We are moving…

And as we all know, moving stuff, is a b*tch. Especially when the games need to go and our current house gets emptied out. About 120 games of our collection went already up north for some longer storage at a safe space, but we kept our Essen haul games for the moments we can find to play a game. Which, we expect for the coming four weeks, will sadly be few up until the moment we are finished moving after Christmas.

At this moment, don’t expect too much games actual games being played, but we will try to show of some of the Essen games we got and share our images with you all. We naturally do plan to play and try to review some games, if the table won’t get moved or sold in the meantime that is, but consistency will be something to work on for 2018!

We will be staying at our temporary shelter (read, at the in-laws) for most of 2018, so let’s see how that will play out. We do expect to have more play time there and also more available players outside our couples game nights. That sounds pleasant.

Planned to play

Carthago, Santa Maria, The Expanse, Import/Export, Dragon Castle, Democracy Under Siege and Wir Sind Das Volk are at the top of the pile at the moment. Maybe added with some smaller games like Claim and Tybor the Builder.

Rule books

With the huge pile of new games, there is also the mandatory rule book reading and looking for clear and telling playthroughs on them. As we are very visual and process minded, maybe we can give you our view on the quality of the rule books from our perspective and add a few suggestions on what we think are worthwhile options? Will set some criteria and will report back next week and would love to hear suggestions from you!

New snags, backed kickstarters and some on the contemplation

• GLOOMHAVEN arrived! Finally we can join the experience which brought this game to the number 3 position on the Boardgamegeek ranks. We are ecstatic to get this to the table, but also scared what it will eat up on time.
• Space Race: Interkosmos expansion. As huge fans of the base game, we jumped in instantly on the new expanse of the possibilities Interkosmos will bring. We wish Jan and his team a great run and hope they can add a lot of extra content! Check out Richard Ham’s (Rahdo) talk through for some looks.
• ROOT: A game of Woodland Might & Right The new game from the hand of Cole Wehrle and published by the people who brought us Vast: The Crystal caverns, Leder Games. The very fanciful artwork, which disguises a COIN like war game, and the very asynchronous way of play pulled us towards backing this. We are still on the fence though. While we do like the ideas this will bring, the contradiction is that due to the asynchronous we think it will take more plays to get used to every different creatures. And with our recent steps towards a more historic grounded game preferences, we may want to go for a full COIN experience instead. Still something to chew on and we must be hasty, with only some days left for the campaign.

Last weeks photo doodles and some family games

Import / Export by Dark Flight Games

Inspired by one of the most wanted grail games out there, Glory to Rome, Jordan Draper had an idea and brought us this fabulous multi use role selection card game themed around the shipments of a huge variety of goods. The game includes a bonkers amount of different unique power on the cards and will give you a new goal to achieve every game you play. It’s a heavily player interaction style of game, where every round players can follow the leader (=active player) his or her actions to influence the economy in you favor. Or at least, don’t give your competitors a too easy run for some big bucks floating out there on the open seas. Boost your company, make better contract deals and be the one grossing the most credits at the end. If you like smart games and ones that will take a little to get really good at, give this one a try.

Booo! by Blackrock Games

Rhino Hero by Haba

Gloomhaven by Cephalofair Games

Pit crew by Stronghold Games

While the driver gets all the attention, the pit crew are the unsung heroes of racing…

Pit Crew is a lightning-fast game where up to three teams of players must work together to get their race car back onto the track as quickly as possible. There are no turns in Pit Crew, as cards can be played at any time, but teams need to work together to make sure that their tires are properly replaced, fuel tank filled up, and engine repaired without making any costly mistakes. And will your team just go as fast as they can to get back out on the track? Or will you play smart and earn the Turbo Bonuses that can mean the difference between the checkered flag and last place?

Pit Crew challenges players to balance speed and skill in a fast-paced game of teamwork and communication.

We could have tried to word it better, but above description from the publisher on Boardgamegeek is exactly what Pit Crew sets out to achieve, an experience at the hands of the brave man and woman doing those 2.1 second pit stops and keeping the drivers safe.

Democracy under Siege by 4Dados

We may have been talking more about this title, but we then also really are looking forward to dig deeper in to this interesting title. A more in-depth look at this game will be featured soon on the blog and hopefully also already some initial thoughts about our first games.

Another year, a little wiser…and maybe some pizza in the end

Another page turned, another year has passed, but what a year it has been. We won’t go to personal, but you also have been a big part of my life the past 365 days and I would love to thank you all for that! Hope we can grow the hobby together and show people what board games can do to people their lives.

Love your Board game life!