Vacation Return

Back on the ground in the Big O! following a week in New Hampshire.  The Other Half had been wanting to go for years and we were finally able to make it out.

Look At The Colors!

The Other Half On The Lake

The Flume!

More Pics can be found here!

Didn't get much gaming in, but The Eldest and I played a round of Pandemic and Settlers of Catan Card game when I got back.  Hope to get in a board game night soon this week.

jp

Movie: The Social Network

Since I don’t play games in more…  Shessh!

The other half and I went to see The Social Network on Sunday.

In short, it was a good movie.  Well written and acted.  However it did not persuade me to go and join Facebook.  I have my own grumblings on privacy (funny since I blog, well, sort of blog) plus the feeling of its use as a mechanism for malicious code insertion.   But, back to the movie….  It is a Hollywood version of the founding and creation of Facebook told from the point of view of two law suits against the founder from people who were either ‘wronged’ or felt the idea was ‘stolen’ from them.   I’m sure the facts were played with loosely, as is Hollywood’s right to make the boring entertaining, but it felt like a good story.   I particularly liked Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal as it was just geeky enough and snarky enough to be entertaining. 

So even though I don’t “Facebook” I found the movie worth the price of admission.  I get it 6 out of 8 friends.

jp

 

 

A game? Why yes!

A few game to report since my wildly late last post.

First up I picked up ‘Small World’ and gave it a try a few times.  First game was a five player game at the Shoppe on the day I picked it up.  Solid game, easy mechanics.  The rules make it sound actually harder than it is.  I then played the Eldest twice each of us taking one game and then as a palate cleanser with Steve after some play testing.   The game is pretty fun and I’m sure it will be on the rotation for a while as it is fast and fun.

Play testing – The conversion continues, just real slow.  Between travel and work and kid stuff (don’t ask!) I’ve gotten less time than ever, but Steve and I have had two solid sessions and we are looking at one more major change then ship out the next version for the grand editor to review.  If folks are interested in a bit of play test, let me know and I’ll hook you up!

Songs of Blades and Heroes Campaign – I did get a game in this Thursday and won!  Eric’s Orcs, that thrashed me last time, took a bit of a beating during a Break Through game.  However his warboss still was able to kill Bobbie Jr. dead…  Long live Bobbie the Third!  In the end I left Eric with a few archers as the remainder of Victor’s Boys exited the board scoring victory points for the win.  Thanks for the Game Eric. 

Civ V was released this week and I did down load it on Wednesday, but only played a bit of the tutorial.  Since I have nothing planned this weekend but helping the Elder move back in to the house I’m hoping to get some evening hours to play a few dozen turns…

jp

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I blog, honest…

Mud Fest

Not gaming related really, but...   On Sunday I did another mud run.

More pics here...   I wasn't told about the group costume thingy on the last picture, but I was a last second add for the event so it was OK.  As mud runs go, being an expert after only two, it was pretty fun.  The Soaring Eagle Vineyard was nice and scenic with a nice view of the countryside.  

Tripping again for work and will be missing yet another SoBH night.  Some rumblings of trying a Mech Warrior RPG/mini game campaign.  I'm probably one of the only mini gamers that hasn't played the game so I am interested in delving in to it.

jp

muddy

Saturday Board Games

Saturday Night I went to the Shoppe to play a few board games for a change of pace.  We tried two games, Small World and Factory Manager.

First up was a learning game of Small World.  We had a full five players with two of us being newbies.  It is an interesting game with deceivingly easy mechanics.  In fact, reading the rules made them harder then they needed to be.  Some subtle game play techniques and strategies along with the variable race/special powers seemed to ensure a strong since or re-playability with will be nice.  I think the regular guys would like it as it has a good military theme, if not a bit silly, but fun/quick play style.  The two newbies ended up coming 1st and 2nd with only a 2 point separation.

Next, a bit late, we played a game of Factory Manager.  It had been a long time since Steve and I had played so I was re-learning from the get go.  I made some huge mistakes early, combined with the misplaced board made for a bad results for me.  The gang was good to play with, if a bit too serious at times, but still a fun time. :)  I came in dead last...  by a large margin! :)

Good times,

jp
Better warlord then middle manager

24 days later...

Wow,

I suck as a game blogger...  Heck, I suck as a gamer lately.  Between work and the current vacation I haven't had much time for gaming.  I did get in on the last round of Songs of Blade and Heroes with the guys before I left for vacation, but will miss this weeks effort.  I went 0-2 for the last session making me 4-2...  It sucks loosing! :)

While on the road I did get a few games in.  Taught a couple Ticket to Ride and Pandemic.  They have played a lot of settlers, but hadn't tried these yet.  We got a few games of each after the 8 kids went down.  It was a hectic days.  Last Saturday was the Warrior Dash, the race that a group of us went to attend.  Here are some neat pics with a link to others...

The gang post run...

Should be back in September with more gaming action, at least I hope so...

jp
long lost gamer

Warmachine Saturday Nights

Since I've been doing all this 'oh so fun' business travel, I hadn't gotten much gaming in on a non-computer source.  Played lots of good old Spider Solitaire as well as the electronic version of Race for the Galaxy.  I'm getting better vs. the computer as I am up to winning 1 in 5 vice 1 in 20.

Since I was back, Paul and Eric came over for a few games of Warmachine on Saturday night.

Eric and I played a 35 point game with his Durgen Madhammer vs. my newly assembled Drake MacBain.  I also put into to play Dannon Blythe and Bull, the Bounty Hunters which ended up being the stars of both games.
Eric played a great game, keeping it very close.  He used some primed Nyss hunters to keep a flank in check that I had a full unit of Sam and Devil Dogs w/ a Mule.   Blythe and Bull marked Boomhowler and did a good job keeping them suppressed until they moved in to finish them up.  It ended with Blythe and Bull swarming Durgen as the new mark and hacking away.

Second game was Paul's High Executioner Reznik a few 'Jacks, a full Exemplar Errants w/ UA and the new Errant solo.  I used the Steelheads with Countermeasures to keep the Errants from shooting while having Blythe and Bull pick them off to help secure the flank.  It ended with a giant scrum in the middle with lots of dead Heavy Jacks...  Four I think...  It took the Bokur and MacBain to take down Rez, but it wasn't pretty. 

Good games guys and thanks...  Next time I won't make soup! :)

jp

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