Category: Blog - BOARD GAMES EVERYBODY SHOULD...

Syrinscape Sounds of Claustrophobia

4/2/2019

I was waiting until everything was 100% complete before sharing this information with you. Yes, the Claustrophobia 1643 has now officially wrapped for me. The soundtrack complete, not only as a downloadable MP3 but also as an app version, thanks to Syrinscape.

What does that mean? Well let me explain in this video…

So now I am done with music, I will go back to doing board game reviews and board game videos. Just until the next soundscape comes along…

here are some links to places to get the soundscape

Festival at Epinal

3/20/2019

On this Saturday, March 9, 2019, your mission, if you accept, will be to go to Epinal to discover the fun festival and come back with game reviews. Confident in our abilities, proud to receive this quest, we set out on a fun adventure. For the first time, I went to the festival Jeux et Cie d'Epinal, in France. Fortunately, to help me and support me in this heavy task, Barry (second time at Epinal) accompanied me and guided me in the pouring rain (as well as play the role of chauffeur).

After several hours of driving, we arrived at the site: the Congress Center. Easily found, rather well located when you come from far away and with plenty of available parking spaces, the mission seemed to be starting on a good track.

This is a free festival, which offers you the chance to discover new or old games in a good atmosphere and for all tastes. That's what the poster promised us. Once inside the room, we actually find ourselves in a family atmosphere, dare I say zen. The stands were quite spaced out, a lot of tables available, people were smiling, even very welcoming. On site, besides the games we found some service in terms of restoration (although I found the thing a bit expensive), games to bring back (wide choice in the local game stores). As for the types of games, the target audience is still family and children even if, here and there we did find games a little more focused on the expert public. The demonstrators and volunteers present were very good, friendly and quick to explain the rules with joy and good humor. A nice surprise for a festival this size. It is regrettable that some publishers did not make the trip or bring protos to test, while others were just not present. Overall it's really nice. Too bad it is a bit far, (a 3 hour plus car journey) if not with pleasure I would go back (especially in such a charming company). Especially since the festival only lasted for three days! Wow.

As for our original mission ... So we tried no less than thirteen games. Here are these titles with a (very) short summary and opinion. Plus we pick out our top 3 gaming experiences of the event.

Attention, these opinions are first impressions within the framework of a festival (noise/fighting for a table/rules not explained correctly/fatigue from continuous playing), as always in this type of events. These opinions can change by playing the game in other configurations, like at home or different player counts or after watching a Rodney Smith video =).

Res Arcana
Sand Castle games

Being a big Splendor fan, this game is the next evolutionary step in this genre. From each player taking their individual roles which will grant them a bonus resource every round to the large array of options for things you can acquire, this game does everything in big steps. You are mages each with your own small deck of cards that you will cycle through and either use to protect yourself against attacks or spend resources to put these items in your persons. Not only are they resources but there is also gold which is hard to get hold of. This makes the game a little bit more interesting in the fact that everyone will find different ways to get to different things. Whether it be monuments, creating items, or becoming the lord of the places of power. There is a lot of choices and decisions to be made in this resource fest. There is also a lot to get your head around and many different combinations of items to collect and build. This is definitely a game that I want to reply now that I have a little bit of knowledge on how everything fits together.

A game by Thomas Lehmann never goes unnoticed. For the occasion, we had the pleasure of playing with a third person, whose name I unfortunately forgot (sorry). The theme makes you incarnate magi in duels without mercy. This is a point-based points race game based on resource and card purchases. The big originality is that we play with a hand of cards, defined at the beginning of the game and we do not receive others during the game. Simple, fast, little thematic, clever. Clearly the type of games to deepen.

space gate odyssey
Ludonaute

I’ve already done a first impressions article for Space Gate Odyssey which you can find here. But after a second play, I still want to play this again. And with a larger play count. The game is still a nice brain puzzle of efficiency, where you’re creating a maze for your ants to run around in. And then hopefully give you the points that you need when they arrive on planets. Even playing a slightly altered strategy, I’ve found other things that I want to try afterwards. Although surprisingly light in mechanisms, this game is enjoyable and a little head scratchy as players try to complete actions without giving the other players benefits.

I finally got my hands on this new game by Cédric Lefebvre (designer that I appreciate a lot, humanly and playfully). This space game invites you to build your station to be able to send your settlers to take possession of untapped planets. A mixture of several mechanisms that work. It's simple, the material is nice (even if the icons are too small). Thematically, I did not feel the basic construction and spatial exploitation side. It stays in a semi-light game world but with some subtleties.

slide quest
blue orange games

This is a kid friendly game about balancing and sliding. Inside the box is a specially built platform that is held in place by four levers, each of the four edges of the base box. It is these levers that players will be lifting and dropping to make the main board tilt. There are a variety of maps that are put onto this platform which depicts a route, a start and finish space, and some obstacles, which are inserted into holes to give a 3-D effect. From then on, the players place a hero and the starting zone and use the levers to make him roll (he has a ball bearing inside) along the path and complete different objectives. Like push bandit into holes or move dynamite next to a monster. All very simple, just like in Loony Quest. But it did not hold my interest. Possibly because there were no kids playing with us. Definitely a family game, but not one I found myself having fun with.

I liked Loony Quest ... but this new title is clearly for the even younger ones. The materials are interesting, the basic idea is nice but the game is much less. No real challenge, the look is very childish, replayability seems limited. I am disappointed.

7 ronin
Grey Fox Games

A two player, out thinking, abstract a two player game. Where one player will have seven ronin to protect a village. While another player has a horde of ninjas ready and waiting to attack the village. Players will place their heroes and warriors on locations behind a screen before revealing to see which zones they attack and defend. Each Ronan has their own special power which they will used to try to illuminate the ninjas. Before any unhampered ninjas get to perform special actions depending on the area of the map that they approach the village from. It takes a little while to get use to colours, powers and actions, but it surely worth replaying to get into the theme and strategy layed out in the rules. An elegant to play, back-and-forth abstract game that requires lots of coffee and some ESP to win, but not necessarily to have fun.

A game of bluffing and tactics in the Japanese feudal world. Very minimalist in its material (and yet really beautiful), the game is very pleasant and offers a good challenge. It will take a good blow of bluffing, but also a lot of luck to prevail in this asymmetrical game that works really well.

guilou's #2 game of the festival

mississippi queen
super meeple

Soon to be reprinted by Super Meeple, this is a racing game based on the American Queen Steamboats that were used to transport passengers along the Mississippi. Each player’s boat has an engine which can change up and down gears, which adjust the speed and number of spaces it can move. And each has X amount of coal, that can be used to change the speed a little bit quicker. Mechanically interesting as the random generated river winds left and right, with passengers to collect en route. It felt like a light racing game for the family and is lacking something to make it a bit more intriguing. Hopefully this is something that will be added in the (probably deluxifier) reprint.

This is the proto of the reissue of Mississippi Queen. Racing motorboat game where you have to juggle speed and use of coal to take passengers and arrive at the destination first. Difficult to issue a final opinion especially that the two-player configuration. A small novelty, not necessarily the most interesting. The game is nice but the advanced tiles will soon be indispensable.

scarabya
blue orange games

I fell in love with this puzzle game that uses Tetris pieces as it’s core. Player all have the same playing board, which has scarabs depicted on random spaces that when collected give you points. And rocks that block the placement of your Tetris pieces. This is a synchronized puzzle game to see who can best manipulate their pieces to divided their board to get the most points. As one by one each player will take the same piece and lay it to enlarge their camp, leaving the scarabs uncovered in groups of two. With very simple rules (even though I messed them up several times), this was a simple pleasure where the replayability comes from the challenge against the other players. Something my family will love to play but may quickly be forgotten due to it being the same repetitive game.

barry's #1 game of the festival

A little game by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc. We are on a tetris tile set with a handicap. We’ll pass on the theme that is not present, and we end up with a simple and fast game. The goal is to surround scarabs in spaces up to four squares. The scarab still need to visible in this space and will bring you as many points. The tile to be laid is defined by a map. All players play at the same time. It's a solitary game in a group. Family style, replayability can be quite important as long as you adore the concept.

nagaraja
hurrican games

Exploring a temple Indiana Jones style is what this game promises. But it doesn’t deliver this experience due to the fact that the main mechanic is an auction. Yes, you’re going to be bidding for tiles to add to your player board. These tiles have paths that you can follow to take you to treasure that is allocated at the edge of your player board. Your cards, which have two functions that include, values of sticks (that are like dice) for the auction and powers that you can use if these stick like dice roll blank. This stick dice is a great idea but a little lost in this game. Again the construction of paths to take you to treasure is a nice idea but is lost entirely in this bidding war that you and another player will have. Some nice ideas, some fantastic artwork, but it didn’t convey the theme I thought the game was implying.

Another game by Bruno Cathala but this time with Théo Rivière. We recognized immediately the graphics of Vincent Dutrait. A game for two players (again a forgetfully theme). The objective is to be the first to recover 25 victory points with the help of treasures or relics that you will be able to unlock, thanks to tiles in your temple. The material is nice but the game is pretty average. It moves, but it is clearly missing the little slice that makes me want to come back. Yet there are good ideas inside.

ice team
the flying games

A polar bear race where they will be swimming, running and surfing on floating ice. For something that looks like a young child’s game, Ice Team has a lot of depth and strategy to it. Cleverly eliminating parts of the track may hinder your opponent in this two player, for polar bears per player race can help you. Or it may help your opponent, as swimming can make traversal of large open areas a rapid way to catch up. With a random course set up to the change the layout of icebergs, players will have a handful of replayable experiences. As it’s not about being the first across the line but it is also about how many fish you can pick up. Or steal. With some really nice ideas like freezing fish to stop players stealing them and sliding ice blocks, plus disintegrating ice all add up to a fun experience. Although only for two players.

barry's #2 game of the festival

I'm not necessarily a fan of this range, which I find a little too young for me. Once again, a game from ... Bruno Cathala (he is everywhere) but this time with Matthew Dunstan. I must say that I was really pleasantly surprised. Besides the really nice look (they have class polar bears), the game has very good ideas (surfing on the ice or frozen fish). Young and old can find this enjoyable. A good game, light but nice. And in addition presented very beautifully with a giant version is very nice! (not retail)

the Quacks of Quedlinburg
North Star Games

An interesting bag building game and the first of its kind that I have played. Drawing different ingredients at random from your bag to add to your cauldron to create the most powerful potions. With a high push your luck factor, as you do not wish to make your potion explode with the wrong ingredient, but also make it the largest potion possible. This benefits you in points as well as being able to buy better ingredients to add to your bag. Lots of choice and replayability in the ingredients that you can collect and I believe it adapt well to all types of playing styles. I can see how this won the Kennerspiel des Jahres, but I found it a tad repetitive, as I longed for the last round. I want to play it again, but with a shorter playing time and maybe 3D ingredients…!

The First game I had to read the rule (it was late at night and the demonstrators had gone, but not their games). Well we must say that we could not miss the chance to play this Kennerspiel. Especially since I had heard a lot of good things about it. You are healers who have to find Potions recipes to sell on a market. But finally what a cold shower. Yes the game works, it moves, but ... that’s all? It's a mix of bag-building with some original and well-found ideas. A family game at it’s base, to which one has artificially added mechanisms to become more for player. Too much manipulation, a lot of chances, not really smooth when discovering it, little choice, very repetitive, very little interaction, each player plays in their corner without looking at the other cauldrons. A real disappointment (and yet we were in very good company).

Lindisfarne
runes editions

Many moons ago I played this game as a Prototype. At that time it felt like a roll and write game as it was rolling dice and writing on paper. You’ll allocate at least one of your results to one of three charts to try to get superiority there. This final version has rune tokens and dice, with some exquisite Viking card art. The mechanisms have not changed but there are more ways to gain points in this version of the game as you collect cards. Whether you have had the highest value of saved dice or the highest collection of the same number, these will give you the first choice from a selection of cards in the zone. So, more of a set collection game where you will be collecting cards for the color or their panoramic view that you can complete. As well as individual scores for each card and special powers on some. This is a nice medium white dice rolling set collection game that will have you pondering for a while but never leaving you swimming for options.

barry's #3 game of the festival

A game that immerses you in the Viking universe. The goal is to plunder Europe and bring back wealth. A collectible game where you will have to try to win on several tracks to recover fresco cards or objectives to fill. Several ways to score, a lot of replayability, a strong interaction, the presence of chance (but can be lessened), fun and deceitful. I really have the desire to play it again. My favorite of the show! (and in addition the large version on the demo table was awesome).

guilou's #1 game of the festival

zombie bus
sweet games

Yahtzee for kids who are into zombies. That’s all I can say about zombie bus. It is a simple game for a family audience, where on the players turn they reveal a Zombie and roll some dice. The dice have various body parts depicted on them as well as the zombie cards. Having results that are the same as the zombie card means that you can damage that zombie. If you managed to tick all the boxes, that zombie is dead and you score points for them. But also at the same time, in the middle of the table is the bus that the game is talking about. And on it is a group of cheerleaders that everyone has to rescue. The dice also have other results, like the star and joker. Collecting a certain amount of stars on your turn can be used to rescue a cheerleader. Rescue all the cheerleaders will deplete the deck of zombie cards the game will end. Yes this is a cooperative game we are a family can work together to kick some ass before the zombie kick yours. Or eat the cheerleaders.

I love zombie games and I am generally good bate. But that did not take. Still, the atmosphere is there. Cheerleaders, special zombies, the second degree, the presence of dice ... But we are faced with a game where ultimately the choice is obvious. We did not feel like doing things, we let ourselves walk through the game. The zombies for, the vast majority are almost all the same. There was not really any epic or fun moments. We threw our dice without really thinking. And we watched the time pass. Too bad.

Honga
Haba

Keeping your pet satisfied while doing your errands can be a handful. That’s what Honga is about. A very stunning looking have a game where players will draw cards at random and then play them on to the board at a certain angle that will allow them to one stroke the sabertooth tiger and to collect a resource or perform an action. A simple mechanic that will make younger children very happy and very angry when the sabertooth gets no affection and eats their resources. With plenty of paths to scoring points and some beautiful cartoon art components, this game is sure to please the young family and teach responsibility as well as management skills.

Hard to do better than Karuba (which I like a lot in style). Honga offers nice material, and the idea of Honga that comes to attack you if you forget it, adds a constant pressure. And yet, the game struggles to convince. The chance of the cards dictates the way you play and the most profitable actions appear on their own. Really not convinced. Children can find their account but for how long? To try again can be …

That’s pretty clever
Schmidt / Stronghold Games

A basic “roll and write” game, which means that a player will roll some dice and then players can write down the results on their sheet to tick some boxes. As simple as that. Although each color die has its own area to be ticked. Some of these areas just accumulate into points. And some areas create columns, that when once filled will allow you to tick another box somewhere else. I simple idea about taking boxes like playing bingo. But proving you are best at it by either rolling well or checking off the right areas at the right time, is not much of a game. For me it’s a little something and nothing.

Another game by Wolfgang Warsh. This time we are dealing with a little game dice super clever. The thing is very simple, we have a grid to fill, we throw dice, we choose and next where we check if we can unlock bonuses. The game offers good ideas with different scoring areas. Fast, simple, clever and can be deceitful. The choice of the dice for the first player will determine the choice for the following. A success.

guilou's #3 game of the festival

And there you have it. All the discoveries we made and fun we had playing. Plus it was a good laugh in our company and those we encountered. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comment, write them below.

Say "hello" to my little friend

1/29/2019

Hello Chaps and Chapette,

You may or not be aware of the time restrictions that fill our lives. The amount of time spent watching top ten lists on Youtube or the hour and a half a week that you are sat doing your business on the toilet. I personnel have stopped the top ten list, but am probably spending more hours in the bathroom (getting old, you know. =) )

I want to produce more content, but am restricted with family life (mainly because player 4 is very young) and new work that is coming in. I am even struggling to get a video a week posted. It won’t fit into my working day of music, music and more music...And maybe more after. So I ask a friend if he could help. Not with the music, because I have heard him sing. But with creating articles for the website and to give you another side to gaming here in France.

(Guillaume and I at Paris Est Ludique 2017)

I have know Guillaume for over six years now, and he was one of the first gamers that I encountered when I relocated to the land of baguettes, cheese and wine. From our first encounter, there was a magic in the air. Due to his infectious laughter and colourful personality, he has been in my thoughts for a long time. His kind and generous nature in helping where he can, with providing all the promos I give away, testing prototypes with me, correcting the rules error I make and giving me food for thought after the game has finished. In the passed, we talked of doing videos together and maybe a podcast (in French) but nothing came of it. And now he has moved out of my local area, I see him less and less, but think of him more and more. That’s when I came up with the idea of getting him to write with me, to which he graciously said yes. He will be giving different opinions to myself about games we have played as well as telling you about the latest games (he is a cult of the new dude).

I could tell you more about his background, make up some interesting stories, but it’s probably better that he do so himself. So I’d like to introduce to you, my fantastic French friend Guillaume:

“Wow !!! What a presentation! Right now, that really puts the pressure on. I do not know if I want all these compliments. Already 6 years that I have supported you? ... It shows how tolerant Barry has been. ;)

“I'll introduce myself as Guillaume, Guilou or Slave (for the intimates). I have the honor and the pleasure of joining the adventure alongside Barry. I will try to transcribe to you as best as possible my passion for games through my articles. I think we can say that I am a big player. But I'm not limited to just one style of games and I am open to everything. I fell into gaming as a child, like Obelix in the Magic Potion, and I never really got out. Unfortunately for my bank account ...

“I'd say that I am a curious gamer and love to discover, but also play and replay. Very inspired at a young age by games like Heroquest, Dungeons & Dragons or Magic. I love games that tell you stories, that make you live adventures, that make you dream. So, I naturally got closer to Ameritrash, Card Driven and Deckbuilding style of game, but not only those. For the rest... you will discover as we take a fun trip into reviewing.”

And there you have it. My gaming buddy, supporter and festival traveling friend is now helping me, point you in the direction of what games you should or shouldn't part with your hard earned cash.

Kickstarter is for Badasses

11/13/2018

Hello Chaps & Chapettes,

It's not every day that you get offered a game and get excited by it instantly. Now, I don't get bucket loads sent to me, like Rahdo or Vasel, but those that I do get are unknown to me. Hence there is a little mystery in discovering a game. Not having any expectations. And never sure of where the game wants to go, leaving me with mixed feelings. For example, a dungeon crawl is a dungeon crawl, which is a sensation I know well and can appreciate it. And a good one will make me feel that I am crawling in a dungeon. Where as game where cubes are moving about, card are being bought, but the game is about concurring the world, can give me the feeling of farming. Not concurring the world at all.

Last year, I had a game shoved under my nose, that was a war game...of movie star clones. And it didn't give me a war feeling, but was immense fun. Plus there was combat. Mental and physical. That game was called Badass Force and in one week, starting on Kickstarter.

The game has an air of Coup. Choosing an A-list action movie star, like Arnold, Sly or Bruce, in front of yourself. Then, either telling everyone that who it really is or blatantly lying about who you have, just to use another power from another character. That way, in no one calls your bluff, you can take down some of the other players at the table. Interesting stuff...

...But it's not all about bluffing. Which is good for those that have a dislike to these type of games. You can play honestly. Because there is more to this game than meets the eye. You can change out the character you have choose. On top of that, there are weapons that need to be loaded, before firing. There is a choice with the weapons. And the biggest bonus is, there is no player elimination. If all your stars have been wiped out, you get to collect them and reuse them...But in a Revenge mode. A mode where their powers are enhanced. So if you are bad at lying or just have bad luck OR are always picked on. You become a tad more powerful, striking a little fear in your opponents.

The game comes alive, very quickly after a moment of uncertainty that players get in the first round. Not only as they adapt to the rules and strategy's, but as they start quoting...

"I heard you were dead!"
“Go ahead, make my day.”
"That's not a knife, that's a knife."
"This is my BOOM STICK!"
"Hasta la vista, baby."
“I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… And I’m all out of bubblegum.”
"Say hello to my little friend."

Man, I could go on and on...

This game is an enjoyable party style game. And I'm not just saying that because I am now the community manager for the KS. But because I do enjoy this game. The player interaction is high and made higher when one liners come out of other players mouths. Of course there is a bit of luck involved in the game. Calling bluff on a player you've never encountered before. But there is always the rematch, as you figure out their style of play. And there is a surprising amount of strategy hidden in the game. Should you bluff? Should you use your loaded weapon? Should you choose this character? Should you make their grenade, blow up in their face? Lots of choice and plans to formulate. But I won't ramble about it too much. I'll let you look for yourself. Below are some links to the rules, character powers and tips. Check them out and I will see you soon, with some videos.

Link to HOW TO YIPPEE-KI-PLAY (part 1)
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/2088164/how-yippee-ki-p...
Link to HOW TO YIPPEE-KI-PLAY (part 2)
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/2090103/how-yippee-ki-p...
Link to CHARACTER POWAA!
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/2091504/keys-being-bada...
Link to WEAPONS TRAINING
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/2092721/keys-be-badass-...
Link to Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/BadassForce/

Why???

10/2/2018

Every mornings, when I wake up, I think “I must go to work.” Unlike most people, this is something that puts a smile on my face as I feel lucky to be able to do what I do. After the struggle of squezzing a space into the bathroom and swigging a coffee with a traditional bowl of cereal, I make my way over to my ominous room. From the moment I switch on my computer and wait for it to chug into life, I start asking myself the same question:

“What is the point in being a small reviewer when there are bigger reviewers who are swamping the web with reviews, interviews, top tens and (worst of the worst) box opening videos?”

It's a questions that depresses and angers me. I feel like the small kitten mewing from the bottom of the well, hoping someone hears me. Yet I continue to do what I do. Not for the fame. Not for free games. And not because I am the best at doing it. But purely for the enjoyment I get after publishing a video or a blog. A satisfaction that I have done the game in question justice. To it's publisher and to those who would be interested in purchasing a game like it. As I believe that gamers should not just click, click, click and buy every trick but rather spend their money wisely. As someone who just wanted it all, this obsession caused lots of problems at home. And I am sure that those of you who are reading this may relate to my story.

Spending money that you don't have or could have used to bring joy to somebody else, on a box of card and plastic that just sits on your shelf. Doing nothing. Just collecting dust. Or advertising to your visiting friends that you have “that game”, to make their jaws drop, is a waste in my opinion. For those of you that have buckets of money and more Ikea than Ikea itself, I am happy for you. Continue to do what you are doing, if it makes you happy. In fact, it is you chaps and chapettes that are keeping this industry alive, with every Kickstarter you back and every new game comes out from that great publisher, that you pick up. And I thank you for that. I hope this isn't sounding sarcastic because it's not my intention. I have friends that fit this category. They either go on to sell the games they don't like at a reduced price or give them away because they have been out dated within a few month. And that, I'm sure you'll agree, is great for their friends.

So back to my riddle. Why do I do what I do, when there is no chance of reviewing every game out there or making it a channel that everybody should watch...?

Simply, because I enjoy it.

a view from the deck in my office

I am not a journalist. I am not even a competent literal person either. I struggling to speak, let alone write in my own language. But I enjoy bringing new people into the hobby. I enjoy opening the eye of someone who hasn't heard of a game that is right up their ally. I enjoy bringing an approach that is different to other. I enjoy being honest. And I enjoy the interaction that I get back from those who follow or take the time to see what I am doing. Limited as it is, it is great. The best part of all the hard work. As well as helping you make that important decision... “Should I buy that game?”

So this is a thank you to you, who follow, subscribe or just in passing say “hello.” And to let you know that I will continue to do this thing I love, in my own time. As it helps you make that decision. I'm not saying that my word is final and you should like what I like. Always dip your foot in the pool at several locations as some parts may be hotter. Use me as a counter balance against those other reviewers, who don't like games because of art or review a game too soon, just for the clicks. Or those that like ass kissing because it fills holes in their Ikea. And the less I say about box opening videos, the better.

Regards and Respects
Barry Doublet

Board gaming in Brussels

9/25/2018

As the summer days were coming to an end, there was one more European open air festival to visit. One that I have never been to before and only heard about in the year proceeding. The Brussels Game Festival, that took place on the 24/25 of August in the Cinquantenaire Park in the capital of Belgium.

A section of the park was taken up by this free event, as joggers jogged by and mothers took their children and dogs for walks, gamers were gaming. Tents were set up in lines, publishers installed their games and the smell of fried chips filled the air. The weekend was a warm, yet windy one. A little sprinkling of rain made people duck in the cover of stand. But apart from that, a wonderfully calm vibe filled the tree covered area.

I was there on a purely observant level, not to play but to chat with publishers and friends about the festival and newness coming from their companies. So I'd thought I would document the event by walking around the stands and showing you a glimpse of what it was like. In the video below, you may see some Kickstarter projects that are coming, new games you never heard of, old games that have different publishers (as not all American games reach these shores) and you may see some beer too. Beer is an important part of the gaming culture in Belgium. It may be 10am, but you can crush your thrust with a fresh fruity flavoured beer...or a strong coffee.

There were lots of interesting things to see, although not as many new game release announced. With Essen just around the corner, editors were saving those releases for then. But there were a handful of stands demoing upcoming KS projects that were starting in October. From Badass Force, Zombie Social Club and After The End. Games to look out for.

This is an event that I will be attending next year. Not as busy as Paris est Ludique, but calm and dream like. Especially as I got to have a sweet weekend with my wife and taste a little bit of a different culture. Now I have wet my feet, that next time will have more news from me.

U.S. Telegraph - review

9/13/2018

U.S. Telegraph from Super Meeple
Marcel-André Casasola Merkle
2-4 player
ages 10 and up
Video review at the bottom

A different type of outlaw

We all love building things. And board games give us the key to construct marvels in a short space of time with just a little sprinkling of brain power. Spaceships. Empires. Cities. Farms. While you are building whatever it is your building, you'll be building a score, hopefully larger than the other's sat at the same table as you. It is very rare for this type of to have any other reason to build, but meagrely to get points.

But what about building to win a race...?

This is exactly what you will be doing in U.S. Telegraph. You are building an enterprise that is trying to be the first to connect two cities with your new technological innovation that will replace the Pony Express. No points. No scoring. Just a race to be the first. And being first will make you the winner. Simple, yes! The game shines with simpleness from it's rules, game play and theme. But does that simplicity help or hinder the game?

This town ain't big enough

Every player takes control of a telecommunications company in the old wild west, as marked on their chosen coloured player board. Plus a number of building tokens, that are shuffled and placed in four stacks, face down. All players have the same building tokens that correspond to the images on their player board, which are grouped in different conglomerations of various amounts. Like four building connected to the railway industry or two buildings that relate to farming. None of that has any reference to the game, so having a ranch will not effect the blacksmiths business. It's merely there to create a chaining combo for those groups when built.

Each of the buildings of your colour connect your telegraph wire across the vast deserts that filled John Wayne's career. A number of hexagonal tiles, depending on the number of players, are placed in the middle of the table. With a number cities placed around the outside of this dust filled plain. These cities are the objective for the players, creating a continues line of their coloured buildings that connect one city to another.

How the west was built

Each building is going to require resources before they can be constructed. Some are scattered around the tiles that were places randomly. Other resources will come from a deck of cards, that players will receive in limited quantity, depending on the turn order. More cards can be gain in the game by sacrificing parts of your actions. There are two of these to chose from on your turn, making game play fast and fluid, like your favourite gunslinger. Due to the limited choices, the game is simple for the average player to slip into, like drawing your weapon. But knowing how to and when to use it is the dilemma in the game.

To draw or to construct are the choices available. It may not seem like much but as the game goes on, every action has consequences for you and the other players. The beginning of the game is a calm affair as you will be mainly drawing from your face down tiles, to see what you can build. This you can preform up to two times. If you decide to draw less than this amount, you get to draw a resource card. For example, you draw a tile and a card or you don't draw a tile but draw two cards. The latter is not really a good idea with this action, that you will see later...

The moment you draw a tile, you'll have to place it either on your player board in the allocated
area or you build it. Building requires you place it on an empty space, paying the resources from either your hand of cards or more practically, from the resources marked on the board adjacent this building. This is the start of your settlement and the commencement of your telegraph road. Starting a settlement somewhere else on the board will be a little more expensive, as you have to pay an extra wood, brick or whatever you wish, to do so. Connecting is cheaper and maybe free. If you build your viaduct (tile 61) next to your already constructed bridge (tile 60), you pay nothing.

The second action is to build. This is where you can place building that have already been revealed and placed on your player board, onto the main board. Again, resources will be paid or not, depending on the buildings you build and where you build them. A simple arrow system on your board shows the flow of which building can be built for free if place next to them. And this action you can preform three times on your turn. Which make more sense with the draw resource card option that I mentioned earlier. You could build one building and draw two cards for the actions not completed or simple play the wild card and take three cards straight up. And every time you build something, you'll place a marker down on it's image on your board, like playing Bingo. Completing a collection of the same group of the same coloured buildings will give you a worker to use on your turn to extend you actions. Utilizing a worker when you want will allow you to draw or build more times than normal. Playing them at the right time can be a life saver that will keep you in the game or help on the final sprint to finish the game.

wanted dead or alive

You will make enemy's in this game as they steal that space you wanted, while you block entry to a city, so they have to go around. If possible...

There will be times where there is a Mexican stand-off. The map has been divided into slices as you route of buildings start a one city but can't make it to another. This can be frustrating at times, as you have lined up a row of building that you could have placed on your next turn, but a border from another player cuts off you chance. And with the main board being one size, space becomes limited quickly, forcing decisions you didn't want to take at that moment of the game. But there is hope.

If on your draw action, you remove the last tile from a pile, you immediately get to add a hex tile to the main boards. Placing it wherever you wish, creating a trail that will permit you to build around this road block. Making the map bigger and giving other more growing space too. Strategically placing your buildings or settlements and joining them up at the key times to win is a trick that everyone is trying pull off. Because of the nature of these hex tiles, they fit nicely together like a tiled mosaic. Until you realise that the cities are a small space that creates a connection problems, like a horse shoe in a line of wagon wheels. Trying to build around the back of a city becomes interesting when the tile doesn't connect symmetrically but obscurely. Leave only one space touching another, limiting the route into the city. Creating another puzzle for you to solve. Timing and placement locations are part of the fun, but you won't be able to stop being get drawn into the Bingo frenzy. Drawing tiles until you have a full set of buildings, then gaining a worker. Helping to get your route complete.

But the west was not won just this way. Sometimes a stalemate might make you switch tactics to the second way to win the game. By being the first to build all of your buildings, filling your boards, like a Bingo card. Doing this makes the game a little longer and not always the first path to victory that is viable, but it's there.

Lucky Luke and the Dalton's

The drawing of tiles, some may see as a big luck factor. Considering that everyone will be drawing at the same time, the quick draws of matching groups can pay off. But it doesn't take much to take that lucky player off their tracks with just one well placed building. And the more players there are to gang up on that leading player, the more chance you will hold the reigns on their horses. Again, you may have to sacrifice an action ahead of it's time due to pressure place on you and you alone.

In fact, more players leads to a more intense race, as players are planing routes to different cities and you're never sure which they are. The free resources get eaten up more quickly and players settlements sprawl everywhere. Leaving a lot more of information for you to deduce their strategy and hiding route that you didn't see. The keen observers in the group will flourish.

Get off your horse and drink your milk

So, we have simple rules that lead to interesting and sometime difficult choices. But it's not all plain sailing, even with rules that are this straight forward as these, errors can happy easily as well. Forgetting to cross off your already constructed gold mine could cost you your game. Forgetting that have chosen the draw actions on your turn, because you build directly and therefore continue your turn as if you had taken the build action. These types of little error happen frequently with new players and, time to time with experienced players too, throwing the game into debatable territory. Or just making you win or lose in a non satisfying way, so a rematch is scheduled. Not that it's a big problem for most players, but disgruntled players may carry a chip on their shoulder until one of you gets to Boot Hill.

Not seeing your coloured tiles on the main board is another bug of the game, as the drab tile colours do nothing to pop out on the sandy tiles. Blue and green tiles are more distinct than the red and brown ones, that also share the same pallet as the buildings on these tiles. Where other games get around this by using bright, non thematic colours and 3D components that help locate you pieces, this feels like a missed opportunity. As this is just a re-theming of an older game Attika, and it looks like the same game. Although there is an art overhaul.

High noon

All in all, with those minor quibbles of easy mistakes players can make that could upset your game, it's a smooth and fast fun racing game. Without the racing theme. A family game that will have you replaying because you were so close to winning the last game. Simple in it's execution of actions but with a diverse number of choices for you to make after your third or fourth turn. Not only do you have to out-smarting your opponents, but be a “down right, dirt player” at the same time. 2 players is just a back an forth rodeo. You stand on their toes, they stand on yours. Where more players bring out a more interesting challenge. And as your pulling tiles off your piles, that sensations that your surrounded by hundreds of elderly ladies, with their heads down in silence, only to be broke by you, shouting “BINGO!”

the video review

Technical score 9/10
My BGG score 8/10
Combined score 8.5/10

The Gen Con Virgin

8/10/2018

Traveling around the world isn't like dusting crops. But I have done it. This time, for the very first time to go to a gaming convention.

This one was Gen Con.

From car to train to plane. So you could say "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

Yes, beware this blog may contain film quotes!

Coming to America is an experience and a half. The same heat, but it felt different. The street were packed full of Gen Conners and the food was BIG. Taco's and burgers for breakfast was one way to fill your stomach and everything was spicy, to keep you regular.

But I wasn't here to sample this other life, I was here to work. And maybe catch some online friends.

I was invited to Gen Con by the generous chaps at Monolith. To demonstrate Mythic Battles: Pantheon where Greek God wage war on each other. Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, re-enacting the greatest moment from the na-nah na-nah na-nah na-nah Batman comic books. And also present their next big Kickstarter, Claustrophobia 1643.

Our team of four were kept on our toes from dusk till dawn as the booth filled up. Which is great because it would make the longest day fly by. Players seem to really enjoy their experience and gave positive feedback.

For more info and images from the show, check out the video below...

Apart from spending the trading days with a great team of guys (David, Ken and Matt...a real pleasure...let's do it again) I got to have wonderful evening wondering in the city heat, looking for somewhere to play. And there were plenty of places to play. All hotels were hot shot places to find whole areas designated to playing games.

Board Game Geek hosted a large room in one of them. Everywhere I looked, there was someone I knew. Lance Myxter, Joel Eddy, Rodney Smith and a bucket load of others (sorry if I forgot you). Played a few game with the shiny Keith Collins and attentive Forest Bower and the golden voice charmer Anthony Racano .

We played games like Gizmos, Dinousaur Tea Party and I presented an up and coming game, Badass Force.

But the highlight had to be the time that Burky meets Badger (I know, it should be Harry meets Sally) in the flesh. Hanging out with, playing games with and getting covered in cigar smoke with Kevin Burkhardsmeier, my podcasting buddy, was priceless.

And seeing his Game Toppers in most of the booth was like the Holy Grail. Elegant and comfortable.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. But I will always look on the bright side of life as this was a great big convention that holds many memory's. Opening the door of new games to gamers and meeting strangers, fans and people I respect, is something that will stay with. As well as rest in this matrix.

more storys from gen con here...

Here I Gen Con

7/25/2018

Hello chaps and chapette,

How lucky I am to be invited to the wonders that are known as Gen Con, in Indiana?
Very...very lucky.

The big side of the gaming world is having it's annual event and I will be there, all four days with Monolith. Once again, I will be helping out in the booth (2830), showing people how to play Batman: Gotham City Chronicles and Mythic Battles: Pantheon. On top of that, I will be demoing the next big game in the pipe-works, Claustrophobia 1643.

This is the perfect opportunity to catch my podcasting buddy, Burky. And we will record a show together, face to face for the first time ever...excited!!! Plus get some manly hugs from Lance Myxter, Paul Grogan, the BGG gang and many more of my friends.

So while I am away, you may not see a lot of new videos pop up. I do have some uploaded and ready to go but am waiting for the "OK" from those publishers. So look out for new videos soon and some inside info on Monoliths new game.

Ciao for now, and I hope to see you there.

Flag Fury - Double-back monthly

7/7/2018

Hello Chaps and Chapette,
My latest blog/vlog is now posted. Find out if your a winner. Find out how the French do it. Find out what new games I have played. And find out what my beef is with flags...

***What is "the Monthly Video?" 0:20

***A Review of Reviews 1:46
Mythic Battles: Pantheon
Small Detectives
Solomon Kane
Ganymede
Fertility
Kung Fu Panda; the board game
Arkans
Ikan
Gravity Superstar
Badass Force
LA: Vice Division
Apocalypses at Carson City Zoo
Poc!
Luxor
Tokyo Highway
Raids
Topairy
Dominations
plus Burky & Badger's Board Game Babble

***First and the Last 14:52
U.S. Telegraph
Imhotep
Lords of Hellas
CuBirds
Freedom: The Underground Railraod

***Question Time 27:44
Flags flags flags

***The Monthly Giveaway 29:27
Win yourself a game