Before I tell you the games I regret let me tell you: I recently got into Netrunner. I am 100% overwhelmed (never really played MtG). But I am so grateful for Jinteki. Through some luck I met a very experienced player who takes my hand and shows me all the things one doesn’t know if they have never played living card games/tcg. I also infected some friends of a friend and we only play online due to distance. I am in my 30s and feel so excited for every game. Maybe go on netrunnerdb take a prebuilt get a couple of runs and get excited by playing. My preach is over, now to you question: Most times I was lucky with my blind buys. Oath, CloudAge etc. Games I don’t really like such as Celestia many of my friends enjoy so I keep them. Games I hated first but initially did not buy like Root and Bora Bora I gave a second try years later. Then I started to enjoy them. Maybe because I got more experience and for Root I embraced the chaos. Now I am a proud owner of all but the Clockwork expansions. It sucks spending money on something you looked forward to. The good thing is you can always revisit, resell and regift.
RamenDame
Es wird ein paar ICEs geben die fahren. Check aber vorher, ob deine Verbindung fährt auf Bahn.de. Vielleicht eine Mitfahrgelegenheit buchen, wenn der Zug nicht fährt? BlaBlaCar oder FlixBus geht auch. Wird aber bestimmt alles mega voll. Ich drück dir auf jeden Fall die Daumen.
Mrwhostheboss video about Temu made me unsubscribe. Felt more like advertisement than anything else.
Boardgames. You can go all in and Kickstart cool games and buy all the bits and pieces. But actually, board gamers are always in the lookout for players. Therefore you’ll find a big community with lots of games and it is not necessary to have your own games. If you do like to buy though but want to avoid costs, share it with someone. Make it your game. Many you can’t play alone anyway. I wouldn’t mind someone to have no games at all but spend the time with me to play. Your time is the most valuable. And: it is easier to find friends through board gaming than get your friends to play boardgames.
Tikal - boardgame of the year 1999. Won the game. The box has way too much shelf presence for what it is. We played the base version with two players. It was ok but nothing I need to revisit.
Tribes of the wind - at two and four players. Won both times. Because I need to write a review a tried to look at it from different angles. I won with different Tribe leaders. Some combos of the leaders feel extra powerful. You really need to keep your eyes on your opponents boards to determine when they will pull the trigger to end the game. Winning the race to build the fifth tree seems a good winning strategy. At two players I like that your choice of cards will influence the second set of cards you’ll base your turns on.
Who did it? - I am not the fastes and I don’t like the theme but it is one of the best ice breaker and funny Absacker (drink or in this case last game of the night with no special requirements often fast and light hearted)
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza - in comparison to who did it is this game much more dangerous 😅 me and a friend hurt ourselves playing it.
Alhambra card game - I am a big fan of Alhambra. But we visited the in laws and even so they play games like clever, you need to bring new elements slowly to the table. Therefore I brought this lighter version as Bonn edition. They can identify cards and have fun talking about the locations and understand buying cards with different currencies. Next time I hope I can play the big game with them.
Qwinto and that’s pretty clever - always lose against the in laws. Maybe I try to hard to win. A good activity between two meals, cake and coffee.
This week was a good week. I have three wins to report.
Order by importance of the win:
Twilight Imperium - how did I manage to win? I still have no idea. This game is so long and it was my second time playing it. Four Player table. It is nicely asymmetrical and way too many factions to understand there balance playing it once a year. It is an ok game. But why do people like this game so damn much? The art is nice.
Root - Vagabond for the first time and won the game. Still prefer the other factions cause I like the war aspect of the game.
Heat - it is a race game. And I won. The review from shut up and sit down really captures the essence of the game. It is nice and a light game. Only half as lovely without Dutraits art. I was glad someone else moved the bots, cause this I didn’t quite catch yet. Would love to play with six players.
Foodchain magnate - oh, did I lose. This game gives no room for failure. It is tight and needs lots of planning. The old art style I really like. Nat a game I need to replay.
The Spiel is a boardgame fair in Germany. Pretty big and international.
I played both and I found them, as a not regular Nemisis player similar. But I just wanted to add: at the Spiel they displayed a new Nemesis. Didn’t check it out but maybe it is a valuable info for you before you buy
Satori - 4 players. The game is tight and I guess once all players know the rules in and out one stupid move could end the game for you. Need more plays though
The labours of Hercules - first play for all 5 players. Emerging traitors and secret role playing needs the right crowd. Need a second game. I feel know kind of confident to explain the rules. The original rule book is pretty bad, bgg helps here a little. Celestia - as usual a good time
Feel kind of underplayed, but this week TI is waiting. Then I certainly will feel overplayed 😅
My favourite cheap accessory is silicone muffin cups. Available in multiple colours. Fits all your different resources. I think nearly every second person in our club has some. Extra nice: cups with a fold halfway up. Perfect to make half cups for fewer recourses. When not in use, make cupcakes.
Saturday
We arrived by car and got easy to the parking lot and only waited 20-25 min to catch a bus to the fair. I thought it was quite well organised for such a busy day. First hall we entered was 3. The hall for expert games. It was so damn crowded! The mood was good. People were asking were you found certain games. They sold the Voidfall galactic Box. A statement piece on your shelf.
The app to navigate through the Spiel was well thought out and helpful. Had everything written you needed to know. But can we please talk about the art they used?! AI pics of people playing with too many fingers? Artists are so important to game development and they advertise with bad art? Really puts me off. Use AI but please use it sensibly.
Unconcious mind and Floe - hands on a Kickstarter I backed and want to back was really cool.
Gay Sauna - as they explained to me: a WWII worker placement 😅 I am not a dungeon crawler fan but have people to try it out with. Let’s see if it is just a joke game or fun after all.
Nemesis I saw the prototype for a new one passing by. I am intrigued what new stuff they add after two pretty similar games (in my opinion)
The end I only bought few games, maybe because my main focus where the upcoming kickstarter
Arborea -backed and picked up
Satori - they explained it so nicely and with so much energy. Second game will be played tonight
Bitoku expansion - we finally have sticker for the meeple. Haven’t played yet but the cards which add drama do interest me.
The labours of Hercules - on bgg it has a lot of negative reviews but the art is nice. With the revised rule book it could be fun. Haven’t played yet though.
I think in its original form, browser based I think, you just had OneShot. But I really enjoyed it. Great to see it mentioned.