On 3/28/2012 2:20 PM, Richard Pardoe wrote:
> Sounds like 3P is firming up for tonight, so POSEIDON is still an option as I
> believe it is new for both of you.  Another idea that came to mind is
CARAVELOS
> - a game of Portuguese sailors setting out to explore and discover the oceans
> around Africa and Asia.  (Yes, this is also the theme of Navegador which the
> group played about a year ago.)
>
> - Rich
>
That sounds fine, too.

Dave Wallace

LAST WEEK:

Three players around the table so we took the opportunity to table an older game that seems to have been overlooked since its release in 2010:  CARAVELAS.  Players send out fleets from Portugal to explore the both the Eastern side of the North American landmass as well as the western and eastern coasts of Africa, the Indian Ocean and Asia to Japan.  Yes, this does send a lot like another game released the same year (Navegador) which I suspect has led to Caravelas being a bit overlooked.  The weight of the two games is decidedly different also.  I would call Caravelas more of a gateway (or traditional European family) game.  Players have a set number of actions to use to move one’s fleet or evade obstacles along the way.  In addition, the start of the turn begins with players bidding actions for turn order.  The ocean is overlaid with currents and winds that can sweep ships quickly in certain directions, so the game really is a race to explore ports, onboard goods, and bring them back to Lisbon to get VPs.  Each player is given some hidden destinations that are worth bonus points at game’s end should they have discovered that port first.  With the early moves being to explore the Western Coast of Africa and the Eastern Coast of South America (Brazil), Rich went straight to the Cape of Good Hope to round the South of Africa to start exploring the Eastern side.  This also let him be the first to acquire pepper which when brought back to Lisbon can be converted to a part of the Jeronimos Monastery which historical was paid by a tax on pepper.    (Each part of the Monastery is worth more points than just the pepper and is also the “clock” in the game.  When the Monastery is built, the game is over.)   Rich then set out with an upgraded fleet to gather more pepper and more goods on another trip to the Far East.  Dave also managed to upgrade his fleet and also set sail for the desired pepper.  Dave W did a quick round trip and then set out also for the riches of the Far East.  While Dave and Dave W both did complete part of the monastery, it was Rich returning with his pepper (despite losing part of his fleet to storms around the Cape) that ended the game before Dave W could return with his cargo (and its points).  In the post game discussion, we realized that perhaps Dave W should not have picked up his monastery tile on his first cargo so as to delay the end of game but pick it up (if desired) after his second trip as the 55 points he could have scored would have given him the lead:

Rich:  98  / Dave:  75  /  Dave W:  54

THIS WEEK:

Haven’t heard of any conflicts (yet) for this Wednesday, so curious how many folks would be able to make it.   As always, if you can make it, what might you want to play?  Happy to hear your suggestions with the RSVP to the invite.    Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for Wednesday….

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.  See you then.

Dave


--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> LAST WEEK:
> Three players around the table so we took the opportunity to table an older
> game that seems to have been overlooked since its release in 2010:
> CARAVELAS.  Players send out fleets from Portugal to explore the both the
> Eastern side of the North American landmass as well as the western and
> eastern coasts of Africa, the Indian Ocean and Asia to Japan.  Yes, this
> does send a lot like another game released the same year (Navegador) which I
> suspect has led to Caravelas being a bit overlooked.  The weight of the two
> games is decidedly different also.  I would call Caravelas more of a gateway
> (or traditional European family) game.  Players have a set number of actions
> to use to move one's fleet or evade obstacles along the way.  In addition,
> the start of the turn begins with players bidding actions for turn order.
> The ocean is overlaid with currents and winds that can sweep ships quickly
> in certain directions, so the game really is a race to explore ports,
> onboard goods, and bring them back to Lisbon to get VPs.  Each player is
> given some hidden destinations that are worth bonus points at game's end
> should they have discovered that port first.  With the early moves being to
> explore the Western Coast of Africa and the Eastern Coast of South America
> (Brazil), Rich went straight to the Cape of Good Hope to round the South of
> Africa to start exploring the Eastern side.  This also let him be the first
> to acquire pepper which when brought back to Lisbon can be converted to a
> part of the Jeronimos Monastery which historical was paid by a tax on
> pepper.    (Each part of the Monastery is worth more points than just the
> pepper and is also the "clock" in the game.  When the Monastery is built,
> the game is over.)   Rich then set out with an upgraded fleet to gather more
> pepper and more goods on another trip to the Far East.  Dave also managed to
> upgrade his fleet and also set sail for the desired pepper.  Dave W did a
> quick round trip and then set out also for the riches of the Far East.
> While Dave and Dave W both did complete part of the monastery, it was Rich
> returning with his pepper (despite losing part of his fleet to storms around
> the Cape) that ended the game before Dave W could return with his cargo (and
> its points).  In the post game discussion, we realized that perhaps Dave W
> should not have picked up his monastery tile on his first cargo so as to
> delay the end of game but pick it up (if desired) after his second trip as
> the 55 points he could have scored would have given him the lead:
> 	 Rich:  98  / Dave:  75  /  Dave W:  54
> THIS WEEK:
> Haven't heard of any conflicts (yet) for this Wednesday, so curious how many
> folks would be able to make it.   As always, if you can make it, what might
> you want to play?  Happy to hear your suggestions with the RSVP to the
> invite.    Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for
> Wednesday..
> 			 GAMES:
> 			 ***************************************
> 			 Wednesday Night, 18:30 to ~21:00
> 			 My house in San Ramon
> 			 (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
> 			 ***************************************
> - Rich
>

Looks like three around the table for tomorrow night.  If that holds up (and I find the time to punch the game), I would like to try ECLIPSE which is said to be a streamlined space explore, expand, exploit, and (if desired) exterminate game. But I have heard that the “exterminate” or conflict part isn’t that dominate and could be avoided.  More importantly, player elimination doesn’t seem to be a factor.  Play time is said to be 30 minutes per player, so with set-up and rules overview should fit into our time slot tomorrow.

LAST WEEK:

Three players around the table and I did manage to punch out the numerous tokens for ECLIPSE which was the game of the evening.  This is a game in the 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate) genre wherein players are civilizations located within a sector of the map that try to expand their spheres of influence to generate more resources and score VPs.   Conflict can occur when two civilizations run into each other or when remnants of the ancient cultures are uncovered.  To assist the players there are several technology tracks to develop as well as ship classes to improve.  Tim and Dave set out exploring nearby spaces and seemed to get quite effective economic engines going (generating good income to further their expansion and research).  Rich seemed to be trapped in a more desolate region and faced the ancient cultures blocking his expansion.  The only way through was to gain some enhanced military capabilities.  This allowed Rich not only to defeat the ancients but also to take over the central (defended) space.   Of course this put Rich in contact with Tim and Dave’s civilizations who saw Rich as a militaristic threat.   Tim was doing a good job building up defensive space stations as well as monoliths for VPs.  In the end, Rich managed to have a few more points in controlled areas as well as good points via reputation (a result of battles).  The points scored (shows as reputation / discoveries / monoliths / technology / areas):

Rich:  34 (10 / 2 / - / 5 / 17)

Tim:  29 (2 / 2 / 9 / 5 / 11)

Dave: 23 (5 / 2 / - / 5 / 13)

THIS WEEK:

I am ready to host again this week, but realize it might be spring break for some.  Who else can make it to games?  As always, if you can make it, what might you want to play?  Happy to hear your suggestions with the RSVP to the invite.  Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for Wednesday….

GAMES:

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

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

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

-       Rich

Oh, I'll be there.  See you all then.

Dave

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> LAST WEEK:
> Three players around the table and I did manage to punch out the numerous
> tokens for ECLIPSE which was the game of the evening.  This is a game in the
> 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate) genre wherein players are
> civilizations located within a sector of the map that try to expand their
> spheres of influence to generate more resources and score VPs.   Conflict
> can occur when two civilizations run into each other or when remnants of the
> ancient cultures are uncovered.  To assist the players there are several
> technology tracks to develop as well as ship classes to improve.  Tim and
> Dave set out exploring nearby spaces and seemed to get quite effective
> economic engines going (generating good income to further their expansion
> and research).  Rich seemed to be trapped in a more desolate region and
> faced the ancient cultures blocking his expansion.  The only way through was
> to gain some enhanced military capabilities.  This allowed Rich not only to
> defeat the ancients but also to take over the central (defended) space.   Of
> course this put Rich in contact with Tim and Dave's civilizations who saw
> Rich as a militaristic threat.   Tim was doing a good job building up
> defensive space stations as well as monoliths for VPs.  In the end, Rich
> managed to have a few more points in controlled areas as well as good points
> via reputation (a result of battles).  The points scored (shows as
> reputation / discoveries / monoliths / technology / areas):
> 	 Rich:  34 (10 / 2 / - / 5 / 17)
> 	 Tim:  29 (2 / 2 / 9 / 5 / 11)
> 	 Dave: 23 (5 / 2 / - / 5 / 13)
> THIS WEEK:
> I am ready to host again this week, but realize it might be spring break for
> some.  Who else can make it to games?  As always, if you can make it, what
> might you want to play?  Happy to hear your suggestions with the RSVP to the
> invite.  Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for
> Wednesday..
> 			 GAMES:
> 			 ***************************************
> 			 Wednesday Night, 18:30 to ~21:00
> 			 My house in San Ramon
> 			 (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
> 			 ***************************************
> - Rich
>

Looks like 5 around the table for games tomorrow night, so let’s give Vladim�r Such�’s LAST WILL a try.  This is a game that is a bit different.  Rather than trying to build to gain more money, here one is trying to spend it as quickly as possible.  (The theme here is that the player’s are all potential heirs of a rich uncle but the balance of the fortune will go to the one that enjoys spending money the most.)

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> ... here one is trying to spend it as quickly as possible.

Now that sounds like fun!  :)

Have fun tonight.  Lisa has pulled another quarter of teaching Wednesday
evenings, but we will try to visit when we can.

Kris

LAST WEEK:

Five players around the table as Jeff could join us this week and Tim’s brother Joseph was in town.  The game that was played (twice in fact) was LAST WILL – a game where players start with some money and try to spend it on a variety of items and property maintenance in order to be the first to spend it all.  The available actions are determined by cards from a variety of decks and players plan their turns by balancing their needs for turn order, number of actions, and number of cards (or errands) they wish to run.  In general, higher in turn order means fewer actions.  In fact, in our first game, we learned how limiting the actions were as we all struggled a bit with getting things done in the limited amount available to us.  But in the end, it was Dave who sold off his last property and then spent a fortune on a dinner feast to go bankrupt first (on turn 5 of 7).  Jeff and Tim were close behind but Joseph (who still had one property) did appear to edge them out in the final point totals (lower is better in this game):

Dave:  0

Joseph:  18 (9 Cash + 4(+5) Building)

Jeff:  19 (All Cash)

Tim:  19 (All Cash)

Rich:  34  (17 Cash + 12 (+5) Building)

With the game playing rather quickly, we launched into a second playing as we had a better feel for the pacing of the game as well as the various actions available to us.  We again ended the game on turn 5.  Tim was the first to go out this time going 2 Pounds into debt in fact.  Rich was one action short of going 3 Pounds into debt.  (In retrospect, I probably should have avoided the agent and used two actions on the boat tour.  Would have brought me to 1 Pound in debt – still second place.)  With everyone knowing the game was ending, everyone did sell off buildings and the final scores were cash only:

Tim:  -2

Rich: 2

Jeff:  5

Joseph: 13

Dave:  14

After both games, we wondered if farms were of any value, but realized that starting with the smaller starting total (70 pounds) probably didn’t leave enough time for farms to see their value.  The normal start to the game is to randomly pick a starting value.  We suspect that a higher starting total would drive the game a few more rounds and probably make a farm strategy a bit more valid.

THIS WEEK:

I have a conflict and unable to host this week.  If anyone would like to host games, please just post details to the list.  I shall see you all next week.

-       Rich

LAST WEEK:

Nothing.

THIS WEEK:

A glorious weekend encouraging one to venture outdoors and enjoy the early summer weather!  The forecast shows a cooling trend with rain forecast for late Wednesday into Thursday.  With the change in weather, let’s get together indoors around the game table and see what new (or old) game we can discover and enjoy.  Who can make it to games?  As always, if you can make it, what might you want to play?  Happy to hear your suggestions with the RSVP to the invite.  Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for Wednesday….

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:
>
> LAST WEEK:
> Nothing.
> THIS WEEK:
> A glorious weekend encouraging one to venture outdoors and enjoy the early
> summer weather!  The forecast shows a cooling trend with rain forecast for
> late Wednesday into Thursday.  With the change in weather, let's get
> together indoors around the game table and see what new (or old) game we can
> discover and enjoy.  Who can make it to games?  As always, if you can make
> it, what might you want to play?  Happy to hear your suggestions with the
> RSVP to the invite.  Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make
> it for Wednesday..
> 			 GAMES:
> 			 ***************************************
> 			 Wednesday Night, 18:30 to ~21:00
> 			 My house in San Ramon
> 			 (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
> 			 ***************************************
> - Rich
>

Looks like three for games tomorrow night.  I think it would be a good opportunity to try out URBAN SPRAWL – a game of trying to build up a blank grid with valuable buildings and hopefully gaining political offices for their perks and bonuses as well.

-       Rich

LAST WEEK:

Jeff and Dave arrived so we tried out URBAN SPRAWL – a game of playing buildings onto a grid to watch it develop from town to city to metropolis.  Along the way, players can also gain special advantages by holding political office (gained by typically owning the most valuable of a particular building type) which will also give a game end bonus as well.  Furthermore there are a lot of events and other things that happen in the game.  As a result, while prestige (i.e. victory points) tend to climb steadily up, money (used to pay for buildings) varies quite a bit and it is not uncommon for a player to go from rags to riches or riches to rags rather quickly.  We only made it through the first 2 stages of the game and were just entering the metropolis (or final) phase of the game.  Jeff and Dave were racing next and next with prestige points (58 and 54) while Rich was behind (39) but holding three political offices in hopes of a nice game end kick to contest for the victory.  Alas with all the text on the cards and learning what happens in the game, we didn’t finish….

THIS WEEK:

Another nice weekend for outdoor activities, but Wednesday is focused on the game table.  I wouldn’t mind a redo of Urban Sprawl if there is interest, but can also suggest something else depending on both player count and game desire.  What are your thoughts?  Can you make it to games?  If so, what might you want to play?  Happy to hear your suggestions with the RSVP.  Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for Wednesday….

GAMES:

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

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

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

-       Rich

I had been prepping BIOS: MEGAFAUNA as the suggested game for tomorrow night. But I would like to try it with 3 or 4 players.  If (as I see now) that only Tim is planning on attending, I will need to shift gears towards 2P possibilities.  URBAN SPRAWL is rumoured to work with 2P.  I have also been curious to try A FEW ACRES OF SNOW despite the buzz about certain strategies.  I could also prep REVOLVER a dueling deck card game set in the “wild west”.

As I ponder, thought I would send out a gentle nudge to see if anyone else was planning on attending tomorrow’s game night.

-       RIch

Bios Megafauna sounds good. I'll see you then.

(sorry)

Dave

--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> I had been prepping BIOS: MEGAFAUNA as the suggested game for tomorrow
> night. But I would like to try it with 3 or 4 players.  If (as I see now)
> that only Tim is planning on attending, I will need to shift gears towards
> 2P possibilities.  URBAN SPRAWL is rumoured to work with 2P.  I have also
> been curious to try A FEW ACRES OF SNOW despite the buzz about certain
> strategies.  I could also prep REVOLVER a dueling deck card game set in the
> "wild west".
>
> As I ponder, thought I would send out a gentle nudge to see if anyone else
> was planning on attending tomorrow's game night.
>
> - RIch
>

LAST WEEK:

Tim and Dave arrived so we tried out BIOS: MEGAFAUNA – Phil Eklund’s update on his evolutionary game American Megafauna.  With a paucity of habitable biomes, we did feel we were doing something wrong, but a reread of the rules after the fact didn’t point to anything obvious.  I think we will have to consign the experience to the cumulative effect of a poor card shuffle bringing too many genotype cards (and the strong events) into the game as well as clogging up the card display with genotype cards.  Reading on BGG, I so see some other comments talking about a similar experience and indicating that such is tipping the game from a “game” to a “simulation” and being less enjoyable as a result.  I don’t know – I see it as a puzzle where we were inexpert in using the pieces offered to us.  In sum, each of us had species go extinct, Dave less so than others so he did win the end game population points and the victory as a result when the CO2 level fell and a snowball Earth ended our game early in the Cenozoic era.  (Oh, for the curious – I haven’t read the rules to American Megafauna, but in that game it appears the biomes, mutations, and genotypes presented as cards in a single deck.  When cards are dealt out – biomes go onto the map, mutations and genotypes are auctioned off.  This contrasts with the current game where biomes are tiles that are brought into the game as events on mutation cards and the mutations/genotypes are offered in a Vinci like display (first card is free, pay for ever card skipped over.)

THIS WEEK:

Don’t know if folks want to try Bios:Megafauna one more time or not.  If not, could certainly read up on a viable alternative (or have one suggested.)  To narrow down the choices – would like to get a headcount for games.  Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for Wednesday….

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.  See you all then.

Dave


--- In trivalleygamers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Pardoe" <RPardoe@...> wrote:
>
> LAST WEEK:
> Tim and Dave arrived so we tried out BIOS: MEGAFAUNA - Phil Eklund's update
> on his evolutionary game American Megafauna.  With a paucity of habitable
> biomes, we did feel we were doing something wrong, but a reread of the rules
> after the fact didn't point to anything obvious.  I think we will have to
> consign the experience to the cumulative effect of a poor card shuffle
> bringing too many genotype cards (and the strong events) into the game as
> well as clogging up the card display with genotype cards.  Reading on BGG, I
> so see some other comments talking about a similar experience and indicating
> that such is tipping the game from a "game" to a "simulation" and being less
> enjoyable as a result.  I don't know - I see it as a puzzle where we were
> inexpert in using the pieces offered to us.  In sum, each of us had species
> go extinct, Dave less so than others so he did win the end game population
> points and the victory as a result when the CO2 level fell and a snowball
> Earth ended our game early in the Cenozoic era.  (Oh, for the curious - I
> haven't read the rules to American Megafauna, but in that game it appears
> the biomes, mutations, and genotypes presented as cards in a single deck.
> When cards are dealt out - biomes go onto the map, mutations and genotypes
> are auctioned off.  This contrasts with the current game where biomes are
> tiles that are brought into the game as events on mutation cards and the
> mutations/genotypes are offered in a Vinci like display (first card is free,
> pay for ever card skipped over.)
> THIS WEEK:
> Don't know if folks want to try Bios:Megafauna one more time or not.  If
> not, could certainly read up on a viable alternative (or have one
> suggested.)  To narrow down the choices - would like to get a headcount for
> games.  Please let us know by Tuesday evening if you can make it for
> Wednesday..
> 			 GAMES:
> 			 ***************************************
> 			 Wednesday Night, 18:30 to ~21:00
> 			 My house in San Ramon
> 			 (Contact me off-list if you need directions)
> 			 ***************************************
> - Rich
>

Looks like we will have 4 (or 5 if Ricardo can make it) for games tomorrow night.  The game I am preparing at the moment is Hawaii (which plays up to 5) from Hans im Gluck/Rio Grande.  At first blush (I read the rules once a few weeks ago) it is a game like Stone Age where workers are placed to gather bits to makes one village more valuable.  Let me re-read the rules now to make sure I can explain it well tomorrow night (and punch out the bits).

-       Rich