Game Night #27 and August's Player of the Month Named

Glenn makes a dramatic return to game night, by nabbing the top player spot for all of August! Congratulations!

Players of Months Past: Hunter (July)
Zeb (June)
Mark M. (May)
Mark M. (April)
Kat (March)
John (February)

Attendees: Mark M., Glenn, Lana, Ethan and Joey (Zeb stopped by for a bit too)

Previous Overall Standings:
Glenn 7
Zeb 4
Hunter 1
James 1
Jarrod 0
Adam 0
Mark M. -1
Joey -1
Mark K. -3
Tanner -4
Porter -4

This Event's Standings:
Mark M. 6
Joey 3
Glenn 2
Ethan -2
Ithaqua -3
Lana -6

August's Overall Standings:
Glenn 9
Mark M. 5
Zeb 4
Joey 2
Hunter 1
James 1
Jarrod 0
Adam 0
Ethan -2
Mark K. -3
Ithaqua -3
Tanner -4
Porter -4
Lana -6

What a night! Five games played! We started off with our usual game of Pirate's Dice. It was a really strange game of Pirate's Dice. The rolls, bids and calls were all very unusual. However, little by little we whittled each other down, Lana got knocked out and Glenn and I went at each other for the win. I had two dice remaining while Glenn was down to a single die. It played out to my favor and I took the win.
Pirate's Dice Standings: Joey 2, Glenn 0, Lana -2

We then played a game that was new to Ethan and I; Quelf. This is a game that promotes hilarity, chaos and situations that would never occur under normal circumstances. Very fun! Ethan and Lana kept getting bum dice rolls, while Glenn and I rolled exceptionally. Mark M. kept getting cards that kept him from talking. He took a vow of silence to keep himself from being constantly penalized. As the game progressed toward the end, it came down to a couple of endurance rounds of coming up with unending lists of "ways to unwrap a gift" for Glenn and "film directors" for me. It was destiny. I might as well had drawn a card that read "what it's like to be Joey".
Quelf Standings: Joey 4, Glenn 1, Mark M. 1, Ethan -2, Lana -4

We then settled in to battle a Great Old One (Ithaqua) in Arkham Horror; with the Curse of the Dark Pharoah expansion. The game progressed as expected in a game of Arkham Horror. A little later on, we realized that we had sealed four gates and that we were pretty close to winning. Then the game spat once last, vile gasp at us as we sealed the sixth gate; thus banishing Ithaqua to his continued state of slumber. Sorry, I get all "adjective-y" discussing Lovecraft and Arkham Horror. It rubs off.
Arkham Horror Standings: Mark M. 3, Glenn 1, Joey -1, Ithaqua -3

With a little bit of time left, Glenn chose Hey! That's My Fish! With an average set up and quick rules explanation, we were soon hopping ice floes and gathering fish. It was a quick rush to grab the three-fish floes and then it started getting cutthroat. I thought I was pretty safe, as it seemed that Glenn and Mark M. were going after each other. Then I found myself having to make a few kill or be killed decisions. Finally, we were all left to our own floes and the fish tallies came in. Glenn had gathered an insane amount of fish.
Hey! That's My Fish! Standings: Glenn 2, Mark M. 0, Joey -2

As the last game of the night, Glenn chose For Sale. It was a very shrewed game of For Sale. I made some very rash bids int he first half of the game and it cost me later (see below). As the second round played out, I made some killer bids. I felt redeemed and assured of victory. The scores came out as a tie for first place with Mark M. winning the tie by having ONE MORE COIN than me! I shouldn't have wasted $$ on some of those early bids. Gaaaaahhh!
For Sale Standings: Mark M. 2, Joey 0, Glenn -2

August was a great month, with a lot of players gracing the tables. Thanks everyone for coming over and we'll see you in September; when it is Glenn's pick!

Images by Chris Norwood and Joey Belanger

Game Night #26

Attendees: Mark M.*, James, Glenn, Adam, Mark K.* and Joey

Previous Overall Standings:
Mark M. 7
Zeb 4
Hunter 1
Jarrod 0
Joey -4
Tanner -4
Porter -4

This Event's Standings:
Glenn 7
Joey 3
James 1
Adam 0
Mark K. -3
Mark M. -8

August's Overall Standings:
Glenn 7
Zeb 4
Hunter 1
James 1
Jarrod 0
Adam 0
Mark M. -1
Joey -1
Mark K. -3
Tanner -4
Porter -4

Big night, tonight; we started off with Pirate's Dice while we waited for the others to show up. This was Adam's first time playing. Adam went out first as he kept getting stuck with "the bubble"; the gray area of probable deceit. James went out next due to some great rolls by Mark M. and Glenn. Then, little by little, Mark M. and Glenn whittled each other down to one dice each and it was Glenn that took it all.
Pirate's Dice Standings: Glenn 3, Mark M. 1, James -1, Adam -3

When it seemed that no one else would show, Mark M. picked Pirate's Cove. Thus far a pirate themed night. For the first half of the game, I couldn't get to an island by myself. I was constantly finding myself at Loser Island, er... Pirate's Cove. The second half of the game, I happened to find isolated islands to plunder. When it came down to the last turn, Mark M., Adam and I rushed Treasure Island to take out The Flying Dutchman and managed to send him back to Davy Jones' locker. Thus securing the lead for Adam. Adam turned out to be the most famous pirate.
Pirate's Cove Standings: Adam 4, Glenn 1, James 1, Joey -2, Mark M. -4

Lastly, Mark chose Formula De and we settled on a two-lapper in Monaco. There was an inordinate amount of bumping with no body damage throughout the first half of the first lap. Then Mark M. started taking body damage from everyone and Mark M. blew up right near the three-stop turn. Something happened to Mark K. and he fell to the back as Adam, James and Glenn shuffled around in the middle. I had the lead for the majority of the race, but I wasted all of my fuel in the first lap and was forced to play a little more conservatively the second lap. I still managed to cross the finish line first.
Formula De Standings: Joey 5, Glenn 3, James 1, Adam -1, Mark K. -3, Mark M. -5

So with an impressive single-showing Glenn is at the top of the leader board and has his pick of what games to play next week. See you there!

*In all posts prior to "Game Night #26", Mark M. is listed as Mark.

Images by George McGrath, Gary James and Joey Belanger.

Game Night #25

Attendees: Mark, Zeb, Porter, Tanner, Hunter and Joey

Previous Overall Standings:
Mark 3
Zeb 1
Joey 0
Jarrod 0
Hunter 0
Tanner -1
Porter -3

This Event's Standings:
Mark 4
Zeb 3
Hunter 1
Porter -1
Tanner -3
Joey -4

August's Overall Standings:
Mark 7
Zeb 4
Hunter 1
Jarrod 0
Joey -4
Tanner -4
Porter -4

We opened with our usual "waiting for everyone else" game, Pirate's Dice. I started losing dice quickly, but was able to slow my descent as everyone else caught up to me. Then I sank to Davy Jones' locker like I had grape shot in my pockets. Hunter was next to go. Tanner and Porter picked at each other for a bit, but it was Tanner that prevailed.
Pirate's Dice Standings: Tanner 3, Porter 1, Hunter -1, Joey -3

Once everyone was here, Mark picked Shadows Over Camelot. With six players it was very likely that there was a traitor in our midst. The traitor scrutiny first was focused on Zeb, then Mark; then Porter, Tanner and Hunter at the same time.
For nearly the entire game, we were in deep trouble. This was most assuredly not an easy game of Shadows. Things went from peachy to hopeless very quickly and stayed there. Finally a ray of hope and we managed to get eight white swords on the Round Table, with six black swords as well. I felt as if there, miraculously, hadn't been a traitor; until Hunter revealed his true intentions and sunk the game for us and claimed victory for himself.
Shadows Over Camelot Standings: Hunter 5, Tanner -1, Porter -1, Joey -1, Zeb -1, Mark -1

With very little time left, we decided to play a single-board (Maelstrom) game of RoboRally. We only selected one flag and with six players, the game was deadly/fast. In only two turns, there was pushing, lasers ablaze, robots flying off the board and one turn after that and Mark had already tagged the flag.
RoboRally Standings: Mark 5, Zeb 3, Joey 1, Porter -1, Hunter -3, Tanner -5

People started to leave and Zeb asked me what Elkfest was. It's such a short game that how could I resist not showing him it. The game started going as it usually does. We only had one wet moose (mine) and Zeb got his three penalty shots. Towards the end of the game, I was clearly a turn ahead of Zeb. But then something happened. Zeb's moose kept moving towards his goal and mine did not. Zeb cleared the gap and won the game.
Elkfest Standings: Zeb 1, Joey -1

It looks like it is Mark's pick next week. See you there!

Game Night #24

Attendees: Mark, Zeb, Jarrod, Porter, Tanner, Hunter and Joey

Previous Overall Standings:
Hunter 7
Joey 6
Mark 3
Brent 1
Jarrod 0
Tanner -2
Jose -3
Zeb -4
Porter -8

This Event's Standings:
Mark 3
Zeb 1
Joey 0
Jarrod 0
Hunter 0
Tanner -1
Porter -3

August's Overall Standings:
Mark 3
Zeb 1
Joey 0
Jarrod 0
Hunter 0
Tanner -1
Porter -3

We divided into two groups tonight; one playing RoboRally and the other playing Tide of Iron.

Unfortunately, I am unable to fill you in on all of the details from the RoboRally game. I, however, took quite a few pictures and hope that you will accept this as an acceptable retelling of the game. I did receive the placement of each player and watched as Mark and Zeb simultaneously tagged the last flag and the second to the last flag in the same card phase. I listened on as Porter's last robot was eliminated and Tanner's as well. If one of the RoboRally players would care to flesh out some of the details in the comments, please do. Feel free to embellish, I always do.
RoboRally Standings: Mark 3, Zeb 1, Tanner -1, Porter -3



























I did participate in the game of Tide of Iron on the other table. We decided to play the last scenario in the scenario book. I played the side of the Americans. Hunter and Jarrod co-played the Germans. This scenario was slow-going. We spent the entire session getting to the end of the fourth turn. After Porter was eliminated from RoboRally, I took him on as a team-mate. Porter and I managed to take the first pillbox and were diverting toward the second when we decided to call it a draw. We clearly had the advantage for the moment, but the Germans were about to receive a crazy amount of reinforcements. It was still anyone's game.
Tide of Iron Standings: Jarrod 0, Joey 0, Hunter 0, Porter 0

So with a bit of lead, it is Mark's pick next week. See you there!

Game Night #23 and July's Player of the Month Named

In his first month of attending game night, Hunter attains the much sought after Player of the Month! Congratulations, Hunter!!

Players of Months Past: Zeb (June)
Mark (May)
Mark (April)
Kat (March)
John (February)

Attendees: Mark and Joey

Previous Overall Standings:
Hunter 7
Joey 5
Mark 4
Brent 1
Jarrod 0
Tanner -2
Jose -3
Zeb -4
Porter -8

This Event's Standings:
Joey 1
Mark -1

July's Overall Standings:
Hunter 7
Joey 6
Mark 3
Brent 1
Jarrod 0
Tanner -2
Jose -3
Zeb -4
Porter -8

Mark arrived first and we decided to play Lost Cities until any others might arrive. In the first round, Mark committed himself heavily to a couple of expeditions and hadn't begun to lay too many cards down yet. I found myself in the position of ending the round early and not getting many points, but sticking Mark with a heap of negative points. It worked. From there, we nearly remained equidistant in score for the entirety of the game. Mark worked his way in to the positive and by the end of the third round it was I that had won.
Lost Cities Standings: Joey 1, Mark -1

No one else showed, so we played another two-player game. Wings of War: Burning Drachens. Mark took the side of the Germans and I played a French pilot. After an initial head-on pass at each other, we began to circle each other. And, as if our minds were synced, we kept choosing the same maneuvers and for a while got no closer to each other; mirroring each other in the sky. Except for that collision, that seriously damaged Mark's plane and left me nearly unscathed. A few more shots at each other and Mark's plane went down in a trail of black smoke.
Wings of War: Burning Drachens Standings: Joey 1, Mark -1

Lastly, we played Formula De. We decided on two cars each and it was a very interesting race. I played the blue team and Mark the green. We chose a two-lapper in Holland. For the first half of the race, we were bookended in the pole-positioning. Mark had a lead car, my two cars were in the middle and Mark's other car was tailing. Then it flip-flopped; where Mark's team was in the middle, then back again. Finally, my front car broke away and in order to keep my lead I decided not to pit-in. Bad decision. This limited all of my decisions for the second lap and that car ended up coming in last place. Mark, who's cars were not nearly as bad off as mine, was able to zoom past in the last two turns and scream across the finish line.
Formula De Standings: Mark 1, Joey -1

So there you have it, Hunter it is still your turn to decide next week. See you then!

Images by Ted Alspach and Joe Belanger.

Game Night #22

A great showing tonight. Many people and a real tense game of Formula De.

Attendees: Mark, Tanner, Hunter, Porter, Jarrod and Joey

Previous Overall Standings:
Mark 5
Jarrod 2
Hunter 1
Brent 1
Joey 0
Tanner -2
Jose -3
Zeb -4

This Event's Standings:
Hunter 6
Joey 5
Tanner 0
Mark -1
Jarrod -2
Porter -8

July's Overall Standings:
Hunter 7
Joey 5
Mark 4
Brent 1
Jarrod 0
Tanner -2
Jose -3
Zeb -4
Porter -8

As has become standard, we started out with Pirate's Dice while we waited for people to show up. Porter, Tanner, Hunter and Jarrod had not played it before. Porter and Tanner were knocked out quick. Tanner's elimination was due to his kindness of letting my son be on his team and my son is very quick to call people's bluffs. Then the two titans went head-to-head. Both Jarrod and Hunter had not lost hardly any dice. It came down to Hunter with two dice and Jarrod with one and Hunter prevailed.
Pirate's Dice Standings: Hunter 3, Jarrod 1, Tanner -1, Porter -3

Mark then selected Formula De for the game of the night. I love Formula De with a lot of people/cars. The track is SO crowded and the game becomes more tense. We played a two-lap race, in Monaco; and for the better part of the first lap, Mark and I had the lead with Tanner in a solid last. As the second lap played out, Tanner moved up to the middle of the pack, Porter exploded, and Mark dropped to last. Mark fought to catch up as Hunter and I edged toward the finish line. I managed to cross the line a bit before Hunter. Tanner claimed third place as Mark and Jarrod collided into each other, causing Jarrod's car to explode. Mark took fourth. The first game of Formula De that I played was kind of boring compared to this one. The leader was a foregone conclusion, but this game was far more compelling.
Formula De Standings: Joey 5, Hunter 3, Tanner 1, Mark -1, Jarrod -3, Porter -5

With a decisive lead, it is Hunter's pick next week! So what's it going to be Hunter?

Images by Chris Norwood and Joe Belanger.

Game Night #21

Nice turnout tonight, three games played; it was my pick tonight and I was in the mood to race!

Attendees: Mark, Brent, Tanner, Zeb, Hunter and Joey

Previous Overall Standings:
Joey 3
Jarrod 2
Hunter 2
Mark -1
Tanner -3
Jose -3

This Event's Standings:
Mark 6
Brent 1
Tanner 1
Hunter -1
Joey -3
Zeb -4

July's Overall Standings:
Mark 5
Jarrod 2
Hunter 1
Brent 1
Joey 0
Tanner -2
Jose -3
Zeb -4

As people started to arrive we played a quick game of Pirate's Dice. Brent had never played before and Mark had only played when we were playing incorrectly. That being said Mark caught on to the new rules quickly. No one player dominated the game. We all had one or two dice at the end. I was eliminated first. Then Brent and Mark went at each other with one dice each.
Pirate's Dice Standings: Mark 2, Brent 0, Joey -2

After that a good sized mob was here and I hadn't played Formidable Foes in a while and it had been a long time since I'd played with more than three people. As the game progressed, Mark had a huge pile of Power Tokens and Zeb and Tanner kept passing the Dumbest Player Award back and forth (I'm not being a snot here, that is actually part of the game). When the end of the game drew near, it was a race to grab up what could be had. I was sure it was going to be close, but I thought that I had eeked out the victory. Nope, Mark squeezed by (by one point!) for the win.
Formidable Foes Standings: Mark 4, Joey 2, Tanner 0, Brent -2, Zeb -4

We had an hour or so left and I still wanted to get my race on, so I picked Mississippi Queen. Fairly standard game of Mississippi Queen: bumping, burning coal, regret, dramatic crashes, et al. I was clearly in second place as the race neared the end and I realized that I needed to do something drastic in order to win. By drastic, I mean burning all of my coal and crashing into the side of the river, one hex from the finish line... whoops. Brent managed to plan a little better and swooped in for the victory with Tanner finishing right behind him. Hunter was picking up his last Belle at the time and was wondering what all of the ruckus was down-river.
Mississippi Queen's Standings: Brent 3, Tanner 1, Hunter -1, Joey -3

With a enormous lead in the standings, it is Mark's pick next week. See you there!

Images by Jorg Kuck, Chris Norwood and Joey Belanger