And a Happy New Year to everyone.  I expect most folks are heading back to work tomorrow (if not shortly thereafter ) as the old routines are once again established.  Come about Wednesday, I imagine everyone will be in the mood for some gaming.  So let’s that routine established once again. 

If anyone has any new games received over the past few weeks they want to table and try…by all means mention that in the RSVP.  I will be refreshing the rules on Ghost Stories, and cracking the shrink on Battlestar Galactica.  I also have Chicago Express (nee Wabash Cannonball) and Powerboats to offer up as well.

So who can attend (and what might you bring) for…

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:
>
> So who can attend (and what might you bring) for.
>
> Games:


I plan to attend, and will bring a couple of new trade items (Amazonas, and
Midgard) as well
as a new game (Genji).

Now, to brush up on those rules...

Dave

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Wilson" <daw65@...> wrote:
>
> I plan to attend, and will bring a couple of new trade items
(Amazonas, and Midgard) as well
> as a new game (Genji).
>
> Now, to brush up on those rules...
>
> Dave
>


Well, I planned to attend, but I woke up feeling a little odd, and
it's gradually gotten worse throughout the day.  No doubt a cold I got
from the in-laws, whom we hosted this past weekend. Since I'm probably
pretty contagious, I think I'd better pass on games this evening, in
the hopes of keeping you all healthy.

Have fun, and see you next week.

Dave

In a bit of a rush this week, but still on for games this Wednesday as always. 

Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…

Games:

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

Rich

Hi Rich,

Work this week.  However, you should see more of us this year.  Lisa's
Wednesday night class is over.

Kris

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...>
wrote:
>
> In a bit of a rush this week, but still on for games this Wednesday as
> always.
>
> Who can attend (and what might you bring) for.
>
> 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:
>
> In a bit of a rush this week, but still on for games this Wednesday as
> always.
>
> Who can attend (and what might you bring) for.

Assuming I don't get sick again, I'll be there, and again I'll bring a
few options (thought I'm sad I missed Ghost Stories):
Amazonas
Midgard
Genji

Dave

Left on a business trip and forgot to mail out the invite....no worries as I will be back Wednesday and ready to host as usual.

Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…

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:

> Who can attend (and what might you bring

I'll be there.

Dave

Another business trip, but will be home late on Wednesday.  As a result, unable
to host any games.  See everyone next week......

Rich

Hi Guys

Due to a conflict in a college night class I wont be able lt  attend
until summer!  Guess Dave will have to win some games without me!

Lawrence

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...>
wrote:
>
> Another business trip, but will be home late on Wednesday.  As a
result, unable to host any games.  See everyone next week......
>
> Rich
>

The Geek is down as they upgrade the guts of the database.  I suspect some folks are suffering from game withdrawal as a result.  But why enjoy games via a website….come and play them in person.  I am in town and ready to host games this Wednesday:

Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…

***************************************

Games:

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

***************************************

Rich

I'll be there.

Dave

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...>
wrote:
>
> The Geek is down as they upgrade the guts of the database.  I
suspect some folks are suffering from game withdrawal as a result.
But why enjoy games via a website….come and play them in person.  I am
in town and ready to host games this Wednesday:
> Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…
> ***************************************
> Games:
> 	 Wednesday Night, 18:30 to ~21:00
> 	 My house in San Ramon
> 	 (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
> ***************************************
> Rich
>

Wednesday approaches for games and gaming.  I’m ready to host (and figure out which game I would like to try), so I hope others are like minded to drop by and play games.

Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…

***************************************

Games:

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

***************************************

Rich

I'll see you there.

Dave

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> Wednesday approaches for games and gaming.  I’m ready to host (and figure
out which
game I would like to try), so I hope others are like minded to drop by and play
games.
> Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…
> ***************************************
> Games:
> 	 Wednesday Night, 18:30 to ~21:00
> 	 My house in San Ramon
> 	 (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
> ***************************************
> Rich
>

Weather forecast looks to be continued rain this week.  Doesn’t appear to be a week for outdoors stuff, so as an escape from the rain, I am ready once again to host on Wednesday for games and gaming. 

Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…

***************************************

Games:

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

***************************************

Rich

I'll be there.  Not sure what I'll be bringing, yet.

Dave

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> Weather forecast looks to be continued rain this week.  Doesn’t appear to be
a week for
outdoors stuff, so as an escape from the rain, I am ready once again to host on
Wednesday
for games and gaming.
> Who can attend (and what might you bring) for…
> ***************************************
> Games:
> 	 Wednesday Night, 18:30 to ~21:00
> 	 My house in San Ramon
> 	 (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
> ***************************************
> Rich
>

Last week it was In the Year of the Dragon which saw Tim expand early to 4 palaces with a privilege but then hang on quite well to win the game by 2 VPs over Dave.  Rich would have been in the thick of things, but without money, Tim played on rice to deny Rich the needed rice to prevent starvation and the loss of 4 workers.  A very interesting game of resource management as different things are needed at different points in the game.  And being lean (or efficient as Tim was) is the key here.

Afterwards, Sabrina joined us for Bohnanza, a game she had just watched at Jeff-con the Sunday before, but picked up rather quickly.  It was also Tim’s first playing as well.  Rich got the lucky beans this time gaining 18 coins by game’s end just 1 more than Tim and Sabrina who had 17 each.  Dave was stuck at 13 coins as the luck of the beans just wasn’t with him.  Nothing on offer he needed, and trading was difficult as a result.

That was last week.  Looks good for another two games this week as we try to return to the historic TVB tradition of a board opener and a card game closer.  Who is interested in joining us…..

***************************************

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:
>
>  Who is interested in joining us?

I'll be there.

Dave

Last week it was The Red Dragon Inn as the group sat down to see who could last the longest.  I have both games mixed together so we mixed and matched characters.  Dimli the Dwarf (Tim) was a weakling and the first eliminated.  It looked like Gog the Half-Ogre (Dave) would be next, but a coulpe of well placed challenges weakened Zot the Wizard (with Pooky) (Sabrina) leaving Gog to face Fiona the Volatile (Rich).  Both were tipsy, but Gog managed to weaken Fiona under the table to be the last one standing.  This is a nice fame with plenty of opportunity for play-acting by reading out the cards.  As each deck/character is different, there is also some variety of play.  And plays up to 8 (with both games combined).  Not a game to play all the time, but a nice change of pace when it is played.  (As a footnote, Sabrina did ask to play this again afterwards – and the game works quite well as a 2P game as well.)

We next tried Power Play (aka Slapshot!) that Dave had received recently.  Dave jumped into an early lead winning his first 5 games.  But Rich had the bruiser on his initial team, so was weakening other’s team.  And after some early losses, Rich was tied with Dave at 7 wins apiece with time running out.  So to give an outright victor, Rich challenged Dave to see who would end with the most victories.  A close game, but Rich prevailed 3-1 to get his 8^th victory:

Rich: 8-4 / Dave: 7-7 / Tim: 5-5 / Sabrina: 3-7

I realize that this game has a large following with folks rooting for their team.  And initially it was fun to play and try to outthink your opponent while playing games.  But our game just dragged on and I began to dislike the downtime when it wasn’t my turn as I had to watch others play their games (of course, I could be watching to see what cards they had).  A fun game I would play again especially if the length could be reduced.

Looking ahead to this week ….  I have read and would like to get Le Havre to the table if there is interest.  I also have Planet Steam headed my way and have read the rules to that in anticipation.  Of course, if anyone has any suggestions they would like to play, drop me a line and I can have that game ready for Wednesday also.   So let’s see who is available and would like to attend:

GAMES:

***************************************

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

***************************************

Rich