My WBC gaming and dining flops 2011
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
This is my third year at the WBC and feeling pretty nervous because I haven't been gaming as much as previous years. Mostly, this was due to my friends being busy. I did get 535 hours of poker and probably the same amount of time in blackjack the past year though. The games I did get better at was unfortunately not events this year (Endeavor and Dungeon Lords). Yes, I did vote for them in the trial ballots.
2010
-
1.
Board Game: Hotels
[Average Rating:5.35 Overall Rank:7725]
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Wednesday
I didn't get a room until 10 PM the previous night and managed toget the Magnuson for $80 a night (20% off their normal price) through Priceline. It is a 5 minute walk (on the same side) to the Host which was very convenient. It has big bedrooms and swimming and arcade rooms. The downside was that my remote didn't work so I had to get up to switch the channel.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 2]
This is a game I only play at the WBC, and I got a early seed and picked Michigan St '05. My opponent was Cincinnati '92 so we pretty much had similar teams. In the first half, the rolls weren't going my way and had to suffer from a Man-to-Man defense which limited my score to 19 to his 31. Despite not having any cards in the second half, I somewhat managed to close the gap to 61 to 51.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Waffle house.
I got the All Star breakfast combo which was 2 eggs (scrambled), sausage, hash browns, and biscuits n' gravy. Along with OJ and tax + tip for 11.65. Not bad, a normal diner breakfast. Good thing I didn't get waffles as you'll see later.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 2]
Being a very fast player, I signed up for the fast player tables for this heat. Unfortunately most of the games were on Central Europe which I have never played before. When I play power grid I always go for the win, but some players play to increase their standings. Therefore, I ended up 5th despite holding more cities than I could power, but I still had to try to stop the leader from ending the game.
-
-
5.
Board Game: Agricola
[Average Rating:8.25 Overall Rank:2]
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 1]
This had an E-deck draft which added a little too much time for a heat in my opinion. Played an early woodcutter and ended up 2nd to Raphael Lehrer (52, 37, 33, 30, 28)
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 2]
Since our game took over the 3 hours, I quickly hopped into a El Grande game that didn't start yet and needed another player. I started in Seville with the King in the opposite corner. Despite a horrible first 3 rounds, I was starting to make up ground in the 4-6 rounds. Somehow, I think I was the only one to notice that the two "score 5's" didn't come out yet and loaded those for round 8 and 9. This put me back in contention for the final scoring, but one of the 5's was taking over by the player in last place. I ended up 3rd with the winner being the person that was last the entire game. (109, 107, 100. 99, 93)
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Bob Evans
Getting some more southern favorites since I've only eaten New England food the past year. Mephis style chicken, sweet potato fries, Mac n' cheese, and a soda for $15.90. (all prices include the tax and tip that I gave). The chicken was moist despite being dry rubbed but I couldn't tell whether the macaroni was baked or microwaved.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 2]
In this game, I had my engine running at full strength as I had a max family with 7 farms. I did this by taking the roll 4 for bonuses cards (the 6-farm, 5-tool, etc). This would normally guarantee me a win, but the game lasted only 9 rounds, and I only had 6 cards total, 1 hut, and 17 resources. (164, 119, 79, 69)
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Thursday
Continental breakfast included waffles and bagels. So, I made a waffle each day with butter one day, then cream cheese, and PB&J the last. I also bought cereal and fruit snacks at Target also.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 3]
I finally got to open my box of power grid that was sitting on my couch for 2 months! This time I was playing with the plant deck 2 cards which I am unfamiliar with. I started in Cincinnati and was surrounded by all sides at the end of step 1. This was actually what I wanted as I could have built and power 4 more cities at the boundaries between the other players. Unfortunately, I didn't pull the trigger as I saw one of those "that plant is too good to pass" deals. What I didn't know was that in deck 2, there are 7 and 8 city power plants which meant that those 6 city "too good to pass" plants aren't that great. I did the same thing in the second to last round where I got a big plant instead of building to first place. This ended with me being fourth. Not a good showing here as well.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Red Lobster
I got in at 11:48, order a lunch sized Crab linguini for "crabfest". As I took 3 bites of my salad, my meal came out. So what I thought would be a hour ordeal turned into an actual 20 minute meal. The Linguini was just topped with crab meat instead of chicken so everything is semi pre-made. With a soda, I ended up paying 17.50
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Round 1]
A game that is pretty much new, but I am horrible at (for now). I got the mausoleum for side A and went with a science route. This put me tied for 6th with Richard Shay. Side B, I happen to get the same board. Despite weak cards, I improved to 5th.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Fuddruckers
I go to fuddruckers here every week, but I wanted to see if they had the Ostrich burger which I never had before. It turns out that they do sell it, but only in the winter. So I ended up getting potato skins and a Resse's shake which aren't on the menu back home for $11.95.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 1]
Another fast table game. This time with defending champ, Alexandra Henning. With the Cross and Island boards, people were debating the straight path through double lasers or going around the cross. I came up with an ever better plan of going onto the Island board with protection from walls and ouch the flag while everyone is pushing each other. All I needed was 2 move 2's or a 1+3. Not the case, and I went around the cross to start. I miscounted the one move and died the very first turn and played the entire game with 7 cards. Needless to say, I did terrible and ended up dying all four times (with the last on the last turn of the game) for 6th place.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[round 1]
I like that this year was going to Intrigue and Seaside because I know the better players could come up with a better strategy than big money will have a better chance of advancing than previous years. I ended up with a table only familiar with the Base game or Seaside and got two first places (with a baron-trading post deck and a bridge-duke deck)
-
-
16.
Board Game: Agricola
[Average Rating:8.25 Overall Rank:2]
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 2]
After getting the first win out of the way, it was time for my worst deck in agricola. I rarely play with the I-deck by itself since I play with E with beginners and K with the experienced players. I had to sit to the right of the taster the entire game which meant I would be placing last almost every round because the player on my right also didn't take start player either. I ended up third (49, 42, 29, 27, 23).
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Friday
Today is the day to excel because the games that I play today are ones that I (believe I) am good enough to win.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 4]
In this game, I max my family again, but kept sending people to hunt for food instead of starving (which I never tried yet). Card taking was very defensive for each one of us as we took the card that the person on our right wanted. I ended up second (183, 168, 164, 143) but decided to pass on the second round to play dominion.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Quarterfinals]
The first game, I started the dreaded fourth position. (I much prefer a 2nd/3rd start then 1st/4th) I also had 5/2 start which I didn't want either as the only 5 card was Tribute. The Provinces were split evenly but I came in second by taking the most Duchies while the winner had a Nobles deck (33, 31, 29, 29). The second game, I started with a 2 and bought a Secret Chamber. The following two players also had a 5/2 start. Now going first was a disadvantage, as I would have bought a courtyard if i knew the other players weren't able to get a swindler. I knew when to start getting Dutchies for my deck but didn't plan out when to buy Estates at the right time and bought a few useless shanty towns. Compounding this mistake was the fact that the person that won the last game was totally out of this game and the person that finished last had the only 4/3 start had a big lead. So instead of going for second, I went for the win and ended up third (32, 26, 25, 17), and we all eliminated each other from the semifinal.
-
-
20.
Board Game: Agricola
[Average Rating:8.25 Overall Rank:2]
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 3]
The people at the table decide to skip the draft this round which worked out well as all of my cards were for killing animals. I started out in 5th position but still was able to play a resource seller the first round. Now, this is the first time that I didn't bake, and on round 6, all of the fireplaces and hearths were gone so my pasture is now useless and I would have to gather food somehow every round. I ended up with 2 beggar cards and 8 unused spaces despite having 12 wood, 6 clay, 7 stone and 2 reed at the end for last place (37, 33, 24, 16, 9).
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 2]
I had to miss heat 1 since it was at the same time as Dominion round 1. (I think that was one of the reasons why PR had a lower turnout this year as I knew numerous players skipping PR to play Dominion round 1 and/or semis.) Anyway, I had my best seat (Indigo 1) and had a big early start on tobacco. Unfortunately, my harbor was almost useless as there was a big coffee ship. Almost every move I made either helped one of the coffee players (Bob in seat 2 or Sara in seat 3) and I decided to just keep switching between each one. Now Bob was playing very defensive against me (since I had a big start) which allowed Sara to sneak past with her Harbor. Bill was our last player but wasn't really a factor throughout (although he did win his heat 3). Final score (48, 43, 42, 34).
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Red Robin
Last year, they were just starting to build this entire plaza. So, I decided to try out a brand new restaurant for the area. I had a 22oz draft of New Castle and a bacon cheeseburger for $19. It included unlimited steak fries but the service is too slow to be worth it to wait. The bacon was also very thin and not really worth it. I'll definitely avoid this place next year.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Heat 2]
Again Alexandra was at my table so I knew this would be a tough game. This time we started on the maelstrom board and went to the exchange board and back and forth one more time. I didn't start with any move 3's as everyone else did so I ended up in the back and everyone was non-virtual at the end of the first round. I touched the first flag 6th of 7 but a quick shut down when out of harm's way brought me to flag 2 in 4th. I decided to go around the board through the pushers instead of the conveyors for the third flag which ended up giving me four hits as people were coming at me for flag 2 which offset my 9 card to 5 card advantage. In the end, I still finished in the 2nd-4th range.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
Saturday
I have only 3 games today so this might be a chill by the pool day for me unless I win.
-
-
Loc Nguyen
United States
groton
Connecticut
-
[Round 1]
I placed 2nd and got two good placements. Unfortunately, I was blocked in and robbed the two rounds that I could have done anything (and that included the first roll). I upgrade my two settlements to cities and had to build 4 more roads to get to my first settlement for a total score of 5 aka another last place.
-
-
|
|
