Alfred Wallace: Colovini Boogaloo

Greetings one and all!  Once again, I’m one of the ones holding the fort during a convention—this time it’s BGG.con, of course.  Sadly, this week I had a thesis to write (I presented a draft of it last night, actually) and work to go to this weekend; if only one of those were the case I’d have thought a little harder about going.  So, I’m back to reading session reports and participating from afar.

Not that my life has been entirely game-free lately.

Last Friday, I was back at the home of George and Terttu for a night of gaming.  I hadn’t had much face-to-face gaming in a while, so I was starting to get the shakes.  Joining us was Jeremy, a fellow history grad student and a New Gamer.  Well, not entirely new.  A little chess, a little Scrabble, and apparently an experience playing Pinochle so horrifying that, like the Giant Rat of Sumatra, its terrors are left unspoken.  But These Games of Ours would be a new experience.

I took on the challenge of finding appropriate gateway games.  I take the job relatively seriously; I’ve bloviated on the subject a few times here and there.  We kicked off the night with one of my new favorite games, Familienbande.  It’s got some funny art, some neat mechanics, easy rules—and, verily, it did go over well.

I hadn’t brought someone to gaming in a while; it’s interesting the high-level we take for granted and forget about.  I mentioned that we’d have a hand of five cards at the start of the game.  “Hidden from everyone else?â€? Jeremy asked.  Really, it’s a natural enough question; it’s just that I (and we) been gaming for so long that it’s almost like asking which part of the pants our legs go through.

Jeremy did nicely at Familienbande, by the way, coming in second, one point behind Terttu.  Me?  Representing big ears, I came in last.  I almost got beat by the fifth gene.  This was my second game; I still really like it.  It has good parts, and very few bad parts.  The theme is cleverly integrated with the mechanics.  Definitely a winner.

Next, we broke out Alhambra.  I think this is another game that’s a good gateway.  It introduces some more concepts, and there isn’t an overwhelming amount of stuff to keep track of.  I forgot, though, to give Jeremy the One Piece of Advice for new Alhambra players—diversity is (sometimes) the road to poverty.  Jeremy had one of every building, but didn’t lead in anything (I don’t think).  George, meanwhile, had managed by the end of the game to have the lead in both gardens and towers—or, as they say, “Game Over.â€?  Midway through the game, I bought a tile knowing I was taking a big risk; I’d be low on money for a while, but nothing big was out right at the moment.  Boom! out came what seemed like seven towers in a row, none of which I could afford.  Just didn’t count out the probabilities.  Sometimes, as they say, the bear eats you.

Jeremy had to leave after Alhambra.  The three of us left played Masons, which is one of my favorite Colovini games.  One of my usual game strategies is to lurk back for a while, and then make a charge at the right moment for the win.  In Masons, that kind of play is not only viable, but actively encouraged.  I was in third place for most of the game, and spring ahead on the last turn, and held it. 

I like it not just because it fits my gaming personality, but also—kind of like the night’s other Colovini, Familienbande—it has good stuff, and little bad stuff.  I don’t mind the dice; if picking houses and towers was in player control, it seems like the analysis paralysis would become just intolerable.  (Has anyone out there tried it?)

A great game night.  I think it sold Jeremy on a copy of Alhambra, at least, and at least sporadic gaming; that’s always a good thing. 

In other news…

I did, in fact, start up some new games on Spielbyweb.  I named them after last night’s glorious come-from-behind football victory by Rutgers—a team I “adoptedâ€? a few years ago when they were hideous; I’ve never so much as set foot in New Jersey, or had a serious conversation with a Rutgers alum, but there’s a little place in my football fan heart for the Scarlet Knights.  Anyway—over on SBW, there’s Scarlet Knight Fever games I, II, and III—Amun-Re, Santiago, and Wallenstein (with advanced setup).  Hope to see you there!

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