2.20: Dominion!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend.  We spent time with friends and family, went to the beach, set some explosives on fire, and played 1000 boardgames.  Or ten.  Biggest hit of the weekend, Dominion; I personally got in three plays of the game, but it hit the table far more than that.  We also played a 4+ hour game of Shogun, in which I took second; Danny, despite having no money and no income on the last turn, was able to hold onto his empire and take the win.  

An interesting piece of information--last year I played a total of 105 games (not different games, total games played).  As of today, I've played 86 games this year--looks like I'm on track to beat last year by 50%.


Dominion was designed by Donald X. Vaccarino and published in the US by Rio Grande Games in 2008.  Since then it has won a number of awards, including the Spiel des Jahres in 2009.  A number of standalone games which can be combined with the original have been released since, as well as a number of expansion cards.  It is a card game with a first-of-its-kind mechanic--everyone starts with the same 10 cards, and during the course of the game you purchase cards for your deck, which provide you with additional abilities on future turns.

2.19: Game Room Rules - Rule #7

Jackie got me Dominion for Father's Week.  A friend played this when it was in its late prototype stage, and spoke positively of it, and since its release I've heard a vast number of positive comments, though the game does seem polarizing--people either like it a lot or not at all.  I really like this game, despite the fact that I can't win a game when my wife plays.  

Until last night!  Ha, take that, Jackie! 

Rule #1:  Have fun.
Rule #2:  Let your opponent(s) have fun.
Rule #3:  Play appropriately.
Rule #4:  Remember, it's just a game.
Rule #5: Take care of my crap/other people's crap.
Rule #6:  D.B.A.  Don't be an Ass.

Rule #7:  Take your turn, already!

2.19: Game Room Rules - Rule #6

This week I'm plugging Scott Sigler's soon-to-be-released book, Ancestor.  In Ancestor, a biotech company is attempting to create a herd animal that has human-compatible organs for the purpose of organ donation.  Their experiments go awry, and hilarity ensues.  Well, hilarity in the form of an edge-of-your-seat thriller involving not-so-herbivorous creatures snuggling up to the novel's characters--with their teeth.

Scott Sigler has been giving his books away in the form of a free weekly podcast (audio file); over the past several years he has built up a significant audience, and signed with a big time publishing company.  Ancestor is being released in hardcover on June 22, and Sigler is attempting to reach the top ten on the NY Times Bestseller list.  Any pre-orders count toward the first week's sales, and thus aid the effort to reach the aforementioned bestseller list. 


The rules so far, and a totally appropriate picture:

Rule #1:  Have fun.
Rule #2:  Let your opponent(s) have fun.
Rule #3:  Play appropriately.
Rule #4:  Remember, it's just a game.
Rule #5: Take care of my crap/other people's crap.


Rule #6:  D.B.A.  Don't be an Ass.

2.18: Game Room Rules - Rule #5

I'm trying not to be rude or opinionated as I present these rules, well, I'm trying to be as objective as possible.  I'm normally a mellow guy (and I'll kill anyone who says otherwise!), but I think this and some of the following rules will come off a little...grumpy.  Probably because the next few involve common courtesy, and I'm cultivating my "get off my lawn" voice in preparation for retirement. You know, thirty years from now.

Rule #1:  Have fun.
Rule #2:  Let your opponent(s) have fun.
Rule #3:  Play appropriately.

Rule #4:  Remember, it's just a game.

Rule #5: Take care of my crap/other people's crap. 

2.17: Game Room Rules - Rule #4

 Ptbbbbbbbbt!  Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrb!  Plblblblblblbblblblbllbbblblb!  Plt!  Brrrrrrrrrpbggt.  Vrrrreeeeessssst!  Pblllbrct!  --A message from my intestine.

Let's just say that I've had better weeks.  


Rule #1:  Have fun.
Rule #2:  Let your opponent(s) have fun.
Rule #3:  Play appropriately.

Rule #4:  Remember, it's just a game.

"Oh, you M----- F---er's, this game is stupid!  I can't believe you did that, you ruined the game!  I'm going to beat your a--!"

One, if you are a boardgamer, chances are you can not beat my anything, what with your pasty eternal indoors-ness and all.  (Okay, that's not a fair assessment of boardgamers, most actually do stuff outside the house, not like those computer gamers...)

Two, apparently you couldn't even beat me in the boardgame.  So bleh (that's the sound I make when I stick out my tongue mockingly).


Three, it's just a game.  I don't remember putting any money on it, and I definitely don't remember putting any personal property or lives on the game. 

Four, eat some fiber and chill out.

2.16: Game Room Rules - Rule #3

Elfenland.  One game--that was all my gaming this week, and, WOW.  I was among the many people who have heard of Elfenland, Elfengold, and Elfenroads, but had never actually played it.  Needless to say (if you read the first sentence of this post), I was impressed.  I'm sure a full review is in the future. 

Rule #1:  Have fun.
Rule #2:  Let your opponent(s) have fun.

Rule #3:  Play appropriately.

Play your best.
Play leisurely. 
Play nice.
Play hard.
Play jovially.
Play appropriately.

2.15: Game Room Rules - Rule #2

I played Uno yesterday.  Uno.  Albeit it was with my little brothers, and they're not exactly gamers yet.  That's probably something I should work on.  Anyway, we were waiting at a restaurant, they had a copy of Uno.  We played, I lost.  Can't seem to catch a break this week.

Also, with a 1:3 record I lost the first round of the 4th Annual Hive tournament on Boardspace.net.  My opponent, Groo, was an excellent player and I wish him luck--and I'll feel better if he wins the whole thing.  I do, however, have an empty space on my shelf now.  You know, the space I cleared for that trophy...

I also ate tacos yesterday, in case anyone wanted to know.  The slogan goes:  Taco Tuesday, every Wednesday night.  Not really, but that would be awesome.

Rule #1:  Have fun.

Rule #2:  Let your opponent(s) have fun.