Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Tuesday 8th August
In attendance:
Huw Morris
Simon Mawdsley
Simon Canter
Adrian Barnard
Ralph Grimble
Michael Mol
Simon Waldman
Phil ?
Simon W and Phil joined us for the first time. Simon and Michael were delayed, leaving us with 6 to start with. Given the experience of last week, Simon M thought Reef Encounter would be playable in an evening with 3 players, as long as two of them knew how to play the game. Therefore, I joined Simon M and Simon C in a game of that, since the two Simons tried it out for the first time last week. Adrian, Ralph and Phil played a quick Carcassonne, knowing that the other two were expected.
Reef Encounter
As I said, this was my first time. Explaining the rules took a little while, and to be honest, I was at least a third of the way though the game before I really started to understand it. (Usually I'm the one teaching!) Simon C was the first to eat a big reef putting him apparently in the lead. Simon M spent a lot of time doing nothing with his turns. Whether that was because I was inadvertently taking the wrong colour cube each time I don't know! About midway through the game I realised how important it is to eat reefs, and I ate mine as quicikly as I could, hastening the end of the game. I won quite comfortably, 50 points, to 32 Simon C and 26 Simon M. It could have been much closer if Simon C had spotted a last chance to lock black in as a dominant colour, when he had the most black tiles. I liked this game a lot - even though I do tend to like games I win! - and I think I agree with Simon M that this game is probably best in 3 player. There's nothing to do outside your turn, and some turns can be a little involved, so 4 player would simply add to the downtime. There's an awful lot to consider on your turn, so I think a few more games of this are in order.
Carcassone
Ralph, Adrian and Phil (novice) played a quick basic game, finishing in that order. By they time they had finished, Simon W and Michael had turned up, so a game with the River expansion was played.
In both games Phil took an early lead but lost out big time in the later part and especially on the farms. Ralph uncharacteristically dropped way back in the second game, while making a fantastic recovery the distance was just too far to travel. Adrian’s second game win was facilitated by completing a couple of medium cities alone and holding his own with the farms.
Result: 1 Adrian, 2/3 Ralph & Michael (novice), 4 Simon W (novice), 5 Phil
Liar's Dice
There was still some time left so we had a game of Liar's Dice. Simon W departed, and Adrian sat out, leaving the other 6 to play 3 games. I don't remember too much about it, but it's a game which really shines with the right crowd and 6 players. An excellent closer. I won one game, Michael won one, and I don't remember who won the other.
Huw Morris
Simon Mawdsley
Simon Canter
Adrian Barnard
Ralph Grimble
Michael Mol
Simon Waldman
Phil ?
Simon W and Phil joined us for the first time. Simon and Michael were delayed, leaving us with 6 to start with. Given the experience of last week, Simon M thought Reef Encounter would be playable in an evening with 3 players, as long as two of them knew how to play the game. Therefore, I joined Simon M and Simon C in a game of that, since the two Simons tried it out for the first time last week. Adrian, Ralph and Phil played a quick Carcassonne, knowing that the other two were expected.
Reef Encounter
As I said, this was my first time. Explaining the rules took a little while, and to be honest, I was at least a third of the way though the game before I really started to understand it. (Usually I'm the one teaching!) Simon C was the first to eat a big reef putting him apparently in the lead. Simon M spent a lot of time doing nothing with his turns. Whether that was because I was inadvertently taking the wrong colour cube each time I don't know! About midway through the game I realised how important it is to eat reefs, and I ate mine as quicikly as I could, hastening the end of the game. I won quite comfortably, 50 points, to 32 Simon C and 26 Simon M. It could have been much closer if Simon C had spotted a last chance to lock black in as a dominant colour, when he had the most black tiles. I liked this game a lot - even though I do tend to like games I win! - and I think I agree with Simon M that this game is probably best in 3 player. There's nothing to do outside your turn, and some turns can be a little involved, so 4 player would simply add to the downtime. There's an awful lot to consider on your turn, so I think a few more games of this are in order.
Carcassone
Ralph, Adrian and Phil (novice) played a quick basic game, finishing in that order. By they time they had finished, Simon W and Michael had turned up, so a game with the River expansion was played.
In both games Phil took an early lead but lost out big time in the later part and especially on the farms. Ralph uncharacteristically dropped way back in the second game, while making a fantastic recovery the distance was just too far to travel. Adrian’s second game win was facilitated by completing a couple of medium cities alone and holding his own with the farms.
Result: 1 Adrian, 2/3 Ralph & Michael (novice), 4 Simon W (novice), 5 Phil
Liar's Dice
There was still some time left so we had a game of Liar's Dice. Simon W departed, and Adrian sat out, leaving the other 6 to play 3 games. I don't remember too much about it, but it's a game which really shines with the right crowd and 6 players. An excellent closer. I won one game, Michael won one, and I don't remember who won the other.
# posted by Huw @ 1:49 pm 
