Year of the Berger

Thursday, Joe's house, 8pm. Myself (Sam), Adam, Hannah and Joe himself embark on what will become the most tragic year of Chinese history - The Year of the Dragon, as distilled into game form by Stefan Feld - the twelve months of the year becoming twelve rounds of game time.

A series of catastrophes will befall our culture that we can only try and negate with the weapons to hand - medicine, food, builders, and the odd firework. To cheer everyone up, I suppose.

The rules explained to debutant Adam, we were away. And from the off I was reminded that The Year of the Dragon is one of those games where you can never do all the things you want to; the game strategy is about making the right choice that will not just protect your people (the way I played it the first time) but will move you along the scoring track at the same time.

Having seen Joe take 'privileges' early on in his victorious campaign of a couple of weeks back, I did the same. I also focussed on the thing that would move me along the score track - Knowledge - and the thing that would allow me to pick up that knowledge - Money. But despite moving into the lead around April my game-plan was about to implode: I had naively used my wild cards early on and come Autumn my choices on people management were severely limited - a fact I completely forgot during one particularly catastrophic round were I intended to pick up some medicine only to find the doctor wasn't in.

While I was firefighting a losing battle, Joe's firemen had extinguished all threats and were hosing each other down for fun. Joe had managed to build lots of buildings (Hannah and I had two, Adam three) and had a stack of money and rice in front of him. Sure, he threw the odd person out into the elements as a sacrifice, but it was for the greater good. Come the tail end of the year he sailed past me into the lead and during the final scoring - when your people are scored - he obliterated the competition. I sunk back into fourth, having ended the game with a solitary empty house, prompting Joe to actually apologise to me as he added on point after point. You know you've played a terrible game when people are sympathetic.

Hannah was third, and Adam, who had expanded his houses a little and diversified better than I did, claimed a very respectable second. I was frustrated by my experience but it's hard to say whether it was the game's now-solve-this mechanics or my bad management of them. I'd be willing to play it again, but that might be motivated by revenge rather than enthusiasm.

Joe 96

Adam 76

Hannah 70

Sam 61

It had just gone ten when we finished, so we decided on a short (three rounds) game of Poison. And despite Hannah's vagueness with the rules she swiftly got herself into pole position after round one, and didn't relinquish it, finishing the game with an impressive six points as Adam and Joe tied for third and I claimed second:

Hannah 6

Sam 8

Adam/Joe 21

Which means as far as the leaderboard is concerned Hannah and Joe did best with 1st and 3rd placings, Adam trod water and I took a mouthful of chlorine.

The leaderboard...

	Played	Points	Ratio
Adam	19	95	5
Sam	22	89.5	4.07
Joe	17	69.5	4.09
Andrew	20	62	3.1
Hannah	10	44.5	4.45
Quentin	6	28	4.67
Jonny	7	28	4
Steve	7	24.5	3.5
Paul	2	6.5	3.25
Chris	2	5.5	2.75
Sally	1	3.5	3.5
Matilda	1	1.5	1.5

Andrew here. As we enter the final few weeks of this season, Joe has squeezed past Sam in terms of points ratio, and also moved up into third. However, despite Sam's bleak performance, all is not lost. He still has half a chance in coming first both in the regular leaderboard and in the Olympic-style one (seven golds to Adam's ten).

From Japan to China, via Stokes Croft

A rare event occurred as both my Japanese lesson and games night aligned on a Wednesday evening. There were five of us (myself, Sam, Joe, Quentin and Steve) meeting in Joe’s fragrant kitchen, delicately perfumed by Joe’s dog’s anti-bark collar that sprayed citronella whenever she made a noise.

We began with a non-leaderboard game of Pickomino – a typical Reiner Knizia mix of simple strategy and blind luck. Steve joined in half way through, but that wasn’t really a handicap since no one else had made much of a start.

I quickly found my dicing knack, and had a stack of five tiles in front of me. This was whittled down by my opponents, and the advantage swung to Quentin. Joe’s technique of always choosing double fours if available turned out to be superstitious nonsense, and Sam’s rolls left him with almost no options at all. In the end, Steve came second with his usual tactic of not fully understanding the rules until the last round, by which time he’s usually doing quite well anyway.

Quentin 6
Steve 4
Andrew 3
Joe 2
Sam 0

For the main event, The Year of the Dragon was chosen. Rules were explained, and scenarios set, as we readied ourselves for the worst year in Chinese history. It was a slow affair, and preparing for one disaster seemed to leave you vulnerable for the next. At different times I remembered what was irritating and what was fun about this game. As you’d expect with three first-timers, there was a lot of thoughtful pauses, and Quentin took back and re-did his go four times at one point, which must be some kind of record.

I begun by building early, and stocking up on Buddhas. Sam planned ahead sensibly and ended the game with most people still alive and plenty of money. Joe lacked Sam’s foresight and at times was down to just three people, but he had bought privileges in the first round. Steve found himself last on the influence track and out of pocket – an unenviable position to be in, but he had two Buddhas in one building which scored handsomely at the end. Quentin also bought privileges, so he and Joe made the early running. In fact, most of the complaining about how badly they were doing came from the two leaders.

But this time, there was no last minute upset in the final scores: Joe and Quentin lead at the end as they had at the start:

Joe 83
Quentin 79
Sam 76 (Sam wins third on influence points)
Steve 76
Andrew 73

Then a third game was proposed, and since no one said it wasn’t leaderboard, I’ll assume it was. Steve set off home, and No Thanks was chosen. This time Joe used my strategy of picking up low cards (with the usual lack of success), and at the end of the game I had a lucky run of cards which reduced my score for no risk. Perhaps I should’ve sent them round for some chips, but I wanted to go home. In the end, Quentin’s steady nerve and decision to go for high cards paid off as the value of his cards was slashed by the number of chips he had.

Quentin 20
Sam 25
Joe 30
Andrew 33

A good night for Quentin (which sees him climb two places on the leaderboard), a bad night for me, and middling for everyone else.

The leaderboard...

	Played	Points	Ratio
Adam	17	87	5.11
Sam	20	82.5	4.125
Andrew	20	62	3.1
Joe	15	60.5	4.03
Hannah	8	35.5	4.44
Quentin	6	28	4.67
Jonny	7	28	4
Steve	7	24.5	3.5
Paul	2	6.5	3.25
Chris	2	5.5	2.75
Sally	1	3.5	3.5
Matilda	1	1.5	1.5

Good times with the old timers

It was a momentous occasion tonight, as planets aligned and winds changed such that all four of the original band of London-based gamers that began this long path to the current group met up on this humid Tuesday evening. Chris, Paul, Sam and I met up early to catch up with each other and reminisce about Blockmania, Settlers and a time when Robo Rally seemed like a good idea.

A record-breaking and kitchen-table-straining nine people were expected tonight. While the four of us waited for the hoard, we played Seven Wonders. It was new to Chris and Paul, so Sam talked them through the rules. Paul was initially confused, but regained his composure to push his way into a clear second place. Sam ended the winner, with Chris and I battling for third.

Sam 62
Paul 59
Andrew 46
Chris 45

Then the house began to fill up with excitable gamers. With nine of us crammed into Sam’s kitchen, the group split into two, with Jonny given the rare luxury of a game he’d played before. He, Sam, Steve and Adam sat around Tinners’ Trail and I’ll leave it to Sam to fill in the details later. Meanwhile myself, Hannah, Paul, Chris and Joe tried a new game – Year of the Dragon.

This game involves you trying to survive perhaps the unluckiest year in Chinese history, in which famine, pestilence, and a Mongol invasion all happen twice between March and December. But at least there are fireworks to lighten the mood. And taxes. But then, there are always taxes.

Joe explained the rules, and started strongly, gaining prestige which would pay him handsomely throughout the game. But he stayed with the original two-up two-down temple that you begin the game with. Others quickly expanded their temple to include extra buildings and floors and, therefore, more flexibility.

Chris often found himself without any money and the two of us were often the last to take our turn due to our lack of influence. It’s the kind of game that can slip away from you, if you’re not careful. All of us were happy to let people die once their usefulness was over, which makes me wonder if we’d make good mafia bosses. But in the last round, tables were turned (not literally – there wasn’t enough room) when I leapt from last to third and Hannah sped past Joe to steal first place. I like a game that gives you hope right until the end. An enjoyable game and one that I’m sure we’ll return to.

Hannah 89
Joe 86
Andrew 73
Chris 71
Paul 64

Like I said, Tinners’ Trail will be spoken about at length later, but in the meantime, the scores were:

Sam 87
Adam 82
Steve 64
Jonny 64

Lastly, The Year of the Dragon went on for longer than expected (it must’ve been a leap year, ho ho) so after Jonny left the other three set up a game of Poison. Once we’d finished our game we were able to watch the final round with interest. It was delicately poised, and anyone had a chance of winning. But Steve wilted under the pressure of all those spectators, and ended in last. Sam finished the evening as he began – in first place, with Adam grumbling over his second second place.

Sam 17
Adam 20
Steve 29

So big thanks to Sam for hosting, and also big thanks to Sam’s wife for making sure the kids were tired enough to sleep through the evening. A lovely evening was had by all.

Meanwhile, Steve and Sam climb the leaderboard and, just like last season, Hannah is Adam’s only threat when it comes to points ratio.

The leaderboard...

	Played	Points	Ratio
Adam	12	63.5	5.29
Sam	12	54	4.5
Joe	12	47.5	3.96
Andrew	13	38	2.92
Steve	6	21.5	3.58
Jonny	5	19	3.8
Quentin	4	17.5	4.37
Hannah	2	10.5	5.25
Paul	2	6.5	3.25
Chris	2	5.5	2.75
Matilda	1	1.5	1.5