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Dale Yu: On Deck for the Gathering of Friends
Well, it’s about that time of year again when I get to leave the real world for 10 days and go do nothing but play games at the Gathering of Friends. I’ve certainly had a pretty good chance to play the new Essen releases, but there are still a few games that have managed to slip through the cracks. Additionally, there is a whole new crop of games from from Nuremburg that should hopefully make it over the Atlantic for the Gathering… Here’s what’s currently on the list:
Rugby World (Ghenos)
Well, this is actually one of the last games from the Essen crop that I brought home myself that I have yet to try. The main reason for this is that there just aren’t too many other rugby fans here in Southwest Ohio, and it’s quite hard to get someone to agree to play a semi-simulation of a sporting event when they don’t even understand the rules to the sport itself!
I’m bringing this to the Gathering, and I’m hoping to find someone from England, Italy, South Africa, Australia or some other rugby playing country to try it out with me. I’ve been meaning to write a full review on the game here, but I have been unable to do so because I’ve only tried a few test possessions by myself so far.
Tribune (Fantasy Flight)
This is actually another Essen 2007 game, but I have yet to try the published version. The main reason that I waited was because Fantasy Flight was supposed to come out with an English version soon after Essen. However, the schedule was delayed somewhat, and it looks like the game will likely come out in early Summer ’08. I did play a prototype of the game two or three years ago, but I’m curious to see the finished product.
I have already talked to my sources at Fantasy Flight, and it does not look likely that a full production copy will be ready by the time of the Gathering. However, they will hopefully be able to bring their mock-up which has already been seen at different conventions across the country. Alternatively, I’m sure that someone will have a German copy there that has already been pasted up nicely.
Descent: The Road to Legend (Fantasy Flight)
Though I still don’t consider myself a true fan of Descent, I must admit that I am looking forward to seeing what the campaign rules are for this latest expansion to Descent. I think part of me really misses the serial gamenights that D+D used to provide for me. I’m sure that Alan will be playing it all week, so I should have a good chance to take a peek at it and decide if it’s something I want to get… Then all I have to do is find a few other players locally who would be willing to start a campaign.
Magical Athlete (Japon Brand)
One more game from Essen that hasn’t been played yet – this one has just fallen through the cracks. It apparently only works with 4 or 5 players, and for whatever reason, I just haven’t had the right number of players around to get this to the table. I figure that I can remedy that situation when I’m surrounded by 350 other gamers!
Wie verhext! (Alea)
Based on the description, I’m not sure if this is a game that I’ll really like… But a small card game with changing roles is pretty much a must-try for me. I’m hoping this is the next Meuterer and not the next Citadels. In any event, it’s hard to pass up a new Alea release as the track record is still fairly strong.
Gisborne (Clementoni)
I’m such a sucker for exploration games despite running into more than my fair share of games that just didn’t do it for me (Lost Valley and Goldland serve as Exhibits 1a and 1b). Since this is produced by Clementoni, I’m not sure if a copy of this will show up at the Gathering or not…
Stone Age (Rio Grande)
Ooga-Booga. Man need food. Man play game. Roll dice and get victory point. Ooga-booga. I actually haven’t heard much about this one yet, but Tummelhofer is 1-1 in my book so far. Of course, it appears that this Tummelhofer is only 1/3 of the man that he once was…
Big Points (Schmidt)
This looks to be a clever puzzle game where you try to collect colored chips while at the same time trying to manipulate the colored pawns to the scoring stand. I’m always looking for good family games, so this is one to try as well.
Code Omega (Schmidt)
This is a puzzle game that I don’t know much about. It appears that Dan Blum has a copy or access to a copy, so I’m hoping that someone from the Boston contingent brings this one down. It looks to be a Ubongo knock off, but hope springs eternal when it comes to puzzle games, so I really do want to try this and make sure it’s not the next best thing.
Well, I really ought to go pack for my big trip (including a small side trip to San Diego tomorrow for 22 hours!) I won’t be here next week, but I promise a large report (or two or three) after it’s all said and done!
Until your next appointment,
The Gaming Doctor
Posted by Dale Yu on Apr 2, 2008 at 01:00 AM in Columnists, Dale Yu / 1475
Comments:
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Played Stone Age over the weekend. Love it. Although I do have some recommended minor polish, which is an easy house rule. Posted by Curt Carpenter on Apr 2, 2008 at 03:31 AM | #
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Oh yeah, and why isn’t Metropolys on the list? The new Ystari game! Also played that last weekend. Also loved it. By far the simplest Ystari game yet. But that does not mean easy or trivial decisions! Posted by Curt Carpenter on Apr 2, 2008 at 03:32 AM | #
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Dale, Your comment on Wie verhext intrigues me. “I’m hoping this is the next Meuterer and not the next Citadels”. What is it you don’t like about Citadels? Chris Posted by Chris Haighton on Apr 2, 2008 at 04:13 AM | #
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Curt - Metropolys isn’t on the list as I’ve been lucky enough to have already tried it (twice) at Essen… As such, I’m not really “anticipating” it as much as some other games… Chris - In my experience with both games, Meuterer has just been more fun. Citadels always just seemed to drag on and I found myself spending more time wondering when the game would end rather than what I should do on my turn. Verrater would also fall into the category. However, most games of Meuterer have been tight affairs where i’ve been engaged the entire way. Dale Posted by Dale Yu on Apr 2, 2008 at 06:26 AM | #
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As usual, Dale, your complaints seem to match mine. It’s funny to me that we seem to dislike the same things about certain games. Anyway, I too am itching to try Code Omega! Let us know how it all turns out! Posted by Nathan Morse on Apr 2, 2008 at 08:17 AM | #
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My friend Bernd just got back from a week-long gaming event in Germany, similar to the Gathering (we wrote about it last year) and the winner of the gamer poll was “Stone Age.”
Here’s the complete poll:
The word on Wie Verhext is that 4 players is the sweet spot, so you might want to try it with that number first, if you can. From the rules and Stefan’s explanation, I still think of it almost more as a trick-taking San Juan than as Citadels (each player plays a role card one after the other, rather than selecting one role each before the round begins--so you usually have several roles in your hand to choose from each round). The word on Metropolys is that it can be a brain-burner in the last rounds, as no player wants to set up his opponents for big scores. AP players beware! Posted by Jeff Allers on Apr 2, 2008 at 08:26 AM | #
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I will bring Code Omega. I’m not sure characterizing it as a knock-off of Ubongo is quite fair, since it’s by the same designer. I don’t like it as much as Ubongo, but it’s worth a play or two, and you might enjoy it more than I do. I will also bring Big Points, which is decent fun, and a number of other newish items. Posted by Dan Blum on Apr 2, 2008 at 11:06 AM | #
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Dan and I must inhabit mirror universes, as I am also bringing Big Points and Code Omega - well, I’m bringing them by proxy since a couple of the German contingent have graciously agreed to be my pack mules across the Atlantic.
The list in case anyone’s interested:
From my own collection, thus far it looks like the following are going to end up in the suitcase:
Meepile’s a hoot - think Arbos without the special cards and with meeples instead - and Moot’s the word game I’ve been bringing for the last three years. This year it will. get. played. pk Posted by Patrick Korner on Apr 2, 2008 at 01:16 PM | #
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I played both Stone Age (x2) and Agricola (x3) for the first time over the weekend. I like Stone Age but I have a hard time imagining ever rating it over Agricola except in a list of games with dice. Maybe for the components. It is also dependent on the players paying attention to advancing the game, otherwise it can outstay it’s welcome by quite a bit. Posted by Greg Williams on Apr 2, 2008 at 04:08 PM | #
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