I am privileged to get invited to a twice yearly gaming weekend with friends who are all very good gamers. The majic happens at a very nice cottage (really a 3-story house) on Lake Jimmerson near Angola, IN. This took place from March 27-30.
Everyone arrives on Thursday. So gaming takes place over the next 3 days. It’s pure joy.
As usual, everyone brings a boatload of games, and we are lucky to get just a few played. But I guess we’d all rather be safe than sorry.
Thursday afternoon, I was able to get one of the games I brought to the table. The game is Superclub: The football manager board game. In it, you play the general manager who drafts a team of players, develops them, obtains new players, invests in your stadium to generate more income, and then play a series of matches each turn. All the time you are trying to reach a score of 100 points, which will make you the Superclub champion.
It’s a lightweight game, but all seemed to enjoy it. One of the players labeled it a ‘beer and pretzels’ game, and I would have to agree. There’s enough decision-making going on that can help your odds of winning the game, but all the matches you play each round involve rolling 2d6 and adding the total to your players’ team star rating. The dice can do you wrong, but it keeps everyone involved with a string of good/bad dice rolls.
After dinner, and later at night, a group agreed to play another game I brought called Planet Unknown. It plays up to six players. Everyone had started to gather around and then another person came into the room. I asked them if they wanted to play, so I ended up teaching the game to everyone. I was fine with that but was disappointed I wasn’t playing. The good thing was I received a lot of positive feedback from everyone that they liked and enjoyed the game.
On Friday morning, I had interest from folks to play another game I brought, SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. I had played this game solo a few times and knew it was a winner. The guys below felt the same way. A few more people had expressed and interest to try the game also.
I got a quick game of Mystic Vale in with Wallace, Joe and OJ. I think OJ has everything ever made for this game. I’d only played it once or twice, that being a few years ago when it first came out. It showed. I easily brought up the rear in this game, but I enjoyed it.
After this, it was on to the group dinner. The most delicious grilled burgers, compliments of Chef Kris’s magical grilling touch, were served with fries and mac and cheese. Simple, but delicious.
Both Joe and Marc had expressed an interest in another new game called Gallactic Cruise. We didn’t get this to the table until close to 9:00 pm. Rule teach was quite long. We did not finish the game, but we learned the rules well enough that we knew this was a good game and would make it to the table in the future.
After breakfast time on Saturday morning, a group of folks wanted to try SETI. I enlisted the help of Kris to help teach the game. I also stayed close by to help answer any questions that might come up. It turned out not to be one of my better decisions. As a result of this, I lost a good portion of the day when I should have been gaming. I should have tried to get another game going at a table in the same room. Oh well.
This took us to mid to late afternoon. I stupidly bypassed getting into a game of Wingspan. It wasn’t until about 7 pm that I finally played a game. I played Mystic Vale for the second time and did even worse than the first time. Still like the game.
It was late, but a few of us were still awake, and I was glad they suggested another game of Planet Unknown. Again, I showed my gaming skills. Guess what place I came in?
When Sunday rolls around, I get up, have my morning coffee, and read the paper online. Then it’s time to pack up and head home.
I feel so blessed that I’m included in this weekend. This is one of 2 times a year where playing a lot of games over a short period is possible. Thanks to everyone for you kindness and understanding. I hopefully look forward to being invited again next year.
