Growing up, I was a big fan of 4X computer games such as Civilization and Master of Orion. In recent years I’ve been more into tabletop gaming, but I’ve always hoped to find a board game that adequately captures the feel of a 4X. It’s a tough ask to distill all those 1’s and 0’s… Read More Review: Twilight Imperium (Fourth Edition)
What if I told you that Agricola was not originally designed to be about peaceful 17th century farmers? In fact, Uwe Rosenberg originally intended the game to be his first foray into heavily thematic Ameritrash games. He only decided to change the theme to farming at the last minute, under pressure from the publisher that… Read More Fan Theory: Agricola as an Ameritrash Game
Sid – London – March 15, 2087 I need to return to the Haven at New Catalonia soon. But I promised to write in the journal this month, and it is good to work on my English. Our team tries always to communicate better. This month has been stressful. From the outset we have… Read More The Haven Journals: March 15, 2087
Starling – Atlantis – February 15, 2087 The sea has always been my home. That doesn’t mean I can’t handle the mainlands. But the team asked me to stay back in Atlantis this month, to practice my building skills. I’m the best craftsman among our task force, and we need to be able to put… Read More The Haven Journals: February 15, 2087
Hale – Q’anyda – December 31, 2086 To all those who read this letter – this is the story of humanity’s heroic last stand, in the face of insurmountable odds. Our leaders have vanished, and supplies are dwindling. Five of us have stepped forward to venture out to the mainland in search of supplies, aid,… Read More The Haven Journals: December 31, 2086
Hi all — I’m excited to introduce a new monthly feature that I’ll be posting on this blog — the Haven Journals. I’m currently playing through Pandemic Legacy: Season 2 with some friends, and am writing recaps of each session. The recaps will be written from the perspective of the characters we’ve created, in a narrative… Read More New Feature: The Haven Journals
BGG Rank #97 – 2/10/2017 This week we’re taking a trip back in the past, to look at what is easily the oldest game in the current BGG Top 100. Go is believed to have been invented by a Chinese emperor (or a member of the royal court) more than 4,000 years ago. But as I’ve noted… Read More Review: Go
BGG Rank #32 – 2/3/2017 7 Wonders deserves a lot of credit for its contribution to board games, as the game that popularized the ‘pick and pass’ card drafting mechanic. In a world where so many games can be described as “a mix of ____ and ____”, I have great respect for games that are… Read More Review: 7 Wonders
The Top of the Table 