26 at the UNO Park Community Center in North Adams on 7 tables, for an evening of games played mostly on neoprene play mats. (11 of the 14 games played were on neoprene play mats and led by a dozen different table leaders)

Imhotep (led by Tim) 2016 Phil Walker-Harding (Cacao, Sushi Go, Super Mega Lucky Box, Barenpark) design where players become builders in Egypt, wanting to emulate the first and best-known architect there, namely Imhotep.Over six rounds, wooden stones are carried by boat to create five monuments and players choose among four actions: Procure new stones, load stones on a boat, bring a boat to a monument, or play an action card.

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. On turn, players may (1) collect chips (gems), or (2) buy and build a card, or (3) reserve one card. If you collect chips, you take either three different kinds of chips or two chips of the same kind. If you buy a card, you pay its price in chips and add it to your playing area. To reserve a card—in order to make sure you get it, or, why not, your opponents don’t get it—you place it in front of you face down for later building; this costs you a round, but you also get gold in the form of a joker chip, which you can use as any gem. All of the cards you buy increase your wealth as they give you a permanent gem bonus for later buys; some of the cards also give you prestige points. In order to win the game, you must reach 15 prestige points before your opponents do. 

Can’t Stop (led by Tony)  1980 Sid Sackson push your luck classic dice game where players roll four d6 and pair them off to advance their pawns, claiming columns on a stop-sign shaped board.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/41/cant-stop

Pirates of Maracaibo (led by Matt) 2023 multi-use card game where over three rounds players are sailing the Caribbean, hiring crew, allying with other ships, amassing treasure and hopefully retiring to a secluded island as revered pirates.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/397385/pirates-of-maracaibo

The Pursuit of Happiness (led by K-ban/Zach)  2015 worker placement game, where players take a character from birth to old age and live the life they always wanted. Workers, represented by wooden hourglasses are TIME, as your workers take on projects, get jobs, buy items/activities and establish relationships. By game’s end whoever has the most long-term happiness points wins, but everyone has created a life…well spent?  One of the most thematic worker placement games. Think of it as ‘The Game of LIfe’ as a eurogame.

Century Golem Edition (led by Tony) 2017 re-themed version of Century: Spice Road set in the world of Caravania. Each turn, players perform one of four actions:

Welcome to….Your Perfect Home (led by Danny) 2018 flip and write….can easily handle 2-6 players. Best with laminated score sheets and wipe-off markers to enable players to see their fences and house #’s, as players try to make the highest scoring 1950’s neighborhood. One of the most engaging roll & write games.  

Flamecraft (led by Anna) 2022 worker placement game where players take on the role of Flamekeepers, gathering items, placing dragons and casting enchantments to enhance the shops of the town. Dragons are specialized (bread, meat, iron, crystal, plant and potion) and the Flamekeepers know which shops are the best home for each. Visit a shop to gain items and a favor from one of the dragons there. Gathered items can be used to enchant a shop, gaining reputation and the favors of all the dragons in the shop. 

Villagers (led by Sean)  2019 card drafting and engine-building game. Players recruit villagers and build their tableau each round, making tactical decisions to optimise production chains and earn points. There are many expansions in the box that need to be explored in future sessions.

MLEM : Space Agency (led by Tim) Reiner Knizia’s 2023 push your luck family exploration board game featuring CATS in space. Players step into the shoes of fearless captains of cosmic expeditions. These intrepid felines have long conquered the Earth with their unmatched bravery, and now they’ve set their sights on conquering the entire cosmos. Players take the helm of a cosmic rocket, reach for the stars, and trust their cat instincts to decide when to bail out before things go up in flames. Fame and admiration from the entire meowing world await the most exceptional leader of the feline space agency. The board is a huge playmat with feline decorations.

Middle Ages (led by Armando)  2024 set collection and drafting game played over 16 rounds that reimagines Mark Andre’s (Splendor) “Majesty: For the Realm”, using the drafting system that was popularized in KingDomino with interlocking tiles instead of cards. Players draft  fields, farms, villages, forts, markets, barracks, churches, and palaces. Each tile features its own scoring system as well as income, yet is linked to others. Players can see available rows of tiles to draft, as well as events 3 turns ahead.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/403754/middle-ages

Knarr (led by Chris) 2023 race, set collection and drafting card game.  Players are leaders of a band of Vikings that are sent to new destinations. Manage the recruitment of your crew, and choose the best territories to explore. Depending on the destinations reached (for trading or influence) and the Vikings who accompany you, players can increase their reputation to gain even more wealth. On each turn players either place a new member in their Viking crew, activate the effects of all of them with the same icon, and get another one from those available under the matching color on the central board, or they can explore new destinations, with the opportunity to trade with those places and get more gains or reputation.

Steve