Monopoly Killer: 2010

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

Sorry for didn't update this blog as usual, it's not my fault, it's him that kept me busy all along!

Here's the most impressive cinematic cutscene in it:

Description: We (Phang, Max, ET & me) played a 4 players game of "Shadows over Camelot", with the Traitor variant. All of us enjoy a game with traitor in it and everyone's moves is very suspicious, and it's fun. I'm a total royal knight, no one will doubt it, as well as Phang. Both of us work hand in hand to fight off the Siege Engines & work hard to pursuit all the quests. Max & ET are the suspicious ones, both of them are doing nothing but wasting turns and cards. Max turns out really suspicious near the game end and ET starting to doing okay near the game end, it make us all think that Max is the traitor. So ET used one of her action to accused Max is the traitor, Max reveal his Royalty Card, and he turns out to be the good guy! Man, So who is the traitor? Siege Engines were not the main problem to Camelot but the black swords on the table are starting to look ugly. ET revealed herself as the traitor and turn the final 2 white swords into black and make us lose. She does surprised us but not Max, I think. It was a tense game and we enjoy it so much. Too bad, it's about the closing time for Mage Cafe and we can't start another new round and we called it a day after this game.

Result: Traitor (ET) def Royal Knights (Phang, Max & me)

The game start and problems kept on coming and won't let us rest for one single moment. Intense gameplay!

Siege Engines were one of our problem but we can work it out easily.

Here is the main problem, the black swords.

Yes, this is the traitor to Camelot. Look at her face. Damn!

Hoity Toity

Date: 24-07-2010

Venue: Mage Cafe

Description: "Hoity Toity" (please refer to BGG for more info about this game) is a very old game, published about 20 years ago. It's a very light flavor family Set Collection game, which players try to collect as much art work pieces as possible and run around the board to be the first player reach the end. The game can be fun with a lot of players, like 5 or 6 players. But with only 3 players (Phang, Max & me), it was kind of dull. ET didn't join us for this game becos she's having her dinner during that period. I watched a tutorial video about this game before, so I teached Phang & Max to play this. It's very easy to teach, can be teach within 5 minutes and the game takes time less than 60 minutes, a great filler game. Anyway, we don't really enjoy this game as much as the other more involve games. Play this with your family would be a great idea but to us, we prefer more cut-throat style of games.

Result: Phang def Max & me.

The game board is small and not much components inside the box, it can be play anywhere actually.

There is some little strategy involve in this game and it's light in flavor. You have to read other players' mind and trying to figure out where are they going and what are they trying to do next. That's the meat of the game. It can be fun if with a lot of players.

In the end, Phang left Max (purple) & me (red) way way far ahead and claimed the victory. Max & me were still wondering around and done nothing.

Phang (black) won the game.

Colosseum

Date: 24-07-2010

Venue: Mage Cafe

Description: Yes, we played "Colosseum" again. This time, 2 round of 4 players game. We really like this game a lot and keep want it more. It's fun and quite cut-throat sometimes. ET, Phang & me played a 3 players game for the first game and Max join us for a 4 players game later.

P/S: This is my birthday, I celebrated it at Mage Cafe with some board games session. That's how I like it to be.

Results:

First game - Me (orange/winner) with 79 spectators, ET (blue) with 75 spectators and Phang (green) with 64 spectators.

Second game - Max (purple/winner) with 96 spectators, me (orange) with 72 spectators, Phang (green) with 71 spectators and ET (blue) with 56 spectators.

This is Phang's colosseum (green). He succeeded placing 4 playing pieces into his colosseum, but in the next player's turn, it all went out. It's just so funny, we all really enjoy that moment with a lot of laughter.

This is my colosseum (orange) at the last turn of the game. 3 Season Ticket Tokens, 3 Win Trophies, 2 Expansions and 1 Emperor Loge.

ET's colosseum (blue). As big as mine but not much Season Ticket Tokens as mine.

Phang, the loser, with only 64 spectators.

End game score for the first game. ET (blue) with 75 spectators and me (orange) with 79 spectators. That was close but I've won!

Second game results - ET (blue) with only 56 spectators. This is the lowest score we've ever played, I think.

Phang (green) with 71 spectators and me (orange) with 72 spectators.

Max, with 96 spectators! Damn! We win it with a big event held.

Colosseum

Date: 18-07-2010

Venue: Mage Cafe

Description: Max finally came. ET suggested we play "Shadows over Camelot" becos we got 4 players now and she likes the Hidden Traitor mechanic. In the end, we played "Colosseum". Again, Phang is the newbie here. Max teach him how to play, me & ET setting up the game. After 10 minutes, all ready to roll! This time, the cut-throat level rises with players, especially in the Event Asset Tokens auction area and Emperor/Consul/Senators dice rolling movement phase. Everyone trying to back-stab everyone and in the end no one succeeded producing the biggest event (there are small, medium and big events). Starting player token passing clockwise every turns and everyone got a chance to be the most pity player every turn. Starting player always got persecuted in the Emperor/Consul/Senators dice rolling movement phase and it is really hurt especially if you have already move 2 or 3 Emperor/Consul/Senators pieces into your colosseum and all other players move them away during their turns and you got nothing left in the end. The only good side of being the starting player is during the Investing Phase becos you are the first one who can choose and purchase the Event Tokens. Anyway, to conclude this, all 4 of us having a good time playing "Colosseum" and we can't wait for another round.

Result:

ET (blue) - 73 spectators (WINNER)

Phang (green) - 66 spectators

Max (purple) - 63 spectators

Me (red) - 45 spectators

The board during the second round.

The board of the final round of the game.

ET's colosseum at the end game.

My colosseum at the end game. I've wasted money to expand my colosseum becos I don't have enough money to purchase the biggest event token and of cos I don't have a lot of event asset tokens that was needed for the big event token.

End game scores.

The board at the end game.

Kingsburg

Date: 18-07-2010

Venue: Mage Cafe

Description: A 3 players (Phang, ET & me) game of "Kingsburg", takes time around 30 minutes to finish this. Phang never play this before, so Ryan (shop owner) teach him how to play. Ryan wanted to join us for a 4 players game, but too bad there are so many customers came by at that time and he have to work. Phang always hated games with Dice Rolling for the main mechanic due to its heavy luck based, but he give it a shot anyway. "Kingsburg" is a moderate luck and light strategy game, you have to manage your dice rolled result, make good use of it even it is a bad rolled, this is where the fun came in. This is mostly like a gateway game to the casual gamers who haven't try out modern boardgames. For us, this is just a filler game while waiting for Max to drop by.

Results: Me (red/winner) - 24 pts, Phang (green) - 18 pts & ET (blue) - 16 pts

The board is just so colorful and the arts are just nicely illustrated, this really attracted me to play it.

Phang is trying to figure out how to make good use of his bad dice rolled.

My Building Sheet at the end game. 10 buildings constructed.

End game scores: me - 24, Phang - 18 and ET - 16.

Goa

Date: 18-07-2010

Venue: Mage Cafe

Description: To kick off our gaming session, "Goa" hits the table! We played a 2 games of 3 players game with a newbie - Phang. I explained the rules to him in 10 minutes and the game starts. I lose in the first game becos I was outbid most of the time during the tiles auction round, lose all the Additional Action Cards is one of the reason I lose. In the end, Phang won his very first try of "Goa". Second game started after our 5 minutes cigarettes break, again, this is a 3 players game too. This time I've won 2 red tiles during the tiles auction round which provide me 4 Ducats (currency) & 1 ship each turn and I draw a lot of Expedition Cards too. In the end, I won for the first time! With 52 points! That's a record, I'd never seen anyone won "Goa" with 52 points in all my previous plays.

Results:

1st game: Phang (green/winner) - 34 pts, me (yellow) - 32 pts & ET (blue) - 30 pts

2nd game: Me (yellow/winner) - 52 pts, ET (blue) - 33 pts & Phang (green) - 28 pts

First game started to kick off our gaming session.

Phang's playing area at the end game of our 2nd game.

ET's playing area at the end game of our 2nd game.

My playing area at the end game of our 2nd game, with 52 points!

Nexus Ops

Date: 11-07-2010

Venue: Old Town Kopitiam @ Wangsa Maju

Description: After a 3 players "Power Grid" game, me and Adam played a 2 players "Nexus Ops" game. Adam used blue pieces and me with red pieces. The game takes time around 30 minutes when Adam succeeded reaches his 12 mission points. "Nexus Ops" is an OK light Sci-Fi wargame to me, it's simple rules and gameplay are the shining point, but it felt into boredom after several plays. I bought this game few months ago 'cos I know it's out of print and surprisingly with a 50% discount for it. The time is around 2am and we pack up everything and wait for the exciting moment of the day - 2010 World Cup Final! Holland vs. Spain (my favorite team)! Anyway, BRAVO to all the Spanish players, you all deserved it! Especially Iker Casillas and Paul the Octopus.

End game scores:

Adam (winner) - 12 mission pts

Me - 5 mission pts

Adam with blue pieces and me with red pieces.

All the cards that needed for the game.

This is the battleground! Everyone rushed for resources and blood.

Adam's victory trophies.

BRAVO!!!

Power Grid

Date: 11-07-2010

Venue: Old Town Kopitiam @ Wangsa Maju

Description: After a full day gaming session at The Mage Cafe, I went for a dinner with ET & Max, then go home take a bath. Adam came over to Wangsa Maju Old Town Kopitiam for another gaming session with me & ET. We played a 3 players game of "Power Grid". "Power Grid" used to hit our table every gaming session back then, we all love it and enjoy playing it. It's been a long time we didn't play it and tonight it's on the table again. Adam used to win a lot back then, but now he's not 'cos he forgot some of the rules and his winning strategy. ET & me both powered 17 cities in the last round and we have to decide who is the winner by who is the richest player. In the end, I lose.

End game scores:

ET (winner) powered 17 cities (with 197 Electro)

Me powered 17 cities (with 144 Electro)

Adam powered 14 cities (with 151 Electro)

The game started. Power Plants auction market on the left, Resources market on the right. My first bought power plant at the bottom.

After I've spent 26 Electro to bid for this Windmill Power Plant (cost 22), another same power value with 18 cost Windmill Power Plant came out! And the last player bought it with only 18 Electro. Damn!

Adam's counting his Electros under the table. We usually play "Power Grid" with a house rule, which money are not visible to other players. This will make the game more intense.

Colosseum

Date: 11-07-2010

Venue: Mage Cafe

Description: Max, ET & me played a 3 players "Colosseum" game, a game where each player is a Roman impresario, who owns a colosseum and tries to put on the best event. The game last for 5 rounds and each round split in 5 phases which are investing, acquiring event assets, trading event assets, producing an event & closing ceremonies. The player who puts on the biggest event with the most spectators wins the game. I've learned the game from a video through the internet and I'd even download the rule book from Days of Wonder's website and read through it. We finished the game within 90 minutes and it was fun. I've heard that this game has only one linear strategy to win and I've find out that is true after only 1 play, but I still like this game and will play it more often if got the chance.

End game scores:

Max (winner) - 91 spectators

Me - 76 spectators

ET - 73 spectators

The game starts!

Here is a view of the whole board and playing area.

The Emperor (red) which will bring 7 more spectators for you if you succeeded roll & move him into your colosseum. The Consul (blue) & the Senator (yellow) on the far side will bring you 5 & 3 spectators.

All the bits that comes with the game are just awesome. The money chips(from bottom), event tokens, the board, the Emperor/Consul/Senator pieces & the dice are all in top notch quality production like what "Days of Wonder" always delivered.

These are my event asset tokens which needed to put on a good show. Any missing pieces for the need of the event will decease my incoming spectators (VPs).

This is my colosseum (green) and the tiles laying in the center board area are the auction market.

You can roll 2 dice to move the Emperor/Consul/Senator's pieces around the squares if you 've constructed the Emperor Loge earlier on. There are some Star Performers too that will boost your spectators level if you've collected more than 3 of the same kind.