I was very fortunate, once again, to be asked to join other fellow gamers for a glorious 3-1/2 day gaming weekend at a very nice house on Lake Jimmerson near Angola, IN.
This group has been doing a couple every year for the last several years. In addition to this one, they usually do one in November. I am usually not available for that one. But, I’m always content to make this one. They have probably been doing this for at least 20 years now.
Before I get into more of the gaming side, below is a short video of what the place looks like from the outside.
I arrived mid morning on Thursday. Joe and Kris were already there. They are the ones who organize the get together and always do a splendid job. There are enough beds for the 10 of us. You are responsible for your own food, except for a Friday night dinner. After that, it’s fellowship and gaming.
I have to back up and explain the games part. Everyone brings games that they might want to play. I always bring way too many, but that’s just the way I am. Below is a pic that shows the games I took. Lots of exercise to and from the basement to the car to the cottage house to the car and back again to the basement.
Take mine and add it to 9 other folks and we have a boatload of games to choose from. I should have taken a pic of that stack. I will next year if I am asked and can make it.
Stephan, Jared and Marc all were keen to play The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship. It was one of the games I brought, so I was glad to get it played. I had only played it solo, so I was looking forward to playing it with other players. Jared and Stephen had played several times before, so I knew it would be a good experience in showing how to play this game better.
The mechanics are loosely based on the Pandemic Series of games, which is one of the most successful gaming systems ever.
There is only one way to win the game, but several ways to lose it. The game came down to where we needed one more turn, which we didn’t have. Overall, a great experience. I can never see myself as knowledgeable as Stephen and Jared were in the best way to play this game. From my understanding, they played it again later in the trip and breezed to a win.
Next up for me was Video Game Champion. Andrew, O.J. and Jacod played with me. It was, like a lot of games, new to me. I did terrible, not unusual, but had fun. I’d definitely play it again, but I don’t need to own a copy. O.J. won, but Andrew and Jacod were close.
It was getting late, but O.J. agreed to play The White Castle with Jacob and me. White Castle is a underrated dice action selection with some worker placement and card collection type game. This was the 2nd year I had brought it, not being able to get it to the table last year. I was glad it finally happened. Because if flies under the radar, it’s hard to get folks to play. It is ranked #72 on BGG, which is really high.
Jacod ran away this one. Even though I felt I knew the game well, I was no match for him. O.J. was definitely as a disadvantage as it probably takes a couple of games to feel comfortable with the strategy.
With Friday morning, came a new day for gaming. Joe, Kris, Jacod, and O.J. were all keen to play The Search for Planet X. I wanted to play, but since I’d played it before, I said I would teach. They are all experienced and excellent game players, and most of the time all I had to do was explain the concept and away they went.
The Search for Planet X is a logic deduction game. You are trying to locate Planet X and you do so by researching on each turn. The game is managed by an app, and as the game progresses, the clues you obtain, help eliminate spaces where Planet X could be located. There’s nothing new in the concept, but everyone enjoyed the game. I believe Joe won the game on a tie breaker with Kris, even though Kris was the first player to guess the Planet X location.
I then got in a quick game of 7 Wonders: The Duel with Jacob. It’s a favorite of mine on BoardGameArena (BGA). This can be set up and played in less than 30 minutes if both players have played the game before. Of course, Jacod beat me.
Jacod brought out O.J.’s copy of Minigolf Designer. I had not heard of it before. Joe’s son, Sebastian, had just arrived and jumped in as the 4th player.
In this game, you are building a 9 hole mini golf course as efficiently as possible. There are around 9 or 10 different ways to score bonus points, but only if you ‘promise’ to try and achieve them. Be the best at the promise and you score bonus points. Not succeeding or being the best will cost you points and maybe even negative points.
Not having played it before, I was conservative at the promise part, which in the end cost me a lot of bonus points. I forgot who won. It was either O.J. or Jacod. Having played the game many times before helped them with what promises to make. I would consider owning this game, but a quick check on the net yielded no copies for sale.
It was group dinner time, and everyone enjoyed the grilled burgers and mac and cheese. This is always a highlight of the weekend because it may be the only time all of us are actually together in one spot.
After dinner, Andrew had requested a game of Clans of Caledonia. I had recently received my KS copy and was anxious to get it to the table. The rules aren’t difficult, but good game play is. Stephen joined us. Both are super game players. Andrew easily won the game, with Stephen in second. I was way far behind. I did enjoy it, but I’m not sure how often I will be able to get it to the table. It may be a game that goes into the sales bin.
Saturday morning was slow getting started. But Jacob finally cracked open Camping Season. I had not heard of this game also. Here’s a link to the KS Edition.
In this game, you are the manager of a campground. You’re goal is to enhance your camping locations, lure campers to you sites, and maintain the grounds and facilities in good shape.
O.J and Jacob had played before. Sebastian and I started out behind the 8 ball again. I believe O.J. won, but Jacob was a close second. Sebastian did really good for his first game and I did my usual.
I’d play it again, definitely. Not a game I need to own, however.
Some of the guys had recently taken up Pickleball and needed a 4th. So I volunteered. There was a park nearby, and Andrew, Stephen, Jared and I have a nice hour and a half diversion. It was on of the few times the whole weekend that the sun was shining, so that was a benny.
After getting back and showering to get cleaned up, Andrew was interested in playing a game of Terraforming Mars. This is one of my all time favorite games, and I will never turn down a game of this. Thank god for BGA, as I have been able to satisfy my desire to play this game via that medium.
Jared joined us for a 3 player. Jared, Andrew, and me? Obviously, you know who didn’t win. Jared pulled out a hard fought win against Andrew. God, these guys make me feel like a little child. 🙂
To end the night, Sebastian had asked to play a game of Quacks, formerly known as Quacks of Quedlingburg. Quacks is a updated version and I had purchased the all in version on Amazon a few months ago. It has been a game that I’ve been able to get some of the family members to play. Here’s a stock image of the game.
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It’s a bag builder, push your luck type of game. It’s light and just fun to play. You don’t need to burn your brain for this game.
We played one game, and Sebastion wanted to play a 2nd, with Jacob joining us for that one. It was after midnight when we finished. I was whipped and retired to bed knowing that was the last game of the weekend I would play.
Sunday rolled around. After drinking my morning coffee, it was time pack up and head on home. Before I finish, I have to share one more game that was played during the weekend.
The game is High Frontier. It’s a brain burner realistic space simuation. I have tried to play it before, but have no desire to play again. But for 3 poeple, they could not wait. After Jared, Stephen, and Marc arrived, they broke it out on our largest gaming table. On Thursday, they must have played it for at least 8 hours, taking breaks and playing other game. On Friday, they continued for maybe another 6. They finally had to break it down since the table was needed for the group dinner. I really don’t know if they finished the game. (I’ll ask and provide a f/u in the near future.)
So by 11:00 on Sunday, I was off for home. I got home in time to see a 1:00 grandson soccer game.
This gaming weekend is one of my highlights of the year. I am so thankful that the group still includes me.
Ron
