker placement games, it is on the longer side. This game also makes the play and purchase list b

7 Wonders Cities: This is the latest expansion for 7 Wonders. We actually played this in combination with Leaders. Cities adds a new type of card- black. Debit is also added via some of the black cards. Two new wonders are also added. We did not end up playing the new team rules, though personally I cannot imagine playing with more people than 7! That seems like it would be too crowded. Overall I enjoyed this expansion. It not only works well with Leaders, it introduces elements to 7 Wonders without breaking the game.

Sorry I have fallen behind on my game blogging; sometimes life gets in the way.

All By Myself: Solo Games

Love gaming but can never find any willing victims, I mean players, to play with you? Maybe you should try solo games.

Recently I just purchased Friedemann Friese's Friday. This "solo adventure" is the first game I've played just for one player, rather than a multi-player game that has a solo option. So far I've enjoy my attempts to defeat the islsnd's hazards as well as the pirates. This game is hard. And has multiple levels for maximum play.

I have also played the solo variants of multi-player games. In the case of most - D Day Dice; At the Gates of Loyang; Agricola; and, Dinosaurs of the Lost World - the rules already had a solo variant included. In the case of Small World, I found a solo variant on Board Game Geek. Even iOS Carcassonne has a solo option, which was not part of the original game. Either way, all of these games are just as challenging as as a solo game. Though with Agricola I find it easier, but maybe because I suck at the game no matter how I play.

To me solo game play can be just as fun as if you are playing with, or against friends. Even with the rise in iOS, video and computer gaming, it is still nice to sit down and play an actual, real life game against yourself. It can actually be a great way to relax!

Learning History Through Board Gaming

Although board gaming is a fun hobby, it can also be educational. Below are some games I'm sure helped me get into History. There are many more historical games out there than the ones listed here. Check out Board Game Geek for more historical games!

Full Disclosure: I love the History Channel and have been known to watch their multi-part series numerous times! I also minored in History. Probably would have double-majored in it if I wasn't so intent on graduating early.

History of the World
Overview. This game covers major historical civilizations in an conquer region / area control game. The original game spanned 7 epochs from 3000 BC to 1914 AD. It also happens to be a long game, especially if you play in a tournament.
What did it teach me? Players will gain a greater appreciation for military and civilization history, especially for those lesser known ones to American students - Chinese and Indian ancient civilizations.
Credit. World History to 1914. Non- Western Civilizations.

Chrononauts
Overview. Chrononauts is an alternate history game with an element of time travel. Players try to rearrange historical events to meet their mission. All events are real events in US History. The original game covers US history from 1865 Lincoln Assassination to 1999 Columbine shooting. The Early American expansion covers 1770 Tea Exempted in Tax Repeal to 1916 Star Spangled Banner becomes National Anthem. Gore Years Expansion covers 2000 G.W. Bush winning the Presidency to 2008 1st Black President elected.
What did it teach me? The game will give you a grasp of how historical events are connected to one another.
Credit. American History.

Founding Fathers
Overview. Become a Founding Father by being a delegate at the Constitutional Convention. Win by getting items into the Constitution that personally get you points.
What did it teach me? Players will learn more about those lesser known Founding Fathers. (Shout out to my main man George Mason!)
Credit. Political & US Founding History.

D Day Dice
Overview. Experience D Day through this intense cooperative game. Make it up the beach, and beat the Germans for Victory!
What did it teach me? Players can learn about the different beach battles took place.
Credit. WWII military history.

Of course there are a multitude of games that more or less serve as mini-reenactments. I say mini-reenactments because they focus mainly on historical battles where each player plays a side. The main focus of these games are on the American Revolution (1776, Liberty, etc), American Civil War (Gettysburg, Battle Cry, etc), WWII (Memoir 44, Axis & Allies, etc), etc.

Note: I wrote this blog post mostly on moving transportation (metro & bus) on my iPhone, so hopefully I didn't get autocorrected too much.

Deciding On Games To Purchase

If you're like me and don't have unlimited funds for games, often times you must decide which games to buy. Personally I like to play games before purchasing them. If that isn't possible then I use word of mouth, Board Game Geek and/ or vendor recommendations. Although I prefer to buy my games from a physical store/ vendor, the Internet has made it easier to have access to a wider variety of games. The best stores are the independent ones with gaming space, like the Game Parlor in Chantilly, VA. Every year at WBC

At least in my family we get games (or gift certificates for games) as presents for Xmas and birthdays! This does help ease the lack of game funding problem.

Game Review: Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries

This afternoon I played Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries (TTR: NC). Full disclosure, both my BF and I have played Ticket to Ride (TTR) many times as a board and iOS game, as well as TTR Europe (TTR: E). We are also experienced gamers.

Much like the Switzerland (TTR: S) map I have played just in the iOS game, this version of TTR accommodates 2-3 players. This is what attracted me to purchase the game since I just have one gaming partner. The rules for Tunnels and Ferries are the same as TTR: E & TTR: S. Locomotive cards can be used for routes with Tunnels or Ferries, but not regular ones. The Ticket drawing is the same as TTR:S whereby returned ticket cards from your initial selection and any previous drawing actions are removed from the game.

If you know how to play any other TTR version, this will be an easy game to learn. You may have an initial minor issue with the Nordic geography , unless you know the cities in their native languages. Much like Europe, this does not detract from the game. Plus the ticket cards have little maps on them, do worse case is you find the destination cities that way.

The art and production value is of the same calibre as the other Days of Wonder and TTR games.

There is a fair amount of replayability to TTR: NC given there are 46 Destination (Ticket) Cards, but in my game we barely saw half of them.

The best part about this version of TTR verses the Original one and Europe is that the map is scaled to be more contentious with 2-3 players. (Again much like Switzerland).

Overall I would definitely play Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries again ... Especially since I ended up winning! Bonus!