Holiday Gift Guide: Board Games

Joe - For the gamer with a dedicated gaming group

Pandemic Legacy: Season 2 by Z-Man Games

Probably my favorite gaming experience of 2017 has been gradually working my way through Season 1 of Pandemic Legacy. We’re perhaps ¾ through the campaign and we already know that Season 2 is a must buy that we’ll dive into right away. Pandemic Legacy is a fantastic way to level up your Pandemic gaming experience.  

Mike - For the 90's dino loving gamer

Dinosaur Island by Pandasaurus Games

Before I even talk about the game itself, how can you not want to buy this based on the exceptional box art alone?!? The goal of Dinosaur Island is to build a successful dinosaur theme park. A good park will include rides, attractions, and dinosaurs! Putting a T-Rex in your park will bring you some visitors, but you run the risk of it breaking out. Featuring clever worker placement mechanics, dino crafting via DNA collection, and a fun auction mechanic,  Dinosaur Island will definitely impress when it hits the table.

Mike - For the gamer who wants to test friendships

The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 by Mondo

Mondo's first excursion into the world of games is a lot of fun and drops you arctic outpost from John Carpenter's 1982 film The Thing. As you explore the outpost and battle The Thing, you also have to figure out who among the group is a human and who has been infected. Very few gaming moments are as fun as deceiving one of your friends so you can make it to the escape chopper and bring the infection to the rest of the world.

Mike - For the gamer looking for a stocking stuffer

Simon's Cat by Steve Jackson Games

At the low cost of only $6.95, Simon's Cat packs a lot of fun into a deck of 48 cards. Featuring art from the Simon's Cat YouTube cartoon (which I have never seen, but have been told about it by my kids' friends every time we play this game), Simon's Cat is a light Uno-esque card game that is a lot of fun and can be played very quickly. This is our go to game to play while we wait for food at a restaurant or want something light for a quick family game.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Microreview [board game]: The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31

Mondo, who is well known for its limited prints and stunning vinyls, is getting into the board game arena and its debut is quite impressive. The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31, puts gamers at the dreaded Arctic outpost from John Carpenter's 1982 thriller The Thing. Sticking true to the source material, players are either a human or are an imitation and the only way for humans to survive is to escape without letting any imitations on the helicopter. This is a great medium to lightweight game that works with experienced gamers or as a gateway game for new players.

Gameplay:
At its heart, The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 is a social deduction game. Inspired by games like Werewolf and The Resistance, players have to read social clues from one another to determine who you can trust and who is secretly working against you. One big difference from other social deduction games, the miniatures and the way you progress through the outpost enhance the immersion and gameplay experience. The game supports 4-8 players and takes between 1-2 hours. If you want to learn more about the rules you can watch a snazzy video featuring Elijah Wood!

Players are dealt a blood sample card to start each game to determine who is human and who is imitation. For the humans to win, players must go on missions throughout the outpost, collecting essential gear and battling the Thing. If they are able to collect the necessary gear and are successful in their battles, they enter the final escape phase. The escape phase is where this game truly shines, as the selected captain must choose who is able to ride the helicopter to freedom and who is left behind. If only humans are on board then the humans win.

Each round the captain, who rotates each turn, selects his or her team to go on a mission. The captain determines which room to explore and those selected secretly pass the captain a card to help or sabotage the mission. The captain shuffles up the cards and examines the cards to see if the mission is successful or not. Each captain has unique abilities and the option to swap cards in an attempt to help or harm the current mission.

The imitations have multiple paths to victory. By sabotaging missions, they can move the chess computer down the imitation track, destroy rooms to cause the outpost to collapse, or sneak onto the helicopter and bring about the destruction of the human race. The game seems to be skewed a bit in favor of the imitations, which is a good thing in my opinion.

The Components:
Featuring art from Justin Erickson, the board, player dashboards, cards, instructions and box are all beautiful and really enhance the player experience. The spot UV on the board looks sharp and the game insert allows for easy setup and take down. I was impressed with the quality of the sculpt of the miniatures (or movers as they are called in the orientation and regulation manual) and it is a lot of fun playing as Wilfred Brimley or MacReady. In typical Mondo fashion, a limited version of the board game debuted at Mondo Con last weekend featuring a limited print and cover art from Jock. In addition, players get two bonus missions complete with miniatures. It is limited to 1,982 copies and the remaining stock will be sold at Mondo's website at some point soon.

The Math:

Baseline Assessment: 8/10

Bonuses: +1 for attention to detail and movie references, +1 for the artwork

Penalties: -1 for repetitive missions, -1 for advantage given to imitations

Nerd Coefficient: 8/10 "well worth your time and attention"

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Tabletop Pile of Shame Update

One of my resolutions this year was to play 10 games from my pile of shame and I cannot believe that I have successfully met my goal with plenty of room to spare.  My new goal is to try and check off even more games from my pile of shame and maybe even one day clear it completely. 

In my first entry I played Abyss and Colt Express, my second entry featured Carrotia and Codenames, my third entry included Just Desserts and Machi Koro: Bright Lights, Big City, my fourth entry focused on Mice and Mystics and Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure, and my fifth and entry features 7 Wonders Duel and Dastardly Dirigibles.  

7 Wonders Duel by Repos Production - My wife was kind enough to get me this game as a Christmas gift even though she had no intention of playing it with me. I was worried that it might be a bit too much for my 10 year old son, but after playing it I was amazed at how slick this game is and how it streamlines the decision making process. 7 Wonders Duel attempts to provide a two-player experience based on the mega-hit card drafting game 7 Wonders. You are competing with a rival city to develop as much as you can over three ages. You are working towards the construction of wonders, while also cultivating a quality of life for your residents with a solid military, investment in the arts, and others. Turns are quick and simply and involve taking a card from the available area, and either purchasing it and building it in your city or cashing it in for gold. In addition to maintaining your city and working towards your wonders, you have to keep an eye on the military balance between your city and your opponents. While I wasn't blown away in my first play through, I immediately wanted to play again to mix things up. It was quick to learn, quick to setup, and offered multiple strategies on the path to victory. Definitely happy to have this in my collection and cannot wait to play it again.

Dastardly Dirigibles by Fireside Games - This is a game all about building your own steampunk blimp in order to score the most points.  Game play is extremely simple and this game makes a good filler game or one to play with non-gamer or younger players. The twist in Dastardly Dirigibles is that when you build on your airship, your opponents must build the same part if possible. This can take away from their bonus or potentially provide a bigger bonus depending on the suit. There are few "event" type cards that mix things up a bit more, but in the end this game is extremely light and quite a bit of fun.  I don't imagine it will hit my table a ton, but it will be a game that pops out from time to time depending on the group. One nice thing about each round is that you get to marvel at everyone's dirigibles as the game includes some pretty cool art.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Five Games to keep an Eye on at Gen Con

This marks the first time in a number of years that I will not be in attendance at Gen Con.  With it just one week away, I have hanging my head in sorrow thinking of the games I am going to be missing. Fortunately there is an amazing Gen Can't community for those of us who can't make the trip to Indiana. There are also some great games to keep an eye on and I am sharing five games that should be well worth your time at Gen Con.

1. Wasteland Express Delivery Service by Pandasaurus Games - I have had the good fortune to have played this game a couple of times and am thrilled that it lives up to the hype.  This pick-up and deliver game is set in a Mad Max-esque wasteland. The world has burned to the ground and competing factions are vying for control. You work for the Wasteland Express Delivery Service, a brave delivery company who deliver food, water, and weapons to and from various cities and encampments. There are a lot of moving pieces to this game, from customizing your truck for battle and keeping an eye on the supply and demand of goods, but turns are lightning quick and the gameplay is extremely intuitive. Featuring some of the best art, literally the best insert you will ever see (custom Game Trayz that make setting this game up a joy), and a good mix of humor, this game will see your table frequently and provide endless hours of entertainment for your gaming group. It is also sold out at the distributor level so this is a great chance to pick up a copy and avoid waiting for the second printing.

2. Edge of Darkness by Alderac Entertainment Group - When I first learned about Mystic Vale and its card crafting, I was convinced it was merely a gimmick. After giving the game a chance, I realized that it made for a very interesting game mechanic and allowed you to craft a deck that allowed you to cycle your new abilities much quicker than a traditional deck builder.  AEG hinted at a future game that featured this mechanic, and Edge of Darkness will be at Gen Con in one form or another and I am stoked. Featuring worker placement, card crafting, and shared deck building, Edge of Darkness puts players into powerful guilds who are attempting to rule the city. It is semi-cooperative, as guilds must work together to fight the darkness, but also are working against each other for control. Not much else is known about this title. I am not sure when the official release date is, but I am guessing that will be revealed at Gen Con and I am looking forward to learning more about this title.

3. Sheriff of Nottingham: Merry Men by Arcane Wonders - I was tickled when I learned one of my favorite party games was getting an expansion. To be honest, Sheriff hasn't seen the table in my house for a while and I am hopeful that this expansion will breath new life into it.  In Sheriff of Nottingham, you attempt to bring in legal and illegal goods to Nottingham. It sounds easy, but each bag is subject to search by the Sheriff, but you are welcome to lie and bribe your way to victory. The expansion adds deputies (bumping the max players to 6), Merry Men (illegal goods that provide special abilities when smuggled in), a black market (additional bonuses for smuggling), laws (special rules that change from round to round), and special orders (bonuses for certain combos).  While none of it sounds groundbreaking, the game is good and doesn't need anything major to breath new life into what was once a stable at game night.

4. Whistle Stop by Bezier Games - I am surprised to put another pick-up and deliver title on my list, but I have heard a lot of hype about this game and am very curious to get it to the table. Featuring tile laying and pick-up and deliver, players in Whistle Stop are working their way west, building routes and a network in order to be the most profitable railway in the US. Players are faced with choices that include delivering goods farther for a greater reward, and choosing to optimize their route or block a competitor. Trains are a tried a true gaming theme and this looks like a good game for those looking to ride the rails in a game that is heavier than Ticket to Ride.

5. Indulgence by Restoration Games - A restoration of the Milton Bradley game Dragonmaster, Indulgence is a trick taking game for 3-4 players in which players attempt to violate edicts that are established for each hand. This "sinning" allows a player to seek an indulgence to relieve their sins.  A Catholic re-skinning of a dragon themed game seems extremely odd to me, but the nuances of trying to commit the right "sin" during gameplay sounds like it could be a lot of fun.  Definitely a title I want to check out to see if it is a good fit for a lighter gaming crowd.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Tabletop Pile of Shame: New Year's Resolution Update

One of my resolutions this year was to play 10 games from my pile of shame and I cannot believe that I am writing my fourth entry for this series and am only two away from actually finishing one of my resolutions.  My pile of shame has grown every year and this is the first time I have made a concerted effort at addressing this all too common issue.

In my first entry I played Abyss and Colt Express, my second entry featured Carrotia and Codenames, my third entry included Just Desserts and Machi Koro: Bright Lights, Big City, and my latest entry includes Mice and Mystics and Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure. 

Mice and Mystics by Plaid Hat Games - Mice and Mystics is a cooperative, story based game in which you assume the roles of humans who have been turned into mice to escape from the clutches of Vanestra. Gameplay is divided into chapters, which instruct you how to set up the tiles, what miniatures you might be battling, and any special rules for that scenario.  If you are successful you advance the story and continue, if you fail then you can replay the chapter.  While my son and I haven't advanced far in the story yet, we have had an absolute blast playing the game and enjoy the cooperative dungeon crawl feel of the game.  The art and miniatures are incredibly well done, and the story is immersive and entertaining. Don't let the cute art, miniatures, and cardboard cheese fool you. This is not a children's game. While it is appropriate for younger gamers, it provides a robust experience that is a good fit with any gaming group. I look forward to seeing this hit the table in the near future and look forward to continued adventures of Filch, Maginos, Nez, and the others. With my son's help, we will stop Vanestra!

Clank! by Renegade Game Studios - I heard a lot of hype about Clank! before I was able to get it to my table and worry that it hampered my experience. While I enjoyed the game and can't wait to play it again, I didn't feel it didn't live up to the expectations that other reviews provided. Clank! is a deck building game, in which adventurers explore a dragon's cave in order to secure valuable treasure. The deeper you adventure into the cave, the more victory points you can achieve.  This is not as easy as it sounds, as once the dragon is awakened there is a mad dash to the surface and failure results in death. As you adventure you make noise or clank. When the dragon is disturbed, he attacks and the more clank you have created the more likely you will be wounded. I think I wasn't as excited about my experience as I expected is because everyone in our game made it out alive with some pretty impressive treasure. One of the aspects that I really enjoyed about this game is the multiple approaches you can take. You can try to quickly grab a treasure and escape, making noise in attempt to foil the other adventures, or you can venture as deep into the cave as possible in order to secure the most valuable treasure. Another fun element of the game is the notion of Clank! It was fun to make noise to move farther into the dungeon knowing it put you at greater risk. Drawing the clank out of the bag to see who the dragon attacked provided exciting moments that impacted how you would plan your upcoming terms. I do recommend Clank! and am looking forward to playing it again, but have other games on my shelf that I enjoy more.


POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

FIRESIDE CHAT with David Zuckman of Obscure Reference Games

Welcome to another installment of our Fireside Chats! Today's special guest is David Zuckman, the founder of Obscure Reference Games that just successfully published its first game, Overlords of Infamy.   Please join us as we talk Kickstarter and the booming boardgame industry.

What motivated you to create Overlords of Infamy and start your own board game publishing company?

As with most good ideas, Overlords of Infamy started out as a joke between friends. I had the thought that it would be hilarious to have Super Villains doing dastardly things like "Making people's socks damp", and "stealing candy from babies". I shared this with some of my close friends and we spent most of the day joking about it, coming up with more and more ideas. By the end of the day, I had a nagging idea to turn it into a game. The rest, as they say, is history.

The board game industry has been growing rapidly over the past four or five years.  How does this impact you as a game publisher and what role does a small publisher like Obscure Reference Games play?

I feel like the industry is in the best place it has been, probably ever. Right now there is nothing stopping unique and interesting ideas from smaller publishers from seeing their way to market and the general public. Avenues like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo remove a lot of the restrictions and gateways that previously held back independent designers and publishers. Many people can argue about the virtues of allowing scores of new games coming out each year, but I think it is fantastic. There is truly something available for every gamer at this point. 

I don’t think many people appreciate how much time and energy goes into creating a game.  What was the most frustrating part of the process and what advice would you give someone wanting to attempt a similar endeavor?

The most frustrating part of creating this game was finding artists that worked well for the ideas we came up with. Ultimately, we were very happy with the artists that we ended up with, but it took a lot of time and money to get to that point. I would recommend that when you are early in the process of making the game, don't worry about including intricate art. You likely only need just enough artwork to make sure your ideas are properly presented. Worry about artwork when you are closer to having a completed game and are ready to show it to strangers. 

Even though your Kickstarter was successful, what lessons did you learn from using the crowdfunding route to publish your first game?

I learned a lot about how we present our project. The artwork that we used on Kickstarter was almost entirely replaced for the final game. I am certain we would have earned even more during the campaign if we had the finalized artwork back then that we do now.  

Overlords of Infamy features a variety of gameplays, including resource management, tile laying, and worker placement.  Was it difficult to integrate all of these systems into one game?

I really thought it would be, but they honestly work really well together. I had been playing a good deal of games with similar mechanisms, so I had them fresh in my mind while designing Overlords. I am very pleased with how the mix of mechanisms flow during game play. 

I love the idea of playing as the bad guy.  It reminds me of playing Dungeon Keeper on the PC way back in the day.  What inspired you to flip the role and put the bad guys at the front and center?

I think the popularity of Grand Theft Auto, and similar games show that people in general really enjoy taking on the role of the bad guy in instances where there are no real world effects and consequences, and I am no different. It's an escape from the real world and gives a perspective that we would not get otherwise. However, the most alluring thought I had about this concept was making the Evil Overlords believe they were doing truly evil things, when in reality, most things they were doing were just simple annoyances. That just makes the entire situation hilarious to me!

From watching your video on Kickstarter to reading the profiles of Obscure Reference Games, it seems that humor is important to you.  What types of humor influences your staff and what obscure reference are you most proud of in your first game?  Did I catch a Mr. Show reference in terms of blowing up the moon?

Humor is incredibly important to us. If I can make someone laugh, I feel like I have done a good deed for the day. Dry humor, physical humor, and sarcasm make up quite a bit of our repertoire. We love obscure references, as our name implies, and it is hard to pick just one. If pressed, I would have to say my favorite would be "Build a Wall and Make the Kingdom of Good Pay For It". Or one of the Princess Bride references. Or a Spaceballs reference. Or the Dodgeball reference. It's so hard to pick! 

To your last question....maybe.

I know you just got back from Origins.  Was this your first board game convention you attended as a publisher?  What was that experience like?  Are you planning on attending any other conventions?

We've been doing conventions since early 2015, and during those early ones we would just bring our prototype and let people know it would be on Kickstarter "soon". We went to several local conventions in LA, such as Strategicon, which is a fantastic con that happens 3 times each year. We've been to many others since then, such as Wondercon, and San Diego Comic Con. 

Origins 2015 was our first MAJOR convention though, and we have been back every year since. I can safely say that Origins is my favorite convention to attend and I look forward to it every year. I'll be going to Gen Con this year as well to help out Leder Games with Vast and Deep!

In the future I hope to be able to exhibit at BGG Con, Dice tower Con, and others!

If you could acquire any creative license to create a board game, what license would you use and why?

Oh this is a tough one....I think I would have to go with Spaceballs, mainly due to my deep love of all things Mel Brooks and Star Wars. If I could design a game that captures even a fraction of the fun I have with those movies, I would be ecstatic. 

What does the future hold for Obscure Reference Games?

We are working on our next games right now. We have a lot of ideas we are fleshing out, but the one that is furthest along is Dimensions of Discord Online. DoDO is a tabletop game, using mostly just cards, in which you are a guild leader in an MMORPG, such as Final Fantasy XI or WoW. 

The goal is to be the most reputable guild on your server. To do so, you will recruit players to your guild and send them into Raids, or after Monstrous Foes (world spawn bosses) to collect reputation and "loot", the two currencies of the game that you use to recruit players and buy items from the Auction House. Monstrous Foes and Raid Bosses also have the potential to yield equipment items and mounts that you can give to your Guild Members to make them more effective and worth more reputation when you add up your score at the end of the game. I am also including a PvP arena, and Guild Halls that you need to upgrade to increase the size of your guild and number of items you can hold at one time. 

One of the concepts I am really excited about is that each Member you can recruit is only
"online" at certain times of day, so you can only group together guild members who share at least one block of time online.

This one is still in the early stages, but I will be talking a lot more about it in the future, especially when I start public play tests. 

Thanks for taking the time to chat and I look forward to checking out Dimensions of Discord Online and maybe meeting up at San Diego Comic Con!

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Tabletop Pile of Shame: New Year's Resolution Update

Moving forward I need to make all of my New Year's Resolutions board game related.  One of my
resolutions this year was to play 10 games from my pile of shame and I am happy to report that I am writing my third entry in this series and have crossed the half-way point!

In my first entry I played Abyss and Colt Express, my second entry featured Carrotia and Codenames, and I am pleased to report that my third entry features Just Desserts and Machi Koro: Bright Lights, Big City.  Hopefully I will be able to chime in soon that I have played games number seven and eight.

Machi Koro: Bright Lights, Big City by Pandasaurus Games -If you have read any of my board game related posts then you should be aware that my family and I are a big fan of the Machi Koro series.  I have included it previous holiday guides and feel that it should be on everyone's shelf.  It is, in my opinion, the best gateway game on the market.  About a year ago I saw that Target had an exclusive version of Machi Koro and was curious, but was good with our current copy and expansions.  Bright Lights, Big City is no longer exclusive to Target and should be available at your FLGS.  Even though I never planned on picking up a new version of Machi Koro, I heard in various gaming groups and from some friends that this was the definitive version of Machi Koro.  After having a copy for a few months, I decided to give it a whirl with my 9 year old son and we instantly fell in love it.  It takes all of the good elements from the expansions, eliminates some of the cards that can get overpowered, and introduces some new elements to provide a quicker, more polished Machi Koro experience.  The experience reminds me of the first time I played the base game with the Harbor expansion.  Bright Lights, Big City randomizes what cards are available, but organizes them in a way to provide a balanced pool of cards to select from.  It also introduces the third dice, which is an absolute game changer.  Some people are bothered by randomization, which I feel Machi Koro hedged effectively from the beginning, and the Moon Tower grants you even more control.  It also allows you to pretend that you are in Dazed and Confused and that everything is alright, alright, alright.

Just Desserts by Looney Labs - My wife got this game for Christmas and it sadly collected dust on my pile of shame for nearly six months.  I had heard this was a light card game that was a good filler, and I thought that she would enjoy the dessert theme.  In the game, you assume the role of a server trying to provide desserts to your guests.  There are a series of guests of different suits with dietary needs, and you collect cards on your turn to try to gather the necessary ingredients to serve them up a tasty treat.  There are bonuses if you have the specific dish they are looking for, and you can try to focus on one particular suit of guests or serve a variety of hungry patrons.  Just Desserts is a good filler game that is appropriate for the entire family.  I would recommend it if your family is just starting to get into the hobby or are looking for a quick game to take on the road or play during a busy game night.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Tabletop Pile of Shame: New Year's Resolution Update

Welcome to the second entry in my attempt to play through my pile of shame.  I was successful in crossing two games off my list earlier this year, and am doing my best to keep my momentum moving forward.   For those who don't know what this is, I am happy to explain.  A lot of people in the board game hobby tend to purchase games at a quicker rate then they play them.  I often fall victim to this trap as I am prone to purchase games and then struggle to get my group together to play.  One problem with a pile of shame is that as soon as you take a game off of the pile, another one or two find their way to the bottom.

One of the New Year's Resolutions I set for myself in 2017 was to play 10 games from my pile of shame and I am happy to report that I have crossed four off of my list now.   Over the past two weeks I was successful crossing Carrotia from MAGE and Codenames from Czech Games Edition off of my list!

Carrotia by MAGE Company - As someone who enjoys playing games with my kids, I am always looking out for new family games.  I am happy to report that Carrotia provided a unique and challenging game cooperative opportunity for my family.  In Carrotia, you are laying tiles to build a labyrinth for a bunny to traverse, collecting as many carrots as possible and escaping in a set number of moves.  Each round requires you building a bigger maze and adds additional depth and effectively introduces new players to the mechanics.  The components on this game are incredibly beautiful and do a great job immersing you in what feels like a fairy tale.  While this isn't a game I would break out with my adult friends, I think it makes a great addition to anyone looking for a fun cooperative experience to play with the kids.  The tile laying sequence is fast and tense, followed up by the fun of moving the bunny through the paths you just created.

Codenames by Czech Games Edition - I am extremely late to the table on this title and had it in my collection for over 2 years without ever playing it.  I am ashamed of that behavior, but happy to report that it completely lives up to the hype and is an amazing party game that should be included in every game library.  There are multiple editions, so I would suggest picking which one sounds like the most fun for your group.  I have heard good things about the picture edition.  Codenames is a simple clue driven guessing game, that supports up to 8 players and keeps everyone engaged throughout.  This game is simple, easy to teach, and a whole lot of fun.  After playing it multiple times it has quickly raced to the top of my party game list.  Definitely a must own title.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

International TableTop Day 2017

This Saturday is one of the greatest holidays in the history of the universe.  Of course I am talking about International TableTop Day!  Not only is it a great excuse to play some games, but you can score some sweet promo items by playing games at a participating store.  I don't know if my FLGS is officially participating this year, but it won't stop me from playing games all day long.  When you approach something as big as International TableTop Day, you need a plan of attack so you can properly sustain yourself playing games all day long.  With two young kids at home, I can't embark on an epic game of Twilight Imperium and must come up with a specific game plan.  Below I will share my schedule for a full day of gaming fun.

Morning Games:
As we start our day of gaming, I want to make sure that everyone in my family is on the same page.  I don't want to see one of my kids start off the day with a bad loss and have it sour their entire day of gaming.  To start things off on the right foot, we are going to open the day with some light, cooperative games that will either result in a thrilling win or a team loss, which is much easier for a 7 and 9 year old to deal with.  My guess is we will start our day off with a quick game of Castle Panic, followed up with Carrotia and then wrap up the morning session with Forbidden Desert.

Midday Games:
After kicking things off as a team, a little healthy competition is in store.  Since we aren't even to the half-way point, I find it is good to play some lighter games that are fun for the whole family and a breeze to play.  Making the transition from co-op into competitive games, titles like Sushi Go, Unspeakable Words, and Cat Tower till find their way to our table.  Nothing too serious, but a nice appetizer before sinking our teeth into some more challenging games.

Pre-dinner Games:
At this point in the day my daughter will likely be gamed out and will play with toys while the rest of us pursue slightly more complicated games.  Prior to the kids going to bed and prior to the hardcore gamers arriving, I find that the early evening lends itself to gateway games.  Those games that you use to lure non-gamers over to the darkside of tabletop gaming.  My current gateway games of choice include Machi Koro, Splendor, and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle.

Post-dinner Games:
Now that we've had a solid dinner and the kids are getting ready for bed, it is time to get a bit more serious and break out some of the heavier games.  My gaming crew doesn't play anything too heavy, but we definitely enjoy some of the more strategic offerings without the distraction of the kids.  For this time in the evening I find our group playing titles like Istanbul, Mystic Vale, and Stone Age.

Late night fun:
With the end of the day racing to a close and your brain cells hurting from thinking strategically, a good party game is a great way to take the edge off and finish the night with a laugh.  This is also a good way to bring in some of your friends who are checking out TableTop day but aren't too keen on learning anything complicated.  Secret Hitler, Sheriff of Nottingham, and Coup have been gracing our party table lately with great success.

Even if you stick to the roll and move games from your youth, play abstract games like chess, or go the role playing route, make sure that your Saturday is filled with plenty of games and happy gaming to you all!  May the dice rolls be ever in your favor!!

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Tabletop Pile of Shame: New Year's Resolution Update

Welcome to the first entry in my attempt to play through my pile of shame.  With International Tabletop Day right around the corner, I thought it would be good to starting working on one of my resolutions.  For those who don't know what this is, I am happy to explain.  A lot of people in the board game hobby tend to purchase games at a quicker rate then they play them.  I often fall victim to this trap as I am prone to purchase games and then struggle to get my group together to play.  One problem with a pile of shame is that as soon as you take a game off of the pile, another one or two find their way to the bottom (this happened to me as I added Clank! to my pile of shame earlier this week).

One of the New Year's Resolutions I set for myself in 2017 was to play 10 games from my pile of shame and that journey started last week as I played both Abyss by Asmodee and Colt Express from Ludonaute.  These two games were both published in 2014 and were huge hits.  Colt Express even won the Spiel des Jahres as the Game of the Year.

Abyss by Asmodee - Abyss is a simple set collection game that is wrapped up in some of the most impressive packaging I have ever seen.  A clever game from famed designer Bruno Cathala, players find themselves acquiring various allied race cards in order to gain the favor of important Lords who help you control key locations in the kingdom.  On the surface this clever little game feels like it could be created for half the cost, but the over the top production value fully immerses you in this underwater world.  From the pearls that you use as currency, to the stunning unique artwork, and the custom molded clam shell bowls, Abyss is a game that will catch people's eye when you set it up for a quick game.  Really looking forward to getting this to the table again.

Colt Express by Ludonaute - In Colt Express players are bandits attempting to pull off a daring train heist.  Complete with 3-dimensional train and adorable outlaw meeples, this programmed movement game is less strategy and more semi-planned chaotic fun.  Each round players will play cards in order to establish their movement for the round.  Sometimes you see what your opponents are planning, but if you are going through a tunnel the cards are played face down.  I tested this out a second time with my son and it is a fun game as long as you aren't too competitive.  You will be shooting your opponent and sending the deputy after them as well.  I could see some people getting pretty frustrated, but it is a fun little game that looks great on the table.



POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

DYSTOPIAN VISIONS: Dead of Winter by Plaid Hat Games

Dossier: Plaid Hat Games. Dead of Winter. [2014]

Filetype: Board Games

File Under: Stateless Dystopia

Executive Summary: You are a member of a colony that is trying to survive, not only the bitter cold, but also the impending wave of undead.  The colony is pretty well protected, but it isn't impenetrable and there may be a traitor in your midst. 

Dead of Winter is a cooperative board game of survival with the possibility of a traitor.  There isn't always a traitor, but by assigning individual goals you are motivated to act in selfish ways that sow the seeds of mistrust among players.

Dystopian Visions:  The colony in Dead of Winter is smack dab in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.  You don't know who you can trust, food is scarce, the colony is getting overrun with waste, and there are always new survivors looking to join you.  In addition to the zombies, traveling to locations in search of supplies necessary for winning, exposes you to the bitter cold and forces you to roll the dreaded exposure die, resulting in possible frostbite or death.

The art is drab and depressing and attempting to survive the winter will likely take some sort of miracle. Even if you are able to identify the traitor, he or she will still roam around the locations surrounding the colony making your survival even more difficult.

Utopian Undercurrents: Not much, but there is hope of surviving the bitter cold and trying to find a city that isn't infected once things warm up.

Level of Hell: Seventh as there isn't much hope in this post apocalyptic world, but humanity seems to find a way of persisting and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Assuming you aren't bit or freeze to death.

Legacy: While Dead of Winter isn't the first game with a hidden traitor mechanic, it is now the standard for which other games aspire.  The simple fact that there are some games without a traitor makes this game one of the best social board gaming experiences on the market.  In addition, Dead of Winter introduces players to the crossroad deck, a series of cards that can change the game based on the behavior of the active player.  Sometimes the crossroad cards are triggered by who the active player is in control of, but can even be triggered based on what you say, or actions you take at the table.  This increases your immersion in this dystopian horror story.

In Retrospect: This remains one of my favorite games of all time.  There is an extremely high level of replayability and it provides an experience like no other board game. 


Analytics

For its time: 5/5
Played today: 4/5
Oppressometer Readout: 8/10

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Microreview [board game]: Mystic Vale from AEG

A Card Crafting Gem

Mystic Vale is a card crafting game that generated a lot of buzz this summer at both Origins and Gen Con.  This title from Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) is not only stunning on the table, it is a game that will leave you wanting to immediately reshuffle and play as soon as the game is over.

In the game you assume the role of a druid who is attempting to heal the suffering lands of the Valley of Life.  While playing the game you are calling on various powers and allies to help you save the forest.  I would agree with other reviews that have complained the theme feels a bit tacked on, but that is a minor complaint in one of the most mechanically solid games I have ever played.  In addition it allows for some of the most stunning cards that have ever graced my table.

When I first saw the clear cards and the term card crafting, I was sure this was going to be simply a gimmick.  After playing the game for the first time I knew that designer John D. Clair had stumbled upon something brilliant that will be used in many different games in the near future.  Similar to what Dominion did for deck building, Mystic Vale will likely do for card crafting.

In Mystic Vale, players start with identical decks of cards.  These cards are all sleeved, and throughout the game you will purchase new cards, or enhancements, that you sleeve into your starter deck.  These enhancement cards are printed on a clear plastic base that allows them to sleeve into your starter card and modify its effect the next time it is in play.  There are many combinations of enhancements that you can craft and by not adding to your deck size you are able to reap the rewards of your new purchases much quicker than a deck builder. Whether you want an efficient deck that turns over more frequently, you want to earn spirit symbols to buy Vale cards, or you want to increase your spending, the way you craft your cards is up to you.  In addition, each turn has a push your luck element that really builds tension and adds another layer of strategy to an already exciting game.  When you are drawing your starting hand, you can always attempt to gain one more card, but if you reveal a card with decay then you "spoil" and you lose your turn.

Once the pile of victory points has vanished and the final tally is calculated, a victor is crowned and you will immediately think about how you could have crafted a card slightly different and what combinations would work really well together.  It is rare to play a game with a mechanic that you have never experienced before, but one that is so intuitive and familiar.

AEG has also just released an expansion to Mystic Vale, Vale of Magic, which adds cards that provide greater rewards at a greater risk.  Powerful cards that add to the decay and can increase your chances of spoiling on your turn.  It is a great addition that adds a lot of really interesting cards.

The Math

Baseline Assessment: 8/10

Bonuses: +1 for an amazingly intuitive and new mechanic, +1 for high quality components with stunning artwork.

Penalties: -1 for a theme that feels a little tacked on, -1 for a box that is too big for the game's britches (although more expansions are always welcome!).

Nerd Coefficient: 8/10 (well worth your time and attention)

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.