Garrett's Games & Geekiness #113

What follows are "addendum notes" to my most recent appearance on Doug Garrett's excellent podcast, Garrett's Games & Geekiness. If you want to listen to it, you can check it out at Garrett's Games & Geekiness. This particular show was recorded on May 9th, 2008, at Doug & Shelley's home in Mountain View, CA.

Who To Listen To

I mentioned that I "listen" (well, read) some particular folks to see if I should seek out a game:

• Frank Branham (the designer of Four Dragons, Warhamster Rally & Nodwick: The Card Game... and Battle Beyond Space, which is the most criminally neglected prototype on the planet)
• Doug Garrett (podcaster extrodinaire & very nice guy)
• Mik Svellov (not a guy who likes danishes but a Danish guy who writes about board games in a lot of places - his website, Brett & Board, used to be the "go-to" spot for Essen & Nurnberg news in the days before BGN)

I also mentioned two other good friends who I don't always agree with but whose opinions are quite helpful:

• Joe Huber (designer of Scream Machine & Ice Cream...and the about-to-be-published Burger Joint)
• Greg Schloesser (head of the IGA {International Gamers Awards} and long-time reviewer & session reporter)

I inadvertently neglected a couple of other names that might be helpful for you:

• Mark Johnson (host of the Boardgames To Go podcast)
• Tom Vasel (host of The Dice Tower podcast & another prolific reviewer of games)

Mutant Chronicles: Siege of the Citadel

Braeden & I are in the ninth scenario (of 10 scenarios) in a campaign game of this classic "Ameritrash" game of aliens vs. corporate mercs. Each of us are playing two teams of merc (Doomtroopers) as some of the scenarios don't work 1 on 1. Braeden's currently winning - but a lot is riding on the final scenario. And, of course, we're having a blast playing it!

If you're a fan of Space Hulk and/or Doom: The Board Game and/or Descent: Journeys in the Dark, this is a simpler game in that vein that is intended for multiple players.

Descent: The Road To Legend

My instructions were not followed: Grey Ker managed to get killed TWICE this weekend while I was gaming at Doug's. Sigh.

Of course, as badly as the heroes are doing right now, this campaign may not go the full 80 hours. Sheesh.

Im Reich der Wüstensöhne

The new Entdecker variant game (only available currently in Germany) is In the Realm of the Desert Sons. If you'd like to play it online, you can do so FREE at PlayCatan.com until the end of May. (Thanks to W. Eric Martin of BGN for noticing this.)

Theme Is Gooder

I was saying nice things about R-Eco... and in the process, ended up cracking on Coloretto for being theme-less. I stand by my comments - theme is important, even in a filler. And, because I'm a nice guy and want to help out, here's some other nicely themed fillers:

• Zahltag - a construction game where you try to submit the lowest bid for contracts
• The Game of Life Card Game - which actually feels more like real life than The Game of Life

Boycott?! Are You Kidding Me?

This thread is what I'm ranting about on the podcast... and, btw, the current estimate for release date for The Gathering Storm is June/July of this year. (Which is going to be a big time for me, game-wise, what with my pre-order copy of Agricola arriving about the same time and the new Heroscape stuff due to ship around that time. Yikes.)

Tal der Abenteuer: Die Schatzsuche im Himalaja

Tal der Abenteuer = Advanced Honeybears

Both games are designed by Reiner Knizia... both games use movement cards for movement & scoring... both games look like race games but aren't exactly race games after all...

However, I like Tal der Abenteur a LOT more than I liked Honeybears. Tal has more interesting board play, a better theme & a viable option for playing with 2 players.

1/2 a Podcast

That's right - I'll be back again next week... enjoy!