Larry Levy:  Still Got Some Gaming to Do

At this time last year, I found myself way behind in playing the games of the previous year (2005, in case that sentence was too convoluted).  Much of this was due to limited playing time, so I really wanted to get to try a bunch of those out at the Gathering.

Well, this year, I think I’ve done quite well in getting to play the games I’ve wanted.  And yet, when I look at the list of unplayed games from last year I’d still like to try, it’s actually longer than last year’s.

There’s just too many games coming out each year.  It’s painful to say, but I’m simply going to have to accept that I may not get to play some games.

You have to understand, up until a couple of years ago, I was usually able to try out everything I was interested in each year.  It really helped to know someone like Ben Baldanza, who picked up a huge variety of games each year and wanted to play them all.  Ben and I share similar tastes in games, which helped as well.  But I really enjoyed the fact that I could get such a complete view of each year’s gaming output.

Well, Ben is now living in sunny Florida and I only play about half as often as I used to.  But the biggest single factor in the increasing backlog of unplayed games is the sheer number of designs produced annually.  Even if I was still playing weekly at Ben’s place, it would probably be really hard to sneak all the games in.

It’s taken me a while to come to grips with this new reality, but I’m just about there.  Still, I have the desire to try to play as many of the new designs as I reasonably can.  Yeah, I know it’s a sickness, but it’s an awfully fun one.

Complicating this is the fact that I still have a bunch of Essen designs to try out and here come the new Nuremburg games down the pike.  Yikes!  I feel like Lucy working on the chocolate conveyer belt!

Anyway, I thought I’d list the games from last year I’m looking forward to trying out in the coming months.  I’ve put these into three categories.  The first group consists of the ones I really want to try, but haven’t yet because we’ve been waiting for the English language versions to come out.  Next are the games that I or someone else in my group owns, but which I’ve yet to play.  There’s a good chance I’ll be able to play these in the near future (although again, there’s enough of them that’s there’s a good chance I’ll miss at least some of them).  Finally, there’s the rest of the Essen notables—there’s really nothing here I’m dying to play, but I’d like to check out as many of these as I can.

Of course, there’s also a bunch of Nuremburg games I’m looking forward to (noooooooo!!!), but that will have to wait for another week.  So here are the current objects of my affection:

Must...Get...To...Play!

Die Baumeister von Arkadia - Probably the Essen game I’m most interested in trying out.  Well, it’s a Dorn, isn’t it?  Plus, it’s getting good buzz as being likely to grab at least a nomination for the SdJ.  I’m sure I’ll be able to try this out in Columbus, if not earlier.

Die Säulen der Erde - The current SdJ favorite and much hailed as “Caylus Liteâ€?.  Even if that description proves to be bogus (and they usually do), I really want to see how good this one is.

Fall of Rome - I’ve never played any form of Settlers except plain vanilla, but this will probably be my first spinoff.  After I thoroughly enjoyed Elasund, I suddenly find myself a Teuber fan.  The refinements to the classic Settlers system look very appealing here, so I’m hoping the trend continues.

We Own It, So Let’s Play It Already!

Medici vs. Strozzi - Part of the order I just got from Game Surplus.  I’m really looking forward to trying this one out.  I’m a big fan of Medici and the refinements used to make this a two-player look very interesting.  Plus, it’s getting a lot of extravagant praise.  Very good chance I’ll get to play this next Thursday.

Ur - Also part of the recent order.  I thought twice about buying it, because it seems very abstract in nature.  But the basic idea sounds so cool and so elegant, I just had to pull the trigger.  I might even get to try this tonight.

Hermagor - In the order as well.  Of designer Emanuele Ornella’s earlier games, I liked Oltremare and was undecided on Il Principe.  But all three designs feature the same extreme denseness of interlocking mechanics which makes them difficult to grasp at first.  I’m still not sure if I like this or not.  So I debated whether I should buy the game.  But no one else in the group owns it and several of our members have played it at cons and liked it.  So I took the plunge.  Hopefully, I’ll like it too.

Mr. Jack - I guess you all know by now I like my deduction games.  So I do want to try this out.  It might have to wait for the Gathering, though, as it’s pricey enough to try before I buy and it’s hard to get two-player games in during game nights.

Graenaland - Another hailed game from the designer of (ahhh) Through the Ages.  (I see from Rick’s column that news of my fixation has even reached the Great White North!) That alone makes me interested.  The mechanics sound as if they could result in a bit of a fragile game, but several of my game buddies really like it, so I’m hopeful for at least a little bit of TtA magic.  For some reason, we just haven’t gotten this to the table yet.

Perikles - On one hand, it’s Wallace.  On the other, it looks decidedly wargamey and reportedly results can be swayed by a few key rolls.  That, and the duration, makes me a bit leery.  I mean, if it really takes three hours, I can spend one more hour and achieve Through the Ages bliss!  Still, it’ll happen—Jason owns it and really wants to play it and you gotta give a Wallace game at least one try.

Space Dealer - AFAIK this only got one try at the group and I wasn’t part of it.  For some reason, I’ve been dubious about this one from the start.  Still, I do want to try it, but there’s a good chance it’ll only happen in Columbus.  I’m sure I won’t have any trouble finding a game of it there, though.

Gloria Mundi - The fact that your buildings are routinely destroyed shouldn’t bother anyone in our group.  It may not pan out, but this definitely seems worth at least one try.  Just hasn’t happened yet.

Greentown - Again, I missed the one playing this has received.  It’s funny, everyone there seemed to like it, but it hasn’t shown up since.  Maybe it’s just a little too ponderous and cerebral.  I’d like to try it (Cornett’s one of my favorite designers), but it may not happen and it won’t be the end of the world if it doesn’t.  Hmm, was that me saying that?

Might Have to Wait for Columbus

Midgard - Has gotten several good reviews, so I’m interested.

Walhalla - More Viking (or at least, Viking-themed) goodness.  Greg S. likes it, so it’s worth a try.

Der Elefant im Porzellanladen - Could be a fun filler, and Schacht’s due for a winner.

Salamanca - It’s Dorra and another Greg S. favorite—definitely worth trying.

Thief of Bagdad - The rules don’t sound thrilling, but designer Thorsten Gimmler is quite reliable, so I want to try it.

Silk Road - Mixed reviews, but it could be interesting.  Plus, co-designer Ted Cheatham is a good buddy and a great guy, so I’ve got to try his baby out!

Genesis - Yes, it’s Knizia, but it seems overly basic and very abstract.  But it definitely has some fans, so I want to give it a fair shot.

Die Säulen von Venedig - Decidedly seems like the lesser Die Säulen, but a number of people have rated this highly.

Gheos - When I first heard about this, I was excited.  Then I read the rules, and thought it might be too chaotic.  Nothing I’ve heard since then has changed my mind too much about that, but the premise is still an interesting one, so I want to give it a fair shot.

Null & nichtig - I do like quirky trick-takers (even though there’s an awful lot of them), so this is certainly worth trying.

Fleet 1715 - The early reports haven’t been that good, but hey, it’s a deduction game and it’s by the designer of Old Town—gotta try it at least once!

Man!  That’s 23 games I’m still looking to play from last year!  Still don’t think there are too many games coming out each year?  As usual, as soon as I get the chance to try any of these games out, I’ll let you know.

Of course, soon enough I’ll have to start worrying about the Nuremberg games.  When I add the titles that I’m interested in from that fair to the Essen ones, it totals up to over forty games!

I am so screwed.

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