tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13171664175527997642024-03-16T01:12:39.323+00:00Games Night NewsErsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.comBlogger1415125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-60356979476614484342024-03-15T00:05:00.001+00:002024-03-15T00:05:16.485+00:00Once more unto the beach<div style="text-align: left;"> This week, six gamers arrived at Joe’s house in alphabetical order (Adam, Adam, Andrew, Ian, Martin, Sam) for another dose of gaming goodness. This was my first games night in a few weeks and immediately people started making jokey references to a game that I knew nothing about. How swiftly things move on without you.</div><div><br /></div><div>We split into two groups. A quartet (Martin, Adam T, Adam H, Joe) played Challengers! Beach Party. Ian asked what new features this variant had and Adam ummed and ahhed a bit before saying “different cards”. Oh, and each player has their own special power and there’s some kind of change in the drafting method. Nothing to do with beaches, as far as I could tell.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXs0UEjiRO3BTLwdYu76rNpl5RaVLWtjnLpF0wQkm03-zUt42VbAElsaiHN4MZD93M6eOrWfxVxAh5xyFhJLltu2f1ggwU1itWqs-6mn4WBJ4VQrHdZkuL_NA0sbX5RO0XbEZz8s6ZBisofKfF5oSBz0GkMAl2unIeZMBICMIQQriw4mgP1VwW2d1F6XE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXs0UEjiRO3BTLwdYu76rNpl5RaVLWtjnLpF0wQkm03-zUt42VbAElsaiHN4MZD93M6eOrWfxVxAh5xyFhJLltu2f1ggwU1itWqs-6mn4WBJ4VQrHdZkuL_NA0sbX5RO0XbEZz8s6ZBisofKfF5oSBz0GkMAl2unIeZMBICMIQQriw4mgP1VwW2d1F6XE" width="320" /></a></div><br />The trio (myself, Ian and Sam) played World Wonders, a tile-placement tessellation game that allows players to build famous historical buildings with little concern for cultural or temporal fidelity. For example, Ian built Easter Island’s famous statues of Maoi near his Trojan Horse. It’s a nice game, nothing groundbreaking but fun. I build the pyramid complex at Giza for two points, even though it covered three natural resources, costing me a potential three points. A bad move, strategically, but it looked nice on my board. The scores were so close, they needed a recount.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4dblUE6pX37wfmgVKC47nwrigk9IddXEQkFGgjGt16Da_LridWkkOwO3YlggGnRabFK_1Hi1TPYpgicU5VVO0A8uns44p0H82pOK0Q4DaXGoQYHCSL-LEeydJRw7dtqSlxQViUrkaICxWLKcw_AzYgrgx2eWcKgs7ybEK9mvqERkhVCv55beOM1OW35w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4dblUE6pX37wfmgVKC47nwrigk9IddXEQkFGgjGt16Da_LridWkkOwO3YlggGnRabFK_1Hi1TPYpgicU5VVO0A8uns44p0H82pOK0Q4DaXGoQYHCSL-LEeydJRw7dtqSlxQViUrkaICxWLKcw_AzYgrgx2eWcKgs7ybEK9mvqERkhVCv55beOM1OW35w" width="103" /></a></div><br />Ian 37</div><div>Sam 36</div><div>Andrew 35</div><div><br /></div><div>Challengers was still ongoing, so we set up Little Tavern. This is a silly, dickish game where a player picks a card at random and decides if they want to keep it at their table or place it at someone else’s. There are event cards, allowing characters to be swapped, removed or added to a table face down so that no one else knows what it is. If you get the right people sitting at your desk, then you can score big points. Ian cleverly got three romantics around his table which, instead of being the start of a menage a trois, actually got him 20+ points.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDjgmDAIEAbGilQgH3KTjyJ0sBN8ZhrsZ2XRmmqLjSoLLz9DPrvbit-cl-5q5KVc-HP82m9dBUc3uqeUMLNE-f6cJMZT_VhjOJl_4SyhgtJmkmhuSyVzfiqk0UFMlGvI7GNqPs0vl3iaJbY-1Fga4mXynA_0ZJ297DOBw3rw6eRKvdDLk0QBvGGFHd8Pk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDjgmDAIEAbGilQgH3KTjyJ0sBN8ZhrsZ2XRmmqLjSoLLz9DPrvbit-cl-5q5KVc-HP82m9dBUc3uqeUMLNE-f6cJMZT_VhjOJl_4SyhgtJmkmhuSyVzfiqk0UFMlGvI7GNqPs0vl3iaJbY-1Fga4mXynA_0ZJ297DOBw3rw6eRKvdDLk0QBvGGFHd8Pk" width="103" /></a></div><br />Ian 35</div><div>Sam 35</div><div>Andrew 30</div><div><br /></div><div>Around this time, Challengers ended. Martin had won four out of the first five games, but it was Adam H v Joe in the final, with Adam coming out the winner.</div><div><br /></div><div>After this, we reshuffled. This time the quartet (Ian, Sam, Adam and Adam) played Forest Shuffle, a game that looks lovely but I know little about. Halfway through Adam T said that he was enjoying it, but he wasn’t sure if anyone else was.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5BEVhxCDhBTSdkfZR8jzV9baOeVXDL43RuGNOC9y2VzsTmiaHi2tcKtAKsb1ene36u5v_KJDdv36aepYZPQikIuyR1YicrygrHJgqFuktnKJr8qi5OxXkvxICxVt46REPPOJhLGcNncO-D5gq71461a3fADortg5UBECR6nLf7ATMRP2E2gqxWQhGaho" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5BEVhxCDhBTSdkfZR8jzV9baOeVXDL43RuGNOC9y2VzsTmiaHi2tcKtAKsb1ene36u5v_KJDdv36aepYZPQikIuyR1YicrygrHJgqFuktnKJr8qi5OxXkvxICxVt46REPPOJhLGcNncO-D5gq71461a3fADortg5UBECR6nLf7ATMRP2E2gqxWQhGaho" width="103" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I was involved in a game of Faraway, an odd game with a wafer thin theme of going on a journey tacked onto a quite brain-burning card placement game. The idea is to put down cards that then score bonuses according to other cards in your tableau. However, in a normal game the cards would all be visible when you add up your scores, in this game that cards are revealed in reverse order and bonuses only score for whatever’s visible at the time. For example, you play a card that scores 15 points if you have three stone cards and then you have to make sure that you later play three stone cards otherwise that card is worthless when it gets turned over. There’s a certain amount of player interaction such as when Martin looked at Joe’s cards and said “What are you collecting…. Pineapples?” and I asked Joe when had Martin started calling him Pineapples.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFSq4MmkS8zlEGJiJNWd-qNheB9HxpAVT7Y9ECfpCKMdLU1Rgk9w7Q-KPfTRh6XEYmV3xSNX9NyjOXLT-MsPVM4REUaLq5JZxD2NWCo5aFgvjzmwcHY9c0fDCTK-VR6BG2OIVJQwqDo11tW95E6cBbywS9jAa6Yhg3S1G4401Kq4yTZfRK6Kpy51VTWpI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFSq4MmkS8zlEGJiJNWd-qNheB9HxpAVT7Y9ECfpCKMdLU1Rgk9w7Q-KPfTRh6XEYmV3xSNX9NyjOXLT-MsPVM4REUaLq5JZxD2NWCo5aFgvjzmwcHY9c0fDCTK-VR6BG2OIVJQwqDo11tW95E6cBbywS9jAa6Yhg3S1G4401Kq4yTZfRK6Kpy51VTWpI" width="103" /></a></div><br />We played twice. I managed to grab a fifth stone card right at the end which meant my 24pointer card was valid when it was revealed!</div><div><br /></div><div>Joe 81</div><div>Martin 72</div><div>Andrew 48</div><div><br /></div><div>Andrew 84</div><div>Joe 80</div><div>Martin 63</div><div><br /></div><div>I had to go at this point. Any regrets I had about leaving Martin and Joe as a couple were dispelled when Martin said the next game worked better as a two-player.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don’t know what that game was, but when Forest Shuffle ended the scores were (according to Sam’s memory)</div><div><br /></div><div>Adam T 125</div><div>Sam 125</div><div>Adam H 116</div><div>Ian 96</div><div><br /></div><div>Then five of them played So Clover and “did rather well”. Looking at the photo I have to tip my hat to the audacity of clueing “Water” when “river” was one of the words on a different side.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLKA4vXTFyMm65VhdEEFtMeLW-YbsC-uv00wPeE2f2DhroO-c2RPL7_wPPIpCbVN2CInWTdG0CMIG-NhDMzoUJf4K1UQMY3T4SBvYQmE9G3Psbie3LGezSOF4P35YbjD6bOYLRqRcvZLK8AfxJuf-gS-EFvD34WG1vu-W896d-7oPhYAyW_MxTjO2Wcpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLKA4vXTFyMm65VhdEEFtMeLW-YbsC-uv00wPeE2f2DhroO-c2RPL7_wPPIpCbVN2CInWTdG0CMIG-NhDMzoUJf4K1UQMY3T4SBvYQmE9G3Psbie3LGezSOF4P35YbjD6bOYLRqRcvZLK8AfxJuf-gS-EFvD34WG1vu-W896d-7oPhYAyW_MxTjO2Wcpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Rather well out of 30</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks all. See you next week.</div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-60948106030398871682024-03-06T11:38:00.002+00:002024-03-06T11:38:07.520+00:00Fibonacci Secrets<p>With the family soon to move house, we joined Steve, Anja and Louie at Stepney Walk last night (Lennon was in bed) for the final time before they box up in earnest. Katy and I were a little late and arrived to find Adam H, Ian and Martin in a discussion about chairs. Louie went off to change into a onesie, Anja appeared, and we settled straight away into two groups, the hosts plus Ian and Martin playing Old London Bridge...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt3tE3S0eTZOtbcR9_-eFLwu5Ts8O4hD-AW_WyjDC67FXUvd3Z7PIoKlaqvm_uPSJWZfhBK7-OrXrOQ9lZy0OGsbO1nufZLy6N3Yjq5k_o61TAIZECup2EKxoi7uOqAINhyLWnpCmBG_tSmG5DH88h1CTLqP7fL6-LHpwDxRjMimLjFsoVHyYa51m/s4032/IMG_5043.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt3tE3S0eTZOtbcR9_-eFLwu5Ts8O4hD-AW_WyjDC67FXUvd3Z7PIoKlaqvm_uPSJWZfhBK7-OrXrOQ9lZy0OGsbO1nufZLy6N3Yjq5k_o61TAIZECup2EKxoi7uOqAINhyLWnpCmBG_tSmG5DH88h1CTLqP7fL6-LHpwDxRjMimLjFsoVHyYa51m/s320/IMG_5043.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While the rest of us - belatedly joined by Laura, who formed a semi-co-op with Katy - went to battle in the Robot Quest Arena. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomKhgyeZ9V1oYjpJUQ7KTKYe8mzxqKSWI1lOeGIT2ZamMw2j8uvM2oWQt8dLOIMY7H2tQKPq_hSzlQLf49NyZjDSLHyketN1qE9SJXB1KxvERtauqc8ZZ5l8NUnxR9oArKxAkfR-i7Mc9WiD_3XUV-e5DJtjZHXglbVk4qIgV2-Q1giagKRxs-tZx/s4032/IMG_5044.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomKhgyeZ9V1oYjpJUQ7KTKYe8mzxqKSWI1lOeGIT2ZamMw2j8uvM2oWQt8dLOIMY7H2tQKPq_hSzlQLf49NyZjDSLHyketN1qE9SJXB1KxvERtauqc8ZZ5l8NUnxR9oArKxAkfR-i7Mc9WiD_3XUV-e5DJtjZHXglbVk4qIgV2-Q1giagKRxs-tZx/s320/IMG_5044.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is apparently Louie's favourite game, maybe because of the lovely minis or maybe because of the moreish deck-building and rapid turns. But probably because he kicked the crap out of all of us, with only Katy and Laura getting anywhere close to competitive with him.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiIOObIDYoBbD-h3QD8G4SppvG3iwd32DBAvenNb8HAILlSnYcYj5sZ4Y0JOt1q1vZJDp80Jkt7n_AMiRQax-hwL0kfB7ATxG6XuDT58rpgTn-YKBnxQa48UQL6-I1ZKsUWKCe4QVyFMWEsAEPKuP5dYZ_WzpnCr4Ph4h4RnPkbYhk61wg43lcCg7/s4032/IMG_5045.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiIOObIDYoBbD-h3QD8G4SppvG3iwd32DBAvenNb8HAILlSnYcYj5sZ4Y0JOt1q1vZJDp80Jkt7n_AMiRQax-hwL0kfB7ATxG6XuDT58rpgTn-YKBnxQa48UQL6-I1ZKsUWKCe4QVyFMWEsAEPKuP5dYZ_WzpnCr4Ph4h4RnPkbYhk61wg43lcCg7/s320/IMG_5045.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Channeling the anti-Martin, this is the first time in a long while I've heard anyone cry out that the game 'just isn't long enough'. It was for me though:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Louie 28</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy and Laura 26</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 19</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 11</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">London Bridge was still ongoing/falling down (not actually sure what happens) and Louie had time for one quick game before bed. Despite its alleged 45mins playtime on the box, I was pretty certain we'd get through Tipperary significantly faster than that. Maybe the ticking clock is why I forgot to take pictures, but here's one I made earlier:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBZpwV-lJB0unkKQVu0WSWB-C2XMVCvbhvGepHm0MDnB1MDyNNDVm9smdiChh4ukXvjx-4WoZoW8T0lyGsnwNZp2MFHX9meu6g39GIXrdP2pwF67girI7ZPWtIHCsUE1xnXxLdE6GrIBffgbePUkVLFBGX8-1Kd_bvMjMUU2qr8KaBrU9yJ2r0Q_N/s4032/IMG_4984.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBZpwV-lJB0unkKQVu0WSWB-C2XMVCvbhvGepHm0MDnB1MDyNNDVm9smdiChh4ukXvjx-4WoZoW8T0lyGsnwNZp2MFHX9meu6g39GIXrdP2pwF67girI7ZPWtIHCsUE1xnXxLdE6GrIBffgbePUkVLFBGX8-1Kd_bvMjMUU2qr8KaBrU9yJ2r0Q_N/s320/IMG_4984.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over ten rounds players simultaneously add tiles to their bucolic Irish idyll, putting distilleries next to grain, lining up ruins to get towers and proliferating sheep with which to make jumpers/stew. There's a few different ways to score but a critical one is the fact your largest unbroken rectangle will get a point per square in it, something Katy had to be reminded of mid-game and spent the subsequent rounds in a state of crestfallen anxiety, occasionally casting mild aspersions at me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laura 89</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 86</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 79</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy and Louie 61 each. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While this was happening, Old London Bridge came to a conclusion!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 54</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ian 44</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve 42</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anja 38</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Louie said his goodnights but Laura and Katy were both keen to go again on Tipperary, with Martin subbing in for our departee. Again, I didn't take any pictures, so here's another one from earlier, showing how tiles (a choice of two each round) get allotted, using a spinner:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcTQ9OfaJdBnSaw6pbCdM6ov-3-32VLD_-2Mc0bwOrroJ4DO7Pj4hNccpshfZ5Sc9SjkYxWObU8d8hbbEuCqpNLYGriD-3Vzu6gL3evjBzTu8VIskTp93P0X0IxA2GwRi2HqnPakhMbUTi_13FdhjIDTShkoBf5hZ_veOzWq3sqdIpjKX4Cb_utrc/s4032/IMG_4982.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcTQ9OfaJdBnSaw6pbCdM6ov-3-32VLD_-2Mc0bwOrroJ4DO7Pj4hNccpshfZ5Sc9SjkYxWObU8d8hbbEuCqpNLYGriD-3Vzu6gL3evjBzTu8VIskTp93P0X0IxA2GwRi2HqnPakhMbUTi_13FdhjIDTShkoBf5hZ_veOzWq3sqdIpjKX4Cb_utrc/s320/IMG_4982.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />While we polyominoed with intermittent cries of Banshee grief, the others played Misfits, and again, I neglected to snap pics! Sorry. I'm not even sure who won, but I think it was Steve. There was definitely a huge collapse at one point...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over on our side of the table, Martin led the way on flocks for most of the game, but Katy herded some extras her way at the death to claim the biggest flock bonus. But with her geometric confusion now out of the way, she didn't even need it to claim the laurels!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy 89</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 78</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laura 75</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 69</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 68</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laura now left us as well and we shuffled seats, with Anja, Steve, Ian and Martin playing Gang of Dice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvhgPMLbV_NpOzjJXQjoRrqAEoQV9H58fHoUkI3AVDWzkAw0FWQcCWyekBD7jjrFlzxzGbXwAOOxRaAHD0VzJehU8NvrY2NLKlWPwOjK3xFWnmJPXCqcjQ7znETF8pWbhwIuPP7kzNV0stLwBPyr_Ug0X8dqs9SJEpvUIyIDx06u9J7WMnTNQxb3K/s4032/IMG_5047.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvhgPMLbV_NpOzjJXQjoRrqAEoQV9H58fHoUkI3AVDWzkAw0FWQcCWyekBD7jjrFlzxzGbXwAOOxRaAHD0VzJehU8NvrY2NLKlWPwOjK3xFWnmJPXCqcjQ7znETF8pWbhwIuPP7kzNV0stLwBPyr_Ug0X8dqs9SJEpvUIyIDx06u9J7WMnTNQxb3K/s320/IMG_5047.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Whilst Katy and I took on the unenviable task of playing Adam at Ticket to Ride: Berlin. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfKxfTaVlQo2CpjnsZ9U26bXW8j-MGN1426_OUOZuqbV0jZy2kSXaD8MJIt8SEYIM-sQq9HDlvm5woBiDtqSN6Pp-Ci4Erz8RP5F2X43AebY6HfFZ2TXUxBC8uJErs556yRoFE_cz91LmMxFfi_ID2iBG0G9iAVEwdQQCC_OOLJE6aBvCpljtLSwQ/s4032/IMG_5048.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfKxfTaVlQo2CpjnsZ9U26bXW8j-MGN1426_OUOZuqbV0jZy2kSXaD8MJIt8SEYIM-sQq9HDlvm5woBiDtqSN6Pp-Ci4Erz8RP5F2X43AebY6HfFZ2TXUxBC8uJErs556yRoFE_cz91LmMxFfi_ID2iBG0G9iAVEwdQQCC_OOLJE6aBvCpljtLSwQ/s320/IMG_5048.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somehow I managed to convince myself I was in with a shout, but I'd missed that Katy and Adam both had three tickets to cash in at the end. And unfortunately for Katy, she now realised she hadn't completed one of them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 49</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy 40</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 39</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fuelled by no more than resentment, jealously and immaturity, Katy and I both decided to pretend Adam hadn't won. But it got confusing when we couldn't agree on who had.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnIWOp8sdpGMzZWqoMnzGfIiPVf50-jmS2ZDunKUY1Hp7MNrZHajKllCgrMkV3pi72S9IgNCBwHIEfDTPu9TMGkJkFLpOpFwTC9fFmP5ELlh08mMnaqWKFQkZU4Nq9GZx-RYtK4lIj3JfSLY3J3bcZR2VMJfn1zEbgegJaUon3oyRwag_aHeS36OD/s4032/IMG_5050.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnIWOp8sdpGMzZWqoMnzGfIiPVf50-jmS2ZDunKUY1Hp7MNrZHajKllCgrMkV3pi72S9IgNCBwHIEfDTPu9TMGkJkFLpOpFwTC9fFmP5ELlh08mMnaqWKFQkZU4Nq9GZx-RYtK4lIj3JfSLY3J3bcZR2VMJfn1zEbgegJaUon3oyRwag_aHeS36OD/s320/IMG_5050.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, despite "pissing around with a single die" (-Martin) Steve wrapped up Gang of Dice with a very convincing win. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve 73</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ian 51</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 29</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anja 9</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Not my game" said Anja. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We decided to round off the night with So Clover before realising nobody had So Clover. Similar confusion -mostly on my part - about Fun Facts followed, before we settled on a very funny episode of Just One, punctuated by Martin's slightly lewd grunting noises whenever he felt someone could use a prompt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6cs45J5sQFSttsNGvTQKfVtIamXYc6mRL9RMRE1SbxMSDyilwNImmQnl5cFEEy6tmj34dDw_xPqNMABEq5I50bKEaawgjF1XLU8NIzR1DGV8BAkMDlCEKLab4xBPZyHDQldgXVhZsfYrg3JcTzGxRpplDVmBO_POUop6Zvx9He5Fl4ivHfiUfUXx/s4032/IMG_5051.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6cs45J5sQFSttsNGvTQKfVtIamXYc6mRL9RMRE1SbxMSDyilwNImmQnl5cFEEy6tmj34dDw_xPqNMABEq5I50bKEaawgjF1XLU8NIzR1DGV8BAkMDlCEKLab4xBPZyHDQldgXVhZsfYrg3JcTzGxRpplDVmBO_POUop6Zvx9He5Fl4ivHfiUfUXx/s320/IMG_5051.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve's first word as guesser was 'Series' and two of our clues (Television) were duplicates, leaving him with the following:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnoUwgJI9qAzG_KMq7x8KH2Xoe5JgpHQJxnO9p6zfduowCEvW3vPVHnd9JAnaTQ1vi7GMsaHhdcfbWLB8D6HZPjPYOp5AjOot4cD5duZ8Pp9cdqXF3ObwN02hLkcqlk0ji9sa7h2qfrW4xIGOL3Wp2MgJQxV7_Y-e_Ot1YEaNimrv5PhHNszJiA_q/s4032/IMG_5052.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnoUwgJI9qAzG_KMq7x8KH2Xoe5JgpHQJxnO9p6zfduowCEvW3vPVHnd9JAnaTQ1vi7GMsaHhdcfbWLB8D6HZPjPYOp5AjOot4cD5duZ8Pp9cdqXF3ObwN02hLkcqlk0ji9sa7h2qfrW4xIGOL3Wp2MgJQxV7_Y-e_Ot1YEaNimrv5PhHNszJiA_q/s320/IMG_5052.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve said 'sequence' aloud, but not in a way that sounded like his final guess. Apart from his occasionally wailing "Thrones?" at the ceiling, this ten-minute chapter of the evening was largely Steve's Existential Crisis and the rest of us being Increasingly Unsympathetic. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlenzCe1wFRY-_OmCca0cl57R7arO0Wxa2YOqdssgjHVDeid8X3rwNegnG3_PKEIHjvplmVy-T6-MweVLWATeskkRUjr4kFVG9_UmAqC1zWHJdVE5Wv9UGGf_f-JwlRBLe0VdOSbDPlvGkrv5Nl7SkNe71hT1DlE9nGZ7PH3YjzmehzOcWU8Y0ARmU/s3088/IMG_5054.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlenzCe1wFRY-_OmCca0cl57R7arO0Wxa2YOqdssgjHVDeid8X3rwNegnG3_PKEIHjvplmVy-T6-MweVLWATeskkRUjr4kFVG9_UmAqC1zWHJdVE5Wv9UGGf_f-JwlRBLe0VdOSbDPlvGkrv5Nl7SkNe71hT1DlE9nGZ7PH3YjzmehzOcWU8Y0ARmU/s320/IMG_5054.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry Steve. He gave up in the end, only to find that his next word was similarly tricky (Crepe) and Katy's clue of Póo was apparently no help, especially in that it seemed to combine with other clues of tissue and paper in a possibly misdirectonal way. Nevertheless, Katy kept saying Poo in an exaggerated French accent, hoping Steve could make the breakthrough... but no. In fairness to Steve, both tricky words and probably not helped by us all giggling and Martin's sexually suggestive noises. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We scored a pretty shabby 7/13, I don't remember how the rulebook judges that but I don't think it's very effusive. A very entertaining end to the last night at Stepney Walk though! </div>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-46215288433762293102024-02-28T09:51:00.002+00:002024-02-28T09:57:45.087+00:00The Happy Filcher<p>Games night arrived again, and so did the gamers. Adam T was first to materialise and chatted with Sally whilst I freshened up and bought beer and Quavers. Then Martin, Joe, Adam H and Ian all came through the door and we got cracking, kicking things off with a six-player Phantom Ink. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_Fjft5Itbw6jA_vXPQqKd-sZ6BNxhrGHQ9MIbUo7iOSy104A0dusZBBG-0J8hUn3zNyvu1pKfF-5vwSqRrWM3SCFCftBH7XYMAbxzF2rwTAjvH1OV6G2rCVWwqRgJ0SSOswxCgVdSDe_NmMBireoMqMhZTr580gtJUdcc26voK3NBgHWCE1H5qZEy63H/s4032/IMG_4957.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_Fjft5Itbw6jA_vXPQqKd-sZ6BNxhrGHQ9MIbUo7iOSy104A0dusZBBG-0J8hUn3zNyvu1pKfF-5vwSqRrWM3SCFCftBH7XYMAbxzF2rwTAjvH1OV6G2rCVWwqRgJ0SSOswxCgVdSDe_NmMBireoMqMhZTr580gtJUdcc26voK3NBgHWCE1H5qZEy63H/s320/IMG_4957.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Adam T and I teamed with Joe (our happy medium) and Adam H and Ian were ethereally clued-to by Martin. The secret word, unbeknownst to us, was Helicopter. We asked Joe would would happen if you buried it for a year, and he replied with SYC, which we figured to be <i>sycamore</i>. But Ian and Adam H figured it too, and Adam T's eureka moment prompted them to guess, knowing already that the study of whatever the word was began with AER. They jumped in ahead of us and guessed correctly, ending the game after about five minutes!</p><p>We split into threes with Martin, Adam T and Joe all keen to wrestle with Carl Chudyk's cards-with-a-billion-uses battle of Aegean Sea. I introduced Ian and Adam to World Wonders, with its delightful wooden bits. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfm-UnSuSWkjLfMep_KEqWzCzi12JBN4e0D6H5rymYGuP2n2cTT57Z4lAZ1uz7RLtQqczIeQFT8Y8sBWJ2z1KzABSFsn_r_JsUbpj7_bdbT2-siAyzXYXskIdpqYMbKZRsD_PyR_Ug_TMlYsgDfy8DwvGDYij7-NFlUNVIOe-8fpgGrSL9Cq6-LoMgmJN/s4032/IMG_4958.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfm-UnSuSWkjLfMep_KEqWzCzi12JBN4e0D6H5rymYGuP2n2cTT57Z4lAZ1uz7RLtQqczIeQFT8Y8sBWJ2z1KzABSFsn_r_JsUbpj7_bdbT2-siAyzXYXskIdpqYMbKZRsD_PyR_Ug_TMlYsgDfy8DwvGDYij7-NFlUNVIOe-8fpgGrSL9Cq6-LoMgmJN/s320/IMG_4958.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ_KH-85ztBAu0bfgP-tKvbV2RPuZTlMwny5gUy7q0Cf0G4Jb4wOfVg1KxtvrvzKNi5TuCoVcSsce7rCZZodLZ9tNRqrYqRtIoyoyww63xEzdoZy_BkCvHNuikzEiNJAhU_T28okrIQlSQAElFSIeu5_ekmfieXuYxSujL_vivy9w2XgyiJStpm4lcyLH/s4032/IMG_4959.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ_KH-85ztBAu0bfgP-tKvbV2RPuZTlMwny5gUy7q0Cf0G4Jb4wOfVg1KxtvrvzKNi5TuCoVcSsce7rCZZodLZ9tNRqrYqRtIoyoyww63xEzdoZy_BkCvHNuikzEiNJAhU_T28okrIQlSQAElFSIeu5_ekmfieXuYxSujL_vivy9w2XgyiJStpm4lcyLH/s320/IMG_4959.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In World Wonders, we're buying buildings each round - and occasionally, wonders as well - and trying to surround them on our board; surrounded building being worth points. Connecting to natural resources is also points, and so is the lowest-value resource on your player board, in a mildly Knizian twist. We found that the flexible towers were at a premium, and unsurprisingly Adam regularly bought what I wanted from market. Ian began fretting that he was going to be last, despite the alluring cluster of wonders he'd built on his board.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANwAvxt3XeKrGza2BDww-o8ZcP13eflECER12BtczFcqwbzMslcoIw0nMbMzkRXXlWWOd-yXGVm1AQ6nRR6f-N0E3Xy4wgtVAbHunNRjkpmDgJiDQV4NPBo9oHaz7htVt4PlRzmZgbaBwOX0XK7BRdq5MnijV1dTFzcnm2gVZnLA1JmjmXIsxaDSf2m_G/s4032/IMG_4962.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANwAvxt3XeKrGza2BDww-o8ZcP13eflECER12BtczFcqwbzMslcoIw0nMbMzkRXXlWWOd-yXGVm1AQ6nRR6f-N0E3Xy4wgtVAbHunNRjkpmDgJiDQV4NPBo9oHaz7htVt4PlRzmZgbaBwOX0XK7BRdq5MnijV1dTFzcnm2gVZnLA1JmjmXIsxaDSf2m_G/s320/IMG_4962.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>I'm not sure what was happening in Aegean Sea, except for the general vibe of chaotic overwhelm, with Martin exclaiming "This is mental!" several times. I am vaguely aware that each player has an 'island' upon/under which they can play cards that Do Things. Like Innovation, how the cards combine in a given game can vary the experience massively, and there's more than one possible endgame I believe. At one point Adam announced he'd won, before Martin explained to him that he hadn't.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77Tx5y05Zaos5IpmXUAaf7f2PTlDn4MGrJm_u8mKdaLNCcDO3apy1oFQNxyAhEyngo7avFGBcQG3pzR8URW3jibqU2zM6NjMYBw51bM59IGiO2HMALMNi9S4BOENy34_DJYcE37rd-EihBzw6Qexc1WUH9bE4UwOie2wpDL_IysfxzAUl_4m1fpopuIiN/s4032/IMG_4964.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77Tx5y05Zaos5IpmXUAaf7f2PTlDn4MGrJm_u8mKdaLNCcDO3apy1oFQNxyAhEyngo7avFGBcQG3pzR8URW3jibqU2zM6NjMYBw51bM59IGiO2HMALMNi9S4BOENy34_DJYcE37rd-EihBzw6Qexc1WUH9bE4UwOie2wpDL_IysfxzAUl_4m1fpopuIiN/s320/IMG_4964.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We wrapped up World Wonders to find to nobody's shock that Adam had won:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Adam 36</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sam 33</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ian 32</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And began playing Misfits, which I didn't realise Adam hadn't played yet. He kicked things off by placing a column in the middle of the table, and I thought this wouldn't last long. But it did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W6_PJDurIY91m0xJ9pKg8P_5b8MEr6_IuoIZNSjjuEXRTTCKBfERChzfBEnT8TafitG1NK-xCgKQr_Est843EvCnj5FsqpsPJkcdKF3KzQp7tjJ-araZVdzy5gHReiQzqYm0UUhR8WuhC6Ea8x2Zft245-vNQPS3qOPRSR5EaAGhEPEUa7Y5qx20XM9-/s4032/IMG_4969.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W6_PJDurIY91m0xJ9pKg8P_5b8MEr6_IuoIZNSjjuEXRTTCKBfERChzfBEnT8TafitG1NK-xCgKQr_Est843EvCnj5FsqpsPJkcdKF3KzQp7tjJ-araZVdzy5gHReiQzqYm0UUhR8WuhC6Ea8x2Zft245-vNQPS3qOPRSR5EaAGhEPEUa7Y5qx20XM9-/s320/IMG_4969.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After about 6 minutes though we were running out of options, and someone was going to take the fall. That someone turned out to be me when I rejected the idea of placing my last cube and tried to shed a column, with catastrophic results, The entire thing fell, including the base, and Ian started a new tower from scratch:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuD2hjSf_gqQi4sYyayCg0XGXIpTjvOolZ2Wi7hvLL5kSpov79sW6GCQ6bG163yz9SaVHok6iMlCO9hI-lq2jQbI0Kxbd8ej9JSlIx9Uc3IkR_Yxo9UINMaYrSg9O9s73mRYltbvl6bb9ELv5VYB_KsUNsrR0pEPnFpKrBVknb-4d6LnI1VXH7oXVBYNX/s4032/IMG_4970.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuD2hjSf_gqQi4sYyayCg0XGXIpTjvOolZ2Wi7hvLL5kSpov79sW6GCQ6bG163yz9SaVHok6iMlCO9hI-lq2jQbI0Kxbd8ej9JSlIx9Uc3IkR_Yxo9UINMaYrSg9O9s73mRYltbvl6bb9ELv5VYB_KsUNsrR0pEPnFpKrBVknb-4d6LnI1VXH7oXVBYNX/s320/IMG_4970.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Which despite our best efforts at sabotaging him, Adam won in short order. And, after Martin accused Joe of being a filcher and he turned to beam radiantly at me, unfortunately too briefly for me to get a photo, Aegean Sea finished at the same time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joe 13</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Martin 10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Adam 6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Who knows what occurred, or if it'll ever make the table again. Everyone seemed happy to experience it though. New groups assembled with with Joe leading the Adams off to play Robo Trick and Martin cajoling Ian and I to play Armadora, possibly the ugliest game I have ever seen, with some artwork that is so generic it's almost not, and an everything-dipped-in-honey glossy finish. This photo sadly fails to capture the dazzling sheen whenever any light caught the surface.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcnAN1eqnrEE6W8Vbm0AOU_dH2rSR0hP_CQCRlLc4UPPQr8NOCcp0AVs6lf4w7XJSP96_jqmMc2pjdN0o1V1z1OvCHnHdjN2n2M2dOBJv35oKWsaR-TSYH_qMFJaEv5_xiK6GjFkPMClH14S-HZqqTPe7-xCVh8S4LTK39TjX1hclm2M7Al7DHAyjEgv0/s4032/IMG_4971.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcnAN1eqnrEE6W8Vbm0AOU_dH2rSR0hP_CQCRlLc4UPPQr8NOCcp0AVs6lf4w7XJSP96_jqmMc2pjdN0o1V1z1OvCHnHdjN2n2M2dOBJv35oKWsaR-TSYH_qMFJaEv5_xiK6GjFkPMClH14S-HZqqTPe7-xCVh8S4LTK39TjX1hclm2M7Al7DHAyjEgv0/s320/IMG_4971.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But the game itself is dickish fun. There is a shared board with a bunch of gold scattered around it. On our turn we can either place one of our tiles somewhere on the board, or place two 'palisades' (wooden bits) that divide the board into smaller territories, with the caveat that no territory can be smaller than four squares. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Q-KDPtckG5dVsmaww6WhjKP4_XOtFmotr6kTQoAJ7v52aFvqxZt4P-WWUVS6anCi01CBy5Z68aaLLl4HNbvAMfoJ97gecTFejfOsMzNuneya-_RXVojHzkFtWismzW2fNJ8LZH_BvINXkaAY8W6P74qd8lLcZEcDLvxMaTVMPL4KfPbe6EuNEEtvxsKP/s4032/IMG_4973.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Q-KDPtckG5dVsmaww6WhjKP4_XOtFmotr6kTQoAJ7v52aFvqxZt4P-WWUVS6anCi01CBy5Z68aaLLl4HNbvAMfoJ97gecTFejfOsMzNuneya-_RXVojHzkFtWismzW2fNJ8LZH_BvINXkaAY8W6P74qd8lLcZEcDLvxMaTVMPL4KfPbe6EuNEEtvxsKP/s320/IMG_4973.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Although our tiles have varying number values (most are ones, but there are 2's, 3's and a 4) and they are placed face-down, the palisades are what really make the game spicy, as we all try to cordon each other's tiles off from the juicy gold. When there's nothing left to place all is revealed and the player/s with the highest tile value in each region claim the gold. I'd ducked out of a couple of battles in one part of the board, and it turned out well for me, as Martin snagged two big areas from Ian:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sam 19</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Martin 18</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ian 3</div><div><br /></div><div>Meantime Robo-Trick was still going and unfortunately I cannot illuminate what was happening, as I've never played it and was distracted by Armadora. But we had a couple of cracks at Accuse! in the meantime...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoum8qynwQaTq7KcJ1MwbPr4uGDjh_Wdti29zeDnL3UuU5MhJKXbOk_NcUvZG2A5l1RL9pAlrhFkWH_62QafmBc0Vvj03Z_jjL5QdnZo2AtaXp7mSMnpK3i3T4lceztGAjrF-D0bei0o6Hlj8ENtboXVyYo6Oyzc1r5C2leZ2WoFoavmpKq0RxBV841N_v/s4032/IMG_4974.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoum8qynwQaTq7KcJ1MwbPr4uGDjh_Wdti29zeDnL3UuU5MhJKXbOk_NcUvZG2A5l1RL9pAlrhFkWH_62QafmBc0Vvj03Z_jjL5QdnZo2AtaXp7mSMnpK3i3T4lceztGAjrF-D0bei0o6Hlj8ENtboXVyYo6Oyzc1r5C2leZ2WoFoavmpKq0RxBV841N_v/s320/IMG_4974.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ceSHjADJAMiwuwQxllEAmi3evSjLg-xCC03E-gOQcFg_dWsjUz9s_QhUUBiwRq_f7Ps19q0ErzO39rD_L8-ZrMqEXEQilm8pS3UknxNrl7idU_naXoTO1CaetsjdpTU19hNg224Rcfpw08pwtBBwZBjbxAMa4k1T3NViZQF_ugErLvdD_jomTDbtp_CH/s4032/IMG_4975.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ceSHjADJAMiwuwQxllEAmi3evSjLg-xCC03E-gOQcFg_dWsjUz9s_QhUUBiwRq_f7Ps19q0ErzO39rD_L8-ZrMqEXEQilm8pS3UknxNrl7idU_naXoTO1CaetsjdpTU19hNg224Rcfpw08pwtBBwZBjbxAMa4k1T3NViZQF_ugErLvdD_jomTDbtp_CH/s320/IMG_4975.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The first one I ended too soon by taking a bit of a wild guess, holding two characters in my hand making me somewhat overoptimistic. There wasn't enough info for either Ian or Martin to subsequently figure out the murder, but we played again and this time Martin ended things, but found his accusations unfounded. I was next to go and took my first win of a game I am pretty shite at. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Robo Trick finished as well with the happy filcher taking another win!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joe 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Adam H 0</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Adam T -7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And with a bit of a drive ahead of him, Adam T bade his farewells and left the five of us to play MLEM, the bonkers luck-pushing cats-in-space area-control and moons game. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sjEIjgfnu6lMs84RrIeW76OjhrMD0YGUV0iHLYyEzfqcIREPkfh8recj_yims6yuEvM66EOyaFszIphgyPp4mPJfifBx9OZ9WZy76iisMzxZ_78DQyPRdYK-0DGCIOesTiEy-cjyDh2gxQCB3ncUnPUhUxad7UD39jGPdmAWteqa3FBWQbrSi7kfi1qu/s4032/IMG_4976.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sjEIjgfnu6lMs84RrIeW76OjhrMD0YGUV0iHLYyEzfqcIREPkfh8recj_yims6yuEvM66EOyaFszIphgyPp4mPJfifBx9OZ9WZy76iisMzxZ_78DQyPRdYK-0DGCIOesTiEy-cjyDh2gxQCB3ncUnPUhUxad7UD39jGPdmAWteqa3FBWQbrSi7kfi1qu/s320/IMG_4976.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ian set off for the various moons (moon bonus) as Martin and I raced for the planets (planet bonus) and Joe's previous strategy of going for Deep Space at every opportunity was tweaked to just doing so now and again. Adam played shrewdly, as one might expect, but found now and again that shrewdness and dice do not make good bedfellows. After a lot of dice-chucking and several rocket explosions, I chickened out of the active mission just in time - ka-boom - and ended the game by placing my last cat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sam 32</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joe 24</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Adam 20</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ian 15</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Martin 10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And that was that! Thanks all, it was golden.</div>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-63188028872584190522024-02-21T10:29:00.002+00:002024-02-21T12:57:10.609+00:00Cakeblazers<p>After a last-minute change of venue, Katy and I (Sam) were first to arrive at Joe's, and our host set the tone for the evening with a lighthearted quip about masturbation. As we pondered what kind of day Joe might have had, Martin arrived and before long was setting up Accuse! the game that we all profess to be terrible at, but I definitely am. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwptPNThWLqXIlil0IUq27WrGq2T1HL2Btv4X4dx6ladMe23JMGA-Jhwa9nbxL_DM-AMS44wQ8XKVu62sofJU7jvLJg2rlWcvTHpaunrQaOs3qzYcSle8zTH1Vg1XMBkYQEnMDPq3ZZ09F-dizBdG4JFBK5-Unz6W7VrWMVt9K3Yix3dcJHEyYRzv/s4032/IMG_4883.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwptPNThWLqXIlil0IUq27WrGq2T1HL2Btv4X4dx6ladMe23JMGA-Jhwa9nbxL_DM-AMS44wQ8XKVu62sofJU7jvLJg2rlWcvTHpaunrQaOs3qzYcSle8zTH1Vg1XMBkYQEnMDPq3ZZ09F-dizBdG4JFBK5-Unz6W7VrWMVt9K3Yix3dcJHEyYRzv/s320/IMG_4883.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was first to accuse, and got almost everything wrong. Katy followed me and missed out by just one factor. But of course with a murder, knowing where it took place can be critical and Martin's decision to go with the airport won him the game, and we all rued the fact we never challenged him when he said "Hairport".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin: Promoted</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Joe: Passed over</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy and Sam: Fired</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve and Adam had arrived and although Steve briefly vanished again, we were now at our full capacity of six, so promptly split into two groups. Whilst Joe, Steve and Martin played Tajuto...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQNTPMDvtuIHZNoOqDo1f4jqRcxteFltqSzvH6-dtdZThUQ1QjHlDqCHVdcJD9gwl2G_lN_8qro0iheJbfa572aO9SYuD0yuBxBYMUraBal2fVoKNnKGBE9DSJm5LXYQ8fQ4fQayiRoybSGi_wREvNONL1gbzQX2lkoeh6jOVy28apArvIJVSKmU4/s4032/IMG_4884.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQNTPMDvtuIHZNoOqDo1f4jqRcxteFltqSzvH6-dtdZThUQ1QjHlDqCHVdcJD9gwl2G_lN_8qro0iheJbfa572aO9SYuD0yuBxBYMUraBal2fVoKNnKGBE9DSJm5LXYQ8fQ4fQayiRoybSGi_wREvNONL1gbzQX2lkoeh6jOVy28apArvIJVSKmU4/s320/IMG_4884.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Katy was keen to try Trailblazers, and a freshly-shorn (but according to himself, grumpy) Adam was happy to give it a go. The game has three different 'settings' and we played twice, first on Adventurer mode and then Animal mode. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdCnBlcqdenPrPK4HVuNIC-z_IXtPWoTbM65pCcsE4NESOr2IVgHrSkVbuQlVF0W0O06FcvCkgeQE_t8wyHqvqVcxn_WWc3W0zCbSav_6HiP7FWDrVNiAglwNtPa-lcnGCIA5_aXfo-pvykunKo2ku3VvVMilxQ6dyYzAI069Ed_kTB3GOJ2I6oOU/s4032/IMG_4885.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdCnBlcqdenPrPK4HVuNIC-z_IXtPWoTbM65pCcsE4NESOr2IVgHrSkVbuQlVF0W0O06FcvCkgeQE_t8wyHqvqVcxn_WWc3W0zCbSav_6HiP7FWDrVNiAglwNtPa-lcnGCIA5_aXfo-pvykunKo2ku3VvVMilxQ6dyYzAI069Ed_kTB3GOJ2I6oOU/s320/IMG_4885.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Adventurer mode, you're building two trails. They have to loop back to the campsite they started in to score, but the longer the better, because adventurers move along said trails, establishing campfires for points. I made it more complicated than it needed to be, panicking that I'd previously played it wrong - before later realising I hadn't - so we ended up with far too many campfires that we subsequently snuffed out. But it was fun anyway. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9DADqkiXC7m2dqxkSYG8RhBNhvTLwnw546PYlWKfeG5b5gUVG-bG-DhjOJX8qiS0spwHHYpSH1yR1ysxkrFuJ1ZVP1j0w2oEdyTVUGGeacT938FIvMvZabSUVyHTzlghh6lPX1u-MTMYD2vf1CimpWx0st02ZXAAOq8B_KTQ_DF8VMheLpxOfrtA/s4032/IMG_4886.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9DADqkiXC7m2dqxkSYG8RhBNhvTLwnw546PYlWKfeG5b5gUVG-bG-DhjOJX8qiS0spwHHYpSH1yR1ysxkrFuJ1ZVP1j0w2oEdyTVUGGeacT938FIvMvZabSUVyHTzlghh6lPX1u-MTMYD2vf1CimpWx0st02ZXAAOq8B_KTQ_DF8VMheLpxOfrtA/s320/IMG_4886.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy took a narrow win, as Adam's scheming fell apart on the final turn, possibly because we drafted our cards in the wrong order to be fair to him:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy 46</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 43</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 26</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tajuto was still going, with Martin complaining that all he'd achieved so far was an aneurysm. Steve went to the toilet and they marvelled at his collection of tiles (on the table, I mean). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIisWstRyY50lxpSPIbohLZtMXXxY_gIpKl7zZR-in3SGsPqFE7C6pMTkjO6maFPpF4JABZaDhyve6yZtoOsNgPF8fDReEONe9Nxn50XuIpOoPj315Y2RCbEb-7NF3O2bB1JQ_QdM_nLJvDpf2mt6aWq2gHn3QSqnDxnFqnztyzl3nGncoJ75OD0A/s4032/IMG_4888.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIisWstRyY50lxpSPIbohLZtMXXxY_gIpKl7zZR-in3SGsPqFE7C6pMTkjO6maFPpF4JABZaDhyve6yZtoOsNgPF8fDReEONe9Nxn50XuIpOoPj315Y2RCbEb-7NF3O2bB1JQ_QdM_nLJvDpf2mt6aWq2gHn3QSqnDxnFqnztyzl3nGncoJ75OD0A/s320/IMG_4888.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We Trailblazered again, this time forfeiting adventurers and campfires to just go animal mode: now, all your looped trails score points and distinct animals on the trails score escalating points, instead of the basic 2points-per-animal happening in Adventurer mode. Katy loved the animals. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksM8ozO7p7ncbo5S4rp4MowcJPAjGU9yT1C9jhCNp4BzW2Mj8O9Rq-P3vyE_JT-zQscCn80wvEAdniRss6W7nVKSk1jfLiOEUa1FHdl97RXL3hY3sQG-APHuneok7Lbf595Ijh_9wyeR2wqhPvTzLqXOw_We_D8zy52Zxx8mRgvJ8ELMZPJje7I6c/s4032/IMG_4887.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksM8ozO7p7ncbo5S4rp4MowcJPAjGU9yT1C9jhCNp4BzW2Mj8O9Rq-P3vyE_JT-zQscCn80wvEAdniRss6W7nVKSk1jfLiOEUa1FHdl97RXL3hY3sQG-APHuneok7Lbf595Ijh_9wyeR2wqhPvTzLqXOw_We_D8zy52Zxx8mRgvJ8ELMZPJje7I6c/s320/IMG_4887.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I think they both preferred Animals mode, as creating numerous overlapping loops certainly had some agonising fun. Adam said he really liked it despite the fact there's some tangible luck-pushing in how far your trails go, and the fact we kept screwing up the card draft. But this time Katy completely mullered us, scoring so many points she needed to ask Martin to do the addition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy 82</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 56</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 53</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tajuto finished at the time, with Martin and Steve celebrating their shared victory. I missed the fine beats of the drama here, but everyone seemed happily sated, even Joe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin and Steve - 12 each</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Joe - 6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We regrouped as a six and played Auf Teufel Comm Raus (or as my phone likes to call it, Said Refuel Comm Raid) the game of pulling coals from the devil's cauldron - obviously - until you are caught by the devil himself, and his 'disturbing' bellybutton (-Martin). This was new to Steve, who requested a player aid and nobody seemed sure how serious he was. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w6VRgWH2DDLi9Fsz3IG9evOYo-y3pXhyfzbLE72pmnQ71UM4T_xEHK4e1Zk0tuHwm52gNwWkI3z88UQoWqTWB3V0vf2cqls5oWtrV4vFF1TJXrI2AG-BDqf8xP4Ai2FikNs-r84pXsu7h2UW84aM9Q3dEO_Bm7Fzr6bI-KAry-vOlq0RMZ26dl-0/s4032/IMG_4889.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w6VRgWH2DDLi9Fsz3IG9evOYo-y3pXhyfzbLE72pmnQ71UM4T_xEHK4e1Zk0tuHwm52gNwWkI3z88UQoWqTWB3V0vf2cqls5oWtrV4vFF1TJXrI2AG-BDqf8xP4Ai2FikNs-r84pXsu7h2UW84aM9Q3dEO_Bm7Fzr6bI-KAry-vOlq0RMZ26dl-0/s320/IMG_4889.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We seemed to get caught by the devil a lot, except when we didn't. Numerous busts would be had then suddenly someone - usually Katy or Adam - would pull out six hot coals in a row. Joe seemed to bust himself nearly every time, but despite a poor start, and serial lagger Martin constantly rinsing everyone for cash when they busted (-he made a deal with the devil) Joe recovered to sail off up the track courtesy of some preposterous bidding coming off, seeing off Adam at the death to claim the win as they both passed the 1600 finish-line:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 Joe 1840</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 Adam 1710</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3 Steve</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4 Sam</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5 Katy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6 Martin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At some point around the devil's bellybutton we also had cake, provided by Katy. Thanks Katy! Steve cut his slice into two, enjoying the fact he now had 'an extra slice' on everyone else. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Post cauldron, Adam and Steve took their leave and the remaining four set up So Clover. Katy was even studiously gazing at her freshly-arranged cards when Martin swept all aside and announced we would play MLEM first. Katy's protests weren't strong enough to prevent her being assigned a cat, as we all suited up our catstronauts, ready for space travel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCbQ-gei8f67eukAK3njt8TdYcQv_mxse7YtJweap1trRwlmvTaR0IwqhVv2zavir1yR9qOvBg23uI0aspp2nCtaeHS5QATMMImK40P5UKkWGWmGnaIlj3jXtQTAisQ6jzM38mIN-3CV1RTvfIDAMQRzqGQju1WSznArC1ClAVNZx1pWbWg5j0tNn/s2840/IMG_4890.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="2840" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCbQ-gei8f67eukAK3njt8TdYcQv_mxse7YtJweap1trRwlmvTaR0IwqhVv2zavir1yR9qOvBg23uI0aspp2nCtaeHS5QATMMImK40P5UKkWGWmGnaIlj3jXtQTAisQ6jzM38mIN-3CV1RTvfIDAMQRzqGQju1WSznArC1ClAVNZx1pWbWg5j0tNn/w277-h204/IMG_4890.jpeg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrRJbnv1mOheh_GNkNLoK0NQctjVXcuhUbHFhlBTbIQEslMCWWr7akgMnMj5wVoPARGfJqc_BKAF76wgcDU_47gs0qSEFbapPuxQlboGhj5N_QOUZeizK3IFi9zASsdRsCCSYr2FIopnt7sLSWsENPIZHAPV0rWtV7DA3Kvuz9HjIHFJL2lhDkVwi/s4032/IMG_4891.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrRJbnv1mOheh_GNkNLoK0NQctjVXcuhUbHFhlBTbIQEslMCWWr7akgMnMj5wVoPARGfJqc_BKAF76wgcDU_47gs0qSEFbapPuxQlboGhj5N_QOUZeizK3IFi9zASsdRsCCSYr2FIopnt7sLSWsENPIZHAPV0rWtV7DA3Kvuz9HjIHFJL2lhDkVwi/w276-h207/IMG_4891.jpeg" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsygVnjXrpM1PcJzO_jAdDO2vfK22HzIEr1Z9gTdNH2l7Upf6aooHvEl812keq9Wf4k22PakDEMLA2JYsduvLlRYbZON9HrBXSvxHMT7xo_U-88Kcmxm6F1ii5c3Gh9LY8uLritUAC91CnsFxldown2ea7ToB42bvBOBJtmwMbyjWqC1PD7-f0hZ28/s4032/IMG_4892.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsygVnjXrpM1PcJzO_jAdDO2vfK22HzIEr1Z9gTdNH2l7Upf6aooHvEl812keq9Wf4k22PakDEMLA2JYsduvLlRYbZON9HrBXSvxHMT7xo_U-88Kcmxm6F1ii5c3Gh9LY8uLritUAC91CnsFxldown2ea7ToB42bvBOBJtmwMbyjWqC1PD7-f0hZ28/w275-h206/IMG_4892.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWBRwsiKQL5cpauZo2qgqlEPwYm8n1w4Nb03VzhqTSkVlIreeSkXm9OuBBnpmnkk3OYqJqGPF2PhhhBDx-fgBVkf9RWihXEQRkzcw-7wXiNnYaRCI5jISQeKAKhUZj7xJx31P49zQLwHGpgi47AEkLpu944JVPpJzIPdlpRThrXDVwfE7boYqNuR0/s4032/IMG_4893.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWBRwsiKQL5cpauZo2qgqlEPwYm8n1w4Nb03VzhqTSkVlIreeSkXm9OuBBnpmnkk3OYqJqGPF2PhhhBDx-fgBVkf9RWihXEQRkzcw-7wXiNnYaRCI5jISQeKAKhUZj7xJx31P49zQLwHGpgi47AEkLpu944JVPpJzIPdlpRThrXDVwfE7boYqNuR0/w275-h207/IMG_4893.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a first game for Joe, who may not have embraced the strategy but definitely embraced the sense of adventure, as time and again he sent his Deep Space x2 Cat onto the rocket, only to see it return one life down from multiple doomed missions.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuYoJ17hL2D-w9dFTn4zL5MbDfnmouPmVi5mz_oevcvo9FypF_CvcB_ZDrBcEHHMdY-z5KqMiOHnrgyjgT837sZOvKvUcnSFx06M5XTVz5Zep5BnRDhaGtDYefJC8Pum8dXIyp9DL9fhSuA6oJLRLLjBhu4JixpZXBzSUcHQwcoHVnk6fFG3deX_8/s4032/IMG_4897.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuYoJ17hL2D-w9dFTn4zL5MbDfnmouPmVi5mz_oevcvo9FypF_CvcB_ZDrBcEHHMdY-z5KqMiOHnrgyjgT837sZOvKvUcnSFx06M5XTVz5Zep5BnRDhaGtDYefJC8Pum8dXIyp9DL9fhSuA6oJLRLLjBhu4JixpZXBzSUcHQwcoHVnk6fFG3deX_8/s320/IMG_4897.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was slightly surprising the game didn't end from our serial failures, so many times did we crash. But Martin's eighth catstronaut making it into the cosmos instead triggered the finale, and unsurprisingly, with so many cats in space, he took a convincing win. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 33</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 20</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy 13</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Joe 12</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we <i>did</i> play So Clover! And it was a triumphant set of leaves, even if Martin did hiss at us to <i>look at all the words</i> again. We'd missed the fact that 'dead' went quite well with his clue of 'extinct' but having had the ambient tip-off, rounded off the evening with maximum points. Thanks all!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63yojvngt2fTuYB5hQCobiVPTdyKp2puIl2_uxE8sdz0i_9nM9RtaLM1zi9YpI-ocrbxxfu24LHiBayVGrNohOD4M-zisXo37pAtaDKqaHwZHA1d13BwdlNHMPWgO8ndmrqKOIEXGr-tNaWgOEhsz2LdqMaK6Tqs2CMPIbviw7MKmYJodN7HdV4xT/s4032/IMG_4898.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63yojvngt2fTuYB5hQCobiVPTdyKp2puIl2_uxE8sdz0i_9nM9RtaLM1zi9YpI-ocrbxxfu24LHiBayVGrNohOD4M-zisXo37pAtaDKqaHwZHA1d13BwdlNHMPWgO8ndmrqKOIEXGr-tNaWgOEhsz2LdqMaK6Tqs2CMPIbviw7MKmYJodN7HdV4xT/s320/IMG_4898.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-30678992391915011872024-02-14T16:15:00.000+00:002024-02-14T16:15:53.421+00:00Dominoes in excelsis<div style="text-align: left;"> I arrived at Laura’s house in the rain to find an even wetter Adam H locking up his bike. We were let into the house by one of Laura’s children and went down to the kitchen where we found Katy already excited about reliving her childhood with a game of Ghost Castle, currently being constructed by Laura. Sam, Ian, Joe and Martin watched from the other end of the table, clearly not convinced of the joys of MB Games.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvpcfxT4Oxr_AHaZF-JHUtHw3fWmw-v89-_2HljdE8dZiADAhC1AFAlfqVuQEGVBiZ0buCUD5G1UGJyCOGNJ_brnHT8GFS3l2_Q44EZzqgpETTDo53AKsdoHWN4v_3LZU-24m6O5kHwPUP_JTOhIXEFtG0tZyFec6KWIFxvjgg8ZjQXLQ0kKvZZKL0AQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvpcfxT4Oxr_AHaZF-JHUtHw3fWmw-v89-_2HljdE8dZiADAhC1AFAlfqVuQEGVBiZ0buCUD5G1UGJyCOGNJ_brnHT8GFS3l2_Q44EZzqgpETTDo53AKsdoHWN4v_3LZU-24m6O5kHwPUP_JTOhIXEFtG0tZyFec6KWIFxvjgg8ZjQXLQ0kKvZZKL0AQA" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>While Katy, Laura and the two smaller gamers began playing Ghost Castle, Joe, Sam and Martin set up Azul and Ian, Adam and I squeezed a game of Kingdomino in the space between them. The cries of excitement from Ghost Castle were mirrored by our cries of disappointment, as we drew tile after tile of crownless-countryside. But Adam didn’t mind, as his forest expanded to absurd proportions. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA_DiQFBk7k9eU0P9ar6PmT4x6VLr7GlBC7ua2n_LBSe0-F-xjqdh5KIDn9A6zA1ln0FABe42lN8h67lZOsviAps8CsPI8vIg_jqsNwvNMr1eZvvFUavD5DstKeLpehVDmlHbVlcQFtwrrF05341LBh885RCceNrGsj593aPEljqQ4tRTpdjF00og2t3s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA_DiQFBk7k9eU0P9ar6PmT4x6VLr7GlBC7ua2n_LBSe0-F-xjqdh5KIDn9A6zA1ln0FABe42lN8h67lZOsviAps8CsPI8vIg_jqsNwvNMr1eZvvFUavD5DstKeLpehVDmlHbVlcQFtwrrF05341LBh885RCceNrGsj593aPEljqQ4tRTpdjF00og2t3s" width="103" /></a></div><br />Adam 74 (50 for forests alone!)</div><div>Andrew 53</div><div>Ian 37</div><div><br /></div><div>At this point, Azul was still in full flwo but Ghost Castle had been replaced by Dragonimo. During that game, Maddie kept calling out “cracked eggs!” and I thought she was saying “crackhead!” until I looked at the board, saw the egss and put two and two together.</div><div><br /></div><div>So we played Kingdomino again. By chance, I made Adam pick up a tile that he couldn’t place thus ruining his 5x5 bonus. I wish I could say I did it on purpose, but I’m not that cunning. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ian 56</div><div>Andrew 49</div><div>Adam 46</div><div><br /></div><div>The other games ended:</div><div><br /></div><div>Dragonimo</div><div>Katy & Riker 15</div><div>Laura & Maddie 10</div><div><br /></div><div>Azul</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtss8jpF2PbihSlfnk8TRnAkkYnIzzm5U-kBlXvHPNFQIqoJ2o1WAnrJ6gwAt0AoCyGj2BzbQ0gliTcLyh6NIgnx8E9LCewOj9KogTXSA3WcDJrAgwWe5LeQiMguY24a4jfVkDKoBvqW2_0doOXKg13vCcqI35MahvZCJMmLynzrfrpOJgyybQ5bwakQY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtss8jpF2PbihSlfnk8TRnAkkYnIzzm5U-kBlXvHPNFQIqoJ2o1WAnrJ6gwAt0AoCyGj2BzbQ0gliTcLyh6NIgnx8E9LCewOj9KogTXSA3WcDJrAgwWe5LeQiMguY24a4jfVkDKoBvqW2_0doOXKg13vCcqI35MahvZCJMmLynzrfrpOJgyybQ5bwakQY" width="103" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Martin 83</div><div>Joe 79</div><div>Sam 39</div><div><br /></div><div>“That was pretty close,” said Martin. Sam begged to differ, although his board was only two tiles away from a big payout.</div><div><br /></div><div>The two youngest gamers were sent up to bed and we turned our attention to more grown-up matters: cats in space! Martin, Laura, Ian, Sam and I buckled up for a trip to deep space. It was a first play for me and Laura, so we got a rules explanation, but it was all pretty clear. Roll certain dice values to move, and then land your cats (each with its own special ability such as x2 planet score, x2 moon score, Parachute to safety even if the rocket explodes, etc). Our first journey was the most successful for a long time and Laura reached the last planet before deep space.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joe, Katy and Adam were more grounded. Literally – their game, Renature, seemed to be all about reintroducing wildlife onto a board that initially resembles a Pac-Man maze made of grass. It was the third game of the evening to use a domino-placing mechanic. I didn’t really follow this game, apart from the occasional cry of surprise like “Double tortoise!” and also a request by Katy to go over the rules a few minutes before they ended. But it was fine.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsdVrWxbW1x6p2Tn0K_HOlOWzPpZ-2inJDkefggmG9wMdRNtLLTXucNCyWmf2kgu8hYx3ak6fd9jOb_Ervuhk3-VpmwOHnAF7cByG1gtF7wfQb9TAxnns5FUb1tw5rjXozvKtO6Sx95qgFPDMko23B8qSaQy5OaoYEvs8RwC7ENJdq6z_AuSWXaboIuPo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsdVrWxbW1x6p2Tn0K_HOlOWzPpZ-2inJDkefggmG9wMdRNtLLTXucNCyWmf2kgu8hYx3ak6fd9jOb_Ervuhk3-VpmwOHnAF7cByG1gtF7wfQb9TAxnns5FUb1tw5rjXozvKtO6Sx95qgFPDMko23B8qSaQy5OaoYEvs8RwC7ENJdq6z_AuSWXaboIuPo" width="320" /></a></div><br />Katy 86</div><div>Adam 67</div><div>Joe 58</div><div><br /></div><div>“I didn’t gloat, and I didn’t ask you to thank me,” she said after the game.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for Mlem, our poor rolling was getting out of hand. Laura rolled five twos and a booster when we needed ones and fours. On Sam’s first turn as commander, he turned up with his parachute on while Ian went one better – when he was commander, he chose his Saboteur Cat to represent him. A lot of fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>Laura 28</div><div>Ian 26</div><div>Sam 21</div><div>Andrew 20</div><div>Martin 19</div><div><br /></div><div>There was also a game of Misfits at some point during the evening. I'm not sure when, though. Most likely while Renature was finishing up. Misfits doesn't really play five and, apart from the photos, my only note about the game was "Martin loses."</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqCukA-DIVvI29IIeDaXGlfoMWwZjDpKaqgTaU9mb6KOC8KxIBEQnT0EMDAmCrPYLR-1OZFgHZS1ee1QBf_X3SIsboNcza1G-b9ERqh3SodzN3uVROb_glpEoe8M0IT3B_Euv8jD9E1mdW4Vm8DOYV0jw5SjAd2e8bJ9QuS-UgaxtEGt6efPwHem811pk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqCukA-DIVvI29IIeDaXGlfoMWwZjDpKaqgTaU9mb6KOC8KxIBEQnT0EMDAmCrPYLR-1OZFgHZS1ee1QBf_X3SIsboNcza1G-b9ERqh3SodzN3uVROb_glpEoe8M0IT3B_Euv8jD9E1mdW4Vm8DOYV0jw5SjAd2e8bJ9QuS-UgaxtEGt6efPwHem811pk" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We reshuffled for the next games. Joe, Martin, Laura and I played Big Top. Ian, Adam, Sam and Katy played Robot Quest Arena.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2cbL7FWOYf8NZgHk1ef3hFfywZUC6vzuvauYpOirfNm62GWCRf2_ygQiF3W-aSP6POlHAP4jID59flW_HgKWpN0SEuyDU6dVu9-tLy4PVvzfkDTgWpA31cHzKNQhAQy174UPwWT0MxNWqmNh98vFUJGFybXSAl49qcXEtCqigxFwFiMQKgAxnY7Knck0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2cbL7FWOYf8NZgHk1ef3hFfywZUC6vzuvauYpOirfNm62GWCRf2_ygQiF3W-aSP6POlHAP4jID59flW_HgKWpN0SEuyDU6dVu9-tLy4PVvzfkDTgWpA31cHzKNQhAQy174UPwWT0MxNWqmNh98vFUJGFybXSAl49qcXEtCqigxFwFiMQKgAxnY7Knck0" width="320" /></a></div><br />Katy 21 or 22</div><div>Sam 20</div><div>Ian 17</div><div>Adam 15</div><div><br /></div><div>While Big Top was a little odd in that we rinsed the bank of money, meaning me, Laura and Martin all ended the game with a lot of cash. Joe, alas, ended the game with no stars. I needed Martin to add up my scores for me, since he refused to believe I’d only come second. He was right. Of course.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjc-5NoaW69yxbSE_Zi_FO4HBm61bId9KwdLlipaCodCJsTczNXShwT3c866rVBU7NUoUFplweFj4E39f7jAY3uk7282Yd-CVBCs_7RQYcBOKfzHJLV989SWqDBjQxs0oJXI-RbaXVN9XxaNtUEr56NDKt1Snpd4Sag3sFpMMNQd_frev-F8X0-27BiF0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjc-5NoaW69yxbSE_Zi_FO4HBm61bId9KwdLlipaCodCJsTczNXShwT3c866rVBU7NUoUFplweFj4E39f7jAY3uk7282Yd-CVBCs_7RQYcBOKfzHJLV989SWqDBjQxs0oJXI-RbaXVN9XxaNtUEr56NDKt1Snpd4Sag3sFpMMNQd_frev-F8X0-27BiF0" width="103" /></a></div><br />Andrew 56</div><div>Laura 53</div><div>Martin 37</div><div>Joe out.</div><div><br /></div><div>At this point I left, but not before the Robot people began playing Stomp The Plank. After carefully setting up the board, Katy ruined everything by winning in the least fun way possible: draw six different symbols on the first turn.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghn7Tf2eB8DlRHu5PiSrs8coj82zpmau3r8MkJz8ODg2W9Z76AY6O4KZCkGCqgRInKb0YXwoLJMToAPv-BaUwsT15t_IXSULHYfNrSDbESGqwnGC09jhDR38SB_jW2WZapF_Q4PMsj-s5Q3_TNpKoi4f53sVTdsRF4dGZlD9OkyiF6va4UQTA2QXuz2ro" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghn7Tf2eB8DlRHu5PiSrs8coj82zpmau3r8MkJz8ODg2W9Z76AY6O4KZCkGCqgRInKb0YXwoLJMToAPv-BaUwsT15t_IXSULHYfNrSDbESGqwnGC09jhDR38SB_jW2WZapF_Q4PMsj-s5Q3_TNpKoi4f53sVTdsRF4dGZlD9OkyiF6va4UQTA2QXuz2ro" width="103" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Katy wins!</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, they had to play again and, although Katy could’ve won in the same way again, she bottled it at the fifth card. Adam didn’t so much Stomp the Plank as Shuflle Forward Slowly. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNIVGdm77XFE2cAavdKX2aGKCJdZhtvMn_Ntd5wQEdY3wlbaHIFTrag6e6NMXOPNFR7vUiuoiRMRHhZBAyTDFK2rTMyoXLugvtIH_QKYw12XdwOoK98CPxCmwE9gVJheNW2mv_x_4fvIlaqBcOqr8N6So832pMQTSU6jmiKxbRvyEG09DLWeh89rbYrqY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNIVGdm77XFE2cAavdKX2aGKCJdZhtvMn_Ntd5wQEdY3wlbaHIFTrag6e6NMXOPNFR7vUiuoiRMRHhZBAyTDFK2rTMyoXLugvtIH_QKYw12XdwOoK98CPxCmwE9gVJheNW2mv_x_4fvIlaqBcOqr8N6So832pMQTSU6jmiKxbRvyEG09DLWeh89rbYrqY" width="103" /></a></div><br />Sam won the rematch!</div><div><br /></div><div>And, I’m told, they ended with So Clover.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks all, see you next week!</div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-27831904716125120672024-02-07T17:30:00.009+00:002024-02-07T17:36:37.984+00:00The Big Band Theory<div style="text-align: left;"><div> Katy, Ian and I simultaneously arrived at Joe’s door under a steady downpour. Downstairs in the kitchen, Martin was already there and, to my surprise, the five of us were the entire attendance for tonight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Five is always an award number for games, and Martin refused one new game – Franchise – on the grounds of its ugliness and so we played Zoo Vadis again. It was Katy’s introduction to the zoo-based game and she initially asked if it was ethical. Martin reassured her that the animals were in charge of this zoo and Katy seemed happy with that. Then again, when she learnt that the game involves buying votes, she didn’t have a problem with that but I suppose we all have our own red lines.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7sk-ZG3us8McPOsklrOxWDN3Cc2_1jWfvV1UOXX4gMP7uq8TyJ-mMuE2Y91kyXXmyHux4qB5qLKV_K_fhuyJUr5TjgdPrMSf6IAavSCUNgKG_hdpvPegHe8TjHTXVCOYcrEQoJ88GyJRf_3XQ8sCCQGF3wwFNQm7UP2D_E6KBnwtWQ3CfWyzKhnNBbHU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7sk-ZG3us8McPOsklrOxWDN3Cc2_1jWfvV1UOXX4gMP7uq8TyJ-mMuE2Y91kyXXmyHux4qB5qLKV_K_fhuyJUr5TjgdPrMSf6IAavSCUNgKG_hdpvPegHe8TjHTXVCOYcrEQoJ88GyJRf_3XQ8sCCQGF3wwFNQm7UP2D_E6KBnwtWQ3CfWyzKhnNBbHU" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This time we played with the animal powers. With this extra rule, each animal has a power but they can’t actually use them – they can only sell them to other animals. Katy’s power of immediately moving a piece that had landed in a 1-space area was popular. Oddly, Joe’s tunnelling power wasn’t used at all. I stayed out of a lot of negotiations, only occasionally asking for help. Ian, though, came up with a nice plan that got both of us into the final area.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joe was the last to arrive in the pivotal final area (anyone not there at the end of the game automatically loses) and Martin tried to bargain with him to squeeze out an extra coin. But the negotiation wasn’t too successful since Martin secretly thought he was winning and Joe was pretty sure he was going to be last anyway. In the end, Martin lowered his price because he just wanted the game to end while he was in the lead.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB8lFi7kzCac6r8ScJ4pP44VjrNYU2nLrvbBvr6Z0yBBIgBf_h3fY91fmmg0Xy2Ad8VoYDd6ILpOsVxhMu4AMouEA6sOKBWCJGRftjx-tisb1JyY2IyshP5nGLXjQT2BIH755fBjq8SMBvtWVA54sSz8O7GzDyw1r8xtc1FW0xPSstPobVAIbher-4x9I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB8lFi7kzCac6r8ScJ4pP44VjrNYU2nLrvbBvr6Z0yBBIgBf_h3fY91fmmg0Xy2Ad8VoYDd6ILpOsVxhMu4AMouEA6sOKBWCJGRftjx-tisb1JyY2IyshP5nGLXjQT2BIH755fBjq8SMBvtWVA54sSz8O7GzDyw1r8xtc1FW0xPSstPobVAIbher-4x9I" width="320" /></a></div><br />Martin 28<br />Andrew 21<br />Ian 20<br />Katy 16<br />Joe 15<br /><br /><br />The next game was Ethnos. We had to remind Katy that she had liked this game the last time she played, since she only remembered its bad first impression on her. Martin wondered if maybe it could do with a retheme since, as it stands, Ethnos is some pretty generic fantasy elements and a traced map of Slovakia. We also mentioned the notion that the big scores were to be found in the bands of cards you play – the bigger, the better – and not by area control on the map.<br /><br /><br />But as a game, it’s a lot of fun. In round one, I built up an impressive 6-strong band of halflings while Martin focused on getting pieces onto the map.<br /><br /><br />Round two was the longest possible as the third dragon turned out to be the last card in the pack. At least this gave Joe enough time to remember that it was okay to collect groups of the same colour, not just of the same type. In round three, a song came on the stereo about “safety Joe” which amused us, but maybe he played too safe. Katy’s impressive array of bands of 4, 5 and 6 cards was enough for a sizable win.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGz_6l0bsvufKnFIh0LHM34RtBAXUsT7bu8YIYpwX4-HB4kVc2tO7hpAQHjD9Zzy-bBb-NG_vUN1d2m7NVTLwGOCRML7aMMKX8DP6OHYxmHUeAknBUnJGTzZKGPlmQWQzNEBw4WD3yeZDy3ViEzTn7FpnWHT5W73eP-5QTAAQafZYR1fzg9IEbwT5Etqs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGz_6l0bsvufKnFIh0LHM34RtBAXUsT7bu8YIYpwX4-HB4kVc2tO7hpAQHjD9Zzy-bBb-NG_vUN1d2m7NVTLwGOCRML7aMMKX8DP6OHYxmHUeAknBUnJGTzZKGPlmQWQzNEBw4WD3yeZDy3ViEzTn7FpnWHT5W73eP-5QTAAQafZYR1fzg9IEbwT5Etqs" width="320" /></a></div><br />Katy 110</div><div>Martin 97</div><div>Andrew 75</div><div>Ian 67</div><div>Joe 65</div><div><br /></div><div>Only two games played, but it was already after 10pm. We decided to play So Clover. Long story short: we were not perfect as both Martin and I failed. We mismatched Grenade/Device with Bomb on Martin’s clover and I thought that “Cock-a-doodle-doo” was such a good clue for Rooster/Siren that the others wouldn’t mind that the adjacent clue wasn’t terribly good. But they did mind.</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRmJlyYR05e3WszNtXZ9UsXescqaXF0YMBXOiML7cuGvGZevsUkORG1G8mHaphlp7qB6i_Pbs1A4sl55UJQnp2nOlG0EEwqxd_-qcrCElerIaaZK_9otmk-vnmhmnFNPEcDYo8ObTNvnPnPRa92TwNfnJl1isPbTGYFOVnD2MRhoCttjIwTK7WckenVUY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRmJlyYR05e3WszNtXZ9UsXescqaXF0YMBXOiML7cuGvGZevsUkORG1G8mHaphlp7qB6i_Pbs1A4sl55UJQnp2nOlG0EEwqxd_-qcrCElerIaaZK_9otmk-vnmhmnFNPEcDYo8ObTNvnPnPRa92TwNfnJl1isPbTGYFOVnD2MRhoCttjIwTK7WckenVUY" width="103" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> 32 out of 36</div><div><br /></div><div>I left at this point, and so did Ian, leaving the other three making noises about a second attempt at So Clover. Who knows how it panned out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for another fun evening. See you all soon.</div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-91666492298885144902024-02-02T00:30:00.002+00:002024-02-02T00:30:27.824+00:00Feline Gravity’s Pull<div style="text-align: left;"> I was only a few minutes late this week but I was still the last to arrive. Joe (the host), Adam H, Martin, Katy, Sam (wearing Adam’s glasses because he’d forgotten his) and Ian had already started a game of 6nimmt and had dealt me in, allowing Dirk (our imaginary random player) to choose my cards until I arrived. Dirk had done me proud and, as I sat down, I only had one bullet counting against me. Alas, I couldn’t keep up Dirk’s work and I clocked up scores of over twenty for the first three rounds, ensuring a swift end to the game.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhexZJasASWSubzDJW1I1aisUOovy6RIfVOG5r52D82qHha4QOoGI2OjY933UBVCDDnft4c8hskjhWyOt7205eZ7-zRR3DEKn3zDuVCy__EIDwEtzELCHwHH0iGbvTfhEUvCF6rPpOEI1tM30ns8Z7jYJ3opIus1OB_fCu9rxrAdRr8Mn1mgYA_V3xTgiM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhexZJasASWSubzDJW1I1aisUOovy6RIfVOG5r52D82qHha4QOoGI2OjY933UBVCDDnft4c8hskjhWyOt7205eZ7-zRR3DEKn3zDuVCy__EIDwEtzELCHwHH0iGbvTfhEUvCF6rPpOEI1tM30ns8Z7jYJ3opIus1OB_fCu9rxrAdRr8Mn1mgYA_V3xTgiM" width="103" /></a></div><br />But if I was a constant presence at the bottom of the leaderboard, the same can’t be said for Katy. She picked up only two bullets in the first two rounds and was 16 points clear going into the third round. Unfortunately, she was hit by multiple death spirals, meaning she dramatically dropped from first to sixth.</div><div> </div><div>Joe 22</div><div>Sam 29</div><div>Ian 32</div><div>Adam 35</div><div>Martin39</div><div>Katy 41</div><div>Andrew 83</div><div> </div><div>So we split into two groups. Sam had brought Mlem with him – basically Cats In Space, which is nothing like Bees in Space, Sam assured us – and Katy, Martin and Ian were easily persuaded to join in. I was intrigued by the artwork, but was otherwise engaged with a game of Sheepy Time with Joe and Adam.</div><div> </div><div>In round one of Sheepy Time, Adam and I played almost identical games, as we circled the board almost hand in hand. Joe was the odd man out, marking out his own path and risking an extra circuit after Adam and I had both gone to sleep. In round two, Adam mixed up “winks” and “zeds” and instead said he was going to pickup some zinc, which was funny enough at the time for me to write it down.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />In round three, I slept early, leaving Adam and Joe bouncing around the track, avoiding the nightmare. Adam was next to sleep leaving Joe with the choice to finish too and add a fourth round, or to try and pass his pillow and win the game. He chose to continue even though the nightmare was right next to the fence. And he succeeded!</div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDsr5Cqm5HmNDHvgtUeeECqtVeqDAbg4RxXlHG7OuqI9XKtGloD5GMFGmmLs3BykmhwknXNWtr7e-zKRniE5zU6vRbBzAr94rnXQByfVr3Mxy5r4YmRIrwzW_29pgFluCWXanWLxytVEhsKS91EQcfdyBwwNc8J7iP-xme_ZL6VbNqwu_5olZnQnbKiJs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDsr5Cqm5HmNDHvgtUeeECqtVeqDAbg4RxXlHG7OuqI9XKtGloD5GMFGmmLs3BykmhwknXNWtr7e-zKRniE5zU6vRbBzAr94rnXQByfVr3Mxy5r4YmRIrwzW_29pgFluCWXanWLxytVEhsKS91EQcfdyBwwNc8J7iP-xme_ZL6VbNqwu_5olZnQnbKiJs" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Joe wins!</div><div>Adam 2nd</div><div>Andrew 3rd</div><div> </div><div>On Mlem, the game began sensibly enough, with Katy declaring that she’d landed on a moon and then that she’d gone to deep space. Eventually, however, the more usual GNN vocabulary crept in as I distinctly heard that Ian had “taken the dick” and that the game ended suddenly when Katy “rolled like shit.”</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWCQZf3U0reb0HvLUhaAN3f55IldXDJhPb6Hp2Z_YRUD9EHj292-LBDfuPubWZTFnP2lRspiBGyPTJIZNWFPGD-wQ68hfKiQiuo6WPRBJlK_ddxDoRa5MtZEuhXKZQewYnQvlvGIELwpNzPVKAcPT6yRxeWfe7zfzNXy8g6L4bGJM2zlWHxo832t4HBz4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWCQZf3U0reb0HvLUhaAN3f55IldXDJhPb6Hp2Z_YRUD9EHj292-LBDfuPubWZTFnP2lRspiBGyPTJIZNWFPGD-wQ68hfKiQiuo6WPRBJlK_ddxDoRa5MtZEuhXKZQewYnQvlvGIELwpNzPVKAcPT6yRxeWfe7zfzNXy8g6L4bGJM2zlWHxo832t4HBz4" width="103" /></a></div><br />Martin 27</div><div>Sam 26</div><div>Ian 25</div><div>Katy 23</div><div> </div><div>Then they played Inside Job, which Sam won. I don’t know anything about that game, except for Martin saying that someone should have warned him that Sam was about to win.</div><div> </div><div>While they enjoyed Inside Job, we played Las Vegas. I began by picking out a pair of sixes from my dice and placing them because “sixes are the most difficult to roll”. Meanwhile, Joe scored nothing at all in round three.</div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNcG3pB758SMDDb8CeLfGM1VDr5HAawOR2TDOqRXldxNM9sxOkp-atwHd1szM6Oge3bZlhZ2zqOF5s9tiy2sKBbGNI4xqXe056rCzDc9FhvHLkm1DcLcz-qpi__8EHk-UfRS5q7pXBNP6ytVSLBYpOswIhzimfgc3sWfG-VxskvnQ6PNBn-AclI_qPzaU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNcG3pB758SMDDb8CeLfGM1VDr5HAawOR2TDOqRXldxNM9sxOkp-atwHd1szM6Oge3bZlhZ2zqOF5s9tiy2sKBbGNI4xqXe056rCzDc9FhvHLkm1DcLcz-qpi__8EHk-UfRS5q7pXBNP6ytVSLBYpOswIhzimfgc3sWfG-VxskvnQ6PNBn-AclI_qPzaU" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Andrew 52</div><div>Adam 45</div><div>Joe 35</div><div> </div><div>Vegas was longer than I expected and the group of four squeezed two more games in before we finished. First was Gang of Dice. Sam amazed everyone with his rolling – at one point, scoring 10 with 7 dice when 11 or more would have you bust.</div><div> </div><div>Sam 78</div><div>Martin 35</div><div>Katy 32</div><div>Ian 23</div><div> </div><div>After two wins and two second places, maybe Adam’s glasses were having a good influence on Sam. Alas, it wasn’t to last as the quartet chose Misfits with Katy in feisty mood, determined to win a game. She began with a circle on its side. Impossible to build on. And them she followed that up with a triangle pointing upwards. Almost impossible, but Ian, Martin and Sam all tried valiantly to build.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmALR_h-nOrmVwB_WqgwLRLcw1TAq7ewpd4JufCJQQbslw5NRCXxiGg7GQIsuvfZG8CqBrmXzK-KceM_rFYVYU2_BFadpBpueKhmoqV-oZ3wlMpxChYTeq_oBhVhEZaYFCjCngEt0iekr51OfPwwr4JqiKA2WZxzZ0_xNyaSio99XF9Pzm8bmdcF3knS4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmALR_h-nOrmVwB_WqgwLRLcw1TAq7ewpd4JufCJQQbslw5NRCXxiGg7GQIsuvfZG8CqBrmXzK-KceM_rFYVYU2_BFadpBpueKhmoqV-oZ3wlMpxChYTeq_oBhVhEZaYFCjCngEt0iekr51OfPwwr4JqiKA2WZxzZ0_xNyaSio99XF9Pzm8bmdcF3knS4" width="320" /></a></div><br />Before long, Sam had half the contents of the board in front of him, after having triggered the biggest collapse since… well, since Katy played 6nimmt a couple of hours before.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnOw5kD6-yK_vuuGU-WxNOWcL_wsyJ25fNgLjo6B8nPBta9tnL4D1JDcfMpu-Nr9QmcFnF00ugOufHyyvaOVI-C3Kbbkq7u2EcRfiEGjG4UM5qf6UC_MMSFbRDXXaqvz2HLksvKVrjVTPUcgawH0phPuW_KbvcoVpdzDc9W8xfeg7tWjquiEvfHNh_zJ0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnOw5kD6-yK_vuuGU-WxNOWcL_wsyJ25fNgLjo6B8nPBta9tnL4D1JDcfMpu-Nr9QmcFnF00ugOufHyyvaOVI-C3Kbbkq7u2EcRfiEGjG4UM5qf6UC_MMSFbRDXXaqvz2HLksvKVrjVTPUcgawH0phPuW_KbvcoVpdzDc9W8xfeg7tWjquiEvfHNh_zJ0" width="103" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally we were all together. Unfortunately So Clover doesn't play seven so instead we played Fun Facts. The game began with an inauspicious omen as Joe grabbed a handful of crisps from the bowl and left a trail of crumbs along the table as he brought them back towards him. As for the game, we did okay. Some questions needed clarification, such as “Value of the most expensive thing you’ve ever broken.” I wanted to know if we were allowing for inflation and Adam asked in part broken counted. Ian won that round, having tanked a £1,000 PC.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUzjW1cmqtiC6FrbfKR7nfQvQ3mGjuDx-Hg5ncGBNR_fKm7E8TCVfxpg9qecxF2crckYchbF2SYpQaZ9Ik1vaD1GBe2kPHFkBvxVq6BtQz_vK5ExdVZ2M5es7Pevzno6XvV4k2v7yKBqr2Nq_9IWx0f_k0woNLbZ3ou7c3ucaYFeRfjPgaMN7hJ5eF7cY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUzjW1cmqtiC6FrbfKR7nfQvQ3mGjuDx-Hg5ncGBNR_fKm7E8TCVfxpg9qecxF2crckYchbF2SYpQaZ9Ik1vaD1GBe2kPHFkBvxVq6BtQz_vK5ExdVZ2M5es7Pevzno6XvV4k2v7yKBqr2Nq_9IWx0f_k0woNLbZ3ou7c3ucaYFeRfjPgaMN7hJ5eF7cY" width="320" /></a></div><br />Both Ian and Joe were very choosy about which question they went with. Ian eventually asked “how shy are you?” Perhaps because he knew he’d be top on that one.</div><div><br /></div><div>We scored 38 points: “Nice score, you’re hitting your stride.”</div><div><br /></div><div>I left, as did Ian and maybe Adam. I got confused because there was a lot of movement. People even said goodbye to Katy, and she was only going to the toilet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Without me, the remainers played So Clover twice, scoring fifteen and nineteen.</div><div><br /></div><div>And we’re done for another week. See you next Tuesday!</div><div><br /></div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-76217565187255118222024-01-24T17:41:00.000+00:002024-01-24T17:41:09.951+00:00Lexicon of Laughs<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe was this week’s host and I arrived at his place at 7.30 with Katy following shortly afterwards and Joe and Sam were already there, idly kicking around a game of League of the Lexicon. Adam T arrived soon after too. The game is like Trivial Pursuit but without the board and all the questions are about words. Maybe there are rules involved, but we just rolled a dice and tried to answer a question like “what’s the literal meaning of umbrella.”</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-9af041cf-7fff-ff1c-2900-a6a4ceb8fe64"><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbZDEm4p1zMvimG1skWfV21K9tavHkFR0FBjgtilKGxgNkrduvbmbT8kAuI5siPn2H4eOdPIgnUIfh5nQhQFcXEw0F_H7yReAbPXip6Ve3rDyugrahEzkht4VdRrdcWIIV5RXMLpqujyy8tA9pr5glQiAXBhp_g6NC8w7V65CCNn_l5GFd2LelvtS6y2I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbZDEm4p1zMvimG1skWfV21K9tavHkFR0FBjgtilKGxgNkrduvbmbT8kAuI5siPn2H4eOdPIgnUIfh5nQhQFcXEw0F_H7yReAbPXip6Ve3rDyugrahEzkht4VdRrdcWIIV5RXMLpqujyy8tA9pr5glQiAXBhp_g6NC8w7V65CCNn_l5GFd2LelvtS6y2I" width="103" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then Martin and Adam H came in, with Steve somewhere outside looking for a parking space. He’d get here after another ten minutes.</span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We kicked off the evening with Phantom Ink, the supernatural game of communing with the dead (in this case, Katy and Sam) and trying to deduce a word using obscure questions and unfinished answers. We split into teams. Katy was with Martin, Adam T and Steve while Sam was with Adam H, Joe and me.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsaB1v0ViMe5cEXIKocX-Nx9svBNB1dfFyLbmfoHjZ75OyeUQUGu5eDkiuvF77tf4H3RxlKQQ3Lk7FbJnb4sqvYHVT6JhvBTt6MDH2MfxMnoo-gHn-atBRNqG9ZXgDnoqMHpO7vrU0RYHDhBYP--BzTF1AKJ1BIM3RT7bpA1PHyaXWMUUk8TAIuHvNTE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsaB1v0ViMe5cEXIKocX-Nx9svBNB1dfFyLbmfoHjZ75OyeUQUGu5eDkiuvF77tf4H3RxlKQQ3Lk7FbJnb4sqvYHVT6JhvBTt6MDH2MfxMnoo-gHn-atBRNqG9ZXgDnoqMHpO7vrU0RYHDhBYP--BzTF1AKJ1BIM3RT7bpA1PHyaXWMUUk8TAIuHvNTE" width="103" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We asked questions like “What would happen if you ate it” and Sam wrote down “D” and said the letter outloud, as per the rules, but I think he said “D” with such finality that we were able to guess he was going to write “die” (which is was). The word in question was Mountain (which would certainly kill you if you ate it) which Adam H, Joe and I got on our second guess. The other team were leaning towards “Tent” - something to do with there being a tent in the film Brokeback Mountain.</span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then we split into two groups of eight.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam T, Martin, Katy and Sam played Maskmen. As they went into the penultimate round, there was a possibility of everyone ending on 2 points, but instead the tie was between three people and Katy was left grasping at straws by asking if tied scores maybe cancelled each other out.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2igY256yU7YCfFQuGL_PBuybguyWiDfVwertCPQu7Hs4_HpLKOVpGQwOBUqHcKrwOwTVnf27AD4YJgeEL5kAHZlJMxxFLl8jzH6pncOWUpfi8v4e5AQjdEQA5VwH0UEiBhyh6Zay7b3-F_bsa7TTf5gVnCxb7KzsQLzEV2sLRgnC731ZL9xwg2BFd1Os" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2igY256yU7YCfFQuGL_PBuybguyWiDfVwertCPQu7Hs4_HpLKOVpGQwOBUqHcKrwOwTVnf27AD4YJgeEL5kAHZlJMxxFLl8jzH6pncOWUpfi8v4e5AQjdEQA5VwH0UEiBhyh6Zay7b3-F_bsa7TTf5gVnCxb7KzsQLzEV2sLRgnC731ZL9xwg2BFd1Os" width="103" /></a></div><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam T 3 (wins with most +2 tokens)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Martin 3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sam 3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Katy -1</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then they played Accuse! which Adam T won and then Misfits with it’s by now gravity defying constructions astonishing everyone. And Adam T won that game as well.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUVJ0_LKVQVFoH2wQ7qAJqhlvpkR1RXDEUi_pQyYwM1upmLh_d8UKm5IraDZh_T_PXHGE3Sd5HaG3fIFlyjyzg1xrtGzIMtY7ZGNqx8ibbdtucgNSReuYmJ8cRXxbbKoJgf_O8KTApzbIXL6SgxLLttgF0GyifPnQ5fWuwtayi_mgwv52i8mdpeysWcBo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUVJ0_LKVQVFoH2wQ7qAJqhlvpkR1RXDEUi_pQyYwM1upmLh_d8UKm5IraDZh_T_PXHGE3Sd5HaG3fIFlyjyzg1xrtGzIMtY7ZGNqx8ibbdtucgNSReuYmJ8cRXxbbKoJgf_O8KTApzbIXL6SgxLLttgF0GyifPnQ5fWuwtayi_mgwv52i8mdpeysWcBo" width="103" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During these three games, Adam H, Joe, Steve and myself had been playing Pass Pass, a trick-taking game that encourages loose informal alliances because players who came first and second in a hand get to pick up cards. Cards are points (and so are diamonds on those cards) but most importantly, if a player picks up at least one of each colour then that is a Pass Pass, and three Pass Passes means you instantly win.</span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Steve was distracted by phone calls from his son and also kept playing his cards on top of previously played cards, as if he were playing snap, and we had to keep separating them.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEP35TIKNpmO9EzEomZAUweGs7Ag5xv2Z7EKvxltlUny2MFs09hV3UC65BL-dBTkuIeV-tbMi0crlyZ2lx7-G9C3tvlF_4QlbuTL_-1AFktXJTEg1lPX0zVE09iNPumNyCye1lL3hnweF_-JIcnRnjJoj_ZS5Z2AHKBoCqgRZ74QbDmHHkxo7DdWPAlvc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEP35TIKNpmO9EzEomZAUweGs7Ag5xv2Z7EKvxltlUny2MFs09hV3UC65BL-dBTkuIeV-tbMi0crlyZ2lx7-G9C3tvlF_4QlbuTL_-1AFktXJTEg1lPX0zVE09iNPumNyCye1lL3hnweF_-JIcnRnjJoj_ZS5Z2AHKBoCqgRZ74QbDmHHkxo7DdWPAlvc" width="103" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe was closest to getting his third pass pass but just fell short.</span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andrew 34</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Steve 32</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe 28</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam H 19</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At the end of Pass Pass we watched the end of Misfits ...</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirkq-G1eRkV73ATKE1vXg0AmrUZWg6sTmbPhBICnRkC2QkAV7reDbTSxzOfazWlXDikP1ZvfnfzXAabgOlrLEzyBjYa2ldkhU_QXAbH2-9DP3w5DSrDAmOPSShJPlpaEq6Xa8nB4ESd4irm3GZzFLgnk1u9nBTZzwPykcp0oK7JEFuiFoFPyNVQ6GrsUU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirkq-G1eRkV73ATKE1vXg0AmrUZWg6sTmbPhBICnRkC2QkAV7reDbTSxzOfazWlXDikP1ZvfnfzXAabgOlrLEzyBjYa2ldkhU_QXAbH2-9DP3w5DSrDAmOPSShJPlpaEq6Xa8nB4ESd4irm3GZzFLgnk1u9nBTZzwPykcp0oK7JEFuiFoFPyNVQ6GrsUU" width="103" /></a></div><br />... and then we all reorganised into new groups. Sam, Adam T, Joe and Steve played Robot Quest Arena while Adam H, Martin and I chose Havalandia. But first we squeezed in a game of Trio with Katy before she went off home for an early night. </span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We played as teams and Adam H and I won. I forgot to take a photo until it was over…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB6pJ-ZWJXiTIIEExWYyUimxucHGNcWMIYeDX7kQeoKyBbY7F8eP0dNkmySD60ruOehlj3wy-QuapnBmX7lOuu44G5KCXWdGOap58RiNt11-3sxgpSaRRi3EjNnkZOq9tAjx6t1x2Oq9UXD5eUtipIG0YtoysZ3Frx0mq6Yn7aXrgOCKhd4zKcSCLcC-E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB6pJ-ZWJXiTIIEExWYyUimxucHGNcWMIYeDX7kQeoKyBbY7F8eP0dNkmySD60ruOehlj3wy-QuapnBmX7lOuu44G5KCXWdGOap58RiNt11-3sxgpSaRRi3EjNnkZOq9tAjx6t1x2Oq9UXD5eUtipIG0YtoysZ3Frx0mq6Yn7aXrgOCKhd4zKcSCLcC-E" width="103" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Once Katy had gone, we three played Havalandia. I had the rare pleasure of blocking Martin so he couldn’t make his super high scoring launch, but honestly, it turned out that Martin was the least of my troubles. Mid-game, Martin said we should never let him have a corner to himself, and so it turned out to be.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixNNv6n7pjKLVWUGjzeBKIjud9rtB_RbGt3ZQ_QePoLCfV1efpPgSNodYnBiKjkuYNq9Czy-fCAVytFaFfCxmQtW9MzrdzdjlU5-9ucYBiUo4Ki8i4VEot_otMixi1fN_iEKCe4iwLbvEOPnshI-Z8zyiuac7Kreu8W_W7pDZjl99cVMwCZn0GTlzl-Sg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixNNv6n7pjKLVWUGjzeBKIjud9rtB_RbGt3ZQ_QePoLCfV1efpPgSNodYnBiKjkuYNq9Czy-fCAVytFaFfCxmQtW9MzrdzdjlU5-9ucYBiUo4Ki8i4VEot_otMixi1fN_iEKCe4iwLbvEOPnshI-Z8zyiuac7Kreu8W_W7pDZjl99cVMwCZn0GTlzl-Sg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam H 105</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andrew 83<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Martin 81</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">RQA sounded like fun. Joe bought some advanced AI but then later he simply attacked Sam with a hammer. Adam T must have had a lot of power-ups because he apologised that his turns took twice as long as everyone else.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEqWfEw5Ze0zmhRZ4ZJ6fUA8sBj6hu_cDsOkK8g5oUSuYSjoGqT1JNHiLVHdfcZexomQBlyeStVxt7uLpZkvERHr4IRJgeJJ9XCoyCkNdnzFnhuucTNtec94fkcS2_UWPT5T9Y2bICVS6TACTrVovdcTNo-gIuR_c7UY9nm-e0X83j1fP4YwvJqFdt_Yg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEqWfEw5Ze0zmhRZ4ZJ6fUA8sBj6hu_cDsOkK8g5oUSuYSjoGqT1JNHiLVHdfcZexomQBlyeStVxt7uLpZkvERHr4IRJgeJJ9XCoyCkNdnzFnhuucTNtec94fkcS2_UWPT5T9Y2bICVS6TACTrVovdcTNo-gIuR_c7UY9nm-e0X83j1fP4YwvJqFdt_Yg" width="103" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sam 24</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam T 20</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe 19</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Steve 18<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then Adams T and H and Steve left. Because I had the day off work tomorrow, I was able to stay until the end.</span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We tried Stinker. Always fun and offensive, but somehow not as much fun with fewer players.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sam 3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Martin 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe 1</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andrew 1</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Finally we played So Clover twice. We scored 22/24, just falling short of perfection due to Joe’s clever clue being too clever. He wrote Gazpacho, which we struggled with. It was not helped with “diet” and “tomato” both being on cards but we should have been looking for “revenge”. Because, as Joe later explained, they are both best served cold.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the second game we got a perfect score. Again, Joe’s was last to be served and he had another classic clue: he wrote “asswipe” for tail/soap. Poetic.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">See you all next week.</span></p>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-4747792094973772482024-01-17T23:57:00.000+00:002024-01-17T23:57:55.957+00:00Oregon and on and on<div style="text-align: left;"> After a long queue at a late night pharmacy and google maps vague awareness of Easton’s backroads, I arrived at Steve and Anja’s house at almost half past eight. Around the table were Adam H, Louie, Anja, Martin (one team) and Katy, Ian, Sam (the other team, which at this point, now included me).</div><div><br /></div><div>The game, Rankster, was already halfway through when I joined in and everyone was trying to guess who Ian thought would give the best wedding speech out of John Lennon, LeBron James, Julius Caesar. Ian chose Lennon, by the way. Caesar would be too dramatic and LeBron would contain too many bouncing balls. </div><div><br /></div><div>Steve arrived and he was put on the same team as Anja. Her selection of famous people included Hamlet and Steve immediately put this particular Prince of Denmark in last position because he knew that Anja hated Hamlet. To prove it, he told us about a time he took her to see Hamlet – a highly regarded production directed by Jonathan Miller – and afterwards her verdict was “If I’d wanted to see a man dithering about for three and a half hours, I’d have stayed at home.” A brutal judgement on both Shakespeare and Steve. (Plus, Steve was wrong. Anja put Hamlet second.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Adam, Louie, Anja, Martin 7</div><div>Andrew, Katy, Ian, Sam 6</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we split into three groups. Louie was allowed to stay up long enough to join Ian and Sam in Robot Quest Arena. They were at the far end of the room, and I know nothing about the game except that it is now Louie’s favourite.</div><div><br /></div><div>Louie 28</div><div>Ian 21</div><div>Sam 17</div><div><br /></div><div>Martin, Steve and Anja played London Bridge. At least, they tried to but a determinedly not-sleepy Lennon kept creeping in. Eventually, Anja had to abandon London Bridge so she could get him back to sleep, so Martin and Steve played it as a two-hander. This, apparently, made it quite speedy. And that’s all I know about this game too.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6Ew7VUguLnVbDwijoBBRavqvx_7621kSwmDTpH1RcAQTpYwkEvlvMsoTZsaUF8Pek7UTtZGKteQ0yu2m9VdYptyO2M2p8WNHG2QmhG3Gn9rQmz1H6BetsNhcPgnM04Uidkm8CGe1gUFb5nYnlyNUMNPi3hxkqcw7YTg6IO6IWOXOfm6AchwuzkaY2qg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6Ew7VUguLnVbDwijoBBRavqvx_7621kSwmDTpH1RcAQTpYwkEvlvMsoTZsaUF8Pek7UTtZGKteQ0yu2m9VdYptyO2M2p8WNHG2QmhG3Gn9rQmz1H6BetsNhcPgnM04Uidkm8CGe1gUFb5nYnlyNUMNPi3hxkqcw7YTg6IO6IWOXOfm6AchwuzkaY2qg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Martin 56</div><div>Steve 46</div><div><br /></div><div>The reason for my general ignorance about the state of the other games was because Adam, Katy and I were playing Oregon. It was my suggestion, even though I had only the vaguest memory of the rules. “It’s like noughts and crosses,” I assured a skeptical Katy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Long story short: it’s nothing like noughts and crosses, but frequent references to the rules by me and Adam guided us through the early stages. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the interruptions from Lennon using us as a shield to hide from his parents, and from me trying to find my phone (during this search Katy found Anja’s credit card), the game was fun. Coal mining was inevitably accompanied by a burst of “Workin’ in a Coal Mine” by Lee Dorsey. I don’t really remember but Adam must have sung it most often. Katy also did her fair share of mining, generously removing all of the 1 tiles from the pile!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWafvx_9HcRJ6kMNRHCyhD1kYszUrMuaE2b6ZUk6JKo3oqAFssUjpDuKlNX8qzfkIej7_dUrF_BORHRZ8O5Ud8WJRpauA-Nb_UhZIb2aaDNRBd-iCCriV5CiewUUGcm855sDjDc4AQmhc36gwvbTsEtaSqyvScHKU9iy1k1OQT6IT17902-Rp0CzJvcY4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWafvx_9HcRJ6kMNRHCyhD1kYszUrMuaE2b6ZUk6JKo3oqAFssUjpDuKlNX8qzfkIej7_dUrF_BORHRZ8O5Ud8WJRpauA-Nb_UhZIb2aaDNRBd-iCCriV5CiewUUGcm855sDjDc4AQmhc36gwvbTsEtaSqyvScHKU9iy1k1OQT6IT17902-Rp0CzJvcY4" width="320" /></a></div><br />Adam 80</div><div>Katy 67</div><div>Andrew 59</div><div><br /></div><div>While we populated Oregon, Robot Quest Arena ended and Louie went to bed. Sam, Ian and Anja played Misfits and Sam won. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG_hgqyoTLPdapKcNEy6X_H6aBuN6sFoQGMMnTtyC8ba-ZLPEpZ76MncEoRefIh0r0woYbtCMY0j8XdiyrwStlO7ySPXuLj703EXjymOM8I3vMmFPKgTa_cAyXDmlpTb852ZkLYxv4aPE8KjPr067EUkwm4vOJifkPeudrLOc6Y4foqZ2wjRXVoebENHU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG_hgqyoTLPdapKcNEy6X_H6aBuN6sFoQGMMnTtyC8ba-ZLPEpZ76MncEoRefIh0r0woYbtCMY0j8XdiyrwStlO7ySPXuLj703EXjymOM8I3vMmFPKgTa_cAyXDmlpTb852ZkLYxv4aPE8KjPr067EUkwm4vOJifkPeudrLOc6Y4foqZ2wjRXVoebENHU" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then they played Bag Of Chips. I think it’s mostly to do with condiments and fried food, but my notes tell me that, halfway through, Anja said “Do you see my point about Hamlet?” Don't know why.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alas, I didn’t see how it ended. After an evening of sitting on a sofa that kept threatening to make me fall asleep, I gave up on the evening and set off home and so did poorly Adam. But that wasn’t the end for the rest of them. Goodness me, no. Thanks to Sam for the timely updates.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxj4mSdxgO_thTEkWSr6Li_iOlfsaU7ExpuvjQw7DYueVvMMkvlfR-JwzB5AcI6H7Fr7J2uGSlc8e_9IPszk7_Tzu_OQg1AykmuSsBTKoM2q4WIQZ_URr6wTX-9-L6K_XaGN33HrEVcbMjFIJkt8ODMihDKXEIr_uucsWQJ0iuE1kE6PuN2NnT67JU1pw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxj4mSdxgO_thTEkWSr6Li_iOlfsaU7ExpuvjQw7DYueVvMMkvlfR-JwzB5AcI6H7Fr7J2uGSlc8e_9IPszk7_Tzu_OQg1AykmuSsBTKoM2q4WIQZ_URr6wTX-9-L6K_XaGN33HrEVcbMjFIJkt8ODMihDKXEIr_uucsWQJ0iuE1kE6PuN2NnT67JU1pw" width="103" /></a></div><br />After Ian won Bag of Chips and then they played Just One. Sam discovered that his name upside-down is “Wes”</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_Wk4JKFxDsowODi0Em1RNy4T5hYZoFAJI5-bBCTu2i4-MNh1oPf_YLt6_JBKwR8pk4_lAoE3bS_Q5LgKaWqb9kz3cctdhuDSwdXl3D_F8FPcLnCEkiXGC-TYZokxyQFB6eC3i7esMI6hbFMZa8H8I2IR4zY4oz8d4W-TC4MECbrAajsksMRdaaS2VAK4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_Wk4JKFxDsowODi0Em1RNy4T5hYZoFAJI5-bBCTu2i4-MNh1oPf_YLt6_JBKwR8pk4_lAoE3bS_Q5LgKaWqb9kz3cctdhuDSwdXl3D_F8FPcLnCEkiXGC-TYZokxyQFB6eC3i7esMI6hbFMZa8H8I2IR4zY4oz8d4W-TC4MECbrAajsksMRdaaS2VAK4" width="320" /></a></div><br />And he also sent a photo of the remaining clues from one round so I was able to guess.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFAv_rDsPJHRPaRDMyEmdx6-mclRg46jL2zOiHjmvnQzS1m5sVfAjgr1pUb6ZQWrGQFkT5827_rn0tTUcrHl0azj7-IgD_CJqS6hMg0e5148eAOl-FFXFPlhvpCqVV8dM8jWCQ8-W1ZGHH4Etb2MwocifS8tmZeUKN7EcXHHi44XZYB-HiJy0DlpHwl_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFAv_rDsPJHRPaRDMyEmdx6-mclRg46jL2zOiHjmvnQzS1m5sVfAjgr1pUb6ZQWrGQFkT5827_rn0tTUcrHl0azj7-IgD_CJqS6hMg0e5148eAOl-FFXFPlhvpCqVV8dM8jWCQ8-W1ZGHH4Etb2MwocifS8tmZeUKN7EcXHHi44XZYB-HiJy0DlpHwl_Q" width="320" /></a></div><br />I got it right (and so did Ian) but they didn’t do too well overall, with a score of “average.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Anja and Steve for hosting. Hope to see you all next week!</div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-30401196647613438612024-01-10T19:45:00.001+00:002024-01-10T20:37:11.031+00:00Rhino Knizia <div style="text-align: left;"> I knocked on Laura's front door on a wintry evening, pleased to not have to negotiate the summertime entrance: the grassy side passage which, today, was pitch dark and featured plenty of scaffolding.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She let me in and I found Martin, Ian, Sam, Joe, Adam T and, apparently, Laura's young daughter Maddie all playing Skyjo. Then Laura took her seat and I realised that she and Maddie were a team. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Skyjo seems simple enough. You want as few points as possible as you pick up and discard from the 4x3 grid of (initially face down) cards in front of you. But a column of three of a kind will vanish, making your chances of winning all the better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExpZckJWQKOUwQn0x3w0KzywbHkU9J4s-Wr3qeR9UMl3eFE_Y77Bd_5rzPvXc52mNvuYEnqbX8IlgSApj3vufZUZy4f57rDO46-aEQ6dFHN4Ho1r0UOitAf4fl_W_gesCS6g0WJdRISewjN1JMWVgWxeI40amyb8y8kFDBempgWbjhl1zoxWDexUFdoA/s4032/DSC_2398.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExpZckJWQKOUwQn0x3w0KzywbHkU9J4s-Wr3qeR9UMl3eFE_Y77Bd_5rzPvXc52mNvuYEnqbX8IlgSApj3vufZUZy4f57rDO46-aEQ6dFHN4Ho1r0UOitAf4fl_W_gesCS6g0WJdRISewjN1JMWVgWxeI40amyb8y8kFDBempgWbjhl1zoxWDexUFdoA/s320/DSC_2398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Towards the end of the game, Adam discovered that cards that were still face down did not count as zero but would score whatever their hidden value was. He had five left and suddenly he looked in a very precarious position.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But he needn't have worried. Martin triggered the end of the game by having no more face down cards. But this game has a mean sting in the tail: anyone who ends the game but doesn't have fewest points will have their score doubled. And this is what happened to Martin. Adam discovered that his face down cards were all pretty benign. Laura and Maddie, on the other hand, had played a perfect game!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Laura & Maddie 0</div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 15</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 18</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 21</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 29</div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 46</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Maddie was allowed to stay up for long enough to watch us set up the next game. What a treat! Martin suggested Zoo Vadis because it could play all seven. It's a negotiation game by Reiner Knizia where players move their meeples from area to area by convincing the other players to vote for them. If they do agree, they get one coin from the bank and whatever the negotiator promised. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's an oddly themed game. Apparently it was once about senators in Ancient Rome but then had a retheme whereby we are animals in a zoo. A zoo designed to look like a bit like ancient Rome.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW7zXexrhDQGocJOsXRkgJL3AJfpGF9k0htj9AVQaeX08ddal5LbTpWLKIoF6lGBt-hvd1zEk1xbbfR2ivyxOCFq_mASTx7o1QrlMdLUcWP0f7HKo80nkR83ps7lw4_8muGdnnw7NPRQ_CnxMRbnyhJtfH_oUbZTJffFii0fOgvd37e0e2ZUjDl5LccM/s4032/DSC_2400.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW7zXexrhDQGocJOsXRkgJL3AJfpGF9k0htj9AVQaeX08ddal5LbTpWLKIoF6lGBt-hvd1zEk1xbbfR2ivyxOCFq_mASTx7o1QrlMdLUcWP0f7HKo80nkR83ps7lw4_8muGdnnw7NPRQ_CnxMRbnyhJtfH_oUbZTJffFii0fOgvd37e0e2ZUjDl5LccM/s320/DSC_2400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam began by promising to be absolutely terrible at this game and then proceeded to be very adept at getting a good deal from Joe. Martin sent one of his meeples up a solitary track but that meant it wouldn't have to negotiate and therefore wouldn't make any money. This explains his shockingly low score.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 28</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 18</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 17</div><div style="text-align: left;">Laura 17</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 16</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 14</div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 5</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then we split into two groups. Ian, Adam, Laura and Joe did some old school gaming with Zombie Dice while Martin, Sam and I played Big Top.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This auction game has you bidding on cards and if you bid a number showing on the card in question, that number is covered by a coin, making the card even more valuable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RNEhWVVe0J6hPIhbUfN_kt6f91Ga1hup16X0oWqXaFkTUXvO2qAVRifZzY-XhWwDYS11nA0_eUpiOdvkxlj3Wlz7o1wcpeekBPbhqlF1iPvjiKU4uCbi85jNNT9ncclR6y23xWeDSDLW2fBJ6BhrL-BU3yJcC4ziDl9fJtDy5FAUGqw8DJnyBB-L-4U/s4032/DSC_2405.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RNEhWVVe0J6hPIhbUfN_kt6f91Ga1hup16X0oWqXaFkTUXvO2qAVRifZzY-XhWwDYS11nA0_eUpiOdvkxlj3Wlz7o1wcpeekBPbhqlF1iPvjiKU4uCbi85jNNT9ncclR6y23xWeDSDLW2fBJ6BhrL-BU3yJcC4ziDl9fJtDy5FAUGqw8DJnyBB-L-4U/s320/DSC_2405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam had a huge lead mid game. I ran out of money and Martin had few completed cards until later on. In the final tally, Sam's lead vanished as Martin had collected several big scoring end of game bonuses, pushing his score from a mere 15 up to...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 71</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 58</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 46</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Zombie dice ended</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 15</div><div style="text-align: left;">Laura 5</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 5</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 3 (but almost 11)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They'd also played The Crew Deep Sea Adventure while we finished off big top. No idea how that went. But soon we were all finished and ready to mix things up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Misfits was mentioned, but I didn't think I could cope so I joined Martin and Joe in a game of Accuse. It's a sort of cross between Coup and Cluedo. Coupdo, if you will.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a small game. So small that Martin had accidentally packed it away inside the box for Big Top, and that's already quite small itself. But there was some nice deducing inside that small pack. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe was first to accuse but got the wrong suspect. After the first accusations, the other players have to (secretly) decide how many cards they need to reveal before they can make an accusation. I said one and Martin said none so he went first and was successful!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgeuA5YOg5zIh0SKPgMlAWFGKa-98ZNd5wnU728fpu3FgJct-hprZ0inwtYmQl6RO420H0RhE2V-PPmBfTtW9OikWoETF9PJkZoEg_VdtDL7RkgioZ2h7SHyYpMhfp56pv95FunS5H5_tLZGyfzgvdRt4KGQT67O0dLgALo_KFjaYVPtMMA9xCGX9JTI/s4032/DSC_2411.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgeuA5YOg5zIh0SKPgMlAWFGKa-98ZNd5wnU728fpu3FgJct-hprZ0inwtYmQl6RO420H0RhE2V-PPmBfTtW9OikWoETF9PJkZoEg_VdtDL7RkgioZ2h7SHyYpMhfp56pv95FunS5H5_tLZGyfzgvdRt4KGQT67O0dLgALo_KFjaYVPtMMA9xCGX9JTI/s320/DSC_2411.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian won Misfits. It produced some typically crazy structures but Ian's winning move was simply to put a cube on top of two blocks z after Sam had a catastrophic collapse on his turn.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriVYQDak5XYruyTY5Zvy7E9sN7YKupwpmpBeme2JfDQzme_WqnyvpVLj1z5oqI5H_G-0iCrsl9mDkYu4qO3bcqD8njNWkWTjnHUjbuUfo5C-OddOKZzFsabMmtzdlYKEu8xps3RIZTLjhc6Sd30LEV2IFYhKX7aZJR3k3J0awdVIMWfUmzzXRO85_LkM/s4032/PXL_20240109_215449231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriVYQDak5XYruyTY5Zvy7E9sN7YKupwpmpBeme2JfDQzme_WqnyvpVLj1z5oqI5H_G-0iCrsl9mDkYu4qO3bcqD8njNWkWTjnHUjbuUfo5C-OddOKZzFsabMmtzdlYKEu8xps3RIZTLjhc6Sd30LEV2IFYhKX7aZJR3k3J0awdVIMWfUmzzXRO85_LkM/s320/PXL_20240109_215449231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam left at this point and the rest of us played Team Rankster. This game of deciding who out of three random historical/fictional characters would be best in certain situations was new to me but very easy to learn. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegFE99ZuszVaVtUpb6g2M1mS_IyfAhbA8OGjEp3u5xWostHSJogahnCBPkq0-jzyCjq5sTq7Y_Tfv0eDMcMSXGjydCAGToIEGQNREyPRR9bu4npWqNRqULVbjvSYE1E3MMmwLmfyzQw7cmv2vZ1nSy1TemQHVRkS4zZLhp81choTDgQreroL-zi7Xe58/s4032/DSC_2414.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegFE99ZuszVaVtUpb6g2M1mS_IyfAhbA8OGjEp3u5xWostHSJogahnCBPkq0-jzyCjq5sTq7Y_Tfv0eDMcMSXGjydCAGToIEGQNREyPRR9bu4npWqNRqULVbjvSYE1E3MMmwLmfyzQw7cmv2vZ1nSy1TemQHVRkS4zZLhp81choTDgQreroL-zi7Xe58/s320/DSC_2414.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Interesting to note that Laura wouldn't want Da Vinci to design her house because it'd be too crazy, choosing instead Jon Snow. From Game of Thrones, not the newsreader.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin, Laura and Andrew 3</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam, Ian and Joe 1</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After this, even though So Clover was on the table, I had to leave. It was difficult to resist, especially with Sam saying “I'm taking the lid off!” as I put my coat on, but I was strong.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I later got the score (27 out of 30) and a photo from Sam with the note: “Martin, at one stage: All I can see is cabbage”</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-czfwDVmu1ymNvB4nVPL0PxX3SF5y3BrpFBspGXiF0vNoQ9Rglq0n7wAwgRTOgQCm72tPo3mQSRUB9oLx4Yx7fmFQ68z3lrXcx7fw6nKT2g4iGHuB-Jme5Y1TroWYGiHH9NX2BcPT5Pe-_VfF7H296E4qF23RaRgJ_yqPSchJgN0UhpyAtLOu2IVXBw/s1024/IMG-20240109-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-czfwDVmu1ymNvB4nVPL0PxX3SF5y3BrpFBspGXiF0vNoQ9Rglq0n7wAwgRTOgQCm72tPo3mQSRUB9oLx4Yx7fmFQ68z3lrXcx7fw6nKT2g4iGHuB-Jme5Y1TroWYGiHH9NX2BcPT5Pe-_VfF7H296E4qF23RaRgJ_yqPSchJgN0UhpyAtLOu2IVXBw/s320/IMG-20240109-WA0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for hosting Laura and hope to see everyone again soon!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-17126499500109009702024-01-03T10:23:00.004+00:002024-01-03T10:37:36.584+00:00Alberto in the library with amnesia<p>After the fiesta of the xmas blowout, the first GNN of the new year was a sparsely attended evening, with just Katy and Martin stepping in out of the perpetual rain to see what the night would bring. </p><p>It started with revisiting Big Top, the circus-themed bidding game. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEhhNtQrGNrNOEc2E3q0bvTf-XxkdyQwUonzucHmrBmJZDSttmcKoTSwU326HJrJa-GsGvnTJ70g5r8NeSozwGk-JcTXw80G0UxiDKry78x_yhOHJtD3-HO49F2mnw18_Fbz3cPtTULnYZYL-JK44uN3DoQnD_0rEOmizP3Hs7kzuqa-wE0KLZHqt/s4032/IMG_4553.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEhhNtQrGNrNOEc2E3q0bvTf-XxkdyQwUonzucHmrBmJZDSttmcKoTSwU326HJrJa-GsGvnTJ70g5r8NeSozwGk-JcTXw80G0UxiDKry78x_yhOHJtD3-HO49F2mnw18_Fbz3cPtTULnYZYL-JK44uN3DoQnD_0rEOmizP3Hs7kzuqa-wE0KLZHqt/s320/IMG_4553.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>In our debut play the other night, I'd won courtesy of nabbing early auctions before the prices rose. This time I was given no such licence as bids went up earlier. But it was also a game of over-expenditure, as we all found ourselves cash-poor at times, something Katy was concerned by as she had a card that gave her a great exchange rate for coins. Martin twice bought his own cards, and fretted about that. It was a game of ruminations.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 61<br />Katy 49<br />Martin 41</div><p style="text-align: left;">Next up was <i>Accuse!</i>, where we are trying, Cluedo-like, to ascertain the location, weapon and personnel of a murder. There are two locations (three cards of each) three weapons (two cards of each) and six suspects (one card of each). A little information is shared but most is hidden; some in your hand. Turns pass with someone playing a card to the table face-down and announcing what it is. Airport, gun, person, etc. But the catch is you can lie and you can be challenged, which prompts a switching of cards from player to player or a card on the table being revealed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhe07jnGIqlmNRV_o4cyfMxFCeOk7ARTVTxwLiS0iO7GKaNuP4lVeQmVYygAUowaX446iJzof_siMBaoYo2BdGPREsIa_km1QHsTmoqz4pTD0JTow-AQ9sWsvWXVPhPHXKQ2n7yQ4QNwjIBET-2FKyO2o76Id-CFbjXhEuNle4nd0_IO1bkxk1fJP/s4032/IMG_4558.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhe07jnGIqlmNRV_o4cyfMxFCeOk7ARTVTxwLiS0iO7GKaNuP4lVeQmVYygAUowaX446iJzof_siMBaoYo2BdGPREsIa_km1QHsTmoqz4pTD0JTow-AQ9sWsvWXVPhPHXKQ2n7yQ4QNwjIBET-2FKyO2o76Id-CFbjXhEuNle4nd0_IO1bkxk1fJP/s320/IMG_4558.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When you're ready, you can grab a pawn and make your guesses, revealing the crime cards only to yourself. If you're correct, you win! If not, the other players make bids as to how many cards they'll flip over before they make a correct guess, with the lowest bidder going first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCtq7w_3csy4u1SjsZ0qmbWH6hRp9a9BI2CFJHCk-Tc8Y1RIPp4hx9OVO2sSo5zNF4ZUuwO_6uFKEnYjV_Uz53lg4s3SxQUHsIg6XbFBEZPrzVu-4KoXNbeuaWqUevlkYnDtyC0mbieeQWc2UY_-Gib5MKFwjkWoZ3NF90CHNIF0wHW9gegdG7NSx/s4032/IMG_4559.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCtq7w_3csy4u1SjsZ0qmbWH6hRp9a9BI2CFJHCk-Tc8Y1RIPp4hx9OVO2sSo5zNF4ZUuwO_6uFKEnYjV_Uz53lg4s3SxQUHsIg6XbFBEZPrzVu-4KoXNbeuaWqUevlkYnDtyC0mbieeQWc2UY_-Gib5MKFwjkWoZ3NF90CHNIF0wHW9gegdG7NSx/s320/IMG_4559.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy and Martin won a game apiece here, the second after we'd collectively suggested there were eight airport cards (there are three) and challenged just two of them. I might have won the second but I accused Bo, who I'd forgotten was in my hand just minutes earlier. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy and Martin: Detectives!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam: Demoted</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up was Misfits, the game of collaborative tower-building where you're actually trying to make the other players cause the tower to fall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqH0DpQ7cSGxWQ5zrgZe_aAEy9qk1ZrEOLQcepMamm7f3y-NFInuQIgtMbZF6yxxfO53HaVMjNC2L43OqOLfeJcGMZ2y51InEg6eO9Tw7YrpQWLHlNolDlqgzLnbzkbQKGiybdpSZ1p9Qy56Tqz0q_zg-gPhEEFe2skYh6oebpucsedqBIAmUW1BQ/s4032/IMG_4562.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqH0DpQ7cSGxWQ5zrgZe_aAEy9qk1ZrEOLQcepMamm7f3y-NFInuQIgtMbZF6yxxfO53HaVMjNC2L43OqOLfeJcGMZ2y51InEg6eO9Tw7YrpQWLHlNolDlqgzLnbzkbQKGiybdpSZ1p9Qy56Tqz0q_zg-gPhEEFe2skYh6oebpucsedqBIAmUW1BQ/s320/IMG_4562.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJau3X9Yt_UaBGqrQietFCtzQZJfpx17q9_V_Cvtmy1xOdBGOAqBTcKGVmZayJzwYhrD-0MoaRdJN90JUlXYacGcgjqOKWkuVIrAV4AJNLeYgvJS87iXLqwUES4h8C78jQlOl5XC34jK1TYdtuioU4i4GJpB3gFm9ctSQeHDL-M2rBupB-TPR9CXT/s4032/IMG_4565.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJau3X9Yt_UaBGqrQietFCtzQZJfpx17q9_V_Cvtmy1xOdBGOAqBTcKGVmZayJzwYhrD-0MoaRdJN90JUlXYacGcgjqOKWkuVIrAV4AJNLeYgvJS87iXLqwUES4h8C78jQlOl5XC34jK1TYdtuioU4i4GJpB3gFm9ctSQeHDL-M2rBupB-TPR9CXT/s320/IMG_4565.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7skYrz5a-Q1I28aLEpUDkIGtcn_52HyMn1mwjsjpshdkHWY693HmCFLVF6YatG3zP-34UMUc-w4lNwXsjuf81uSJiPbHorAxxpLMxNXRAj6FTxxLj3Vq6CkSoi7RIOvXyGqS5WMVoYlPqCG2EIEO_ja0vGj2RI-WnmsUY_sgCUogCQtmTO5qyeIa/s4032/IMG_5378.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7skYrz5a-Q1I28aLEpUDkIGtcn_52HyMn1mwjsjpshdkHWY693HmCFLVF6YatG3zP-34UMUc-w4lNwXsjuf81uSJiPbHorAxxpLMxNXRAj6FTxxLj3Vq6CkSoi7RIOvXyGqS5WMVoYlPqCG2EIEO_ja0vGj2RI-WnmsUY_sgCUogCQtmTO5qyeIa/s320/IMG_5378.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For a game of even simpler rules than Bandu, it's surprisingly brutal, and together we concocted the kind of constructions that architects would shake their heads at. Or possibly admire, I'm not sure. Either way, I won both games, although apparently the first one didn't count, for obscure reasons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up was Romi Rami, or Rome Rams as my computer likes to call it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTFjk_Xw_bWtMJ_sJa1_D0yGM_3X5LFbSc9ycjzSzFT7dAzBq73g7PsGKDOINtgMGTuH-tCSRRetCNqr81HahQ4vUkEjnCDHDLBnqFzAKdDhHgCCezoyjg0XK3NVxOeGFNhAEj5eXZTH2-7iO7RjCQtGR4fTSGGDhfVGBJf9Xs1ja56gz0jjpeKsa/s4032/IMG_4567.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTFjk_Xw_bWtMJ_sJa1_D0yGM_3X5LFbSc9ycjzSzFT7dAzBq73g7PsGKDOINtgMGTuH-tCSRRetCNqr81HahQ4vUkEjnCDHDLBnqFzAKdDhHgCCezoyjg0XK3NVxOeGFNhAEj5eXZTH2-7iO7RjCQtGR4fTSGGDhfVGBJf9Xs1ja56gz0jjpeKsa/s320/IMG_4567.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy got off to a strong start and was definitely points leader as Martin and I bemoaned our fates of heart contracts with only diamonds and clovers available on the table. But we came back into contention, and I even snuck ahead of Katy by the slenderest of margins, surviving Martin's abrupt ending of the game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 34</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy33</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 28</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think at this point we had the first round of Katy's hot cross buns with Katy's homemade jam. Thanks Katy! Delicious. But more importantly there were games to be played. I was introduced to Bag of Chips, which I'd seen at Novocon but not actually played. It's a dumb but fun betting game that min-maxers would no doubt despise, as you discard/play cards as bets on what chips will come out of a bag. Naturally, I liked it! I won after two rounds and when Katy insisted we play a third, I won that too. MORE CHIPS PLEASE. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqeORW7aWZyFgUrN6UB6pHySV1hMcFPxvkPkRjy6H8SPRzaKf26u9SRQILMBlsyCVWzhFzCVRiHEbqtdytVamfJfWsloUG0aF9kUmP85eFxZkdsoNGfUvklI_5NpikeGD3lNMJp31AxcB3T6-BuDRpmPFiegOTJDZEzyw4VbcaHYB8qtA0WNQMdBo/s4032/IMG_4571.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqeORW7aWZyFgUrN6UB6pHySV1hMcFPxvkPkRjy6H8SPRzaKf26u9SRQILMBlsyCVWzhFzCVRiHEbqtdytVamfJfWsloUG0aF9kUmP85eFxZkdsoNGfUvklI_5NpikeGD3lNMJp31AxcB3T6-BuDRpmPFiegOTJDZEzyw4VbcaHYB8qtA0WNQMdBo/s320/IMG_4571.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then played So Clover - I got no pics - and scored 13 out of 18 when Katy and I struggled with Martin's clover.We finished up and had another round of hot cross buns and jam to keep us going. We played So Clover again. This time one of Katy's clues was the letter 'O' which bamboozled us. We initially put it with limbo and Katy hissed 'look at all the words' which frankly is breaking the laws of So Clover, Martin what have you started here, before we tried putting it with <i>boot </i>and<i> full</i> (bootofull!) before finally spotting Cup and Soap (cup o soap) which was correct! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we did marginally better, 14 out of 18 and although I'm sure we'd all have loved to play again, it was time to wrap things up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Outside the rain continued to fall, so it was hoods up and off into the dark night. Until next Tuesday... happy new year all.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-71219636253616996602023-12-31T12:30:00.003+00:002023-12-31T17:14:10.142+00:00A turnip for the books<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Two o'clock on a drizzling afternoon between Christmas and New Year is not usually an occasion to celebrate but this Saturday saw the annual GNN Christmas do and I was there right at the start. Katy was the only other gamer at Sam's table and, after a brief chat, we began the day's gaming with Misfits. This is basically Bandu but we all share a single tower and we're all trying to make it impossible for other players to place pieces without collapsing.</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-28295263-7fff-deed-15ef-97ae455da138"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Katy initially thought it was co-operative but Sam assured her to be dastardly. So she left it almost impossible for him to add anything, prompting him to say “That's dick dastardly.” Katy won the first round, having never picked up a single piece. </span></p><div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe arrived and we began again and Katy began with a very mean upright circle. It didn't last long but soon our tower had one section, a narrow but usually flat-topped part of the tower, where we kept building up and it falling down. No one went for too long without picking up more pieces and Sam soon said that it was the longest game he'd seen “by about 150%.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho3aL9G85D5m5HtsSeTY0GkOnCu_sBOd6F6x6FNRAcImPnjggeK244klRGtQdoOiGXmDixOAMmKmg8SZjqQHTPiK6IEqqS0U1NDtaPgQOx2csZCUmkLhT2Em_YMeR8-BZddtEe5XbSeXC6w1IDeo-v_Vm0JZSF2ylQayYCkQysmWEkMoMJ8gbDJbAcDvs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho3aL9G85D5m5HtsSeTY0GkOnCu_sBOd6F6x6FNRAcImPnjggeK244klRGtQdoOiGXmDixOAMmKmg8SZjqQHTPiK6IEqqS0U1NDtaPgQOx2csZCUmkLhT2Em_YMeR8-BZddtEe5XbSeXC6w1IDeo-v_Vm0JZSF2ylQayYCkQysmWEkMoMJ8gbDJbAcDvs" width="103" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Katy won again after I thought I'd stopped her from placing her last piece with a clever use of an upright circle. But her cube perched happily on top.</span></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then we played Word On The Street, a sort of tug of war with letters. A card suggests a topic and you have to think of a word that fits. Then spell that word while dragging certain letters of the alphabet towards you if you use them. Drag them far enough and they're yours. First to have eight letters wins.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeZhumwSzSjuJtSIitRib4af9tH2MKdyr-BkFYM01J5v5RGzMH06f5OByHGVD_Mv_0YSPHHgVqH5utRbyX3_SvaRcjhV8Ge-CW9fbFFNn2hzUS4owaF3690FQvvW82nAwiTM16nAceJAlnHXaB3LyED_32zPP2O99rFMOco_SI_iWPz-2lKvkGKWFLWIQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeZhumwSzSjuJtSIitRib4af9tH2MKdyr-BkFYM01J5v5RGzMH06f5OByHGVD_Mv_0YSPHHgVqH5utRbyX3_SvaRcjhV8Ge-CW9fbFFNn2hzUS4owaF3690FQvvW82nAwiTM16nAceJAlnHXaB3LyED_32zPP2O99rFMOco_SI_iWPz-2lKvkGKWFLWIQ" width="103" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All of this must be done within the time set by a very strict hourglass, which made it all very stressful. Katy left the spelling to Joe, lacking confidence in her own abilities. She also demonstrated a strange habit of answering "crucifix!" to a number of questions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sam & Andrew 9</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe & Katy 7</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During this, Laura arrived with pizza and then Steve and Anja turned up with crisps and children. After some rearranging and making sure the children were happy with videogames, we split into two groups. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sam, Steve and I played Apiary, the thinly themed game of bee-based science fiction. Laura, Anja, Katy and Joe played Quest for Eldorado. The table hummed to the sound of simultaneous rules explanations. Just as things were beginning, Martin arrived. We'd known he was coming but somehow we expected to be further into our games than this. “If I'd known, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry to get here,” he said.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Despite his insistence that he was fine to relax and watch, Laura decided she could happily sit out Eldorado and join him in a two player game, so they took over the sofa, grabbed a stool as a table and played Romi Rami, a variant on rummy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFVowN_8jv56FJOlGZwgnBDNE-YPKW-vrf3sAU504Eo6urRaO4MtjbQLMUgOPkakfdSPQ5bvXlE4pywIruxZnLk4IZ0inYYpMrEs09jIlrf5GBEHiyz4jryKrYm9CPdf59CowLtCtnl2YQtfw2hJaIZiWZVEM1MmXtcdzLQYDgu2WgsyCZtp11l0ZBLsA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFVowN_8jv56FJOlGZwgnBDNE-YPKW-vrf3sAU504Eo6urRaO4MtjbQLMUgOPkakfdSPQ5bvXlE4pywIruxZnLk4IZ0inYYpMrEs09jIlrf5GBEHiyz4jryKrYm9CPdf59CowLtCtnl2YQtfw2hJaIZiWZVEM1MmXtcdzLQYDgu2WgsyCZtp11l0ZBLsA" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f6b81a2a-7fff-a19d-62b0-48263c947359"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Eldorado was new to Anja but it was Katy who found it hard going, spending ages stuck behind “a wall of nonsense.” Joe won and Anja came second.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxywpXKAqUP5mtcmfAHCVdPc28otca55acS2eEDE0Dh5wx5URE-IYuinl7I6Q7E2jdOgyheOqm1lJegDlagsXpxfR0ih5DWXpXjRFcychJavPV6yCnkkCUofTRguvTV26XVSi-8MCb0icALoWb_viNw6i1TzVW5ZjXUfoTHTKD_glOrPOKXht0aLxcyfA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxywpXKAqUP5mtcmfAHCVdPc28otca55acS2eEDE0Dh5wx5URE-IYuinl7I6Q7E2jdOgyheOqm1lJegDlagsXpxfR0ih5DWXpXjRFcychJavPV6yCnkkCUofTRguvTV26XVSi-8MCb0icALoWb_viNw6i1TzVW5ZjXUfoTHTKD_glOrPOKXht0aLxcyfA" width="103" /></a></div><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Apiary was slow moving. Steve found parts of it baffling but it didn't seem to hurt his strategy. I, for some reason, focused on the favour track (“That's one up the Queen's favour!”) and ignored the end of game scoring. A hopeless idea. Even if I'd maxed out the favour track, I still would've been last.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-FawNMuYVQpIwV-wBy0akSx-y_e3rKv9_-F8VToO6wCTI_peZ6Td0lqeqsI6LOz40ZrGuX6LcUubIpI-o1wyGCKX7UaUe8-PALCUxNBOTFe4BDI4Bywxs_D6Sornu4jfcLaZ_HHxcUyX_ZsfacyTfLCeTtYjee-UiKCvE4YSDHpoqiTC8GkuQzO5Zkw0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-FawNMuYVQpIwV-wBy0akSx-y_e3rKv9_-F8VToO6wCTI_peZ6Td0lqeqsI6LOz40ZrGuX6LcUubIpI-o1wyGCKX7UaUe8-PALCUxNBOTFe4BDI4Bywxs_D6Sornu4jfcLaZ_HHxcUyX_ZsfacyTfLCeTtYjee-UiKCvE4YSDHpoqiTC8GkuQzO5Zkw0" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Steve 81</span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sam 71</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andrew 46</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the time it took us to finish Apiary, two other games were completed.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hitster was a Timeline-style game with QR codes on cards, read by an app that would then play a pop tune, anywhere from the 50s until today. Put the card in the correct place (once you've tried to identify it). Since I wasn't playing, I found it easy to guess the songs but me and Steve agreed that, should we actually play it, we'd find it impossible. Katy had trouble with song titles, having to sing Dancing in the Dark by Springsteen right up until the chorus until she was able to guess its name.</span></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibXdDhRbWAAY2LnTkYMfgL76Uej5BTnpRlSLtaO8g3VgL3W2ADAyWato3PsnGeWt4nTT_V_8EEGmTlQCIHqIm2-tBcwZ6JE4XvFMAsJUQODWZZXmrRP8fJxpXfwJPbOzLoBbi5ujOlApckB0gFdKQXBilgHAKR9dAHKAoTsmxuQrK4s-l_mS8GW3OVTMA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibXdDhRbWAAY2LnTkYMfgL76Uej5BTnpRlSLtaO8g3VgL3W2ADAyWato3PsnGeWt4nTT_V_8EEGmTlQCIHqIm2-tBcwZ6JE4XvFMAsJUQODWZZXmrRP8fJxpXfwJPbOzLoBbi5ujOlApckB0gFdKQXBilgHAKR9dAHKAoTsmxuQrK4s-l_mS8GW3OVTMA" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joe won, and Laura must've come last based on her (good natured) refusal to ever play it again. At this point Joe had to leave, because he had friends visiting from London who, apparently, would think it strange if he wasn't there to greet them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam and Hannah arrived (with Arthur, who swiftly disappeared in the front room). They all played Cross Clues, and scored 22 out of 25. Anja had the highlight of the game by cluing Red and Light with “district.”</span></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7UJ8KSB-dJ3WX62f_h2_FpiXVdKRAEX-Xgw0t7ZLDOptCxPxUbXZ_tLbX7RMDbXKFpf_rpuOlZUumG6fLBUc0vpMJ7B7M_YrRhdijxD8R_OHClxfOrh6-0_-GXHhp1uDuiLL6QFV9fpTEyuBONANo9WQzOAbO5symqDBGLTXzWRfpzObdZbb4aCcmyBo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7UJ8KSB-dJ3WX62f_h2_FpiXVdKRAEX-Xgw0t7ZLDOptCxPxUbXZ_tLbX7RMDbXKFpf_rpuOlZUumG6fLBUc0vpMJ7B7M_YrRhdijxD8R_OHClxfOrh6-0_-GXHhp1uDuiLL6QFV9fpTEyuBONANo9WQzOAbO5symqDBGLTXzWRfpzObdZbb4aCcmyBo" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Finally, with Apiary finished and back in its box, everyone was available again. The next game we played was Food, which is a resource management game concerning the pizzas that Laura brought from Lidl and Adam and Katy walking through the rain for chips, mushy peas and curry sauce. Just like Agricola, we had to also feed the children but unlike Agricola they weren't able to eat wood.</span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During the meal, we did the annual GNN quiz. With Sam as the quiz master we split into teams according to where we sat around the table. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This lead to a slight imbalance in terms of regular attendees, with Martin, Adam, Laura and Katy on one side and Steve, Anja, Hannah (“I think I was at the start of one games night this year”) and me on the other side.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But we did okay. Steve got up to get a beer just as Sam asked a question that he would've known, which was irritating but equally he did help me get the answer to What was Joe's clue for Nail/Young in So Clover.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the end, we did okay, but I think that if I'd just answered Joe every time, I would've scored 6.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Katy etc. 14/25</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andrew etc. 10/25</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, having been reminded that Joe kissed Kylie Minogue and finding out how much Katy loves Fields Of Arle (she had to stop playing it when she began dreaming about it) we began gaming again.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In a tussle for players, Martin lost Katy’s commitment to Big Top when Sam and Laura started to set up Raccoon Tycoon, leading to some falsetto claims/denials of betrayal between the two of them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam, Steve and Anja set up Cascadia at the sensible end of the table, while Martin and I returned to the games cupboard to choose a game for us and Hannah. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We plumped for Spots and we were just setting up when Laura got a call from home, asking for help with getting the kids to bed. She had to go, leaving Raccoon Tycoon not yet started. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">With this new development, Martin gallantly did not insist that's exactly what Katy deserved but instead we joined together for a five player game of Texas Showdown. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We played with the New Rule, in which playing the highest card in a winning suit means that suit is cancelled and can't win, unless all the other suits are cancelled too. It makes the game much more uncertain as playing a suit that you're sure no one else has may still win the trick if everyone else plays a suit that is subsequently cancelled.</span></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5E3t_6hZz8gkOepHilWbnwLEgPYTsfCugCfTrH3RmT6hVr0lXQh6VdOQxlF8qOJ76hExgAvHDGvofHXYlH7Pqqp283s0nyPu5V4nKvgwcGJj7TwpAagegsON6hZZFvdx1oelXOciuAxwD87uNavCT0Sg4GKM3hpGRSUzIysH0y0aSZd2YqcjLfJUjJz0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5E3t_6hZz8gkOepHilWbnwLEgPYTsfCugCfTrH3RmT6hVr0lXQh6VdOQxlF8qOJ76hExgAvHDGvofHXYlH7Pqqp283s0nyPu5V4nKvgwcGJj7TwpAagegsON6hZZFvdx1oelXOciuAxwD87uNavCT0Sg4GKM3hpGRSUzIysH0y0aSZd2YqcjLfJUjJz0" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It was great fun. Sam's first round was appalling and maths genius Martin helpfully pointed out that he was already halfway to the losing score of twelve. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But then he turned it around and by round three he was still last but level with me and Hannah and only three behind leader Katy. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But he picked up four tricks in round four while Katy went clear for a comfortable win.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Katy 5</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Martin 9</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hannah 11</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andrew 11</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sam 12</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cascadia had been bubbling along with occasional phrases drifting across the table. “Anja, always with the fish,” said Steve, sounding like a disappointed Jewish grandfather at Passover. “I've got no elk,” Anja realised late on while Adam wondered if it was “too late to get into bears.”</span></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrjMqLKnyOECXglQRBM9KbRJA0siWxi019Kv3jnUMwcpnj_bDLV3iSUcEGV0WsgIfjmjzLd5mKrfRaxh_T_0Q5lkbDuXnOUAISzknBDUO_WOmiAG5suENkGJowKElmO03x33uo9HyA6Ty_3uy4eqJPNHmrgxlMGG9lXPq15VN6w8pnE1Id1Z98tuKIKyQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrjMqLKnyOECXglQRBM9KbRJA0siWxi019Kv3jnUMwcpnj_bDLV3iSUcEGV0WsgIfjmjzLd5mKrfRaxh_T_0Q5lkbDuXnOUAISzknBDUO_WOmiAG5suENkGJowKElmO03x33uo9HyA6Ty_3uy4eqJPNHmrgxlMGG9lXPq15VN6w8pnE1Id1Z98tuKIKyQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It looked like being a tie for first place, until Adam mentioned that pine cones also score points, a rule that newbie Steve hadn’t been told about.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam 94</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Steve 92</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Anja 87</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then there was a period of general kerfuffle while Adam & Hannah and Anja & Steve made arrangements to leave, taking their clans with them. Laura, meanwhile, returned from parenting duties. Despite it being 8 o'clock, I only had one game left in me, so we chose So Clover.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We played twice and during the first game, Martin got so agitated by our logic when doing his clover that we began to worry that he was genuinely annoyed.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Look at all the words,” he hissed, unable to stay silent any longer. Sam said that was cheating but Martin insisted that he was merely telling us the rules. But thanks to this rules refresher, we noticed that Medusa went better with his clue of Snakeskin than whatever we had at the time.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">24 out of 30</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the second attempt, we started well and Katy, Sam and Martin all created perfect-scoring clovers. Then Laura turned over her clover and we were intrigued to see that “Joe Berger” was one of her clues.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our sense of intrigue changed to bemusement as nothing seemed to fit. Soon we saw Paintbrush which seemed good, but what to pair it with? Putting Foot/Envelop with her clue of “sock” seemed right but that gave us Turnip/Paintbrush for “Joe Berger” which seemed unnecessarily rude.</span></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghS1898kmvR3zSBcsLvYDdyaskr8t4Hnqk66jQ9VfaxWe6svNMbeD-fAZcx91jyjX9fw2jxF0-z3U3BlpLJ7C9fWSLuLmanu6-OujMQzL-o-MHxtNWUjjCEcUy-ltUGOF0Ei4d-oPNg6SNYlGAsT8P5a-mF5Z_Qdz-sEDH7HBxmpgL558MmbtyQojEuGY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghS1898kmvR3zSBcsLvYDdyaskr8t4Hnqk66jQ9VfaxWe6svNMbeD-fAZcx91jyjX9fw2jxF0-z3U3BlpLJ7C9fWSLuLmanu6-OujMQzL-o-MHxtNWUjjCEcUy-ltUGOF0Ei4d-oPNg6SNYlGAsT8P5a-mF5Z_Qdz-sEDH7HBxmpgL558MmbtyQojEuGY" width="103" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the end we settled on Old/Paintbrush even though it didn't quite fit with the other clues. </span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I like old paintbrush,” Martin insisted.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I like him too,” said Sam, “but…” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the end we went with it, but it was wrong. This left us with only one option: Old/Turnip. It was correct. We were baffled and unfortuna</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">tely Laura was laughing too much to explain what she meant. </span></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLqxAzpKfaGaP30ieULhCqmdc0_OWtJIaxugxnw72nmGKklAdGwvaWDBWtx0kBi03jGxrsHFPsh7Hz-6yVVWVPR_3asOqZDSerckpYXGcZrE7kBjzdfshVV3vUOyb3o1cnN0J_Wx7jpTHB8-spBzcO3RFhawYZqnweLoBc9F_LCARD-u40YcMRntL03eo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLqxAzpKfaGaP30ieULhCqmdc0_OWtJIaxugxnw72nmGKklAdGwvaWDBWtx0kBi03jGxrsHFPsh7Hz-6yVVWVPR_3asOqZDSerckpYXGcZrE7kBjzdfshVV3vUOyb3o1cnN0J_Wx7jpTHB8-spBzcO3RFhawYZqnweLoBc9F_LCARD-u40YcMRntL03eo" width="103" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We then thought about phoning Joe to tell him about this before he read the blog - a conversation that quickly digressed into a discussion about how posh his visiting friends might be. If Joe's ears were burning at this point, no one would've been surprised.</span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">My final (and relatively boring) clover was solved, giving us a final score of 28 out of 30. Not quite a perfect score, but a game worth remembering for its own reasons.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But on that note I went out into the persistent rain. What a Christmas do. Thanks all. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I'll hand over to Sam for coverage of the final stages...</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">*<span> </span><span> </span><span> *<span> </span><span> </span><span> *</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">After Andrew left we found ourselves an incongruously tiny four and debated what to play. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We kicked off with Big Top, Martin's new auction game. This is quite </span><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;">bonkers</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> but basically you score points by getting cards and everyone takes turn auctioning them. You can buy your own cards but, as Martin pointed out, it's not a great habit to get into. The cards themselves then need to be 'filled' by covering the numbers with coins, and you do that by bidding that number on subsequent cards (whether you win them or not). It's crazy</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzm36HvBbJyxy3EshgaASV-ApRuNvnrTnTNa48fFO74uQmgSsfMCptLfW5l5q90dxsB3m2VqrwPpNPyEMMJM7TiWknXG4JFvJbqAw50_8ZXuV5ykxIyqqHcFydEIzzuQr4StMxld94ulMX8iCNfKrW4zJVqZ6lzyCUAchhL3Xk2mXIJOPBLYGWvGX/s4032/IMG_4528.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzm36HvBbJyxy3EshgaASV-ApRuNvnrTnTNa48fFO74uQmgSsfMCptLfW5l5q90dxsB3m2VqrwPpNPyEMMJM7TiWknXG4JFvJbqAw50_8ZXuV5ykxIyqqHcFydEIzzuQr4StMxld94ulMX8iCNfKrW4zJVqZ6lzyCUAchhL3Xk2mXIJOPBLYGWvGX/s320/IMG_4528.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Being a little drunk possibly helped me. I think Laura was the most </span><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;">sober</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> of us and </span><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;">subsequently</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> the most </span><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;">confused. But we were all confused. I won this one with 71 points, with the others back in the 50s and 40s.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What next? Katy introduced her strawberry gin so that helped us decide, jettisoning Misfits in favour of Hitster. This was my first experience of it and we tried the co-op version, playing tracks and trying to align them in chronological order (much like Timeline) before revealing our triumphs/errors. It didn't take that long to make the five mistakes we needed to end the game, but it was enough time for Laura to display impressive audio prowess, correctly placing a track she didn't even know just going on the production style. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqu06qB15UfTyZvQsRVK4SGMXq3GZ6voSq7ZmizR-o-M96LuXEBEQ2Q3UtJN9ojQ_lN1wckbCdFXG89k-PLsPq22-j9rNyvNjnhPf2FfcVM6ATTd7qX636sXQ0DJ6nnRZrPZfx98NZEX1Sm9Y-yt5KpgMvGl01GhK-GafrtDNEqdYK36N6jDE-m84X/s4032/IMG_4534.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqu06qB15UfTyZvQsRVK4SGMXq3GZ6voSq7ZmizR-o-M96LuXEBEQ2Q3UtJN9ojQ_lN1wckbCdFXG89k-PLsPq22-j9rNyvNjnhPf2FfcVM6ATTd7qX636sXQ0DJ6nnRZrPZfx98NZEX1Sm9Y-yt5KpgMvGl01GhK-GafrtDNEqdYK36N6jDE-m84X/s320/IMG_4534.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;">I drunkenly demanded we followed that with Rankster, and the others allowed me my little fit of pique. With this little ditty, players are trying to match their rankings (one active player, then everyone else, Wavelength-style) of three historical characters in a given situation. EG Who'd make the best drummer in your rock band? Martin favoured Henry VIII over George Washington, and we agreed. We also agreed that Pele would eat more donuts than the Queen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdV3IVsRyTkdvIdzzwY9Fy4q6zSM9LWV9ImnLCL5haZ4020Ps_DlWgBTTZhR6HRWx0Di3s2BbWOC6PD2PvJlGHqWwMgrzkQHHhfwtVAgJZWCGlV94C8zg2Tmh1ZjtGnYNoFKZhiUyDEij_C3yJ_SrRhnBGN1BRSTEFP0zB1sZZ2cnWoUpAg-e5ZyH/s4032/IMG_4539.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdV3IVsRyTkdvIdzzwY9Fy4q6zSM9LWV9ImnLCL5haZ4020Ps_DlWgBTTZhR6HRWx0Di3s2BbWOC6PD2PvJlGHqWwMgrzkQHHhfwtVAgJZWCGlV94C8zg2Tmh1ZjtGnYNoFKZhiUyDEij_C3yJ_SrRhnBGN1BRSTEFP0zB1sZZ2cnWoUpAg-e5ZyH/s320/IMG_4539.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;">This was incredibly funny even though Martin and I both managed to interpret King David as King Herod, which explained our slightly inebriated/jet-lagged mirth. We wrapped up Rankster scoring (I think) 5 out of 8. I drunkenly demanded more games but was this time ignored as three tired gamers went out into the abysmal weather to end a dramatic day in a dramatic way. A lot of fun, thanks everyone!</span></p><br />Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-59765768212079008502023-12-20T12:12:00.007+00:002023-12-20T12:55:32.063+00:00Old Friends<p>T'was the games night before Christmas... an intimate affair, with various regulars absent for a variety of reasons, including flying to the US, landmark family birthdays and gigs. And so just Adam H, Ian and I (Joe) convened at Steve and Anja's at 7.45pm for a night of classic GNN frolics.</p><p>While Anja did a bit of last-minute adulting elsewhere, the rest of us plus Louie played Timeline. It was fun to revisit this old friend (a theme that would recur this evening), and we mostly got things right, until Louie and Adam finished the round with no cards each, forcing a chronological head to head. They both failed this, which meant they had to do it again, and Adam thought he was a shoo-in with the invention of GPS. His swagger turned to dismay as he discovered that it was invented before the launch of the first Space Shuttle (though with hindsight that seems reasonable) and Louie rejoiced in his unshared victory. </p><p>Louie WIN!</p><p>Everyone else LOSE!</p><p>Anja arrived on the scene at this point, and we debated the merits of a 6 player versus two 3-ers. The 6-ers on offer didn't satisfy Louie's criteria for a 'proper' game - I've never heard the word 'Kites' uttered with such deep disdain - and thus we split into two 3s. Ian, Steve and Anja set up Mille Fiori at one end, whilst Adam, Louie and I reacquainted ourselves with another old friend, Dominion.</p><p>We played the 'Big Money' variant, and it didn't disappoint - Louie utilised several Adventurers to explore his deck for coins, whilst Adam used several Laboratories (pronounced 'Bloboratories' for reasons forgotten) to chain some big moves. I set to Mining, and it worked quite well in conjunction with my Throneroom; we launched into the points-harvesting phase of the game with all in contention.</p><p>It was close, but Adam took the win with 33 points. I had 30, and Louie 29.</p><p>Mille Fiori was drawing to a close, and Ian seemed to have discovered an overlooked rule - that the offer gets restocked at the end of the round not only with players' discards but also one card per player from the deck. I'm not sure I've played that way before, but I could be wrong. Martin will tell us in the comments.</p><p>The final scores were Ian winning with 198, Anja a close second with 192, and Steve elbowing various delicate glass objets onto the workshop floor with 162.</p><p>Whilst they finished up and Louie retired, Adam and I debated what next for us five. Adam, as noted by Ian, attempted a bit of Derren Brown-style subliminal influencing by asking me aloud what game we should 'railroad' the others into playing.</p><p>Perhaps it worked. I'd brought 20th Anniversary Ticket to Ride Europe, and as we got the bits out to admire its sumptuous stylings, positive noises from the other end of the table suggested it might fit the bill. So while the others packed MF away, we tried to understand the implications of the various route tickets, which can be combined for all sorts of variants. In the end we used all the base and 1912 tickets, plus Big Cities. Lots of tickets.</p><p>Steve made the excellent suggestion of using the Team Asia card holders; being able to see your destinations all at once really helps, it turns out! We started off all clustered around Paris, for some reason; apart from Steve, who built Roma to Brindisi on his very first go. And then ignored this little branch line for much of the game. Adam adammed, meaning top-decked like a mofo, and Ian followed suit. As did Anja. Ok ok, I did too a bit - what can you do?</p><p>The board gradually spidered out from Paris - it was feisty and tense (though I felt relatively un-messed-with), and there were various agonised noises coming from Steve, who seemed to feel unfit for the role of early 20th Century rail magnate.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMDdOr3ZqFPa0U95UPGfsiQW7O7RholcYNfbs59JgtIHJ41zP1dU4FNnV2rGLxBkWl-DLTsQZkGTy20ITDN4kNEJdb4rx4qD9akv8MGzBr3UuMK6LlkRRpaVg_5AUBqoFjfACiTRgBFCWRJcBZJZK5OLI9HuzM8u0Y15MYpJiN8Q1nfTrTT5kEnbRlbM/s1200/TTRsmallcrop.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMDdOr3ZqFPa0U95UPGfsiQW7O7RholcYNfbs59JgtIHJ41zP1dU4FNnV2rGLxBkWl-DLTsQZkGTy20ITDN4kNEJdb4rx4qD9akv8MGzBr3UuMK6LlkRRpaVg_5AUBqoFjfACiTRgBFCWRJcBZJZK5OLI9HuzM8u0Y15MYpJiN8Q1nfTrTT5kEnbRlbM/w400-h333/TTRsmallcrop.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a distinctly unsophisticated time-lapse of the game...</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Eventually Adam blew the final whistle, and on my final turn I gambled on a six link tunnel from Budapest to Kyiv, which paid off. Steve, Ian and Adam had nothing to do on their last turns, and all weighed up the option of taking more tickets, but balked. We turned over the top three to see if they should have taken the plunge, and there was a collective sigh of relief - except from Anja, who it turned out could have made all three!</p><p>Anja did take the longest route bonus, however; and then we started the final scoring from Steve, who was in last place. In the final tally, Adam held on to his crown as master of TTR in style, with over 30 point separating him from me in second place.</p><p>Adam 160</p><p>Joe 129</p><p>Anja 120</p><p>Ian 111</p><p>Steve 73</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyB-a-9RgzSHWrdO_OVfjPshVUsPnwunh538LvgbfBDtMjs2Nw-FiR4f7KY-Mj8ZxnvxRHF4tVQEpzHanP-8mjkXOIGLcIxRXbKGCF3RyjDp1SF-ArZPGcJpI4CI1fec7fbDurMCnyRIccqf0ycazsYZaQIJpRGgl4MnhP3YwD2mVNNTkcvGzGz264ka4/s4032/2023-12-19%2023.31.08.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyB-a-9RgzSHWrdO_OVfjPshVUsPnwunh538LvgbfBDtMjs2Nw-FiR4f7KY-Mj8ZxnvxRHF4tVQEpzHanP-8mjkXOIGLcIxRXbKGCF3RyjDp1SF-ArZPGcJpI4CI1fec7fbDurMCnyRIccqf0ycazsYZaQIJpRGgl4MnhP3YwD2mVNNTkcvGzGz264ka4/w400-h300/2023-12-19%2023.31.08.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final board state in all it's sumptuosity</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>It was quarter to midnight, shockingly, so we hastily packed away and tootled off (so hastily I forgot my jumper). Thanks S&A - it was a lovely final games night before Christmas, and great to play some old favourites.</p>Joe Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01710555098761136919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-28253288473024052702023-12-15T19:47:00.000+00:002023-12-15T19:47:13.977+00:00Bee-curious<div style="text-align: left;"> It still feels like a rare treat to be able to leave my flat on a Tuesday evening and arrive at the games venue in barely five minutes. And so I was second to arrive at Joe's, pipped to first place by Sam. Ian, Katy and then Martin were next to join us, with Martin declaring his happiness at the Solid Six being in attendance.</div><div><br /></div><div>We began with Team Trio, a new game to me but simple enough that I understood it by round two. Simply ask an opponent (or the other member of your team) what their highest or lowest card is. They have to reveal it, and then you continue to ask others, hoping to make a three of a kind. Any reliance on memorising what people have is ruined slightly by the occasional swapping of cards between team mates.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBA4j7JRNU_Av9Kiy-3nBzzrSY6eA4wcyWf3HxrGM6X8Ss3UN_3QtlzdTu1CkOEIxhVxFdvzLHQE5_4NN6qvmkYXyYpvh6Ngu2iVOdKa6fKwi9dmN3xoVNeIO4kljj3yGznV8bJir9RBbn-fc1CliNPsGaE5e2OyfC9-Xso9rbvVG7xmiQn50EIRoQyR0/s4032/DSC_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBA4j7JRNU_Av9Kiy-3nBzzrSY6eA4wcyWf3HxrGM6X8Ss3UN_3QtlzdTu1CkOEIxhVxFdvzLHQE5_4NN6qvmkYXyYpvh6Ngu2iVOdKa6fKwi9dmN3xoVNeIO4kljj3yGznV8bJir9RBbn-fc1CliNPsGaE5e2OyfC9-Xso9rbvVG7xmiQn50EIRoQyR0/s320/DSC_2304.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Martin & Sam won the first two tricks, followed by a brace for Katy & I. Joe and Ian got on the scoreboard but then Sam and Martin got a three of kind of sevens, which is an insta-win. But they were winning anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>Martin & Sam 3</div><div>Katy & Andrew 2</div><div>Ian & Joe 1</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we split into two groups of three people. Martin, Joe and Katy played Big City: a sort of Sim City game from the 90s with its dour functional pieces contrasting with the exciting triple layered plastic inlay.</div><div><br /></div><div>As they set up, Katy told us she'd almost seen a dead body: her neighbour hadn't been seen for a few days and she and someone else went into the house. Katy chose to investigate the bedroom while the other checked out the bathroom and that's where the neighbour was found.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bhrqnbIggdVFOUPT6V2YRmJhBLGnH4FVnYEiL7XqMOwRjHvPhoGQY5jbhSYlobArTtP-4ED0MAdKBTgjAcCzACKymcZ9ClF56S8_U2wdwxVfjof86Bhi69cCcfdfhFVu3OZ20AXSHRvWwz-GAiO8i_DWBdSDAT1TJLz58AF-Sl80-wSPI1fufNQPKz8/s4032/DSC_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bhrqnbIggdVFOUPT6V2YRmJhBLGnH4FVnYEiL7XqMOwRjHvPhoGQY5jbhSYlobArTtP-4ED0MAdKBTgjAcCzACKymcZ9ClF56S8_U2wdwxVfjof86Bhi69cCcfdfhFVu3OZ20AXSHRvWwz-GAiO8i_DWBdSDAT1TJLz58AF-Sl80-wSPI1fufNQPKz8/s320/DSC_2306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And after that cheery note, they set forth into various civic planning adventures. A world in which Post Offices score double next to a street car or city hall and triple if it's next to both. A world where Martin can say “It's church time!” and no one thinks he's lost it. A world where Katy can have a park taken away from her by Joe and Martin and be livid about it for several minutes. She was already in last and without that, she never stood a chance</div><div><br /></div><div>Martin 118</div><div>Joe 103</div><div>Katy 79</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Ian, Sam and I played Bees In Space, or Apiary, to give it its proper name. It's a new twist on space exploration, with a curious emphasis on making honey and wax as much as discovering new planets.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGt5I5-RXTnktvbC7fCKXnHKXScLss-CB2Nkp8wQ2DE57a4EIOx9O8EXMP-_njjqj6UppJNNLI7FoTivdJfGC_VCJfkSZH-fMqpKqYR36yiyLYGj1Y1vnOAp1UtiUyD5l_4gzN04XjN16hTvfASBlkTABUrgTH9lZOSRmAK_rtQUwRMeLbzyKRibkmxE/s4032/DSC_2305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGt5I5-RXTnktvbC7fCKXnHKXScLss-CB2Nkp8wQ2DE57a4EIOx9O8EXMP-_njjqj6UppJNNLI7FoTivdJfGC_VCJfkSZH-fMqpKqYR36yiyLYGj1Y1vnOAp1UtiUyD5l_4gzN04XjN16hTvfASBlkTABUrgTH9lZOSRmAK_rtQUwRMeLbzyKRibkmxE/s320/DSC_2305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The mechanic is fairly typical worker placement except your workers’ value (1-4) influences what they can do. Level 4 bees are most powerful but they have to hibernate afterwards and be brought back by taking an action.</div><div><br /></div><div>The board is rather fussy and I admit in the first couple of rounds I was a bit lost. Ian seemed to know what was going on as he devised a new dance that would make cheaper honey. Which I suppose is a priority for Space Bees. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLO_yLBPxGs8Z7fstruB4Zo-yFA0dPaKMKRSH-rdyXjylqwqalBERuvBbZSPEQ3c7ZfTulFTrmyVRhbHvTDSRQ1JhVmi2WoAqAYhI_eMBNilhPBbWzr0Q3OY-5Inr3BQUryPy0M5VfpZ_o4eJVJcvas-oGOwBbXsAf2cFs3xF60LUxZVsETeS9lYhfRNk/s4032/DSC_2312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLO_yLBPxGs8Z7fstruB4Zo-yFA0dPaKMKRSH-rdyXjylqwqalBERuvBbZSPEQ3c7ZfTulFTrmyVRhbHvTDSRQ1JhVmi2WoAqAYhI_eMBNilhPBbWzr0Q3OY-5Inr3BQUryPy0M5VfpZ_o4eJVJcvas-oGOwBbXsAf2cFs3xF60LUxZVsETeS9lYhfRNk/s320/DSC_2312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We approached the final round I became acutely aware that the score track went up to 100 but me, in the lead, had only scored 15. But the game is all about end of game scoring and any confidence I might have had from being in first quickly dissipated as Ian came from last into a slim first. It was all very close.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ian 75</div><div>Sam 71</div><div>Andrew 70</div><div><br /></div><div>Apiary was a longer game than Big City so while</div><div>we finished, the other three played Robo Tricks. After Big City, this was a game they could all enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLohVD0NufW8_gKIrzwgZch4xiTASvxahQXm0ke9YAD9lbSOjLzBCq9lqfYLwEcL-yD8iyu3usJeRXZ0-lhYKSXKZLhagAq2bTl6D0sZunAKEANflXMPByj7iXYq9NzNBOL_nR_wzZSX6uwT-FIGYW-xj2yCcnrPbYX-QNSYm1Hm81luiTJqKlawJPVE/s4032/DSC_2314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLohVD0NufW8_gKIrzwgZch4xiTASvxahQXm0ke9YAD9lbSOjLzBCq9lqfYLwEcL-yD8iyu3usJeRXZ0-lhYKSXKZLhagAq2bTl6D0sZunAKEANflXMPByj7iXYq9NzNBOL_nR_wzZSX6uwT-FIGYW-xj2yCcnrPbYX-QNSYm1Hm81luiTJqKlawJPVE/s320/DSC_2314.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Joe 7</div><div>Martin 2</div><div>Katy -5</div><div><br /></div><div>Since Robo Tricks was a bit long, Sam, Ian and I played Stomp The Plank. Amazingly, for such a GNN favourite, this was my first game. We played twice. In the first, Ian repeated his trick of coming from last to first and in the second, my cautious chiseling tactic proved successful.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEOyFKvjKLRHz1rUuifoURgs9n1Bz2RnNDFmeZDiGMQ3gRxQ97Y2azDKtSZ3lKpXAHEWlJFUVBf2ccLbRCs00PjPSMg7PqeRHOczpD3Cg66FBs_kRuDH1vTMgChLcp90FrfPLfBscziEwnsOIROL2F7OnXp-ggz7WT4uDZjMcxrLkCzb67kyqyfZQ16w/s4032/DSC_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEOyFKvjKLRHz1rUuifoURgs9n1Bz2RnNDFmeZDiGMQ3gRxQ97Y2azDKtSZ3lKpXAHEWlJFUVBf2ccLbRCs00PjPSMg7PqeRHOczpD3Cg66FBs_kRuDH1vTMgChLcp90FrfPLfBscziEwnsOIROL2F7OnXp-ggz7WT4uDZjMcxrLkCzb67kyqyfZQ16w/s320/DSC_2317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Now we were a sextet we joined together for a rousing game of So Clover. We seemed to finish quite quickly. So fast that we began deducing our first clover while Katy was still in the toilet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Katy's clover had a lovely reference to our recently departed (not dead) gamer friend Gareth. She used his name to clue the words “Beard/Patron.”</div><div><br /></div><div>We did okay with 32 out of 36.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since that seemed to be over too quickly, we set up for one more go. This time, though, the moans of impending defeat filled the room. But, in the face of adversity, we proved ourselves to be highly resourceful. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sam clued Mug/Dream with Grande and Joe clued Hardware/Smell with Cordite (his second word of the evening that we needed a definition for). Katy saved Martin's clover when she spotted that Bubble went with Invincibility, even though I pointed out that bubbles are pretty much the opposite of invincible. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was relieved when my four slightly dull clues were solved and full marks to Katy for cluing Television/Crow with carrion. “Carry on.” Get it?</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a perfect score as we began Ian's clover. We obsessed over his reasoning for pluralising Circuses. It made us think that our first guess of Clown/ring must be wrong, since surely he'd only write Circus. In the end we chose clown/universe and we were correct! A perfect score! </div><div><br /></div><div>36 out of 36!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL_yDCPYFYngfYzoiqF7DBLvpUqddT2EQJ7Jg0m90PtewZJh8y2f-XVAKxxvj78NQ4Cv5A4X8v1r3O7Xusd1Wdz_etjIP64zPZnTTjmIvEr3OxJA3w7kCY5wkLVPqf51E28e1MSvBbM24fHXbDsmTTSBT3OZoAJxZlYYICNgx8aglDgrohJktzsBXLJ0/s4032/DSC_2322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL_yDCPYFYngfYzoiqF7DBLvpUqddT2EQJ7Jg0m90PtewZJh8y2f-XVAKxxvj78NQ4Cv5A4X8v1r3O7Xusd1Wdz_etjIP64zPZnTTjmIvEr3OxJA3w7kCY5wkLVPqf51E28e1MSvBbM24fHXbDsmTTSBT3OZoAJxZlYYICNgx8aglDgrohJktzsBXLJ0/s320/DSC_2322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So with the afterglow of achievement still warming my veins, I set off. Sam said he could be tempted by a quick fifteen minute game and later I received a photo from him with the comment “Incredibly rude game of medium!”</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS9jn6ma5Q4VGKJmaJFCObnSWZn_cScBAPN1QWjSpyxczx5DOAWhhQ3UHvWh8rhg2OS66D07efSCVJP-IZ5kFdlVjKgo6_OWiqKC0RpKw2ayHq8N7ux1wpZLSWv240vVfw4bQ8_9m32nVAqsd2nJL81R0Xq2MldMmeLkxeHFDWSrHbGlmDkVPFcWJWfA/s1024/IMG-20231212-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS9jn6ma5Q4VGKJmaJFCObnSWZn_cScBAPN1QWjSpyxczx5DOAWhhQ3UHvWh8rhg2OS66D07efSCVJP-IZ5kFdlVjKgo6_OWiqKC0RpKw2ayHq8N7ux1wpZLSWv240vVfw4bQ8_9m32nVAqsd2nJL81R0Xq2MldMmeLkxeHFDWSrHbGlmDkVPFcWJWfA/s320/IMG-20231212-WA0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks all. See you soon.</div><div><br /></div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-23083647653755319612023-12-08T20:05:00.001+00:002023-12-08T20:05:07.051+00:00 Gettin’ chilli with it <div style="text-align: left;">Joe's at 7.30 was this week's destination for the first weekly meeting since the big games weekend. Sam was already there when I arrived and Martin wasn't too far behind.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At least I think so. I'm writing this on Friday, a full three days late so, just like AI rendered hands, things might be a little out of place.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First we played Rome In A Day, a game in which you have to build areas of tiles with matching buildings to score points and you get these tiles and buildings from your neighbour who has taken their allocation of tiles for that round and split them in two.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVM3ISzNNwxjBN3cn_XD-plFvBYRB7kYebvpQxDBFrAuvhQV7EuX9tTdunes9EKbe5kGlrcxVx2hkgkcEhKmjoBARVdRXEtfE00VOcVq0uHE5UedhG5G4NVLgW6pwY-FxEDXUhzXLfSqKCmiuJowa3qN9Vw-sM7sVdqjhv5vSqFemngleF1ucQIPCVOk/s4032/DSC_2264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVM3ISzNNwxjBN3cn_XD-plFvBYRB7kYebvpQxDBFrAuvhQV7EuX9tTdunes9EKbe5kGlrcxVx2hkgkcEhKmjoBARVdRXEtfE00VOcVq0uHE5UedhG5G4NVLgW6pwY-FxEDXUhzXLfSqKCmiuJowa3qN9Vw-sM7sVdqjhv5vSqFemngleF1ucQIPCVOk/s320/DSC_2264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam played while still in his fluorescent orange jacket and (unconnected, I'm sure) we kept forgetting which neighbour we were supposed to be taking from.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the end of the game, Joe was counting up the scores and added up one column to the total 47 and said “urgh” in disgust, thinking it was his. But it was Adam's. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 57</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 49</div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 47</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 46</div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 37</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam's winning strategy was to simply take which ever set had the most tiles. Can it really be that simple? It was entertaining enough </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Katy was expected later so we began another quick game: Too Many Cooks. It's a game about German cuisine in that you have to collect cards to make soup (Pea, Mushroom or Onion) while avoiding chillies because they ruin everything, apparently. Unless you're making chilli soup, of course. You collect these ingredients by playing cards to the table until the value adds up to 10 or more, then that player collects all of them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQkOUokqB7biz4n8DvFTF9blTURjgu3HQkfrkJRD9lL1hkw3w_J6K6PMIG8NhEI3hyhyrKAAhAkaWyNQ6tTbQXZPJx1-3U9qh2-q9W3Qrrn_SzezDnZDZgXbIjm5_qNwwZ4lzOgmoteZQtMwOorSbhL_cRJNpOU4eP1_S6TMZLIKsPNIn6wXwDmCPVo0/s4032/DSC_2272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQkOUokqB7biz4n8DvFTF9blTURjgu3HQkfrkJRD9lL1hkw3w_J6K6PMIG8NhEI3hyhyrKAAhAkaWyNQ6tTbQXZPJx1-3U9qh2-q9W3Qrrn_SzezDnZDZgXbIjm5_qNwwZ4lzOgmoteZQtMwOorSbhL_cRJNpOU4eP1_S6TMZLIKsPNIn6wXwDmCPVo0/s320/DSC_2272.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We played all of round one before we remembered the rule about one of the zeroes actually being worth 10. And I had trouble recognising some of the mushroom cards since they had illustrations of butter on them. But I was fine in the end, taking a win without really knowing how.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 23</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 22</div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 19</div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 11</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 10</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Katy arrived and we split into two groups of three. Joe Adam and Katy played Robot Tricks and Martin and Sam introduced me to Havalandi.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTCQX-6zEQuvDYEwB-piPcwuaaa6mimpnDimZSAzFT4HG8KaQqY_eJLtJM4rTdn7qJp5IcSo35qUmcMapA_u4RlD3dwN10rz_O4u3dbLVdflwKk4a27WgJmK9fgHUP9knhE5rOaOxRje3UVTSfuzYzc2LK6mdSeUcpPEc68BV3n_u704-LKUtDoGksxM/s4032/DSC_2277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTCQX-6zEQuvDYEwB-piPcwuaaa6mimpnDimZSAzFT4HG8KaQqY_eJLtJM4rTdn7qJp5IcSo35qUmcMapA_u4RlD3dwN10rz_O4u3dbLVdflwKk4a27WgJmK9fgHUP9knhE5rOaOxRje3UVTSfuzYzc2LK6mdSeUcpPEc68BV3n_u704-LKUtDoGksxM/s320/DSC_2277.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In this game a hot air balloon glides around the edge of the triangular playing area and the active player can put down a landing site (cardboard counter) somewhere along the balloon's line of view. You score points for groups of three or more (on the same terrain) and also for flipping tiles as long as they are contiguous and cross the central path.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was nice. Gently puzzly and a bit screwish. I forgot about the end of game scoring and, despite being quite competitive in the first half of the game, Martin and Sam (almost literally) drifted off, far above me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVMalLKS939uveryUaHd5k5fIoi6CECBDVEQvTmbhYmdM_Q7AYVXAZ6vIBAIP6GKnomIX5NA9i8XGsF-z9f6cTlg1u1mLhhNGVqUSg67-swq7q-trAh4t4rIt7fVnVcyTPDNvwnUf2SyA6AlVcLfRNlLM2jrLm_iBxTEC4op9Cui3FJLNFENy-9TJaEs/s4032/DSC_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVMalLKS939uveryUaHd5k5fIoi6CECBDVEQvTmbhYmdM_Q7AYVXAZ6vIBAIP6GKnomIX5NA9i8XGsF-z9f6cTlg1u1mLhhNGVqUSg67-swq7q-trAh4t4rIt7fVnVcyTPDNvwnUf2SyA6AlVcLfRNlLM2jrLm_iBxTEC4op9Cui3FJLNFENy-9TJaEs/s320/DSC_2276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 104</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 94</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 82</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With that, both Sam and I got ready for an early night. I watched a little bit of Robot Tricks to see if the game was going to end. It didn't, but I did see Katy pick up an ace which, apparently, was bad.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGeRjUE8jnjnYimDvMSp__S8qrosKG8W8N2QwRP4gi1lYnKCsdt8pgGg0v7jUgF2x2RyJM_fW2GPCJOlICcX9AlHreCka05elFZmHkcWywSfKnHhsPEj3om3yrdBPo5mUoQ4708oQorCo1WUiQ03LpSGjLFEa9oTxwipg46dOSeNOm-k0s4KXcyCksk0/s4032/DSC_2278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGeRjUE8jnjnYimDvMSp__S8qrosKG8W8N2QwRP4gi1lYnKCsdt8pgGg0v7jUgF2x2RyJM_fW2GPCJOlICcX9AlHreCka05elFZmHkcWywSfKnHhsPEj3om3yrdBPo5mUoQ4708oQorCo1WUiQ03LpSGjLFEa9oTxwipg46dOSeNOm-k0s4KXcyCksk0/s320/DSC_2278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hopefully we'll get a result in the comments although it's pretty likely that everyone has forgotten.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks all! It was special.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-36903675513629216622023-11-27T15:43:00.017+00:002023-11-27T18:43:12.920+00:00Sun, Sea and Sand timers<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally it's here, the weekend we've been looking forward to basically for the last 12 months. This time, we convened in Weymouth on <b><u>Friday</u></b> with Katy first to arrive (by bike!) as in a pub nearby Joe, Martin, Ian and Adam H were playing Bag of Chips (Joe won) and then started 12 Trick Trip but abandoned it in favour of joining Katy at the house, where they started playing Prey Another Day. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile Laura and I were barrelling along the A-roads of the sceptred isle with a car full of games, arriving before Prey Another Day could even finish! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuPOb6T0cU_0GU-HqlBof9t2R6I9BACd6_98OqUgU4kCnJVjkWdEColtz5XJiAJOeMyz3NJ7cEqOKLBe7nrjI9NFUfuuezT22rDUWrjkQLDUB88ePudcqV0ha-Z56SLG9gVkp4MDB236VFw52voEjNrKOwfpSR_qokI5S6S2YDUlY1afs4T7BfOiV/s4032/IMG_4195.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuPOb6T0cU_0GU-HqlBof9t2R6I9BACd6_98OqUgU4kCnJVjkWdEColtz5XJiAJOeMyz3NJ7cEqOKLBe7nrjI9NFUfuuezT22rDUWrjkQLDUB88ePudcqV0ha-Z56SLG9gVkp4MDB236VFw52voEjNrKOwfpSR_qokI5S6S2YDUlY1afs4T7BfOiV/s320/IMG_4195.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">They restarted with Laura now dealt in as Joe pottered in the kitchen and I marvelled at the ensuite in our bedroom, an ensuite pretty much in name only, as the only nod to privacy was a weird plastic curtain and the toilet boasted a noisy macerator that went off now and again incongruously, like a nervous tic. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ9T7EnIyoZP4IuVDgT_sMJPZ30Cq0Gup-G0fIkiHtzLk37EhXQXR_77abbyrKiBa6uwaIDRInA7X7BccAK-UsIxN9pqokm4CS7zBn2gazVrvvE5tPyJ9Z0FXYb1byi8Hy4TuC0fK3e1GY-hbrg0K7RmXJrdVGl4vMJ9Z6tTEu3Rw_y1_L9AX33eH/s4032/IMG_4247.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ9T7EnIyoZP4IuVDgT_sMJPZ30Cq0Gup-G0fIkiHtzLk37EhXQXR_77abbyrKiBa6uwaIDRInA7X7BccAK-UsIxN9pqokm4CS7zBn2gazVrvvE5tPyJ9Z0FXYb1byi8Hy4TuC0fK3e1GY-hbrg0K7RmXJrdVGl4vMJ9Z6tTEu3Rw_y1_L9AX33eH/s320/IMG_4247.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prey Another Day ended in unheralded manner: but I'm not sure who won. Martin instantly setting up a newbie in the Knizian Havalandi, where everyone launches balloons in extremely passive-aggressive fashion. It's just like being there, assuming balloonists are uptight control freaks.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdF4f-PVz3XikSE4hIdxZ1MP_WSVqqJ1R9KY8T2sY5_qfZww2Ikeal_wvg8N3Z4hzEvnf5Hanw_wceAS3VPY5wGTcRHqW9l6ybxZPBuN9rUWT13n8L7TDNGah5Sjrwu7J475cOz041nDdThnclIFoHm6xbKEodVqYbdg8f-GGjOVT4_1MOlk5lVGQ/s4032/IMG_4196.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdF4f-PVz3XikSE4hIdxZ1MP_WSVqqJ1R9KY8T2sY5_qfZww2Ikeal_wvg8N3Z4hzEvnf5Hanw_wceAS3VPY5wGTcRHqW9l6ybxZPBuN9rUWT13n8L7TDNGah5Sjrwu7J475cOz041nDdThnclIFoHm6xbKEodVqYbdg8f-GGjOVT4_1MOlk5lVGQ/s320/IMG_4196.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe and I returned from the shop and I joined Ian and Adam in Quantum. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPcQ1WQ_rdDGxru3MKrVT996u9JD9abj59C6pjKDv5ha2WzZKYalinLhmqHwvLH9bpEeoVi0i9R6xP2susiwR301aR_PkeXhC5QpgNkIFa3-xNscb6us34lZGeuQs2OTD94URx1i5SRAlZDI6Ast2GlqBwW6kG3wzFKPp176ej8vBUsytOcFdajmK/s4032/IMG_4197.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPcQ1WQ_rdDGxru3MKrVT996u9JD9abj59C6pjKDv5ha2WzZKYalinLhmqHwvLH9bpEeoVi0i9R6xP2susiwR301aR_PkeXhC5QpgNkIFa3-xNscb6us34lZGeuQs2OTD94URx1i5SRAlZDI6Ast2GlqBwW6kG3wzFKPp176ej8vBUsytOcFdajmK/s320/IMG_4197.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Quantum's map was harsh, with all three of us facing a contested trio of '9' </span>planets<span> down a narrow avenue of space. What happened to the rest of the cosmos, who knows? Maybe it had already been conquered by Adam, who started well and continued even better as Ian and I struggled with luck, cards, basic maths, and the claustrophobic layout. And Adam.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyN8Nsnb9aXnBa9-m6Uh0wkJLaK9K-ZhQobLa8hvvIaPVZyF952qo44PgVeyf4BSTRS8w71zzVBFgPg3CyvJ82u-GOQ9MAIeCu_T0YAJ38kADlr56k6Ggq0oHIAVNGAMMzHeP5KfHN2sKkynRxaOK0XfDQ3fg_JbmAqGAcMebonqDOUCOMnaPKwfm/s4032/IMG_4198.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyN8Nsnb9aXnBa9-m6Uh0wkJLaK9K-ZhQobLa8hvvIaPVZyF952qo44PgVeyf4BSTRS8w71zzVBFgPg3CyvJ82u-GOQ9MAIeCu_T0YAJ38kADlr56k6Ggq0oHIAVNGAMMzHeP5KfHN2sKkynRxaOK0XfDQ3fg_JbmAqGAcMebonqDOUCOMnaPKwfm/s320/IMG_4198.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Quantum has seen some varied plays, but I've never seen anything as one-sided as this. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">Adam - all cubes down</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">Ian - two cubes left</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">Sam - 3 cubes left</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">We needed some gentle recovery time after that, so stayed in space for the co-operative Tesseract, where we are scientists, collaborating to prevent the titular cube (of dice) from destroying Earth. This was an enjoyable puzzle, but I made a clunky rules error that made it much easier for us than it should have been...</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGWDSuzHPkg-RmdquecOhzfDbXmMYXP6_Jgu_QeZaJbLJMYSHC7ZCqio4kt8U6LKCax-IbaDdDnVIXEOOn5DF1yBSrX-nFvw94vI3ehJgwAVoM-FSDrGV_SlQTavM5ifWz3_VDLFyt9E9oFuuzG8LPHpwbL8RuQSr-9nCAr182xs0YD169qtSOtU0/s1600/tess.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGWDSuzHPkg-RmdquecOhzfDbXmMYXP6_Jgu_QeZaJbLJMYSHC7ZCqio4kt8U6LKCax-IbaDdDnVIXEOOn5DF1yBSrX-nFvw94vI3ehJgwAVoM-FSDrGV_SlQTavM5ifWz3_VDLFyt9E9oFuuzG8LPHpwbL8RuQSr-9nCAr182xs0YD169qtSOtU0/s320/tess.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> Meanwhile, Martin had won the inaugural Havalandi, Jon had arrived, and they'd started playing Noli.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEIz0YOnK1v2e1Wzzi8YBLl2rkl-b8EU5ea7cgac2b_SjBgJVfOVsJUvt-2vMsENctD5f9sVA8jR6pts7jC4K6TWQkkkJ2lUTzxYCaXfZNl3c5z6odV30WcxNzNAAqiE3YtaljtQ03bnQkJcOphf1y9_1n-Zmm7Pyat0XorSCQ12lun73tlDCTKnk/s2114/Screenshot%202023-11-27%20at%2015.11.43.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2114" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEIz0YOnK1v2e1Wzzi8YBLl2rkl-b8EU5ea7cgac2b_SjBgJVfOVsJUvt-2vMsENctD5f9sVA8jR6pts7jC4K6TWQkkkJ2lUTzxYCaXfZNl3c5z6odV30WcxNzNAAqiE3YtaljtQ03bnQkJcOphf1y9_1n-Zmm7Pyat0XorSCQ12lun73tlDCTKnk/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-27%20at%2015.11.43.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He won this too, and I speculated that we needed Martin and Adam to play each other to make one of them lose at least one game. The scores were a slightly oddball three points each, but our resident boisterer took the laurels courtesy of the tie-breaker. They set up Bag of Chips and we played Kingdomino, luring in Joe from his kitchen duties. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFj3WDHTZts-lIB53Zi0Y42Rrl5VQgFS7L2oEiYoyG0eXZt3MnD0aSSDZEpRWzpP_vEgexrdlzrH2XNnhgAbbnEVQr2ZgvZbBgKn8rPoA80J0ovC91_s5DKEmu5Z5fVc_UyuE89BEO2IhCtNQyb4u-XxmF4LnFtApMhlvwZjWiSY9ADypnEHe4tpyO/s4032/IMG_4205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFj3WDHTZts-lIB53Zi0Y42Rrl5VQgFS7L2oEiYoyG0eXZt3MnD0aSSDZEpRWzpP_vEgexrdlzrH2XNnhgAbbnEVQr2ZgvZbBgKn8rPoA80J0ovC91_s5DKEmu5Z5fVc_UyuE89BEO2IhCtNQyb4u-XxmF4LnFtApMhlvwZjWiSY9ADypnEHe4tpyO/s320/IMG_4205.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin did explain Bag of Chips to me, and it sounded fun, but I don't remember it now and am 'live-blogging' having not played it. But he won. Around now, Steve and Louie arrived as well!<br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1"></span>In Kingdomino, I picked up my first victory of the weekend!</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam 56</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 49</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 47</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 43</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span class="s1"></span>Then we convened in a big group for Cross Clues, scoring a solid 20 and then a near-perfect 24. Now it was time for Joe's marvellous chickpea stew, abetted by a cucumber/rice vinegar combo with dill that Steve kept on eating, despite being allergic to dill, and made us all slightly worried </span>that<span> Novocon was going to end in a tragic </span>anaphylactic episode. Fortunately this was avoided. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxejwxI2gsDu-FghxepUpNLT5LVIuBTcq3BIvFRp6gg-4kExs60Zubff_ikTL_PeuqZ2C6kqmvNDdVfA0E148bdkyZSzaOign9MV-nLxRlVHpTzF61wZt658WRJhpA-xI1YWOeMkVAjl_PgP_qcvmLOm1edn38YrUOzg-4KxcjS_QaVRrQfUAoOhlB/s4032/IMG_4207.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxejwxI2gsDu-FghxepUpNLT5LVIuBTcq3BIvFRp6gg-4kExs60Zubff_ikTL_PeuqZ2C6kqmvNDdVfA0E148bdkyZSzaOign9MV-nLxRlVHpTzF61wZt658WRJhpA-xI1YWOeMkVAjl_PgP_qcvmLOm1edn38YrUOzg-4KxcjS_QaVRrQfUAoOhlB/s320/IMG_4207.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This games night first led to ongoing dill references throughout the evening as we refused to let it go. Poor Steve sought solace in Kingdomino, but was beaten by his son:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="s1"><span>Louie 54<br /></span></span><span class="s1"><span>Adam 43<br /></span></span><span class="s1"><span>Steve 38</span></span></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">And they went on to play Block Party, where Adam made some rugby posts.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKCXM4saWSoxyLRD5FapJ6XaL_rxW5_dUUY2bmUllLvWciITJmtnZmVRj1LH0dNCzrcAOwjxnrvzj4SALrWiQbLG3Ikn_PcEyuMpDWQ2gzKCHsaX3Kyux69siGyj0mMgdxIS_n1gU3Mg7hui28VNbnjT-rWeSzpCHVXB_ksTxsJnYxolFfnVZmfRy/s4032/IMG_4212.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKCXM4saWSoxyLRD5FapJ6XaL_rxW5_dUUY2bmUllLvWciITJmtnZmVRj1LH0dNCzrcAOwjxnrvzj4SALrWiQbLG3Ikn_PcEyuMpDWQ2gzKCHsaX3Kyux69siGyj0mMgdxIS_n1gU3Mg7hui28VNbnjT-rWeSzpCHVXB_ksTxsJnYxolFfnVZmfRy/s320/IMG_4212.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1"><span>Steve, probably recoiling at the colour green by this point, took a redemptive win:</span></span><span class="s1"><br /></span><span class="s1">Steve 9<br /></span><span class="s1"><span>Adam 7<br /></span></span><span class="s1"><span>Louie 6</span></span></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1"><span>While all this was going on, I was finding </span></span><span>Ankh Morpork mildly frustrating, but also amusing in </span>its<span> bombard of screwage. Martin </span>foisted<span> some crappy cards onto me that gave me a hand of three for the entire game, a situation that got </span>increasingly<span> less </span>jolly (for me) as I played hand after hand of water-treading effectiveness<span>. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7sEolzIBF6hKzRBOiagPRvt7bKjnkVgZRDKMlB4Lk39fpG05bQXnqCkoZTY1Ak-r-ROlpAAQyCUa9FBE8nf15BhT-vyuyEgVDH5i2nGxkBw-xYkwiQyBwkKUW6izXrDnHSC5Qb8bpkkG7XhWZQ1XHJ01Qh9wAbi9CpJsfkFQjq3MpgrA0u7Q6p4g/s2874/Screenshot%202023-11-27%20at%2015.16.01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="2874" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7sEolzIBF6hKzRBOiagPRvt7bKjnkVgZRDKMlB4Lk39fpG05bQXnqCkoZTY1Ak-r-ROlpAAQyCUa9FBE8nf15BhT-vyuyEgVDH5i2nGxkBw-xYkwiQyBwkKUW6izXrDnHSC5Qb8bpkkG7XhWZQ1XHJ01Qh9wAbi9CpJsfkFQjq3MpgrA0u7Q6p4g/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-27%20at%2015.16.01.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Katy triggered billions of events, one of which burnt down her own building. But Martin wrapped things up when we failed to spot he had </span>control of four areas:</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lord de Worde (Martin) wins with just a single card left in the deck!</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><span>While this was going on, Jon Ian and Joe were playing Dune. I've no idea what was happening </span>except<span> there were occasional sighs, mostly from Ian and Joe. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWI66iTDYy0oPwwOJpwbisVAqrKbh0TdJTNgHBEBL9WqCqSkLqVNIWuJCaNGXGloMlbiMlyGgkgJeGWR-T-NJw0FHnVGZHXfvLcnppJoJaPPJR5DJbpvxjmf9C2AWissMS07Dqtz1K5VdZxJp6Wsl6S5MviAi5vTuyfjMd3qb3T4lklp82YIw49l8/s4032/IMG_4208.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWI66iTDYy0oPwwOJpwbisVAqrKbh0TdJTNgHBEBL9WqCqSkLqVNIWuJCaNGXGloMlbiMlyGgkgJeGWR-T-NJw0FHnVGZHXfvLcnppJoJaPPJR5DJbpvxjmf9C2AWissMS07Dqtz1K5VdZxJp6Wsl6S5MviAi5vTuyfjMd3qb3T4lklp82YIw49l8/s320/IMG_4208.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><span>I started washing up, but halted to join six-player Ticket to Ride Team Asia, where Katy and Steve made for a </span>fragile<span> partnership, with </span>lots<span> of pre-game debate. Laura kept forgetting the locomotive rules, to Martin's despair, and poor Adam's mega-tight </span>stratagems<span> were compromised by being partnered with me. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN_rkv9Q6M9dvcs7T-bPUL85J5Qa_EzXhd7I4SDviH_TSKU11mvkj9sR6JujPshAVZFKeHJemLhiXAwBuYKbxCaBl5oRPGjGveB9A8feA7263a4jW3BFK0t1_W_aNue1eMin-HrkqXHkrbGA5YG9sxEAbYm2iVIJqKhb3VwZWjNQyFc9_xWOzdmPb/s4032/IMG_4215.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN_rkv9Q6M9dvcs7T-bPUL85J5Qa_EzXhd7I4SDviH_TSKU11mvkj9sR6JujPshAVZFKeHJemLhiXAwBuYKbxCaBl5oRPGjGveB9A8feA7263a4jW3BFK0t1_W_aNue1eMin-HrkqXHkrbGA5YG9sxEAbYm2iVIJqKhb3VwZWjNQyFc9_xWOzdmPb/s320/IMG_4215.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1"><span>We created a fantastic trans-continental snaking yellow railroad across the top of the board, but with most of my tickets incomplete, it was </span></span>nowhere near enough:</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy Steve 128</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin Laura 129</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam sam 108</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think Dune finished just before us:</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 12</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 6</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 4</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And they played Joe's Revenge, otherwise known as Ra:</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 48</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 36</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 33</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSymnjnB7oWDa2Tqkfw2jA8gjiqMFNoXt6eYE1KQ2iiFbMCQi0xnX48b2jR0Y8yhRFOkY2ZsTHEeDjJT_AKhUrfxLG71k1Bant62tEpuENphEA5NEqnyFlVTIn75_8SZGOPk61TO7inxtfauu8FxDYFzDzArLTAKuTXyQdOmqQha8ElPx9lshBCSFn/s4032/IMG_4216.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSymnjnB7oWDa2Tqkfw2jA8gjiqMFNoXt6eYE1KQ2iiFbMCQi0xnX48b2jR0Y8yhRFOkY2ZsTHEeDjJT_AKhUrfxLG71k1Bant62tEpuENphEA5NEqnyFlVTIn75_8SZGOPk61TO7inxtfauu8FxDYFzDzArLTAKuTXyQdOmqQha8ElPx9lshBCSFn/s320/IMG_4216.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span>It was now 11pm but despite it not being midnight, we broke out the now-established GNN </span>tradition<span> of the slightly chubby, slightly lewd and all-invasive Hugo. </span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBocEmuvpMaZavjrgU_TKnYeb-8Opczy17BAtAb4gUASjUyTAGzpVboxgU7JkRMXuZbnk2pn6a9dDR7fmay6aeC2eke_pTtDYDI66XceaBJriJRNKvKhxqQ19S6S6dfw7a3VZl2ARWu2dCSbWWb3pj0VSUYDKJODsORj_pa-QYe_g8HvkQUjZ_hsnM/s4032/IMG_4219.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBocEmuvpMaZavjrgU_TKnYeb-8Opczy17BAtAb4gUASjUyTAGzpVboxgU7JkRMXuZbnk2pn6a9dDR7fmay6aeC2eke_pTtDYDI66XceaBJriJRNKvKhxqQ19S6S6dfw7a3VZl2ARWu2dCSbWWb3pj0VSUYDKJODsORj_pa-QYe_g8HvkQUjZ_hsnM/s320/IMG_4219.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;">Katy was caught twice in the first round and faced an uphill battle to remain relevant, score-wise, to the point where she began placing her party attendees in dangerous places, saying it was more fun. There was lots of mini-dramas in this game, but to sum it up: Hugo screwed us. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0qm-bJgkNysAwYETbVUeLjMdosxqJzMkvLNjooBV6SL0_qPgqMogFGG7EtO6av2J2TQM06dCLilgETlARs_nboXwz4BxeWIgEimBvh08AasRlnvBNQ6YTDLyldx32OxvJPoGWi2SqBZmgByFGiMAC5myI0gk0MrlWaLwsyY6RRlfF-JBWBzWpLN-/s2106/Screenshot%202023-11-27%20at%2015.11.58.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2106" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0qm-bJgkNysAwYETbVUeLjMdosxqJzMkvLNjooBV6SL0_qPgqMogFGG7EtO6av2J2TQM06dCLilgETlARs_nboXwz4BxeWIgEimBvh08AasRlnvBNQ6YTDLyldx32OxvJPoGWi2SqBZmgByFGiMAC5myI0gk0MrlWaLwsyY6RRlfF-JBWBzWpLN-/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-27%20at%2015.11.58.png" width="320" /></a></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Eleven o clock party</u></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam -12</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve and Laura -17</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin -18</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian -20</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon -21</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam -23</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe -30</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy -31 </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>There was time for one last game. Laura, Jon and Adam drifted away so with a suitable six, we busted out So Clover. It was a bit of challenge and to be frank, nobody besides Katy seemed </span>that<span> </span>optimistic<span> about our chances at the start. But thanks to some canny clueing and dextrous deduction, </span>we not only did well, we did well enough to merit our place in the Hall of Legends or whatever it's called:</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTolVVneQUgI09KiuAvB6329yCCI_kZEnu93wFha9gX-0a7ZQzgEMaUZEA1Z8MWXrrNsudu-lZGqOjMdAteYcLJrxf45p9CRD_OWvDNdsgUcI-obHX7fgUVj9m9nYSYPWDKY0SqsP5Vsf0cXuom7UDnWM_PFH4RoOyC6E80F-yANaJ1ovA7kdEkrbz/s4032/IMG_4224.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTolVVneQUgI09KiuAvB6329yCCI_kZEnu93wFha9gX-0a7ZQzgEMaUZEA1Z8MWXrrNsudu-lZGqOjMdAteYcLJrxf45p9CRD_OWvDNdsgUcI-obHX7fgUVj9m9nYSYPWDKY0SqsP5Vsf0cXuom7UDnWM_PFH4RoOyC6E80F-yANaJ1ovA7kdEkrbz/s320/IMG_4224.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">36/36!!!!!!!! The only way for Novocon was surely down. Or was it?</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saturday</span></u></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After some breakfasty/walky/cyclingy shenanigans, Joe and Katy cajoled each other into playing Fields of Arle, an undertaking that was still going on by the time lunch arrived some three hours later. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjOCZc5irlCT_npOZMTy99cTOMSp7dgPMt2QErYQ8Huqr0E0gMV3va6GTCMljITERJns8gV-bmqIgjy-jkUjK3W8UvGj7ZPBLXas1imPD9yQTGWZC89IY6JjsD0gZKzmfVMeQC5Jl2ZiyrBBg04e_PNP7bTMG-qnIdfjAvhzoyp0k2GzulVHXgfvN/s4032/IMG_4226.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjOCZc5irlCT_npOZMTy99cTOMSp7dgPMt2QErYQ8Huqr0E0gMV3va6GTCMljITERJns8gV-bmqIgjy-jkUjK3W8UvGj7ZPBLXas1imPD9yQTGWZC89IY6JjsD0gZKzmfVMeQC5Jl2ZiyrBBg04e_PNP7bTMG-qnIdfjAvhzoyp0k2GzulVHXgfvN/s320/IMG_4226.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Meanwhile Martin suggested Havalandi, which you can refuse by saying 'Don't Havalandi' if you really want to, but Martin was spared this torture by three of us joining him in this weird balloon festival/area control crossover. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk77ddq2SKG-sJ7YK84lahAes_wt9dINnZDAJ8KzaIc6yc1vAxG6dTLr4dBHWDaXebylHOXLDorW2m6iI7tCtyHhV6GOQ7mRbFnR5D8gWpwacDGYeXcpQFIsmQDZoUoMjuJ6W2qD1N5qAV3Bb6sz5_On_Ih6Bvxa-Et-32t0edkGO7oVVap6Ym7-mR/s4032/IMG_4228.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk77ddq2SKG-sJ7YK84lahAes_wt9dINnZDAJ8KzaIc6yc1vAxG6dTLr4dBHWDaXebylHOXLDorW2m6iI7tCtyHhV6GOQ7mRbFnR5D8gWpwacDGYeXcpQFIsmQDZoUoMjuJ6W2qD1N5qAV3Bb6sz5_On_Ih6Bvxa-Et-32t0edkGO7oVVap6Ym7-mR/s320/IMG_4228.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a quirky thing even by Knizian standards, but moves at a nice rate of knots mixing tactics and strategy in semi-Babylonian style. Ian possibly had the best long-term plan, but the ghost of the ghost of Hugo appeared and finished the game before he could finish them. Louie and I monopolised the rewarding corner spaces to good end, he doing it slightly better than me!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Louie 88</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam 87</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 65</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 38</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Suddenly loads of people went out for a walk and Adam Jon and Steve started playing Pioneer Rails. Left by ourselves, Louie (not into walking) and me (shit feet) played Quantum. Defying its' reputation as needing at least three players to shine, this was a Quantum Battle Royale. Louie expanded early and then picked up Arrogant, meaning that his extra ships also gave him an extra action. I was on the ropes for a long time as he blitzkrieged the board with cubes, needing just one more to win whilst I still had 4!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftKFRRQjBEp0sy3je9SiptkgvlElhDTp9lSOEelzvCBhObs7w-YGuJa3Ua_hm4lJS_S-5T5VpE4w8KbGrY8nyMANn5f9x7cLrbsYGN4edvooQlIPO5EEzSU8Bg2UqDTgj0bnsM3XmQaW3AtT0vCdGVKerJITAKu-icZw4e2XJn4GzNGgqYYJ-IdFw/s4032/IMG_4230.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftKFRRQjBEp0sy3je9SiptkgvlElhDTp9lSOEelzvCBhObs7w-YGuJa3Ua_hm4lJS_S-5T5VpE4w8KbGrY8nyMANn5f9x7cLrbsYGN4edvooQlIPO5EEzSU8Bg2UqDTgj0bnsM3XmQaW3AtT0vCdGVKerJITAKu-icZw4e2XJn4GzNGgqYYJ-IdFw/s320/IMG_4230.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I grit my teeth and staged a comeback, cubing via Dominance and repeatedly kicking Louie off the board as fast as he could deploy. I dragged myself level, but then Louie's arrogance kicked in again and with four actions at his disposal, he wrapped up a debut victory.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Louie: all cubes down!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam: 1 cube left</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite Quantum having a fairly long phone call intermission, Pioneer Rails was still going with the soundtrack of some impressive harrumphing by Steve. "It's too complicated!" he said. They were just starting round 5. I had a shower and a phone call which ended around the time Pioneer Rails (officially 30-45 mins) ended almost two hours after it had begun. Adam didn't mind:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Very Long Game of Pioneer Rails</u><br />Adam 121<br />Jon 95<br />Steve 80</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The walkers had returned but were imminently departing again in search of chips. Everyone bar Katy and Joe (still in Arle with hoes) joined them as we ventured at various speeds along the front. It was a marvellous day...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYimgQu0cc0zWDZ3a5_DOC97lFUViRxq4jiIQSGodoY7QTcbDMoSZ04121wVgfoIwEnfmL_r_WYDKnxxezKNRkApd9xZjzyflcNtvUCqLhz6NHm9X_ZBwO6GzkDx2rzsa-O0rLYBEAon5vbcH1kqTL-WKxvvTExIbq-lMvhNlMuDZsNROITZfGDk-g/s4032/IMG_4232.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYimgQu0cc0zWDZ3a5_DOC97lFUViRxq4jiIQSGodoY7QTcbDMoSZ04121wVgfoIwEnfmL_r_WYDKnxxezKNRkApd9xZjzyflcNtvUCqLhz6NHm9X_ZBwO6GzkDx2rzsa-O0rLYBEAon5vbcH1kqTL-WKxvvTExIbq-lMvhNlMuDZsNROITZfGDk-g/s320/IMG_4232.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zzl5tsZhI-Z7TbLeRgNbiHVMCbJY19RNtChNNTm3u68A9p-eZunOXMM0quM9nynTbsppE1saHM43TWhmq4vfZ_naZDHCLF64TBhIKGs7V3ES5uoYvYcsMxx2i1Cj2mz0PvMu2HbnYBjTGwLOYu3VAgYR-rn0SzX-QTLmZjjkYit2x2vW_P9IsGMd/s4032/IMG_4234.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zzl5tsZhI-Z7TbLeRgNbiHVMCbJY19RNtChNNTm3u68A9p-eZunOXMM0quM9nynTbsppE1saHM43TWhmq4vfZ_naZDHCLF64TBhIKGs7V3ES5uoYvYcsMxx2i1Cj2mz0PvMu2HbnYBjTGwLOYu3VAgYR-rn0SzX-QTLmZjjkYit2x2vW_P9IsGMd/s320/IMG_4234.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAPat226w_b1pCVJaEyb1zRn6l4tP5dgAeQ3d3WVMqgPRB1brlzAhRujDqvKLJT00Ry9sYNUh63dNMXQHfv6HGmOiH4MJmtBvq9AuP55xFaNOHN_Saul32p8A9GoiBCr6RCY1VGrC3g9eDWMz1UT1PhILI8TMzEox69A-2Z7cZpewMmR7GCtn6_Vg/s4032/IMG_4235.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAPat226w_b1pCVJaEyb1zRn6l4tP5dgAeQ3d3WVMqgPRB1brlzAhRujDqvKLJT00Ry9sYNUh63dNMXQHfv6HGmOiH4MJmtBvq9AuP55xFaNOHN_Saul32p8A9GoiBCr6RCY1VGrC3g9eDWMz1UT1PhILI8TMzEox69A-2Z7cZpewMmR7GCtn6_Vg/s320/IMG_4235.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBQc11sLKMHwydIpL-p3IAQAh_QBeTyJkXsRDGvTQGZTRrBL106ZdAEhbe5S3fN1rzfNe0ACQ60lqOevpBMqPKPf9D-f_yEMVyiaLGHMLrr1o2JTcttnjlGtOMNLLyoyTjP1WFm_2wAXWwhtkv5y4HNFixHuTqfu858aoxTUmlv7kTR1L0HkRp1so/s4032/IMG_4236.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBQc11sLKMHwydIpL-p3IAQAh_QBeTyJkXsRDGvTQGZTRrBL106ZdAEhbe5S3fN1rzfNe0ACQ60lqOevpBMqPKPf9D-f_yEMVyiaLGHMLrr1o2JTcttnjlGtOMNLLyoyTjP1WFm_2wAXWwhtkv5y4HNFixHuTqfu858aoxTUmlv7kTR1L0HkRp1so/s320/IMG_4236.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the fish and chips were pretty good too. Enormo-portions that only Martin and Ian managed to finish, maybe just to spite the screeching seagull roaming around us making a racket. We made our way back to the house to find Fields of Arle had finished. What's that they say about pictures and words?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OyxCEVy5wD40ew96qzaIk42q1mH0GRaIGrQztmWmJrrD2CRSeLsczEBl_w7NZENb15iOL151vrw2ruXAceaekJYv5P0JXb1KSpX_78s2nLAkDiHgAOh5qihruodwWgKC7GXP3zcEuIWxemg54U7NGryc3Cz2WcAvdAOkYcJXxM1a5MYUqsVUcf1d/s4032/IMG_4238.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OyxCEVy5wD40ew96qzaIk42q1mH0GRaIGrQztmWmJrrD2CRSeLsczEBl_w7NZENb15iOL151vrw2ruXAceaekJYv5P0JXb1KSpX_78s2nLAkDiHgAOh5qihruodwWgKC7GXP3zcEuIWxemg54U7NGryc3Cz2WcAvdAOkYcJXxM1a5MYUqsVUcf1d/s320/IMG_4238.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 97.5</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 86</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Completely besotted, Katy had already made Joe promise to play it the next morning "and every morning for the rest of my life" she added. Martin's expression at the phrase 'scoring barn equipment' was another illuminating vision that needed no footnotes. However he moved swiftly on to Faiyum with Joe and Katy...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCS2KvcCx2nsPUWn3uF2fobowqQ6TpyY2m3ZjcDhEZGWLYBkckUHm8pofH2yScoFZgdYmYBpvq7izi06Py2m_JKe_KZc-2_uInbjUuAzKhlmSbh0MVnI3pwIv1F66_yvt0AweN0DevzJr6MCvrGSdCS2DqQbh6PASTOtxmJ7Y7K2AMplo0OOzAxyx/s4032/IMG_4240.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCS2KvcCx2nsPUWn3uF2fobowqQ6TpyY2m3ZjcDhEZGWLYBkckUHm8pofH2yScoFZgdYmYBpvq7izi06Py2m_JKe_KZc-2_uInbjUuAzKhlmSbh0MVnI3pwIv1F66_yvt0AweN0DevzJr6MCvrGSdCS2DqQbh6PASTOtxmJ7Y7K2AMplo0OOzAxyx/s320/IMG_4240.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as Laura, Ian, Adam and I set up Wandering Towers. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDy0emm7o89Bnd0TBdUi1aZ26uxJ_LYG3LFxReTEJEAcTVJbJHH79bTx8ZADBh-oI5R6Te6cEJDlxvl41AmRPP8tPmmbclpNPmlqY6UD8yLPn8kRsSYL_zMOONfasz9ym9_18pM3ihTdS3MtBE75F9cu5vVRVENQUHXHIiM82q0dbJSJNZ5doFfJ1/s4032/IMG_4239.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDy0emm7o89Bnd0TBdUi1aZ26uxJ_LYG3LFxReTEJEAcTVJbJHH79bTx8ZADBh-oI5R6Te6cEJDlxvl41AmRPP8tPmmbclpNPmlqY6UD8yLPn8kRsSYL_zMOONfasz9ym9_18pM3ihTdS3MtBE75F9cu5vVRVENQUHXHIiM82q0dbJSJNZ5doFfJ1/s320/IMG_4239.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">After Martin's rules recap we instantly broke several rules (by accident) but corrected ourselves. Ian and Adam both lost track of their wizards, and after half-hour of mild bewilderment broken only by Adam and I unblocking the kitchen sink, I overcame my abysmal record in this game to snag a first win:</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam: all wizards, all potions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam: all wizards, two potions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: three wizards, three potions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian: two wizards, two potions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">They played again</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian: all wizards, one potion</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam: three wizards, two potions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: one wizard, five potions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then we began playing Railways of Europe, which was considerably feisty and occasionally pregnant with pauses. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOidJm0gHEai4HaMyNhD4rbTg-1IRSu1rHqFejC0tRiMHPq3V9XVl1ImlTzyUnQ5HSeaxDHA98Vuna27tlxc7WTch4S_AanBKkKJF8hHjubRwrwkxWtEC8pqQ-vM3pmUY-PQPPy7BpT19bV1KJYWnh9m0IVzSGr7NUb3L4hyV0_6yjPCrLmY0KmeoX/s4032/IMG_4241.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOidJm0gHEai4HaMyNhD4rbTg-1IRSu1rHqFejC0tRiMHPq3V9XVl1ImlTzyUnQ5HSeaxDHA98Vuna27tlxc7WTch4S_AanBKkKJF8hHjubRwrwkxWtEC8pqQ-vM3pmUY-PQPPy7BpT19bV1KJYWnh9m0IVzSGr7NUb3L4hyV0_6yjPCrLmY0KmeoX/s320/IMG_4241.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Faiyum finished after two hours: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 91</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 79 </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 77</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And Katy said it didn't have enough meat for her, but corrected this descriptive comparison to tofu. She and Joe both went for a swim, don't ask me why. Here are the before and after photos:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Qixcl4AJXeDDPkpU1ejzEncz2RUXCKaaDJIbc-T11Z1GLvP_p4VPF_D5dyX2LGwIGu3byy20QKNHOEkujNdNL_e_MvSSIQfizBHs4zxT07YGVH55ryirhNbzSwqy7MvnUMUPsxTDZg9V6iLKdFEBpdwAO9IJNawT-oL0hze1NKW5rxjzqmVfRkP/s4032/IMG_4245.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Qixcl4AJXeDDPkpU1ejzEncz2RUXCKaaDJIbc-T11Z1GLvP_p4VPF_D5dyX2LGwIGu3byy20QKNHOEkujNdNL_e_MvSSIQfizBHs4zxT07YGVH55ryirhNbzSwqy7MvnUMUPsxTDZg9V6iLKdFEBpdwAO9IJNawT-oL0hze1NKW5rxjzqmVfRkP/s320/IMG_4245.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe prepares for the sea</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIXDLReAUowu0JAVWYp-1l4bqwnqZgNSvMEcr6wtX2NxsiQVXrr_jgG8jazhDNP_OcD9MgfVteZaSIgc787Y2eqSdNvxIQUgZ9TxgDngjhtwMLw9VswyycU7FYcYYVi9vW6EPn7F8WhKB6L7Ykw-mxjaYSDCXIVf2SnSTPzvdEozwHNfpa2MFPeVR/s2386/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%2016.59.58.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="2386" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIXDLReAUowu0JAVWYp-1l4bqwnqZgNSvMEcr6wtX2NxsiQVXrr_jgG8jazhDNP_OcD9MgfVteZaSIgc787Y2eqSdNvxIQUgZ9TxgDngjhtwMLw9VswyycU7FYcYYVi9vW6EPn7F8WhKB6L7Ykw-mxjaYSDCXIVf2SnSTPzvdEozwHNfpa2MFPeVR/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%2016.59.58.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The swimmers return</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't witness anything that happened, but while they were splashing about in the cold cold waters, Steve was clearly schooling Martin and Louie at Harvest:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve 140</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Louie 70</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 20</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Railways, then: something of a baptism - for Laura - and rebirth - for Jon, returning after 'about ten years' - of fire coming up against Railway veterans - not only were we inured to the politicking and bidding, but also the visual chaos of the oft-obscured board. Early on it's not too bad...</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMuxEcf9yB1PTziH0k6k_ly5BHS_BWsmMsi92u4gU7cqjCF-iFd3nCDY5nZE1y3xU3dq_PZbGBi2y0ChwdG_112a5D-l8QxWORsHgX8nYrkHqUWcp__I2OJ8JETIbGAYVlpam29ZsHSLdh4MnG2CCAOk_LK5hcl5VqtUB0iOUe93_Kghg3hLpEHWq/s4032/IMG_4244.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMuxEcf9yB1PTziH0k6k_ly5BHS_BWsmMsi92u4gU7cqjCF-iFd3nCDY5nZE1y3xU3dq_PZbGBi2y0ChwdG_112a5D-l8QxWORsHgX8nYrkHqUWcp__I2OJ8JETIbGAYVlpam29ZsHSLdh4MnG2CCAOk_LK5hcl5VqtUB0iOUe93_Kghg3hLpEHWq/s320/IMG_4244.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">...but by the time the last empty city marker appeared, Jon almost started crying with relief when Adam removed them in order to help read the board. For a long time it looked like Adam's game to lose with Ian and I squabbling over second as Jon several times pointed to the score track as though illuminating the banality of existence. But I had a strong end-game, then benefitted from Adam not appeasing his baron to pip him to a very narrow win!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam 52</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 50</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 37</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura 31</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 26</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon didn't like it at all, so kudos to him for staying the lengthy course. I'm not sure Laura was a convert either, but Adam magnanimously agreed to high-five me, I was so excited. Apologies everyone.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was so tense during Railways I now needed a shower, but Louie (and Steve) immediately stepped in to make up the numbers for Jon's piratey punch-up, Seas of Havoc. "Don't sail into rocks" he advised. "You'll come off worse"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIevl8W0-UfvGLX5EjKBZ5VqTqeSvRfOR1omyi5Joyaz6YM1IZAkozlhYv2BG3oHffX2hjhOI8fVmvpOX80ian2MPDNrHvs9dCcF7PxvQl5CE2OumdPBG8YQUpQwF0PDotkXxyTRVjaDtH1q0LPEIIqDElxsOURa8y2rH9eGuTGrpC0dVt5WSCIFq/s4032/IMG_4248.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIevl8W0-UfvGLX5EjKBZ5VqTqeSvRfOR1omyi5Joyaz6YM1IZAkozlhYv2BG3oHffX2hjhOI8fVmvpOX80ian2MPDNrHvs9dCcF7PxvQl5CE2OumdPBG8YQUpQwF0PDotkXxyTRVjaDtH1q0LPEIIqDElxsOURa8y2rH9eGuTGrpC0dVt5WSCIFq/s320/IMG_4248.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the other end of the table, Havalandi was getting another run-out and Katy was bravely navigating her hunger pains, waiting for tea. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pG71rW62ahlahSAA1u2cmjqgQgVPvstkNZ7ahqvGpjGM6kTossN_ari7rGcPNkNETxH3NTJE4KSZdXLsd5OzTz0h0Cln3MpUxbFaflwrxBKyqPm72SnJrTTYFS7nTcypu2lMpA0JI6yiidViG02hGWA-kww4YE6S01sq9ipaYl5jpR6A7EyoSIcf/s4032/IMG_4249.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pG71rW62ahlahSAA1u2cmjqgQgVPvstkNZ7ahqvGpjGM6kTossN_ari7rGcPNkNETxH3NTJE4KSZdXLsd5OzTz0h0Cln3MpUxbFaflwrxBKyqPm72SnJrTTYFS7nTcypu2lMpA0JI6yiidViG02hGWA-kww4YE6S01sq9ipaYl5jpR6A7EyoSIcf/s320/IMG_4249.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amidst all of this hot meeple action, Steve was making food. Breathless from a day of almost relentless gaming, I took a breather as the world heated up either side of me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6bCC4qeddRZMBRCfJVByKqyziNj75Av2kff1-c_hh2jd6fCM0mzV0I_oGc_FcgwFFB9CqLAioiw2r7HKBU9r3lSB27sv0Bsensw44CxTaicdYx-3-dtIT55V5GCq3MJYzuUsG7rQjP95RtZck0QYP5G_i5vT18TgE2ofB5Bkn77XuHi7Q6bZYRz8/s4032/IMG_4251.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6bCC4qeddRZMBRCfJVByKqyziNj75Av2kff1-c_hh2jd6fCM0mzV0I_oGc_FcgwFFB9CqLAioiw2r7HKBU9r3lSB27sv0Bsensw44CxTaicdYx-3-dtIT55V5GCq3MJYzuUsG7rQjP95RtZck0QYP5G_i5vT18TgE2ofB5Bkn77XuHi7Q6bZYRz8/s320/IMG_4251.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I asked Seas of Havoc if they understood what was happening yet, and Adam said no. Jon pointed out he - Adam - was leading, and Adam pulled a face. From what I could tell, there's some small boats doing worker placement around the edge of the board, after which shit gets real in the middle. Beyond that I was bit lost, as my attention alternated across both ends of the table.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Havalandi ended with Joe insisting that he still didn't understand it, despite winning. He said he had help, and Martin confirmed this when he added "we helped him too much". But a win is a win is a win, even if the victor referred to balloon launches as 'explosions'. Martin frowned. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 89</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura 69</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 68</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 65</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seas of Havoc continued so we set up High Society, which immediately prompted a fairly long conversation about the sexual allure of Jacques and what book he might be reading. Or not reading.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q9pqa-Tgmm0TqXUg___q84WKbnD5YeA6Tx5hiXAEkdMlNWsB4CovetI1OcFRRyZHnlD8zfO_owSO5_hg0wrfKFTWflZhbmkOcGm3dOMvWKYRhhoilqm7a6qMD-024w_tNVp-wwSzmzv_Prp7A7ANDNwRTg7LiolV1jCYiPl0TzEUKAHDJ_UKGjxz/s4032/IMG_4252.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q9pqa-Tgmm0TqXUg___q84WKbnD5YeA6Tx5hiXAEkdMlNWsB4CovetI1OcFRRyZHnlD8zfO_owSO5_hg0wrfKFTWflZhbmkOcGm3dOMvWKYRhhoilqm7a6qMD-024w_tNVp-wwSzmzv_Prp7A7ANDNwRTg7LiolV1jCYiPl0TzEUKAHDJ_UKGjxz/s320/IMG_4252.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After that, High Society was as dastardly as ever, and despite Martin saying he was rubbish at it, it was another triumph.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxsSjIZH_VGsz8key8aESFQAZWW6rhZCiEVaoS0576o7NCeLWoxHPjvDK7NVUxN_G-QD-WDlmNH_hG-R2JyQG9fw8Lroc8Ro-KN0Yyz6AUQsAeKUBtBRiEZSIuc3iODTR6__s43AdfDeN114Cz5gZoenirqx4kOt4lCeEEvTWiraILDI0isB0fIMS/s4032/IMG_4254.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxsSjIZH_VGsz8key8aESFQAZWW6rhZCiEVaoS0576o7NCeLWoxHPjvDK7NVUxN_G-QD-WDlmNH_hG-R2JyQG9fw8Lroc8Ro-KN0Yyz6AUQsAeKUBtBRiEZSIuc3iODTR6__s43AdfDeN114Cz5gZoenirqx4kOt4lCeEEvTWiraILDI0isB0fIMS/s320/IMG_4254.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 8 (wins on tiebreaker)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 8</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam 7</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 6</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: bust! (with 9 points)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura had about 2 cents left. Seas of Havoc ended too, with the jury a little out. Chaotic and random were the chief adjectives I was given, although Steve sounded more approving of these terms than Adam. It certainly looks appealing. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve 26</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Louie 25</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 24</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 22</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 20</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqWbnVb8CRbl4lZR54AJ8uk5kzhdjEvAbukR6VK23y_A5EhHZtQIV05ylwNVn_5om8twilsRSionHChtSz7qFs_2CV9RKdZx4QamdDoxKSfaZjXPD5f9SrWJl_uqQD37i96YelYj73JbC3nP_NlYprcIdt0k6yj7FYQvFu0fRx9F-nJYQi23uZh98/s4032/IMG_4257.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqWbnVb8CRbl4lZR54AJ8uk5kzhdjEvAbukR6VK23y_A5EhHZtQIV05ylwNVn_5om8twilsRSionHChtSz7qFs_2CV9RKdZx4QamdDoxKSfaZjXPD5f9SrWJl_uqQD37i96YelYj73JbC3nP_NlYprcIdt0k6yj7FYQvFu0fRx9F-nJYQi23uZh98/s320/IMG_4257.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then Medium ended - I forgot to say it had started - and I didn't note all the scores but it was a tie between Joe+Sam and Martin+Katy. The Laura+Katy team missed out by a single point. At Joe's suggestion, we moved on to the name game!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2br4DpJVzPlUcV_YDSCjLmgvCxv-gI8hjkYeGhE919e5nafwSTa4LmwuKqluovwg6s2eCHNu7gKBIW9xjnvT6teBffxglxkMvSiAhL3THH7PnzhND2hDObGYwOzBfKWncmCEDH7wShgFjQ8MQ8nfmDhUCcGUBU0YNeWC3MVgkwCQqLJnpFp6HNFE/s4032/IMG_4258.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2br4DpJVzPlUcV_YDSCjLmgvCxv-gI8hjkYeGhE919e5nafwSTa4LmwuKqluovwg6s2eCHNu7gKBIW9xjnvT6teBffxglxkMvSiAhL3THH7PnzhND2hDObGYwOzBfKWncmCEDH7wShgFjQ8MQ8nfmDhUCcGUBU0YNeWC3MVgkwCQqLJnpFp6HNFE/s320/IMG_4258.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This crackpot undertaking involves both trying to eliminate players by correctly guessing their alter-ego, and also trying to remember the names in the first place. Paul Newman (me) was first out, swiftly followed by Pele (Jon), There was a lot of Olivia Colman being bandied about but that was host Joe's red herring addition. Martin was going rat-a-tat-tat eliminating people - the mysterious Robin Blake (Katy) and Martin Wallace (Ian) followed, but he came a cropper when a. he learned there was no points system and b. Steve eliminated him (- he was Mariah Carey). Following that bombshell, Steve knocked out Adam (who was, confusingly, Martin Griffiths) to win!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">After that, Steve's lentil bake was ready. Steve saying 'these lentils are too crunchy' every half-hour during the afternoon was either a clever ploy to lower expectations or a way of building the tension. Maybe both. Either way it worked, and it was yet another triumph in the annals of GNN weekend meals; well worth the wait. I was so nourished I didn't even take any photos.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Post-lentil, we split again. Katy Ian Joe and Martin set up Lords of Vegas, Adam and Louie played Carrook and Laura Jon and Steve broke out Scythe. Steve was crestfallen to learn post-set-up that Laura had played before, as now he was the only newbie. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK2fOu0ewYBiNMNxh6N6OO9xatkGUv-7TQOK4egmueTsnvQ2GzRAg7yREXbn-7yYDX6nNefskcJSupXgZZOjvddD9dJ6H7rzfB6slSE7XBdi567I57JRtxF1jBKsDHaZXRpxgfttxlZl3hmgAVdvLzqjx9CDGjdVIxmSVZexxpCtKjN2rPXlRcSzH/s4032/IMG_4273.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK2fOu0ewYBiNMNxh6N6OO9xatkGUv-7TQOK4egmueTsnvQ2GzRAg7yREXbn-7yYDX6nNefskcJSupXgZZOjvddD9dJ6H7rzfB6slSE7XBdi567I57JRtxF1jBKsDHaZXRpxgfttxlZl3hmgAVdvLzqjx9CDGjdVIxmSVZexxpCtKjN2rPXlRcSzH/s320/IMG_4273.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe Ian Katy and Martin played Nokosu Dice, and in the midst of this mayhem Spots also got played. It's all starting to blur slightly in my head at this point, but I remember Jon not liking a dog's bum and I know Ian won:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UJkQzMo7vV0ld2CNtJnWklCL1iz1IS8cdoepqk5UCWGK9BHY9k-OSId83QI_Pk2uviPq__w0_QC-mUXVJR93tbRs_ZPUlh31UqznGcCEQHrHa0-pl64B5B3jhMqNFzFZVlQk0aSmusx7QfX1tHAE5KJc0Br-djpAu2BfOY6T01x0JHJKFJ8MLOv2/s4032/IMG_4260.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UJkQzMo7vV0ld2CNtJnWklCL1iz1IS8cdoepqk5UCWGK9BHY9k-OSId83QI_Pk2uviPq__w0_QC-mUXVJR93tbRs_ZPUlh31UqznGcCEQHrHa0-pl64B5B3jhMqNFzFZVlQk0aSmusx7QfX1tHAE5KJc0Br-djpAu2BfOY6T01x0JHJKFJ8MLOv2/s320/IMG_4260.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 6 dogs<span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 4</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam 2</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 1</span></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then as Scythe continued, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lords of Vegas was set up, leaving </span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam and I with a 2-player crack at Root (Eyrie v Duchy). Oddly, I got no pictures of LoV, but it sounded like a doozy of a game: Martin was level on points with him, but Joe won despite ending the game with no casinos at all, and </span>took<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a disgusting amount of cash out of Martin's casino mid-game.</span></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe and Martin 40 (Joe wins)</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 32</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 20</span></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>In Root, I dawdled somewhat instead of getting in Adam's way as early as possible as I should have done, and this left me with an uphill battle: stuck on nine points, my warriors were getting kicked off the board as fast as they could dig to it as </span></span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">Adam went for a dominance</span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> victory and rolled a series of pitiful dice. I rallied and got myself to 19 before he finally claimed it. Good stuff. </span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUt0IM566Si-GmssD2acdFNjYhgpUjXWpGdw5jzJTiipjj4WyPGLfDPH06PZ1XkuOJH8TvcY7eJFhCmoUiBpZ7OI6Xi43TXHrplyR-Z2sYr_XfpZAj0UQbU8Mt3j3EWArq_p5LcjWnic8ExTi7voZ7m1MFyG8nVzFjnX1lvQHpmcG3-9u5hKh1Xdm/s4032/IMG_4265.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUt0IM566Si-GmssD2acdFNjYhgpUjXWpGdw5jzJTiipjj4WyPGLfDPH06PZ1XkuOJH8TvcY7eJFhCmoUiBpZ7OI6Xi43TXHrplyR-Z2sYr_XfpZAj0UQbU8Mt3j3EWArq_p5LcjWnic8ExTi7voZ7m1MFyG8nVzFjnX1lvQHpmcG3-9u5hKh1Xdm/s320/IMG_4265.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">Martin mooted Texas Showdown</span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;"> and we were willing. We played with the original rules that if the highest card of a suit gets played, it </span>cancels<span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;"> all cards of that suit in the trick (ie they cannot win) which of course may be null and void if all suits in the trick feature the highest card - in that case, this rule is ignored. Martin's third and final round saw a death spiral like no other, as he picked up something like nine tricks in a game where tricks are bad. </span></span></span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkRQSqtfASPxtwgN56HSnXHeetVbOI_HivEi3OnmRa7QENobik_Inn2oeIIEWo4a5sXp0dYF31Dp2gyfOYYSS0T1JfGEPz5IzWn3FU9XaNSZMmwFT6rMVvdFco8iNSsCY5pzy-Z4BfMF3MpnS-S1fJ4ejSCRBz5H4cmpiLtGqHUC3tr_5xIWOpjRO/s4032/IMG_4279.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkRQSqtfASPxtwgN56HSnXHeetVbOI_HivEi3OnmRa7QENobik_Inn2oeIIEWo4a5sXp0dYF31Dp2gyfOYYSS0T1JfGEPz5IzWn3FU9XaNSZMmwFT6rMVvdFco8iNSsCY5pzy-Z4BfMF3MpnS-S1fJ4ejSCRBz5H4cmpiLtGqHUC3tr_5xIWOpjRO/s320/IMG_4279.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>Adam, </span></span><span>Katy, Sam: 5 each</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 6</span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 8</span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 11</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And it was around now Scythe finally finished. Laura and Jon had a side-game of Sky Team going on too, which they completed as Steve reflected on his experiences.</span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOtYSgLPx3MIh1iqjynodjrHYL_GT2yeArihDZmTqJx_t-6UTzQcRuEuDntj_x5DU-P1kqO6ry5JRNzfqr6UrJxVZn7zifx9CPNEBe4d65C-PUSTJg4qC24e8JadW9-EDu1c5yMnr7pMrASY7v5Eq5CYIjUekkqWi_q2aW-4Ol7UPPavcS7R2es6o/s4032/IMG_4282.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOtYSgLPx3MIh1iqjynodjrHYL_GT2yeArihDZmTqJx_t-6UTzQcRuEuDntj_x5DU-P1kqO6ry5JRNzfqr6UrJxVZn7zifx9CPNEBe4d65C-PUSTJg4qC24e8JadW9-EDu1c5yMnr7pMrASY7v5Eq5CYIjUekkqWi_q2aW-4Ol7UPPavcS7R2es6o/s320/IMG_4282.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 67</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura 19</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve 38</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(and the plane landed safely)</span></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whew. After all the trick-taking, cube pushing and meeple fondling, we needed a breather and got it in the form of So Clover. I'm writing this on Monday and to be honest I don't recall any clues at this point, except to say I have the words 'Grave Cream' written here, which I<i> think</i> Adam had clued with <i>Myrrh</i>. I can only find a picture of my own clover. </span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0j-Bnlj8RAuLroQDL10NO77reiVHOLe9s2EHR7V7v2SiavERo4QurOorYyDsF0hzWtYNTO1YhAunSzNuoIPsBwAQjxsJycTt2rBqhs_QtjDNMr-QfdZ_5Y_q89rqZ2uzUWkEnCwVVqPtj9GObG1QYOWPRHUduW3ixr7vKu9_ZHGlR9Vcp9DfkixSI/s4032/IMG_4291.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0j-Bnlj8RAuLroQDL10NO77reiVHOLe9s2EHR7V7v2SiavERo4QurOorYyDsF0hzWtYNTO1YhAunSzNuoIPsBwAQjxsJycTt2rBqhs_QtjDNMr-QfdZ_5Y_q89rqZ2uzUWkEnCwVVqPtj9GObG1QYOWPRHUduW3ixr7vKu9_ZHGlR9Vcp9DfkixSI/s320/IMG_4291.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x_s1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">Not exactly a </span>triumph<span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">: 20 out of 3</span></span></span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">0</span></span></p><p class="x_p1" style="font-kerning: auto; font-size-adjust: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was more Robot Tricks going on, then some Strike (Katy won two; Joe and Martin one each) and I think another So Clover too but by that point I was in bed, listening to the lilting lullaby of occasional maceration. </span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">On <b><u>Sunday</u></b> I staggered into the kitchen at 9.30am to find Laura and Joe already engaged in an epic: Tales of the Arabian Nights. I missed 90% of the game, only hearing Laura asking Joe if he was married. "No, but I am enslaved and ensorcelled" he replied, channeling Les Dawson.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3D7Ee2q1njmUYqm7j5LA4rdm3FY2fPjsgPReXmtVwEPv1dxqKvR_TJEdzH8oAPwsZsegv2_rkxMiMSyNzGEnzuhlt-friTTfjW7to1_6Cp1oLsToligcH0PHf7IeTz_1uFFStuK2qT7kCY1WWZbSP_CPhhDGEfaBnNg4F5RnUC6RSVu8VHyKpLZ2B/s4032/IMG_4295.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3D7Ee2q1njmUYqm7j5LA4rdm3FY2fPjsgPReXmtVwEPv1dxqKvR_TJEdzH8oAPwsZsegv2_rkxMiMSyNzGEnzuhlt-friTTfjW7to1_6Cp1oLsToligcH0PHf7IeTz_1uFFStuK2qT7kCY1WWZbSP_CPhhDGEfaBnNg4F5RnUC6RSVu8VHyKpLZ2B/s320/IMG_4295.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><div><div><div></div></div><div></div></div><div></div></div><div><div><div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was considerable discussion over returnees and arrivals, with Laura's return train - possibly Mel's arrival train - cancelled and Andrew declaring (from Bristol) that he'd just woken up and wouldn't be joining us after all. Having 'booked it in' the night before, Ian, Martin, Joe and I set up Time of Crisis. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not having Andrew's notebooks, note-taking abilities or sense of the game, my narrative of Time of Crisis will be somewhat stilted. I do know however that after Ian's brief flirtation with emperorship, Joe moved in and couldn't be evicted. The three of us were afflicted by invaders and I attempted to oust him from power and came a cropper. I needed seven votes from six dice, rolled six of them and my re-roll was the only number that I didn't need: a one. My relationship with the scoretrack was largely down to building things and shipping points to Joe in a high-risk attack from Gallia. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2FW3PAxpbCVN0_xFSjhH9XhYVyyRgA652h2Ru_YzJmjUJcjPqA-PKrb5lWhmN_P4NezDopThjXuzrknx3Zt7ko3NPTrDfUpy6_IA9loOBxic5MqHlu6hclQDm6wLiK2d2m45a36FrO1amAVqjBiC4xD2Ahy5po0y-UDnL2Ni4JP0qmcDLEcCsRj4/s4032/IMG_4296.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2FW3PAxpbCVN0_xFSjhH9XhYVyyRgA652h2Ru_YzJmjUJcjPqA-PKrb5lWhmN_P4NezDopThjXuzrknx3Zt7ko3NPTrDfUpy6_IA9loOBxic5MqHlu6hclQDm6wLiK2d2m45a36FrO1amAVqjBiC4xD2Ahy5po0y-UDnL2Ni4JP0qmcDLEcCsRj4/s320/IMG_4296.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, with Joe now suffering from invading Franks. Ian kicked Joe out of Rome. Now it was Martin's turn. "I'm going to declare Spiculum" he said, even though it wasn't yet midday. Another games night first, as whatever the spiculum did, it was clearly beneficial: he was the new emperor. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And despite more emperor turns from Ian, and Joe, and even myself in the death throes of the game, it was Martin's game. He shrugged off a tricky Nomad-afflicted beginning and a brief pretend empire from Ian to haul himself over the line - and then haul himself further having had the most emperor turns by the narrowest of margins. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 76</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 66</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 61</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam 58</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yokohama was still ongoing. Jon had to take a phone call so Ian and Katy went off to play Carrooka, which apparently Katy didn't like. Steve and Louie played Radlands, and I think Steve won (Joe impressively taught this while he was still playing Time of Crisis).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsxaOP73pO_tOqclt8x4Zhyphenhyphenay1Wvnt_MTl3Kms0Ab6FL1j34QttA4DIHugdIZYxPXyWF3EDJVQV9Xs9nCxAhnt3x0mqW6V5Wp5DMAicHNHQ4fF8tXl8-wEEec41tLP0C9PbAYSJxIIM-K3vxXEy9sJPvvMaQuTDjd1HdABYEH68TbjmnlQ871YLzh/s4032/IMG_4299.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsxaOP73pO_tOqclt8x4Zhyphenhyphenay1Wvnt_MTl3Kms0Ab6FL1j34QttA4DIHugdIZYxPXyWF3EDJVQV9Xs9nCxAhnt3x0mqW6V5Wp5DMAicHNHQ4fF8tXl8-wEEec41tLP0C9PbAYSJxIIM-K3vxXEy9sJPvvMaQuTDjd1HdABYEH68TbjmnlQ871YLzh/s320/IMG_4299.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there was an utterly bananas game of Game Off, which Louie had brought with him. The goal is to collect one each of the skill/body/courage/mind/luck cards on the table, which are harvested by winning challenges. Some - especially the luck cards - are completely arbitrary feeling, and some - like Joe and my helicopter-noise face-off - involves what might be argued as a skill. Credit to Steve and Louie particularly for their beatboxing, and also to Martin - if credit is indeed the right word - for his serenading Steve when he sang Happy Birthday to You. Terrifying. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi0AN53_gky8b0iZjUI7W4fuwbbR6Q5i9aDQqseGEQKAgNZcxe3m7sMkS1tk6LoZo0o497wJfwMkeKwW3iRFeKAk5MmPrfsDaeLUnohjdmCVFgAyamDS8eDu_bStM0LNAN4UQJoW9OJtkAXJFSvuTm3QITWUwsHVcJjMNmfpCE8_UKZMXNfYo_-7n/s4032/IMG_4311.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi0AN53_gky8b0iZjUI7W4fuwbbR6Q5i9aDQqseGEQKAgNZcxe3m7sMkS1tk6LoZo0o497wJfwMkeKwW3iRFeKAk5MmPrfsDaeLUnohjdmCVFgAyamDS8eDu_bStM0LNAN4UQJoW9OJtkAXJFSvuTm3QITWUwsHVcJjMNmfpCE8_UKZMXNfYo_-7n/s320/IMG_4311.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other challenges involved dancing, repetition, and putting unsuitable cards to the bottom of the deck.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LVa2OgzTgd8WlOdpYS33WsZS5XM0eK4R4JfXUGBzevjgM_83hIUZbNA-pofXqAHMK6vGROkQwEk87iXu079vicAa8K17ja0am2GoxnjL76ktC4ywKsbqYPDo9vBRWIxH0FI2Y64bJKFMLQNq0mC3xXXBOKJ5wUZJNdGyzNkPhrMGidywtjWc1UTH/s1960/Screenshot%202023-11-26%20at%2020.36.13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="1960" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LVa2OgzTgd8WlOdpYS33WsZS5XM0eK4R4JfXUGBzevjgM_83hIUZbNA-pofXqAHMK6vGROkQwEk87iXu079vicAa8K17ja0am2GoxnjL76ktC4ywKsbqYPDo9vBRWIxH0FI2Y64bJKFMLQNq0mC3xXXBOKJ5wUZJNdGyzNkPhrMGidywtjWc1UTH/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-26%20at%2020.36.13.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Louie picked up the win, which was a nice way for him to finish the weekend, as he and Steve cycled off to the train station, headed for Bristol along with the now-departed Laura. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And Yokohama finally finished at 1.20pm, some three and a half hours after it began. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 139</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 130</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 115</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mel arrived around now, and she and Katy hurried off to swim in the sea and polish this activity off with the less-punishing sauna. This maelstrom of stuff was contrasted back at the house, as Martin Joe and Adam played Havalandi again. Joe picked up yet another win, this time on a tiebreaker. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin and Joe 124</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 101<br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While Robot Tricks kicked off again at the far end of the table, Jon, Ian and I set up Northgard. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyFdBMsdyTE7lZWBPybWCdLz_pOye5YLIoCbF3wNZPZ4wgyPsB2-uvlCM2Pu1Ncpx80cepfWpwqduAztNRn-jKBuDwu-Yq4bItw6T5P8qwHLZ5rK_P1CLUX1pTuWzxAUhxNyI6eAsP_x_0wj9pn67v04VsQHoCdIs_NLYrwRntltyi8oqk9bDJeZg/s4032/IMG_4314.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyFdBMsdyTE7lZWBPybWCdLz_pOye5YLIoCbF3wNZPZ4wgyPsB2-uvlCM2Pu1Ncpx80cepfWpwqduAztNRn-jKBuDwu-Yq4bItw6T5P8qwHLZ5rK_P1CLUX1pTuWzxAUhxNyI6eAsP_x_0wj9pn67v04VsQHoCdIs_NLYrwRntltyi8oqk9bDJeZg/s320/IMG_4314.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon went on the attack fairly early, just to see how combat worked apparently. It worked rather well, as he kicked me out of my central valley of joy and started eying up Ian menacingly. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYb9VJ6hsCG7rV4cwgNQQw7gSZjIierU4ljIrf5S93mp280zp88PHgqjQKfGYPgFfPdJGRxVBF-0neIY_RMQ0o68jeWbRWAXMnx7j09gdROcNuFHtzp6TqzEjjaPxWo5MHPuyL2FDsNyWEPRNm8hRhoOPSD2YJvlPj_Pnb5s3U3nYgm46Zkp00WqZ/s4032/IMG_4315.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYb9VJ6hsCG7rV4cwgNQQw7gSZjIierU4ljIrf5S93mp280zp88PHgqjQKfGYPgFfPdJGRxVBF-0neIY_RMQ0o68jeWbRWAXMnx7j09gdROcNuFHtzp6TqzEjjaPxWo5MHPuyL2FDsNyWEPRNm8hRhoOPSD2YJvlPj_Pnb5s3U3nYgm46Zkp00WqZ/s320/IMG_4315.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I kept passing early, having hands of cards that prompted me to build but with no construction materials. Only when I upgraded my clan cards - draw extra cards from your deck! - did things swing my way, as I was able to bide my time and wait for the others to finish the round first before sneaking into action and conjuring a three-large-territory victory, something Joe referred to as a 'reach-around' which somewhat took the gloss off it. But a win is a win etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Robot Tricks ended with Adam triumphant, despite having only scored a solitary point:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 1</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin -25</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe -30</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He celebrated by beating Ian at Carrooka. Martin beat Joe and I at Sea Salt and Paper and while Castles of Mad King Ludwig was being set up, I went off to watch the football, returning an hour later with my tail between my legs. Adam had picked up yet another victory in Castles:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 97</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 70</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 62</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just as Joe was doing the same in Havalandi:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 90</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 83</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mel 73</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So we - Ian Joe Martin Joe me - had a quick crack at Cross Clues: 20/25</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we ate Jon's amazing garlic tart dinner! Was it as good as The Famous Mushroom Lasagne He Made? Hard to say, but there were definitely a lot of appreciative noises echoing around the room. A pity for Jon this appreciation wasn't enough to get the players he wanted for The Gallerist, but he was part of an instantly-triumphant crack at Phantom Ink, as he Mel and Adam ended game one almost before it had begun.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTpvojGO2zTMMolJBjltvX_Cwg7ByvvBW-9tclGB-ffw16DOPeQYCFqXfjLwXbjR89iQOp-YU87IKiQyyLoZ-tdBxSFFXbxOfYx6oNFBWNzRg41fl3bK68QUbdfQKb9JOvSxEGfNYX6Aa2QlwDHmI7G7rCDNtTvHej8ZQuRK0K2Z-_yBsZlOTlzYL/s4032/IMG_4318.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTpvojGO2zTMMolJBjltvX_Cwg7ByvvBW-9tclGB-ffw16DOPeQYCFqXfjLwXbjR89iQOp-YU87IKiQyyLoZ-tdBxSFFXbxOfYx6oNFBWNzRg41fl3bK68QUbdfQKb9JOvSxEGfNYX6Aa2QlwDHmI7G7rCDNtTvHej8ZQuRK0K2Z-_yBsZlOTlzYL/s320/IMG_4318.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe was their cluer as Martin tried to help myself, Katy and Ian. We reset and went again with the same teams and cluers. This time it was an epic, so lengthy and transformative that Katy went from being unenthused to saying what a great time she had at the end, by which time both teams had lost (we had considered the correct answer of Unicorn but went with Pegasus on our final guess, to Martin's dismay).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we ate Jon's amazing apple tart pudding!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9755XdsV0B38bwkiW_H5vEloig0dr7sY2znunMHITDw5rM2c01GdrniIrMZwornbDcm4hOEjcGQ7B2pDTT3gFhsaGy2QVTY5VJg09SPU3aXs_1Ch55AYm1L36lILFkHIl-5gAbUS88Qn9yWx9SfJOdhyV7adkDitg8W4C5XZhy0AD9GhCgx3bNq1k/s4032/IMG_4323.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9755XdsV0B38bwkiW_H5vEloig0dr7sY2znunMHITDw5rM2c01GdrniIrMZwornbDcm4hOEjcGQ7B2pDTT3gFhsaGy2QVTY5VJg09SPU3aXs_1Ch55AYm1L36lILFkHIl-5gAbUS88Qn9yWx9SfJOdhyV7adkDitg8W4C5XZhy0AD9GhCgx3bNq1k/s320/IMG_4323.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mel and Joe took on Martin and I at Montage while everyone else played Wandering Towers, which Adam won. They set up Mille Fiori.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziAwloJH2CBY7e9eGzxIFSsOKGy1g9OkP_MHheTwrOYgisPVqmFpqCP9AUA55xqYkiYtTabLb6TEq_K966XfxvVQuPL_oZzSDB5E1CL2SmNsgxgLdHYbR3rxfMq1qgeh71a08KRClZIpVsjZ-li9xap0qU3kL_VvXG7LnfWFtFnJaA0VRypvpQEsv/s4032/IMG_4326.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziAwloJH2CBY7e9eGzxIFSsOKGy1g9OkP_MHheTwrOYgisPVqmFpqCP9AUA55xqYkiYtTabLb6TEq_K966XfxvVQuPL_oZzSDB5E1CL2SmNsgxgLdHYbR3rxfMq1qgeh71a08KRClZIpVsjZ-li9xap0qU3kL_VvXG7LnfWFtFnJaA0VRypvpQEsv/s320/IMG_4326.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hopefully Mel's love of word games is still intact after a tense and anxiety-inducing montage, where there is a think-fast element to both clueing and guessing that can be somewhat daunting. Martin and I won - a nice change for me in Montage, and Martin too, seeing as he has often partnered me in the past. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We set up Senators. It had been a long time and rules-refreshment was needed, but boy, what an absolute gut punch of a game this is! I surged ahead a little but was swiftly caught. Ian sold a senator and dropped to four only to catapult himself up the track - but he subsequently fell back again, and Martin's pleads for the war to end it whilst he was ahead were heeded by Lady Fate:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 13</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam and Katy 10 each</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 6</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all enjoyed that one. Mille Fiori in contrast got a bit of a mixed reception. Mel's astonishing debut score couldn't be repeated, unfortunately, and Jon wasn't impressed with how the cards dictated terms for him. Joe's win was a little rueful. "It wasn't the fun I promised" he said sheepishly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe 208</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adam 189</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon 145</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mel 120-ish</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of us played Gang of Dice, and one of us won it:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam 54</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katy 46</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martin 32</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ian 30</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then Mel went to bed, and the rest of us came together for Fun Facts. This was a weekend highlight - for me, anyway - as we debated how long we could stand on one leg for, a challenge that Joe and I had already attempted earlier in the day during Game Off and saw us now departing the table for the kitchen so we could all give it a go. Joe held his breath instead, insisting he could do so for longer than Martin would stand on one foot. Martin's single-leg capacity was pretty good though - even though it rendered him unusually quiet - and he and Adam lasted the longest, if not the 20 minutes he alleged in his Fun Fact chevron of numerical opinion. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOumgfuQhRmtwkqR4GpaxMhC_1wJ0h1fDdpsc7i3GGw3LvjR52NLR_Y_Gj4JtsoLzc4lrjNRAnA_Oi_kpGxLHekbMAlMw9ws8Ifkah6Valm_0YKTqbvHMmILPig_TfG9hklYXXQUW_Q0fx7bCedAMdw_T61_aXISykD-Iqd-FgZlqvwppSX-b_EkoM/s4032/IMG_4332.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOumgfuQhRmtwkqR4GpaxMhC_1wJ0h1fDdpsc7i3GGw3LvjR52NLR_Y_Gj4JtsoLzc4lrjNRAnA_Oi_kpGxLHekbMAlMw9ws8Ifkah6Valm_0YKTqbvHMmILPig_TfG9hklYXXQUW_Q0fx7bCedAMdw_T61_aXISykD-Iqd-FgZlqvwppSX-b_EkoM/s320/IMG_4332.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other things contested included private concerts from our favourite bands, rating our own bravery and how long we'd stay on an all-inclusive holiday for. Adam put 'forever' and so there was a side debate as to whether it was still a holiday or not, if he was there permanently. A joyful chaos, even if 37 out of 56 isn't a triumph. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last game of the weekend - as far as I'm aware - was perhaps aptly, So Clover. This was a very decent attempt considering the amount of alcohol, games and tart we'd imbibed at this point - we even concocted a seventh clover for Joe, using the Fun Facts chevrons.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sP7jz8wJg2hpuuBXMF_SslVaQqUsqesIL5stn8Z_2bGTwhibxeigvaMDcnY3rcuJlMq24K1LQGDQvezoq8Birtl97h4Yx9RjNVkZyQXGzkic_vlmj9pGJ2iGmNPYl7pR0OQ3XgBXz8Ufw7zNrCuICC0O_68pLafXV7MWPwZ8ruL0fU3u4r9FL666/s4032/IMG_4335.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sP7jz8wJg2hpuuBXMF_SslVaQqUsqesIL5stn8Z_2bGTwhibxeigvaMDcnY3rcuJlMq24K1LQGDQvezoq8Birtl97h4Yx9RjNVkZyQXGzkic_vlmj9pGJ2iGmNPYl7pR0OQ3XgBXz8Ufw7zNrCuICC0O_68pLafXV7MWPwZ8ruL0fU3u4r9FL666/s320/IMG_4335.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The game was notable for some tough combos and elusive connections. Toughest of all was Martin's red herring card containing the word 'mushroom' - one of his clues was the word Portobello.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA45wUsMN_Lz9KXKQelcGTj35dIwFU-snUjGGol3Z0iiAZVDq3LnldrLQkUw1ykwHhm5N53L3YzM-lXDlrwdRO-1WiRZXugJU2BAfOLkqzfH5FnQxTxzeUsSozdYZJKc6auOfYBx7FnAFZhwlPYvnW8v1qObtzWYWHaGi-DYcHmyJm_Jia3Q05R6p/s16290/IMG_4336.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3788" data-original-width="16290" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA45wUsMN_Lz9KXKQelcGTj35dIwFU-snUjGGol3Z0iiAZVDq3LnldrLQkUw1ykwHhm5N53L3YzM-lXDlrwdRO-1WiRZXugJU2BAfOLkqzfH5FnQxTxzeUsSozdYZJKc6auOfYBx7FnAFZhwlPYvnW8v1qObtzWYWHaGi-DYcHmyJm_Jia3Q05R6p/w544-h126/IMG_4336.jpeg" width="544" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A more than creditable 37/42 was attained, and any thoughts of another Midnight Party vanished with the emptying of the kitchen, as we pottered off to our bedrooms. Another Novocon was very nearly over - and then today it finally was. Thank you all for your time and generosity, particularly the wonderful chefs. Thanks also to those who sent me pics which I (as yet) haven't added, but hopefully will very soon. A marvellous weekend, as it always is - apologies for anything I've missed here. Next year can't come soon enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*not sure why the formatting/font is so nuts, sorry</span></div></div></div>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-18747957074808616772023-11-22T09:34:00.008+00:002023-11-22T09:59:18.228+00:00Forged in Europe<p>Tuesday's GNN was a lightly-attended affair, possibly with the forthcoming Novocon affecting people's plans. Adam T arrived at my house early enough to watch me making a mess in the kitchen as I burnt some chicken for the family. Then, after tea was consumed, others arrived: Laura then Martin joined Adam in the front room until the decks were clear enough to game on them. We began with Adam's new library addition, Furnace. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHg0kgVJ_QI8XX-ZbmUyAUY0342qjikthzXby8BxxluIp3GRHEC3BzYhD89UyEjl6oQCX5vbEXY8OSEtlbL0miNfsjEkmGG_hn17mbu9aWbNPpnS1T8aPtHLOSQqTdgu1PvGaZOepn8QKXEw4KVsByO0IZfKQy7LP0bt44qSZschy4gn9w1qGcF7EC/s4032/IMG_4182.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHg0kgVJ_QI8XX-ZbmUyAUY0342qjikthzXby8BxxluIp3GRHEC3BzYhD89UyEjl6oQCX5vbEXY8OSEtlbL0miNfsjEkmGG_hn17mbu9aWbNPpnS1T8aPtHLOSQqTdgu1PvGaZOepn8QKXEw4KVsByO0IZfKQy7LP0bt44qSZschy4gn9w1qGcF7EC/s320/IMG_4182.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Martin prepares scathing BGG commentary</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are industrialists bidding for factories (cards) which, once that's resolved, we run the factories which either give us resources of coal/metal/oil and/or convert said resources (- oil, mostly) into cash, which is points. The bidding system is canny: everyone has bidding chips numbered 1-4 and you can't bid on any factory with the same colour chip (ie, you've already bid on it) or the same number. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the bidding is done, the highest bidder gets the factory but any outbid chips pick up compensation in the form of the precious resources: meaning you often <i>want</i> to be outbid in one factory in order to run another. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then everyone runs their factories and turns base metal into gold. In round one (of four) this is pretty straightforward, but as the cards multiply the cognitive load escalates, leading to brow-furrowing, dark muttering and do-overs. Here's Adam's factories on the final round:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzXyvnExaVUWPg9lXqs_JDu8iUhmdLZ4U1wRuRUK1UGtMN8L9phD3O1LoQVocep3iyXYVTn7MWNdsGl4GHBuRcE-KbbN08LXeP6lc83fXBvVh3_IlFByT5zJF7ujBS6REm26wDPl3Zn6WelHMY2K9ujzJ0vvV9hms3F_jbsgo7xGRdbmq-u8b96K-/s4032/IMG_4186.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzXyvnExaVUWPg9lXqs_JDu8iUhmdLZ4U1wRuRUK1UGtMN8L9phD3O1LoQVocep3iyXYVTn7MWNdsGl4GHBuRcE-KbbN08LXeP6lc83fXBvVh3_IlFByT5zJF7ujBS6REm26wDPl3Zn6WelHMY2K9ujzJ0vvV9hms3F_jbsgo7xGRdbmq-u8b96K-/s320/IMG_4186.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holy industrialisation</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's not a terribly long game at all, but whether the factory fun lived up to the bidding brevity; the jury was out on that (except for Martin, who was like a reverse Henry Fonda trying to get the accused in for a life stretch). Despite his chagrin, however, he still did well enough. With the fewest factories, I was the only one completely certain of my score. A shame it wasn't a good one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 78 'give or take five'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 68 'couldn't do the last step'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 54</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laura 43 'but I'm not really sure'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a brief post-mortem we moved on to a palette-cleanser in Gang of Dice; new to Laura but not exactly tricky to pick up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa3QdHxj1D9kYfWhvQRvBdScEGrebVQburjUp5IrYE0r8iVLDqr-Sqh3OLQbVQAgOedJBtDYrilY4F6_mBJpL3d3Lm-cYQNIJxe2AvGGyhyarxCzJdKze54CY8wTJvs4Q6TwQ-p4mfJNfVeIorEzTlVKm7zzJLgzjeofgncGabxgHIGNU_Rto3uxm/s4032/IMG_4188.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa3QdHxj1D9kYfWhvQRvBdScEGrebVQburjUp5IrYE0r8iVLDqr-Sqh3OLQbVQAgOedJBtDYrilY4F6_mBJpL3d3Lm-cYQNIJxe2AvGGyhyarxCzJdKze54CY8wTJvs4Q6TwQ-p4mfJNfVeIorEzTlVKm7zzJLgzjeofgncGabxgHIGNU_Rto3uxm/s320/IMG_4188.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A happier Martin</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The game was chiefly noted for Martin's speedy odds calculations and exhortations that everyone else risk everything to beat him. I won only two rounds in the entire game, I think Laura three or four. Adam may not have won as many as Martin, but he chose his moments well, ending with a vast stack of chips.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHn5nYdng_Be7h67ikDNYLsKASrDZVSzLxVPrC3XB5QImtJAS6yL02d9k1xtpsK-XrmTm2Zca8F9NnFO9BcpWZsv5pbTNc9rjD25-UWygIqZujhUHhGvb9sp2UJT7bdoQNyhhhyphenhyphenX48TdKGGCHc664Ab2kDvWq9uGCQwdhmQrfI7MfPEP5gL-_cdN5G/s4032/IMG_4189.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHn5nYdng_Be7h67ikDNYLsKASrDZVSzLxVPrC3XB5QImtJAS6yL02d9k1xtpsK-XrmTm2Zca8F9NnFO9BcpWZsv5pbTNc9rjD25-UWygIqZujhUHhGvb9sp2UJT7bdoQNyhhhyphenhyphenX48TdKGGCHc664Ab2kDvWq9uGCQwdhmQrfI7MfPEP5gL-_cdN5G/s320/IMG_4189.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A happier Adam</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Adam 64</div><div>Martin 45</div><div>Laura 33</div><div>Sam 20</div><div><br /></div><div>Then Laura left to recharge her batteries for the weekend. We didn't need much debate to settle on Babylonia as our next conquest, with Adam and I agreeing before a tile had been placed that we needed to 'stop Martin'. It was a game of some quick ziggurat action as both my opponents claimed bonus tiles early on - Martin would have had a third had I not stopped him with my pesky farmers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBJcLJR7ypOMFp5Q9A9ystksNzWz8EPbsVhFyb3UjkVoKT8By7TjFSOjEOzzKWpTdEnTSLxYc08273Fx9RpWMBz4NBHlPZR9g8MNqfjCMd1JnaXT2sz1CANO0JbBw1Jtr39eztoEaDSWeDJcIG89dZKxZNOTg3b0JyGzrOUZQowi-cbdRvrDYlpEF/s4032/IMG_4190.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBJcLJR7ypOMFp5Q9A9ystksNzWz8EPbsVhFyb3UjkVoKT8By7TjFSOjEOzzKWpTdEnTSLxYc08273Fx9RpWMBz4NBHlPZR9g8MNqfjCMd1JnaXT2sz1CANO0JbBw1Jtr39eztoEaDSWeDJcIG89dZKxZNOTg3b0JyGzrOUZQowi-cbdRvrDYlpEF/s320/IMG_4190.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">caption here, ideally</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We created an odd division of thirds across the board with Adam and Martin largely playing in front of themselves and me occupying the middle space. Despite my ziggurat chicanery, Martin established an early lead and built on it as Adam ruminated into his beard and I into the room, only slightly louder. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although his point scoring dwindled somewhat and we hauled him back, our resident Babylonian had done enough to claim yet another win in this devious game. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 145</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 133</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 106</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We moved onto Sea Salt & Paper. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIDFgoHu_FksploQrNKyKy6OcmWi2aCw67uX73QE9CbVYnFIWhaa_uw8sCjaCUZPyW6jb3YHczEg3h5lX4i9BY5zmSvu_VJHKMLC90Nz4F1DkOc-U_4dfOad8sfFFScQsazZQd3-HwkKbzn1wQ9PHyrzW1YHomnUTBwK5s837GMikCPGbsuFSyjUX/s4032/IMG_4191.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIDFgoHu_FksploQrNKyKy6OcmWi2aCw67uX73QE9CbVYnFIWhaa_uw8sCjaCUZPyW6jb3YHczEg3h5lX4i9BY5zmSvu_VJHKMLC90Nz4F1DkOc-U_4dfOad8sfFFScQsazZQd3-HwkKbzn1wQ9PHyrzW1YHomnUTBwK5s837GMikCPGbsuFSyjUX/s320/IMG_4191.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">revenge</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I eschewed my habit of calling stop in favour of some last-chances, helped by a couple of strong scores early in the rounds. We all did some dastardly sharking and after 20 minutes Martin was poised on 27 points with me on 21 and Adam 16. I pulled off a dramatic - and slightly spawny - win with a 15 point haul to propel me over the line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWDvohSD8jgAKcqKD84l7ol6U6XO0URLEih3Fl8qwF1XhOm0532aytXTPSVZH7dnKPIVy9ExnNFrBKFNZl7SrnfSwYt0FawLtoRJYt2WaznSdPpuv5f4i5gP6LBZ1WqSY62iqUkZpPu5SD7z7E_761BiEyKGhvefazpvjXKTNGXnhVdNDlY_qV9gL/s3643/IMG_4192.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2844" data-original-width="3643" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWDvohSD8jgAKcqKD84l7ol6U6XO0URLEih3Fl8qwF1XhOm0532aytXTPSVZH7dnKPIVy9ExnNFrBKFNZl7SrnfSwYt0FawLtoRJYt2WaznSdPpuv5f4i5gP6LBZ1WqSY62iqUkZpPu5SD7z7E_761BiEyKGhvefazpvjXKTNGXnhVdNDlY_qV9gL/s320/IMG_4192.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">scores</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that was that! See some of you at the weekend - NOVOCON IS HERE!!!</div><p><br /></p>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-75275725928410692472023-11-20T21:12:00.002+00:002023-11-20T21:12:25.397+00:00Making light work of it<div style="text-align: left;">Four gamers convened on Sam's kitchen table for the chance of some Saturday gaming. I, either by habit or an abundance of caution, texted ahead to say I'd be five minutes late but in fact I arrived on time. As I entered Sam mentioned my punctuality and I wondered if I should have texted ahead to say I wouldn't be late after all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We (Sam, Adam, Ian and me) were playing Last Light, the cheery game of extracting energy from the last solar system in the universe. However, the impending end of reality does not play much of a role. Instead it's a game of exploration, exploitation, extermination and the other X. Only this 4X game can be played in an hour.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The mechanic is similar to Concordia, in that everyone has the same hand of seven cards representing actions (move, mine, research, etc) which everyone plays one at a time and also a Refresh card, allowing you to pick up your used cards and play them again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The game was like Eclipse lite. Ships could be built and enhanced, but only a little. Planets could be mined but Mines could be blockaded. Sam even replaced the game’s cardboard pieces with ships from Eclipse, making the game a little more visually engaging.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaxqLZOQi-E_NHBjmSVtF_d79cTrdlpeg0ch7TTTu6tgRIZ0EcUgaonU4hVSXqQ19FAueM2F2K3F967gKtadJbGXWGO9GcGuFokIvj14JWNK1hojIug4EGKSC7V6-n7HEd-I5EcOXc49w8ipb3rUjT4_POzF4ne9Grz549Ycgxk3myUdWSI38MvLWUgk/s4032/DSC_2227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaxqLZOQi-E_NHBjmSVtF_d79cTrdlpeg0ch7TTTu6tgRIZ0EcUgaonU4hVSXqQ19FAueM2F2K3F967gKtadJbGXWGO9GcGuFokIvj14JWNK1hojIug4EGKSC7V6-n7HEd-I5EcOXc49w8ipb3rUjT4_POzF4ne9Grz549Ycgxk3myUdWSI38MvLWUgk/s320/DSC_2227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As for the game, Sam’s earliest planets contained only grey minerals while Adam's early conquest got him amber minerals and light (light=points). Adam made a charge for the centre and, too late, I turned my ships against him. On his next turn he realised he'd passed the 20 point mark to declare a victory. And then he saw that he'd completed his hidden mission so he probably won the turn previously.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzvmd0YXPTiIkJ7q9c19mxfCAyUDpHhOihPL2J4n69jOP3egXvLkacX_dWhFqmzQlywZKTyawos0JAuLpSGueV4RmMsB1DfbdqiIGRTOWV4VneUQ98wXIRI01MSmnX9DDVbf5eihyphenhyphenIJoXt_tLLxz5l9E-ttMOOt-ntWsbbp8TrA2zj9ILS3Wio2pxPeg/s4032/DSC_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzvmd0YXPTiIkJ7q9c19mxfCAyUDpHhOihPL2J4n69jOP3egXvLkacX_dWhFqmzQlywZKTyawos0JAuLpSGueV4RmMsB1DfbdqiIGRTOWV4VneUQ98wXIRI01MSmnX9DDVbf5eihyphenhyphenIJoXt_tLLxz5l9E-ttMOOt-ntWsbbp8TrA2zj9ILS3Wio2pxPeg/s320/DSC_2229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 24</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 13</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 6</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 6</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A interesting game. Afterwards we decided to stay in space with Quantum. Maybe we were swayed by Adam's vague recollection of the rules. Surely us three seasoned professionals would prevail.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, no. Adam used the card that converts Research into Aggression and in an unstoppable turn, he picked off two ships, added an aggression and was able to place his final cube even though Sam had done his best (and, I thought he'd done enough) to stop him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTOo0nns6zsITEjkgnNz1GE01K-79epBvHLZHb0ul19Rcrf55YPKEcjswm2ELTF8LzL9P7_-dY3M-y2ERbM2B22m4iE46MdZIwa7nbgEIfximg-GzwNPef-pTppWxcENt6OQuNP45fd2sTkHT6R4StOKG6A-7PcImTdtieUq-Fyq6O0aRM5e1L1OS2x0/s4032/DSC_2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTOo0nns6zsITEjkgnNz1GE01K-79epBvHLZHb0ul19Rcrf55YPKEcjswm2ELTF8LzL9P7_-dY3M-y2ERbM2B22m4iE46MdZIwa7nbgEIfximg-GzwNPef-pTppWxcENt6OQuNP45fd2sTkHT6R4StOKG6A-7PcImTdtieUq-Fyq6O0aRM5e1L1OS2x0/s320/DSC_2234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 0 cubes left </div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 1</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 1</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 2</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And so, with Adam the undisputed king of the universe, we returned to earth with So Clover. I had a tricky clover, and got completely stuck with Donkey/Border.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam was first to have his clover ready but we were confused by a difficult decoy. He wrote Pontoon and we paired that with Suit/Pair when it should have been Suit/Stick.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian had some really clever clues and he scored 6 out of 6.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_GG0Q5nOfyfWXNsi0m1xJ5PbzgGaXjImM_oYdEZC1mTGwdr5lxDF-lHFgOccuBROyFAtG8H6ttkCs_rrZhTgtmj9-ndgfrnoA3QiDHfgU_DQRKzBjQuUsulmNDy9LKT8vM0YFVvF5lpCtEEhg2hbeAN_Lgc-RXBmyRW-QoE5dNIuzPLjhovpaf2RjoM/s4032/DSC_2238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_GG0Q5nOfyfWXNsi0m1xJ5PbzgGaXjImM_oYdEZC1mTGwdr5lxDF-lHFgOccuBROyFAtG8H6ttkCs_rrZhTgtmj9-ndgfrnoA3QiDHfgU_DQRKzBjQuUsulmNDy9LKT8vM0YFVvF5lpCtEEhg2hbeAN_Lgc-RXBmyRW-QoE5dNIuzPLjhovpaf2RjoM/s320/DSC_2238.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam was also stymied by a cruel decoy. His clue of Taoiseach was matched with Irish/house but it should have been Irish/pepper. Adam's logic (?) was that Taoiseach sounds like a sneeze.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think that my clover got 6 out of 6 as, thankfully, Sam, Ian and Adam seem to know how I think. My clue for Donkey/Border was Impass. Get it? ImpASS. Oh, me so clever.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I left here but the night went on without me. Sam became Mr Biblios.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bCLa_KI9FBgrlisGTT7euLz6DXhx4pfSW9P_URa2TJASQV2vChqxpOVWAeAwq1sQjhJ9RvhgjMRSTAxqqUiOLljWf8qh5YiI5MVlGtwXCHR4qJIJqSZBT_hxvRWK1xJJnebL603DOOnoxBf_DRGHgTL3ev9hnIwJ_XeCA0usUn55kp17GeQN3kVsFvw/s1024/IMG-20231118-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bCLa_KI9FBgrlisGTT7euLz6DXhx4pfSW9P_URa2TJASQV2vChqxpOVWAeAwq1sQjhJ9RvhgjMRSTAxqqUiOLljWf8qh5YiI5MVlGtwXCHR4qJIJqSZBT_hxvRWK1xJJnebL603DOOnoxBf_DRGHgTL3ev9hnIwJ_XeCA0usUn55kp17GeQN3kVsFvw/s320/IMG-20231118-WA0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 7</div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 5</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 3</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And they finished off with that old classic Take It Easy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw5bAT-EpTeX2jYoREBguD2v6Fnkk6730eyK3qQZVTNW-wb6hSWj2tV4-5AG8jr3W1WK66ClAgZ_S3a237090kPSEgG8k0RGQL1YVWkftmzfcjRyf9sjGIFJqb_sRi5yrbW7t_gTVDLuWtf7udz6EHmjSd5cS3jJSGI8Zq5aTyOc1gy_l2kv9Q8BTuNg/s1024/IMG-20231118-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw5bAT-EpTeX2jYoREBguD2v6Fnkk6730eyK3qQZVTNW-wb6hSWj2tV4-5AG8jr3W1WK66ClAgZ_S3a237090kPSEgG8k0RGQL1YVWkftmzfcjRyf9sjGIFJqb_sRi5yrbW7t_gTVDLuWtf7udz6EHmjSd5cS3jJSGI8Zq5aTyOc1gy_l2kv9Q8BTuNg/s320/IMG-20231118-WA0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sam 407</div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 402</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 368</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks all. Full steam ahead for the big games weekend (but, alas, not for me).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-19854769046990579612023-11-16T21:24:00.000+00:002023-11-16T21:24:33.429+00:00You can't always nyet what you want <div style="text-align: left;"> I arrived at Steve and Anja’s house a full forty-five minutes late. Inside were seven people (Ian, Katy, Adam H, Louie, Steve, Anja and Joe) playing a card game called Trios. I don't know anything about except that Louie won on sevens.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now there were eight of us, with Martin expected around nine o'clock, so we split into two: a lengthy thinky eurogame group that would last for the next hour or so and a quick, lighter group that would be able to accommodate the swap of Martin for Louie when Martin arrived.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tinners’ Trail passed me by apart from Adam declaring he was going to piss off Anja by taking the adit. Was that the winning move? Probably not.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GgcBp_B8qn4G8e_qE7sy51lzXnweqOQFey8M5z3NMrzW4gfJfhvhowwa8CuVoSI6114sD1KouQGqWVHqYkaFlrxroDlJYfsNRzK-zcnu6nlyIifxTcLM3bwVSs4o3HQbp9MHaDLsdWzGICoTWH6RNOUAzwr2Ni0uq8irPpgHe_6Aea8VWdUs4VRwBuw/s4032/DSC_2215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GgcBp_B8qn4G8e_qE7sy51lzXnweqOQFey8M5z3NMrzW4gfJfhvhowwa8CuVoSI6114sD1KouQGqWVHqYkaFlrxroDlJYfsNRzK-zcnu6nlyIifxTcLM3bwVSs4o3HQbp9MHaDLsdWzGICoTWH6RNOUAzwr2Ni0uq8irPpgHe_6Aea8VWdUs4VRwBuw/s320/DSC_2215.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam 106</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 105</div><div style="text-align: left;">Anja 95</div><div style="text-align: left;">Steve 70</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We lighter folk played Trails of Tucana, a draw (cards) and draw (lines) game. At the start of a turn, two cards are drawn and everyone has to draw a line on their maps joining the two terrains on the cards.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShC-91k92z0zG4PGfK8fea41jzbqcB1XAAVlAB7b6v9Q1zEPDPLHD7g93xoXcKTKfvFxzmD9WuoSS73m4v31fXYpQWQXUAKtl0YoCa1GVcCoRxPWYI-POWkqJRDeVpL_3Dtscb9f0ml4iFNxaXuDI6-rO9g47-ZZ03rlD8iDbJDw-Lz9YZuXIu1Cgl_I/s4032/DSC_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShC-91k92z0zG4PGfK8fea41jzbqcB1XAAVlAB7b6v9Q1zEPDPLHD7g93xoXcKTKfvFxzmD9WuoSS73m4v31fXYpQWQXUAKtl0YoCa1GVcCoRxPWYI-POWkqJRDeVpL_3Dtscb9f0ml4iFNxaXuDI6-rO9g47-ZZ03rlD8iDbJDw-Lz9YZuXIu1Cgl_I/s320/DSC_2209.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In doing so, you have to join harbours together and also other locations to get extra points and lines. It's simple but fun. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sfifDo72NpXVjRpIZLtCzubky50r8qRmfleSL-BWfYnBYH-I8e9zrJeEswtf6n9y-HlZwbIDFHM5cHgnNRd4ECY4bRkGle9QfNkUQ0I3Nq-8NZEyiYil0jesqcAN2hiY5GEV7v8shQXi6Zb0I-jX4KTcaH0HCcqMrZzc8GRl7UT6213lYOG0wDTZRps/s4032/DSC_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sfifDo72NpXVjRpIZLtCzubky50r8qRmfleSL-BWfYnBYH-I8e9zrJeEswtf6n9y-HlZwbIDFHM5cHgnNRd4ECY4bRkGle9QfNkUQ0I3Nq-8NZEyiYil0jesqcAN2hiY5GEV7v8shQXi6Zb0I-jX4KTcaH0HCcqMrZzc8GRl7UT6213lYOG0wDTZRps/s320/DSC_2210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Katy seemed annoyed at first and had to double check with Louie if “bullshit” is a swear word (it isn't, he said). Joe connected three of his harbours to give him a strong victory over the rest of us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 78</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 50</div><div style="text-align: left;">Louie 40</div><div style="text-align: left;">Katy 35</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A very popular return for this game. I expect to see it again soon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then Martin arrived. Louie went to bed and the four of us played Nyet, a trick taking game with a confusing core dynamic of shifting rules, fleeting allegiances and super trumps which are basically their own suit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtm_xpEzBZ4QsGBNM1l7tUw0SbUlpK-HlgLXQw7Ot5NoUt1roNwXo8810Lqi5EPV7rjc4sAI283OBlY5UNqBfRa_OCUgN2Hcpsz1TpdeTg0RqJq2DPj-Wq70Q7g6OA7jtdBdboHCWL1BcwysH1ZD-NtVjECQkt_p_K1zZDkCMyq500rZQgZTeYB4vvMg/s4032/DSC_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtm_xpEzBZ4QsGBNM1l7tUw0SbUlpK-HlgLXQw7Ot5NoUt1roNwXo8810Lqi5EPV7rjc4sAI283OBlY5UNqBfRa_OCUgN2Hcpsz1TpdeTg0RqJq2DPj-Wq70Q7g6OA7jtdBdboHCWL1BcwysH1ZD-NtVjECQkt_p_K1zZDkCMyq500rZQgZTeYB4vvMg/s320/DSC_2214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, those shifting rules meant that, in round two, tricks were worth negative points (-2) and Joe’s brilliantly strong hand suddenly became a liability. For him and Katy too because each round begins with a team of two being created by the starting player and for the first three rounds, it was always Katy & Joe against me & Martin. The two of them were hit by -32 points in round two and they never recovered.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickJa3ADI6jf-sU8-WGkOG8DPokY-NFHQG_tIB_7g0u_a8Gzw3aqjvuF-4ZxIuy23u6svIz7QfWdqM49z_SkkQLt0m3pmM6nkvwmasUAlyCoQyxzmCtSlND_oik69NPVMilA7rZfsVK3kN2rjqzYFvk1OeBxO_YH8Vvkkp4IBDtYruu-Q2hfJMRCSZHaE/s4032/DSC_2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickJa3ADI6jf-sU8-WGkOG8DPokY-NFHQG_tIB_7g0u_a8Gzw3aqjvuF-4ZxIuy23u6svIz7QfWdqM49z_SkkQLt0m3pmM6nkvwmasUAlyCoQyxzmCtSlND_oik69NPVMilA7rZfsVK3kN2rjqzYFvk1OeBxO_YH8Vvkkp4IBDtYruu-Q2hfJMRCSZHaE/s320/DSC_2213.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the fourth and final round I was starting player and I could either stick with Martin and finish joint first or go for glory and team up with someone else. I teamed up with Joe but, frankly, my hand wasn't best suited (pardon the pun) to the rules and I almost ended in third behind Katy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 63</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 45</div><div style="text-align: left;">Katy 36</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 18</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The other notable event was Martin's popular choice of jalapeno and dill crisps. Popular with everyone except Steve who revealed that he's allergic to dill. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As Tinners' Trail drew to an end, I had half an eye on the clock but was persuaded to play a quick game of Prey Another Day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBG44B2Mrdt3eAzFZzzskPoDf2FJGVcozkqA2nxGigWGUEmO_f1qxENAH9lFenD8PWHmpPjDd5iPCQrAElLHOBQfGF2kMU6FMvLjyDsRX9pwGsZkk8Krr55jvL29_PqAPvmgpLzRBiKF_Xg1mKwIcJIbn0QipIs-EIiz6YLmdppSbEOugQF_2LKjmxC8/s4032/DSC_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBG44B2Mrdt3eAzFZzzskPoDf2FJGVcozkqA2nxGigWGUEmO_f1qxENAH9lFenD8PWHmpPjDd5iPCQrAElLHOBQfGF2kMU6FMvLjyDsRX9pwGsZkk8Krr55jvL29_PqAPvmgpLzRBiKF_Xg1mKwIcJIbn0QipIs-EIiz6YLmdppSbEOugQF_2LKjmxC8/s320/DSC_2218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Katy was taken aback by the artwork that seemed to have been done with highlighter pens. “You could play it in the dark,” she commented. She swept to a sudden win by eating all three other players (all lynxes) in one go.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Katy 5</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joe 4</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew 2</div><div style="text-align: left;">Martin 1</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And with that, I had to go. Thanks all for another special set of moments. See you next week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-79628442288393843822023-11-11T10:30:00.001+00:002023-11-11T10:36:08.477+00:00Railing against the Western Link<p>A rare Friday night gaming session last night as Ian, Joe, and Chippenham Chris sat down around the enormous Eastern US map of Railways of the World. During the day Joe and I had debated which map to play and settled on Europe, before it transpired that neither of us owned it. So here we were at sunset of the working week, but the dawn of the locomotive. I had forgotten quite how much table space America demanded.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzMWUTCLP5dBQbqtmRr0K4krXthiL5Via0C0uPzMiNxtxcqcYP3_rhgxyX6x3YsBrq2fmH9h9e0Bu2xcnb3Ab8PMX2pHlMBQJVb7ycdtxwrNI_7cgTobkJ59_xV27UuA_6bxLsmf7K0B-ELlsX7QRMIw6mAcmLNTu61ze76SXTYXCoBLLmHj-WvGe/s4032/IMG_4116.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzMWUTCLP5dBQbqtmRr0K4krXthiL5Via0C0uPzMiNxtxcqcYP3_rhgxyX6x3YsBrq2fmH9h9e0Bu2xcnb3Ab8PMX2pHlMBQJVb7ycdtxwrNI_7cgTobkJ59_xV27UuA_6bxLsmf7K0B-ELlsX7QRMIw6mAcmLNTu61ze76SXTYXCoBLLmHj-WvGe/s320/IMG_4116.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Ian was green, Joe red, Chris yellow and I blue. Immediately there was a bidding war which Joe won, using his seniority in turn order to ship the first cube and get a Service Bounty to Louisville. I built in the south, Ian in the west and Chris was unmolested in the northeast, despite the fact we all agreed aloud that anyone building there needed molesting. For a while we stayed away from each other and our primary interaction was in the bidding wars, mainly, it often seemed, on principle. Nobody wanted to be last. </p><p>Then I claimed Passenger Lines and a while after, a long-distance route. But Ian claimed two such routes in the same round, one of them even by accident. At this point, things were tightly competitive:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCr5gbFgjTMD7BWL-Lxpuyoi7VBBpOZPkJxIbBUmxSchup20DyTvAJVqTvAz3RthWCA1U_smofh2dKQVwFv0EV-rEg47VQEJ5cLzr1fAmo-6FkF68QsMF_he1OFC2juakeSN7-llFJVlfKAVhIfIKBvYDmjbsgHXVCsI0wK7veAd6IiK6EBXgB_Bc/s4032/IMG_4119.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCr5gbFgjTMD7BWL-Lxpuyoi7VBBpOZPkJxIbBUmxSchup20DyTvAJVqTvAz3RthWCA1U_smofh2dKQVwFv0EV-rEg47VQEJ5cLzr1fAmo-6FkF68QsMF_he1OFC2juakeSN7-llFJVlfKAVhIfIKBvYDmjbsgHXVCsI0wK7veAd6IiK6EBXgB_Bc/s320/IMG_4119.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p>Then Joe frowned a bit at lagging slightly on the track and Ian belatedly began hampering Chris in the north-east. My focus was mainly on blue cubes, which seemed to proliferate in the south, giving me numerous short-to medium distance delivery options: my train never got higher than a level 4 loco. In contrast the other players kept improving their engines and Ian revealed his best-engine Baron when he reached level 6. Joe built a western link for $30k but found to his horror that he was generating cubes in Chicago that Ian would subsequently deliver for shitloads of points. He stopped delivering to Chicago.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx7ZddWMndti7gKEYbQ-3oW1U5x4dMFa95hfrqxEutOvKaiBTDAW3CHsW96XNujwKGhEa0Pfr5RMWxJpmKRyAJcpFVRim7huKUJwT40NzVpxDkPVor4cPnJ15BZ2On-768KUaSP1R_PACuvHtlIvvyipJh-IrwC9OPKGuTORBKbQM-8RMZ3xHSHAL/s4032/IMG_4120.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx7ZddWMndti7gKEYbQ-3oW1U5x4dMFa95hfrqxEutOvKaiBTDAW3CHsW96XNujwKGhEa0Pfr5RMWxJpmKRyAJcpFVRim7huKUJwT40NzVpxDkPVor4cPnJ15BZ2On-768KUaSP1R_PACuvHtlIvvyipJh-IrwC9OPKGuTORBKbQM-8RMZ3xHSHAL/s320/IMG_4120.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>In the end, it was a very convincing victory for Ian - even if I'd satisfied my Baron, I wouldn't have caught him:</p><div style="text-align: left;">Ian 89<br />Sam 82<br />Chris 80<br />Joe 77</div><p style="text-align: left;">We packed away happily sated, and with plenty of gas still in the tank. Joe produced <i>Pass Pass</i>, which I'd missed on Tuesday but can explain - sort of - now. This is a trick-taking game where you aren't obliged to follow suit - though you may want to. There are four such suits numbered 1-12 and when a trick is played any suited cards combine: for example, Chris and my blue cards of 6 and 8 will be a blue 14 and beat out Joe and Ian's yellow 10 and 2. The player who played the highest card of the winning suit claims any card they like from the trick, and the player who played the second-highest card of the winning suit gets the two lowest-value cards from the trick. And at the end of the round you score a point per card plus a point per diamond that occasionally appear on a few of the cards. And after three rounds, most points wins.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjdO6e0ikPV4t3W9RG5M30vlMi68Jn5Qdqo0YOUwGAsEzlsXX17vFOB047LuNPHKgEwywsFX3w-gpUkwRkBUxPjX7CrJ1rKDtsQv2v3FkrOH2RBrb01foPjP59supYzeHW-L4Q0z3EdBf8g4iOvbSlDXYs5oo-_Rtdwc7omGVm7jRpq2mXUaFe2Xw/s4032/IMG_4129.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjdO6e0ikPV4t3W9RG5M30vlMi68Jn5Qdqo0YOUwGAsEzlsXX17vFOB047LuNPHKgEwywsFX3w-gpUkwRkBUxPjX7CrJ1rKDtsQv2v3FkrOH2RBrb01foPjP59supYzeHW-L4Q0z3EdBf8g4iOvbSlDXYs5oo-_Rtdwc7omGVm7jRpq2mXUaFe2Xw/s320/IMG_4129.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But wait because that's not all. If during a round you manage to claim a card of each suit, this is called a <i>pass pass</i>. If you get three pass passes before scoring the final round, you instantly win the entire game! This means you're juggling not only the points you want for yourself, but what you need to deprive of others - which in turn affects the game's temporary alliances and card-claiming. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ59XYZPJwWCdd6zcMSxxxMOBsIWDB84qJ3AUcY7U9TNrp9sk2HlZJH22nfyJxUMGXyrJtOpCJ6nBXOb_2OlUIVFYLxuRqA9Ih9SxrrkAQnEZo-1eDbacTVb4vV_jnLwoQqPoPrKoKvbbzaTRb1ksgI0XWykrnG82s9-hW6fC_usnPS2alGYJ-Am4U/s4032/IMG_4127.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ59XYZPJwWCdd6zcMSxxxMOBsIWDB84qJ3AUcY7U9TNrp9sk2HlZJH22nfyJxUMGXyrJtOpCJ6nBXOb_2OlUIVFYLxuRqA9Ih9SxrrkAQnEZo-1eDbacTVb4vV_jnLwoQqPoPrKoKvbbzaTRb1ksgI0XWykrnG82s9-hW6fC_usnPS2alGYJ-Am4U/s320/IMG_4127.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's fantastically opaque, especially at the beginning of each round, but you're helped by the fact that the card backs reveal what suit they are, so as play continues you get some vague sense of the who/why/when of it all. Joe won this narrowly on a points victory. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we played Stomp the Plank! I think Joe won this too. And somewhere between Railways and here Joe also did his amazing card trick. Apologies Joe for making you do it twice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLLDPB1QebJCwilNXRjKx4oPvGlF-ZmsMsiAp2UY-MdsImsdk6D1brylvNdtnoIquZ2QF3bk5O19M83EbFE0AwgkDMLOB2EeykUguhjJWckQgpQrYmlmbREu5tvGcGe0RKku5XMT9w1L6BjQeQe_j-0HIcgE6JS0dYjG2Rb5mzJ-wdTJwybF43RKJ/s4032/IMG_4122.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLLDPB1QebJCwilNXRjKx4oPvGlF-ZmsMsiAp2UY-MdsImsdk6D1brylvNdtnoIquZ2QF3bk5O19M83EbFE0AwgkDMLOB2EeykUguhjJWckQgpQrYmlmbREu5tvGcGe0RKku5XMT9w1L6BjQeQe_j-0HIcgE6JS0dYjG2Rb5mzJ-wdTJwybF43RKJ/s320/IMG_4122.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We finished off with a slightly boisterous So Clover, where apropos our immature clover graffitiing I told Chris I would rather see his penis than watch him do a poo, and Ian and I agreed that Joe would never write 'crush' for <i>boot</i> and <i>stamp</i>, even though Chris correctly deduced he would (and did). <div><br /></div><div>I didn't take photos of our Clovers but this was a very decent effort, with second attempts only needed twice and no misses at all: a more than respectable 20/24. Good going!</div><div><br /></div><div>But it was now gone 11pm and time to wrap it up. Thanks all, a lot of fun.</div>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-47093038481760399202023-11-08T09:17:00.005+00:002023-11-08T09:21:07.848+00:00Suit up!<p>I arrived at little early at Joe's and after catching up with he and Charlotte and getting mauled by Sybil, we had a couple of games of Focus. This is a co-op challenge of guessing each other's secret image from a grid of said images - the catch being that you clue your own using others: here, my image was the telescope and Joe's, confusingly, was the glasses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Bzm4W9bySK_WhPHNumQhqRsnpHZ1rG_awMyZYOLEM0Yyqwyfd9V40Qepjt9he32-gqKOtu8GLyfnU-QsCs3SWxNSRGjaRlMVVNmpeUTp0NVnh_5LiBC1eVro9_eSGbKPjEqBnHUKYIP10e_6VgGQx2f2fHGShQzpWqJ9bM6E5EGPSIfQlcqWxh2G/s4032/IMG_4060.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Bzm4W9bySK_WhPHNumQhqRsnpHZ1rG_awMyZYOLEM0Yyqwyfd9V40Qepjt9he32-gqKOtu8GLyfnU-QsCs3SWxNSRGjaRlMVVNmpeUTp0NVnh_5LiBC1eVro9_eSGbKPjEqBnHUKYIP10e_6VgGQx2f2fHGShQzpWqJ9bM6E5EGPSIfQlcqWxh2G/s320/IMG_4060.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If you are unfortunate enough to use your partner's word as a clue, you both lose. Otherwise when you're both satisfied you know what the word is, there's a countdown and you both put your fingers on it, Codenames-style. Joe guessed my image correctly twice, but I was wrong each time, lacking the focus required. However Martin and the Final Gareth turned up at this point and following them through the door were Laura and Katy and finally Adam H. Knowing this was Gareth's last GNN before leaving Bristol for Seattle and possibly beyond, he was presented with his present!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5nkjSdlSUkJnb1JVvdU8uBUHhkmK-rngqzpfvP-FoA0No2CGk0-igvNQ1DRdNJ-hcV2oyfCf8wzxnkqKqS6sjOtBI0-JKBaSsEFU5tX676UGgHKCX7ei8quiQYuSpIFBfLhq-nBN9Cx3uyBBaG15FnbhxH-un78NVpgKuubBH_V3dS13B9gXs7BI/s4032/IMG_4061.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5nkjSdlSUkJnb1JVvdU8uBUHhkmK-rngqzpfvP-FoA0No2CGk0-igvNQ1DRdNJ-hcV2oyfCf8wzxnkqKqS6sjOtBI0-JKBaSsEFU5tX676UGgHKCX7ei8quiQYuSpIFBfLhq-nBN9Cx3uyBBaG15FnbhxH-un78NVpgKuubBH_V3dS13B9gXs7BI/s320/IMG_4061.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Sye2MQlglLEkpsnmaGIVR5ENYDSFzE96iFhEvlHzSEgKYcKIcvMwEBg0ePZuSdIueM26Lg2WUTmZhyphenhyphenSBYc_wH0eWllGS2-BGyyQfjmvQnuDkEMf0GTON1BbR_kPINpYUEHaFN6pUdkEmEVBYQ2e5h_dbLFWKqIW7Lpk6j-JDFRx6hR2jjCArxnXz/s4032/IMG_4062.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Sye2MQlglLEkpsnmaGIVR5ENYDSFzE96iFhEvlHzSEgKYcKIcvMwEBg0ePZuSdIueM26Lg2WUTmZhyphenhyphenSBYc_wH0eWllGS2-BGyyQfjmvQnuDkEMf0GTON1BbR_kPINpYUEHaFN6pUdkEmEVBYQ2e5h_dbLFWKqIW7Lpk6j-JDFRx6hR2jjCArxnXz/s320/IMG_4062.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We debated what to play before settling on That's Not a Hat, even though Adam hated it. Then Katy remembered she hated it too and Laura confessed she wasn't a fan either. But it was too late for all that!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_SO5dYaduI3T7c2LFhcPr90Wlx4YywXW_i0NsHwipG_Rfn4CXFmgE4i8Hhacgs1Zw4GE4P-NriHSKRxUGHTw-4FNP1sRnlGVRFUM4Ia06Vyf6Jl7VwxIlfE5uWNVFqtonDKwREmNOjm6Mys61HdLhR4PiejezqR1HFZLHejFN86-cWbiwEYWJ1pt/s4032/IMG_4064.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_SO5dYaduI3T7c2LFhcPr90Wlx4YywXW_i0NsHwipG_Rfn4CXFmgE4i8Hhacgs1Zw4GE4P-NriHSKRxUGHTw-4FNP1sRnlGVRFUM4Ia06Vyf6Jl7VwxIlfE5uWNVFqtonDKwREmNOjm6Mys61HdLhR4PiejezqR1HFZLHejFN86-cWbiwEYWJ1pt/s320/IMG_4064.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was much confusion, chagrin and bamboozlement as various people were confident of what cards were until it was their turn. At one point there were about three Schrödinger's ducks and two Feynham newspapers in various states of reality, and it felt like everyone was bullshitting to the point that if anyone was bold enough to challenge, they'd be inflicting pain on the passer. But this theory proved wrong when Joe challenged Gareth on a duck, and by some insane coincidence, it was a duck!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuRT_nFL-4rtbVRRlAWQLZLu7sFeH-NJBdJZl0yia5kPoBhJn8lfGOltxBuZ9cp5T5BImn8qXfDN4AJpV3DekHCIX-qA11Lo2vdBzk9Ukb2wloLmHGaBp7cgDTv4rb0aZsVB0qOhyphenhyphenBj3_v47LThwskZwCs3QqfUAQjQnCURDR1wqD5DPUXGrd71QW/s4032/IMG_4063.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuRT_nFL-4rtbVRRlAWQLZLu7sFeH-NJBdJZl0yia5kPoBhJn8lfGOltxBuZ9cp5T5BImn8qXfDN4AJpV3DekHCIX-qA11Lo2vdBzk9Ukb2wloLmHGaBp7cgDTv4rb0aZsVB0qOhyphenhyphenBj3_v47LThwskZwCs3QqfUAQjQnCURDR1wqD5DPUXGrd71QW/s320/IMG_4063.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Joe lost, with three busts at this point, with most people on one or two. I had none at all, but I don't think there's a winner in quantum gaming. We split into two groups now with Joe bringing another French purchase out, called Pass Pass. They were appalled that I took a picture before they started. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4H-UttErsK6WtJ1u4_dOn-zSJzuMYjy52dNJ6GKXHMCOMbOtPxv8lZZHOpcipaFmTVklAH8KxdfehF2U20Qe-12LZVexLsRSkFdmEnKx4NXrcT4y_ZInAcOHQz4cHles087oOKK9obJ26FkK5IobUMqgmjsygeUtlOxCm9JNnh8dTbzCeMYlVr7f/s4032/IMG_4070.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4H-UttErsK6WtJ1u4_dOn-zSJzuMYjy52dNJ6GKXHMCOMbOtPxv8lZZHOpcipaFmTVklAH8KxdfehF2U20Qe-12LZVexLsRSkFdmEnKx4NXrcT4y_ZInAcOHQz4cHles087oOKK9obJ26FkK5IobUMqgmjsygeUtlOxCm9JNnh8dTbzCeMYlVr7f/s320/IMG_4070.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the other end of the table, the fun of Strike was held up by the fun of trying to get all the components for Gareth's present back into the box. Here we have a particle physicist and moonbase engineer on the case:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPr3b3VhYDseLll4qOYcRDnggrv5syQM6yvno2T7mn4r7remltD1hAfcW-XQogzWP53jexganfyl6ZmSej-SIHVaDf2lJOFKuHgQmW8kIMiAMUVmw12p10jQQlyAzTZmgLuMTwOljMdNJoatq4dLMUpZ-WlK8AULXhQrHq67GtbCOve_iv6wT_Xd6/s4032/IMG_4071.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPr3b3VhYDseLll4qOYcRDnggrv5syQM6yvno2T7mn4r7remltD1hAfcW-XQogzWP53jexganfyl6ZmSej-SIHVaDf2lJOFKuHgQmW8kIMiAMUVmw12p10jQQlyAzTZmgLuMTwOljMdNJoatq4dLMUpZ-WlK8AULXhQrHq67GtbCOve_iv6wT_Xd6/s320/IMG_4071.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With that done, we blasted through a couple of plays of Strike, won by Gareth and Martin.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevP5bRbSYTWHjEyiIYJzyjWahjNoXmePT7P2yflORF5KzsdI-EmWS9nPhc22n4aAtOmmNNxfUBp2atWjRHzB16cU11P4oDhVZU-yZgnS1kAOh2VWcejIkzTYaedxRC-gGZGXVuKtrX51O_It4_5xmVge_LPE4_1bMBCWurge4hbIlunoJVZoGlm6w/s4032/IMG_4072.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevP5bRbSYTWHjEyiIYJzyjWahjNoXmePT7P2yflORF5KzsdI-EmWS9nPhc22n4aAtOmmNNxfUBp2atWjRHzB16cU11P4oDhVZU-yZgnS1kAOh2VWcejIkzTYaedxRC-gGZGXVuKtrX51O_It4_5xmVge_LPE4_1bMBCWurge4hbIlunoJVZoGlm6w/s320/IMG_4072.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we played Harvest. I forgot to take photos of this, which was a shame because I won. Maybe neglecting blog duties helped me focus. Meanwhile at the other end of the table, Pass Pass from what I could glean seemed an alluring mix of engagement and bemusement. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG3YyfBKUTrEsBB5SrXajAMgcNZDOsFoJ4vAaPkcIOB8tfRReVElHbtUaXHoRekcR9XIw_B7frj8PBm2No0YQJXYk6Lh7uiA6XVMR_1zXgSIITOjucx4p_PB_a-dOQcDn4VELME6gVpToG13GeCnbrAdSeesgjo-JFPhXAK5GWgJ9SI5ku12_j_Fk/s4032/IMG_4073.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG3YyfBKUTrEsBB5SrXajAMgcNZDOsFoJ4vAaPkcIOB8tfRReVElHbtUaXHoRekcR9XIw_B7frj8PBm2No0YQJXYk6Lh7uiA6XVMR_1zXgSIITOjucx4p_PB_a-dOQcDn4VELME6gVpToG13GeCnbrAdSeesgjo-JFPhXAK5GWgJ9SI5ku12_j_Fk/s320/IMG_4073.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We played Sea Salt & Paper. I got off to a good start, chiselling an early lead, but we abandoned the game with Gareth apparently in the lead when Pass Pass finished. Then Gareth realised he'd inadvertently cheated so his win came with a big asterisk. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLcOUIXDQ43zYGcvHgwqTZXvpkGrlWATMquamge2jMlOblv1kwKXlJklauztj0PImupML3OMarlrI7v_vUn-53y32vxT_fVzQyzyPivy0QAaCfxutp88S5UqTbFQSP3Z49lMXwDWp7sL0pi5nxjRqIwH0VTJvvDbzAiRMMD__XwUeLb7WV4o174Z9/s4032/IMG_4074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLcOUIXDQ43zYGcvHgwqTZXvpkGrlWATMquamge2jMlOblv1kwKXlJklauztj0PImupML3OMarlrI7v_vUn-53y32vxT_fVzQyzyPivy0QAaCfxutp88S5UqTbFQSP3Z49lMXwDWp7sL0pi5nxjRqIwH0VTJvvDbzAiRMMD__XwUeLb7WV4o174Z9/s320/IMG_4074.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy won Pass Pass, how I have no idea. Joe implied it needed an asterisk too as it was a learning game, but Katy's face disagreed. Having been wrapped up in numerous Martin-sized games with Martin and Gareth, I missed anything about Pass Pass other than there is some trick-taking. Now there were various games proposed, with nobody really biting at Hansa Teutonica despite mine and Gareth's hopeful cherubic expressions. I suggested Pioneer Rails to Martin and his face literally started twitching. But Joe was interested. After some more shenanigans and box-waving, Katy agreed to try Maldivia again with Martin, Laura, and Gareth.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W7UK4v7k-sqtw__1YyogSRrZxcg_nJWBYMWGbNNgDAWUqLAMtiT7EytvQChcMl94gRXsUfhr29r13wnKe0kI91o853nAXXQAXXo4jAx62sjidZ7HkAbr7o7Q7aoz9aCLFaEu4Lz3spuf8ZzgK1fiuLXvr5Wr2xluAQKV61XKKZZgeKhU-ddCCkfp/s4032/IMG_4076.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W7UK4v7k-sqtw__1YyogSRrZxcg_nJWBYMWGbNNgDAWUqLAMtiT7EytvQChcMl94gRXsUfhr29r13wnKe0kI91o853nAXXQAXXo4jAx62sjidZ7HkAbr7o7Q7aoz9aCLFaEu4Lz3spuf8ZzgK1fiuLXvr5Wr2xluAQKV61XKKZZgeKhU-ddCCkfp/s320/IMG_4076.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And Joe, Adam and I went pioneer-railing across the nascent US.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaoEUPdUsHLxBE3KJfT9HCQZ5EY9dh52xPXIXrXT5W4GlUEa0BcGM1aSdSscH6rJtdhnqn2EM4elowWUD-9-pseHlQgcPBr_cxk_WouG6R8bX8lJyLrka7hVKiBTBocEGv6_ODYH2uICNTS0rIhdsCXgKhJuBQ8aMoBnkzpib2JqgYsSQmsboo4nC/s4032/IMG_4077.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaoEUPdUsHLxBE3KJfT9HCQZ5EY9dh52xPXIXrXT5W4GlUEa0BcGM1aSdSscH6rJtdhnqn2EM4elowWUD-9-pseHlQgcPBr_cxk_WouG6R8bX8lJyLrka7hVKiBTBocEGv6_ODYH2uICNTS0rIhdsCXgKhJuBQ8aMoBnkzpib2JqgYsSQmsboo4nC/s320/IMG_4077.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not so much a roll-and-write as a flip-deal-choose-and-write, in each round of Pioneer Rails you are doing two things: building railroads across the map, and constructing a poker hand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMNifVwhLhzAMsyp6cxH0IdlVkZi2iyOy2eZL3LjYgQMTqdNBFUrZ21Zv_xrKLO3CnX1kgysXA3n6D1nDwnTL-Qph5x0aPV76M6d11qL_Yrmru_XYAZkF0xin3s-KPOFeapU7A1ZvW-cyl47GZYncEdj9EB2kcRO4fjNJInmf3_fPRTcfLiEuvT0T/s4032/IMG_4078.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMNifVwhLhzAMsyp6cxH0IdlVkZi2iyOy2eZL3LjYgQMTqdNBFUrZ21Zv_xrKLO3CnX1kgysXA3n6D1nDwnTL-Qph5x0aPV76M6d11qL_Yrmru_XYAZkF0xin3s-KPOFeapU7A1ZvW-cyl47GZYncEdj9EB2kcRO4fjNJInmf3_fPRTcfLiEuvT0T/s320/IMG_4078.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Poker hands are pretty straightforward; the map less so. Only the rank of the card you choose matters for poker, and only the suit is relevant on the map, where hearts/diamonds/spades/clubs are the four railways you're building. Beyond that, the choices tempt you in lots of different ways: gold and banks combine, so do cities and railyards, you can compartmentalise herds of cattle for points or circle around forts for escalating hauls. Along with the inevitable first-to-do-it bonuses, there's a fair amount to chew over, and we were a bit more thinky than the boisterous Maldvia.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1eF0a7BSxiYOYqddPiWI6FVXC6d84jWrbYRtSTc58OGeMTYUNgMDZbnRh5Enu7lZvhAl0pV1hcWjY3TF-j56GL0xM2YUV27arGC28NQlovdLDRnOZYK40gCG_UPGE-QeFl4IorwtISKc0QchFfrvNkEyo_h_nxTDHpy0vOTt_81ZzRwNDusAGl82/s4032/IMG_4079.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1eF0a7BSxiYOYqddPiWI6FVXC6d84jWrbYRtSTc58OGeMTYUNgMDZbnRh5Enu7lZvhAl0pV1hcWjY3TF-j56GL0xM2YUV27arGC28NQlovdLDRnOZYK40gCG_UPGE-QeFl4IorwtISKc0QchFfrvNkEyo_h_nxTDHpy0vOTt_81ZzRwNDusAGl82/s320/IMG_4079.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy decided she liked the game this time, and winning may have helped. Martin, chief cajoler in it getting played at all, was rewarded with last place. It was close though:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy 9</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gareth 8</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laura 7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While we wrapped up they played Strike again: Katy winning twice and Martin once. Over in Texas or wherever it was close between Joe and I as we wrapped up our fourth and final round, with me inching ahead of him. But it was only close between us because Adam was miles ahead:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 137</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 94</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Joe 86</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"That's my kind of game" he beamed, as Joe looked nonplussed. It is at the heavier end of an x-and-write game, but I rather like it regardless. There's room for some dickery in the poker hands, an option I neglected when I could have taken some points off Adam... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laura said goodbye and set off for home, leaving us as a six. We plumped for Trios, playing in partnerships. In this version there are no shared cards, but when any team claims a trio, other teammates can (<i>must</i>, in fact) swap cards. This is helpful for the team in question as they share increasingly more information about what they hold. But it's a nightmare for other teams as you can't be sure that <i>y</i> person's lowest card then is still their lowest card now.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23NUnfOV5wIC0mzdzFIPYgjmlkaaCQUhp1ANOPR2lNxhJxlYpMTZpb_xitrCun3mlOAJKm6k6b-j5UBP-zxtXE1lAZkzoyucRyvfrI0aA1RLscecUguoiHejylxP981nKv3Hhs1CIu-ectMFBKP1Z3G4NApPbTg8MefnKXRfNU7QtdQQY-sPykucp/s4032/IMG_4081.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23NUnfOV5wIC0mzdzFIPYgjmlkaaCQUhp1ANOPR2lNxhJxlYpMTZpb_xitrCun3mlOAJKm6k6b-j5UBP-zxtXE1lAZkzoyucRyvfrI0aA1RLscecUguoiHejylxP981nKv3Hhs1CIu-ectMFBKP1Z3G4NApPbTg8MefnKXRfNU7QtdQQY-sPykucp/s320/IMG_4081.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin and Adam claimed the first win, with what looked like an advantage to my eyes as they both held a seven at the start. Swapping sevens, they knew they just needed to locate the third and once the other cards were out of the way, claim the win. Having said that, saying it's easier than doing it. Katy demanded a trio of Trio, however, and she and I won the second and third game with Gareth and Joe holding the wooden spoon. They did master the simultaneous sliding of cards down the table though. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we played So Clover! Katy said she was going to be really sexist with her clues and not to put them on the blog, so I won't. We did pretty well - especially considering the amount of agonising going on pre-reveals. Gareth managed to navigate the combo of Silent Beef with the clue of <i>veal</i> - Katy was disgusted by everything - and Martin overcame his pessimism with some decent clues. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqopThsCFcraSPPeVWiggxYUGJn1VMuwGheN6KkW2sj-2_1mnexMnaQZBF-UuDDHYKw2QCgYcKIvAx1xExdJE9kJHLCjBfoE3PIejii5_gqXeqHwXBnZmhthgP5SJGn4DNV2ol6wGutsN6BL-zMjFeh5Wb7dS8yJd_J66NDOrYYJVtHFAwOfVs4BzD/s4032/IMG_4085.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqopThsCFcraSPPeVWiggxYUGJn1VMuwGheN6KkW2sj-2_1mnexMnaQZBF-UuDDHYKw2QCgYcKIvAx1xExdJE9kJHLCjBfoE3PIejii5_gqXeqHwXBnZmhthgP5SJGn4DNV2ol6wGutsN6BL-zMjFeh5Wb7dS8yJd_J66NDOrYYJVtHFAwOfVs4BzD/s320/IMG_4085.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>My clover was a bit problematic as my clues seemed to go much better with the wrong words, but kudos to everyone for getting them on a second go. Our stumbling block was Adam's clover, which had Martin repeating the words 'Jelly belly' for about ten minutes as he couldn't believe we weren't all familiar with the insult. By the time we actually made any guesses, Adam was completely distracted by something on his phone. But we did it, and it was a rock-solid score of 32/36 all told. </div><div><br /></div><div>A momentous evening ended with lots of hugs and best wishes for our beardy friend on his new adventure. We'll miss you Gareth!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BHIo6qwJarI" width="320" youtube-src-id="BHIo6qwJarI"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-64793645442057439402023-11-04T15:54:00.003+00:002023-11-04T15:55:59.818+00:00 Kill Emperor Lucky <div style="text-align: left;">Once upon a time, before the lockdown, Time Of Crisis was a regular here at GNN. It had been given the opportunity that other games had deserved but never attained: a chance for a regular core of players to really get an understanding of how a game works. How it ebbs and flows, its winning strategy and its dead ends.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now (well, last Sunday, actually. Soz for the delay in the write-up), in 2023, we returned to Ancient Rome. It wasn't easy. A lengthy email exchange resulted in a date for Martin, Joe, Ian and I to battle over the laurel wreath once more. But then Joe dropped out and Sam stepped in. And if that wasn't enough, on the evening in question, I drove to Sam's and spent fifteen minutes looking for a parking space. It literally would've been quicker to walk.</div><div><br /></div><div>Late start notwithstanding, the four of us leapt back into the past. Our starting positions were Gallia (Sam), Pannonia (Ian), Macedonia (Martin), and lastly, with all the prime real estate taken, I chose Africa, half hoping for some points off barbarians.</div><div><br /></div><div>After that, Sam took Britannia, Ian expanded into Hispania , Martin into Asia and I took Aegyptus. This turned out to be a good move since it remained untouched for the entire game - a very low maintenance territory.</div><div><br /></div><div>During this period of map sharing, a rival emperor, Postumus, popped up in Gallia. And so, on his turn, Sam attacked and killed him but Postumus killed off Sam's army in the battle. The rest of us built things. Ian and Martin chose Basilicas while I had Nomads on my southern border so I made a Limes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sam then rolled a crisis roll that sent Sassanids into Galatia while he set up camp in Syria, a territory famed for having a death wish but in this game was completely serene. Ian took Thracia, leaving Pannonia almost undefended. Then Martin became Emperor! And as you can guess from the blog title, he'd stay there for some time. I accidentally sent Sassanids into Syria and then paid tribute to the Nomads who had recently invaded me and got voted into Galatia.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the next round, the first under Emperor Martin's rule, no one was in a position to challenge him. Sam reinforced Syria, Ian stole Galatia from me and failed to attack Martin in Asia. Martin reinforced his fragile Roman battalion and then failed to beat Ian's wounded army in Asia. I defeat the Nomads in Africa and fail to win an election in Pannonia.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcxceHnC32IlaZjhD_9W-oJRkZskViZ71htEfQYjSG2u-efwOH5BjSsn3FSg8y6XUBit95bowNtMTAKb7vpLrLuQDD5oOdcR-Ct8urQBRPJ0QEDqJzVIuIkVnf6waF2DMTsgmDvv4L3RSQtsMcUjm3mVB98nQI_mai9deY6Qw6ydS_0RUrek1v43NogU8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcxceHnC32IlaZjhD_9W-oJRkZskViZ71htEfQYjSG2u-efwOH5BjSsn3FSg8y6XUBit95bowNtMTAKb7vpLrLuQDD5oOdcR-Ct8urQBRPJ0QEDqJzVIuIkVnf6waF2DMTsgmDvv4L3RSQtsMcUjm3mVB98nQI_mai9deY6Qw6ydS_0RUrek1v43NogU8" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sam began the next round with plenty of blue cards but little confidence that he could unseat Martin in Rome. Instead he took Thracia from the emperor, weakening his hold on the senate. Ian couldn't capitalise, but did take Asia, giving him four territories and Martin only two. Martin retook Asia and I built a basilica in Africa and took Galatia from Ian. I know I should've attacked Martin but that was my easiest option.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sam sent his army from Gallia into Italia but couldn't defeat Martin. Even so, he tried to get voted into Rome and just failed. Martin’s grip on power was looking weak, but Ian didn't know whether to use all his blue points to win in Rome or to win an easy election in another province first and become an absurdly powerful emperor. He took Gallia from Sam but then failed to win in Rome, rolling four 1s. Heartbreaking. Not for Martin, though, who then took Pannonia from Ian. I moved my army across the sea from Africa to Italia and defeat Martin in battle but I didn't have enough blues to win an election there, so instead I unseated Martin in Asia, even though I knew I would lose it immediately.</div><div><br /></div><div>Surely Martin couldn't last another round. We could hardly believe he survived the last one. But Sam had “the most boring turn in the world” where he bought a general and boosted Thracia. It was so dull that I had been distracted during his turn and, looking at the board afterwards, couldn’t see if he’d done anything and I had to ask. Ian won an election in the now-neutral Asia and finally beat Martin in Rome. A new emperor! But then Martin is quickly recrowned after he defeated my army still sat in Italia in remarkable circumstances. He rolled two hits so I needed three hits from my two dice. I rolled two 6s! Hope! But then I rolled two misses and, thanks to Martin’s cavalry, attackers won ties. On my turn I retaliated immediately but it’s another draw (2-2) and I didn't have a cavalry to back me up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Asia was now a “shit show,” hosting 3 Goths and 3 Sassanids. Meanwhile, Sam was voted back in Gallia and sent a new army into Italia where he defeated Martin and became a new emperor. At Level 5! Ian, by contrast, was down to his last territory: the aforementioned “shit show” Asia. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmq5VQIZ03LNdDP_qIYchXi20_UsdDqGqjXrp864XUYGz_gGAkeyAn1Y7thDh_jFa9WQ_uJUg4sRXP0L3hxkvk2DY1P84kcd-hvWlBvF40b24OBEyiHP4DwUZ7hosXWNnc9DY1igO9Q9fVCcF2zUg5KY4FAGqCo-Xv1kBrzdXhpBi4_uhG0KVnP9-RuDk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmq5VQIZ03LNdDP_qIYchXi20_UsdDqGqjXrp864XUYGz_gGAkeyAn1Y7thDh_jFa9WQ_uJUg4sRXP0L3hxkvk2DY1P84kcd-hvWlBvF40b24OBEyiHP4DwUZ7hosXWNnc9DY1igO9Q9fVCcF2zUg5KY4FAGqCo-Xv1kBrzdXhpBi4_uhG0KVnP9-RuDk" width="103" /></a></div><br />He boosted it to hang onto it and then won an election in Gallia, even though he promptly lsot it again. Martin’s hand was a paltry 2 blue, 1 red, 2 yellow and all he does is take Pannonia from me and then had to take a while to look though his huge deck of cards to prepare his next hand. I have 2B 1R 3Y which doesn’t look promising but I attacked and defeated Sam in Italia, boosted popularity elsewhere and then get voted into Italia. It’s my turn to be emperor!</div><div><br /></div><div>It feels a lot like the last round. Martin’s score is hovering in the 50s and we’ve no doubt he’s loaded his most powerful cards. Sam could only win elections in two neutral territories: Gallia and Thracia. He built in Britannia and then, in a neatly spiteful move, he chucked a mob into Martin’s Pannonia. Ian rolled a double six for his crisis roll, so he, Martin and I all got an extra card. His hand was10R, 5B, 2Y and, in a huge turn, he became a level 4 emperor. But Martin had a reply: 9R, 6B, 2Y. He took Pannonia off Ian again and then brushed my army aside in Italia (I roll 1-1) and he ended his turn needing one vote to become emperor again with four dice. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT73fmSVa6IkNZVy5Yh0pNiRShf2tqVRx336GiKvw7B34sbU9PYU2xl8RyFSADoGiFW3cXzLoIJt64C7OUrnLSiAqi-DGwWlrIH3hAx6Bx4feofu6B1iLdRntOR7lEKX1xTik8XK1woj4WqVRts9tB-k0uTmOyl1FgJJ3yppzyJ1uR2zDp0m67RjVu82I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT73fmSVa6IkNZVy5Yh0pNiRShf2tqVRx336GiKvw7B34sbU9PYU2xl8RyFSADoGiFW3cXzLoIJt64C7OUrnLSiAqi-DGwWlrIH3hAx6Bx4feofu6B1iLdRntOR7lEKX1xTik8XK1woj4WqVRts9tB-k0uTmOyl1FgJJ3yppzyJ1uR2zDp0m67RjVu82I" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Easy. In my final round I don’t get to be emperor but I do nab some points from territories and barbarians.</div><div><br /></div><div>It’s over. After a comparatively speedy two and a half hours, it ended...</div><div><br /></div><div>Martin 79</div><div>Andrew 61</div><div>Ian 59</div><div>Sam 53</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone got to be emperor but Martin’s initial reign, where he admits he got some king-sized slices of luck, was pivotal. No one could catch him after that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nice to get it back on the table again. I had to dash after we’d finished but the other three played on into the night: Ian won Chicken</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy8AV1lVDezYcFq7HaEvwbiCfPs4Y7f6uSvfKBosfPlg4V20zwjal-ahimL7Ql-BNrwGNhvfASWv4lDyT1UXecYzG4uZ6rRmuPJ5nsg5Au71YnT6-a4sV9baxr9gal9FoziiTJXbRshboPd5K6xnOwIfPFl_RPxgrVBGp-WEhgmFjZdv82hn2iDPC1h9Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy8AV1lVDezYcFq7HaEvwbiCfPs4Y7f6uSvfKBosfPlg4V20zwjal-ahimL7Ql-BNrwGNhvfASWv4lDyT1UXecYzG4uZ6rRmuPJ5nsg5Au71YnT6-a4sV9baxr9gal9FoziiTJXbRshboPd5K6xnOwIfPFl_RPxgrVBGp-WEhgmFjZdv82hn2iDPC1h9Y" width="320" /></a></div><br />And then they got 10 out of 18 in So Clover...</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUrU_BoGs51IiEjPL0RMDyPBVkYQIJBUF3yCqeztUly4dq2krYAMlyJpPV81Tax5Sm2FquW37FOnEgIiIf1NlQ91Uza9OBQFXjblfbqyfZ86IuREKYoQB8zGtKBcyuU2JyHrvKbm3GIMCyY34y5B6zh4gfnoPFjeepEHmYceQ7yG7yTnZ5TssOsS2GC-c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUrU_BoGs51IiEjPL0RMDyPBVkYQIJBUF3yCqeztUly4dq2krYAMlyJpPV81Tax5Sm2FquW37FOnEgIiIf1NlQ91Uza9OBQFXjblfbqyfZ86IuREKYoQB8zGtKBcyuU2JyHrvKbm3GIMCyY34y5B6zh4gfnoPFjeepEHmYceQ7yG7yTnZ5TssOsS2GC-c" width="320" /></a></div><br />Thanks all. Sorry it took a while to get this written up. See you all soon.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoX1eI94HUsts_bW0uC5r19UuOkjgDpRIuprKJrsIn5LtPvncPdOp0IcjZ562cQEAZH3j3gFAnMqyrbnDnx6IRkpYODF-O3J_bRRsQz8WMr_BYfo92U1IvxrwnVZp244SpdAr4uD_rt0vsoum-h4mmNn8x3akW09zLJYf58je3csxBA0_i3TrJIiziJ2s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoX1eI94HUsts_bW0uC5r19UuOkjgDpRIuprKJrsIn5LtPvncPdOp0IcjZ562cQEAZH3j3gFAnMqyrbnDnx6IRkpYODF-O3J_bRRsQz8WMr_BYfo92U1IvxrwnVZp244SpdAr4uD_rt0vsoum-h4mmNn8x3akW09zLJYf58je3csxBA0_i3TrJIiziJ2s" width="103" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sam's huge homegrown apple</i></div></i><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-63506063957816488652023-11-01T10:12:00.010+00:002023-11-01T12:04:26.167+00:00Hello' Ian<p>This week's games night fell on Halloween, so when I arrived at Adam and Hannah's door I was greeted with a bucket of sweets to choose from, even though my costume was old man in coat. Inside, Arthur's impressive Adam-made costume loomed over us from the corner, as returnee children compared sugar hauls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0ECyK1OwktOUoc3Kg9kznTlU-NpAwI7owREWQIxPgXXsqj1e8GWeVfiVjF6Qr1EK89Ex7xzzgGDNt83mb-HQzrSl7ZjMaj7pTkY-KzKAK8i_ZcL2MA9Cc0XkgRVYj1JE6matpNlQ50yEJ0Xq8lU6c0MYsigQSWDrLWzuxMjwzJFqvjInym8fa8E5/s4032/IMG_4002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0ECyK1OwktOUoc3Kg9kznTlU-NpAwI7owREWQIxPgXXsqj1e8GWeVfiVjF6Qr1EK89Ex7xzzgGDNt83mb-HQzrSl7ZjMaj7pTkY-KzKAK8i_ZcL2MA9Cc0XkgRVYj1JE6matpNlQ50yEJ0Xq8lU6c0MYsigQSWDrLWzuxMjwzJFqvjInym8fa8E5/s320/IMG_4002.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Someone else in costume was Gareth, although this was not in person but as he appeared on a card in his friend's freshly-minted game, Utopia. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dtuKScSHm-usw-smf10MVIJSbuEU88Vvm-cIq8O2Ip2cUJAel5Yr_zSDf3YgK4RKcIOLW0WBs8GGowPXf3xqYdSb9EGFSGOeBQI0sIwGGmN0Gm88GvaeolnYUUR38HD45x240al1SpfTMbd0W2YJuE8vadRyICrtho2MgwN3vLDZWhH6_yyH5VhX/s4032/IMG_3999.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dtuKScSHm-usw-smf10MVIJSbuEU88Vvm-cIq8O2Ip2cUJAel5Yr_zSDf3YgK4RKcIOLW0WBs8GGowPXf3xqYdSb9EGFSGOeBQI0sIwGGmN0Gm88GvaeolnYUUR38HD45x240al1SpfTMbd0W2YJuE8vadRyICrtho2MgwN3vLDZWhH6_yyH5VhX/s320/IMG_3999.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was some loose talk of playing it, but as it's reasonably heavy - time travel and butterfly effects with added megalomania - in the end we decided it needed it's own specialist slot, so maybe that'll happen in the coming week. Instead we kicked off with Cross Clues. Hannah was putting Arthur to bed, so as well as Adam, Gareth and I also present were Katy, Adam T, and the happy late addition of Ian, who made it over despite feeling not at a hundred percent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjqt6WzCO6cF_1d-Pcd4fe08NQ_EQRcyeMlhDCZuza_1q1bHpNIYWeEk57TPNaSdOhGWhAzp_ho7yeTchBoXsuRdCpC968rbet85hKWLU7FBwFPbZDhZRkIfsMNbeCgYTEacTvPaz_3VA3-XC7ftDD5E2H61SsyegaxdESYuKnufrCzcPIlenN76q/s4032/IMG_4003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjqt6WzCO6cF_1d-Pcd4fe08NQ_EQRcyeMlhDCZuza_1q1bHpNIYWeEk57TPNaSdOhGWhAzp_ho7yeTchBoXsuRdCpC968rbet85hKWLU7FBwFPbZDhZRkIfsMNbeCgYTEacTvPaz_3VA3-XC7ftDD5E2H61SsyegaxdESYuKnufrCzcPIlenN76q/s320/IMG_4003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cross Clues was something of a triumph, with numerous nimble minds to compare clues - and also eliminate possibilities they happened to hold in their hand. The only misfire was Liz Truss, whom we pinned as Prime Minister/Cheese instead of Prime Minister/Lightening, due to her brevity of office. But 24/25 is a pretty good show. Then with very little debate, we splintered into two groups. Whilst Adam H, Ian and Katy set up the long-absent Castles of Mad King Ludwig - last seen over six years ago! - the rest of us adjourned to the front room to set sail in Maldivia. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOMRJNZKXf0UdQWwXfmYErhIXKnyU47vCVrSofKUfaJ3_8A30VYi-5RB0e4C57ajWj3-gaawJ-RxGm-MsZxHbyQxNwroR8K0SgEnotTnwHUUEdEk3iuUIyVm3O13MRozry7xkFuBbey9MRzr_q-8p_r4d37szRsGSYPHkzxm7hj4RHf5SMK17B8sM/s4032/IMG_4005.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOMRJNZKXf0UdQWwXfmYErhIXKnyU47vCVrSofKUfaJ3_8A30VYi-5RB0e4C57ajWj3-gaawJ-RxGm-MsZxHbyQxNwroR8K0SgEnotTnwHUUEdEk3iuUIyVm3O13MRozry7xkFuBbey9MRzr_q-8p_r4d37szRsGSYPHkzxm7hj4RHf5SMK17B8sM/s320/IMG_4005.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Despite not being present, this play was Katy's Revenge, as Martin was buffeted through a veritable storm of events, swamped by fog, blocked-in and stolen from on several occasions. "This is why Katy hated it!" he realised, as we took more of his fish. He did have plenty to take, however. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-wpGr1-nTylvzwq3kET97JA9nhyphenhyphenamem-iH4AFiOS4ZZV5rTunFpyiUZKiQ6gtiE71ykN7I8G5RtNk42PYtbRXbt41izaSbzpEKdhT4OhDAwHm_dARkl2U8BlcwqiKV5wtYRoc2CQbUaFLMwn-RPSLiWwg1kNjmYpYJWwEPNyhBXTu0ChNfmzDR0s/s4032/IMG_4006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-wpGr1-nTylvzwq3kET97JA9nhyphenhyphenamem-iH4AFiOS4ZZV5rTunFpyiUZKiQ6gtiE71ykN7I8G5RtNk42PYtbRXbt41izaSbzpEKdhT4OhDAwHm_dARkl2U8BlcwqiKV5wtYRoc2CQbUaFLMwn-RPSLiWwg1kNjmYpYJWwEPNyhBXTu0ChNfmzDR0s/s320/IMG_4006.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the end it was Gareth's final turn that clinched him victory, cannily delivering to two islands by virtue of mooring up in a corner of the board. This catapulted him past me as Martin and Adam were left at sea:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gareth 13</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 8</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the other room, foundations were still being laid in the three titular castles...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFkJ60tHFeCSD_XKpNkeCl3vjcKVq4ybN5sgCLos9tBniqsFrge1nJ5u_d7_cSTzfD16MXhafEXPGIIg8sJhbSsXwDWHtR5vH9Nkxa1aU3jB003bLEtPhbn-JhcQXIAUmcGyJv0FHn_r7x9g_bOuU1MISXZ0_7_bxaaGkYS_O08PnHL_p8avaNVAW/s4032/IMG_4008.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFkJ60tHFeCSD_XKpNkeCl3vjcKVq4ybN5sgCLos9tBniqsFrge1nJ5u_d7_cSTzfD16MXhafEXPGIIg8sJhbSsXwDWHtR5vH9Nkxa1aU3jB003bLEtPhbn-JhcQXIAUmcGyJv0FHn_r7x9g_bOuU1MISXZ0_7_bxaaGkYS_O08PnHL_p8avaNVAW/s320/IMG_4008.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...so we broke out Noli, the tinpot crackpot maelstrom of bids and rolls as we all sought to build the highest tower. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7sx9jZStRgInoylgpr7UelRpImnrMjpo97uOqcBXGEFNTYshcGMw3avCLeFMvSsSZhcb6O44J2tAOb-jbO2-8NXjl4luk_eKKdEG55H4z5LEkoET_kY0GIHCj2xjV0QA8lxMPj-wvplj4DpWDhEKB_V1efF-rA4ie69gqgkfDxIIY1HBBuY_u6ux/s4032/IMG_4011.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7sx9jZStRgInoylgpr7UelRpImnrMjpo97uOqcBXGEFNTYshcGMw3avCLeFMvSsSZhcb6O44J2tAOb-jbO2-8NXjl4luk_eKKdEG55H4z5LEkoET_kY0GIHCj2xjV0QA8lxMPj-wvplj4DpWDhEKB_V1efF-rA4ie69gqgkfDxIIY1HBBuY_u6ux/s320/IMG_4011.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Noli's rules are pretty simple - bid for four actions - but the constant collateral damage inflicted by the winners, and the fact that unsuccessful bids must also be paid, makes the game feel rather fire-fighty. We all got hit by poverty and found whenever someone built a boat, someone else destroyed it. I ignored the influence track entirely, reasoning that it at least gave me one less thing to fret about, but that meant I lost ties on bids and ties in the endgame.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdGqA1y0Iqd-Kem2PVyY6w4gPgDIJWhUNNf8RZAn7x-snNOUeLgCdBV_J9DyQzwIxisoMLBHvn38xD1Fp9YqgbgKo-te0gcIH2vL92prsEZ0-rE5752w3_XPz7JW2DihksCXhjRGo4z3saFd_l0Mag5zivQmk5VMK0BJIYD_LAFLBAEHUJ5e5XnFL/s4032/IMG_4013.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdGqA1y0Iqd-Kem2PVyY6w4gPgDIJWhUNNf8RZAn7x-snNOUeLgCdBV_J9DyQzwIxisoMLBHvn38xD1Fp9YqgbgKo-te0gcIH2vL92prsEZ0-rE5752w3_XPz7JW2DihksCXhjRGo4z3saFd_l0Mag5zivQmk5VMK0BJIYD_LAFLBAEHUJ5e5XnFL/s320/IMG_4013.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A fact which turned out to be irrelevant, however, as Martin raced up the track to trigger the finale and at that point he had the highest tower anyway. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 5</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 1</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gareth 0</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam wasn't a fan. I still rather like Noli, even though it does feel like a slow-motion car crash and being down to one boat and frantically rolling uncooperative dice can feel like having your face rubbed in it. Meantime, in the kitchen, Ludwig's architects were playing a slightly more cerebral affair, and things were beginning to take shape.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfFUtkI_UdSiS0KNHlJkl5-WnWv46Q0xz_87zzdiDGWl7RVsx2C6tAmAWtdeurZ0btRs5z6BQOV_Ld26nSUZTyNWiGdAejscz01t87IbVQTueZANjySAb97TbETfblGrdDVx8XTGQbMwX5Fjz0pK-8i1jy7g26Ozi3O7ycWsFik1XGu5405NyB8Zf/s4032/IMG_4015.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfFUtkI_UdSiS0KNHlJkl5-WnWv46Q0xz_87zzdiDGWl7RVsx2C6tAmAWtdeurZ0btRs5z6BQOV_Ld26nSUZTyNWiGdAejscz01t87IbVQTueZANjySAb97TbETfblGrdDVx8XTGQbMwX5Fjz0pK-8i1jy7g26Ozi3O7ycWsFik1XGu5405NyB8Zf/s320/IMG_4015.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKvIfuF1iND-dUvzyS4DLnXBSkBRtink6RuuKvaOBqAGS-PrBYCyiKq3_g-jLFIh-Xvrx-zbjE0AcYNy4baVGV2G2R1a2Cr8S5jXqecahgPkWn7Kzc8O48VmBnvoTTwKNuJjyUXx2PprEE5tdtSkynhLcair_P866c4hqt2O8UTlm7hlc34fVAOYa/s4032/IMG_4016.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKvIfuF1iND-dUvzyS4DLnXBSkBRtink6RuuKvaOBqAGS-PrBYCyiKq3_g-jLFIh-Xvrx-zbjE0AcYNy4baVGV2G2R1a2Cr8S5jXqecahgPkWn7Kzc8O48VmBnvoTTwKNuJjyUXx2PprEE5tdtSkynhLcair_P866c4hqt2O8UTlm7hlc34fVAOYa/s320/IMG_4016.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9UNSv-P9U-WmFgn_cF-j-oqHwIT8ry2Rl4rzhA8YixxYgXmvdJPvzKyXlNiQ-WfkBbguEPgV2smNaojIPUTefpfORQ9YnnmlsH5eaYpoanuCP6CpBCy5YTxG89_XfjGildobfpY4WtLcGA3Rw9Vis4B28PzOfx9PAulUW6VuKL8WDBY9E8rJ3N4_/s4032/IMG_4017.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9UNSv-P9U-WmFgn_cF-j-oqHwIT8ry2Rl4rzhA8YixxYgXmvdJPvzKyXlNiQ-WfkBbguEPgV2smNaojIPUTefpfORQ9YnnmlsH5eaYpoanuCP6CpBCy5YTxG89_XfjGildobfpY4WtLcGA3Rw9Vis4B28PzOfx9PAulUW6VuKL8WDBY9E8rJ3N4_/s320/IMG_4017.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We busted out Stomp the Plank, now with its previously-defective box replaced. For the uninitiated, it's last elephant standing that wins and each turn the active player flips cards, choosing whether to stick or twist on a bunch of vaguely pirate-themed suits. If you get a duplicate, you're forced to walk up the plank. If you restrain yourself and quit while you're ahead, all other elephants add these wooden discs (Barrels? Crokinole boards?) to the ends of their planks. In a game of numerous early bustings, Martin was first to go:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8qnxUxMdKCckbfSnRiiv9sZASe0m4prtzHpYEKuZQUDo8aBitD1YsHZT55SmmZjjpNJNALP19Pw850jUnXXCzgn1QZDoFjg7szHO18sOQQbSUYO67jrBlJ9XttTneIAIiDFT1RYdpxM8MzZgZ6EyLTJxzrqSCkZHpCTIPXGIo2fnkBHEYblvAyX6/s4032/IMG_4018.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8qnxUxMdKCckbfSnRiiv9sZASe0m4prtzHpYEKuZQUDo8aBitD1YsHZT55SmmZjjpNJNALP19Pw850jUnXXCzgn1QZDoFjg7szHO18sOQQbSUYO67jrBlJ9XttTneIAIiDFT1RYdpxM8MzZgZ6EyLTJxzrqSCkZHpCTIPXGIo2fnkBHEYblvAyX6/s320/IMG_4018.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, as we continued to bust at around, I would hazard, 80% of our turns, Gareth's plank collapsed, and the impact of it hitting the table caused mine to cave in as well! So this was Adam's Revenge. Stomp the Plank being so rapid, we had time for another quick game in Prey Another Day, Martin's latest filler favourite. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-O3X13ylDBzcTnPaDgUveOfm6vkrzp_2-PPU3j1Ks0-KbDxbW1jzUN0JOLZBKgDScd1KWyPkVNuBGpqu9uF8Qsai24OVseEAPBD3nh152B8b1Qi4kU0uEA1003Gt5DzwJlxDr-nQEZdRu5ua-HygEhMd7fe2anZ3maJ1uLEdsHHRM_NSUjSY3CYT/s4032/IMG_4019.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-O3X13ylDBzcTnPaDgUveOfm6vkrzp_2-PPU3j1Ks0-KbDxbW1jzUN0JOLZBKgDScd1KWyPkVNuBGpqu9uF8Qsai24OVseEAPBD3nh152B8b1Qi4kU0uEA1003Gt5DzwJlxDr-nQEZdRu5ua-HygEhMd7fe2anZ3maJ1uLEdsHHRM_NSUjSY3CYT/s320/IMG_4019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I won this game by mostly doing unexpected and possibly unwise things that Martin couldn't predict. They made sense to me at the time, although now I can't recall any of them. Probably for the best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam: 5 points</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everyone else: 2 points.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I made a terrible faux pas of referring to Adam's gerbils as rats. "Rats?" he said, as though I'd just asked him if his wedding cake was made of shit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lBSbw7c-KN7AHRBjeHkj1PljLOGzCFDVZydMkqXAZjGyd-pDen0GgXaggAHTYqT2JMxbjL4_RF46ZbfRIR7w7LMl0gz2YyrCYa4Br2DEskbVZQVKG6sk6cu4BUACJSjSr6M4_CktO7Y8mB8BB8JhHhNX6KO__MciB-VkpRicLE4vADEKCIceztZm/s4032/IMG_4027.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lBSbw7c-KN7AHRBjeHkj1PljLOGzCFDVZydMkqXAZjGyd-pDen0GgXaggAHTYqT2JMxbjL4_RF46ZbfRIR7w7LMl0gz2YyrCYa4Br2DEskbVZQVKG6sk6cu4BUACJSjSr6M4_CktO7Y8mB8BB8JhHhNX6KO__MciB-VkpRicLE4vADEKCIceztZm/s320/IMG_4027.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are very sweet, even if getting them to stay still for a picture is tricky. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam, still reeling slightly from Noli, left us as Castles came to a dramatic end with cards to be scored and podium places up for grabs. Ian raced ahead of Adam, but then Katy announced she had "All the rooms!" and raced past both of them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katy 142</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ian 133</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 122</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ian debated staying or not momentarily, but elected to leave us as a five, and we tried Martin's new purchase of memory game Trio. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJex7UnefYDO4YAVIk4QbXfHOQzho8BMFeLwxoD1s38Ml1jGXP_eZhT22fTbsm8hjhNtgL6bbhAxtRarL8cMvscvfZEDqOwBCq6D1doaMXqZ6yiKpVIfmapgvDNjcLWhwSlU9bRDv7svIAa3wkqJPBIWeCCKF5s_cDlNhlqpRcuhk8oiuhjsxHRjo/s4032/IMG_4029.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJex7UnefYDO4YAVIk4QbXfHOQzho8BMFeLwxoD1s38Ml1jGXP_eZhT22fTbsm8hjhNtgL6bbhAxtRarL8cMvscvfZEDqOwBCq6D1doaMXqZ6yiKpVIfmapgvDNjcLWhwSlU9bRDv7svIAa3wkqJPBIWeCCKF5s_cDlNhlqpRcuhk8oiuhjsxHRjo/s320/IMG_4029.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">not pictured: Adam's disdain</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each player has a hand of six cards, with six more face down in the middle, and the cards are three each of numbers 1-12. Your goal is to collect two trios (ie matching numbers) that can make the number seven, either by adding them together or subtracting one from the other. Do that, and you win! Or, if you're lucky/clever/eidetic enough to get the trio of sevens themselves, that's a win too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzWbLiRPr-APL3jgK4S0261hIg9VJqm4XPzMuTExWvem-86n6XH6YlfhOVdKChz4DYtHtWpelq8eVXvuuhyphenhyphensb2DsRgeN2c6J15oZNXf0BpfX9AqmnpEaDs25MIxpgSP6Km9XdHwONOe8uRzvXAbmGmmKqOs8xC4NVM1ZUCLCFbPxO_7-oOP_EFy2h/s4032/IMG_4028.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzWbLiRPr-APL3jgK4S0261hIg9VJqm4XPzMuTExWvem-86n6XH6YlfhOVdKChz4DYtHtWpelq8eVXvuuhyphenhyphensb2DsRgeN2c6J15oZNXf0BpfX9AqmnpEaDs25MIxpgSP6Km9XdHwONOe8uRzvXAbmGmmKqOs8xC4NVM1ZUCLCFbPxO_7-oOP_EFy2h/s320/IMG_4028.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">cards must be arranged high-to-low in hand</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each turn you can reveal up to three cards, either by flipping them from the middle, asking an opponent to reveal their highest or lowest card, or taking the highest/lowest from your own hand, with the goal obviously being to reveal three of a matching number. As soon as a non-matching number appears, your turn is over: cards are returned to hands and any flipped from the middle go face-down again. So it's a question of trying to remember what card is where, and guesstimating, at times, that if Gareth no longer has the three in his hand his lowest card <i>might</i> be the five I need. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zRlIWKcIbKGDSM7GFpi1_T4-trhnp4gaQOYEnAbwMiBjcdujQnIkxIXGz_u_prv2VwRDV0U6FcBkbnSR_eNd-j2ysGHTnZ5PjHYAPmNrQzZXuafkZ_fD5OpzIF3paaMKPbSvfPfHNZJtvY9ClILatJ7IzS36r6t4TgBTqmDBT7zdLGsUWfoHHwDp/s4032/IMG_4031.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zRlIWKcIbKGDSM7GFpi1_T4-trhnp4gaQOYEnAbwMiBjcdujQnIkxIXGz_u_prv2VwRDV0U6FcBkbnSR_eNd-j2ysGHTnZ5PjHYAPmNrQzZXuafkZ_fD5OpzIF3paaMKPbSvfPfHNZJtvY9ClILatJ7IzS36r6t4TgBTqmDBT7zdLGsUWfoHHwDp/s320/IMG_4031.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam declared he hated the game from very early on, an opinion that was reinforced by Martin winning it. But we tried again, and Adam won, perhaps somewhat pacifying him. Then we played once more and he announced that no, he definitely hated it. I wasn't sure either - I like how it looks and it's undoubtedly a clever thing, but trying to remember 14 different cards and their locations was hurting my head. Gareth finished the last game of the night with a suitable flourish, however, when he revealed the trio that wins by itself!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCihxlXjO1UY6-OHw72Hrgcc_Ud-xN0B872_hFdo-jHg3F2NHjVXoB-1by_riAKAJoXPdkfauDosJKOcSCJSHWGPHQJ2-cvxQ_WiZr05iD9D5x17BOwW9fydfDuBlSkJ9quemRa8dmJt6U9juPBuw3I5hNbimPZq5n2gkCq3TVqYhs5vIcyNgYyAO/s4032/IMG_4033.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCihxlXjO1UY6-OHw72Hrgcc_Ud-xN0B872_hFdo-jHg3F2NHjVXoB-1by_riAKAJoXPdkfauDosJKOcSCJSHWGPHQJ2-cvxQ_WiZr05iD9D5x17BOwW9fydfDuBlSkJ9quemRa8dmJt6U9juPBuw3I5hNbimPZq5n2gkCq3TVqYhs5vIcyNgYyAO/s320/IMG_4033.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next week is his final games night before he departs for the stars. Hope to see you all there, if not before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-63320020474957150962023-10-26T11:18:00.002+01:002023-10-26T11:18:37.382+01:00Fish Thieves on the Shrinking Sea<div style="text-align: left;">I arrived at Sam’s at 8 o’clock for my first games night in three weeks and found Joe, Katy, Martin, Ian, Adam H and, of course, Sam already in attendance.</div><div><br /></div><div>I’d missed a game of Cross Clues (23 out of 25) and Prey Another Day (Ian won). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AD5KhJx8BAvsY92LeaDGgXW5EJD8gWBo6asNaBPsaNQISRLln43SIMKM8SFLQ75WmEs4wFxyjfjWXGn1ANP4Ra1f7dXxJx5n68e4jw9nIMfqI347E8Qi9Wb4ki5z-4L_6mob-sABHXEc7KIuiukYuuHzLamWaCDTCe5Q3STKI-Nr7ShQ4VWbNv6nLRk/s1023/IMG-20231024-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1023" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AD5KhJx8BAvsY92LeaDGgXW5EJD8gWBo6asNaBPsaNQISRLln43SIMKM8SFLQ75WmEs4wFxyjfjWXGn1ANP4Ra1f7dXxJx5n68e4jw9nIMfqI347E8Qi9Wb4ki5z-4L_6mob-sABHXEc7KIuiukYuuHzLamWaCDTCe5Q3STKI-Nr7ShQ4VWbNv6nLRk/s320/IMG-20231024-WA0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We split into two groups. I joined the gang of four and played Maldivia, a new game with the gimmick of a cloth board that slowly folds up during the game, making the play area smaller. The game concerned guiding your ship around the sea, picking up fish and delivering them to traders at the edge of the board. There’s a certain amount of dickishness, in that you can steal from other players, change the direction they’re going or cause the sea to get smaller which might lose them a fish from their boat or cover up a shoal of fish they were heading towards or remove a trader that someone wanted.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlAdGN4EFq9COKJeKvukbpFT8zLp8mweohjEoaDEecX8XIciS7c0V_C2wfaINGP30WBhZXdW7gL0EFd0qyRVhQtfxrfsnz9EFv3mflsG72usEXtf7UgduivmbWb1RcV2XJVQ_FuCQ25G4d-kDgibFyujK5h58INW4l01ssvnorEfbIWA4ZnTJnuEQ3RY/s4032/DSC_2155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlAdGN4EFq9COKJeKvukbpFT8zLp8mweohjEoaDEecX8XIciS7c0V_C2wfaINGP30WBhZXdW7gL0EFd0qyRVhQtfxrfsnz9EFv3mflsG72usEXtf7UgduivmbWb1RcV2XJVQ_FuCQ25G4d-kDgibFyujK5h58INW4l01ssvnorEfbIWA4ZnTJnuEQ3RY/s320/DSC_2155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was surprisingly dickish, especially as the board got smaller and it became impossible not to bump into each other.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU5tAhR-YIGGIf1md4I_vBBFSyQchTgdhCrhbOoBx0lMZBxokx433v83UTFuPD1l5zBVqcSYnwV5y3UQTH9fTPnUWpTiJwteBk3FX4JMBfZCjgIEYqymAjU9qjFtVJq3ZkO7FvT1ea7ZGy2bPT4OG2Lhr8TancnlLhadEW7pZLFnxEWirm93gV2ijmdE/s4032/DSC_2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU5tAhR-YIGGIf1md4I_vBBFSyQchTgdhCrhbOoBx0lMZBxokx433v83UTFuPD1l5zBVqcSYnwV5y3UQTH9fTPnUWpTiJwteBk3FX4JMBfZCjgIEYqymAjU9qjFtVJq3ZkO7FvT1ea7ZGy2bPT4OG2Lhr8TancnlLhadEW7pZLFnxEWirm93gV2ijmdE/s320/DSC_2157.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This close-quarters combat didn’t sit well with Katy who lapsed into a surly mood. I can’t honestly say I was having enormous fun either, as the constant changing of the board/traders made it hard to plan ahead. Mind you, I didn’t exactly embrace the notion of exploring the wide blue ocean as I spent the first few rounds going back and forth along a single row picking up fish and then trading them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sam 13</div><div>Martin 11</div><div>Andrew 9</div><div>Katy 8</div><div><br /></div><div>The other group of Ian, Joe and Adam played Tajuto – a rematch between the same players of 5th Oct. Back then it ended with a narrow win for Adam just ahead of Ian. This time Ian was victor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ian 15</div><div>Joe 13</div><div>Adam 11</div><div><br /></div><div>The games ended at about the same time and so we rearranged our seating into two new groups. Obviously in a racey mood, Adam suggested Quest for El Dorado or Race for the Ganges and so Sam, Katy and he played Quest. I was at the far end of the table so I missed most of the nuances of their strategies. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o9hFSANLkS5LAWGuFh2mzM7CJ6oj3Sdo4TLFEXd40edACvMS2TPuxGzjF4ycpNtQhff8LCOWUPuYEJdH6sPBWc4Ry6nyykwfP5LfY0Z_Sc3g8YWJQBNwa0mUIp4gLKQunZewQK41O-Sv06FZ5m8K6vuicu9wt5vM6Hm8xB990wmgtfdunnlYlCici2g/s4032/DSC_2159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o9hFSANLkS5LAWGuFh2mzM7CJ6oj3Sdo4TLFEXd40edACvMS2TPuxGzjF4ycpNtQhff8LCOWUPuYEJdH6sPBWc4Ry6nyykwfP5LfY0Z_Sc3g8YWJQBNwa0mUIp4gLKQunZewQK41O-Sv06FZ5m8K6vuicu9wt5vM6Hm8xB990wmgtfdunnlYlCici2g/s320/DSC_2159.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone, however, noticed the surliness lifting from Katy as she played. By the end she even offered Sam a "joint second place" after Adam ended the game but Sam had to point out that technically she was nearest to El Dorado.</div><div><br /></div><div>M</div><div>Adam</div><div>Katy</div><div>Sam</div><div><br /></div><div>But the surliness didn't leave us completely as it settled over Martin during the opening rounds of our game, Mille Fiori. Ian said he wasn't in the mood for learning new rules so he was amenable to the return of this recent favourite.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, indeed, he sped off into a sizable early lead. But then he became stuck with a selection of poor cards. His misfortune was to have his cards handed to him by Martin ("sitting cuntside of Martin," as Katy put it). Joe looked to have it all tied up mid game with a handsome lead but then Martin put together four extra turns for a mega move that pushed him into contention and, before long, the lead. Now he was devoid of surliness, and Ian monopolized it for the rest of the game.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LwteiSgJdoDzkB3YFcU3hL3wRLpMM4pacZ6LVUMYdAlHml32SL_9bkHVa_INX-xhCQs5BuwP3RI7vJVxmr0quUz43_52WppBydxVJfAAngYkCW8Rc4WORgYXx1oJCTTd3T0oSynUswcNFs5c9KOf9tkG5wQxYoDbJuYGxPoLs3UHO3sd1MgQobjLhgQ/s4032/DSC_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="4032" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LwteiSgJdoDzkB3YFcU3hL3wRLpMM4pacZ6LVUMYdAlHml32SL_9bkHVa_INX-xhCQs5BuwP3RI7vJVxmr0quUz43_52WppBydxVJfAAngYkCW8Rc4WORgYXx1oJCTTd3T0oSynUswcNFs5c9KOf9tkG5wQxYoDbJuYGxPoLs3UHO3sd1MgQobjLhgQ/s320/DSC_2160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As for me, I bossed the market such that by the end I was getting at least ten points almost every turn and the occasional extra go. It kept me competitive, even briefly squeaking into the lead in the final round. But not for long.</div><div><br /></div><div>Martin 206</div><div>Joe 203</div><div>Andrew 203</div><div>Ian 151</div><div><br /></div><div>And again, we finished at similar times. Whopper flavoured Doritos were poured into a bowl and generally greeted with a mixture of disgust and delight, often from the same people. The bowl was emptied pretty quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div>With a number of us promising to leave after the next game, we played Herd Mentality together. This game plays up to 20, apparently, although there's only space for six players on its tiny score pad.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this game we discovered that most of us preferred tea to coffee, we mostly think of McDonald's as the worst fast food chain (my odium for Subway spoilt our best chance for a clean sweep) and Biltzen is the most memorable non-Rudolf reindeer.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had to cancel one round when Joe couldn't think of an animal without a tail and the hinting eventually morphed into reminding him that humans are animals. I was glad this round was abandoned since I'd written Manx Cat. There was also controversy in the “Job beginning with B” round when Martin said “Barrister” and Katy matched with him, but when we saw her piece of paper, she’d actually written “barrista” as in the coffee-shop employee. She insisted she’d meant the lawyer-type person, but we found it odd.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had the scores on a separate piece of paper that I lost but I’m sure Sam won and Adam and I came joint last.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Then Ian, Katy, Adam and I left. Joe, Martin and Sam played a game of Sea Salt and Paper. A full game, not just a few rounds as a filler.</div><div><br /></div><div>Martin 37</div><div>Sam 30</div><div>Joe 19</div><div><br /></div><div>And then they finished with So Clover, getting a perfect 18 out of 18! Congrats.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN3UB5-iNRrUTLbJQvxmJ9EorowrA-PJ_rcABtI1FME9SCJbgZvjJ7Enur1B2vn_nGjJkHtbr9LMfM46SgjALsouml2nlzdlDh43UZiAef6W9TTfvKv4q9SzEXLhDNRDNkc9WcetgPpLPyEDUbnz7aB_6Wt0fkvJbI29uJhTkH8NfeUTXI-iL3Qm9Qzc/s1024/IMG-20231024-WA0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN3UB5-iNRrUTLbJQvxmJ9EorowrA-PJ_rcABtI1FME9SCJbgZvjJ7Enur1B2vn_nGjJkHtbr9LMfM46SgjALsouml2nlzdlDh43UZiAef6W9TTfvKv4q9SzEXLhDNRDNkc9WcetgPpLPyEDUbnz7aB_6Wt0fkvJbI29uJhTkH8NfeUTXI-iL3Qm9Qzc/s320/IMG-20231024-WA0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for the evening, everyone. See you next week!</div>Ersbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08012602968152264418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317166417552799764.post-7118704908300568622023-10-18T11:24:00.004+01:002023-10-18T11:24:52.401+01:00Just 11<p>Steve, Anja and Louie were our hosts last night, and joining them around the table were Ian, Gareth, Adam H, Martin and myself (Sam). Adam T was hopeful of coming but couldn't make it in the end, thankfully not down to me giving him the wrong address. While Anja was completing a job application/getting Lennon settled, we kicked off with Just One. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HHr_UwsfKAeCeLc9DGZnKfP3d04nKYheqdlZQhUHk6bYI271XFy1FX9hiabnwpVUPex5WxWTWuAHiFcTsGl0cKCzZ6cu4O9CPOMAv7qvoVndZL-amL4gqVF6xsxFUjV0mg5SWp3lsCWRmhyphenhyphenqkfgGDoiEbcfiDRM5CYnJ7tw50VlkHt7ZAnDX07AH/s4032/IMG_3840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HHr_UwsfKAeCeLc9DGZnKfP3d04nKYheqdlZQhUHk6bYI271XFy1FX9hiabnwpVUPex5WxWTWuAHiFcTsGl0cKCzZ6cu4O9CPOMAv7qvoVndZL-amL4gqVF6xsxFUjV0mg5SWp3lsCWRmhyphenhyphenqkfgGDoiEbcfiDRM5CYnJ7tw50VlkHt7ZAnDX07AH/s320/IMG_3840.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And although Martin did some mild cheating, we started pretty well, hitting the marks consistently until too many duplicate clues left Gareth with an uphill task to identify Google, with only the clues <i>Browser</i> and <i>Lens</i>. Perhaps sensing his despair, Molly came to offer comfort. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn5rHmAq72SP4Sj_rhTyUP0XSOx5qW_j6g1dOT-_iOEarJN7DAvabNiZjAjbMpnJpW937qE1h4FcBXXLu2yLR4dPdJtxGYJUWITLCSFveofOzIVDYut8sX9mFTZnY8NVA3hRmUhV1znK3pBwO91y8M58dNyX8fRi3uxoMODSLP3PmOLk-GBuqHUhh/s4032/IMG_3843.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn5rHmAq72SP4Sj_rhTyUP0XSOx5qW_j6g1dOT-_iOEarJN7DAvabNiZjAjbMpnJpW937qE1h4FcBXXLu2yLR4dPdJtxGYJUWITLCSFveofOzIVDYut8sX9mFTZnY8NVA3hRmUhV1znK3pBwO91y8M58dNyX8fRi3uxoMODSLP3PmOLk-GBuqHUhh/s320/IMG_3843.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtURzqUAXjYN_b6wqznuqjzDm9bVuEV4Ns1ISBLhJOx2N6pGOuzQgE6n3npmJun3QM-mgEtldLlH7FdcmAhpIWl3HPzArlHbDYYfmRtDnsfrEogmuKDNo-2J8sj-bNtuuRrN23Lrk9PS08yWZk35FjQGHV-FXSY-jPkWfUPZPCCeN1Gf89TIBbDEJ/s4032/IMG_3846.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtURzqUAXjYN_b6wqznuqjzDm9bVuEV4Ns1ISBLhJOx2N6pGOuzQgE6n3npmJun3QM-mgEtldLlH7FdcmAhpIWl3HPzArlHbDYYfmRtDnsfrEogmuKDNo-2J8sj-bNtuuRrN23Lrk9PS08yWZk35FjQGHV-FXSY-jPkWfUPZPCCeN1Gf89TIBbDEJ/s320/IMG_3846.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIx_JDI1-tPnEKQ15Is3MmzRm-Mpk4a_AU7N8K2w903UXty6cOO06KJU4gNkCHqqQu4G2FdTxTkWI4eyvpiUi12dZoX14EQn5MM2Jlg-GtRnXfb4YBXY_FsEk_jIiFBQtiz1RNnXiTO4SXZXG0NESAFQbMskjqGTo-wQ2_sjYsGU2VHvsrUE2ti-_/s4032/IMG_3845.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIx_JDI1-tPnEKQ15Is3MmzRm-Mpk4a_AU7N8K2w903UXty6cOO06KJU4gNkCHqqQu4G2FdTxTkWI4eyvpiUi12dZoX14EQn5MM2Jlg-GtRnXfb4YBXY_FsEk_jIiFBQtiz1RNnXiTO4SXZXG0NESAFQbMskjqGTo-wQ2_sjYsGU2VHvsrUE2ti-_/s320/IMG_3845.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But Molly stuck to the rules giving no clues - my photo almost gave it away - and we lost a point. Then somewhere down the line we lost another, leaving us with 11/13, fatefully correlating with the correct address I hadn't sent Adam to. With Anja imminent, we split into two groups playing two short games: whilst Louie, Steve and I played Order Overload: Cafe, Martin introduced the others to Prey Another Day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB_oqVnRg_EG2tmco6FrKbiLAAvp6VpWTOGp4XnWFPx8gpM7Doqr57FBb9lfS2q601nUTy_l0o_3SkeB86owBLZwauBpnKy7AJsV3rEk6f2Rxqjgcw70eg44wp3wdsDgkDnso6ZyCfobAzYle2YSLmwFqxe8dhFgwGzGM5KpkFzgldZo6EoYX1rVn/s4032/IMG_3852.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB_oqVnRg_EG2tmco6FrKbiLAAvp6VpWTOGp4XnWFPx8gpM7Doqr57FBb9lfS2q601nUTy_l0o_3SkeB86owBLZwauBpnKy7AJsV3rEk6f2Rxqjgcw70eg44wp3wdsDgkDnso6ZyCfobAzYle2YSLmwFqxe8dhFgwGzGM5KpkFzgldZo6EoYX1rVn/s320/IMG_3852.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVNeN6OA3nzxoXRMTT8GYhImKoaUYBVcpE4TmU4YZMf994OJJmhqbX0xJQFPtHuwLtQuPou1UCyhCqVHyq7QPk96cMZCXJnzVh-7Kq8fg8J0GYpi4hyphenhyphen-RzmRvaMI4kYh-wf6mvpU_t7EVdl9g_YktqzFjvx7dL0QQqDlSmp3eMlCSrq5MgZ6bBK1f/s4032/IMG_3849.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVNeN6OA3nzxoXRMTT8GYhImKoaUYBVcpE4TmU4YZMf994OJJmhqbX0xJQFPtHuwLtQuPou1UCyhCqVHyq7QPk96cMZCXJnzVh-7Kq8fg8J0GYpi4hyphenhyphen-RzmRvaMI4kYh-wf6mvpU_t7EVdl9g_YktqzFjvx7dL0QQqDlSmp3eMlCSrq5MgZ6bBK1f/s320/IMG_3849.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Order Overload: Cafe is all about memory: each round, a bunch of orders are read out and then the order cards are dealt out to the players. Then the co-operative goal is to go around the table and call out the orders you don't have in your hand, and - assuming the orders exist - they get discarded. This continues until any one player is out of cards, meaning the level is complete! On Level 1 this is dead easy, the starting player just needs to remember one of the other orders. But every level the orders multiply, meaning by the time we reach level 6 there are no less than eighteen orders, including the bizarre Iced Coffee with No Ice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bEnU-LphkA5NkW3yMR-sR6DB_QVch6URtCO1yAXpBsgfJxl37dbqu7BRQElaETH66Uh-cvQaxwEYJULduXTekPpuywhFlLdXdy_B7v_GSSWg56kWrkphltsJ5CU-jhIQ3BvY-6StEELH8ofARAplb9uWMQXtV1aER2dTV8soaxyuYqDDp8ehyPZ_/s4032/IMG_3853.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bEnU-LphkA5NkW3yMR-sR6DB_QVch6URtCO1yAXpBsgfJxl37dbqu7BRQElaETH66Uh-cvQaxwEYJULduXTekPpuywhFlLdXdy_B7v_GSSWg56kWrkphltsJ5CU-jhIQ3BvY-6StEELH8ofARAplb9uWMQXtV1aER2dTV8soaxyuYqDDp8ehyPZ_/s320/IMG_3853.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Another catch is that if you call a non-existent order - which we all managed to do - you can't call orders any more in that round but can only answer them. Despite Louie's impressive recall, we stalled at level 6. Steve's face was a picture of agony, and he ruminated that he didn't have any truck with fun. <div><br /></div><div>At the other end of the table there was a similar boisterousness but more at each other and less at our failing brains. Ian won the first game with 6 points, (Martin 4, Gareth and Adam 2 each) then Adam took the second game, which Anja also played in:</div><div><br /></div><div>Adam 5</div><div>Gareth 4</div><div>Ian, Martin, Anja 3 each</div><div><br /></div><div>Not having Andrew's impressive table-wide vision or note-taking habit, I confess I was none the wiser to Prey Another Day at this point, other than Adam insisting it was a game of skill, in a tone that suggested perhaps it wasn't. Who knows? He did win. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Louie now made his reluctant way to bed - along the floor - and we briefly flirted with Quantum + Noli (3 and 4) before settling on Hansa Teutonica and Aristocracy (4 and 3). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZdVjMvZkBG27KZPeSRWXqjNfCxvatgR123wjrDXcXlTgMjR1XN46KPx5LA5hQSya8fPa_aSvXn-T8qiTRtNmThqaGmGrv4-_WTb7dlJsF0VfKDv1mZCRChrGtuj7oj9ouukE7H1GvczxESqqsNWJ5Cv7VsDfgg73WkM8ys4H6ETj8wlZKUwyx2wV/s4032/IMG_3854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZdVjMvZkBG27KZPeSRWXqjNfCxvatgR123wjrDXcXlTgMjR1XN46KPx5LA5hQSya8fPa_aSvXn-T8qiTRtNmThqaGmGrv4-_WTb7dlJsF0VfKDv1mZCRChrGtuj7oj9ouukE7H1GvczxESqqsNWJ5Cv7VsDfgg73WkM8ys4H6ETj8wlZKUwyx2wV/s320/IMG_3854.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was excited to get Hansa played again and pleased for Gareth who had tentatively mooted it more than once in recent weeks. However my pleasure for Gareth was to slowly evaporate, as he took route-building advantage of us repeatedly, by getting in our Teutonic shit. Admittedly he wasn't alone, as this sabotage soon became a table-wide affair. I was so wrapped up in it I forgot to take any pictures of Aristocracy, sorry. That ended before we knew it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 71</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ian 66</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam 58 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And also before we knew it, Ian and Adam were out the door - the evening had flown by. Hansa Teutonica, despite always making you feel like you want to do more than you can and each decision a minor agony, also sped by. I pushed Anja over the finish line before anyone could take any more turns, but although it kept me in third ahead of Steve, it wasn't enough to stop Gareth's impressive haul of networking points:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gareth 42</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anja 35</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 25</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve 21</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Clearly Gareth has some kind Martin/Babylonia type knack for HT, and needs to be policed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The remainder of us fancied 'one more' game, so Martin brought out Prey Another Day again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmnrcmtYfZUSoUsSrMrQEBFEs3NKCuPZDqN73viE-KWLnoYDDIbqEcS7QMs-gSJsPykGQkD3s-Ft4yHqwuv046ZSa1qlyDPN4THDIEhHbVqH3mnkgj0Gc3ADGMOzC_OoPER3fdPPGWhZCrKpcKcynh7QaaianENAFNu0S0jlVZDcYa4LcSc3GTT18/s4032/IMG_3856.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmnrcmtYfZUSoUsSrMrQEBFEs3NKCuPZDqN73viE-KWLnoYDDIbqEcS7QMs-gSJsPykGQkD3s-Ft4yHqwuv046ZSa1qlyDPN4THDIEhHbVqH3mnkgj0Gc3ADGMOzC_OoPER3fdPPGWhZCrKpcKcynh7QaaianENAFNu0S0jlVZDcYa4LcSc3GTT18/s320/IMG_3856.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>He talked us through the rules, which are like Citadels role-calling mechanic crossed with a competitive version of The Mind. Everyone has a set of (the same) cards and secretly chooses one, before all are called and revealed, starting with the Bear (1) and working up through the numbers - but down through seniority - to the lowly Mouse (5). If more than one person selected the same animal, nothing happens. But if you're the only person to select, say, the Wolf, you can announce which animal you're hunting, and eliminate any players who chose that animal. </div><div><br /></div><div>So players are eliminated - or not - until either there's only one player left (2 points!) or every left standing has played three cards, in which case the player with the <i>highest collective value</i> of their animal trio wins: ie, at this point the apex predator Bear is a damn sight less useful. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMFmIgFgsc5QFmsC72vCdJmvNJQK0lgPoXnt7No76iB8SwCIcKTJxYiAizNYZMnRQ8fk6tK4R_pUxA_Z1znS7sQmSDfUVdn6gbRxrLnTnBdSnoT8Z1vMXr1Imz7x1zC0VTlnqhA6N9DdJqGc_tV7MVSGV4YgqUQEIdlzJ_gPq4SpcrJjabsHHWeR7/s4032/IMG_3857.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMFmIgFgsc5QFmsC72vCdJmvNJQK0lgPoXnt7No76iB8SwCIcKTJxYiAizNYZMnRQ8fk6tK4R_pUxA_Z1znS7sQmSDfUVdn6gbRxrLnTnBdSnoT8Z1vMXr1Imz7x1zC0VTlnqhA6N9DdJqGc_tV7MVSGV4YgqUQEIdlzJ_gPq4SpcrJjabsHHWeR7/s320/IMG_3857.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve had a shocking game, thrice eliminated through hunting and scoring nothing. "That was fun" he said, in the manner of a man leaving the waterboard room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gareth 6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anja 4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam 1</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve 0 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I could have had an extra 20 minutes sleep" he added, staring accusingly at the table. Nonetheless, he agreed to a rematch. This time it was Martin's turn to be serially dicked over, although he managed to avoid a zero. It came down to Anja and I poised for a win, but it was Anja who pounced:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anja 6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gareth and Sam 5</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve 4 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And with that another marvellous Tuesday came to a close. Thanks all!</div></div>GNN Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17982778341361220607noreply@blogger.com0