Archive
Games Sessions - June/July 2002
5th July 2002
Games
Played: Goldland, Drahtseilakt
Goldland
Players: Nige, Mark K, Mark
G, Garry
First up this week was this new
game from Wolfgang Kramer about exploring an undiscovered island in search
of treasure and gold. Players collect equipment on their way and the more
they carry restricts their ability to move. As areas of the island are
discovered, players aim to overcome adventures, build camps to help their
travels in future turns, and hamper the progress of other players, while
moving towards the temple where amulets and gold await.
Nige and I trudged off in one
direction while the two Marks went a different way. Unfortunately for Nige,
he got trapped in an area where difficult adventures arose, which required
lots of equipment he didn't have, and consequently he spent a number of
turns trying to get himself extricated from the hole he found himself in.
I managed to pick up some useful treasures along the way and was the
master of a couple of adventure types ( which also bring rewards of gold
). However, the two Marks were striking out boldly for the temple and Nige
and I risked not getting there until it was too late. Thankfully, we
managed to catch up with them, so that we all acquired our amulets on the
same turn, bringing the game to a swift end, and denying the Marks the
chance of claiming more gold on subsequent turns. As a result, I was able
to claim the win. We all enjoyed the game, although we did think that the
difficulties Nige had faced were a bit harsh. However, I guess that in
later games we will all stock up more on equipment early on to avoid a
similar fate.
Result: Garry 17, Mark K=Mark G=Nige
13
Ratings: Garry 7, Mark K 7, Mark G
7, Nige 7
Drahtseilakt
(Tightrope)
Players: Nige, Mark K, Mark
G, Garry
We followed up Goldland with
another nice Reiner Knizia cardgame. Tightrope is all about balancing your
hand of cards, as you get penalty points for playing the highest and
lowest card to a trick. However, low points and high points can be offset
against each other, with the aim being at the end of each hand not to have
any penalty points. Although the others had not played before and I had
many times, the first hand did not go well for Yours Truly, with me
picking up 7 points to Mark G's 1 and the others' 0. The second hand saw
Mark K again failing to take penalties but Mark G and Nige totted up 110
and 11 points respectively. Hand 3 was virtually a re-run of the first
with me taking 8 points and the others hardly any, while in the final
round everybody played their cards well and few points were dished out.
Mark K took the plaudits with a miserly total score of 3 points.
Result: Mark K 3, Mark G 14, Nige
15, Garry 17
Ratings: Mark K 7, Mark G 6, Nige
6, Garry 7
28th June
2002
Games
Played: Kingdoms, Savannah Cafe, Mystery Rummy: Jack The Ripper
Kingdoms
Players: Nige, Mark K, Mark
G, John W
I was off at Stratford Races this
week, so Mark K recorded the action:
Result: Mark K 206, Mark G 182,
Nige 145, John W 119
Ratings: Mark K 7, Mark G 7, Nige
7, John W 6
Savannah
Cafe
Players: Nige, Mark K, Mark
G, John W
Result: JohnW =Mark G , Nige ,
Mark K
Ratings: JohnW 6, Mark G 5, Nige
4, Mark K 3
Mystery
Rummy: Jack The Ripper
Players: Nige, Mark K, Mark
G, John W
Result: Nige 38, John W 30, Mark K
20, Mark G 6
Ratings: Nige 7, John W 6, Mark K
7, Mark G 7
21st June 2002
Games
Played: Pizarro & Co, For Sale, Mystery Rummy: Murders In The Rue
Morgue
Pizarro
& Co
Players: Nige, Mark K, Mark
G, Garry
This new game from Tom Lehman is
all auctions, 36 to be precise. Winning these gives advantages in terms of
higher VPs, more cash etc. but reserving cash is good too, as this feeds
through to VPs at the end of the game. I managed to completely misjudge
the importance of picking up cash later in the game and this severely
restricted my ability to compete in the later auctions. Mark G, however,
seemed to judge things just right as he emerged as a convincing winner.
One of the best of this year's releases in my opinion and definitely one
to try again soon.
Result: Mark G 65, Mark K 40, Nige
38, Garry 29
Ratings: Mark G 8, Mark K 8, Nige
8, Garry 8
For Sale
Players: Nige,
Mark K, Mark G, Garry
We then went for another auction
game but this time involving simultaneous bids during the second half of
the game. I really like this as a very quick filler with lots of tough
decisions. The psychology of trying to second-guess what everyone else is
going to do appeals to me, but the others were less keen. Mark K was
stuffed by bidding heavily on an early building and then when his chips
were exhausted having to accept some very poor buildings later on, which
killed his chances. Mark G continued his successful evening with another
win.
Result: Mark G 69, Nige 56, Garry
53, Mark K 38
Ratings: Mark G 6, Nige 5, Garry
7, Mark K 6
Mystery
Rummy: Murders In The Rue Morgue
Players: Nige,
Mark K, Mark G, Garry
Having played one of the Mystery
Rummy series while I was on holiday, the others suggested another one,
which I think is the second in the series. Very much rummy but with lots
of the theme of the Edgar Allan Poe book thrown in. I liked it even though
the cards didn't fall right for me. Mark G capped his most successful
evening to date with a third win.
Result: Mark G 98, Mark K 95, Nige
68, Garry 62
Ratings: Mark G 7, Mark K 7, Nige
7, Garry 7
7th June 2002
Games
Played: Robo Rally
Robo
Rally
Players: Ben, John W, Mark
K, Mark G
On holiday this week, but Mark K
recorded the results:
Result: Ben, Mark K, John W, Mark
G
Ratings: Ben 8, Mark K 7, John W
7, Mark G 6
This was
Ben's last week with us for the foreseeable future, as he has moved East
due to a new job. Our best wishes go with him and we hope to see him
whenever he is back in the area.
This page was last updated on 22 November 2004
