This post always creeps up on me. It shouldn’t do, I know it’s coming. But it does. I do enjoy the brief bit of reflection it gives me. What I like now is that because I’ve been doing this for over a year now, I can look back at the same period in time and compare. What was I playing this time last year? Am I still playing those games?

So last month was an epic month, it would be hard to match that, or even beat it. But I think I did pretty well.

There were six new (to me) games that I got to play in March. Plus one that was new to the stats app (Gloom). 

So here are the stats produced by the stats app I’m using.

So here is a new section to the post. Which if I can work out how to do what I want to do graphically, will be a graphic instead of a boring table of numbers. Remember I do everything for this blog on my iPhone! That includes using Numbers (the spreadsheet app) for the graph and this new bit. So sometimes I’m limited in what I can do. 

As you can see I beat the average (which ever way you want to measure it – I’m not a stats nerd, potentially a wannabe, but too lazy) for plays. But just missed on the games played for two of the measurements. 

Let’s look at the graph. Stats always look pretty when presented this way. Great for showing trends. But not great for showing the full story. 

Now it’s time for…

My Game of the Month…

So out of the six new (to me) games I played in March, which one impressed me the most to be given the title of my game of the month?

My game of the month is…

This is my current go to filler game. Portable (fits in the pocket), quick, easy to teach, fun. Mint Works really does hit the spot. Plus it is a big hit with the students that attend my Monday enrichment session.  They really do love it.  Seventeen year olds saying “this is my favourite game so far” and happy to play seven games of it back to back! I think it would have been more if we hadn’t run out of time. That’s the ultimate test passed with flying colours.

Worst Game of the Month…

The gaming world will take a deep sigh of relief this month, because none of the games I played qualified for this infamous award. 

Hopefully hitting the table in April…

Didn’t do too well with last months list. Mint Works was the only one to hit the table. And we know how I felt about that. But going to put the ones from the last month back on for April.

• Star Wars Rebellion – really want to play this now. Even came close to buying once or twice also in the last month.
• Broom Service – I think a special learning session needs setting up for this.
• Mech vs Minions – need to arrange a big session for this I think.

Fenland Gamer Events for April (so far)…

• The monthly meetup (second Wednesday of the month, 12/4/17)
• The weekly Friday Evening Gaming at The White Lion (or FEG@WL as I call it)
• T.I.M.E. Stories – life events stopped us completing The Prophecy of Dragons in March. So hopefully our party of time travellers will be able to save the day this time!
• International Tabletop Day – 29/4/17 – details to be announced 

If you are in the area and want to attend one of the events, please visit the Fenland Gamers Facebook page for further details about the event. Hope to see you there.

It’s a new month, a busy start at work has delayed this post by a couple of days. Which for some readers will come as a relief.

So let’s get straight in to looking at the numbers behind last months gaming.

Wow when you look at the following numbers for February, just wow.

I played 29 different games last month, 11 of them were new to me (1 was new in the sense I had played it but before I had started recording my game plays). I think with the amazing number of plays also, this has to be probably the best month of gaming I have had so far since records began (just over a year now).

Plus this wasn’t all down to me playing lots of light games. There is a nice mix between the different styles.

Looking back at February 2016, and it’s like OMG! The difference is amazing. I almost feel like I did play any games back then compared to now.

As usual I also generate a graphical view of the number of games played, and the number of plays. That just makes this months gaming figures look even more dramatic.

My Game of the Month…

It was a strong month for games played. For a handful of them any other month and they would have been my choice that month. But one just stood out from the crowd. This months game of the month is Santorini.

The game is proving a big hit in our game group. Jonathan added it to his collection,  he was one of the lucky ones able to find a copy. It sold out fast when it hit the supply chain and the FLGS. Which means it’s sitting on Debbie’s wish list at the moment.

Worst Game of the Month…

I think despite the massive misplays, Dead Men Tell No Tales has to be the worst game I played in February. It’s not that bad that I am consigning it to the Nantucket Wing of Shame (conveniently built round Jonathan’s). I just don’t think there was enough there to make me want to go back and try playing the game correctly. And it’s for that reason Dead Men Tell No Tales has this infamous honor.

SIDE NOTE: Despite Jonathan having underhandedly offloaded Nantucket with New Bedford in a trade/sale recently. He will forever be the home of the Nantucket Wing of Shame.

Hopefully hitting the table in March…

I think I did really well last month with all the games I mentioned making it to the table. So here are the ones I’d like to try and play in March.

• Star Wars Rebellion – yeah I’m caving and want to try it. Luckily one of our clubs members has the game in their collection.
• Broom Service – I want to play Kiki’s Delivery Service the game!! Ok I know it’s not, but it sure could be.
• Mech vs Minions – well after really enjoying the first play of it, I want to play more of the missions.
• Mint Works – I have no excuse why this hasn’t been played since getting it.

Fenland Gamer Events for March (so far)…

• The monthly meetup (next Wednesday)
• The weekly Friday Evening Gaming at The White Lion (or FEG@WL as I call it)
• Mechs vs Minions (still currently 2 spaces available)
• A second attempt at T.I.M.E. Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons (full booked)
• Finale of Season 2 of our Formula D League (was on the 1st)
• NSPCC Big Board Game Day

If you are in the area and want to attend one of the events, please visit the Fenland Gamers Facebook page for further details about the event.

Yep it’s that time of month again where I bore you rigdged with how much gaming I’ve done the previous month.

For a month that sees people taking time off to have a holiday with family and loved ones, I’m quite happy with only having played 16 games 43 times in total.

As you can also see I’ve done a lot of two player gaming. Which is unusual for me. 

Half of the games played were new games. Of which two are no longer on my pile of shame. I think that’s pretty impressive really. 

So let’s look these numbers as a pretty pretty graph. 

So the pretty graph shows a dip but it was always going to be nigh on impossible to top July for number of plays, especially during a holiday month.

My Game of the Month

This is not going to be a surprise to anyone. My game of the month this month is…

Yep It’s the Kickstarter deluxe version of The Manhattan Project Chain Reaction with its better box and wooden components for yellow cake and uranium. This is such a great game, everyone whose tried it so far has enjoyed it, if not liked it as much as I do. I can’t wait for the regular edition to hit the stores so I can buy it for Nath. 

Worst game of the month

Another none surprise this month, the only real shocker would have been if this didn’t get the worst game award for the month. This was such a stinker that already I’ve spent too much time talking about it, and I haven’t even named it yet. This months game that wreaks is Nantucket.

Wow another month has flown by. 

Twenty two games, sixty plays. That’s incredible. Two OP events (Star Realms and Netrunner) helped push these stats through the roof. 

Some old and new favourites got to the table. Although I’d liked to have got Guilds of London back to the table, and played more The Voyages of Marco Polo. 

With Biblios Dice and Valley of the Kings seeing daylight, two more games make it off the pile of shame. Plus they didn’t disappoint.

July saw six brand new games getting played. Five of them in my collection. 

In all a very successful month I think. Despite none of pile of shame five not making it to the table.

Let’s look at the pretty graph showing the trend.

Wow! hey? The number of games played kind of continued the plateau I’d reached. Good grief I didn’t think I’d ever beat the high of March/May for number of plays. But holy heck this month smashed it. I’ll never ever improve on this months figure. 

My game of the month…

So this month I think my choice for my game of the month has to be between Qwixx and 7 Wonders Duel. 

Qwixx as I pointed out yesterday is a great gateway game, easy and quick to teach. And it also fills that gap of quick filler game wonderfully. Plus I think when it comes to throwing a bag of games together to take for a Costa gaming session, Qwixx will be an instant addition along with Love Letter Batman.

However I think 7 Wonders Duel has to be my game of the month. It’s such a great two player game. It has lots of replay ability, no two games are the same. It’s joined Star Realms and Netrunner in my top three two player games. Look how it hooked Nath yesterday. I don’t see how this can’t be game of the month.

Worst game of the month…

This was a close one too. My candidates for this infamous award are Dalek Dice and Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. 

I think the one that definitely takes this unwanted title has to be the unfulfilling Dalek Dice. An unnecessary over complicated push your luck dice game, that should have kept it simple. Just doesn’t measure up to Zombie Dice.