10/09/2024 – Berkshire Gamers Session Report #24-41
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by BerkshireGamers
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6 at UNO Community Center in North Adams for a night honoring the games of Peter McPherson.
Welcome to Alex on his first visit (and thanks to Nicole for referring him to the group).
The theme for our October 16 session is ‘Everything Old is New Again” – games with legs that may have gone out of print and then had new versions released. Some may have reached ‘classic’ status (been in print for 25+ years). Expect to play from among: Ra, Castles of Burgundy, Acquire, Take 5, Thunder Road, Cosmic Encounter, Ave Caesar, Fjords, Port Royal, NY Slice, Through the Desert, Suburbia, For Sale, Medici, Take It Easy, Agricola, 7 Wonders, Can’t Stop, Stone Age, Puerto Rico, Zoo Vadis/QuoVadis, DownForce/Top Race, Bazaar … and more (or way less)
IN: Steve, Sean, Armando, Tim, Matt, Reimi, Amy & Ethan, Chris, Tony, Anna, Nicole, Alex, Rob, Kelsey, Peter
ON OUR TABLES:
Tiny Towns 4x (led by Peter/Chris/Nicole) 2019 drafting and pattern building game. Each player’s town is represented by a 4×4 grid on which resource cubes are determined by that turn’s Mayor and are then placed in everyone’s towns. Each type of building has a specific layout for construction and earns VPs and scores victory points (VPs) in a unique way. Players also have their own private objective. When no player can place any more resources or construct any buildings, the game ends, VPs are totaled and any squares without a building are penalized 1 VP. For one play, a micro expansion that introduced “underground” buildings, which can hold a resource cube on their spaces as if they were empty was employed.
Wormholes (led by Peter/Armando) 2022 puzzle pick up and deliver game where players collect passengers from planets, each of whom have specific destinations they aim to reach. However, this pick-up-and-deliver process can be quite different once you establish wormholes between different points of the galaxy — and like any good business, your service can be used by other players…at the cost of a few points. Peter introduced the “Low-Luck Variant” – this variant puts a small twist on the way players get passengers.
Fit to Print (led by Sean) 2023 newspaper layout game played over 3 turns (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). We played the team version with 8 players in 4 teams of 2. Each team consisted of a reporter who gathers stories in 3 varieties and multiple shapes as well as photos and advertisements and an Editor, who puzzles out the layout subject to specific rules. Players simultaneously collect newspaper tiles, stacking them on their desks until they think they have what they need to make the perfect front page. Then, they will yell “Layout!” and begin to lay out the page by carefully considering the placement of centerpieces, articles, photographs, and advertisements. When everything is just right, they yell “Print” to be the first off the press and gain their choice of centerpiece for the next round! This hectic spatial puzzle features over 100 unique newspaper tiles, 6 characters with their own special abilities, as well as 3 decks of Breaking News cards — so that each and every time you play you will be solving a new puzzle! There is a twist however, as the paper with the least ad revenue goes bust.
Hotel Greene 2x (led by Peter) 2024 light card game prototype awaiting imminent publisher contract. It is about about building hotels with a shifting market of rooms. Players can take a room from the market and place it on the corresponding floor of their hotel, but when the market refills all rooms shift downward and can now be placed on different floors. Thanks to all who assisted Peter in providing very useful feedback.
Splendor (led by Armando) 2014 award winning game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, shops—all in order to acquire the most prestige points. If wealthy enough, players might even receive a visit from a noble at some point, which will further increase their prestige.
Patzcuaro (led by Sean) 2022 set collection and hand management card game that features the rondel mechanic. Players immerse themselves in a cultural Mexican celebration, competing with neighbors to fashion the most captivating family altar—a pyramid of cards adorned with cherished mementos. They will venture around the city, visiting various shops to gather essential items. Each shop trades cards in a unique way, adding depth to choices. After navigating the bustling city streets, players return to their altars and place cards to create a poignant tribute.
Steve
6 at UNO Community Center in North Adams for a night honoring the games of Peter McPherson. Welcome to Alex on his first visit (and thanks to Nicole for referring him to the group). The theme for our October 16 session is ‘Everything Old is New Again” – games with legs that may have gone out…
6 at UNO Community Center in North Adams for a night honoring the games of Peter McPherson. Welcome to Alex on his first visit (and thanks to Nicole for referring him to the group). The theme for our October 16 session is ‘Everything Old is New Again” – games with legs that may have gone out…