2015.03.26 7 Wonders Never Cease


5 Players: G, W, K, Si, M
Game: 7 Wonders
Location: W

When sailing under the colossus and into the harbour,
ancient mariners (who were known to sometime wear
dead sea birds as jewelry!) were advised to not look up.

Choice: S (swapped with J)


Game One:

W(51pts), Si(50pts), G(47pts), K(38pts) & M(36pts)

Game Two:
K(66pts), G(57pts), W(52pts), Si(47pts) & M(40pts)

Game Three:

G(50pts), Si(49pts), W(48pts) M(47pts) & K(39pts)

 

Final Tally:
Summed totals for all games: G(154pts), W(151pts), Si(146pts), K(143pts) & M(123pts).
G was declared the victor of this week's session.
 

Be seeing you.

Notes:

• Si was sickly and almost didn't make it out. He possibly contaminated us all
• W previewed his new game again this week. K noted that there was something really good about the way that the game played but that the game lacked something that it needed.

When did bicycle cards update their logo to an e-bike?

Gaming Weekend:

• Settled as the last weekend in April 24th - 26th. Let the planning begin!

Music Features:



Canned Heat still has that boogie

The evening started out casually with a selection of tunes (1967-1970) from Canned Heat followed by Savoy Brown's defining 1968 album Blue Matter. All this to celebrate the announcement of the 2015 Bluesfest line-up which includes both these bands.

We then listened to the mellow bosa nova sounds from Thievery Corp's latest, Saudade (2014) which everyone enjoyed - Simon even requested a copy!

And after that, well, things got ugly. We listened to a new release (2015!) of some outstanding jazz-rock fusion from a recording of John Scofield playing live with Gov't Mule in 1999. There were some outspoken listeners who expressed negative reactions to the all instrumental music and after half an hour the humble dj acquiesced and the music was changed. The Lou Donaldson album Everything I Play Is Funky (1970) , while acknowledged as funky and good by all, also got limited play due to a strong anti-jazz bias presently manifesting itself among some of the assembled. A less jazzy selection of music from a folk-blues-rock playlist finished the evening's music off on a somewhat sour note.

Savoy Brown's best album?

2015.03.19 We did it!



A full keep at the end of game. Thank you Architect's Guild


5 Players: G, W, K, Si, J
Game: Belfort
Location: W
Choice: G

Game One:

After 1 scoring round (Spring): G (11 pts), Si (11 pts), W (10 pts), K (9 pts) & J (6 pts)
After 2 scoring rounds (Summer): Si (23 pts), W (22 pts), K (20 pts), G (17 pts) & J (13 pts)
After 3 scoring rounds (Autumn): W (33 pts), K (33 pts), Si (33 pts), G (26 pts) & J (24 pts)

 

3-way tie at end of game

Final Tally:
Tie-Breaker: W had the most resources left at the end of the game and was declared winner. K had the second most resources left over and snatched second place.

Notes:

• We finally finished a full game of Belfort and we were very pleased with ourselves for this accomplishment
• Si presented G with a gift t-shirt recently acquired during Si's trip to Jamaica
• W was presented with the "Key to the City of Belfort"
• K was heard to mutter "how are you winning?"

Gaming Weekend:

• Si assured us that Laurie is ok with us using the cottage anytime in April so the April 17-19 weekend is still in play
• There is a possibility that Si would not be able to join us. He should know by this time next week.
• At the cottage there is limited electricity thanks to solar power, there is a wood stove and a kerosene refrigerator.
• Possible game choices were discussed: Caverna, Belfort and more.

Music Features:
The evening started out casually with some Emmylou Harris: Wrecking Ball (1995) but quickly devolved into some live The Nice: Live at the Fillmore East 1969. After two or three songs, pity was taken on the listeners and the funky sounds of Sly and the Family Stone: Stand! (1969) replaced the early prog rock. This album stayed on until certain players expressed disdain for the song "Sex Machine" at which point we switched to some nawleans jazz courtesy of Stanton Moore's excellent album Flyin' the Koop (2002). Finally we settled on the double album 1969: The Velvet Underground Live for the duration of the evening which pleased most, if not all, of the players.

2015.03.12 Wandigu

The good doctor

5 Players: G, W, M, I, K
Game: Belfort
Location: W
Choice: W

Game One:

After 1 scoring round: G (14 pts), K (12 pts), W (10 pts), I (10 pts) & M (5 pts)
After 2 scoring rounds: G (25 pts), K (22 pts), W (18 pts), M (17 pts) & I (14 pts)
 

 

Final Tally:
The game was called after 2 Seasons because of the late hour. The scores of all players were close enough that it wasn't clear who would've won had the game been played out. G had the highest score when the game was called so he was declared tonight's winner.

 

W's new game!

Notes:

• M announced before the game began that this time he wasn't going to spare anyone's feelings: this night, he was going to DOMINATE!
• I's first appearance at ESBS (replacement Thomson)
• 1st time playing Belfort for I
• G won the Dr Johnny Fever Award (again)
• after the game, W previewed a his latest homegrown game, tentatively named "The Powers That Be" or possibly "Power Struggle"

Music Features:

Mixtapes by Green Cheese:
Vol. 55 Living On The Groove! and Sweet Ride In The Back Of My Mind

The Nice Live at the Fillmore East 1969

2015.03.05 Belfort Birthday Bash

 

5 Players: G, W, M, S, K
Game: Belfort
Location: G
Choice: K

Game One:

After 2 Seasons: W (23 pts), G (19 pts), K (16 pts), S (15 pts) & M (15 pts)

 

Final Tally:
The game was called after 2 Seasons because of the late hour. The scores of all players were close enough that it wasn't clear who would've won had the game been played out. W had the highest score when the game was called so he was declared tonight's winner.

 

Notes:

• K's birthday!
• J's flight home got cancelled, forcing him to miss tonight's game.
• W was awarded the key to the city of Belfort.
• 1st time playing Belfort for M.
• There was a late start (9pm).
• There was some slow playing by all in the first season due to either unfamiliarity with the game mechanics or forgetfulness.
• It was generally agreed that it would be a good idea to play this game again soon and that we could play it much faster now that five players are very familiar with the mechanics.
• W chooses next week and it's likely that he will choose Belfort. Consider this fair warning J and watch this if u can spare 8 minutes; it'll help.
• Si will be away in Jamaica next week.

Gaming Weekend:

• the feeling among players was that the April weekend (17-19) looked the most promising and decided that we would ask Si to check with the cottage owners to secure that date.
• everyone agreed that it was very unfortunate that not everybody's schedule could be accommodated for but there was not one single weekend that worked for everyone - someone had to be left out!
• there was also discussion of a game day in late May or June that might partially make up to Sc for not being able to participate in an April gaming weekend.

Music Features:

Led Zeppelin 1975 Physical Graffiti (Deluxe 2014)
Soundtrack 2014 to Another Day Another Time