Yes I am still alive. I've been working on a rather large project, that will hopefully be launching sometime in the next 60 days in my spare time. I haven't gamed much since the warm weather hit. Last night I played Duck Dealer, which was interesting. I think I would of enjoyed it more if I wasn't constantly being reminded how most of us where taking turns was considered "wrong" and this is usually not my type of game, collect resources to build more resources. The good news is I didn't come in last :)

I order a load of games last night, I got to see the new Tales game and it looked so good and I knew my wife would play this so I bought it. The rest of my order were mainly war games, which never seem to get played in my Thursday night group which might be another reason why I burned out a bit on gaming.

I'll try and get back to posting here, even if I am the only one reading it.

Just letting everyone know who still reads this thing I got it yesterday. Excellent components, can't wait to play it. I'll get a review up as soon as I get a session in.

Although there is no official word on the Z-man site or at the Geek, Fun again has posted a pre-order for a Pandemic Expansion called On the Brink. The description indicated new roles, a 5th player, new variants etc. I'm sure they got this information from Z-man before posting this so I'd expect something more official in the near future.

Dominion: Intrigue is the first expansion for the popular card game. This is being packaged as a stand alone, meaning you get all the treasure and estate cards you need to play again. Of course with those cards comes the same price as the first game. Another expansion is set for a fall release and that one will be a true expansion.

The War Game from Dan on Vimeo.


This is a video I shot with a Flip Mino, first time I used it and the quality is so -so on the close ups. I was also sick as a dog, in other words this video is purely for test purposes but I thought I would share it.

This game is all kinds of awesome.

That's all.

Tide of Iron: Designer Series, Vol. 1
Talisman Revised 4th Edition Upgrade Pack
Tailsman Reaper Expansion
Tide of Iron: Normandy Campaign Expansion
World of Warcraft: Adventure Game - Artumnis Moondream Character
World of Warcraft: Adventure Game - Dongon Swiftblade Character
World of Warcraft: Adventure Game - Zowka Shattertusk Character
World of Warcraft: Adventure Game - Brandon Lightstone Character
StarCraft: Brood War Expansion

Make your own judgments

P.S. - I got Android for Christmas

I'm going to save my thoughts on the War Game for a full on review. I'll just drop one hint, when you're charging 100+ dollars for a game you better deliver on at least one of these 3 areas.

1. Bit Quality & Quantity - The War Game fails, the bits are too few in number and too big for the board. Think about that for a second this board is HUGE, but the bits are too big. then you don't get enough of them, look I know France won't play much a part in the war but man give them at least one of each unit. Also I don't like that fact that my boards edges already are fettered just from opening the game.

2. Unique Play Experience - I knew going in the this game was Axis & Allies on Steroids, but if I am staying with that analogy if this game was getting tested for illegal growth hormones it wouldn't get caught for doing anything illegal. While some of the rules are nice, a lot of the advanced rules need to be downloaded off the internet.

3. Support - The web site for this game is an utter mess, certain modules mentioned in the rule book are not even available on the site. This game wasn't just published mind you it's been out a while.

Now if you want to spend a good $15, go out and buy Sorry Sliders. Yes you heard me right, a MB game that doesn't suck. Someone took the Sorry name and slapped it on a decent Dex game.
The game comes with 4 different boards and game types and if you have kids this is sure to be a hit.

I played a lot of games over the break and I have a shipment of FFG games coming my way this week, it feels good to be back in the gaming saddle.

So I decided the first game I would open from my haul from Santa would be this one. The box is large, to accommodate the 3 maps boards that come with the game. The l;larger boards are welcome but I am already noticing warping on them just from the time they were out as I punched the rest of the game.

The games comes with storage containers for each nation and two catch all containers. Inside each container were the bits for each nation already punched and even the pesky infantry units were in their own baggies. From opening the box to getting everything set up took about 30 minutes, a far easier time then The War Game which I'll cover tomorrow.

All the bits and card board were really good quality and the rules are well written. I think I'll be playing this one in the coming week perhaps so I'll have more to say at that point. My only complaint thus far is the boards themselves, we'll see how they hold up.

Still here, wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. Here is some news, FFG has released a bunch of stuff recently.

TOI Scenario Book
TOI Normandy Expansion
Talisman Upgrade pack
Talisman Repaer expansion
4 Character Packs for Wow:TAG
Android

They also seem to be handling getting the games out differently, for instance the games are available on their online store, and then a few days later at your local game shop and finally getting to online retailers. Maybe this isn't different but it sure seems to be more noticeable.

Bill Abner has posted his top ten games of 2008, I plan on doing something like this myself soon. Anyway you should check it out Bill has good taste.

Not board games, but a few that went up while I was away at Gameshark, one of which might be of interest to this blogs readers, the other certainly will not.

Disney Sing It

Going back to Stormreach (DDO)

Remember when you were little and Christmas was coming and you might try and get a sneak peek at what present your parents got you because we all know you can't get a sneak peek of what Santa is bringing. Wait no one else did that?

Anyway my wife was out Saturday and I was getting ready to take the girls to lunch and the doorbell rings and two giant packages we're sitting on the porch. I take them in and they are heavy as hell, especially one of them. I look at the first box to see who it is from, the heavy one and it says Pegasus games, The War Game. the other box says Thought Hammer and it is as big as the first.

I obviously know what is in them since I put together my wish list of games, but man did I need to fight the urge to open those puppies up. So I call my wife and tell her they are there and she says well act surprised, which I will. But I mainly called her to tell her to move the damn things out of my eye sight. Here it is Monday morning and they we're still there, it's almost like she is begging me to open them.

No seriously I'm 42, I'm not kidding.

The pain of being a gamer :)

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last updated. Had Thanksgiving and then took a family vacation for 2 weeks to Disney World.

Lots has been happening on the gaming front and I've ordered a few new games one of which is Android a new FFG game that was pretty much developed in secret.

I'm going to do my best to post more here and finally get this site to where I want it. Life threw me some curves that side tracked me but it's time to get back in control.

KitCon has come and gone and it was an awesome time, the day just flew by. Dominion was the big game this year many people were playing it, at times 3 or 4 games going on. I loved this game at GenCon and I still do. In fact I just got my copy today and played a quick game with the wife, she also liked it and won, always a good thing.

Got to play Axis & Allies, Conflict of Heroes and Warriors of God that day as well. It's nice to play some longer games but even I was weary after that line up. I'm hoping to get in some Combat commander this week along with a prototype play of my game (more on that later) and I also ordered a copy of The War Game which is quite possibly the most expensive and largest game I've ever seen.

It's nice to have time to game again as life is starting to get back to normal.

an entire day of open gaming.

Saturday, November 8th, 2008
from 9:00 AM until Midnight (doors open at 8:00 AM for set-up)
at the Izaak Walton League Cabin, 899 Jay Street, Elgin IL

Food & drink will be available, including the famous BATTLEBURGER.

Several Dozen games! Including:

- CARD DRIVEN WARGAMES
- TRAIN GAMES - 1830, Railroad Tycoon, Age of Steam, Crayon Rails
- CLASSIC AVALON HILL - Diplomacy, Advanced Civilization, Magic Realm,
Titan, Up Front, Gunslinger, Merchant of Venus
- HASBRO - Nexus Ops, Marvel Heroscape
- CLASSIC EUROS - Dominion, Settlers of Catan, Puerto Rico, Euphrat & Tigris, Shogun, Roads & Boats, Die Macher, Agricola, Race for the Galaxy, Ticket to Ride, Power Grid, Stone Age, El Grande, Pandemic, 1960 Making of the President, Brass
...AND MANY MORE!

I played COH First firefight twice so far and both times the Germans trounced the poor Russians. It's a very enjoyable game and I'm holding off on my review until I've played more of the scenarios as each one starts to add other features like Smoke, Artillery and Vechicles. You really need to play the first firefight however just to retrain yourself on how you play war games as there is no "not paying attention" in COH. Also the pause between each action takes some getting used to but it really needs to be done.

I also played a solo game of Warriors of God and I will be getting this to the table soon. I have to be very careful who I play this with, there is a major luck element on when leaders die in this game and as I played I could envision several of my gaming buddies bitching up a storm because there plans we're foiled by a leader dying.

Got to play Say Anything this weekend at a Halloween party, this is the perfect party game. You're up in playing in 5-10 minutes after explaining the rules, I think you could teach a monkey to play this in about 20 minutes. Of course with any party game of this type its all about who you're playing with and for some how many drinks have been involved.

This group was perfect, I can say that with 100% certainty. You see you can't have duplicate answers so the first one to put theres in is good and the other have to change it. So as this questions was asked;

Name something inappropriate to have on your desk at work.

The fact that I stopped 2 other female players from writing Dildo because they were too slow is my evidence that it was the perfect choice for this group. Now my regular Eagles gaming group, ehh not so much.

Conflict of Heroes Awakening the Bear! - Russia 1941 - 1942 is one game I am geeked out to play. I read the rule last night and plan to play a solo scenario tonight. The rules are well laid out and the basic concepts sound simple. I really like that as a player you can react to your opponent so this means you have to pay attention at all times. I'll save the rules for when I do the review but know component wise this is how all war games should be made.

The box is damned heavy when you pick it up and of good stock, the counter aren't cheap and are a nice size and stock. The art work on them is also fantastic and the boards are heavy and mounted. Comparing the quality of this game to other new company release like Galactic Emperor aren't even fair as Conflict out classes it in every way.

Unless something at home prevents it, look for a solo play session recap tonight or tomorrow.

Images taken from Board Game Geek

Sometimes as a gamer you just gotta have you some new gaming love. With a pile of games from GenCon I still haven't played I was struck with the mood to spend some money. I usually order from Fair Play games but they didn't have what I needed so I went with Thought Hammer. I ordered Friday and they showed up today and that was the free shipping option.

What did I get?

Conflict of Heroes
Combat Commander Europe
Warriors of God
5 counter Trays, guess why?

Can you guess what kind of games I am thirsting to play right now? To fill out this most wonderful order I also got a copy of Say Anything because we all need some party games right?

I plan to open Conflict first I am itching to see this game. Of course I have a load of video games stacked up to review, Mines of Moria, Socom Confrontation, NWN2 Expansion and Disney Sing It! (not joking I requested it as I have a 3.11 and 5.5 year old girl)

Plus I just got Fable 2, FIFA 09 and Fall Out 3 is next week. Not to mention Left 4 Dead which I really want. I just love this time of year.

We played BSG again last night with 6 players and it was a totally different game then last time. It also played a hell of a lot quicker, I would like to try and 4 player game next time to test somethign out.

Players
Dan - Helo
John - President
Chris - Sharon
Mark - Admiral Adama
Todd - Starbuck
Tony - Chief

The loyalty deck was seeded and passed out, as we would find out later the 2 Cylon cards came out in the initial deal. I started as not a Cyclon but of course stranded. The early game went pretty well since 3 of us had played before and everyone picked it up pretty fast. Our challenges were not very difficult and we made our first jump pretty quickly and moved 2 on the destination deck.

The second run was going fine, we again moved up the jump track quickly without incident although some questionable skill cards were kicked in, more then the destiny deck could screw us with. Then we got back to back Cyclon ship cards. Next thing we know we've got 2 base stars, something along the lines of 8 raiders and 4 civilian ships just sitting targets. I can't recall who did it but I'm pretty sure we FTL jumped out of there since we were one away from auto jump and escaped any combat.

The destination deck afforded us another 2 which meant we we're at the halfway point and the loyalty deck made another run. I got the sympathizer card and since all system were in the Blue I became the lame sympathizer Cylon. I call it lame because you get no Super Crisis card but you can still deal some damage.

The third leg got a little hairy part way through as I was able to bring in ships from the crisis cards, but the players managed to jump again this time getting a 3. I was wondering how long it would be before my 2 cylon brothers revealed, as it turns out not much longer. Not far into the 4th leg the two other cyclons revealed (John and Chris) and while all that was happening two of the 3 players we're in the Brig only the chief was roaming free. We got a base start on the board and ships we're every where.

It looked grim for the humans as they weren't in a position to FTL jump, their fuel was at 1 and actually one of them wanted to just end the game, to which we all said no. The humans managed to get out of the brig, nuke the base start and get to the ftl jump. But the destination cards weren't in their favor as both of them called for a loss of fuel and it was game over.

Again the humans failed to win a six player game and like last game their situation ramped up the later in the game we got. This is definitely in line with the theme of the show, the question arose if the humans could actually win. I think a 4 player game would give them a better shot, but i still think it is achievable.

While I still love the game, I think reactions we're a bit mixed afterwards. Some liked it and wanted to play again and others were on the fence. I'll say this if you don't enjoy cooperative games then you won't like this game, there is some downtime when it is not your turn even though you're always involved.

What tends to happen during a 6 player co-op game is side conversation start up, not only between players but onlookers who want to see a game that's technically not released yet. These conversations can extend the play time, I think we could of finished 30 minutes earlier if we didn't have to deal with distractions. You''ll also need to be able to get into a game like this, some game players just aren't into the theme of a game, they just play it an evaluate it like a text book instead of getting into the theme / setting.

All in all I think BSG is a fine game and I would play it whenever someone asked me to, I just think you need to know what the game is before you site down for a 2-3 hours game that may not be your cup of tea.

Some of this may be old news and some of it new. Talisman was canceled for XBLA back in August apparently. Twilight Creations Zombies!!! is going to be making an appearance on XBL and PSN in 2009. Also in the works as previously mentioned is Tide of Iron, Wings of War and Blood Bowl.

I picked up the recent XBL title Age of Booty last night and only played the tutorial and came away less then impressed, more on that as I delve into it.