Hello Chaps and Chapettes, What a wonderful month it has been. October is the time when you should be thinking about buying Christmas presents for others. But no! With the Essen Spiel, it's a little difficult to do. Unless... You are working at a stand at Essen. This year I was given the chance to hang around with the chaps from Monolith Editions and demonstrate their up and coming Kickstarter "BATMAN THE BOARDGAME" Not due for a little while yet, we were building the buzz ready for the Kickstarter date of February 2018. In my Double-Back Monthly video I talk about the game and you get to see footage that I shoot at the show. The Spiel it's self, is like a drug. There must be something pumped in the air by ACE chemicals, whenever I go there. I have lots of energy and constantly having a happy buzz. Everything seemed to hover in a dream like state and I hovered too. The vast amount of people there was astounding. The first three day and the first three hall were chock-a-block. Making a walk from one end to the other, a long and slow snails trail where you could push your was through and crush a child to death or weave in and out, but end up back where you starter. Not good for my claustrophobia The last day was my preferred day and also my saddest. Preferred, because there were less people, meaning no ques for food or toilets and you could walk at your own pace without stop-starting. And saddest because it was the last day and I would gladly do it again the next day. Being stuck in one space meant that I did not see and meet all the friends, authors, publishers and others that I wanted to. But still I got chance to meet: -Brandon Nall from the Brawling Brothers podcast. We chatted about out mutual friend, Kevin Burkhardsmeier and we were also joined by -Robb & Christina from Blue Peg, Pink Peg. And together we babbled our time away. Forgetting that I was on a pee break and had to get back. -Gregory Oliver from La Boite De Jeu joined me at the booth to chat about the success of Clash Of Rage. The chaps at -Horrible Games thanked me for the video I did and I thanked them for making another wonderful game that I will keep forever (and they gave a sneak peak of their next game.) I had hugs with the -Dice Tower team...and there are a lot of them now. Bumped into -Stephan Brissaud of Iello a few times. He seemed to be having the same high as I. Polite and bubbly. I had a deep and meaningful chat with -Jamie Johnson from Holy Grail Games, again talking about the up and coming titles. The stylishly looking, too good to be on a podcast -Georgios Panagiotidis of Perfect Information podcast was wondering alone this year, as Ben Madox was locked in his hotel room, sick. And I had a very short chat with the wonderful -Scott Alden. Without him, none of us would be here, sharing our story's and chatting to each other. And I also had a super great time with Adnane, Yann and Yohan from Monolith. Many thanx to you all (bisous) There were many others that I met, to you all, sorry I did not mention you but I wanted to keep this short and sweet. You are not forgotten and you are appropriated for your work to this hobby. And if I don't recognize you next year, it's not because I think you are crap at your job or your a boar to chat to. It's because I have blancmange for a brain.
Essen is the ultimate experience for me and I which it could be Essen every day. (sounds like a Christmas song by Slade) Next year, will I be working...I don't know. I would do it again. =D
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Sit down little children and let me tell you the story of Little Red Ridding Hoods Grand farther, the Troll. Who fought in a great war, married a Forest Spirit, and birthed a Architect...This is all a Paper Tail? This is the game, Paper Tales. Which is played out over many generations...Not of your life, but of a fairy tale kingdom that you create. You'll be drafting characters and creature and placing them into your make believe realm. Each has a job to do, collecting resources, defending your realm or some other using some magical power. They will help you build up a town, which also grants you powers but demands high land taxes (bloody politics.) The sad news is, nothing last forever. As at the end of each round your noble citizens will grow older and shuffle off their mortal coil. Leaving a hole in your life and kingdom, to be refilled by another. This game has a lot of similarity's to a 7 Wonders, but is quicker playing and although abstract, has a real feeling of building something. This small card game has an epic-ness that will make you forget that fairy tales are not real as you are quickly absorbed into this other world. The game may not look like much due to the low production costs, but it sure packs a punch. If you were, like me, not a fan of the multi award winning Bauza game. You may find this more pleasing as I do. Now that my story has finished, I need to pack my bags and get ready to move into another magical kingdom...Essen. Yes, next week is the biggest game show, this side of the globe. And I will be there. So expect a pause from me as I play my days away there. Maybe you too! If I don't catch you there, I will catch you on the other side, in a Double-Back Monthly. Ciao for now =) Paper Tales - How To Play/ReviewHello Chaps and Chapettes, It won't be long until that time when hundreds of thousands of gamers will be flocking to Germany. All to play games, check out whats new and to play games...(did I already say that?) I will be one of them. But I am not going to be there to play. I am going for the beer. And the social mingling. But mainly to work. I am going to be demoing the next exciting game from Fréderic Henry...BATMAN I signed myself up with Monolith, to check out how this game will be bigger and better than there last game and because I am a fan (of Fred too.) That will be in Hall 6 B-116. So if your into "The Bat" and you want to see the investment of hard work (as well as me, slaving away) come along and check it out. Another game that you may want to check out at Essen, as it will be making it's debut there, is Dragon Castle from Horrible Games. I have had the privilege to play a review copy of the game and record, for you, a "How To Play" video. It is an interesting take on an excising game, Mahjong. And adds a scoring mechanism from the castles you construct by removing tiles from an existing castle. With a different special power and bonus scoring for each game you play. A very Zen game that keeps you on your toes as you try to score the most points while stopping the other from getting the most points. This is one that I would recommend for those who like abstract games that not only quick to play, but look great on the table. It will be in Hall 3 Q-106. I will try and pump out a few videos before I depart. If not, I will have lots to talk about when I get back. Until then, play nicely =) |
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