Valerie Putman: Tips for Origins and New to Me

This will be a short one (like they’re ever long)--there’s a game convention downstairs!  I’m at Oasis of Fun in Atlanta, playing with a lot of the gang from my old grad school haunting grounds.  But with Origins coming up next week, I wanted to make sure I passed along some important tips for anyone heading that way.  And as long as you’re reading, I might as well give you a quick take on the games that have been new to me so far this weekend.

Tips for Origins
1. Get a Board Room ribbon.  It’s a close call between BGG.con and Origins Board Room for best open gaming at a game convention.  Jay Tummelson (Rio Grande Games) will once again be generously sponsoring the room.  Last year he bought us all free drinks.  I think he has something else up his sleeve for his 10th anniversary celebration.  Oh, and while you’re up in the Board Room, thank the members of CABS for lugging their HUGE game library from the club house to the convention so that you’d be able to check them out to play.
2. Bring warm clothes.  Yes, you might have been to other game conventions and hotels where the AC was high enough that you needed jeans or a sweatshirt.  Some of you might even think that you don’t get cold and you’re looking forward to it.  Just trust me and bring warm clothes anyway.  Perhaps even a long sleeve tshirt under the sweatshirt and wool socks.  Really.  While it’s possible that someone has figured out that it has been way too cold for the last 5 years and something could be changed, I’m willing to bet that the Board Room will once again be an ice locker.  I’m talking purple fingers and chattering teeth.
3. Eat at North Market.  The farmer’s market/food court across the street is fantastic.  I particularly recommend Jeni’s Ice Cream.
4. Bring your ID if you’re a teacher.  Teacher’s have always gotten in to Origins for free and, with their Teacher’s Hall Pass, gotten big discounts in the dealer room.
5. Look for me and say hi!

New to Me
Toledo is a game about building and delivering swords.  It’s gotten a lot of play this weekend and opinions have been very mixed.  I thought it was enjoyable enough for one play.  I’m not sure that it has enough depth of strategy for much replay value.

Wie Verhext!  (Witch’s Brew) is one of the 5 SDJ nominees, which were all on my must play before they announce the winner list.  I’d already played Stone Age, but I haven’t been able to get my hands on copies of Blox, Marracash, or Keltis.  So, Wie Verhext! is the only one I have anything new to talk about.  It was a cute game of collecting ingredients and brewing potions.  There was a bit of the Princess Bride element (also referred to as rock, paper, scissors), which I usually don’t like, but not enough to bother me here.  I can see why it was nominated for the German Family Friendly Can Be Produced In Mass Quantities Without A Science Fiction Theme By A Company That Hasn’t Won Recently And Not Designed By Knizia Game Award.  I can’t predict a winner since I’ve only played 2 of the 5 nominees now.

Finally, I got to play Martin Wallace’s new game from the Tree Frog line, Tinner’s Train.  I really liked it.  I’ll need to play it again (today, hopefully) to decide if it’s worth the cost of ordering from overseas, but it’s a strong possibility.

I’d rather be gaming!
Valerie Putman

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