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!

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.

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.

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.

Expansions

Back in the day games didn’t have expansions. There was just the game. Sure you could modify the rules, make your own cards, etc. but there was nothing official. The game maker may even have a theme to their games, but the game was what it was.

In more recent times (starting with perhaps Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne?), expansions have basically become a requirement.   Sure for some games this can be good, but in the end there are always expansions that seem half-assed, too outrageous, break the game, etc.

One good example of this would be St. Petersburg, specifically the Banquet mini-expansion more so than the New Society.   The Banquet added special powers to the game, which I think broke the game. St. Petersburg did not need special powers. This modifies the game too much. At least the New Society’s additional cards attempted to fix some broken elements of the base game by replacing some of the cards like the Mistress.  Allowing for a fifth player was unnecessary though.

On the flip side, I love the Small World expansions… mostly.  (Partly I love the expansions, because I love the game itself so much.) The expansions with the new Races and Powers, like Be Not Afraid, Cursed! And the Grand Dames, are fantastic.  Tales and Legends were interesting, but adding event cards added a new element to the game that was unnecessary.

My theory on game expansions is they should expand, but not over extend the original game.  Expansions should also be limiting. A new game with a similar theme should be created.

Yes all game maker want to create an empire, but endless expansions are over done.  Case in point is Dominion.  There have been so many expansions, so quickly. It’s too much.  Then again I wouldn’t mind more Small World expansions, but maybe that’s just because I love the game.

What are your views on expansions?

2 New YouTube Posts!

I just uploaded 2 YouTube Videos. 

Small World: Realms UNWRAPPED is a celebration of what all gamers hold dear, the unwrapping of a new game! 

World Board Gaming Championship (WBC) is a promo video for WBC, which is a gaming  convention I attend every year.  If you are interested in gaming and want to hang out with a whole bunch of people who game basically 24/7 for a week straight, come check it out!


Enjoy!

New Games

I am still awaiting the arrival of my copy of Small World: Realms, which should come soon in the mail. There is something poetic about opening a new, shrink-wrapped game. It's like Christmas. You up wrap it to find a bunch of bits for play! Punching out the cardboard pieces, and/or unwrapping the cards, is your first look at the game. How do you play with these bits? 

I can't wait.