Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
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Welcome back, my friends, to the tabletop agrarian accounts that never end!* This particular melee, featuring the usual melange of miscalculations, misplays, and missed opportunities, yet another rules question or two for the powers-that-be (and Constant Reader’s opinion as well), and hopefully a line or several that will evoke a grin, a grimace, a snort, a snicker, or perhaps even an outright guffaw. The setting is the House of Jimmy during one of the Ugoi’s regular Sunday evening gaming get-togethers. It’s only a trio this time around, a Level 3 session of “FotM” with G-Deck cards well-shuffled into the base game Ocks & Imps, deal ten Ocks along with seven each of “FotM” Minors and mixed-deck Minors, pared down to the regulation 7&7, and Amanda gets the button through no fault of her own. What will she do with it?
*Well, someday, no doubt, but not today.
Round One/MIMI
Amanda (#1) – Occ/Family Counselor^
Jimmy (#3) – 1H
Geoff (#2) – HF(2f) ?
Amanda – PF
Jimmy – 1BR(1S)
Geoff – MIMI/Advance Payment (1W/1C/1R/1S/1G/1f/1fl/1sh –4VP)
Jimmy – SP + x
Geoff – Occ(-2f)/Wood Carver
^Amanda – (1f)
Amanda starts the ball rolling with what has become a favorite G-Deck Ock, Jimmy ropes a nag, and I break stride right out of the gate with an impulsive visit to the Fair that will serve as a pointed harbinger of things to come.* Amanda bravely plows a field,** Jimmy adds a rock for his horse to run around, and I bang out one of my favorite M-Deck double-edged swords. Jimmy, intent on his own private Idaho, has no choice but to make a bare button grab, and thereby sussing me in the Kiln gambit. I settle for coughing up to put the Wood Carver into play. Amanda earns her first Counselor bonus, and we are underway…
*One solid nugget of GG to the first respondent who can tell me what I should have done instead, and I’m not saying another word about it, not even in Bits & Pieces.
**Would she have been better off hitting up the DL? I’m not sure.
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 1 PF, 1 Ock, 3M/5F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 4f/1fl, 1W/1C/1R/1S, 1G, 1sh, 1 Ock, 1 MnImp, 3M/5F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 1S, 1h, 3M/5F
Round Two/Fences
Jimmy – MIMI/Peat-Charcoal Kiln (-1S)
Geoff – 3W(6)
Amanda – Occ(-1f)/Wood Collector (5W> )
Jimmy – CP(3+2fl)
Geoff – HF(2f)
Amanda – 2W(4)
Jimmy – 1R(2)
Geoff – 1C(2)
^Amanda – (1f)
Jimmy, a happy camper farmer, completes his Kiln gambit, I haul the obvious, and Amanda pops out a second respectable Ock. Jimmy promptly fuels up hi-test, I visit the Fair again, and the Round quickly concludes with a spate of resource collection. Payoff number two goes to Amanda’s Counselor, and Jimmy still has the button, bless his soul.
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 4W, 1 PF, 2 Ock, 3M/5F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 6f/1fl, 7W/3C/1R/1S, 1G, 1sh, 1 Ock, 1 MnImp, 3M/5F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f/5fl, 2R, 1h, 1 MjImp, 2M/5F
Round Three/Sheep Amanda – (1W)
Jimmy – 1C(3)
Geoff – Occ(-1f)/Charcoal Burner°
Amanda – SB(PF)
Jimmy – CW/Fp2 (-2C/1f/1fl)°
Geoff – SP + Land Parcel (1F)
Amanda – Fences(4) (-4W)
Jimmy – Fish(3f)
Amanda – 3W(3)
^Amanda – (1f)
Jimmy hauls clay for a cookery, and rather than try to deny him,* I play an anticipatory Charcoal Burner. Amanda turns a companion field, and Jimmy pays the vig to claim the fireplace, score one for the Burner.** I claim the button to play a favored Minor to link up my Forest tiles,*** Amanda plops a pasture into her yard, and Jimmy empties the fish pond. Amanda spikes the potential 6Wood, earning her second Counselor bonus.
*Sure, I could have claimed first fireplace, either by using CW myself, or MIMI, but greed got the better of me. I’m not sure whether the choice was a mistake or not, since the Burner did turn out to be thoroughly worth the effort.
**He’ll be worth a 7W/7f over the course of the game, naught to sneeze at.
***And why I didn’t play one of my Round Six Minors here first is beyond me
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 4f, 4W, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 2 Ock, 3M/4F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 6f/1fl, 8W/3C/1R/1S, 1G, 1sh, 2 Ock, 2 MnImp, 3M/6F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 5f/4fl, 1C/2R, 1h, 2 MjImp, 2M/5F
Round Four/Sow & Bake Amanda – (1W)
Geoff – 2W(4)
Amanda – Sheep(2)
Jimmy – CP(3+2fl)
Geoff – CP(3fl) –2f ?
Amanda – HF(2f)
Jimmy – Occ/Wet Nurse
Geoff – 1R(2)
Amanda – 3W(3)
Jimmy – DL(2f)
^Amanda – (1f)
Being utterly greedy, plus sensing something untoward is in the air, I turn my nose up at the waiting reed and pile on the wood. Amanda slams woolies into her pasture,* Jimmy fuels up hi-test, and I slip a gear as I foolishly fork over the premium to fuel up as well, instead of (perhaps) more wisely hitting up the Fair. Amanda quite naturally does just that, and Jimmy then startles us with the wicked Wet Nurse.** Blithely to a fault, I take the reed. Amanda spikes the wood yet again,**** Jimmy stuffs his larder, Amanda collects her due, and then has to slough a 2Wood for heating. All else is normal as normal can be.*****
*Well, not really; she’s much gentler than that.
**I, of course, would have discarded such a vile card had it been dealt to me in favor of a replacement, but Jimmy has nefarious plans afoot. Besides, none of us really consider the stupid thing to be broken, although it is surely a royal pain.***
***There’s a bad joke in there somewhere, but I’m not looking for it. You can, if you want.
****It’s a habit. A baaaad habit. 
*****Which isn’t saying a whole lot in a game like this.
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 6W, 3sh, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 2 Ock, 3M/4F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 0f/2fl, 12W/3C/3R/1S, 1G, 1sh, 2 Ock, 2 MnImp, 2M/6F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f/7fl, 1C/2R, 1h, 1 Ock, 2 MjImp, 1M/5F
Round Five/Stone Amanda – (1W)
Geoff – HF(2f)
Amanda – Occ(-1f)/Greengrocer
Jimmy – SB(PF)
Geoff – MIMI/Fp3 (-3C)°
Amanda – 1G +1V
Jimmy – SP + Peat Hut (FG – 1f/5fl/2R) !!
Geoff – BR(1) + 2s (-8W/2R)
Jimmy – 1C(3)
^Amanda – (1f)
With no apparent threats on the horizon, I specialize a jot of food, if only to keep ocking options open. Amanda monkey-wrenches that with an Ock of her own, Jimmy turns a field, and I settle for the other fireplace. Amanda puts her new Ock to work, and Jimmy unveils his master plan by swiping the button, playing the fuel-ish (sorry) “FotM” Minor and using the Wet Nurse to add a peep.* I knock out a room and breeding stables (cf. Wood Carver), Jimmy clears the cheap clay, and Amanda picks up her bonus food. I keep fingers crossed for growth next Round.
*Yes, yes, I know, I know. I’m going to leave the discussion of whether or not the Peat Hut triggers the Wet Nurse to you, Constant Reader. Sadly, the Compendium has nothing to say about it under either listing. Hello, Hanno and Eugene!
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 7W, 1G/1V, 3sh, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 3 Ock, 3M/4F
Geoff – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f/2fl, 5W/1R/1S, 1G, 1sh, 2s, 2 Ock, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/6F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 2f/2fl, 4C, 1h, 1 PF, 1 Ock, 2 MjImp/1 MnImp, 1M/4F
Round Six/Family Growth + MI Amanda – (1W)
Jimmy – 3W(6)
Geoff – CP(3fl)
Amanda – 1C(3)
Jimmy – HF(2f)
Geoff – SP + Sack Cart (3G> -1W)
Amanda – 1R(2)
Jimmy – 2W(4)
Geoff – FG + House Goat
Jimmy – Fences(9) (-9W) [1x3]
Jimmy may have gotten minimal advantage from his tricky gambit, but he still claims the stacked lumber. I fuel up again, Amanda hauls clay, and Jimmy snacks. I swipe the button and get out the cheap wood-for-grain swap, Amanda reels in reed, and Jimmy hauls wood. I hire on, getting my own goat,* and Jimmy pasture-izes three of his yards. Amanda’s next on the expansion list…
*Sorry, I do that a lot.
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 8W/3C/2R, 1G/1V, 3sh, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 3 Ock, 3M/4F
Geoff – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 3f/5fl, 4W/1R/1S, 1G, 1sh, 2s, 2 Ock, 1 MjImp/4 MnImp, 1M/6F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 4f/2fl, 1W/4C, 1h, 1 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 1 Ock, 2 MjImp/1 MnImp, 1M/4F
Round Seven/Renovation + MIMI Amanda – (1W)
Geoff – Sheep(3)burn3
Amanda – 1S(3)
Jimmy – 1H
Geoff – CW/Fp3>CH4 (-1f/1fl)°
Amanda – MIMI/Stone Oven (4f –1C/3S/1G)°
Jimmy – 1BR(1S)
Geoff – SP + Remodeling> (BR(1) – 1R/1s)
Jimmy – Ren/Peat Hut>(BR(1)) + Heating Stove (-2C/1S)
Geoff – FG + x
Jimmy – Fish(4f)
^Amanda – (1f)
I crush the woolies, and then Amanda quite strangely shies away from growth prep (a visit to the Hiring Fair is really all she needs) in favor of the stone heist. Jimmy picks up a sire for his mare (or vice versa, it’s hard to tell with horseeples), I pay the premium for a quick cookery upgrade, and Amanda fires up the twin oven at half strength. Jimmy purloins a rock, which I counter by retaking the button to play the “FotM” version of the Wooden Hut Extension. Jimmy happily uses the required Renovation action to turn his Peat Hut into a regular wood room, and then executes a contentious secondary action to alleviate heating concerns.* I take on another peep, Jimmy fishes, Amanda gets her paltry bonus. She also burns off a 2Wood for heating and her baby wooly runs away; Jimmy also sloughs a wood to heat. I am content in my affluence; the midgame awaits.
*The Compendium has nothing to say about this gambit, unfortunately, and in the interest of acknowledging cleverness, Amanda and I allowed it. The powers-that-be may have other opinions. Achtung again, Hanno and Eugene! What say you? What says Constant Reader, for that matter? The question, of course, is does the Renovation action used to transform the Peat Hut into a normal room also include the associated MIMI, or building fences, for that matter, if it’s done in Round Fourteen?
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 4f, 7W/2C/2R, 1V, 3sh, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 3 Ock, 1 MjImp, 3M/4F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 3f/0fl, 5W/1S, 1G, 1sh, 1s, 2 Ock, 1 MjImp/4 MnImp, 1M/6F
Jimmy – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 2f/2fl, 2C, 3h, 1 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 1 Ock, 3 MjImp, 1M/4F
Round Eight/Vegetables Geoff – (1G)
Geoff – 3W(6)
Amanda – SP + Spinning Mill (-2W/2C)
Jimmy – HF(2f)
Geoff – CP(3fl)
Amanda – BR(0) + 2s (-4W)
Jimmy – 2W(4)
Geoff – 1C(3) ?
Jimmy – 1R(2)
Geoff – CW/Clay Oven (5f –3C/1S/1G/3f/1fl)°
Jimmy – DL(2f)
Geoff – 1C(2)
Geoff – MIMI/Forest Lodge (-2C)
^Amanda – (1f)
Teeming timber awaits, and I do not disappoint it. Amanda retakes the button, putting out a pointed fuel-saver. Jimmy and I dispense with the specials; Amanda puzzlingly ignores building a room in favor of a pair of stables. Jimmy hauls wood, and I very possibly err by selecting clay over the reed that Jimmy quickly appropriates. I pay the vig to fire up everybody’s favorite oven, Jimmy snacks, and I close out with more clay that I use to build the Lodge.* Amanda receives what will turn out to be her last Counselor bonus, and on we go.
*Had I been on the ball and taken the reed, I could have acquired the Museum instead of the Lodge, very likely altering future events to a significant degree. But, there I was, feeling greedy.
Current Status
Amanda – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 5f, 1W/2R, 1V, 3sh, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 2s, 3 Ock, 1 MjImp/1 MnImp, 3M/4F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 6f/2fl, 12W, 1G, 1sh, 1s, 2 Ock, 3 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/6F
Jimmy – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 6f/2fl, 4W/2C/2R, 3h, 1 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 1 Ock, 3 MjImp, 1M/4F
Round Nine/Boar
Amanda – CP(3fl)
Jimmy – Sheep(2)burn2
Geoff – 1S(2)
Amanda – BM/Remodeling> (BR(1) –1W/1R/1s/1fl)
Jimmy – Fish(2f)
Geoff – 1V
Amanda – FG + Beehive (6f> )
Jimmy – Occ(-5f)/Lover (FG w/o)
Geoff – PF
Amanda – 1G +1V
Geoff – S&B (1Vf +5f-1G)
Unwilling to be deprived again, Amanda fuels up. Jimmy immolates the woolies, I grab a few stone, and Amanda at last adds a room via the convenience of Remodeling. Jimmy snacks on fish, a move that should have raised an alarm but didn’t, and I clear the veggie negative. At long last, Amanda adds a worker, along with a decent Minor., but Jimmy quickly makes it obvious just how badly she’s falling behind when he springs the Lover. Ouch! I get a first field plowed, Amanda flogs her Greengrocer, and I farm for effect. At harvest, I burn off a 2Wood for heating, while my opponents take advantage of their heating abatements (cf. Amanda’s Spinning Mill and Jimmy’s Heating Stove). We’re in the thick of the midgame.
Current Status
Amanda – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 1R, 1G/2V, 4sh, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 1s, 3 Ock, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/4F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 4f/0fl, 10W/2S, 1V, 1sh, 1 PF(1v), 1s, 2 Ock, 3 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/6F
Jimmy – 3Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 0f/1fl, 4W/2C/2R, 4h, 1 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 1 Ock, 3 MjImp, 1M/4F
Round Ten/Cattle Amanda – (2f)
Amanda – 3W(6)
Jimmy – Boar(2)
Geoff – HF(2f)
Amanda – SB(PF)
Jimmy – 2W(4)
Geoff – 1R(2)
Amanda – 1G +1V
Jimmy – BR(0) +3s (-6W)
Geoff – 1C(2)
Amanda – Occ(-1f)/Clay Mixer ?
Jimmy – 1C(2)
Geoff – MIMI/Furnace (2fl –1C/1S)
Geoff – SP + Lawn Turf> (1fl)
The 6Wood falls to Amanda, as expected, Jimmy confiscates the pigs, and Amanda and I make short work of the specials, after which Jimmy doubles his timber reserves. I take critical reed, Amanda puts the Greengrocer to task yet again, and Jimmy blocks my growth plans by knocking out a trio of stables. Amanda then possibly miscues with a fourth Ock of limited potential at this point in the game.* Jimmy immediately hauls clay Amanda could have as easily taken herself, and I end the Round by picking up the Furnace, relieving heating concerns, and another button heist to seal the deal. A retro-peek at the action count shows that Amanda is, indeed, in trouble; she trails with 26 actions taken to my 36 and Jimmy’s 34. That’s fairly huge, and she’ll have to indulge in some serious skullduggery to overcome the deficit.
*Had she simply delayed using the Greengrocer again, and simply taken clay, she could have secured her desired cookery this Round, and thrown at least a minor monkey wrench into Jimmy’s and my works to boot.
Current Status
Amanda – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 1f/0fl, 6W/1R, 2G/3V, 4sh, 3 PF, 1(1x1)p, 1s, 4 Ock, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/3F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 6f/3fl, 10W/1C/2R/1S, 1V, 1sh, 1 PF(1v), 1s, 2 Ock, 4 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/6F
Jimmy – 3Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 0f/1fl, 2W/4C/2R, 2b/4h, 1 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 3s, 1 Ock, 3 MjImp, 1M/4F
Round Eleven/Stone Geoff – (1G)
Geoff – CW/Riding Stables (-1W/1R/1C/1f/1fl) ?
Amanda – CP(3fl)
Jimmy – Cattle(2)
Geoff – PF
Amanda – 1G +1V
Jimmy – Ren>C (-3C/1R) + Fp2>Cookhouse°
Geoff – S&B (1Vf + 5f-1G)
Amanda – 1C(1+2)
Jimmy – Sheep(2)burn2
Geoff – 1C(1) ?
Amanda – MIMI/Fp2 (-2C)°
Jimmy – CP(3+2fl) –2f
Geoff – Occ(-1f)/Well Builder
Jimmy – BM/Cattle Collar (-1W/2f/1fl)
Jimmy – Boar(1)burn3
I now make what is a likely mistake, not so much in selecting Clandestine Work, but in what I do with it; the smarter choice, I think, would have been to either upgrade my cookery, or to snatch up the Museum.* At any rate, Amanda fuels up and Jimmy confiscates the Holsteins. I plow, Amanda keeps the Greengrocer on task, and Jimmy upgrades hearth and home. I farm, Amanda justifies her latest Ock, and Jimmy wolfs down the mutton. I proceed to miss another bet by settling for a lone clay, Amanda snaps up her coveted fireplace, and Jimmy happily pays the vig to fuel up.** I indulge in another Ock, and Jimmy even more happily springs for the premium to activate a nice plowing enhancement*** and then roasts the piggy to resupply. Amanda roasts two woolies and a veggie at harvest, while I slough a wood to covering heating. Unbeknown to me, my greatest error now awaits, and all because of that stupid solo clay grab…
*Once again, the joys of 20-20 hindsight…and, yes, one might also argue I should have simply slaughtered the cattle.
**Anyone spot the spike I could have driven into Jimmy’s wheels? I’ll belabor it in Bits & Pieces; right now the glare is blinding me.
***This late-game “FotM” Minor awards a free field whenever its cattle-owning possessor plows or Slash & Burns. That’s handy, to say the least.
Current Status
Amanda – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 1f/2fl, 6W/1C/1R, 3G/3V, 3sh, 3 PF, 1(1x1)p, 1s, 4 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 1M/3F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 3f/0fl, 10W/1C/1R/1S, 2V, 1sh, 2 PF(1v), 1s, 3 Ock, 5 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/6F
Jimmy – 3Clay Rooms, 4 Peeps, 1f/4fl, 1W/1C/1R, 3c/5h, 1 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 3s, 1 Ock, 3 MjImp/1 MnImp, 0M/4F
Round Twelve/Family Growth w/o Amanda – (2f)
Geoff – CW/Museum of the Moors (-1W/1C/1R/1S/1f)
Amanda – FG w/o
Jimmy – 1S(3)
Geoff – (b1sh) 1H
Amanda – 3W(6)
Jimmy – Cattle(1)burn1
Geoff – 2W(4)
Amanda – 1C(1+2)
Jimmy – SB(PF) +PF –2f
Geoff – 1G
Jimmy – 1S(2)
Geoff – SP + Well (2f> )
Jimmy – FT(2W) –2f
Geoff – Fences(4) –4W
Jimmy – Ren>S (-1R/3S) + Register of Craftsmen> (Joinery -2W/1S)
So, just how stupid can I be? Let me tell you—pretty stupid, some sort of awful concatenation of greed, hubris, and sheer lack of foresight.* And thus, exhibiting each and every one of the aforementioned traits, I pony up for the Museum, allowing Amanda to partake of cheap growth. Jimmy hauls bargain rocks, and my greed knows no bounds as I burn off my wooly to make room for a horse. Bemused, Amanda claims the 6Wood, while Jimmy cooks up hamburger.** Utterly possessed, I take the remaining lumber. Amanda puts herself vaguely in the black with the Mixer, Jimmy coughs up the premium to turn a field and get fair use of his latest Minor, and still under the sway of some dark urge, I nab a grain. Is there no end to the madness? Jimmy adds to his rock pile, and perhaps finally emerging from my frenzy, I step on the button to claim the “free” Well.*** Jimmy specializes a few cords of mahogany, I put up a pasture, and Jimmy adroitly upgrades to stone, putting another “FotM” to good use, virtually assured that it will die with me.
*And the killer part? This isn’t the worst of it yet!
**Despite the fact it likely hasn’t been invented yet.
***(cf. Well Builder + Museum of the Moors + Wood Carver)
Current Status
Amanda – 3Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 3f/2fl, 12W/4C/1R, 3G/3V, 3sh, 3 PF, 1(1x1)p, 1s, 4 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 1M/3F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 4f/0fl, 5W, 1G/2V, 1h, 2 PF(1v), 1(1x1)p, 1s, 3 Ock, 7 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/6F
Jimmy – 3Stone Rooms, 4 Peeps, 1f/4fl, 1W/1C/1S, 3c/5h, 3 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 3s, 1 Ock, 4 MjImp/1 MnImp, 0M/2F
Round Thirteen/Plow & Sow Geoff – (1f)
Geoff – 1H ??
Amanda – FT(2W) ?
Jimmy – FG w/o
Geoff – Sheep(2)burn2
Amanda – S&B (1Gf/2Vf + 8f-2G)
Jimmy – Boar(2)burn2
Geoff – 1BR(1S)
Amanda – Fences(11) (-11W)
Jimmy – CW/Furniture Stall (-1W/1S/3f/1fl)
Geoff – Cattle(1)burn1
Amanda – P&S (PF + 1Vf)
Jimmy – 1G
Geoff – 1R(3)
Amanda – Ren>C (-3C/1R) + Fp2>CH5°
Jimmy – SB(PF) + PF –2f
Jimmy – Fish(4f)
So, by now you’d think the madness would have burned itself out,* but you would be wrong, Constant Reader, so very wrong. With tunnel vision operating at full blast, I secure a stud for my mare.** Amanda then flabbergasts everyone (and possibly herself included) by specializing a few sticks of wood; at this point, I sense that all hope is jettisoned and I have somehow entered here, the Twilight Zone of boardgaming. Jimmy promptly hires on the fifth man. For some odd reason, I burn woolies instead of pigs, Amanda farms mightily, and Jimmy snickers, putting the puzzled piglets to the knife. Desperate, I take a rock, but after Amanda fences her little heart out, Jimmy puts the kibosh on my lame gambit by grabbing the Stall I had my eye on. Squelched, I burn a plaintive cow. Amanda farms, Jimmy erases a negative, and I go for the reed. Amanda completes a double upgrade; Jimmy coughs hard for another use of the Cattle Collar, and then loads up on fish. He sloughs a replaceable cow at harvest, while I sacrifice a 3Wood for heating. I have a boatload of card and bonus points, but am feeling the pain…
*And truthfully, it may already be too late!
**Gotta qualify for that last Riding Stable bonus food, don’t ya know?
Current Status
Amanda – 3Clay Rooms, 4 Peeps, 3f/1fl, 3W/1C, 1G/3V, 4sh, 4 PF(2g/3v), 5(1x1)p, 1s, 4 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 1M/2F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 7f/0fl, 3W/3R/1S, 1G/3V, 3h, 2 PF, 1(1x1)p, 1s, 3 Ock, 7 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/6F
Jimmy – 3Stone Rooms, 5 Peeps, 1f/2fl, 1C, 1G, 3c/6h, 5 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 3s, 1 Ock, 5 MjImp/1 MnImp, 0M/1F
Round Fourteen/Renovation + Fences Geoff – (1f/1G) Amanda – (2f)
Geoff – FT(2+2W)
Amanda – 1H
Jimmy – 3W(6)
Geoff – P&S (PF + 2Gf/1Vf)
Amanda – Cattle(1)
Jimmy – Boar(1)
Geoff – 1S(2)
Amanda – 1S(2)
Jimmy – Occ(-1f)/Chief’s Daughter
Geoff – MIMI/Basketmaker’s Workshop (-1R/2S)
Amanda – SP + Almanac (1sh/1fph)
Jimmy – 1V
Geoff – Fences(3) (-3W)
Amanda – S&B (2Gf/1Vf)
Jimmy – 2W(4)
The closing Round is remarkable only for its tragic undertow of crushed aspirations and humbled dreams. None of us put up any serious points, although it’s apparent that Jimmy has stretched his lead a bit with six solid bonus points. The only play of more than passing interest is Amanda’s use of the Almanac, a lesser G-Decker that swaps a wood/stone pair for a breeding/field phase; this allows her to refill her empty fields as her final move. Sadly, it makes next to no difference. She burns off two surplus veggies at harvest, Jimmy immolates two cows and sloughs a wood, and I toss a 3Wood away as well. The contest has run its course; let’s see who won (as if we don’t already know, and even if we don’t, we certainly know who doesn’t deserve to)…
Current Status
Amanda – 3Clay Rooms, 4 Peeps, 1f/1fl, 3W/1C/2S, 3G/4V, 6sh/1c/1h, 4 PF(4g/1v), 5(1x1)p, 1s, 4 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/2F
Geoff – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 1f/0fl, 1W/2R/1S, 2G/3V, 4h, 3 PF(4g/1v), 2(1x1)p, 1s, 3 Ock, 8 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/5F
Jimmy – 3Stone Rooms, 5 Peeps, 0f/2fl, 9W/1C, 1G/1V, 1b/1c/7h, 5 PF, 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 3s, 2 Ock, 5 MjImp/1 MnImp, 0M/1F
Final Score (Ocks Played, Minors/Majors Played)(Wood taken/bonus)(Rounds as SP)(Total Primary(Special) Actions)(PPA*)(Food Spent)
Primary Actions are those first taken when a player claims a space with a family member. In sessions of Farmers on the Moor, special actions are counted as Primary actions, with their subtotal indicated in parentheses. * - Points per Primary Action.
Jimmy – 52 (2 Occ, 3/5)(30/5)(3)(57(14))(0.912)(65)
Geoff – 46 (3 Occ, 6°/8)(22/17)(8)(57(14))(0.807)(50) ° both played Remodeling
Amanda – 41 (4 Occ, 4°/2)(25/7)(3)(43(8))(0.953)(38)
Player Fields Pastures Grain Veg Sheep Boar Cattle+Horses Unused Stables House Peeps Pts Bonus
Jimmy 5(4) 2(2) 1(1) 1(1) 0(-1) 1(1) 1(1+7) 2(-2) 2(2) 3S(6) 5(15) (8) (7)
Geoff 3(2) 2(2) 6(3) 4(4) 0(-1) 0(-1) 0(-1+4) 1(-1) 1(1) 4W(0) 4(12) (14) (8)
Amanda 4(3) 5(4) 7(3) 5(4) 6(3) 0(-1) 1(1+1) 0(0) 1(1) 3C(3) 4(12) (7) (0)
Bits & Pieces
 Once again the importance of special actions in “FotM” bouts is underscored by Amanda’s regrettable failure to pay attention to them, particularly in the early Stages (she used a mere two in the first eight Rounds, compared to eight each by her opponents). That deficit alone, I would maintain, left her doomed to be an also-ran. Efficiency is all well and good (as can be seen, hers was the game’s best), but it’s near impossible to surmount an aggregate action deficit of fourteen. Even Jimmy’s freakish recent securing of third place without growth until the final Round was only an eight action deficit. Failing to pursue growth aggressively most surely did her in, and had I wisely taken on my last peep in Round Twelve like I should have done, Amanda would have ended up even farther behind.
The choice topic for this session, I think, is the Wet Nurse/Peat Hut combo—is it legitimate?—along with the question, raised in Round Seven, as to whether or not the renovation action used to turn the Peat Hut into a regular wooden room is allowed to still piggyback the MIMI action that normally comes with it. My feeling is that the combo is acceptable (cf. card text, “serves as a room”), but that the piggybacking is not, since it’s not a true renovation taking place, but rather the use of the renovation space to accomplish something else. Constant Reader, I am sure, may have something to say, not to mention Hanno and Eugene.*
*Third time pays for all.
Anyone figure out what I did wrong in Round One yet? Rounds Eleven, Twelve, and the Beyond, well, let’s not talk about that. It was pretty shameless.
At any rate, as always, my thanks to Constant Reader for keeping me motivated to crank out these reports; standard mea culpas still apply. Next report: my first contest with another boiteaujeux regular who has also been cleaning my clock on a regular basis. In the meantime, I’ll recommend a cute lil, lightning-fast filler game called No Thanks as a delightful entertainment suitable for most all ages and gaming proclivities, the sort of game that prompts one to say as it ends and you lose by a point or two, “Okay, just one more!” As always, happy gaming to all!
Edits: just some fussing about here and there.
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Benjamin Wells
United Kingdom
Bradford
W Yorkshire
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After only reading the first round would it have been better to take SP and advanced Payment for a kiln grab.
Will edit this if I get any other ideas.
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Eugene van der Pijll
Netherlands
Den Haag
Altijd zin in een spelletje!
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MisterG wrote: I’m going to leave the discussion of whether or not the Peat Hut triggers the Wet Nurse to you, Constant Reader.
Proposed ruling: "Playing the Peat Hut does not count as building a room, and does not activate the Wet Nurse."
Quote: The question, of course, is does the Renovation action used to transform the Peat Hut into a normal room also include the associated MIMI, or building fences, for that matter, if it’s done in Round Fourteen?
"If the Peat Hut is exchanged for a room with the renovation action on an action space, you can still perform the second action on that space (i.e. MIMI or Build Fences)."
This seems clear to me. The Peat Hut upgrade only replaces the renovation action, not all of the actions on the action space.
As always, discussion is welcome, and will be taken into account for my final decision. (I'll be starting to work on the Compendium during the holiday season.)
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Martin Broom
United Kingdom
Berkshire
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In round one could you have done MIMI for the Advance Payment and then paid extra to use the Clandestine Works special action to grab the Kiln.
Expensive though.
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Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
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bjwells wrote: After only reading the first round would it have been better to take SP and advanced Payment for a kiln grab.
Will edit this if I get any other ideas.
TwistedTea wrote: In round one could you have done MIMI for the Advance Payment and then paid extra to use the Clandestine Works special action to grab the Kiln.
Expensive though.
Ben & Martin have it, albeit slightly different approaches. I should have ignored HF and simply put out Advance Payment with a button heist. Then I can secure the Kiln with CW even if one of my opponents uses that special and still have a food (and an action) left over. The only possibility of this being blocked would be if Amanda used, say, HF and then Jimmy coughed up the 2food to block me from the card, in which case I simply use MIMI to take the Kiln.
The game would have unfolded utterly differently (and, sad to say, most likely in my favor) had I done this.
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Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
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pijll wrote: MisterG wrote: I’m going to leave the discussion of whether or not the Peat Hut triggers the Wet Nurse to you, Constant Reader. Proposed ruling: "Playing the Peat Hut does not count as building a room, and does not activate the Wet Nurse."
Interesting. Do you have a particular rationale in mind for this ruling, Eugene? I ask because of the wording of the card ("This card serves as a room" and "must be heated." If it's to be treated as a room, and heated like a room, is it not then a room, and thereby its play constitute building a room?
pijll wrote: MisterG wrote: The question, of course, is does the Renovation action used to transform the Peat Hut into a normal room also include the associated MIMI, or building fences, for that matter, if it’s done in Round Fourteen? "If the Peat Hut is exchanged for a room with the renovation action on an action space, you can still perform the second action on that space (i.e. MIMI or Build Fences)." This seems clear to me. The Peat Hut upgrade only replaces the renovation action, not all of the actions on the action space. As always, discussion is welcome, and will be taken into account for my final decision. (I'll be starting to work on the Compendium during the holiday season.)
This ruling is also interesting. Since MIMI (or Fences, in the case of the Round Fourteen Renovation action) is not allowed to be used unless renovation occurs, wouldn't it follow that, since transforming the Peat Hut to a Wooden Room is not, strictly speaking, renovation, that therefore MIMI is not allowed in this instance? Or can the transformation be considered an altenate type of renovation?
I, too, would like to hear what others have to say.
And good luck and best wishes on the Compendium update. Lord knows you've got your work cut out for you wading through the new set of cards due out, which I presume will constitute the bulk of the task you've got waiting for you.
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David Lewis
United States
Overland Park
Kansas
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MisterG wrote: Final Score (Ocks Played, Minors/Majors Played)(Wood taken/bonus)(Rounds as SP)(Total Primary(Special) Actions)(PPA*)(Food Spent)
Primary Actions are those first taken when a player claims a space with a family member. In sessions of Farmers on the Moor, special actions are counted as Primary actions, with their subtotal indicated in parentheses. * - Points per Primary Action.
Points per primary action is a good measure in evaluating performance. I'm glad you calculate that.
You used to also count secondary, and even tertiary, actions. I liked seeing those numbers because it gave a sense of who was being efficient with their choice of actions; i.e. who was getting the most bang for their buck. Why did you stop counting those?
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Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
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dlewis2 wrote: MisterG wrote: Final Score (Ocks Played, Minors/Majors Played)(Wood taken/bonus)(Rounds as SP)(Total Primary(Special) Actions)(PPA*)(Food Spent)
Primary Actions are those first taken when a player claims a space with a family member. In sessions of Farmers on the Moor, special actions are counted as Primary actions, with their subtotal indicated in parentheses. * - Points per Primary Action. Points per primary action is a good measure in evaluating performance. I'm glad you calculate that. You used to also count secondary, and even tertiary, actions. I liked seeing those numbers because it gave a sense of who was being efficient with their choice of actions; i.e. who was getting the most bang for their buck. Why did you stop counting those?
Good question, Mr. Lewis. The main reason was that I had convinced myself, though not with any massive analysis of the data, that these two stats are difficult to correlate to winning the game. Sheer bulk of actions seems to be the more accurate predicate, with efficiency often going hand in hand (though not always).
That, and it cut down on the work involved. Facetiousness aside, it was becoming less clear to me which actions/effects were true tertiaries; did they, indeed, function more as secondaries (e.g. Field Watchman or the Quarry)? It seemed simpler to offer up PPA, and let Constant Reader investigate the rest should they so choose.
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Jimmy Okolica
United States
Washington Township
Ohio
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pijll wrote: MisterG wrote: I’m going to leave the discussion of whether or not the Peat Hut triggers the Wet Nurse to you, Constant Reader. Proposed ruling: "Playing the Peat Hut does not count as building a room, and does not activate the Wet Nurse."
I don't understand this. The Compendium says the Wet Nurse activates for the Wood Hut Extenson, Reed Hut Extensions, etc. Why not the Peat Hut?
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Rod Spies
United States
Columbia
Maryland
-
Your session reports are absolutely wonderful Geoff. I was thinking of posting one of ours in the near future but don't know the most efficient way of doing so. How do you record all of your info?
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Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
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rodspies wrote: Your session reports are absolutely wonderful Geoff. I was thinking of posting one of ours in the near future but don't know the most efficient way of doing so. How do you record all of your info?
Thank you for the kind words, Rod. Check here. If you have any further questions, feel free to geekmail me.
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Brian Mc Cabe
United States
Arizona
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Amongst experienced players, which usually end up close, do you find Advance Payment is worth the -4? I was fooling around with some four-handed solo games last week and didn't even consider it.
I can still count the number of non-solo games I've played on Anne Bolyn's fingers, so taking a gamble like that in a game I'm still not proficient at isn't worth it to me.
I'd also like to know what possessed you to take one clay. Did you need it to complete an acquisition?
In a way, I think you've got all the experience in the world at this game and try variations to keep your interest up, since there seems to be tried-and-trued strategies that work all the time, altered only by the card draw.
Brian
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Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
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apatheticexecutioner wrote: Amongst experienced players, which usually end up close, do you find Advance Payment is worth the -4? I was fooling around with some four-handed solo games last week and didn't even consider it.
Personally, I like the card a lot, and think it's absolutely worth the penalty. If anything, said penalty should likely be a bit higher, maybe -6. Handled properly (as opposed to what I tried in this game), it provides an extremely strong start. The Kiln gambit becomes a virtual guarantee, along with many other possibilities. Whenever I find it in my hand, I'm always pleased.
Quote: I can still count the number of non-solo games I've played on Anne Bolyn's fingers, so taking a gamble like that in a game I'm still not proficient at isn't worth it to me.
I say go for it!
Quote: I'd also like to know what possessed you to take one clay. Did you need it to complete an acquisition?
Yes, I was after the Museum of the Moors. I'd already spent my other clay on the Riding Stables, a mistake. I should have take the Museum first.
Quote: In a way, I think you've got all the experience in the world at this game and try variations to keep your interest up, since there seems to be tried-and-trued strategies that work all the time, altered only by the card draw.
Brian
I'll admit that I enjoy trying different things just to see what happens. I am competitive by nature, but not to the point of excess. I like trying out different cards. My greatest weakness is 2-player games, in which I tend to lose track of what I'm doing long-term and end up getting out-foxed. My sub-par record on baj is proof enough of that. 
I enjoy playing to win, but it's the playing that's the most fun.
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Eugene van der Pijll
Netherlands
Den Haag
Altijd zin in een spelletje!
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Butterfly0038 wrote: I don't understand this. The Compendium says the Wet Nurse activates for the Wood Hut Extenson, Reed Hut Extensions, etc. Why not the Peat Hut?
(Sorry for the late answer. I'm working on the Compendium, and so I'm revisiting all of MisterG's session reports.)
For the Compendium, I consider each action in which a room tile is placed on the game board to be a room building action, triggering the Wet Nurse.
Wood Hut Extension and friends place a room tile on the board, and therefore activate the Wet Nurse. Playing Peat Hut, Reed Hut, or Tree House do not place a tile, and therefore do not activate the Wet Nurse.
However, renovating the Peat Hut to a wooden room does activate the Wet Nurse, according to this logic.
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Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011 10:13 pm
