GAMING NEWS: April 2M2G = D-Day & Fun For All (30 April 2006)!

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Hi Everyone,

Well, the 2M2G (Maksim's Monthly Gaming Group) game day has come and gone and it was a blast!

And I'm theming the day as "D-Day!" since many of the games we played started with the letter "D."

For those of you that haven't heard of 2M2G, it's a free welcome-to-all gaming club and my way of giving back to the gaming community. You see, for years, I've lived in smaller apartments and haven't been able to host games at my place, BUT I've always wanted to. And I eventually moved out to a pad in Rancho Cordova that had the room, but by then I had discovered that I had so many good friends that I needed a space bigger than the average apartment or home could provide so I reserved the rec room of my local public library once a month and have been hosting game days since. I have the room from 10:00am to 2:30pm once a month on the Sunday of the last weekend of the month. If you'd like to come, send me an E-mail or post on the comments section here on my blog and I'll tender you an invitation to the club. It's that easy! No dues, restrictions, etc. etc. - just come, play and have a good time!

Top: See! Dave D. gives it a thumb's up!

The following attended:
- Clay, the Clever Man!
- Dave D., Friend To Naked Britons!
- Dick, the Well-Dressed One!
- Donna... Oh, Donna!
- Eric, the Fiendish Dungeon Master Who Takes Forever To Come Up With an Evil Plan!
- Joe, Leader of the Ghost Chicken Legions!
- John, Who Wishes He Was a Dinosaur!
- Maksim (me!)
- Malachai, The Mighty!
- Mike O'Brien, Slayer of Cowboy Dogs!
- Patrick, The Mastermind Behind the Scenes!
- Sean, Local Linguist and Commo Expert!

And some special guest appearances by:

Top: Dave, the OTHER Dave!

Top: Craig, "I'm not just a member of the club, but I'm also the Pre..."

And we had all kinds of fun playing half a dozen or so different games:

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1. D-HOTT

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/5369

Players:
- Dick, as the Wolflings = Not their day!
- Joe, as the Undead Horde! = Winner and slayer of the Wolfling general!

Despite some brilliant plays by Dick, the dice betrayed him at a critical moment and Joe's boneheads took the day. Mazel Tov, Joe!

TOP: The above photo shows Joe's undead on the left side of the board...
...forming a very intricate defence of the their crypt-like stronghold.

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2. D-HOTT

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/5369

Players:
- Dick, as the Wolflings = WINNER!
- Joe, as the Undead Horde! = A bone for the dawgs...

And Dick pulls off victory (...from Joe's skeleton/s) this time! Mazel Tov, Dick!

...and he looked good too!

TOP: Here, Joe demonstrates that the chic HOTT player does it with a cell phone!

Joe sent me some corrections (2 May 2006):

Maks,
I actually killed Dick's general in the second battle as well -

Boneheads: 2
Doggies: 0

I felt bad for Dick! He beat up my Velociraptors though - They were so pathetic!
Then, he shot me dead in Bang! So, the net was:

Joe: 2
Dick: 2

Joe.

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3. DESCENT, JOURNEYS IN THE DARK!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/17226

Players:
MAGIC-USER: John then Maksim.
FIGHTER: Sean then Dave D.
THIEF: Clay!
SORCEROR: Malachai then Dave D.

In this very interesting and lengthy board game, four courageous adventurers take on a dungeon full of, well... danger. The inital party started out to slay some evil giants who had been plundering the local villages causing mighty amounts of cows to, well... disappear... noone knows what the giants are doing with or to them. The party made it to the very door of the giants when... it was time to go home.

TO BE CONTINUED...

TOP: We can see the following in this photo from left to right:
John, Clay, Malachai, Sean and Eric.

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4. DINOSAURS, The GRUDGE MATCH!

A Prototype game by Patrick Sweeney!

Players:
- Dick: Allosaurus.
- Joe: Velociraptor.
- John: Triceratops.
- Patrick: Apatosaurus.

I didn't play in this game, but it looked like "professional" wrestling with dinosaurs. The game is still a "work in art" or somesuch and Patrick is still honing it to perfection.

TOP: In the above photo, you can see the dinosaurs lined up for action, a feeding frenzy or both!

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5. D-Bang!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/3955

Players:
- Dick
- Joe
- Mike

I didn't catch this game and have no idea how it turned out.

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6. D-Bang!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/3955

Players:
- Dick
- Joe
- Mike

The guys came back for a grudge match and I still have no idea what happened.

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7. D-WMA (WarMaster Ancients)

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/18615

Players:
- Craigius Venatus - Roman: VICTORY!
- Dave D. Briton - Brit: loss.
- Davidius Rotundas - Roman: VICTORY!
- Maksim Maximus - Brit: loss.

In an exciting pacification of Britian scenario, the Romans managed to stomp the Brits by only having a 500 point advantage and superior troops! Ohhh! Impressive!

Generals Craigius and Maximus both proved to be "unable to cast the die across the Rubicon" so to say and generals Dave D. Briton and D. Rotundus had the "Battle of the Daves!" And the "Rotund One" carried more weight at the end of the day! Mazel Tov, Craig and Dave!

TOP: The Briton's right flank before being Roman-ized!

TOP: The Romans approaching the River Thames.

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Have a great day!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
Anyone interested in using the photos that I have attached to this post can find them here:
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f23/Maksim-Smelchak/Gaming%202006/?sc=1&multi=9&addtype=local&media=image

GAMING NEWS: Great Sunday Turn-out (26 March 2006)!

Hi Everyone,

Well, the second half of my game-hosting weekend was a great success. There were three guests plus myself making a total of four folks and we had a great time. The following folks showed up:

- Dick
- Don
- Maksim (me!)
- Pat

We played three games, which were:

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1. Ticket To Ride: Europe

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/14996

Standings:
- Dick: #2
- Don: #4
- Maksim: #1 Winner
- Pat: #3

We all had a great time and the game was very close. Pat and Don were neck-in-neck for the lead for along time until Dick caught up to the pack. I traditionally play my cards pretty close to my hands so I didn't get up on the board until late in the game. Having four players definitely makes TtR:E more of a challenge than two or three. Almost everyone used at least one station and Don used all three of his. Patrick also built the valuable Stockholm to Saint Petersburg Scandinavian Express and it put him in the lead for much of the game. All three of the other guys are very shrewd players. European Express (longest road) won me the game by a measly two points. Dick was that close!

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2. & 3. Formula De - Monaco Track

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/173

(Formula De photo courtesy of BGG)

Standings Game #1:
- Dick: #2
- Don: #3
- Maksim: #1 Winner!
- Pat: crashed and didn't finish.

Standings Game #2:
- Dick: #3
- Don: crashed and didn't finish.
- Maksim: #2
- Pat: #1 Winner!

We raced the Monaco track twice and had a good time. In the first race, the guys raced pretty conservatively while I gambled and in the second race, they became daredevils. Poor Pat crashed and burned the first time to turn around and win the second. All three of the guys took to each other quickly and I can honestly say that today was just about as perfect as it gets: a good time, great company and beautiful weather. You can't ask for too much more.

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After some horrible rainy and overcast days, we get a beautiful out of the blue. The sun is out and the skies are clear. My roommate and I went jogging out along the American River this morning. We live about a ten-minute walk away from the river and it's very pleasant. I made scrambled eggs this morning and we both had a nice breakfast. He headed off to the law library (law students are wedded to the place) and I had guests over.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

GAMING NEWS: Second 2M2G Gaming Day a Success!

Hi Everyone,

Well, yesterday was the second of the monthly game gathers that I've hosted and while attendence was still sparce, a single guest, it was success and we both had a good time. My old and good friend, Eric "Chern" Royer, showed up around 1:00pm and we played games for a few hours and pleasureably chatted the afternoon away. I've been calling the events a 2M2G gather, which is short for Maksim's Monthly Gaming Group. After attending so many other people's functions, I decided that it was my turn to host and I'm looking forward for when the 2M2G gathers grow in size so we can play some of the bigger games like Advanced Civilization or a hefty miniatures game.

Here are the five games that Eric and I played:

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1. Conquest - Two-Player Edition

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/20467

- Eric: Win
- Maksim: Loss

This was a new game that neither of us had played before and we both enjoyed it very much. There little to nothing left to chance to this game and it's very much like a more sophisticated version of chess. Strategy is the name of the game as is attritional warfare. Eric got the hang of the game quicker than I did and he pulled off a pretty good victory although I gave him what for.

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2. The Awful Green Things From Outer Space

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/162

- Eric: (Crew) Loss
- Maksim: (Awful Green Things) Win

I must buy a clear piece of plexiglass to cover folded maps that don't lay flat!

I must also remember to have new players always to play the Awful Green Things (photo above, courtesy of BGG) or to give myself a handicap when I play them. An experienced player will tend to beat a ship crew the majority of the time in my experience. Eric was beaten, pretty well which is a pity, since I really do think that AGTFOS is a great game.

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3. Settler of Cataan: Knights & Cities

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/926

- Eric: Loss
- Maksim: Win

It's a real testament to the quality of this classic that Eric and I still regularly play this game after several years of knowing each other. SoC: K&C is still fun and a challenge even with two players. However, this last game was one of the shortest we've ever played. I don't think it took more than about twenty minutes for me to stomp Eric flat. The inital choice that many players have is whether to build and activate a knight or a village before the pirates land. Eric chose the village and the pirates landed before he could get an active knight up and that really stunted his early game. He was without a city for the majority of the game. We both remarked that it was definitely the quickest SoC: K&C game we've ever played.

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4. Guillotine

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/116

- Eric: Win
- Maksim: Loss

We both had a good time and Eric shorted me of victory by a goodly margin.

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5. Ticket To Ride: Europe

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/14996

- Eric: Win
- Maksim: Loss

As we're both discovering, building the Scandinavian Express, the eight-track SUPER tunnel from Scandinavia to Saint Petersburg, is practically a game winner all by itself. Eric managed to build the Scandinavian Express and get longest road, which spelled victory for him, but it was very close, only about five points between the two of us. It was a very close game and I might have still won if Eric had not managed to beat me out for longest road by TWO track sections. It was a good game and I'm happy that Eric won that one.

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Today, I'm expecting a few guests as well for the second-half of the monthly 2M2G gather.

Have a great Sunday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

GAMING: 1rst Monthly Gaming Get-Together Was a Success!

Hi Guys,

The primary reason I moved was to be closer to a new job, but the secondary reason I moved was to...

Rent a bigger apartment in which I could host games!

This past Sunday I hosted my first Gaming Get-Together and it was a great success...

Despite the low count on guests.

My friends Eric and Jeff showed up and all the better for them as I bought a tremendous amount of victuals to provide for the guests... we had IBC rootbeer, chips, dips, salsa, hogie sandwiches for all and a variety of other goodies.

We'd intended to play the classic Avalon Hills Civilization, but because of the low attendance count, we played other games... five to be exact.

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Game #1: Ticket to Ride Europe

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/14996

Eric: 2
Jeff: 3
Maksim: 1

- I bought this game not that long ago and what better game could you find for a couple of train nuts! Jeff and Eric are both big fans and I enjoy the game even if I'm not the biggest railroad enthusiast. I'm starting to discover the pacing of TTRE... build several routes and then focus on building unneeded routes that extend your line and collect points. It was the eight-track line the runs from Russia to Scandinavia that won the game for me. As is usual for newbies to the TTR series, Jeff came in third and will have a better idea what to do enxt time.

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Game #2: Rail Baron

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/420

Eric: 3
Jeff: 1
Maksim: 2

- I was Jones'ing for this classic Avalon Hills rail game and Jeff is a huge fan. Playing it again reminded me of the shortcomings of Rail Baron... It is a VICIOUS game! Poor Eric got cornered out of several lines that he needed and the dice were visibly working against him. Jeff pulled a victory out of his hat by dominating the Northeast and Southwest. While Eric was steered into the ground very early, he and Jeff had a great time talking "train talk"... I was utterly lost! Good game although I think due to RB's habit of cutting a palyer or so out of the game, I won't push to play it again for some time.

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Game #3: Drakon

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/1276

Eric: L
Jeff: W
Maksim: L

- This was my frist time playing this game and I enjoyed it a lot. Most Tom Jolly games are an amusing twist on the gaming genre and Drakon is no execption... imagine the typical dungeons & Dragons scenario spun on its head and you have Drakon... The dragon has already won! And the dungeon party has now been turned against each other as the dragon has decided to only let one adventurer out of the dungeon... the rest become dragon vittles. I borrowed this game from Jeff after Sunday and have been disappointed with it since. It's seems to be a little advanced for my nephews as of yet. It worked fine for several gaming adults, but it is too involved for nephews and my sister's fiance's children.

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Game #4: Guillotine

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/116

Eric: 2
Jeff: 3
Maksim: 1

- Guillotine is a classic and we all enjoyed playing this game, which coincided with dinner. I bought a whole ton of cold cuts and cheeses from the local deli and we chowed down. I also had pickles, potato salad and a variety of other goodies. Surprisingly, Jeff didn't have me make him coffee... this from the guy who would probably have a coffee IV hooked up if it just wasn't so darned inconvenient.

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Game #5: The Cities & Knights of Cataan

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/926

Eric: 2
Jeff: 3
Maksim: 1

- We ended the night with this classic that Eric loves. Mines were very common and we cycled through the blue card deck a very large number of times... possibly three or four times. What won the game for me is that we all had forgotten that I had longest road until the end and when I finally noticed, I declared victory and that was that. With all of the blue cards flying about, there was a lot of serious game plays occuring... tons of spies, defections, marriages and the like. Good game.

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All had a good time and are looking to return to the next Gaming Get-Together!

And in retrospect, I didn't send invitations out early enough, it was a three-day weekend and the Dundracon gaming convention were all going on that weekend... I'll plan better for the next GGT at my place.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.