Welcome to Frank's Games

This blog is where I talk about games, write gaming session reports, review my favorite Euro Games, and occasionally provide news on upcoming releases. 
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Thursday, March 17, 2011

February's Games

February was the month of 7 Wonders! I played it 13 times - far more than any other game. Next up was London with 3 plays and Navegador and Ivanhoe with 2 plays each. As noted last month, London was received in January, but not played. So it was the new game this month - though it got only 3 plays.

7 Wonders
This game continues to hold its interest with our group. However, I can see it slipping a bit as the novelty wears off.

London

London is Martin Wallace's latest game and I really enjoy it. Though it has a game board, it is essentially a card game. The board is important to gameplay, however, but it is more of an accessory than the main focal point of the game. Gameplay is very simple. On a player's turn he simply takes a single card, and then takes a single action. Play then passes to the left. This continues until the end of the game (when the last card is taken from the deck).




(Top Pic: The London Game Board, Card Display, and Card Deck.)
(Bottom Pic: A player's City Tableau where he "runs" his city.)

When taking a card, the player may take it from the top of the face down card deck, or from one of the face up cards in the card display.

The four actions available are:
1) Play as many cards from you hand as desired OR
2) Run your city OR
3) Buy land on the board OR
4) Take 3 Cards from the Card Display

There is a hand limit of 9 cards, but only at the end of your turn. You may exceed that limit during your turn.

Rather than explain the game, you can read the rules on the 'Geek if you're interested. I'll just give my impressions.

I really enjoy London, but several in our gaming group were just not anxious to learn it, thinking that it looks too hard. That generally changes, however, once it is played. I'm not sure what it is that turns people off when watching it played by others. Perhaps it's the fact that there are so many cards to learn, others think there is too much down time, and others think there is not enough interaction. I disagree on all counts! :) I love the game.

Down time is minimal when players have a game or two under their belts. Card iconology makes it easy to learn what the cards do, there is just enough interaction to suit me (races for the best spots on the board, watching what others are doing and adjusting your strategy accordingly, and setting up for the important game end and final round.

Of the new Essen releases I've played thus far (Navegador, Troyes, London, Antics), this one holds its own. I am not sure at this point which of Navegador, Troyes, or London I would rate the best - though a slight nod might go to Troyes. However, I see all three as quality games. Antics seems to be a bit less so, but it is unique in its mechanic and that makes it special as well.

Looking Ahead

March should bring key Market to my game table, and hopefully I can report on it in next month's report.

Friday, January 28, 2011

January Games

January brought two more Essen 2010 games to my game shelves - Troyes and London. I've been anxiously awaiting both games since seeing them reviewed at Essen (via BGG Video).

TROYES
I suppose Troyes was the most anticipated, and after receiving it on the 6th of January I've managed to get three games played. My take? The more I play it, the more I like it. In fact, I think it's VERY good, although it has not been as highly received by other members of our gaming group.

There's a lot going on in Troyes (by the way, it is pronounced something akin to Trr-WAH, while rolling the r's). It's a dice rolling game that doesn't feel like a dice game at all. The reason is that you can buy and use other people's dice as well as manipulate your own. And, low numbers can serve as well as high numbers. But it's not ALL about dice, nor is that even the main thing in the game. The winner is not necessarily the one with the best rolls - but the one who best utilizes everyone's dice and who makes the best decisions in the game. In fact, this game leaves me no sense that it is a game of luck.

Briefly, a turn consists of:
1. Turning over Action 3 cards (red, white, yellow), each of which give special benefits when dice of a matching color are placed on them.
2. Rolling a number of dice (red, white, yellow) depending on the matching number of "meeples" you have in the red, yellow, white buildings.
3. Turning over a Red Event color and either a White or Yellow Event card as well.
4. Resolving the Event cards (in some cases bad things happen to all or some players; in other cases black dice have to be rolled and players must "use" some of the dice they rolled in step 2 to offset the black dice 0 and by doing so they gain Influence points.
5. Take actions by using (in turn order) their own or other people's dice. Actions include:
a. placing "meeples" in buildings (red, white, yellow) as per the dice used (yours or others). If using other player's dice, you pay them depending on how many total dice you use.
b. placing a die or dice (yours or others) on action cards and taking the action allowed
c. placing a die or dice (yours or others) in the Agriculture field to earn money
d. using a die/dice (yours/others) to construct the town Cathedral
e. using a die/dice (yours/others) to resolve an Event Card.

After everyone has taken all their actions and passed, or after all dice have been used, the turn ends



Then a second turn begins. A game lasts 4, 5, or 6 turns depending on the number of players. What makes the game for me are the many choices you have each turn. In my first 3 games i have not felt that I am anywhere NEAR "solving" it or developed a winning strategy. Further, since their are 27 Action cards, and only 9 are used in each game, you will never have two games exactly alike. Further, the dice will always be different offering you many delicious choices on your turn.

Temporary rating for me? A 9. Of course, I'm aware of the "new game" effect on ratings. Thus, I will not make an "official" rating until I've played it at least 10 times.

LONDON

I did not get a copy of London until January 26 (two days before writing this), so have not had a chance to play it. I did set it up and have walked through two or three turns for 3 "players" while reading the rules. Am anxious to play, and it looks good (though I didn't get the "Essen Special Edition." Nevertheless, am anxious to play it. I will continue this review once it has been played.