Game Night: Saturday 6-7-2003

Mystery of the Abbey
Rage
Schotten-Totten
Take 6
Werewolf

 

Ashley Don B. Byron
Ed Jen John P.
Pat Ray Steve
Suzanne
 

First of all, let me invite you all to the "Road Rally" Portal.  Just go to www.eifco.org and click on the icon.  We are hoping to infuse that sport with some new blood since a lot of the participants are non-game people.  There are numerous rallies this fall. 

 
Rather than drone on and on, I thought I would discuss the new games.  Mystery of the Abbey is an adult version of clue.  There are 30 or so suspects instead of 6, and there are 5 attributes of each.  The idea is to use the process of interrogation to reveal information you need to eliminate suspects.  The mechanics work well, and the game has that "last minute acceleration" feel as everyone gets down to the last 5 or 6 suspects.  It has some minor "screw your neighbor" elements, but "what comes around goes around" is very true.  I did not understand scoring, other than ranking the losers.  Only one person can "out" the killer.
 
The week prior, we played Mare Nostrum which is Diplomacy lite.  In order to reduce the time it takes to play, they introduced a trading phase similar to Chinatown, a production phase similar to settlers, and a war aspect similar to Risk.  Still a 90min-2hour game, but actually fun.  You really need to use Diplomacy, or the game plays out like a predictable made for TV movie.  But once you start cutting deals, "Mayberry" becomes "Dallas".
 
Don wrote a great review for the other new game.  I won't even attempt to add anything. 
 
Game nights are few and far between in the summer, as we go camping a lot.  Better to call first.

Mystery of the Abbey Winner Byron 4 - Don W. 2 - Ray 2 - Ashley 0 - Ed 0 - John P. 0

Schotten-Totten Winner Suzanne - Steve

Bang! Outlaws 1 - Renegade 0 - Law 0

Rage Winner Ray 92 - Don W. 76 - John P. 72 - Steve 71 - Ashley 64 - Ed 57 - Suzanne 42 - Byron 24

Werewolf  Werewolves 2 - Villagers 1

Take 6 Winner Ashley & Ray 37 - Byron 49 - Steve 57 - John P. 60 - Suzanne 71 - Jen 76

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Game Night: Saturday 6-14-2003

Citadels
Dungeoneer
Guillotine
Ra
Time's Up!

 

Byron Don W. Ed
Jen John P. Ray
Steve Suzanne
 

Well, we finally gave Dungeoneer a try.  Basically, its Talisman for idiots.  Nice design, but lacking in map cards.  This game needs an expansion so bad, its should be listed in the rules!  Basically its a dungeon crawl with quests.  The twist is that you control the bad things (monsters) that your opponents encounter.  The feel is good and the mechanics solid.  It just lacks variety.  For example, the game is actually "The tomb of the Lich Lord", which is a dungeon made up of about 15 location cards.  A Bigger dungeon with more variety would  create a longer game, and its easy to see the game designers were trying to avoid that.  But if that's the case, they need cards to swap in and out, so there are more "generic" passage type cards. 

 
Time's Up continues to be a riot at all times.  There are now TWO expansions available. Other than the rules and a minute hour glass, why not just buy the expansion at 50% of the price?!
  Drink of the night was the DUNE (but I had Pina Coladas).  Next week I will be able to server Mojitos as Monin opened their online store.  I was able to acquire Mint syrup and just for fun, ginger syrup.

 

Ra Winner Steve 58 - Don W. 33 - Suzanne 24

Dungeoneer Winner Ray - Ed - John P. - Byron (no order to 2,3 or 4 place)

Guillotine Winner Steve 15 - Suzanne 14 - Jen 7

Guillotine Winner Jen 24 - Suzanne 17 - Steve 14

Citadels Winner Jen 26 - John P. 22 - Steve 19 - Suzanne 12 - Ed 11 - Ray 9

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Game Night: Saturday 6-21-2003

Amun-Re
Rage

 

Ashley Don B. Don W.
Ed Jen John P.
Kumar Ray

Amun-Re Winner Don B. 46 - Kumar 28 - Ray 25 - John P. 20 - Ed 14

Rage Winner John P. 82 - Jen 79 - Don W. 74 - Ray 73 - Don B. 72 - Kumar 71 - Ashley 65 - Ed 58

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Game Night: Friday 6-27-2003

Mare Nostrum

 

Ashley Ed John P.
Phil Ray

Mare Nostrum Winner Ed 4 - Phil 2 - Ray 2 - Ashley 1 - John P. 1

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Game Night: Saturday 6-28-2003

Land Unter
Rage
Zero

 

Ashley Don W. Ed
John P.

Not really planning on doing anything tonight, we threw together a quick card gathering. First up, Zero. Ashley and Don had never played, but it's very simple, so it only took a minute. It was a very close game, they did well for first timers.

Zero Winner John P. 29 - Ed 32 - Ashley 35 - Don W. 40

Cries could be heard for "The Pig Game", who am I to argue? I still love this card game after all the time. Prich had steady points every hand, and everyone knows that is a clear road to the winners circle.

Land Unter Winner John P. 7 - Ed 5 - Ashley 3 - Don W. 2

Rage is another game that never seems to get old. I have the American version that is 20 years old, the card colors are much clearer in the older version. Ashley did great for having a very slow start, I was in the lead until round five and I got -10 and it was downhill from that point. Everyone else had a great game, Don only had 2 minus rounds, and it was only -2 and -5.

Rage Winner Don W. 77 - Ashley 52 - John P. 42 - Ed 29

Game Night: Saturday 6-28-2003 Part 2

Carcassonne
Edel, Stein & Reich
Puerto Rico

 

Don W. Lisa Steve
Stephen Suzanne

 

The Beyers were the only attendees.  We let our girls stay up to play and view one movie with their kids. We played Edel, Stein, & Reich.  Steve's strategy was to bid on the money most of the game.  I went for the gems.  Lisa and Don alternated between the gems, certificates, and money.  It was fun.

Edel Stein & Reich Winner Steve 9 - Don B. 81 - Suzanne 68 - Lisa 58

    Next we broke out Steve's birthday gifts, just a few days early.  We did not play Time's Up, but had a great game of Puerto Rico.  Steve was thrilled to receive it.  Don won with 38, Suzanne 37, Steve 35, and Lisa 30.

Puerto Rico Winner  Don B. 38 - Suzanne 37 - Steve 35 - Lisa 30

    It was during Puerto Rico, that Dr. Vodka, fulfilled his house call duties started mixing Vodka Tonics.  Steve turned in after Puerto Rico, so Stephen, the only child still awake took over at the game table.  We attempted play Carcassonne, with mice and giant (?) expansion.  Dr. Vodka & I were over medicated and Lisa was tired.  After I pulled out Steve's & my vacation photos to show pics of the real Carcassonne, the game fizzled.  We called Stephen the winner with 41, I think he was followed by Lisa, Don, then me. We had a great time.

Carcassonne  Winner  Stephan 41 - Lisa - Don - Suzanne

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