Strategicon: Gamex 2012 Day 2

Today's games at the convention were MUCH better and way more strategic. When I first arrived I spent some time at the flea market and was able to pick up NinjaBurger for Caleb as he liked it. I then went right into some events.

ENDEAVOR: I picked up this game at SaltCon but have never played it, so I went to a "Gaming 101" session to learn how to play it, then I played in the tournament. It is a very elegant game requiring balance and timing, much like Egizia. You are in Europe and acquire buildings that give you abilities to contribute to colonizing and adding to shipping lanes to reach other regions such as North America, the Indies, etc. As you do so you increase in your ability to build, increase population, wealth and prestige. There are a variety of mechanics and strategies to gain victory points. Very strategic with interesting decisions, I was enthralled. I made it to the finals of the tournament, but then got bombed by greater competition and came in 4th again. I can't wait to play this again.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: I absolutely loved the TV series and heard great things about the game, but have never been able to get a group together to play it fully. This was the opportunity. It takes a few hours to play, and is a great cooperative game with a traitor element.You play a character from the series, and have to overcome a variety of crisis, fight off cylon ship attacks, and jump the fleet to get closer to Kobol. And do that with 1-2 cyclons hiding among you and trying to thwart your efforts. There are great mechanics in the game by which all contribute skill cards to overcome the crisis, but cyclons can add the wrong cards without revealing who they are. In our game the humans (I was one) had a fairly easy time with the crisis, and it seemed the game was in hand even when the cyclons were revealed. But then it went downhill without the traitors really doing much Galactica was destroyed before they could make the final jump. This game is not for everyone, but great with the right crowd that is invested. I own the game and can't wait to play again.

I played Starbuck and am in the Viper with a red disk underneath to the rear of Galactica.

The FTL drive was damaged (front of the ship) and kept us from jumping.

TOBAGO: I love this game and think it is genius in its design, so we checked it out of the game library and I taught it to Nate & Tyler. We had a good time and it played well, they seemed to enjoy it. No game is ever the same so it stays fresh.

RA: Another game I own but have not played and have wanted to. One of the Startegicon staff taught it to us, and game designer Tom Jolley joined us. Ra is an auction game of tile collection for sets. The cool part is the auction and the sun tiles you use, it plays very smoothly and easily. I like the design (Reiner Knizia) and would definitely play it again.

Played some great games today, and even had the opportunity to chat for about 20 minutes with game designer Richard Borg and he gave me some tips and how to deal with publishers.