9th July 2014 The evening started off very light-heartedly with Crazy Derby a simple Reiner card game where collectively you try to make sets, those partaking in the successful sets score victory points, normally played to 100 points we just played a round to get a feel for it (3rounds would normally settle a 5 player game).

There being 6 of us another filler was required I suggested Jamaica a race game where the fortunes of die rolling and card drawing make this a game of luck, the fun being in the journey rather than the goal. The first attack of Pirate against Pirate was a reluctant affair with only a small pile of booty being taken, however with the second attack any chance of “honour” was lost and from then on everyone grabbed what they could. The game split between a front group of three and “The Others”, a misplayed card destroying the hopes of one Pirate, I had no such excuse.

The pirate fleet sets sail - guess who is trailing.

2 of my 5 holds - 3 doubloons and a couple of shot - meagre holdings indeed — 2 of my 5 holds - 3 doubloons and a couple of shot - meagre holdings indeed

We divided into 2 tables after that, one table playing Oregon the other Chicago Express Oregon is an odd game where you use cards to place generic buildings or your own pieces, the idea being to maximise your points by placing pieces next to high scoring buildings. The game does rely on drawing the right cards.

Chicago Express I had been looking forward to playing and I was not disappointed. On your turn you buy a share, lengthen a railway or improve a rail line, the value of a railway increases (as does the value of your shares) by reaching various towns or making improvements. Regular dividends increase personal cash, maximum cash holder at game end decides the winner. It took me ¾ of the game to understand some of the subtleties in the mechanisms but once understood it is a fairly simple game to play. I see many battles ahead.

Three routes reach Chicago - I only had shares in one of them :(

Last games on the tables were A Fistful of Penguins and Drunter and Druber . The former is a nice game of dice rolling where you use “penguins” as cash to buy new dice or re-roll bad rolls.

Crib sheet, coins and laser cut penguins in a Fistful of Penguins

The latter game is route laying game where you build walls, roads and canals over important structures. Each player owns a different structure and does their best to defend their buildings by guiding the “routes” in different directions. As the building ownership is secret to the other players, half the fun is guessing what the others own and trying to mislead others in identifying your buildings.

Towards game end in Drunter and Druber, The Blue Clocktowers and Red Fire Towers remain unscathed and become targets.

As always a mix of light fun and medium weight games, an enjoyable evening. To date 52 different games have been played at the club with New Amsterdam– what has been played can be found HERE

Medway Area Boardgamers