Brunswick games day trip

[adelheid_p]

Well, I thought I might have to another obligation on Saturday but it turned out that I didn't so I got started a little late on Saturday but I made it down to Brunswick Games Day and managed to play a couple of games. I arrived about 3:30 pm and was met at the door by dr_zrfq and we greeted each other and then he got involved in a game of Munchkin and I spectated for a good while. It was a long game with six people and near the end four of them were at level nine. I was invited to be the fourth in a game of Blokus which I ended up winning, surprisingly, because I don't tend to think of myself as that good at spatial relations. After that I was invited to play Cities and Knights of Catan (an expansion of Settlers of Catan). I had played Settlers of Catan and found it enjoyable but I hadn't played this variation. And it turned out that I had played Settlers of Catan sufficiently long enough ago that I had forgotten alot of the rules. This variation added on to the original and was a little too complicated for me to enjoy. I probably did the worst at this game than any one else. Part of my difficulty with the game is that there was just too much to keep track of and it's really for someone who is better at long term strategy in games than I am. I might try it again with a smaller group at some point because I think the large group was a factor in some of the problems I experienced. On a side note, though, I do have to say that a couple of the other players were concerned that I did not enjoy the game and I do appreciate that. Somewhere in there I got to meet Craig who I knew from the Bomb Shelter Radio group and who is one half of the newsroom and supplies D.J. Ilya with some of the fun and interesting news articles that he reads and discusses on the program. I was sorry to hear that montuos wasn't feeling well and hence didn't make it to the games day.

The games day was supposed to end at 11:00 pm and we pretty much played until then and cleaned up a bit and then I left. I hadn't made arrangements anywhere to stay for the night so I decided to drive either until I felt too tired or got home. By the time I reached Breezewood at about 1 am, my body said it was time to stop so I got a room at the Holiday Inn Express and got some sleep. I got up at about 9 am and showered and dressed (I did think to pack an overnight bag, just in case) and managed to get down to eat some complimentary breakfast before hitting the road again. I got home at about 12:30 pm. The drive both ways being sunny and clear, although cold.

I have to say that, in general, I did have a good time at the games night and will be considering getting more involved with some friends who like to play board games more regularly.

Comments

[montuos]

Yeah, Settlers in general gets kind of dog-eat-dog with more players, and Cities and Knights does play a lot easier when you're more up on the basic rules. Speaking as someone who isn't all that fond of playing crunchy strategy games with people who love crunchy strategy*, Cities and Knights really isn't that bad once you know what you're doing.

Most of the gamers I know, even those who play at tournament level, are of the opinion that if it isn't fun, why are you doing it? I know ext_42142 (who is also in charge of Ludus) therefore tries hard to keep games on hand that appeal to a broad range of gaming tastes and abilities.

*I can do strategy, but it's not a strong point, so it stops being fun when I'm out of my league. I play Settlers mostly because I enjoy building things.

[adelheid-p.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this one was a little bit like that and combined with the late hour and the fact that I only had one real meal probably didn't help. Games like Cities and Knights are probably ones I would want to watch a couple times before actually playing it especially if it's with people who play to win.

[montuos]

*grin* I so know how that is! I've already got the Ludus group trained to know that I won't be taught a new game later than 8pm, and now I'm working on the "but I really really really want to watch it played at least once first!" part. ;>

They taught me 7 Wonders the other week, and I "took agin it" — but that was mostly because I just couldn't get a fix on a damned goal for the game in time (there are several ways to win); and by the time I'd begun to understand how to recognize and apply an advantageous card, I'd already irretrievably lost. I would have played better if I'd had a chance to watch it in action first, instead of being thrown in headfirst to drown in complete fail.

[adelheid-p.livejournal.com]

I had that experience with Munchkin, too. I actually learned alot more watching the game yesterday and it seemed like it was more fun than I remember having the first time I played it.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Alas that there were only three of us that night, so you didn't really have the option of watching first.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you had a good time. I was concerned that you hadn't, and if I forgot to say so I apologize.

I should have offered you crash space at our place. Even though you probably wouldn't have accepted... we're at least an hour FURTHER from Pittsburgh than Brunswick is.

[adelheid-p.livejournal.com]

I don't remember if you did or didn't ask, so let's pretend you did. :-)

Yes, considering I'm allergic to cats (I think I recall that you have cats) and I didn't bring any allergy meds with me (heck I forgot to pack my usual vitamins), I would have declined. The extra hour probably wouldn't have been so bad but this way, I was closer anyway.