Author: Drew

(Almanac of Games is a weekly feature, published every Sunday) It’s Classics Day, as 3 vintage games make our Almanac for June 29th. OBSERVANCE: June 29 (the last Sunday in June) is Log Cabin Day (at least in Michigan…) Begun in 1986, Log Cabin Day became an official state holiday three years later. The brainchild of Virginia Handy and the Log Cabin Society of Michigan, the day focuses on preserving the few remaining log cabins in the state. Log Cabins are a part of our American heritage because Abe Lincoln decided to be born in one, and later stepped in…

I’m not going to try to explain Reddit, just as I wouldn’t try to explain Board Game Geek (BGG). Both sites host fun-loving communities that are passionate about what I’m passionate about: table-top gaming. However, the outpouring of information from both sites is overwhelming for the part-time gamer. I happen to be fond of Reddit’s /r/boardgame group because they’re more casual than what you’ll find on BGG. For example, they talk a awful lot about Risk, something that’s out of favor among the EuroGeeks, Miniaturists and Card sharks dominating BGG. So, I’m going to make an attempt at curating some…

(put back together by Drew Davidson) A mid-week dump of the Fab Four blog posts of the last 7 days.   C’mon bloggers! Spread out your posts throughout the year, will you? Don’t save your best posts for when a dozen other bloggers are posting their best, too… Herewith are this past week’s Fab Four blog posts, ranked in order of enjoyment, along with an additional 4 Honorable Mentions… 1. An Introvert’s Guide to a Successful Convention (The Socially Inept Gamer) 2. Which Beer Would Your Favorite Game Be? (Clever Move) 3. The Whole Package (Business of Play) 4. Kindergarten…

On June 22, 1986 Maradona’s “hand of God” scored the decisive goal that defeated England in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarterfinal match. Subbuteo, a flicking game, but with lots of accessories Because you’re flicking, you get to use your hands, just like Maradona! At Amazon, you can also get the “Official Fences Set” and the “Official Pitch Set” This is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week Lightning is usually used to refer to quick assaults. So, most games that use their word are wargames. Still, I found one game that’s about actual lightning! It’s an old (1892) abstract strategy game called,…

(put back together by Drew Davidson) A mid-week dump of the Fab Four blog posts of the last 7 days. POST OF THE WEEK! What My Dad Taught Me About Winning, by Morgan Hillman If You Give a Geek a Game…, June 15 A Father’s Day testimonial. File this under Life is Like a Board Game. The 5 lessons Morgan learned from her Dad: Surround yourself with winners; Pick your battles; Be gracious; If you don’t win, learn from it; Thank the people that helped you get there. The one I think we overlook the most? Thanking the people we’ve…

It doesn’t really matter whether I like a game or not. What matters is whether you will like it. But first, you have to learn the game. So, here’s my judgment-free exploration of Brian Mayer’s Freedom: The Underground Railroad. Academy Games, academygames.com Designer: Brian Mayer Players 1-4 Playing Time 90 min. A.P. Factor: 3/10 Learning Curve: Moderate Best Table Size: 3 chairs Weight: Medium Footprint: Large Type: Cooperative Curiosity Few historical events have spawned as many board games as the American Civil War. And with all the emphasis on battles, few games are developed that highlight the events leading to…

On June 15, 1902, the 20th Century Limited began service The 20th Century Limited is the most famous of American trains, with its own movie and Broadway musical.1 Designers Jeff & Carla Horger have created a game inspired by that most romantic of trains. In their blog, started back in Feb. 2012, they document the game’s development. At one point, Mayfair held the option to publish but had to pass due to a full schedule. Eventually, the Horgers got ownership back and recently promised that there will be an announcement soon from a “major publisher.” Now, if you want a…

(put back together by Drew Davidson) A mid-week dump of the Fab Four blog posts of the last 7 days. POST OF THE WEEK! “Gamification: Adding Fun,” by Yehuda Berlinger Yehuda, June 8th Gamification (aka, The Mary Poppins Method) is the process by which every day life is turned into a game. The leading proponents of Gamification are the Marketing Departments of shrewd corporations, who know that making a consumer feel like a Winner is one of the best ways to buy their loyalty. Now, the first three articles in Yehuda’s Gamification series had too many words for my liking,…

(carried off by Drew Davidson) THIS DAY IN HISTORY On June 8, 793, Vikings raided Northumbria, England, looting and sacking the abbey at Lindisfarne. History geeks know it as that episode in history where the North meets the West, ushering in the beginning of the Viking Age. Pop culture geeks know it as that episode of Vikings where Ragnar meets Athelstan, ushering in the beginning of a Beautiful Friendship. Game geeks know it as the launching pad for a half-dozen quality Viking-themed tabletop games. My recommendation for recreating this pivotal time in history is Fire & Axe: A Viking Saga…

One of the biggest thrills you get from a tabletop game is in Playing God…looking out over the ‘world’ – all knowing, all seeing – and taking actions that will irreparably change the course of events. It’s cool playing God. You don’t even have to believe in God to play Him. In fact, most gamers aren’t Bible-reading types. They’re more the heathen variety, grooving on pantheons of minor deities, not to mention Cthulhu and his otherworldly buddies. But face it, themes from the Bible come up again and again in tabletop games. That’s no surprise since 95% of board games…