Had a break in gaming, but should be back to normal this week.  Anyone
interested in joining me for games......

Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
My house in San Ramon
   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)

Rich

After a long absence it looks like I'll actually be able to make it this
week.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Richard Pardoe
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 12:13 PM
To: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [trivalleygamers] Invitation to Play - Games - September 13

Had a break in gaming, but should be back to normal this week.  Anyone
interested in joining me for games......

Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
My house in San Ramon
   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)

Rich





Yahoo! Groups Links

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...>
wrote:

> Anyone
> interested in joining me for games......


I am.  I'll be there.

Dave

Hi Rich

I can also try. But i dont think I;ll make it... I have to be at
work at 5am yawn! If I'm there i'll be punctual!

Lawrence


--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe"
<RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> Had a break in gaming, but should be back to normal this week.
Anyone
> interested in joining me for games......
>
> Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
> My house in San Ramon
>   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
>
> Rich
>

Jeff, Dave, and Lawrence arrived to make it 4 for the evening.  The game we
decided to try was Canal Mania - this years game from the Ragnar Brothers.
But unlike previous games (eg Viking Fury), this one was more professionally
produced having a mounted map instead of the Ragnar trademark Tea Towel.

It's a game about the great Canal building era of the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries that captures the feel of the period and gives players
plenty of decision making in their attempts to complete some of the most
famous British canals.

Jeff, Dave, and Lawrence arrived to make it 4 for the evening.  The game we
decided to try was Canal Mania - this years game from the Ragnar Brothers.
But unlike previous games (eg Viking Fury), this one was more professionally
produced having a mounted map instead of the Ragnar trademark Tea Towel.

It's a game about the great Canal building era of the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries - but as far as mechanics go, this is a "train" game as
players are placing routes between cities and then moving goods over those
routes to generate income (victory points in this case) with the winner
being the player with the most points at the end of the game.

Routes are specified by contracts (cards) that indicate the starting and
ending town of the route as well as the maximum length the route can take.
As points for moving goods are scored per town visited - it is usually to
some advantage to try to get the route to at least connect through a few
other towns along the way if possible.

Route construction is via a draw cards / play cards mechanism.  Easier types
of canal segments routes require fewer cards while more difficult types of
canal segments require more cards to build.  Not only more cards, but also
cards for the type of segment to be built.  There are also some restrictions
how canals can be built (eg - can't have two of the same type of segment in
a row - there must be a differing segment (or city) to break the pattern.)

Finally, there are special powers (engineers) that the players are randomly
dealt at the start of the game.  This also randomly determines the start
player (who plays red to indicate they were start player).  A player can
change these cards on their turns, but forego a few other actions to do so.
The special powers are usually related to cheaper construction costs of some
sort.  The engineers also have some other impacts on the game.  While most
of the game is played in the usual clockwise order, the final deliver of
goods (end game) is done in engineer order.  But ties during the final
scoring are awarded in reverse-engineer order.

Dave started the game with Engineer Brindley and selected the
Coventry-Burton contract.  His initial card draws also placed 6 goods on the
board for future delivery.  Jeff had the next turn with Engineer Rennie and
selected the Worcester-Biringham contract.  Lawrence (Telford) selected the
Manchester-Liverpool contract.  Rich (Smeaton)was now faced with 2 contracts
in Parliament - so went ahead and selected both Oxford-Gloucester and
Worcestor-Gloucester thinking that he could build a larger chain and tie
directly in Jeff's routes at Worcestor.

This strategy did pay out as Jeff would later move goods several times via
his canals for 5 points while giving 3 points to Rich for using 2 of his
segments.  Perhaps because it was our first game - but the engineers didn't
seem to switch all that often.  In fact, I think we were substantially into
the game when the first engineer swap occurred.  Rich certainly could have
benefited from a switch to Telford (cheaper aquaducts) when he had two
aquaducts to build on separate cards and 2 aquaduct cards.  Using Telford,
he could have built both aquaducts for 1 card each, but instead felt
pressured to build an immediate aquaduct (using both cards) to avoid being
blocked out a space and needing the spend more cards to overbuild the canal.

At the halfway point, we noted the following scores:

Jeff: 29
Rich: 27
Dave: 25
Lawr: 16

But not all was lost for Lawrence.  He was building a couple of tough canals
in the North.  When completed, he managed to score 6 points for the route
and an additional 4 points for goods movement for 10 points to bring him
back with the others.

Setting up goods movement is a key part of the game.  As there is a strict
priority for goods placement (connected cities being the first priority), we
would always try to move goods at of cities as the vacant city would then
draw more goods for more scoring possibilities.  Of course, other locations
were important also - but the key was to set up a series of routes that
could be counted on to yield points over several turns when goods were
delivered.

As the board developed - Dave seemed to be concentrated with an extensive
network in the center of the board.  Lawrence was monopolizing the North.
Rich's networks extended south of Dave's and over to London.  Jeff seemed to
connect and weave around both Dave's and Rich's networks.  Dave network
carried him to be the first 50 points and trigger the final two rounds.

Jeff: 46
Rich: 37
Dave: 44 (Delivered for +7) = 51
Lawr: 34

We then played another two rounds hoping for a few more routes and
deliveries to position ourselves for the final rounds.  With some goods
locked to a specific colour of canal - there was no desire to deliver those
goods as those points would be realized in the endgame.  The focus was on
moving other goods and trying to complete final contracts.

Jeff: 62
Rich: 62
Dave: 68
Lawr: 49

We then scored the incomplete canals and moved the goods until no goods
remained on the board.

Jeff: 73
Rich: 74
Dave: 84
Lawr: 56

We then had to count contracts completed:

Jeff: 6
Rich: 6
Dave: 5
Lawr: 5

But looking at engineer - Jeff beats Rich and Dave beats Lawrence, so the
final scores:

Jeff: 83
Rich: 81
Dave: 88
Lawr: 57

And thus ends our first game of Canal Mania.  I know I generally sound
optimistic when summarizing our games, but this one has jumped high on my
like list after just the first play.  It certainly fills the "pick-up and
deliver" niche nicely.  Each turn is nicely composed of some decent options
with multiple options in each phase.  But not so overwhelming to sink the
game with excessive analysis.

There is some luck to be controlled in the game as the canal segment cards
available for choice might be limited.  For example, we did have a few turns
when only 1 type - the stretch - was available.  But this might be a time to
utilize Brindley's power to play stretch cards but place lock tiles.  Or a
time to clear the draw cards.  But that condition lasted only a player or
two - so didn't stagnate the game at all.

Looking at the final scores, I believe that Lawrence was hampered a bit by
having a network that was distant from others.  The other three players all
used each others Canal's to gain points usually sharing between each other,
but excluding Lawrence several times.  While it might be a first playing, I
do think that one needs to share with others for mutual benefit, but hope to
net gain more than others incrementally over the course of the game.

As with any such game, I also think we suffered a bit as we did not know the
potential contracts in the game.  With experience that knowledge probably
helps with planning some early routes.  Our game did run a bit on the long
side - 30 minutes for rules/set-up and 2.5 hours for actual play.  But I
suspect that future plays will be a bit shorter and that would be just about
perfect (2 hours) for a game like this.

- Rich

Am in town this week, so happy to host.  Will be out of town next week, so
can't host then.  So for anyone thinking of getting in at least 1 gaming
session over the next two weeks - may I suggest this Wednesday as the better
option....

Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
My house in San Ramon
   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)

Rich

HI Rich

I would be willing to make it.  I could also bring a friend, but
his condition is that we all play his new game we just baught.  We
played one tutorial game and read the rules so were a little ahead
of a game thats new to us.  Or we can wait until a better date.
What does every body else think!

http://boardgamegeek.com/game/200

Its Entdecker.  we can bring it of its okay by you....

Lawrence



--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe"
<RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> Am in town this week, so happy to host.  Will be out of town next
week, so
> can't host then.  So for anyone thinking of getting in at least 1
gaming
> session over the next two weeks - may I suggest this Wednesday as
the better
> option....
>
> Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
> My house in San Ramon
>   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
>
> Rich
>

Hi Lawrence -

I am fine with playing Entdecker as I have played it before.  In fact, happy
to play (almost) any game if it introduces a new member to the group.

But let me follow up with one question - is the game:

Entdecker (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/200)
(or)
Neuen Entdecker (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/1334)

If you played an English language version of the game - it is most likely
the second game which was released in English as Entedecker: Exploring New
Horizons.  Another way to tell - did you game have Huts for exploring
islands?  (If yes, it is the second game).  If it is this game, no need to
have your friend bring that copy as I own a copy also.

For the record, we played Entdecker March 3, 2004 and Neuen Entdecker April
4, 2005 (I believe you played Nautilus at this time as it was our "N" week
of gaming through the alphabet.)

So no problem with either version of Entdecker - we have played both before.

- Rich


-----Original Message-----
From: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lawrence
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 8:01 PM
To: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [trivalleygamers] Re: Invitation to Play - Games - September 20


HI Rich

I would be willing to make it.  I could also bring a friend, but his
condition is that we all play his new game we just baught.  We played one
tutorial game and read the rules so were a little ahead of a game thats new
to us.  Or we can wait until a better date.
What does every body else think!

http://boardgamegeek.com/game/200

Its Entdecker.  we can bring it of its okay by you....

Lawrence



--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe"
<RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> Am in town this week, so happy to host.  Will be out of town next
week, so
> can't host then.  So for anyone thinking of getting in at least 1
gaming
> session over the next two weeks - may I suggest this Wednesday as
the better
> option....
>
> Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
> My house in San Ramon
>   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
>
> Rich
>








Yahoo! Groups Links

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> So for anyone thinking of getting in at least 1 gaming
> session over the next two weeks - may I suggest this Wednesday as the better
> option....


I'll take that option, Rich.  See you there.

And, for the record, I'm OK with playing Entdecker.  Either flavor.

Dave

I can make it this week.

I don't think that Entdecker takes 5 so we might have to split 3/2.  If
it comes to that Rich has some 2 player games I'd like to try.

-----Original Message-----
From: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Richard Pardoe
Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2006 10:37 PM
To: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [trivalleygamers] Invitation to Play - Games - September 20

Am in town this week, so happy to host.  Will be out of town next week,
so
can't host then.  So for anyone thinking of getting in at least 1 gaming
session over the next two weeks - may I suggest this Wednesday as the
better
option....

Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
My house in San Ramon
   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)

Rich





Yahoo! Groups Links

>I don't think that Entdecker takes 5 so we might have to split 3/2.
>If it comes to that Rich has some 2 player games I'd like to try.

Correct - both versions of Entdecker have bits for 4 players max.  But as
you said - a 3/2 split would be fine also.  So I can be prepared...what 2P
games were you interested in trying.

- Rich

--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .

HoTS & CC:Ancients.  If the geek has the rules online I can read them
ahead of time.

-----Original Message-----
From: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
RPardoe@...
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:45 AM
To: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [trivalleygamers] Invitation to Play - Games - September 20

>I don't think that Entdecker takes 5 so we might have to split 3/2.
>If it comes to that Rich has some 2 player games I'd like to try.

Correct - both versions of Entdecker have bits for 4 players max.  But
as
you said - a 3/2 split would be fine also.  So I can be prepared...what
2P
games were you interested in trying.

- Rich

--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .





Yahoo! Groups Links

Not on the geek (or maybe they are), but certainly at the publisher sites:

HoTS
http://www.columbiagames.com/resources/3215/3215-hammerrules.pdf

CC:Ancients
http://www.gmtgames.com/living_rules/CC%202ndEditionRules_1_.pdf

- Rich

--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .

A nice turnout tonight with 5 in total.  Lawrence and Ben wanted to try
(Neuen) Entdecker which maxes out a 4 - so Dave, Ben, and Lawrence set that
up on one table (Dave's report to follow separately), while Jeff and I
decided to try out Hammer of the Scots...

As it was a first playing for both of us, we opted to play the Braveheart
scenario and Rich was randomly awarde the Scots.  We set up the game and
launched into the campaign.

1297 -
With three 3's in hand, Rich realized he had a lot of movement potential.
So he tried (rookie mistake coming here) to gain a bit stronger position as
the Scots sending attacking forces into 4 areas (splitting 1 groups with a
move).  Atholl defended against the invaders.  Moray forced Comyn to retreat
(but a the cost of the Douglas infantry).  Bruce attacks but is defeated
(and converted) by the defending forces.  Wallace and Barclay are repulsed.
And the Scots are left to lick their wounds, but more importantly have
fractured their forces (losing the Southern Bruce territories) allowing the
English to have a chance to slowly marshall in forces.  (This was just the
first turn!)

The next turn was one of rest as the various forces re-organized.  But then
Rich moved Moray into battle against Comyn converting him.

The English didn't sit still, they attacked with a force against Galloway
(who had foolishly abandoned his home territory).  The Welsh infantry
decided to go home rather than fight, but there was remaining force to
reduce Galloway to a single point.  More importantly, since the English were
in the Galloway territory - they need only await his return in winter to
advise him of the folly of the Scottish loyalty.

The first winter ended with Galloway's conversion and all of Southern
Scotland painted a very English red.
=====
That's why first playings are called learning games.  I made a horrible
mistake attacking on a very broad front on the first move.  I hadn't fully
realized the strength of the home defense or how brutal the combat can be.
It is one thing to read it, but another to give it a try.  I hadn't read any
"strategy" articles as I like to discover a game on my own and then perhaps
add to my own thoughts with comments by others.

In hindsight, I should have focused my attacks on a few spots, looking for a
slow and steady conversion of the English nobles.  The the games lasts 9
turns - no need to convert all the nobles at once.  The wintering rules,
while quite straightforward, also play nicely into the tension of the last
turn as one sets up for defense and prepares to winter.  My first winter was
not the most efficient.  I did recover strength, but suspect it could have
been better.

1298 -
Rich gets the Herald event card and promptly plays it to convert Atholl to
join the Moray/Comyn forces with the Wallace forces.  England starts to
bring in troops across the border.  Wallace then moves against Angus winning
another convert to the cause.  But the English start to gather in the south
and then start to Pillage against Wallace's position.

1299 -
Wallace is pillaged once more,  and in a weakened state moves against Mar.
Unfortunately, Wallace is killed in action but Mar is converted to the
cause.  Seeking to consolidate a hold on Northeast Scotland, Angus moves
against Buchan but is repulsed.  Sensing a weakened foe, Jeff moves a large
force including Edward from Monteith to convert Angus back to the English
side.  Having advanced Edward with a large force so far North, Jeff decides
this is a perfect time to have Edward winter in Buchan.
=====
The English net is tightening.  Jeff has nicely redrawn Edward each time he
has disbanded in Scotland.  In addition, the Sea Movement event card has let
Edward move quickly to the heart of battle to bring forces to bear against
the weakened Scots.

1300 -
Edward has rested his forces in Buchan and now moves west across Scotland to
mop up the final few territories of Scottish rebellion.  In a desperatin
move, Atholl and Moray venture in Lennox (converting Lennox) and then moving
to Carrick > Selkirk Forrest > Monteith in an effort to move around the
English line and to capture a nice wintering area.  It was about this time
(as the English moved into Moray) we discovered we had missed Moray's
exception about returning home.  Rich had planned to have Moray winter in
Monteith to help convert the empty territory, but Jeff attacked to prevent
this driving Moray to Fife.

1301 -
The Scots have been reduced to Moray in Fife and Comyn (with Fraser) in
Badenoch.  With nothing to lose and an event card in hand, Rich decided to
try to get Comyn to Fife and see if Comyn could be crowned King.  (With no
loyal Bruce Nobles - nobody to lose in the automatic defection.)  Jeff moves
in for the final moves.  Moray is killed in Fife before he could venture to
Atholl to help clear the path for Comyn.  Comyn/Fraser move in on their own
and convert Atholl.  But Edward has been drawn again and again sea-moves to
Argyll.  Edward then marches into Atholl.  The Lancaster regiment dispatches
Atholl while absorbing 3 hits from Comyn.  Edward than personally removes
the last vestige of resistance eliminating Comyn and living up to his name
as the Hammer of the Scots.
====
As I mentioned above - a learning game.  The rules appear to be simple, but
there are some nice inter-relating features that need to be considered to
play this game well.  Slow and steady is one key aspect.  The Scots need to
use winter to their advantage where they can.  As it turns out - I drew only
the two event cards - so each year lasted the full 5 turns.  More
importantly, as the game progresses, I got a better sense of the overall
flow and rhythm of the game.

For example, in 1298, I saved a 3 for my last move as I wanted to make sure
I could line up well for the winter.  But having the 3 meant I moved first
also.  This meant I had to set up for winter in such a manner that I could
defend against what Jeff might do during his movement.  So the freedom I
thought I had with a large number was impacted by not being able to respond
to Jeff's moves - a wrinkle I had not anticipated initially.

I also realized the importance of positioning forces to keep retreat and
regroup options open.  When Moray/Atholl went on their foray in 1300, Jeff
(as I expected) moved into Atholl to block their retreat back to Atholl.
Their only move was forward to Carrick.  I can imagine that with a larger
force, this could have been an nice harassing force to start working behind
the main English lines.  I did (I think) create a bit of a nuisance factor -
but again can see how such a guerilla probe (with nobles returning home in
Winter) might be part of an effective Scot's strategy.

And in the end, that is what I liked about the game.  Still plenty to
explore in a nice game that plays in about 2.5 hours.  (Our half game lasted
that long with frequent rules checkings - with experience figure a full game
would fill the same amount of time.)

- Rich

(Keep an eye out for Dave's report on Neuen Entdecker - the other game
played tonight and one that repeated a theme from the last playing here at
TVB.)

While the Scots were getting Hammered, Lawrence, Ben and I went to the
other table to set up "Entdecker:  Expanding New Horizons" This game
is a redevelopment of the game "Entdecker", which was published only
in Germany.  Our game, however, was in English, and a bit different
than the original.    For reference, we played the original back on
March 5, 2004 (
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/trivalleygamers/message/488 ).
Also, the later version appeared here at game night on April 6, 2005 (
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/trivalleygamers/message/842 ).
(Those links include explanations of how to play the game, if you need
the refresher.)  For reference, I played in the first session, but not
the second.  All three of us had gone through the Professor Easy
introduction ( http://www.profeasy.com/Entdecker_Eng/index.html ), so
we were able to just set up and get started.

We used the recommended setup for new players, which seeded the board
with water and three bonus land tiles, two worth +5 points and one
worth +10.  Dave won the roll-off to start, and started just offset
from one of the +5 tiles, founding a piece of island early.  Ben tried
to get to that first +5 tile, but only found open water, so couldn't
place his second tile.  Lawrence, though, found it, and immediately
placed his fort.  This set off the first battle of the game (there'd
be one for each bonus tile), as all three quickly placed a fort to try
to take control of this island.  Scouts were gradually added to the
island.  Eventually Lawrence tried to land onto the second +5 island,
and after one misfire when his drawn tile took him in a different
direction, finally made land and built his second fort. Dave next
tried to land onto the +10 bonus tile, but he, too, got derailed by
his tile draw, and he ended up just further scouting the first +5
island.  But the island's fate was determined by Ben.  He drew the
first event tile, and landed the mine.  That earned him an easy 3 gold
pieces, which let him built his settlement on that island and
effectively clinch first place.

At this point we all started getting a little event happy.  Ben's next
event was the Friendly Natives tile, which let him add a scout to one
of the huts.  Soon after, he drew another one.  Lawrence paid for two
tiles and the second one was another event, a storm, which ended his
turn.  But, his first tile did result in empty board space completely
surrounded by land tiles. That forced the island to complete, with 15
tiles and the +5 bonus giving 20 points to Ben.  Dave and Lawrence had
equal presence on the island, so they each earned 10 points.

Dave continued to pursue that +10 island, and after another false
start where none of his purchased tiles fit, he finally paid for an
open tile that would guarantee his connection, and plopped down a fort
to try to claim the island.  It didn't work.  Immediately Ben came
with his moneybags and did the same thing, buying an open tile and
building a fort. Ben was benefiting from the fact that at first
Lawrence, and then Dave, found themselves rolling the income die way
too often.  As a result, Ben always got just a little more gold than
one or the other.  Dave and Ben sparred a bit on the +10 island, with
scouts there and there, but when Ben built his second fort there, Dave
decided to look elsewhere.  At first he pursued his own little
islands.  But then he decided that Lawrence was having it too good on
that other +5 island all alone, and tried to build his way in with his
second fort.  That was enough to lure Ben to the second +5 island,
where he built his settlement to try to claim it for his own.  But
Lawrence wouldn't have that, and he built his settlement in response.
  Dave, for his part, decided that the price was too rich for him, but
saw the opportunity to return to the +10 island.  He did so, and built
his settlement there.  Since the others' settlements were already
occupied, this guaranteed him the +10 island, unless the other island
could close first, which would free those other settlements to be rebuilt.

And so the race was on.  Lawrence and Ben tried to close the +5
island, while Dave tried to close the +10 island.  Dave finished
first, closing a 13 tile island, with the +10 bonus, earning 23 points
for Dave, 12 for Ben, and 6 for Lawrence.  From here,  Ben and
Lawrence were still trying to close the +5 island, but wanted to do so
in such a way to benefit themselves and hurt the other.  Dave stayed
out of it, and instead tried to collect a few small islands for
himself.  He also tried some more event tiles, hoping for a little
extra boost.  Instead, he found two pirates and a storm, which killed
his opportunity for scouting an island in the lower left corner of the
board.

Lawrence and Ben continued to work on the +5 island, primarily by
buying open tiles.  Lawrence was able to close a number of smaller
islands in the process, for 3 pts, and 2 pts, and 3 pts, while still
maintaining a reasonable presence on the bigger island.  Ben finally
closed it, but Lawrence still had the strongest presence.  The 14
tiles and the +5 bonus gave 19 to Lawrence, 10 to Ben, and 5 to Dave.
  Bizarrely, these scores created a three-way tie.  All three players
had 46 points.

The focus now shifted to the two corners of the board.  For starters,
Dave and Lawrence had to address the islands in the lower left, where
Dave had placed his very first tile.  Lawrence found the tile to close
the area, giving Dave a single island for 2 points, and then creating
a five tile islandon which Lawrence led Dave.  Next, everyone turned
to the lower right corner of the board.  Ben had a scout there, and
Lawrence and Dave both sail in and place scouts.  Lawrence had the
opportunity to connect a couple of  land masses and join his island to
Dave's, with the added bonus of having two scouts to Dave's one.  In a
desperation attempt, Dave spent one gold to draw one tile, hoping to
find just the right piece to close the island and build a fort with
his last three gold.  He drew just that piece, getting six points, to
Lawrence's three, which just restored the tie between the two of them.
  Ben was next, and he bought two tiles that let him fill in that
entire corner.  It completed three islands in the process, which were
all his:  3 pts, 2 pts, and 4 pts.  The last spot was in the upper
right, just above the now-completed +10 island.  Lawrence had no
scouts left, but did have a fort, and 4 gold.  So he spent one gold,
hoping to find a tile that would let him play and create another
island that he could build his fort on for an additional two points.
But he chose an event tile, and that tile was more pirates!  He lost
two of his three gold, and lost the opportunity to build that fort.

And with that the game ended, with Lawrence and Dave both at 57 points
and Ben at 55.  To finish the scoring, we looked at the huts.  During
the game, the initial claims were pretty even:  Lawrence and Ben
claimed two huts, and Dave claimed three.  As the game progressed,
there was for the most part only reinforcement of our initial claims.
  In only one case did  a hut change hands, when Lawrence took over one
of Ben's huts.  So Ben had one hut, but it was worth 15 points.  Dave
had three, worth 10, 10, and 5 points, for a total of 25, and Lawrence
had three, for 5, 10, and 15 points, for a total of 30. That stolen
hut was only worth 5 points, but it proved to be the difference, as
Lawrence came away with the win, 87 to 82 (Dave) to 70 (Ben).

I'm curious to know the others' opinions on the game.  I've played the
original, as mentioned above, and there were no huts in that version.
  I felt that the huts added something to the game that didn't quite
mesh.  They felt like an afterthought, especially considering that six
of the seven initial hut claims went unbroken.  And though the one
that did change hands essential provided the margin of victory, it
wasn't what I considered a very interesting part of the game.

Congratulations to Lawrence on another win.  And I look forward to
seeing you all next time.

I will be out of town next week - so unable to host games on the 27th.  If
someone feels inclined to step up and host - by all means step up and host.
It will be just like the good old days when we rotated locations.

As a follow-on to my HOTS session report.  It did generate some feedback
over on the Geek and highlighted a mistake I had made in assessing combat
damage.  We had applied all the hits to a single (the strongest) unit.  This
apparently is an old variant.  The correct manner is to apply each hit in
sequence to the then strongest unit.  As an example - 3 hits are applied
against a 4 strength and a 3 strength unit.  We had applied all 3 hits to
the 4 unit (reducing it to 1).  The correct manner is to apply the first hit
to the 4 strength (reducing it to 3), the next hit to either unit (same
strength), the last hit to the other unit (it stayed at 3 while the other
was reduced).   This results in two 2 strength units after battle.  I still
enjoyed the hammering I received and look forward to playing again with a
better knowledge of the game as well as more correct rules.

See you in 2 weeks,

Rich

I was looking at the rules again and I was wondering about assessing the
damage.

I was also wondering about english wintering.  The rules didn't say it
explicitly but implied that nobody can winter in England so all those
units that are there disband.  Something else we might want to check.

-----Original Message-----
From: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Richard Pardoe
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 6:02 PM
To: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [trivalleygamers] Games - September 27 (HOST Needed) & HOTS
follow-up.

I will be out of town next week - so unable to host games on the 27th.
If
someone feels inclined to step up and host - by all means step up and
host.
It will be just like the good old days when we rotated locations.

As a follow-on to my HOTS session report.  It did generate some feedback
over on the Geek and highlighted a mistake I had made in assessing
combat
damage.  We had applied all the hits to a single (the strongest) unit.
This
apparently is an old variant.  The correct manner is to apply each hit
in
sequence to the then strongest unit.  As an example - 3 hits are applied
against a 4 strength and a 3 strength unit.  We had applied all 3 hits
to
the 4 unit (reducing it to 1).  The correct manner is to apply the first
hit
to the 4 strength (reducing it to 3), the next hit to either unit (same
strength), the last hit to the other unit (it stayed at 3 while the
other
was reduced).   This results in two 2 strength units after battle.  I
still
enjoyed the hammering I received and look forward to playing again with
a
better knowledge of the game as well as more correct rules.

See you in 2 weeks,

Rich





Yahoo! Groups Links

>The rules didn't say it explicitly but implied that nobody can winter in
England so all those units that are there disband.

Re-reading the rules - I tend to agree as there is a warning....If Edward
winters (in Scotland), there is no Feudal Levy and England begins the next
year empty.....The only way to always have an empty England is to disband
any units that remain there at winter.  This is also supported by a comment
on the geek: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/939062#939062

BTW - If anyone is interested, it is possible to play HOTS online if anyone
is interested in trying this game:  http://www.f2fgaming.com/ and Columbia
games does have a Cyberboard Module also.

- Rich

Howdy Y'all -

Back from Atlanta, Ga, but bummed I left before Ward's Atlanta Game Fest
started.  So I am itching to play a few games.  Offering up my house once
more as a location for games this Wednesday....who else missed the Atlanta
Game Fest and wants to play?

Games
Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
My house in San Ramon
   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)

Rich

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...>
wrote:
>
> Howdy Y'all -

Wow, I guess being in Atlanta really rubbed off on you.

> who else missed the Atlanta Game Fest and wants to play?

I think I qualify here.  See y'all on Wednesday.

Dave

Hi Guys

I will make the effort to be there as well.

Lawrence




--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Wilson" <daw65@...>
wrote:
>
> --- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Howdy Y'all -
>
> Wow, I guess being in Atlanta really rubbed off on you.
>
> > who else missed the Atlanta Game Fest and wants to play?
>
> I think I qualify here.  See y'all on Wednesday.
>
> Dave
>

PPS

Even Benjamin has e-mailed me he'll be tagging along.

Lawrence


--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Lawrence" <fourscott@...>
wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi Guys
>
> I will make the effort to be there as well.
>
> Lawrence
>
>
>
>
> --- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Wilson" <daw65@>
> wrote:
> >
> > --- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe"
<RPardoe@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Howdy Y'all -
> >
> > Wow, I guess being in Atlanta really rubbed off on you.
> >
> > > who else missed the Atlanta Game Fest and wants to play?
> >
> > I think I qualify here.  See y'all on Wednesday.
> >
> > Dave
> >
>

Another busy week so I haven't finished the session reports for last week's
games of Around the World in 80 Days and Foppen.  This upcoming week doesn't
look to get any better as I will be in Arizona on Monday and meetings on
Tuesday.

The only constant is that Wednesday is still slated for games.  Travelers
and non-travelers alike are invited to join in....

Games
Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
My house in San Ramon
   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)

Rich

HI Rich

Okay I can make it yet your travel make things seem tentative.

BEN you want me to pick you up again at 5Pm at your place?


Lawrence






--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe"
<RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> Another busy week so I haven't finished the session reports for
last week's
> games of Around the World in 80 Days and Foppen.  This upcoming
week doesn't
> look to get any better as I will be in Arizona on Monday and
meetings on
> Tuesday.
>
> The only constant is that Wednesday is still slated for games.
Travelers
> and non-travelers alike are invited to join in....
>
> Games
> Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
> My house in San Ramon
>   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
>
> Rich
>

Hi Lawrence (et al) -

Nothing tentaive about Wednesday.  Games is the one constant this week!
See you (and Ben?) on Wednesday!

- Rich

-----Original Message-----
From: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lawrence
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 7:41 PM
To: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [trivalleygamers] Re: Invitation to Play - Games - October 11


HI Rich

Okay I can make it yet your travel make things seem tentative.

BEN you want me to pick you up again at 5Pm at your place?


Lawrence

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:

> The only constant is that Wednesday is still slated for games.  Travelers
> and non-travelers alike are invited to join in....

It doesn't look like I'll be able to attend this week.  Have fun, gang.

Dave

Thanks for the fun adventure game

Ben




--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe"
<RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Lawrence (et al) -
>
> Nothing tentaive about Wednesday.  Games is the one constant this
week!
> See you (and Ben?) on Wednesday!
>
> - Rich
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lawrence
> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 7:41 PM
> To: trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [trivalleygamers] Re: Invitation to Play - Games -
October 11
>
>
> HI Rich
>
> Okay I can make it yet your travel make things seem tentative.
>
> BEN you want me to pick you up again at 5Pm at your place?
>
>
> Lawrence
>

Lawrence and Ben arrived for an even of games.  Rich had suggested Das Ende
Des Triumvirats as this game is balanced for exactly 3 players.  Don't know
if it was the German or the confrontational aspect, but Rich was outvoted
and Goldland was extracted from the game case as the game of the evening.
This game seems to make yearly appearances at TVB - so I will assume this
was the 2006 appearance.

From the starting spot, Rich and Lawrence headed North to uncover the
adventures while Ben was the sole player to head East.  Rich had uncovered a
desert adventure with treasure, so worked to set up a camp in the desert and
to dig up the treasure.  Lawrence continued to work along the edge to
acquire resources (and discovery tokens) while Ben concentrated right at the
Eastern edge of the playmap.  There he uncovered not one but two deserts!

Rich continued to head into the interior of Goldland from his spot working
his way through the adventures.  Ben was doing the same from the Eastern
edge (working North), but was also carefully placing tiles so that no path
connected with the lands to his West.  As the map developed, this meant that
Ben was building a pretty exclusive path to the temple that others would
have to follow.  Trying to jump into the trail would require surviving an
ordeal (costing more resources) to do so.  Lawrence tried to work east along
the northern edge of the board - but kept finding lake after lake and was
short handed the necessary twigs to construct the rafts to survive those
adventures.  Rich seeing this, had to backtrack to the edge and run along
the periphery to follow Ben on the path to the jungle.

Ben was the first to reach the temple by surving a mountain adventure at the
temple (paying the resource cost via the discovery tokens he had collected
along the way).  This earned him the amulet and gold coins.  No one else was
in position to reach the temple, so only Ben gained the Temple Bonus gold.

Lawrence managed to survive the ordeal and got onto the trail to the temple
also.  Rich followed Ben, but got distracted by some bandits.  After the
game, he realized that he already had the bandit adventure in hand, so
should have spent the turn going for the natives and getting closer to the
temple.  As a result, Rich did survive another adventure, but gained nothing
for doing so.  While Lawrence and Rich were struggling towards the Temple,
Ben was nicely gaining the Temple Resource Gold each turn putting time
pressure on Rich and Lawrence to gain gold.

On the final turn of the game, Rich and Ben were close in points as Rich had
done a good job of conquering adventures.  He was the first to gain a desert
adventure and no one had surpassed his total (though Ben had tied it).
Looking at his options, Ben discarded most of his goods from his backpack
retaining only 3 provisions (fish) and the temple amulet.  This gave him 8
movement points - just enough to reach a desert adventure.  Discarding the 3
provisions, he survives the adventure and claims the desert adventure token
from Rich.  Looking to maximize their gold, Lawrence and Rich both head to
the temple to claim the last amulets and the game ends.

              Lawr     Rich      Ben
      Amulet:   3        3        3
    Treasure:   6        3        -
Temple Gold:   -        -        7
  Native Adv:   -        -        2
    Lake Adv:   3        -        -
   Mount Adv:   -        -        3
  Canyon Adv:   -        3        -
    Puma Adv:   -        -        4
  Bandit Adv:   -        5        -
  Desert Adv:   -        -        5
             =====     =====     ===
               12       14       24

And the last minute acquisition of the desert adventure is key as it moved
Ben from a tie with Rich to the outright lead.  Of course, getting to the
temple early (5 turns before anyone else) was also key thanks to the nice
blockade on the paths.  Rich (if he hadn't wasted time with the bandits)
might have made it a turn earlier gaining 1 more gold also.

And that is one aspect I really enjoy with Goldland - there are multiple
ways to gain gold, so it is not just a game of racing to the temple.
Surviving adventures, digging up treasures can also lead to gold that count
at games end.  Ben and Lawrence both indicated they enjoyed this selection
of game for the evening.

With a bit of time left, we decided on a quick, non-card game...10 Days in
Africa.

During the initial tile draw, Rich felt pretty good as his first draw was
the multi-connected Democratic Republic of the Congo followed by Central
African Republic, Angola, and Nambia.  (No notes what the others started
with).  The middle of the game saw discards of 4 planes and 2 cars as
everyone seemed to be after countrys.

Lawrence then declared he was complete with: Botswana > Zaire > Plane >
Kenya > Car > DR Congo > Plane > Morocco > Car > Mali
Rich was almost complete needing just one tile: Sudan > Plane > Congo >
Central African Republic > DR Congo > Angola > Namibia > Plane > Algeria |
Guinea
Ben was a bit more scattered: Libya > Niger > Benin | Plane > Burkina Faso |
Sierra Leone | Mali | Ethopia | Mozambique | Uganda

Until next week,

Rich

No travels, no tentative plans, not even the distraction of a Tanga
puzzle....
...just a day to sit back and enjoy more games.  Who will join me?

Games
Wednesday Night, ~18:30 to ~21:00
My house in San Ramon
   (Contact me off-list if you need directions)

Rich