Two top tips. Don’t read fashion magazines they will make you feel fat. Don’t play Blood Rage against someone who’s played it a lot they’ll let you think you’re winning and snatch it away from you utterly at the end. Also eat more veg, floss, don’t start a land war in Asia and dig two graves when you set out for revenge. That should cover everything.

I played Blood. Rage. (said in a Dracula accent) again last night. Four Vikings walk into a blood Rage. A noob, two semis and a bastard shark. Figure the punchline. Hubris is a cruel cruel mistress. 

The game itself IS good. Not as good as the hype that surrounds it but a solid fun game and to stand a chance you need to play it multiple times. Then more again. There are combos that are game winners. There are certain actions you need to take or chances are you’re sunk. It reminds me of build orders in competitive RTS games. Some cards are overpowered. Some creatures (I’m looking at you fire giant) are way too good and it’s luck you get them. 
Despite all this, it is a really fun game and it does look (with models painted) the business. After a couple of plays I’ve seen a depth open up here. There are multiple strategies to winning. There is a lot of adjusting your plans on the fly or in my case throwing them away completely and capitalizing on opportunities.
Is it worth rushing out and buying. Yes if your group doesn’t have a copy but one copy is enough. It’s expensive for what it is. There are many fine games out there and this is one of them. Try it before you buy it. It may not be your skull of tea. I came THIS close to winning right up until the end. Curse you Thor 
Huzzah!

Vic 

I’m a big fan of Fury of Dracula. More so when I’m playing the big man himself. I got to play third edition and I have mixed feelings about it.  Mostly because I have won a game. YET
I’ve had second edition for a long time and I was wondering if third is a better bet. I had mixed feelings about it :). Didn’t help that I got hammered when I played it by a lucky card from one hunter.

There are quite a few differences from the original and quite a bit left the same.  All said I had forgotten how many rules there are in the game. All worth the effort though
If you’re unfamiliar with the game. It sees one player taking the roles of Dracula who sneaks around avoiding the hunter players, laying traps (encounters), killing hunters, raising more vampires and generally leading the hunters a merry and hopefully fruitless dance before winning on points and high fiving the children of night
That’s the theory. My experience varied a little from that. In the last game I got Rodney Kinged by all four players at once. Now here’s the thing. I’ve lost two games being Dracula and I’ve played Dracula a lot so this game is quite a challenge, the hunters have upped their game or I’m not the vampire I used to be. Probably a bit from column a b and c. Any road up I’m eager to stick on the tux and do it all again asap

If like me you’ve played second Ed you’re probably wondering if it’s any better and should you upgrade. A good question
Here’s the basic changes
Night and day happen every turn. Didn’t like this. It used to be more strategic now it’s pure luck if you meet the hunter at the right time. Night and day are also not as important as they were.
Combat has been revised. More streamlined. I did like this. Out goes the dice. In comes the rock paper scissor style matchup

Gone are some of the stupid cards like the Nina harker GPS locator and the Dracula teleport. I don’t miss those.
Is it a better game? Yes. Should I rush out and buy it. Yes. Unless you have second Ed in which case you’re there or thereabouts already and there just aren’t enough changes to justify it
Still a great game,still a lot of fun still happy to play it at the drop of a top hat.

Huzzah bleh de bleh!

Vic

Just in time for May the 4th the third Board Game Monthly has just dropped. This months theme is Space and it features some excellent stories and reviews (and also some reviews I did too).

The team that put this together are based all around the globe and it’s been immense fun working with all of them which (unless they get wise and boot me out) I’m planning to do for a long time to come.

Get over the Board Game Monthly and snag your copy of the magazine and May the 4th be with you!

Huzzah!

Vic

 

The dust has settled on another Knavecon and without doubt the biggest and best to date. A big thank you to the staff, a welcome to Drax v1.1 aka Frank. 

Remember the old joke about the young and old bull talking in the field? The young bull says to the old bull “quick! lets run down to that field and kiss* one of those cows!” And the older bull says “nah. Let’s WALK down to the field and kiss* them all” 

We arrived. Went for breakfast and WALKED lesuirely down to the hall and got the party started. We had a great crowd, lot of new people who hadn’t been before. We had gamers from the UK and France, from the four rounded corners of Ireland and all points in between. 

I’ve been delighted by the response from everyone who attended. The prizes for the raffle were really good.  Donuts sold out like well. Hot cakes. The buy and sell was good. Everything went as smooth as a lubed eel

Above all the atmosphere was magnificent and AND I got to game. By six everything has settled down so I partook of some really fun gaming. At two am I was challenged to a game of twilight struggle. Couldn’t turn it down. BEST game I’ve ever played. Lost it by three points at the very end but it was out of this world. 

I didn’t leave until 4:30 and it was STILL going on

Thanks do everyone. We need more of this and we will have if. Roll on Knavecon 8. I can’t wait!

Vic 

Couple of quick notes for tomorrow

Doors are open at 10am.  If you arrive early have a wander around, have breakfast, help out, you know yourself

Registration process has been streamlined, no laptop, just pay your money, get your sticker, get raffle tickets, done.

Each table will have a sheet on it marked “Players Wanted” if you setup a game and you want people to join you, stick a couple of jenga blocks on it to show how many free slots there are so people can join you

For buy and sell I’d like to take a pic of the sellers with their name badge so people asking “Who’s John Smith selling Diplomacy?” we can answer.

Buy and sell will kick off around 11 or 12 once we’ve registered a good chunk of you, it’s once agree free free.

Buy raffle tickets to support the event, have fun, drink coffee, teach others.

See you all in the morning gamers!

Vic

 

 

Boardgamers.ie have been good enough to give us not one but TWO vouchers for  €20 for their online shop.  Have a visit to their shop and say Knavecon sent you in the order, they’re some excellent prices there, they’re an Irish company and the owners are pretty cool dudes who have appeared at Knavecon in the past.

So far we have…

1. A very special Custom Copy of Galeforce 9’s WWE Superstar Showdown with Pro painted wrestler Models
2. A Copy of 7 Wonders (sponsored by Black Katt Games)
3. A one off piece of Custom Art from legendary artist Dave “MrSaturday” Stafford
4. A copy of Jerusalem
5. A copy of 30 Seconds
6. A copy of Horus Heresy Betrayal at Calth
7. Love Letter: Kanai Factory Limited Edition
8. Bad Ash Model
9. WWE Superstar Showdown
10. Exclusive Knavecon T-Shirt
11. Kickstarter Edition of Creature Collegue
12. a half dozen donuts
13. 2 x 20 Euro vouchers for Boardgamers.ie

 

MORE TO FOLLOW !

SO! how do I get tickets early and beat the rush on the day and benefit from the 2 for 1 offer before the friday before the Knavecon?  Simples just paypal my Swiss bank account at

victorgannon@yahoo.com

Prices are currently

• 2 x raffle tickets for €1
• 16 x raffle tickets for €5
• 42 x raffle tickets for €10

Should you feel inclined, feel free to pre-book your tickets for the event too.  Tickets will be available on the door on the day too.  It’s going to be a busy con!

• Adults €15
• Students and unwaged €8
• Accompanied Children Free

Huzzah!

Vic

OK I persuaded Ronan from Dungeons and Donuts to make more donuts, then make some more, as part of the grand raffle Knavecon is sponsoring a half dozen donuts (a gamer’s dozen) as a prize. Time is running out to get your double tickets now.  now.  NOW!!!

So far we have…

1. A very special Custom Copy of Galeforce 9’s WWE Superstar Showdown with Pro painted wrestler Models
2. A Copy of 7 Wonders (sponsored by Black Katt Games)
3. A one off piece of Custom Art from legendary artist Dave “MrSaturday” Stafford
4. A copy of Jerusalem
5. A copy of 30 Seconds
6. A copy of Horus Heresy Betrayal at Calth
7. Love Letter: Kanai Factory Limited Edition
8. Bad Ash Model
9. WWE Superstar Showdown
10. Exclusive Knavecon T-Shirt
11. Kickstarter Edition of Creature Collegue
12. a half dozen donuts

MORE TO FOLLOW !

SO! how do I get tickets early and beat the rush on the day and benefit from the 2 for 1 offer before the friday before the Knavecon?  Simples just paypal my Swiss bank account at

victorgannon@yahoo.com

Prices are currently

• 2 x raffle tickets for €1
• 16 x raffle tickets for €5
• 42 x raffle tickets for €10

Should you feel inclined, feel free to pre-book your tickets for the event too.  Tickets will be available on the door on the day too.  It’s going to be a busy con!

• Adults €15
• Students and unwaged €8
• Accompanied Children Free

Huzzah!

Vic

Many thanks to Dec Noonan and Orhan Ertughrul from Happy Otter Games for an exclusive Kick Starter copy of Creature Collegue ! If you haven’t seen the kickstarter, I recommend getting over there now!

So far we have…

1. A very special Custom Copy of Galeforce 9’s WWE Superstar Showdown with Pro painted wrestler Models
2. A Copy of 7 Wonders (sponsored by Black Katt Games)
3. A one off piece of Custom Art from legendary artist Dave “MrSaturday” Stafford
4. A copy of Jerusalem
5. A copy of 30 Seconds
6. A copy of Horus Heresy Betrayal at Calth
7. Love Letter: Kanai Factory Limited Edition
8. Bad Ash Model
9. WWE Superstar Showdown
10. Exclusive Knavecon T-Shirt
11. Kickstarter Edition of Creature Collegue

MORE TO FOLLOW !

SO! how do I get tickets early and beat the rush on the day and benefit from the 2 for 1 offer before the friday before the Knavecon?  Simples just paypal my Swiss bank account at

victorgannon@yahoo.com

Prices are currently

• 2 x raffle tickets for €1
• 16 x raffle tickets for €5
• 42 x raffle tickets for €10

Should you feel inclined, feel free to pre-book your tickets for the event too.  Tickets will be available on the door on the day too.  It’s going to be a busy con!

• Adults €15
• Students and unwaged €8
• Accompanied Children Free

Huzzah!

Vic

Much sought after, no longer in print, the unique magical* Knavecon T-Shirt.  Available only to winners of the Raffle.  You’re a winner aren’t you? show the world!  Impress the ladies/gents, cover that nasty birthmark, stand out from the crowd.  Custom made in slimming midnight grey (black) this few of a kind style benchmark says, “I’ve arrived” (or more accurately Knavecon).  Don’t miss your chance to win, Win, WINNN!!!!

 

So far we have…

1. A very special Custom Copy of Galeforce 9’s WWE Superstar Showdown with Pro painted wrestler Models
2. A Copy of 7 Wonders (sponsored by Black Katt Games)
3. A one off piece of Custom Art from legendary artist Dave “MrSaturday” Stafford
4. A copy of Jerusalem
5. A copy of 30 Seconds
6. A copy of Horus Heresy Betrayal at Calth
7. Love Letter: Kanai Factory Limited Edition
8. Bad Ash Model
9. WWE Superstar Showdown
10. Exclusive Knavecon T-Shirt

MORE TO FOLLOW !

 

SO! how do I get tickets early and beat the rush on the day and benefit from the 2 for 1 offer before the friday before the Knavecon?  Simples just paypal my Swiss bank account at

victorgannon@yahoo.com

Prices are currently

• 2 x raffle tickets for €1
• 16 x raffle tickets for €5
• 42 x raffle tickets for €10

Should you feel inclined, feel free to pre-book your tickets for the event too.  Tickets will be available on the door on the day too.  It’s going to be a busy con!

• Adults €15
• Students and unwaged €8
• Accompanied Children Free

Huzzah!

Vic

 

*Dramatization, actual T-shirt not magical

 

Yes yes I know I haven’t done part 1 yet but that story doesn’t suit my evil plans and I have an evil plan for Saturday…..

There are certain classic games that you need to play, Boardgamegeek ratings be damned, it’s not a popularity thing or we’d all be playing monopoly and ludo.  I’m talking about games that you’ll remember, games that will hurt your little monkey brain, games worth playing and remembering.

Twilight Struggle is the second in a series of these games and for those of you whom haven’t played it yet.  I’m going to be demoing it at Knavecon.  I’ll teach you the rules, I’ll even give you some tips and then I’ll set you loose….

Don’t blame me if it all goes horribly wrong, or if you do just join the queue behind Drax

Huzzah!

Vic