4/5/2023 – Berkshire Gamers Session Report #23-14
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(led by Drew) A modern classic from 2004 by Friedemann Friese. The original, called Funkenschlag, was similar to a Crayon Rails type game, drawing electrical networks on a map. This second edition (currently ranked #55 of all games on BoardGameGeek) tightened up the game and standardized the routes between cities. Power Grid brings together different mechanisms (auctions for power plants, route building of the electrical network between cities, and a wonderful fluctuating commodities bourse) to create a great game of connecting cities and providing them with power by having thet fuel to power the plants you own in order to collect money.
(led by Sean) In this 2022 tile laying game, you are a wizard growing a shared garden of magical plants with your rivals. Each turn, you choose one of the patch tiles from your hand and add it to the growing garden. You can then activate the added tile for its dynamic “plant” power. As the fields expand, you strategically deploy your sprites to gain control of more and more of the fantastic flora to score via area control at the end of the game. Manipulate the garden’s growth, gather magical gems, and deploy your team of loyal sprites to repel your competition and be in control of the most valuable fields when the garden is complete!
Villagers (led by Tim) 2019 tableau building game of drafting chains of villagers as well as solitary ones to earn the most gold at first market and end of game The theme: “In the aftermath of the Black Death, hundreds of people have taken to the road, looking for new opportunities and places to call their own. As the founder of a brand new village, it falls to you to welcome the best workers into the fold, or perhaps retrain those with esoteric capabilities to become laborers to support your town’s more skilled vocation”.
Steam Up (led by Sean) This 2023 release is a competitive set collection and action management game of eating the best meal of Dim Sum. At the beginning of the game, steamers, filled with different types of Dim Sum, are stacked and placed on a Turntable. Each player takes turns performing actions in order to purchase Dim Sum in Steamers within their Feast Zone. The game ends when a specific number of Steamers is purchased or the Fate deck is emptied. The player with the most Hearty Points wins and leaves the table with the fullest stomach!
(led by Sean) 2004 retheme of the 2000 game Trendy by Dr. Reiner Knizia. Players play cards from their hand representing various animals in a race. When as many cards for an animal have been played by all players as the number on that animal’s cards, that animal has won the race. Players who played cards of that name save them for scoring at the end of the hand. All other played cards are discarded. the Star animal cards are worth 2 cards of their number, while the Loser animal cards clear all face up animal cards in the current round. Played over multiple hands until one player gets 100 points or as many hands have been played as there are players.
(led by Drew) A 2010 cooperative game from Matt Leacock (of Pandemic fame) where everyone must work together to keep the Island from sinking until the players can gather 4 treasures and escape the island together via the helicopter waiting for them. Each player has a character with a special ability, allowing them to break the rules in a specific way. With an incredible production (boxed in a tin, with plastic treasures, wooden player pieces, and colorful tiles and cards), low price (under $20), and rules that just about anyone can pick up in minutes, this game is a staple in game groups everywhere.
(led by Sean) This 2015 game uses marbles and an inclined dispenser to recreate the popular digital “match 3′ style game in an analog board game. You are a student taking your final exam in potions class. Your job is to demonstrate your expertise brewing potions from the 4 available ingredients to get the highest score on the test out of all of your classmates. You take one marble from the dispenser each round. If marbles of the same color hit together the ingredients explode and you can take them too. Plan ahead and chain together strings of same color marbles hitting to collect lots of ingredients to brew the most valuable potions. You can also use the potions you brew to help you along the way. Another game with great production values and table presence.
(led by Tim) 2022 tile drafting game where you draft and add tiles to your city spreading both out and upward, building housing, temples, markets, gardens and barracks, so you can grow your city and ensure it triumphs over the others. Raise its prestige with harmonious planning that conforms to specific rules, and enhance it by building plazas. Quarries allow one to build higher up, increasing the value of your districts and scoring VPs as well as earning stones used to draft more tiles of your choosing.. Simple play procedure of drafting a tile, placing it in your city and scoring points at the end make this very accessible..
9 Gamers on April 5th at Purple Dragon Games. Welcome to Tony and Rachel on their first session, and welcome back to James and Cricket Our April 12 session will be a special one: honoring the recently deceased game author of Catan, Klaus Teuber. https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/146085/klaus-teuber-designer-catan-dies-age-70 https://gizmodo.com/settlers-of-catan-klaus-teuber-death-catan-studios-1850297952 We will play Settlers of Catan and possibly some…
9 Gamers on April 5th at Purple Dragon Games. Welcome to Tony and Rachel on their first session, and welcome back to James and Cricket Our April 12 session will be a special one: honoring the recently deceased game author of Catan, Klaus Teuber. https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/146085/klaus-teuber-designer-catan-dies-age-70 https://gizmodo.com/settlers-of-catan-klaus-teuber-death-catan-studios-1850297952 We will play Settlers of Catan and possibly some…