Dead of Winter in the dead of winter

It’s seems appropriate that I should visit Dead of Winter in the dead of winter. (Dead of winter in Ireland is around 2 degrees c but that’s neither here nor there)

This game has been getting a lot of hype and with good reason. It’s a great game. It’s also hard to lay your hands on and children are being openly sold to purchase it (the current rate of exchange is three children in case your wondering)(but that’s for an unopened copy you can probably get a used one cheaper)

Due to a friend’s* forum post I’ve come to realize that In the same way as letters from white chapel is of a particular genre and sits in between Fury of Dracula and Scotland Yard in terms of complexity and ‘weight’. DOW (not to be confused with dawn of war) sits between Battlestar Galactica and Shadows over Camelot. It’s a semi (oh err missus) co-op game with the ever present threat of a betrayer.

There are a lot of zombie games out there. A lot. You know that. There aren’t a lot of good zombie games. This is the latter. The zombies are a backdrop to story that plays out. The real brains and potatoes is completing the overall mission. This is chosen at the start and they come in tall, grande and venti variety. This I like. You can set the length of the game you’re going to play. A short game will last you anything from an hour up depending on how many players (Max five) medium and long obviously longer (only played short and medium so far).

I’ve spoken about the difficulty setting in Nations and I like this trend of having adjustable parameters in a game. Its a welcome feature. More of this please

Yes that is alchemy the other end of the table

In addition to the main mission each player gets a random objective card at the start which will usually have you completing the main mission and a secondary objective, (because it’s all fine and dandy winning coop but you really gots to know who won won). Added to this there’s a possible betrayal objective in the mix and you now have a ingredients for a nice paranoid adventure. The best type.

There’s similarities to Battlestar to Be sure. A lot actually. Each turn there’s a crisis to be solved by secretly throwing your limited resources at (some help some hinder and it’s done face down so you don’t know if and whom the bad dude is). Players can be exiled (unlike the brig in BSG they can’t come back) making their mission more difficult. Exile two non traitors and you lose

There’s a lot of ways to lose this game. Don’t complete the primary mission in the short time provided BOOM! you lose. Morale drops to zero BOOM! You lose. Run out of good, don’t tidy the waste up, lose too many characters. You guessed it all paddling offences. It’s a hard life being a survivor. Actually I bet after a zombie apocalypse, life would in fact be quite sweet, free stuff, no work, unlimited Boardgames, set your own bedtime but I digress. In this incarnation life is hard and you’ll lose a lot. Couple that to a possible betrayer actively aiding the Zees and you’ll lose. A very lot.

One of the sizzles of this game is the sort of mini crisis cards called crossroad cards (expect more of these, plaid hat have another few games with similar mechanics on the drawing board). The player to your left takes it and monitors your actions in your turn to see if you match the criteria. It could be a particular character doing a particular action in their turn and so on. The result might be more zombies appearing or finding some extra items. It might be a choice the individual or group have to vote on. There’s a lot of theses cards in the game so you won’t see the same regularly appearing. It’s a nice mechanic, not dramatic, but it means every game is different

The game plays out fairly quickly. You spend your time between foraging for resources, building defences, controlling zee numbers and if you’re the betrayer secretly ruining everyone’s day. Now there can be a bit of downtime between your moves, we found that the last time we were playing however I think that may have been more us than the game, so I’ll let it slide.

Each of the characters in your group (you start with two but may pick up more) have a special ability. Good at searching, fighting, immune to cold, I really like the town drunk who’s special ability is if he tops himself morale goes up 🙂

This game has proved very hard to get but more and more copies are coming into supply. It’s overhyped for sure, but it’s still a good fun solid game. It’s well worth getting your hands on.

That said don’t take my word for it. I could be the betrayer. Actually, I probably am.

Huzzah !

Vic

January 31, 2015 0

Cappuccinos for everyone – Turn 9 Diplomacy 2014

Very interesting game of Diplomacy. Now in it’s 4th Year. Usually at this point a clear winner would be visible but not in this case.

Who’s got what it takes to win this? who knows!

Huzzah!

Vic

January 27, 2015 0

The vassal on the PC is the app that is true

Vassal

I’ve looked at vassal a number of times over the years. It’s great. It’s a multi-user sandbox Boardgame interactive whiteboard for want of a better term. There’s over a thousand board and card game modules downloadable and once you get your head around it, it’s very slick. There are a number of other game managers like this out there and I’m going to visit each of those in time. (Octogon being a cracker for card games). For now the daddy appears to be Vassal and it’s BIG for certain games. I can see why

There’s everything you need to play your favorite games here, bar voice chat. But there’s a ton of apps for the likes of that (Skype), so just run that at the same time (unless you like silence).

Now. Here’s the crux. It does not enforce the rules. Well it pretty much does not enforce the rules. It very much depends on the module and how it’s written. However, the truth is that doesn’t really matter. The original cardboard didn’t enforce the rules either. You and the other players did. So what we have is a way to play Boardgames and cardgames from a library of over a thousand games with anyone from anywhere in the world and its all free…. Let that sink in the join me for a game of Twilight Struggle

The issue I’ve always had with vassal and a lot of others is just like Vietnam you have to be there man or you don’t understand or more accurately you all have to turn up at the same time online and play the game out

I’ve done this once or twice online with buddies* and it’s neat, very neat but with more than one player the logistics are a pain.

If like me you find it hard to dedicate a number of continuous hours to playing a game the cherry on top is you can play these games with your opponents at your own pace by email…. I didn’t realise this until recently and it’s breathed new life into the system for me.

The one module that I’m REALLY impressed with is the one for Twilight Struggle. Now since playing my first game of TS last year I have become a huge fan of it (Well addict is a more accurate term). I would say it now rates as my favorite two player game of all time. ever. EVER. The module that’s available free for this game is a work of art. Everything from the game is in there. The whole game. The extra cards the extra rules and to top it off all of the rules are enforced. It’s amazing

There are flaws. A few. Not in the game or the rules but if you play by mail because you’re sending the turn back and forth it’s POSSIBLE to cheat a little. That said if you’re the type who cheats at games you shouldn’t really be gaming anyhoe.

Here’s where you get it btw. Have a browse in awe at the modules available

Vassal is stupendous. It’s s gift (unlike the one ring). You should immediately drop everything you’re doing (including open heart surgery) and install it. Don’t thank me.

Huzzah

Vic

January 26, 2015 2

Deutschland Unter Alles – Didn’t he do well !

I did say this was not your average game of Diplomacy. Germany fell foul of well, pretty much everyone else early on and despite his best efforts never found enough (any) traction to get back into the game.

Top marks for sticking with it even though it was a doomed post. In the words of the glorious German Leader* “Scheiße, Scheiße, Scheiße”

Huzzah!

VIc

January 22, 2015 1

Ah, breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck – Galaxy Trucker

Galaxy Trucker

It’s been a long time since this game hit the table. Someone had mentioned it and I was duty bound to bring it out. Having played it and the expansion a number of times in the past I was surprised how much I’d forgotten

Galaxy trucker is a fun. Light. schadenfreude game. The game is all about laughing and possibly pointing at your opponent as their higgled piggledy space ship comes apart under stress.

(What more do you want. You get to laugh at someone else’s misfortune. Surely this is the fillet of every game)

The game operates in two parts the first bit everyone assembles their ship from the collective pool of parts caracassone style. Careful attention must be paid to how the whole thing hangs together and incorrect connectors will mean a design change and probably losing your position on the starting line

So one ramshackle country design job later you’re the nervous owner of a ship that would make a space Ork tut and it’s off into the oily blackness with your opponents in pursuit.

A flight consist of a series of events. Pirate attacks. Meteor showers . Planet falls. Other stuff that you all try and weather as best as you can. You can be unlucky and parts of your ship get knocked off or you can be very unlucky and large parts of your ship get taken out all to the cackling delight of your opponents.

Once you arrive you score points for arriving first, not losing bits, selling cargo. Having a purdy ship. There’s certainly an element of luck but design decisions and use of power during the mission make for a fairly skillful game.

Each missions of which you play three sees you building bigger and more complex ships from the limited resources

This game is pure hurt joy. It is immensely enjoyable to see someone’s creation coming apart at the seams while you thrundle along unharmed

There’s a number of expansions for it which is pretty much just more of the no bad thing same. I have one of them.

I like this game. It’s simple it’s fun and it plays five with the first expansion. For some reason it’s very expensive which is a pity as you should really try it and the price tag is a definite barrier

I’ll bring it to the next KNAVECON and you can see for yourself. Until then watch the skies (for falling debris)

Huzzah

Vic

January 20, 2015 0

Kill! Burn! Pillage! – Warhammer Quest

10 Kill monster
20 Get gold
30 Acquire better gear.
40 Encounter bigger monster
50 Goto 10

This is the essence of every dungeon crawler game, most MMOs and pretty much every RPG

Warhammer quest has recently appeared in electronic form on steam but it’s been available on iOS for some time and its good clean fun. It’s an old game. An old old game from Games workshop over two decades old and out of print for as long.

Doesn't look like this on my phone — Doesn’t look like this on my phone

I could simplify this but just saying its advanced heroquest 1.3 but I’d do it a disservice. Many people (mostly old) consider this the best dungeon quest game produced by GW. Opinions vary.

There are two things that grab you about this game. The characters move this side of a bit too slow and the buy to cheat is, I’m looking for word… Not good.

Struggling with a dungeon? Buy a legendary weapon for cash money. Need more gold? Micro payment for more. Want some other character class? You guessed it.

Now for your five euro you get a very nice game that will last a few weeks. That’s fair enough. The expansions to it are another five euro each, which I’m just about okay with,

Truth be told you’re looking at xbox or Playstation prices if you want all the content. I didn’t. I had enough after the second expansion but I’d gotten my fill. A full quarter of a year casual gaming.

For all my gripes about the game its clean distilled fun. No matter how many times I venture down a dungeon I always get a thrill from wondering if I’ve bitten off more than I can chew but somehow prevailing or maybe not

Leveling up is the magic sauce in so many games. It appeals to our lizard brain.

It’s a tidy little game. The graphics are good if you squint on a smart phone. It’s also available on an iPad and PC but I think it works best as a phone/tablet game squinting assumed

“This is my dungeon crawler. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My dungeon crawler is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. My game, without me, is useless. Without my game, I am useless. “

It’s fun while it lasts and you get what you pay for. Worth checking out

Huzzah!

Vic

January 16, 2015 0

I never said WHICH Christmas it would be over by : Diplomacy 2014/15 Spring 1904

Well it didn’t end by Christmas, I didn’t think it would but you never know. A most unusual game.

If you’ve ever played Diplomacy you’ll notice something odd…. Italy isn’t dead which is the normal course of events. This game is anything but normal.

Germany is still hanging in there with it’s nothing to see here stance.

Seemingly, Napoleon wasn’t a small man, it was all British propaganda, France on the other hand is shrinking rapidly and may disappear with an audible POP.

Russia seems to be holding it’s own (never underestimate Russia). Austria and Turkey have taken the shirts off, folded them neatly and are now circling each other fists a whirl

England is very much ruling the waves and fortress Britain looks impregnable.

I’ve never seen a game go like this, I’ve seen some odd stuff, but nothing like this, bravo! more of this I say!

Huzzah!

Vic

January 14, 2015 0

Love Hate – The Power of one of those

Powergrid. I have a love hate relationship with this game. I love it. It Hates me.

Bidding and map control is the bread and butter of this game. Each turn, players bid on increasingly efficient power stations to power your ever expanding network. You buy fuel (hopefully before the others do and up the price) expand your network and power it, making you back some cash.

Repeat until one person reaches the set amount of powered homes for the number of players. Usually this isn’t me. The player that are ahead in this goal each round are the ones that take their moves last so the underdog gets a chance

The real joy of this game (and most others let’s be fair) is tricking your opponent into spending more money than they should for a particular power station or watching them get a power station but not be able to afford fuel for it. You are always one dollar short in this game.

The game is relatively simple. It’s around small world level of difficulty. Interestingly there are no dice so it’s quite a skillful game (maybe that’s why I keep losing). It plays out in about two hours or less and all in all its good fun.

There’s a pile of expansions for it that add maps, power stations and a few rules. I like this game it’s a good solid no nonsense game. If it was food it would be a healthy hefty brown loaf. All in all a classic game and like catan it’s one you should really try

Huzzah

Power

January 8, 2015 0

What I’d like to play in 2015 – Part 1

It’s a new year so let’s make a set of resolutions for what we want to play this year. For me it’s simple because I’m a simple person.

Dead of winter.
I’ve had this on back order for a few months on Amazon and I got to play it once last year and was pretty impressed. A lot of zombie games I’ve found tend to be sluggish (pardon the pun), this I liked, it was suitably different

Fire in the lake
I like Vietnam. In answer to your shouted statement I agree I don’t know and that’s correct I wasn’t there. The game intrigues me. I’m not sure how it compares to a distant plain but hey it’s Vietnam. I’m sure I’ll pick this up at some stage and by sure I mean I have no idea if I will but will try.

Capital ships in x-wing
I really like the look of the new imperial big ship for xwing. I thought the big ships were a bit one sided and the transport left me a bit cold but now! look at it, LOOK AT IT

XCOM
Now the fact that this is coop might be an issue. I haven’t researched it enough but truth be known I LOVE xcom, always have, back since laser squad. I really liked the reboot of the pc game particularly the enemy within variant. Truth be told if they were selling xcom flavored apples id probably buy one. Someone around me is going to get this game this year and I will play it. I have no doubts

The Last Banquet
This is another one I’m intrigued by if only by the number of players who can take part 6-26. Could be a real interesting con game.

Imperial Assault and Star Wars Armada
Nope. Blasphemy as it may be im not really bothered with these games. They’re too expensive. I have plenty of dungeon crawlers and I have xwing. I’m out.

(That said if someone else brings it I may play it)

Right that’s my 2 cents for now, I’ve labelled it part 1 as I’m sure something else will come to mind, until then

Huzzah!

Vic

January 5, 2015 0

Not a Thursday Game

I love Twilight Struggle. It’s stupendous. If you haven’t played it, I recommend you turn to the person nearest you and shout “You’ve held me back long enough! I’m playing Twilight Struggle”, then run out and buy it. Somewhere.

Maybe be a bit careful with that all the same.

A Distant Plain (not to be confused with a distant plane) is a game I knew nothing about a few months back and now it’s standing there in the front of my brain, laughing at my attempts to ignore it. It’s by GMT who made Twilight and it uses a map (this time of Afghanistan) and it sees four players duking it out for a win.

I really like the way Twilight Struggle plays, it’s simple even though it looks like it should be complex but it’s complex insofar as the possible strategies to win and how suddenly for a simple game it gets bloody complex fast. I’ll stop now, you get it, it’s great. A Distant Plain has some similarities but it’s a different animal in a lot of ways which is great. What’s really super is you’re not limited to just two players, and of the the four factions you get to play one of, each work in different ways, they even have different orders they can give each turn, so there is massive replay value in this game. The only negative being that it’s hard to figure out what people are up to unless you’ve played a few games and by a few I mean several.

The four factions are The Coalition Troops, The Afghan government the Taliban and the Warlords. Just that alone should get your ears up, how many games do you get to play as ‘the bad guys’

The Coalition want to get out of dodge but win hearts and minds, they work with the Afghan government but they need to be wary of them as they could have the coalition doing their dirty work and grab all the aid. They possess great firepower and mobility which is great IF they can find the enemy

The Afghan government are trying to get patronage and above all resources as well as foreign aid. They have to help the Coalition if they want to win but are subject to dissertations, infiltrations and fairly crappy but numerous troops.

The Taliban are trying to muscle in and take control, this they try to do without exposing themselves (all relevant jokes were made). Like the Government they’re also trying to gain control and extort resources and maybe throw in a bit of terrorism while they’re at it

And the warlords, well some people just like to watch the world burn. in their case they just want to cause trouble and benefit from the chaos. They don’t want anyone in control of areas so they can continue to raise poppys and generally be all warlordy.

Ok that’s a bit simplistic and if you happen to be the real coalition, afghan government, Taliban or warlords I apologize for simplifying your noble struggle but it’s a difficult audience I have to work with.

The whole asymmetrical thing is great, I’ve played twice now, once as the warlords and then as the coalition, two completely different animals with completely different strategies.

It’s a difficult game to figure out, you’re constantly on a razors edge with someone close to winning, sometimes it’s even you and the game is a real roller coaster AFTER you’ve played it and got your head around it.

The game plays out as either the long pretty empty map or shorter predefined map. The long game is just that. You’d want a good six hours to play it thus the whole not a thur night thing.

I like this game. I’m not there yet with it but just like a maths theory in school i didn’t understand I know it will click in in a while. I’ll do another review of this game when I’ve played another few games. Whenever that might be

Now this game was not a hit with a lot of the Thur night crew, it’s long and it takes time to get the most out of it. It’s also not my copy but I reckon it may well turn up at Knavecon and if our plans for a mini Knavecon before the real one take off I’ll be playing a few more games. Until then, try Twilight Struggle and if you like it, THEN it’s worth having a look at this. Don’t be fooled by the simple four pages of instructions, this IS a complex game but I’m confident just like Twilight it’s worth the in time. I reckon I might read up a bit more on this game before the next match.

Huzzah!

Vic

January 3, 2015 0