Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
-
For those who may be jonesing while waiting to see what happens in that other game...
This session marked the Ugoi’s first 4-player game at our new FLGS, which will go unnamed just as our previous FLGS did, if only to remain fair to other area FLGSs, all of which have their strong points, and none of which I care to suggest any bias against. The one we now frequent happens to be the most convenient to our various schedules. At any rate, “FotM” was the consensus choice (level 3, naturally), Ron got the button at random, and the initial deal was Ocks: 5 base game, 4 G-Deck, and 1 C- or O-Decker, along with Minors: 4 each of base game, “FotM,” and G-Deck, and 2 C- and/or O-Deckers. If nothing else, we do like selection. The winnowing actually went pretty quickly and we were soon underway…
Round One/MIMI
Ron (#6) – RSf
Brian (#7) – MIMI/Golden Hands (-1f)
Geoff (#9) – Occ/Resource Collector (1W/1C/1R/1S> )
Jimmy (#3) – FT(2W)
Ron – SB(PF)
Brian – HF(1f)
Geoff – 2C(2)
Jimmy – 3W(3)
Ron – SP + Draughthorses
Brian – 2W(2)
Jimmy – Occ(-1f)/Sycophant
Ron gets the festivities in gear with a most uncharacteristic move for him, a simple bit of thrifting—an obvious bid for the Kiln gambit. He voices a lack of love for his Ocks. Brian responds with what may well be the wrong foot by blocking MIMI to get a favored C-Deck Minor into play; given the Ock he plays next Round, a wood draw might have been the better option.* Mystified that I’ve been given first crack at ocking, I opt for a G-Decker I’ve never had the opportunity to try out as a lead-off before.** Jimmy hacks away at underbrush, Ron turns a field, and Brian snacks; so much for the specials. What the hay, I haul clay. Jimmy appropriates more lumber, Ron steps on the button to boost wood-gathering potential (and lock in the Kiln gambit), and Brian hauls belated wood. Jimmy now decides ocking might be pretty good after all, and injects the grain-inhibitor into the fray, which will prove remarkably effective.
*Golden Hands is only rarely the sort of card that actually gets put to serious use in the early Rounds, while the delay will be slim inconvenience to Ron. Besides, it’s utterly useless in terms of expansion.
**Sadly, though, I’ll thoughtlessly arrange the forthcoming loot in what is most likely the wrong order. Does Constant Reader see what I might have done that would have much better?
Current Status
Brian – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 2W, 1 MnImp, 3M/5F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 2C, 1 Ock, 3M/5F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 2f, 5W, 1 Ock, 3M/4F
Ron – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 1R/1S, 1 PF, 1 MnImp, 3M/4F
Round Two/Sheep Geoff – (1W)
Ron – MIMI/Peat-Charcoal Kiln (-1S)
Brian – 1R(2)
Geoff – FT(2W)
Jimmy – CP(3fl)
Ron – HF(1f)
Brian – Occ/Carpenter
Geoff – SP + Chronicle° (-2W)
Jimmy – RSf
Ron – 3W(3)
Geoff – Occ(-1f)/Food Critic
Jimmy – 2C(2)
Ron claims the Kiln, no surprise there. Brian nicks the reed, the specials get vacuumed up post haste, and he now pops a solid Ock that probably makes him wish he’d taken that 3Wood last Round. I claim the button for a prime G-Deck Minor,* Jimmy thrifts, and Ron hauls lumber, inadvertently trying to use Draughthorses until we point out that he actually needs to own a horse to do that. Always a little too itchy for ocking, I pay up for another favored G-Decker. Jimmy hauls clay for lack of much better to do.**
*Collecting a food for up to 23 potential Major Improvement purchases is pretty awesome; I’ll eventually net a 14food from the deal. For a 2Wood? Nice.
**Given that he’s going second next Round, though, and I’m almost certain to do what I’m going to do, the move seems mediocre. Nonetheless, it will prove to be providential, as Constant Reader will eventually see.
Current Status
Brian – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 2W/1R, 1 Ock, 1 MnImp, 3M/5F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 2f, 1W/2C, 2 Ock, 1 MnImp, 3M/4F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f/3fl, 5W/2C/1R/1S, 1 Ock, 2M/4F
Ron – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 4f, 3W/1R, 1 PF, 1 MjImp/1 MnImp, 3M/4F
Round Three/Sow & Bake Geoff – (1C)
Geoff – MIMI/Fp2 (-2C)°
Jimmy – 1C(3)
Ron – 1H
Brian – CP(3fl)
Geoff – CW/Fp2>CH4 (-1W)° ?
Jimmy – RSf
Ron – 2W(4+2) –1f
Brian – 3W(3)
Geoff – Fish(3f)
Ron – TP(3f)
Brian – SP + Sawhorse (-2W)
I see little reason not to claim a cookery, Jimmy stockpiles more clay, Ron powers-up his Kiln, and Brian fuels up. I possibly miscue by sloughing my last cord to upgrade to a hearth. Jimmy smartly thrifts again, Ron gets first use from his Draughthorses, and Brian hauls wood as well. I empty the pond, Ron pillages the Players, and Brian takes the button to get a perennial favorite into gear. Jimmy’s now set for expansion, Ron’s on the verge, and Brian and I are trailing along, busily setting up infrastructure.
Current Status
Brian – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f/3fl, 3W/1R, 1 Ock, 2 MnImp, 2M/5F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 7f, 1C, 2 Ock, 1 MjImp/1 MnImp, 3M/4F
Jimmy – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 4f/3fl, 5W/5C/2R/2S, 1 Ock, 2M/4F
Ron – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 6f, 9W/1R, 1h, 1 PF, 1 MjImp/1 MnImp, 3M/4F
Round Four/Fences Geoff – (1R)
Brian – 2W(4)
Geoff – CP(3fl)
Jimmy – BR(1) + x (-5W/2R)
Ron – 2C(4)
Brian – HF(1f)
Geoff – FT(2W)
Jimmy – 3W(3)
Ron – RSf
Brian – 1C(1) ?
Geoff – Occ(-1f)/Fence Deliveryman
Geoff – SP + Styrian Oak ^
Brian gloms the stacked timber, and I feel pretty much forced to fuel up. Jimmy builds his room, banking on early growth, and Ron potentially missteps by hauling clay he won’t use for another five Rounds.* Brian snacks, I hack some kindling, and Jimmy reloads wood. Ron thrifts, completing construction requirements, and Brian hauls a measly solo clay. I see what he’s up to, but it seems a weak play nonetheless. Still Ock-happy, I pay for another one, and then retake the button to play a favorite O-Decker that I likely should have played much earlier. Ron sloughs a 2Wood for harvest heating; all else is normal. Now, will Jimmy get lucky?
*He hadn’t paid attention to my cookery upgrade.
Current Status
Brian – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 0f/1fl, 7W/1C/1R, 1 Ock, 2 MnImp, 2M/5F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 2f/1fl, 2W/1C/1R, 3 Ock, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/3F
Jimmy – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 3W/5C/2S, 1 Ock, 2M/4F
Ron – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 7W/4C/2R/1S, 1h, 1 PF, 1 MjImp/1 MnImp, 3M/4F
Round Five/Family Growth + MI Geoff – (1S)
Geoff – Sheep(4)burn3
Jimmy – CP(3fl)
Ron – BR(1) + 1s (-7W/2R)
Brian – MIMI/Fp2 (-1W/1C)
Geoff – BM/Farmers’ Ball (3VP –5f/1fl) ?
Jimmy – FG + Bible (-1W)
Ron – SP + Guest Worker~
Brian – FT(2W)
Geoff – 2W(4)
Jimmy – RSf
Brian – 1R(2)
Yes, Jimmy does get the break today. Even though I suspect the odds of being interdicted are small, I just can’t take the risk; I crush the woolies, sparing one. Plus, I have something to do with the proceeds. Jimmy fuels up, Ron builds, and Brian snaps up the freshly available cheap cookery (cf. Golden Hands and the previous clay grab). I specialize an O-Deck Minor I’ve never seen played before, mostly because A) like I said, I’ve never seen it played, and B) no one else is in a position to take advantage of it.* Jimmy adds a pious worker, and Ron buttons up to unveil his O-Deck powerhouse, the frisky Guest Worker.** Brian picks up sticks, I haul the stacked lumber, Jimmy thrifts, and Brian claims the bargain reed. All of a sudden, I’m not feeling the love.
*Farmers’ Ball lets anyone and everyone swap off a 5food for 3VP. My trusty FEATS algorithm tells me that’s not a great bargain, but like I said, I can’t resist the newness of it.
**Guest Worker occupies a room and has to be fed, but doesn’t count as a Family Member. It also has the special ability of using the current Round space even if already occupied. Sadly, Ron will never use that ability, but what a convenient way to step into the growth queue!
Current Status
Brian – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 0f/1fl, 8W/3R, 1 Ock, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/4F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 6W/1C/1R/1S, 1sh, 3 Ock, 1 MjImp/3 MnImp, 2M/3F
Jimmy – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 1f/3fl, 2W/5C/1R/3S, 1 Ock, 1 MnImp, 1M/4F
Ron – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f, 4C/1S, 1h, 1 PF, 1s, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 3M/4F
Round Six/Stone
Ron – 3W(6+2) –1f
Brian – BR(2) + 1s + (1s) (-8W/2R)
Geoff – RSf
Jimmy – CW/CH5 (-5C/1f/1fl)°
Ron – SB(PF)
Brian – 1H
Geoff – MIMI/Museum of the Moors (-1C/1R/1S)°
Jimmy – 2C(4)
Ron – Occ/Clay Deliveryman (8C> )
Brian – FG + Edge of the Forest> (2fl)
Jimmy – TP(3f)
~Ron – SP + Carp Pond (4f> )
Jimmy – Occ(-1f)/Plough Maker
Ron’s Draughthorses haul copious lumber, Brian double builds, plus breeding stables, and I scour the five ‘n’ dime. Jimmy solidifies his food engine, Ron turns a field, and Brian nabs a nag—so much for the specials. I appropriate the Museum, which unfortunately will do me little good beyond the points. Jimmy reloads clay, Ron ocks himself plenty of downstream same, and Brian hires on, passing along a peripatetic Minor worth a few fuel that’s doomed to die in my arms. Jimmy chivvies some food, Ron steps on the button to play a solid Minor, and Jimmy ocks increased plowing ability. I’m feeling less love all the while…
Current Status
Brian – 4Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 0f/3fl, 1R, 1h, 2s, 1 Ock, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/4F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 6f, 6W/1R/1S, 1sh, 3 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 2M/3F
Jimmy – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 2f/2fl, 2W/4C/1R/3S, 2 Ock, 1 MjImp/1 MnImp, 1M/4F
Ron – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 2f, 8W/4C/1S, 1h, 2 PF, 1s, 1 Ock, 1 MjImp/3 MnImp, 3M/3F
Round Seven/Renovation + MIMI Ron – (1C/1f)
Ron – Fish(4f)
Brian – Sheep(2)burn2
Geoff – CP(3fl)
Jimmy – HF(1f)
Ron – FT(2W)
Brian – DL(2f)
Geoff – 2W(4)
Jimmy – PF + PF –1f
Ron – RSf
Brian – 3W(3)
Geoff – 1R(2)
Jimmy – 1G + 1f
~Ron – 1S(2)
Jimmy – Ren>C (-3C/1R) + Stone Oven (4f –1C/3S/1G)°
Ever cautious (for which I don’t blame him), Ron empties the pond, and equally so (ditto), Brian torches the woolies. I settle for fueling up, Jimmy snacks, and Ron kindles; once again, that’s it for the specials. Pressed, Brian DLs. I haul lumber, Jimmy double plows, and Ron stays thrifty. Still pressed, Brian nabs wood for heating, I take the reed, and Jimmy nips a grain (cf. Sycophant). Ron confiscates the rocks, and Jimmy ends the stage with renovation and a fired-up oven (fourth bonus for my Chronicle, btw). Ron sloughs a 3Wood for heat, Brian loses one as well, and we face the endgame. Note that the Bible saved Jimmy a 2food.
Current Status
Brian – 4Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 2W/1R, 1h, 2s, 1 Ock, 1 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/4F
Geoff – 2Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 3f/1fl, 10W/3R/1S, 1sh, 3 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/3F
Jimmy – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 3f/0fl, 2W, 2 PF, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/1 MnImp, 1M/4F
Ron – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 2f, 7W/5C/1R/4S, 1h, 2 PF, 1s, 1 Ock, 1 MjImp/3 MnImp, 3M/2F
Round Eight/Vegetables Ron – (1C)
Ron – CP(3+2fl)
Brian – 2C(4)
Geoff – HF(1f)
Jimmy – FT(2W)
Ron – RSf
Brian – MIMI/Heating Stove (-3C)°
Geoff – BR(1) + 2s (-9W/2R)
Jimmy – 1W(4)
Ron – 1G (-1f>j.+1f)
Brian – FG + x ?
Geoff – 1C(4)
Jimmy – SP + Potato Scoop (-2W)
~Ron – TP(2f)
Jimmy – 1V + 1V
Ron smartly fuels up, Brian scoops the clay, I lamely snack, and Jimmy gathers sticks, which I’m thinking maybe I should have done. Ron takes the lead in thrifting, Brian alleviates heating concerns (cf. Golden Hands again), and I finally knock out a room, plus breeding stables that will do me next to no good for far too long. Jimmy accommodates stacked timber, Ron bites the bullet for a grain (cf. Sycophant), and Brian puts a knife in my heart.* Hopes dashed, I haul clay. Jimmy swipes the button to supercharge veggie collection, Ron visits the Players (probably a weak move, given his supply status),** and Jimmy promptly gets that Scoop working.
*He’ll pay for that, oh, how he’ll pay! 
**I’m thinking that either spiking the wood or blocking veggies would have been preferable. Constant Reader may, of course, disagree.
Current Status
Brian – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 2W/1C/1R, 1h, 2s, 1 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/4F
Geoff – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 5f/1fl, 1W/4C/1R/1S, 1sh, 2s, 3 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/3F
Jimmy – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 5f/0fl, 6W, 2V, 2 PF, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 1M/3F
Ron – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 4f/5fl, 7W/6C/2R/5S, 1G, 1h, 2 PF, 1s, 1 Ock, 1 MjImp/3 MnImp, 2M/2F
Round Nine/Boar Geoff – (6W)^ Ron – (1C/1f)
Jimmy – 3W(6)
Ron – CW/Clay Oven (5f –3C/1S/1G/1f/1fl)°
Brian – Sheep(2)burn1
Geoff – CP(3fl)
Jimmy – 1H
Ron – MIMI/Well (5f> -1W/3S)°
Brian – Boar(1)
Geoff – RSf
Jimmy – 1V+1V
Ron – 2W(4+2) –1f
Brian – Occ(-1f)/Cook
Geoff – FG + Ladder (-2W)
Jimmy – PF + PF –1f
~Ron – Fences(10) (-10W)
Brian – Fish(2f)
Jimmy appropriates the waiting 6Wood, Ron pays the special premium to fire up his favorite oven, and Brian torments more woolies. Lamenting, I fuel up. Jimmy snags the nag, Ron builds the Well, and Brian kills time with a piglet.* I thrift, Jimmy doubles down on veggies, and Ron keeps his Draughthorses busy. Brian now ocks food relief, and I hire on at last, adding a Minor I can only wish I’d gotten out much sooner. Jimmy doubles his fields, Ron fences a 2x3 pasture minus one square, and Brian drains the pond. Jimmy sloughs a 2Wood for heating (and keeps that Bible thumped), Brian drops one as well, and roasts his remaining animals. On we farm…
*Weak move or no? Or just an inevitable consequence of rapid growth? What say you, Constant Reader?
Current Status
Brian – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 1f/0fl, 1W/1C/1R, 1h, 2s, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/4F
Geoff – 3Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 3f/1fl, 5W/4C/2R/2S, 1sh, 2s, 3 Ock, 2 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/3F
Jimmy – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 10W, 4V, 1h, 4 PF, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 1M/3F
Ron – 3Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 2f/1fl, 2W/4C/2R/1S, 1h, 2 PF, 1(2x3-)p, 1s, 1 Ock, 3 MjImp/3 MnImp, 2M/2F
Round Ten/Cattle Ron – (1C/1f)
Jimmy – 1S(3)
Ron – 3W(3+1) –1f
Brian – SB(PF)
Geoff – 1H
Jimmy – BM/Wooden Path (-2W)
Ron – BR(1) + x (-5W/2R)
Brian – MIMI/Fp2>Cookhouse°
Geoff – Ren>C (-3C/1R) + Furnace (2fl-1C/1S)°
Jimmy – 2C(4)
~Ron – SP + Paddocks> (Fences(4)) ??
Brian – RSf
Geoff – 1R(3)
Jimmy – S&B (4Vf)
Brian – 1V
Geoff – PF
Brian – 1C(3)
Jimmy locks in stone renovation while the locking is good, Ron assembles construction lumber, and Brian turns a first field. I wrangle my first horse, Jimmy picks up a few surreptitious points, and Ron builds another room. Brian upgrades his cookery, I renovate and grab needed utilities relief, and Jimmy hauls clay for an upcoming gambit. Ron now surprises us by refusing to grow; instead, he uses a button heist to subdivide his pasture.* Brian hauls the cheap reed, and then reconsiders and thrifts instead. I promptly take the reed. Jimmy pops his veggies into the ground, Brian acquires one, and I plow my first field. Brian hauls clay. The action count/specials taken stands at: Jimmy – 33/8, Ron – 32/7, Brian – 32/6, and Geoff – 30/9. That’s pretty tight; at this point, it’s tough to say who has the definitive edge, although a retrospective accounting also reveals raw scores of: Jimmy – 18, Ron – 15, Geoff – 11, and Brian – 8. Taken in tandem, these stats seem a bit more solid, but still, four more Rounds remain to be played. Let’s see what happens…
*Constant Reader will instantly recognize that Paddocks could have just as easily been played with FG. Ron is obviously concerned about feeding his peeps next Round, but in this case I think he’s being overly conservative. Food supplies are quite likely to be abundant in the Eleventh, and he’ll have an extra peep with which to gather them.
Current Status
Brian – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 2f/0fl, 1W/4C/2R/1S, 1V, 1h, 1 PF, 2s, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/2 MnImp, 2M/3F
Geoff – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 5f/3fl, 5W/4R/1S, 1sh/1h, 1 PF, 2s, 3 Ock, 3 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/3F
Jimmy – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 8W/4C/3S, 0V, 1h, 4 PF(8v), 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/3F
Ron – 4Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 2f/1fl, 1W/5C/1S, 1h, 2 PF, 1(2x1)3(1x1)p, 1s, 1 Ock, 3 MjImp/3 MnImp, 2M/2F
Round Eleven/Stone Geoff – (Fences(4)-2f) Ron – (1C/2f)
Ron – Cattle(2)
Brian – Boar(2)
Geoff – SP + Horse Barn
Jimmy – CP(3fl)
Ron – CW/Cookhouse (-6C/1f/1fl)°
Brian – FT(2W)
Geoff – 1V
Jimmy – 2W(4)
Ron – (b1c) CP(3+2fl) –2f
Brian – MIMI/Sausage Grinder (-1R/1S)
Geoff – S&B (1Vf3)
Jimmy – Fences(12) (-12W)
Ron – Sheep(2)
Brian – RSf
Jimmy – 1G + 1f
Ron – (b1c) FT(2W) –2f
Brian – 3W(3)
~Ron – PF
After I enclose a stable with my first delivery of fences, Ron quickly herds the beef. Brian confiscates the boar, much to my displeasure, so I snag the button for a minimal boost to future farming.* Jimmy fuels up, Ron pays the vig to claim the remaining premium cookery, Brian gathers kindling, and I desperately take a veggie. Jimmy ups his lumber, Ron torches one of his cows to afford fueling up high-test, and Brian puts a block on MIMI to power up his food engine. Still desperate, I plant my veggie, taking advantage of my newest Minor. Jimmy fences a perfect 2x2 array next to his comfy hut, Ron sequesters the woolies, and Brian thrifts. Jimmy takes another protected grain. Ron coughs hard to fell trees, and after Brian hauls wood, Ron—incredibly, refusing to grow yet again—fills in the momentary gap on his board with another field. Jimmy dutifully burns two veggies at harvest (cf. Bible), I burn one as well, Brian charbroils a pig (cf. Grinder), and Ron consumes his remaining cow, and despite having plentiful fuel, burns off a wood in heating.** Time for the endgame.
*I have only one relevant field at this point.
**I’m not really sure why, but hey, it’s his business, and as things turn out, it doesn’t matter one way or the other.
Current Status
Brian – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 1f/0fl, 5W/4C/2R/1S, 1V, 1b/1h, 1 PF, 2s, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 2M/2F
Geoff – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 1f/2fl, 5W/4R/1S, 1sh/1h, 1 PF(2v), 1(1x1)p, 2s, 3 Ock, 3 MjImp/5 MnImp, 0M/3F
Jimmy – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 2f/1fl, 4C/3S, 1G/2V, 1h, 4 PF(4v), 4(1x1)p, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 0M/3F
Ron – 4Wood Rooms, 2 Peeps, 1f/2fl, 2W/1S, 3sh/1h, 3 PF, 1(2x1)3(1x1)p, 1s, 1 Ock, 4 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/1F
Round Twelve/Plow & Sow Ron – (1C/1f)
Geoff – TP(4f)
Jimmy – SP + Golem (-2C)
Ron – 1H
Brian – (b1b4) FT(2W)
Geoff – SB(PF)
Jimmy – HF(1f)
Ron – 1V
Brian – P&S (PF + 1Vf)
Geoff – RSf
Jimmy – 1R(2)
Ron – FG + Peat Burn-off (1fl + 1M>PF)
Brian – Fences(7+3) (-7W)
Geoff – Occ(-1f)/Freeloader
Jimmy – 1W(4)
~Ron – 1G (-1f>j.+1f)
Brian – Ren>C (-4C/1R) + Peat Burn-off (1fl + 1M>PF)
Brian – MIMI/Paddocks> (Fences(4))
Sadly, FG w/o doesn’t materialize, and I haven’t a playable Minor in hand to justify a button grab; I settle for best available supplies. Jimmy has no such hindrances, and plays a prime C-Decker that he’ll put to decisive use. Ron secures a sire for his mare, Brian burns off his remaining piggy and hews timber, and I turn a field to wipe away the field negative. Jimmy snacks, Ron vedges, and Brian does some unanticipated farming. I thrift, Jimmy cops the reed, and Ron hires on at last, using an oft-ignored “FotM” Minor to turn his last Moor tile into a field. Brian fences a standard 2x3, I play my last, great hope, and Jimmy restocks lumber. Ron tithes to the Sycophant again, and Brian closes out the Round with renovation followed by duplicate use of both peripatetics passed to him by Ron, neither of which are going to do me a whit of good. Thanks, Brian!
Current Status
Brian – 4Clay Rooms, 4 Peeps, 5f/1fl, 1R/1S, 1h, 3 PF(2v), 3(2x1)p, 2s, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/1F
Geoff – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 5f/2fl, 5W/5R/2S, 1sh/1h, 2 PF(2v), 1(1x1)p, 2s, 4 Ock, 3 MjImp/5 MnImp, 0M/2F
Jimmy – 3Clay Rooms, 3 Peeps, 5f/1fl, 4W/2C/2R/3S, 1G/2V, 1h, 4 PF(4v), 4(1x1)p, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/4 MnImp, 0M/3F
Ron – 4Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 1f/3fl, 2W/1C/1S, 1G/1V, 3sh/2h, 4 PF, 1(2x1)3(1x1)p, 1s, 1 Ock, 4 MjImp/3 MnImp, 0M/1F
Round Thirteen/Family Growth w/o Ron – (1C/2f)
Jimmy – FG w/o + FG w/o
Ron – P&S (PF + 1Gf/1Vf)
Brian – 1S(3)
Geoff – FG w/o
Jimmy – Cattle(2)
Ron – Boar(2)
Brian – Sheep(2)
Geoff – 1H
Jimmy – 1H –2f
Ron – CW/Forester’s Lodge (-1W/2C/1f/1fl)°
Brian – RSf
Geoff – SB(PF)
Jimmy – Ren>S (-1R/3S) + Animal Feed
Ron – 2C(6)
Brian – Fish(4f)
Geoff – Fences(5) (-5W)
~Ron – 3W(6+2) –1f
Geoff – MIMI/Basketmaker’s Workshop (-1R/2S)°
Jimmy unleashes Golem on you-know-where and the rest of us know our geese are stir-fried or worse; it’s pretty much a tussle for second place hereafter. Ron farms as best he can, Brian confiscates the rocks, and I put the Freeloader to its sole use.* Four-footed beasts then vanish from the board in rapid succession, and one more to boot as Jimmy forks over for an Arabian. Ron pays the premium for the Lodge, Brian thrifts, and I turn a third field. Jimmy renovates, plus a handy Minor, Ron hauls cheap clay, and Brian stuffs his larder, surprisingly letting the 6Wood slide.** I tack another pasture onto my array, Ron appropriates the wood with a last use of Draughthorses,*** and I pick up the only crafting Major I’m going to get. Jimmy cooks off another pair of veggies (no Bible bonus for him this Round), I slough a reed, and Ron cooks a wooly, two boar, and dumps a 3Wood heating.**** One more Round to go…
*Ah, would that I had followed my instincts and played him much, much earlier!
**I say this mostly because of what he does in the final Round.
***As it turns out, the expenditure for extra wood was unnecessary, but also immaterial.
***Constant Reader will note that he had sufficient fuel reserves to save one of those cords, but ultimately it didn’t matter one way or the other since he had nothing left to spend wood on.
Current Status
Brian – 4Clay Rooms, 4 Peeps, 4f/0fl, 2R/5S, 1V, 3sh/1h, 3 PF(1v), 3(2x1)p, 2s, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/1F
Geoff – 3Clay Rooms, 4 Peeps, 3f/1fl, 3R, 1V, 1sh/3h, 3 PF(1v), 1(2x1)1(1x1)p, 2s, 4 Ock, 4 MjImp/5 MnImp, 0M/1F
Jimmy – 3Stone Rooms, 5 Peeps, 1f/0fl, 4W/2C/1R, 1G/4V, 3c/3h, 4 PF, 4(1x1)p, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/5 MnImp, 0M/3F
Ron – 4Wood Rooms, 3 Peeps, 1f/1fl, 6W/6C/1S, 1G/1V, 3sh/3h, 5 PF(2g/1v), 1(2x1)3(1x1)p, 1s, 1 Ock, 5 MjImp/3 MnImp, 0M/1F
Round Fourteen/Renovation + Fences Geoff – (Fences(4)-2f) Ron – (1C/1f)
Jimmy – Boar(1+1)
Ron – 1H ?
Brian – SB(PF)
Geoff – 1S(4) ?
Jimmy – P&S (PF + 2Vf)
Ron – RSf
Brian – Ren>S (-1R/4S) + Fences(0)
Geoff – Ren>S (-1R/3S) + Ceramics Stall (-1R/1S)°
Jimmy – BR(0) + 2s (-4W)
Ron – CW/Pottery (-2C/2S/1f/1fl)°
Brian – 2W(6)
Geoff – Cattle(1)burn
Jimmy – Sheep(1)
Ron – FG w/o
Brian – MIMI/Joinery (-3W/1S)°
Geoff – 1H –2f
Jimmy – 3W(3)
Ron – S&B (1Vf + 5f-1G)
Brian – 1V
Geoff – PF
Ron – 1C(4)
Jimmy sics Golem on the boar. Ron, unable to block prime farming, dallies with another horse, likely a mistake.* Brian turns a last field, and I probably miscue with an anxious stone grab.** Jimmy promptly farms, although why he doesn’t put all four veggies in the ground is beyond me; he had a reason, although I don’t recall what it was. Ron thrifts for a needed rock, Brian renovates, picking the wrong space to do it, much to my good fortune, and I quickly dash Ron’s hopes of doing likewise by, well, doing likewise. Jimmy drops a pair of stables into his pastures, assuring a return from Animal Feed, Ron coughs up for the Pottery, Brian hauls the neglected lumber, and I immolate the lonely bull, seeing as how I’m low on supplies. Jimmy herds the wooly into his house, Ron takes the “free” growth,*** and Brian grabs the last crafting Major. I buy the last horse, Jimmy snags lumber for heating, and Ron farms to fill his larder. Brian erases a final negative, I plow, and Ron nabs clay for obvious reasons. Brian sloughs a wood for heating, I dispose of a reed to feed, Jimmy burns off his surplus veggies and a rejuvenating cow, plus a wood to heat, and Ron sloughs a 4Wood and a clay.**** All done. Tally ‘em up.
*Ron does have a tendency to misidentify his primary competition in the late Stages of the game, and thus ignores suitable blocking moves. Building a few stables, for instance, would have crimped Jimmy’s style a good deal, perhaps even enough to give Ron the game. Constant Reader is invited to do the math.
**One, there’s a good chance no one else will feel the necessity of taking what could well be inutile rocks, and two, Plow ‘n’ Sow gets me more points with one action, while simultaneously relieving food pressure and blocking Jimmy’s very probable next move.
***While I can only wonder if I should have taken it first.
****My records show that he also ditched a grain, which wasn’t required, an obvious miscalculation on his part. Fortunately, it didn’t matter.
Current Status
Brian – 4Stone Rooms, 4 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 1W/1R, 3V, 4sh/1h, 4 PF, 3(2x1)p, 2s, 2 Ock, 3 MjImp/3 MnImp, 1M/0F
Geoff – 3Stone Rooms, 4 Peeps, 1f/1fl, 2V, 1sh/5h, 4 PF, 2(2x1)1(1x1)p, 2s, 4 Ock, 5 MjImp/5 MnImp, 0M/1F
Jimmy – 3Stone Rooms, 5 Peeps, 2f/0fl, 2W/2C/1R, 1G/4V, 1sh/4b/4c/4h, 5 PF, 4(1x1)p, 2s, 2 Ock, 2 MjImp/5 MnImp, 0M/3F
Ron – 4Wood Rooms, 4 Peeps, 0f/0fl, 2W/8C/1R, 1G/1V, 4sh/5h, 5 PF(1g/2v), 1(2x1)3(1x1)p, 1s, 1 Ock, 6 MjImp/3 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 – 54 (2 Occ, 5/2)(31/0)(4)(50(11))(1.080)(41) #saved 6f via Bible
Ron – 48 (1 Occ, 5°/6)(30/9)(6)(53(14))(0.906)(53) °both played Paddocks & Peat Burn-off
Geoff – 45 (4 Occ, 5/5)(12/15)(3)(47(12))(0.957)(44)
Brian – 37 (2 Occ, 6°*/3)(27/7)(1)(51(10))(0.725)(36) * played Edge of the Forest #saved 8f via Cook
Player Fields Pastures Grain Veg Sheep Boar Cows+Horses Unused Stables House Peeps Pts Bonus
Jimmy 5(4) 4(4) 1(1) 4(4) 1(1) 4(2) 4(3+4) 0(0) 2(2) 3S(6) 5(15) (6) (2)
Ron 5(4) 4(4) 2(1) 3(3) 4(2) 0(-1) 0(-1+5) 0(0) 1(1) 4W(0) 4(12) (14) (4)
Geoff 4(3) 3(3) 0(-1) 2(2) 1(1) 0(-1) 0(-1+5) 2(-2) 2(2) 3S(6) 4(12) (10) (6)
Brian 4(3) 3(3) 0(-1) 3(3) 4(2) 0(-1) 0(-1+1) 0(0) 2(2) 4S(8) 4(12) (6) (0)
Bits & Pieces
 This game offers plenty of grist for the mill of “What ifs,” especially in regard to the three also-rans. I find Jimmy’s play to be practically beyond reproach, and not just because he won. He never over-played his cards, and was able to get excellent results from each and every one of them. Bravo for a game very well played! As for the rest of us…not so good.
Brian, I think, has to take the brunt of criticism for his weak opening; blocking Ron’s Kiln gambit proved to be an exercise in futility, since it did nothing to advance his immediate needs. He ended Round One with a measly 2Wood and a Minor that wouldn’t get used until the next Stage. Ouch. My own opening wasn’t much better. I misallocated the Collector booty (why not put the stone first and then get out Styrian Oak with a button heist? Boom, Ron is sussed!), and in all likelihood should have gone a completely different direction (why not fell trees first and then grab the button to get Chronicle in play immediately?) I have to admit that I have a serious tendency to play stupid cards at the exact wrong time and then misuse them. One is doubly cursed when one does it right from the start.
Ron’s key failure was, I suspect, not pursuing more aggressive growth once he’d gotten the Guest Worker into play. Given how things were going, he could have had another room up by Round Eight at least, and had another active peep by Round Ten minimum. Speaking of which, I again note that delaying growth after building said room in the Tenth was also a major error. There are admittedly times when it’s a good idea to delay growth, especially in tight 2-player games, but this was not one of those times. His feeding fears were, I’ll opine, unfounded, and cost him the potential for winning.
My own errors were legion enough, even beyond the opening debacle, and demonstrate quite well that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. I played Food Critic unnecessarily early; better to have simply swiped the 2Clay and then snapped up the Cooking Hearth in Round Three—greed for bonus food will get you nowhere! The costly upgrade that resulted was uncalled for. Styrian Oak should have been played much earlier. The Ladder should have come out, as mentioned, much, much earlier. Farmer’s Ball could have easily been delayed to a more appropriate moment. Freeloader could have been played much earlier to much greater effect. All in all, I think I played a pretty careless game and was lucky to score as well as I did. Constant Reader will undoubtedly note that my superior efficiency still couldn’t surmount Ron’s 6-action surfeit.
Well, that’s it for another nail-biting saga of cardboard subsistence farming. Thanks for reading, any mistakes in editing, transcription, and interpretation are mine, and I hope it was enjoyable. Next report: likely one online debacle or another, and very possibly one that I lose, but lose with panache. Until then, happy gaming to all, and don’t forget to feed your families!
-
James Klemm
United States
Walnut Creek
California
-
Sadly, though, I’ll thoughtlessly arrange the forthcoming loot in what is most likely the wrong order. Does Constant Reader see what I might have done that would have much better?
Suss your comrade on the Kiln?
-
Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
-
Precisely. Such a lovely opportunity and I missed it!
-
David Lewis
United States
Overland Park
Kansas
-
Fantastic report. Thanks Geoff! Certainly well played by Jimmy, but it seemed Ron was within striking distance for a while. Some games are won, and some are lost; I wonder which applies here.
(Did you forget to pay a food for your clandestine work in round 3? Not that it would've made much difference if so -- you weren't pressed for it. I could've mis-counted, though, too.)
-
Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
-
dlewis2 wrote: Fantastic report. Thanks Geoff! Certainly well played by Jimmy, but it seemed Ron was within striking distance for a while. Some games are won, and some are lost; I wonder which applies here.
(Did you forget to pay a food for your clandestine work in round 3? Not that it would've made much difference if so -- you weren't pressed for it. I could've mis-counted, though, too.)
You are absolutely correct! I didn't forget, but have recorded it incorrectly. I wondered about that in the final transcription, because I remembered having exactly the 2food required for my last set of fences in Round Fourteen. Props and some gg for spotting the error!
-
Benjamin Wells
United Kingdom
Bradford
W Yorkshire
-
MisterG wrote: dlewis2 wrote: Fantastic report. Thanks Geoff! Certainly well played by Jimmy, but it seemed Ron was within striking distance for a while. Some games are won, and some are lost; I wonder which applies here.
(Did you forget to pay a food for your clandestine work in round 3? Not that it would've made much difference if so -- you weren't pressed for it. I could've mis-counted, though, too.) You are absolutely correct! I didn't forget, but have recorded it incorrectly. I wondered about that in the final transcription, because I remembered having exactly the 2food required for my last set of fences in Round Fourteen. Props and some gg for spotting the error!
I just assumed you'd used the food from buying the Cooking Hearth
-
Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
-
bjwells wrote: MisterG wrote: dlewis2 wrote: Fantastic report. Thanks Geoff! Certainly well played by Jimmy, but it seemed Ron was within striking distance for a while. Some games are won, and some are lost; I wonder which applies here.
(Did you forget to pay a food for your clandestine work in round 3? Not that it would've made much difference if so -- you weren't pressed for it. I could've mis-counted, though, too.) You are absolutely correct! I didn't forget, but have recorded it incorrectly. I wondered about that in the final transcription, because I remembered having exactly the 2food required for my last set of fences in Round Fourteen. Props and some gg for spotting the error! I just assumed you'd used the food from buying the Cooking Hearth
In a sense I did, and that's what resulted in the transcription error. Technically, I had to spend one food that I already had in order to use Clandestine Work, and would then collect the Chronicle bonus food when I upgraded to the Hearth (thus, if I'd had zero food at the time, I couldn't have performed the upgrade without cooking something first, at least not with Clandestine Work). At any rate, I elided the -1f/+1f in the record of the transaction, but when I tallied everything, I mistakenly gave myself the bonus food again anyway. Thus, all my food totals from then on should be correctly minus one.
-
Frederic Bush
United States
San Antonio
Texas
-
I know you guys don't believe in banning cards, but if you did, Chronicle would be one to ban for FotM.
Looks like Ron forgot the special ability on his Guest Worker; would've come in handy on R13 and R14 for an extra plow/sow and fg w/o.
You were sort of all over the place this game. My priorities would have been to get the uber-cards Styrian Oak and Chronicle out as soon as possible and work from there.
You didn't build a room until very late and without an obvious path to animals I don't think the stables were wise; it would've been better to set up a double build. I also don't see the need for a cooking hearth until you see boar or vegetables.
-
Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
-
fbush555 wrote: I know you guys don't believe in banning cards, but if you did, Chronicle would be one to ban for FotM.
I tend to agree with you, Mr. B, although we've seen it lose any number of times. It's a strong card, but I hesitate to label it broken quite yet.
Quote: Looks like Ron forgot the special ability on his Guest Worker; would've come in handy on R13 and R14 for an extra plow/sow and fg w/o.
Yes, he did, and yes, it would have. I was wondering if anyone would notice that. Good eye! Note, though, that a Round Thirteen use of FG w/o would have been legit, but in Round Fourteen he was SOL because he had no reed to enable him to renovate (Guest Worker can only claim-jump on the most recent Round card).
Quote: You were sort of all over the place this game. My priorities would have been to get the uber-cards Styrian Oak and Chronicle out as soon as possible and work from there.
Absolutely. Fell trees, swipe the button to play chronicle, then play Styrian Oak asap. Totally my fault for being blinded by the newness of Resource Collector, which of course I muffed as well.
Quote: You didn't build a room until very late and without an obvious path to animals I don't think the stables were wise; it would've been better to set up a double build. I also don't see the need for a cooking hearth until you see boar or vegetables.
Yep. I was having too much fun playing cards, and not paying enough attention to expansion. Fie on me, say I, fie, fie! 
'at's alright, I'll get 'em next game! 
-
Robert Zwiers
Netherlands
Overijssel
-
Quote: Quote: fbush555 wrote:
I know you guys don't believe in banning cards, but if you did, Chronicle would be one to ban for FotM. I tend to agree with you, Mr. B, although we've seen it lose any number of times. It's a strong card, but I hesitate to label it broken quite yet.
Our group has yet to ban any card at all, although we have changed the exact workings of a few since playing FotM. For instance the Braggart only counts Major Improvements and we've changed the Chronicle to only award food to the 12 major improvements that are on top at game start. This still means it is a very good card, but it seems to be more in line with original intentions...
-
Robert Zwiers
Netherlands
Overijssel
-
Two things I don't really understand:
What did you get the six wood for at the beginning of turn 9? I cant seem to find the minor imp or occ that caused this? EDIT: Never mind, I just looked up what Styrian Oak did... I had it confused with another card!
Followed up with: What's the exact use of the Styrian oak card apart from giving you 6 wood? It's exact wording according to the compendium: Quote: Place 5 food from the general supply on the Styrian Oak. At the start of each round, you can return 1 food to the general supply. Once during the game, at any time, you can pay the number of food (0 to 5) remaining on the Styrian Oak to receive 6 wood from the supply.
The only reason for the food part of the cards explanation that I can see would be that you would have your opponents believe that you lack wood for building rooms or stables or fences, having them possibly miscue with delaying their own action for building rooms or fences.
In fact, the card says that you CAN return 1 food from the Styrian oak, which implies that there is no "time"-limit within which you need to reap your rewards from the card (e.g. the six wood)...
I can certainly see the value in gaining 6 wood by play of a minor (a seriously good action), but the exact workings seem a little cumbersome!
Second, shouldn't you have built the fences at the beginning of turn ten, instead of eleven?
-
Geoff Burkman
United States
Kettering
Ohio
"Punk is not dead" by daughter, Emily
-
Roja wrote: ...Followed up with: What's the exact use of the Styrian oak card apart from giving you 6 wood? It's exact wording according to the compendium: Quote: Place 5 food from the general supply on the Styrian Oak. At the start of each round, you can return 1 food to the general supply. Once during the game, at any time, you can pay the number of food (0 to 5) remaining on the Styrian Oak to receive 6 wood from the supply. The only reason for the food part of the cards explanation that I can see would be that you would have your opponents believe that you lack wood for building rooms or stables or fences, having them possibly miscue with delaying their own action for building rooms or fences. In fact, the card says that you CAN return 1 food from the Styrian oak, which implies that there is no "time"-limit within which you need to reap your rewards from the card (e.g. the six wood)... I can certainly see the value in gaining 6 wood by play of a minor (a seriously good action), but the exact workings seem a little cumbersome!
I suspect the point of the text was to say, in effect, "you get a 6Wood five Rounds down the line, but you can take it prematurely by paying one food for each Round you take it earlier than normal". In all the instances of it being in play with the Ugoi, I've never seen it taken early, although I agree with you that there might occasionally be some value in doing that. As for delaying the arrival of the 6Wood beyond the five Round parameter, I can't imagine any reason to do that.
Quote: Second, shouldn't you have built the fences at the beginning of turn ten, instead of eleven?
Excellent eye, sir! I don't have the original record at hand, but this smells like a transcription error on my part. Props and geekgold to you for spotting the mistake! I'm not going to bother correcting it, since it has no effect on the sequence of play.
-
|
|
Posted Tue Feb 7, 2012 5:58 pm
