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Writing and photography collaboration | Splendor Duel - Cathala adds a sparkle to Splendor

Posted by Henk Rolleman

Spiel 2012

26 May 2023

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

Splendor Duel - Cathala adds a sparkle to Splendor
Splendor (2013) is an evergreen with swift game play. The new Splendor Duel feels familiar, more versatile, and refreshing. As a result, it makes me want to play it again and again.

This review has been translated from Dutch and was originally published in board game magazine Spel!, edition 26.3, published by game association Ducosim in 2023. In this translated form, it is the first in a series of writing and photography collaborations between Niels Muñoz and Henk Rolleman. Niels and Henk got acquainted through board game related social media, decided to meet in real life, and have never stopped talking ever since. This post is an experiment in joint content creation and adding value to the board game community.

No need for change...
Grab gem tokens, buy jewel cards, increase buying potential, and race to 15 victory points. That defines Splendor in 15 words. Great game to play with players whatever their gaming experience. Superb in its simplicity and exciting in its endgame sprint. “Splendor is pure, no need to change it” is what I always thought. Until I played Splendor Duel.

New: privileges and pearls, cards and crowns
Splendor Duel again is a race which accelerates exponentially towards the game end. Just like in Splendor, you purchase jewel cards with gem tokens. In Duel, you take up to three gem and/or pearl tokens in uninterrupted horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines. Alternatively, you can grab 1 and only 1 gold token to reserve a jewel card, which can make getting the gem and pearl tokens you fancy a challenging puzzle. If you grab 3 gem tokens of the same color or 2 pearl tokens, your opponent receives a privilege which can be converted into a gem or pearl token. Pearls are also new and are used to purchase jewel cards with brand new card abilities. Cards with abilities provide you with extras like taking another turn immediately or stealing a token from your opponent. Pearls are scarce and often required to purchase jewel cards with crowns. Crowns are the final novelty in Splendor Duel, which takes me to the endgame.

Three routes to victory
Whereas in Splendor you race to fifteen victory points, in Splendor Duel you require twenty for the win. Or ten, if all prestige points are printed on cards of the same color. Last but not least, if you collect ten crownes on jewel cards, you also win! Cathala splits the route to victory in three and lets you choose based on what the current play provides and your opponent decides to do. Gold tokens are both annoying barriers on the board and terrific trumps to secure jewel cards which would provide either you or your opponent with a sprint in one of three possible races. As players purchase more and more jewel cards, the game accelerates exponentially towards a finish of fame, making me feel like a motorcyclist maneuvering in a tense neck and neck race.

A sparkling two player game
I wish any gamer to experience this exciting endgame thrill and explore the tactical trumps of all new additions. The more you play this game, the more of its facets you will discover. Splendor Duel is a sparkling two player game for which I created space on my games shelves alongside Targi, 7 Wonders Duel (another gem by Cathala) and Patchwork.I am eagerly awaiting his next duel-game, as Cathala has touched Splendor and turned it into gold.
----------

Niels Muñoz: Writer of the review

Niels Muñoz

(mazinho)

Netherlands
Den Haag

www.instagram.com/movetherobber

Henk Rolleman: Photographer for the review

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

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Fri May 26, 2023 6:00 am

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Photo Impression of .... Terra Forming Mars Ares Expeditie

Posted by Henk Rolleman

15 May 2023

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

Terra Forming Mars Ares Expeditie
Return to Mars and terraform it once again, this time using only cards.

Designer Jacob Fryxelius (and Sydney Engelstein & Nick Little (I)

Board Game: Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

Players Hand

Mars can become the new Earth. There has to be more oxygen, the temperature has to rise and there have to be oceans. It's up to you to make the biggest contribution to that job.

Game Overview

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is a design by Jacob Fryxelius, Nick Little and Sydney Engelstein and is published by Intrafin Games. They indicate that the game is suitable for 1 to 4 players from 14 years and has a playing time of 60 minutes.

The steps towards a livable Mars take place in five phases, for example development or production. Each round, everyone simultaneously chooses which phases will now be carried out by all players, whereby you will receive an advantage in the phase you have chosen.

Game Overview

Judging others well helps to contribute effectively to the terra forming. Choosing the right action, at the right time, is a very fun part of the game. With so many different cards that will pass through your hands during the game, you can always break new ground.

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is an expertly accessible and streamlined development game. The turns follow each other quickly, with the action phase providing fun interaction. You want to find strong combinations that support your plans. Thanks to the available cards, you get the space for that every game.

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Tue May 16, 2023 12:27 am

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Photo Impression of .... Living Forest

Posted by Henk Rolleman

07 Apr 2023

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

Save the forest and its sacred tree from the flames of Onibi

As a spirit of nature you try to save the forest. You recruit animals to help you plant protective trees, collect sacred flowers, or extinguish the devastating fire. Can you be the first to break the power of Onibi?

Buttery

Living Forest is a design by Aske Christiansen and is published by Ludonaute. They indicate that the game is suitable for 2 to 4 players from 10 years and has a playing time of 40 minutes.

You turn face up animals from your own deck of cards as long as you want. Each animal brings benefits for this turn, but if you reveal too many solitary animals, you lose an action. So stop in time, or still one extra animal to make your desired action just a little stronger? Bring the right animals into your deck, but if you can't control the fire, it will also attract useless, solitary animals... You choose whether to defeat Onibi with trees, flowers or extinguishing it, but do it quickly! Because only the fastest wins.

Game Overiew

Push your luck ....

The Spirits protecting the Tree

Close up during the game

My daughter is enjoying the game

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Fri Apr 7, 2023 6:00 am

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Photo Impression of .... Lama Land

Posted by Henk Rolleman

31 Mar 2023

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

Photo Impression of .... Lama Land, Designed by Phil Walker-Harding
and artist Klemens Franz created the arkwork.

Box & Components

The Lucky Llamas

Trading potatoes, corn and cocoa

Lands of the Lama high in the Andres

The helpfull assistants

Llamas in the fields in giddy heights, you gain the necessary crops

By fitting your fields in giddy heights, you gain the necessary crops in order to obtain the desired llama cards.

Famers view

Obtain the desired llama cards

Being a farmer in Llamaland isn't exactly easy with all the hills and mountains around, but even so, growing potatoes, corn, and cocoa on the slopes of the mountains is what you love.

The plateaus are wild, stunningly beautiful, and...full of llamas?!

Potatoes llamas

Luckily the llamas are a big help, too!

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Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:00 am

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Photo Impression of .... Jekyll vs. Hyde

Posted by Henk Rolleman

24 Mar 2023

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

Jekyll vs. Hyde Designed by Geonil and the artwork has been created by Vincent Dutrait.

Jekyll vs. Hyde is a trick-taking game for 2 players wich can be played in almost 30 minutes, the theme is based on the famous novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. As Dr. Jekyll, you'll need to resist Mr. Hyde's fierce attacks to protect your mind and keep the secret of your dual nature. As Mr. Hyde, your goal is to dominate Dr. Jekyll to overcome his identity.

Overview

One player is Dr. Jekyll ; the other is Mr. Hyde. The game plays in three rounds. At the end of each round, Dr. Jekyll's identity will progressively disappear under Mr. Hyde's relentless attacks. Compare the number of tricks that each player has won in this round and subtract the lowest score from the highest one (for instance, if Dr. Jekyll won 6 tricks and Mr. Hyde won 4 tricks, then the final result is 6-4=2). This result indicates by how many spaces the Identity Marker will move to Mr. Hyde's side.
Evil is relentless! Even if Dr. Jekyll won more tricks that Mr. Hyde, the marker will progress towards Mr. Hyde's side. As Dr. Jekyll, your goal is to keep balance, without giving in to darkness!

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

If the marker reaches the last space of the track (far left), then Mr. Hyde instantly wins the game. Otherwise, start a new round: remove the three colored tokens from the board and reshuffle all cards, including the 5 cards that you set aside at the beginning of this round.

Mr. Hyde wins as soon as the Identity Marker reaches the last space of the Identity Track (far left). If the marker did not reach the end of the track after three rounds, then Dr. Jekyll wins, escaping from Mr. Hyde's dark influence.

Game Overview

Dr. Jekyll is under constant pressure, and must plan every action with care

Players view

The identity track of Jekyll vs. Hyde

As Mr. Hyde, dominate Dr. Jekyll to overcome his

Playing a posioncard

As Dr. Jekyll, you'll need to resist Mr. Hyde's fierce attacks to protect your mind and keep the secret of your dual nature

Open Box - Jekyll vs. Hyde

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Photo Impression of .... The Adventures of Robin Hood

Posted by Henk Rolleman

21 Mar 2023

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

Board Game: The Adventures of Robin Hood

Can Robin Hood and his companions escape the sheriff's guards and complete their adventures successfully?

On my way to Notthingham Castle

Take on the role of Robin Hood or one of the other freebooters in your fight against all kinds of injustice. Can the two of you together thwart the Sheriff of Nottingham's evil plans? You will need your special skills!

England in 1193, the county of Nottinghamshire

Can Robin Hood and his companions escape the sheriff's guards and complete their adventures successfully?

The Adventures of Robin Hood is designed by Michael Menzel and published by 999 Games. They indicate that the game is suitable for 2 to 4 players from 10 years and has a playing time of 60 minutes.

You really play a role in the story of Robin Hood. Players read from a physical book and thus discover conspiracies. Is it possible to thwart it? You can move around the fantastic board completely freely, discovering a lot by removing or flipping parts of the board. Just be wary of the sheriff's henchmen. A smart structure takes you smoothly into this unique game world.

The Watch Tower

#TheAdventuresofRobinHood

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Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:25 pm

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Photo Impression of .... Cascadia

Posted by Henk Rolleman

21 Mar 2023

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

In to the Wild

Starting a four player game

The Bag of Animals of Cascadia

Expanding the habitat

Close Up during the Game

Cascadia is a pleasant puzzle game where you build with landscape tiles on which animal counters can then be placed. Turns are very simple: you choose one set from four sets of a landscape tile and an animal tile and place it in your own landscape. Tiles always fit, but animals must be placed on a landscape where they can live (each landscape tile indicates which animal can live there).

Occasionally, of course, there is just not what you need. In that case you can use a so-called nature token. You get these nature tokens in the game by placing the corresponding animal on tiles with only one terrain type. If you hand in a nature tile, you do not have to take a set, but you can take one of the four landscape tiles and one of the animal tiles. Or you can put away as many animal tiles as you want and replace them with new ones in the hope that a better combination will appear.

At the end of the game you score points for both the landscapes and the animals. For the landscapes, you score one point for each tile of your largest contiguous group per landscape type. On top of that, the player who has made the largest area of each landscape type also gets a few bonus points. For the animals, a card is turned up at the beginning of the game per animal species that indicates how the animal species in question is valued: sometimes you have to make groups, sometimes they have to lie alone, sometimes they want to lie next to certain other animals. There are four different score cards for each animal species, so that every game is different (there are more than a thousand combinations to be made with these cards). Furthermore, unused natural tokens are also worth some points.

…and the appreciation

How wrong I was! This is not a dime a dozen puzzle game, but a gem. What lifts this game above its peers is that you are solving several puzzles at the same time. And then each game has other puzzles as well. You want to create large landscapes, but you also want to place each of the five animal species in such a way that they score optimal points. And of course that often doesn't work out exactly as you would have liked because the right combination of landscape tiles and animal tiles just doesn't come along. And then you have to be flexible and try to make the best of it while keeping as many options open as possible. Because turns are so simple, the game feels smooth and smooth. Cascadia is a sublime optimization puzzle with sufficient challenge and very accessible.

The habitats and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest

Animal placing

The Wildlife Scoring Cards

Randy Flynn at Spiel '22 during the Award Ceremony of the Deutsche SpielePreis 2022

Playing the Game at home with my daughter

#cascadia

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Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:51 pm

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Photo Impression of .... A visual flashback of Spiel Essen 2021! Get ready for 2022

Posted by Henk Rolleman

30 Sep 2022

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

A Visual flashback of Spiel '21

..... What was the Hotness and how are they now?
....... A little preparation to get into the flow again!
......... A larger floor than ever only one week left!

Early in the morning in the Netherlands going to the East

Passing the border crossing with Germany

Know we are getting close ....

That is looking good

At the Center of the Boardgame World

Parking my Car with a mysterious Guest

Followed him to the Enterance

First some Coffee ... Espresso Doppio please

Of course with a cookie

Let the magic begin

At the Neuheiten Show

Inno Spiel Winner & the Winner of the Deutsche Spielepreis

Saving the Egg of the Dodo, Winner of the Deutsche Spielepreis Kids

Meeting with Geek's & Authors at the Show booth

Beth Heile & Hobbes Inc the BGG Crew

Welcome you to Essen Crime City

A lot to do in our play garden

Max Metzler the man behind Spiel and especially Spiel Digital.
Max is the Son of Dominique.

Sometime we need an excape ....

And a fast way out ....

We here some secrets of new ..... Ignacy Trzewiczek

New stories on the harsh desert planet of Arrakis

The legend of the Golem of Prague in the 16th-century and their grow these powerful creatures

In the 6th-century a legend of the Golem of Prague, an anthropomorphic creature that Rabbi Loew animated starting from a clay statue to protect his people

The Synagogue Marbles Structure

Mr. Furnace ... new capital arrived for buying games

The Rats from Messina arrived also at the fair.
Designer Raúl Fernández Aparicio with Messsina

Board Game: Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders

Or we find new Adventures with new leaders - Designer Alwen on expedition as the leader of the fellowship

Others will follow ...

Even from Troyes .... with Mr and Mrs Dujardin

With a Chinchiller

Adventures on new Islands ....

Pay close attention to your purchases because there are always privateers on the coast

Designer Oleksandr Nevskiy building his Settlement right their

Traveling with the boat to ....

With my Guide Joris Maas meeting 7 Gods(Designer)

Designer Ivan Lashin with his Furnace from St Petersburg had some fine
ideas for my Russian capital

With Love from Russia

More Russian influences from the red square - Designers Isra C & Shei S with their Red Cathedral

Board Game: Goetia: Nine Kings of Solomon

After a visit in the Cathedral ... got a copy from Designer Kristian Karlberg - Goetia: Nine Kings of Solomon

Autumn is not the best time to climb up on a scaffold in Moscow

From the Red square took

.... Tram 28 to Lisbon

With Some muscles from Bruxelles - Etienne Espreman

And Scott send some real Geek Gold to the Winner - Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game Winner - Designer Tomáš Uhlíř

This was for one of the Best Covid survivors.

With some good advice for saving the planet!

Board Game: Galaxy Trucker (Second Edition)

Vlaada Chvátil also hurling new crew for defending Earth from space

The Czech solved their distribution issue with some Galaxy Truckers

Vlaada Chvátil on tour with his Galaxy Trucker

Other Space battles - The Spirit of Erune though the Maze of the Dungeon

though the Maze

Becoming the next great spirit of the forest, by helping of the yōkai, the kodamas and the different pilgrims, accompany them on their path

Bitoku spirits of the forest in their path towards transcendence

Glass manufacturers hard working at the booth

Take the role of glass manufacturers and traders who want to profit as much as they can from their role in the production of glass art

Traveling from Italy to Japan

The people came from far to the Fair with their passion and energy!
From Taiwan Eros Lin - Empire4s with an new game

Welcome back to Hanamikoji! In Hanamikoji: Geisha's Road designed by Eros Lin

Always in for an Perfect picture

Meeting the "King of the Valley"

King of the Valley

Erwin Broens is going to Spiel sinds the early 90's. Working more than 25 years as a journalist in free time for the Dutch boardgame scene.

I heared some new latin Sound at the bar in Essen for Designer Pau Carles

And some creative player with a personal message ... from Pedro Soto

Such tough days always at Spiel

The Dancer at the Showcase with some Echo's ...

Bag of Butts form Miss Preiss with the new game of Andreas Preiss

Designer Robert Brouwer knows all about creating rainbows to win the pots of gold at the end of the rainbow

Took some Japanese lessons from Kondou Koushi, 近藤功司

The Knight preparing for the Tournament

Pre Battle Knights Dominik Mucha & Marcin Wisthal .... A Duel for the hand of the Prinsess in Glory a game of Knights

Set in for my bet ...

Challenge other Knights and the most famous nobles across the Europe of 15th century

Paradise where everything is calm and peaceful .. For pond’s people, this poetic backdrop represents a daily struggle for survival, where it’s “eat or be eaten”! - Baptiste Le Corre

Countryside ponds are little slices of paradise where everything is calm and peaceful .... not!

Board Game: Schichtwechsel: Die Förderung liegt in deiner Hand

Thomas Spitzer with Schichtwechsel about the mining in the Ruhr area

Mining in the Ruhr area

Du Meeple & Boardgame Heaven

Editor-in-chief of Spel magazine together with his wife

Giant Galaxy Trucker played at the Gallaria

[ImageID=large]
I left my kids at the booth of .... Baby blues

Funefore Booth - Player will control a civilization that will evolve through his city in Monumental

The men fought away some frustration

One battle wasn't enough

Sabotage, a game of team stealth tactics

Sabotage

Gather around an ancient sacred stone

witchstone - Game Overview at the Huch

Barrage - power of the massive machines and of the unstoppable engineering progress is the unlimited hydroelectric energy provided by the rivers

In Glow You are an adventurer who builds their company by recruiting a new traveling companion each turn, trying to combine their powers as best as possible

Gather many slivers of light to dispel the darkness, restore the colors, travel the land to reach landmarks

Dutch Coffee Traders at the booth of Capstone Games - Designers Rolf Sagel & André Spil

In 1970s Central and South America

Players View - Lumipli

Black box adventures

Seize the Bean

A classic back in 3D

New Adventures told at the booth of Kosmos from Robin Hood

A lonely fellow of the Hood finding his path through the wood to the Castle while time is passing by

Another Book - Ken - Tales describe the land as an idyllic paradise filled with marvelous dragon-made wonders and surrounded by a flourishing wilderness

Wonder Book - Lara - Tales describe the land as an idyllic paradise filled with marvelous dragon-made wonders and surrounded by a flourishing wilderness

It was far too easy to progress into this dark dungeon - Rush Out!

Melodies whisper in slow rhythms as children wake from their slumber - Dreadful Circus

They uplifted your people and promised great prosperity - Origins First Builders

With a group of pioneers, you have left civilization behind to settle along the shores of Boonlake, a long-forgotten region inhabited by humans long ago

In Boonlake explore the landscapes, build houses and settlements, raise cattle, produce raw materials, and develop an infrastructure

Gigamic Booth

Board Game: Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road

The Rise and Fall of the Greatest City in the World at the Silk Road

Merv The Heart of the Silk Road

Playing Lost Ruins of Arnak at the booth

Hall 3

- Kingdomino OriginsLet's start the fire

A team of two against the tricky opponent in Concordia

In Solitaria ou compete alone or in a team of two against the tricky opponent Contrarius

Playing Kobito at the Jolly Dutch Booth

De Messe in the evening

Taking to subway for Dinner

Someone doesn't want to leave ...

Set my route ....

Music on ....

Driving home....

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Fri Sep 30, 2022 6:00 am

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Photo Impression of .... Dutch Board Game Awards - Nominitions

Posted by Henk Rolleman

28 Sep 2022

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

Nominations Dutch Games Prize 2022
Nominaties van de Nederlandse Spellenprijs 2022

Here are the nine nominees for the Dutch Games Prize 2022 announced.

The three nominees for the family prize are:

The Adventures of Robin Hood by Michael Menzel, published by 999 Games.

Cascadia by Randy Flynn, published by White Goblin Games.

Living Forest, by Aske Christiansen, published by Ludonaute.

The three nominees for the kenners prize are:

Aquatica by Ivan Tuzovsky, published by Jumping Turtle Games.

Honey Buzz by Paul Salomon, published by Happy Meeple Games.

Libertalia: The Winds of Galecrest, by Paoli Mori, published by 999 Games.

The three nominees for the expert prize are:

Ark Nova by Mathias Wigge, published by White Goblin Games.

Carnegie by Xavier Georges, published by Quined Games and HOT Games.

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition by Jacob Fryxelius, Nick Little and Sydney Engelstein, published by Intrafin Games.

The winners will be announced at 29th of October.

The jury will meet in October to determine the three winners of the Dutch Games Prize. The winners will be announced and honored on October 29.

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Wed Sep 28, 2022 4:52 pm

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Photo Impression of .... Noorderspel '22 Groningen- The Netherlands

Posted by Henk Rolleman

27 Sep 2022

Henk Rolleman

(henk.rolleman)

Netherlands
Eemdijk
Utrecht

A small photo impression of Noorderspel in Groningen the Netherlands.

Last weekend visited one of the northern games fair of the Netherlands in the heart of the old center of Groningen. The attractive location is very accessible to the passing shoppers. The old Martini church is a beautiful atmospheric location for a cozy get-together. The leading publishers were present to present and demonstrate their new recent editions. For example, I played a new multilingual edition of 999games with my daughter Queensland. At the booth of Geronimo games we played Connect0 and Wonder Woods.