Monthly Archives: October 2015

Battle of Abbeville Part Two

memoir 44

Tonight saw the return leg of the Breakthrough scenario that Jonathan and I started a couple of weeks back or so. Our setup time this time around was far quicker than previously because of our foresight of having all the terrain tiles for the scenario together.

This time I was going to be the Allies. Could I pull off the victory to get the clean sweep? I certain had an idea of the tactics I wanted to employ as the Allies, but would I get the command cards to allow me to put my plans into action?

We drew our starting hands…

Battle of Abbeville (Breakthough map and scenario) – Allies

My plan was simple I was going to rush the Axis forces trying to knock them out before they got a chance to retreat back to the bridges and attempt to lure me into range of the artillery. Oh because that's what I did as the Axis forces. I also wanted to make sure I moved my forces (especially in the centre) all together in a block, and not just move the odd unit that would be picked off easily. I wanted to attack in numbers.

My opening hand allowed me to play a pincer movement on both flanks. A perfect first card to play I thought.

After that I attacked a unit close to my forces in the centre, before switching and concentrating my attack on the right flank. I wanted to mop up the forces there, and take out the artillery unit. That had potential to do some damage.

Once I had control of the right flank I used my remaining command cards for that side to move my forces into the centre and join my main attack there. A couple of back to back all unit cards allowed me to move in force down the centre.

Jonathan didn't retreat as fast as I had. He seemed to be trying to hold a line and engage my forces. Later Jonathan admitted he just wasn't getting the cards to allow him to move in the centre.

Over all this was a pretty close game. I'd score a couple of victory points, and then Jonathan would reply scoring two in reply.

In the end it could easily have swung Jonathan's way for a victory. Especially if my dice rolls had been poorer. But in the end I scored the final victory point I needed for the win.

After clearing up Jonathan and I played Hive. As regular readers will know I've had the game for a little while but just not got round to playing it. Luckily Jonathan had played Hive before. Hive is one of those games that is quick to learn but a life time to master.

I think on the win/loss front it was pretty even between the two of us. I enjoyed playing Hive, it's a nice quick game. Ideal as a filler for two.

Thanks Jonathan for another great evening of Memoir '44. We now need to start planning our next scenario to play.

 

Nath’s Birthday Weekend – Sunday

love letter, tabletop
Our Sunday mini gaming session kicked off once Nath had surfaced and showered with Tides of Time.
This was the first time for both Nath and I playing this card drafting game. Compared with other card games the cards in Tides of Time are enormous. However they are beautiful looking, as is the whole game. Ok there is no art inside the lid of the box, but there is a lovely piece of art is the base of the box.
Nath and I very quickly picked up the simple rules. What marks Tides of Time out from other drafting games is that at the end of each of the first two rounds each player chooses one card to remove from the game and one card to keep in front of them.
Naturally Nath enjoyed this game. I think comprehensively beating me (take a look at the score pad that comes with the game in the above photo) helped a lot towards that.
We were just setting up Tiny Epic Galaxies when Nath's girlfriend came to the table, so I invited her to join us in playing the game.

After a quick explanation of the rules and talking them both through a couple of turns, Nath and his girlfriend had the game down. This is the second time I've played the game, and I have to say I'm loving it. There was some nice tit for tat interactions using planet abilities to foil the plans of each other.

Once again Nath walked away with a convincing victory. Nath and his girlfriend both liked the game. One comment made by her was it was “complicated but fun”. Which is interesting because she is a none hobby gamer, whose previous experience of games are the mainstream offerings. So between Nath teaching his girlfriend Star Realms yesterday, and now going straight into Tiny Epic Galaxies, I think she is experiencing a new view of what board games are.

We finished the mini gaming session with me introducing Batman Love Letter to Nath and his girlfriend. This was a blast with me knocking Nath out first card by playing a Batman and guessing his card on a turn one. His girlfriend forgetting which card I had after just exchanging cards with me. Or me forgetting I had played Harley Quinn a couple of turns earlier when guessing Nath's card and naming her!

However Nath funny enough didn't enjoy this game as much because his winning streak came to an end, with his girlfriend winning the game.

I left Nath this copy of Batman Love Letter so that they can play it also while I'm not there.

This was a fun little gaming session with Nath and his girlfriend. It was a pleasure meeting Nath's girlfriend for the first time. She's also a Marvel Geek! Now maybe Nath will have to watch the excellent Daredevil on Netflix. She did say she was going to force him to.

 

Nath’s Birthday Weekend – Saturday

star realms

Ok Nath's birthday isn't until Tuesday but seeing as I'm visiting this weekend, it's ok if he has his birthday present early I think.

So Nath now has his own copy of Star Realms, with the Gambit expansion, Crisis Expansions, the storage box with the official card sleeves and the Mercenery Garrison promo. As I type this bit of the post Nath is busy sleeving his cards, father like son ^__^

I wasn't able to get a playmat for the game so I've let Nath have mine. I still don't know why it's so hard to get an official mat here in the UK without having to import it at an inflated price. I also put in the package six green d10 dice for tracking authority. It's far easier using dice than the supplied authority cards. I also like to describe the green dice as authority green.

After Nath had cleaned up his room (funny how having his girlfriend come round inspired him into doing house work!) I setup Tiny Epic Galaxy and went through the rules, and a couple of turns with him. The little taster was enough to get Nath interested. But for now it was pack it away so he could go pick up his girlfriend from the train station.

With introductions done, Nath introduced his girlfriend to Star Realms. With a little help in explaining the game to her, and helping with the first couple of turns I left them to play their first game together.

I think it is great that Nath likes the game so much that he wanted it for his birthday, and also to play it with his girlfriend.

It will be interesting to see if she enjoys the game too.

 

Westeros Bound

game of thrones, new arrivals

Taking its place as my fourth command and colours based game in my collection is the just arrived today Battles of Westeros. This is another great purchase from the UK Trading and Selling Facebook group. Funny enough it could mean from the same guy I bought Battlelore from!

This is as the title of the game suggests a Battlelore game themed around the A Game of Thrones books. Now I know I haven't played my copy of Battle Cry or Battlelore, but I have Memoir '44, and I love the Command and Colours system.

I want to play them all. I'm lucky that Jonathan is a Memoir fan. I don't think it will take much persuasion to get Jonathan to play the others with me too.

The quandary I have is do I take Battles of Westeros with me to play with Nath at the weekend? I mean I haven't included Ashes this time. I'm trying Nath out with the deck construction mechanic by taking Epic before I try him with Ashes or Android:Netrunner. Plus I know if Thunderbirds does arrive I know I won't be able to resist taking that.

I know Nath is a Game of Thrones fan, he really enjoys the tv series (he hasn't read the books). So the theme will really appeal to him.

There are other games out there that use the Command and Colours system, but the only one I'm interested in adding to my collection is The Great War, if I remember the name correctly. Which is based around the First World War.

I still want the A Game of Thrones boardgame but for a gaming fix to take me back to the A Game of Thrones universe between series on tv this will I hope be far easier to get to the table.

 

Woot! I’m so excited

tabletop

Today there was an update from Modiphius about the Kickstarter Thunderbirds game.

“Hi all, Thunderbirds is right now unloading at the UK warehouse, I'm going to assume a day unpacking 13 pallets so expect boxes to start shipping out tomorrow!”

So touch wood, cross fingers and other good luck mumbo jumbo the game could be with me before I go visit Nath. But how cool would that be all new game weekend with Nath? Ok there are still a load of games we haven't played.

With less than eleven hours to completion The Others 7 Sins will be funding (just short of $1.3million raised so far). This Eric Lang game published by Cool Mini Or Not looks amazing. There are a shed load of stretch goal extras coming with the game. Backing this game has stopped me being able to pick up a Kickstarter copy of Blood Rage the current Eric Lang hit game from the Facebook trading and selling page I follow.

Plus if your pockets are deep enough a load of expansions can also be ordered at the same time. My pockets are just about able to stretch to getting the two Kickstarter exclusive expansions. Although I'm hoping that by the time they launch the pledge manager I'll have some extra cash to add one or two more expansions to my order.

So here is what you get for your money at the moment, if I remember there is more stuff not on this picture.

 

This is going to be Epic

epic

I wonder what's in side this box?

Oh yes finally Epic the card game from White Wizard has arrived. Another little love letter to myself from past me via Kickstarter.

Yep you counted them correctly I got four copies of the game. I only needed three copies! Having three copies of the game allows me to play all the different formats of the game. The fourth copy is important because that is being used for a trade to get a board to use with Ghost Stories.

I also got the two available Kickstarter playmats that were available.

Don't they look amazing?

And the nice thing these have arrived in time for my visit to see Nath at the weekend. So guess what I'm taking with me?

Plus the final bit of Nath's birthday present arrived too. I think this storage box with the promos and card sleeves is great value. Sadly I wasn't able to get a play mat for him as part of the present. But he has the base game, Gambit expansion, all four Crisis packs to sleeve and store in here also as his birthday present. Plus I pre-ordered the Colony Wars expansion and new Gambits pack too, so when they get sent out I'll forward them to him if it's not close to a visit.

Oh why have I got another copy of Sushi Go! I gave my copy away yesterday for my mums cousin to give to his eight year old grandson to play.

 

Coffee and Microgaming

love letter, tabletop

Yesterday I put the call out on social media to see if anyone wanted to meet up today at the local Costa to play Tiny Epic Galaxies. Luckily this time I wasn't Billy no mates, and Jo and Debbie said they would meet up with me to play the game.

I had managed to grab a table at the busy Costa ready for Debbie and Jo to arrive. I had my usual Costa tipple a Chai Latte. When the girls arrived I got them a hot chocolate. So technically the title of this blog isn't entirely accurate.

With our beverages sorted we set up Tiny Epic Galaxies. I explained the basics of the game and we started playing.

As we played we discussed options on each other's go. I think this helped with the learning curve.

Despite efforts to try and slow her down using one of the powers of a planet I had colonised, which was paying two power to move two enemy ships minus one position each, Jo still managed to get to the required 21 points to trigger the end of the game.

For a first play I think we all did really well. None of us achived our secret missions so not extra points there at the end. But Jo was the clear winner with twenty six points. Debbie and I came joint last with sixteen points.
We then moved on to a couple of quick games of Batman Love Letter. The first game was very quick with Debbie romping home with a victory before Jo or I could even score a point.
Our second game saw Jo and I score a point each before Debbie swept in and scooped up three points. But the tides turned again with Jo scored a couple of points pulling even with Debbie. Then Jo scored that final point for the win.

Thanks to Debbie and Jo for being great gaming companions. I had a great time playing the games in Costa , even with me not winning a single game!

 

Ashes First Play

Ashes
Yesterday I finally got round to playing a couple of games of Ashes Rise of the Phoenixborn. Jonathan founding member of Fenland Gamers (if you live in the Wisbech area and love board games you really should be giving it serious thought about joining, they are a really friendly bunch of gamers.) kindly said he would play the game with me.
Before we met up I had already built two of the suggested pre-built decks for two of the Phoenixborn (well over a week before actually). The basis for deciding which two to play was “oh they look cool”.

Our first game was a learning game, with constant referencing to the rules as we both embarked on a steep learning curve. In the first game I played Aradel, while Jonathan played Noah.

Neither of us knew the cards in each deck, didn't know the combos, or how we should be playing them. What should our five starting cards have been?

Wow what a mismatch. Noah was all about reacting to the actions of the opposing Phoenixborn with the odd bit of direct damage from his allie character. While Aradel was all about the offensive building up her forces, clearing the opponents battlefield and swinging in for her damage.

It wasn't long before I had six mist spirits out on the battlefield, doing six points of damage in total to Noah each time they attacked. With Aradels spells, every time Jonathan got a unit on to his battlefield I was sending them straight back. I was starting to feel bad about doing this.

Aradel was certainly the much stronger Phoenixborn to be playing. It was easier and quicker to get units out on the battlefield, and much easier to control the opposing Phoenixborns battlefield.

It also seemed that Jonathan was getting through his thirty card deck a lot faster than I was.

Our second game saw Jonathan and I swap Phoenixborn. Jonathan was playing Aradel, while I was playing Noah.
We both looked through our new decks, working out which five cards to use as our starting hand. I spotted a combination that bought on two spider units when a unit of mine was destroyed. I also loaded up two of the same spell that would allow me to focus the spell and summon a wolf unit cheaply.
I got a wolf and a couple of spiders out early. I also noted a combination between a smoke type demon that with a spell I had could become real and be even more harder to get rid of.
Sadly I had a hard time keeping forces out on the battlefield, I did a reasonable job of slowing down the mist spirits engine. But the inevitable happened and my Phoenixborn was knocked out.
Afterwards Jonathan commented how he found Aradel a lot easier to play, and he had also paid attention to how I had played her.

Reflecting on Noah and the pre-constructed deck, I think the decks they suggest in the manual are there to teach/illustrate different playing styles/techniques. Noah's I believe is to teach about reaction and counter spells. But in doing so I believe the Noah pre-constructed deck is under powered. It will be interesting to see how he does against some of the other Phoenixborn.

I have to say that I owe Jonathan a really big thank you. This living card game/collectable card game format is not one of his favourite style of games. So I really appreciate the fact he tried the game.

Finally New Arrivals

First up the latest expansion for Machi Koro arrived Millionaires Row

The latest Love Letter, Love Letter Adventure Time also arrived but no photo, because that has gone straight out as a present for a friends daughter who seems to be a big fan of the show.

The Lego Star Wars Advent Calander also arrived and has gone straight into safe keeping until the start of December. Otherwise I would have opened it all up already. Yes for some things I have no self control.