Match Report 12th September 2011

Where did everybody go?

With the return to school and university it was no great surprise that our numbers halved but thanks to our faithful core group, Crispin, Ben, Daniella and obviously my wife Gwen, we managed 5 Monday night.

As people arrived Gwen and I were finishing off the latest of our duels at Gobblet (an abstract two player wooden game I picked up at the local Hospice in the Weald charity shop for £1, full price when new around £25). A game that typically takes us 5 to 10 mins and over the last week we have played 20+ times, over breakfast, dinner and coffee. I had a clear lead in these encounters, which is very unusual since Gwen has something like an 80% victory record against me at 2-player games and sad to say I think the tide might be turning on this game too!

Alhambra (Age 8+, Players 2-6, 60 min playing time)

With everybody comfortable we started the evening with a game of

Review – Alhambra

2 to 6 players, Ages 8+, 60 Minute Playing time
This review will provide a brief overview of the rules (to give a flavour of the game), why we liked it and who we think it might appeal to.

A classic Eurogame and Spiel des Jahres winner from 2003 Alhambra was designed by Dirk Henn and published by Queen Games. The game sees you in the role of one of the master builders at the time of the Moorish Sultans of Granada competing to build the most impressive walled palace or Alhambra.

Building your Alhambra you will have to manage your resources and outbid the others as you seek to add extravagant pavilions, beautiful gardens, long arcades, richly furnished chambers, comfortable seraglios and high watch towers whilst always paying attention to the wall that will protect your

Match Report 30th August 2011

The challenge of picking the best game for the number of players

Another good turn out with 11 this time, Daniella, Malcolm, Liza, Leonie, Chris, Effie, Sinead, Crispin, Joe, Gwen and obviously yours truly. On this occasion we had apologies from a further three Ben, Claire and Brian. I am sure the imminent start of school for two and University for another two will cause number s to drop but it is tremendously encouraging that we continue to attract such a broad range of people.

Given the nature of the evening i.e. a social evening with games (where people arrive at different times and we can never be 100% sure of how many will turn up) we can at times stumble into a good game that when played with too many people doesn’t quiet deliver and so it was on this occasion.

Caracassonne (Age 8+, Players 2-6, 60 min playing time)

At one end of the table I led six people in a game of Carcassonne which included the two expansion sets, “River” and “Inns and Cathedrals”. The interplay between the players and the suggestions, normally

Games In A Pub – Week 1

27/2/2011- A Quiet Start

The first of our Social Evening with Games events at the Blue Anchor Crowborough got off to a very quiet start. Whilst the pub had been absolutely buzzing at lunch time our little group made up half (or more) of the clientele for much of the evening. I guess the end of the month, a local wargames event through the day, TV scheduling and the end of half term all contributed to why the pub was so quiet, with its knock on impact onto our event.

Having set up a number of games on the tables within the restaurant area and with no interested takers for games my band of supporters

Stabcon Summer 2010 - The Games

So to the games I played whilst at Stabcon.

Kleine Fische (or Duck Duck Bruce) (Age 7+, 2-4 players, 15 to 20 mins) 

Played with Andy, his wife Mary and her visiting sister Kristina (over from the US), Tim and myself. Kristina must be very dedicated not only has she flown thousands of miles to help her sister but is also now being entranced (I think this is a fair description or is it brainwashed!) by the delights of board games. Having never played them before I think she is building a list of those she would like for her own collection when she gets backhome, if recollection hasn’t failed me this would include Stone Age and Shadow Hunters (see below).

Kleine Fische is a simple and delightful card game where you collect as many fish as possible. You keep turning over cards until either you elect to stop in which case they go into your hand or you get a duplicate fish (normally caused by the desire to have just one more fish, also called