All the Meeples of the Rainbow.

A photographic journey through board games...

Recommend

The Gathering of Friends! 10 Amazing Days of Gaming!

Posted by Steph

Conventions

25 Apr 2022

Steph Hodge

(punkin312)

United States
Tennessee

Well, it's no Ginkgopolis...

Please thumb deserving posts

Hia Everyone!

Don't forget to pick up my Awesome Gaming Calendar 2022! https://stephsshop.ecwid.com/

Thanks to Dfube, I now have a chance to sell some cool All the Meeples of the Rainbow shirts!
If you enjoy the blog and want to support me and my good friend Dfube you can check them out here: https://bit.ly/3lzvtcV

Michael and I took off for Niagara Falls on April 8-18th! It was a long 14-15 hour drive but the best week of the year each year.

I got to play 120 games and I learned 63 new games! Michael and I took a day off and spent it in Canada and we got to visit Mina and Peter

I ended up buying like 150 games from her while we were there too.

In this blog, I plan to review a few games, but mostly just show the different games I played without many comments.

We caught up with Kestrel along the way home! Michael had a slushie

Ryan and I got our Con pic too!!

I have no played several games of Walkie Talkie. New to me!

This is a small cooperative card game that takes 30 sec/per player to play the game. Simple!

The goal is to get rid of as many cards as possible and score positive points.

Each card has a colored side and a letter side. You start the game with 6 cards in front of you and they will be a mix of colors and letters. In the center of the table will be one color and one letter. You have to name things to get rid of your cards. If the letter N is up and you have a black card you can say "night" and get rid of the black card. The black card gets played on top of the other colored card and now you have to think of words that relate to black to get rid of letters like "Bear" if you had the letter B.

It is all very easy to understand and play. I think this is the perfect card game for a restaurant or a quick 5-minute game.

I have already played 8 games! 5 of them in the video below! I have really enjoyed my few plays and will continue to play them.

Microbadge: All the Meeples of the Rainbow blog

Devir Games have 3 smaller card games coming out and Walkie Talkie was just the first. The next card game I tried from them was Ouch!. New to me!

This is a very simple push-your-luck game. You have to flip over cards with one edge and hope you don't pick a side with cactus. There are a few special cards that will do a few bonuses, so you have to be careful. You want to collect more flowers but if a card has 3 slowers it also has 3 sides that are cactus. Big risk, but big reward!

Of course, this was a game I totally lost! There isn't that much to the game, but it was harmless. If I am going to pick a quick game I think I would choose the Walkie Talkie game to play vs this one, but I could easily play this again too.

The last card game in the new Devir relaeses we tried was Veggies. New to me!

This is a card placement game where you want to form a bunch of regions of one type of market item and one of them really large. you will actually score for that one item and each other item that the other players select. So you need to focus on your item and what other people might select as well.

It is a light game that will appeal to gamers who enjoy pattern building.

I always enjoy tile/card placement and trying to figure out the best patterns with the options provided. So for me, this game worked well! I would be glad to play this one again, it is light and fast so will work well for casual gamers.

I knew I wanted to check out PATIOS. New to me!

I found it in the BGG Store and it is a game I have been wanting to play for a while since it is simply stunning.

Patios is an action drafting and card placement game. The English translation was horrendous and I am still not sure we were playing correctly, but we did the best we could.

I liked the ideas happening in this game, but it is hard to really execute what you want during the game. It can be an interesting challenge.

It is not a game I will likely return to at this point unless there is a massive update to the English rules. Definitely glad to have tried it.

Ken was available and show us a 4-player game of Glory Islands! New to me!

I didn't know much about this game, but it had super cute boat meeples. I figured it would be a race type of game, but it wasn't which is great. In Glory Islands, players are choosing how far they wish to go each turn with a card from their hand. The player who picked the highest number will move first and do the card's action and then the next highest card will go. Ties are broken by little dots on the cards.

The further you go the more points you will have to give up, but you will get to place pirates down first and potentially gain higher rewards depending on what other people might do, or if you can close off a region before someone else.

Sometimes on the card, there is an alternative action you can do by spending more points or barrels and that is like a bit of a boost.

During the game, you will want to get your pirates on the islands for area control, but you will also want to collect barrels and treasure tokens. The barrels are used to help with extra actions but are also worth a point at the end of the game. The treasure tiles are a set collection and you can have multiple sets.

Since we learned at Gathering we have since played with James and Susan at home so I could grab some nice pics too.

The gameboard has 2 sides so I have been able to play on both sides. There is a lot more ability for finishing regions on the second side of the map since there is a whirlpool that transports the pirates anywhere. It also makes it a bit more chaotic before your turn if you are going later in turn order.

I like the use of the extra scoring tiles. It plays more to my liking since I like to race around the board and spend a lot more points to get first dibs at placement.

It is a nice family game, and one I would easily play again. It really works best with more players since you have to use a dummy 3rd player when playing with 2 players, but it probably works fine.

It was a nice game! Thanks to Ken for teaching us.

One of the first games I got to play was one of my favorites! I taught A Feast for Odin! It was a fantastic game. I haven't played with Norwegians in so long so it was extra awesome to play with the expansion again. It's a game I won't ever turn down.

Dan and I played a 2 player game called YOMEN. it was a neat little deduction game.

I quite enjoyed my one play of The Border. One to revisit.

I played two 5p games of First Empires. It was one of the best games I learned at the Gathering. So much fun in a short game. I think 3-4p will be the best player count though. I need to find a copy.

Learned Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles – Episodes 1 & 2 incorrectly, but Michael and I took what we learned and played it on the Livestream once we got home! I really enjoy the theme and the actions, but I need to explore it a bit more.

Michael and I played a 2-player game of Dungeons, Dice & Danger. Worth the try, but doesn't really offer anything new or exciting.

joe H brought out Piggyback × Factory and I think we were all just kinda hungry to really enjoy it. Once we finally got the rules down it seemed to make sense and wasn't terrible.

ハニーフェスタ (Honey Festa) is a super cute bee game with a bunch of random tile draws was next. It worked but it has a race element that I just don't enjoy.

Oh a sneaker game called ヴォーグ (VOGU). This is a sneaky game...

You need to make partnerships in a way to do well. It was quite interesting.

EIGHT games of Tichu during the con. It was glorious and I want more. Freaking bestest!

What the heck cards do you pass with this hand?!

Two games of Ark Nova. I kinda wish I played a few more times, but it was still great to teach Octavian! Dan and I played in 75 minutes... that was great too.

A quite roll n write we tried was Dice Trip: Deutschland that reminded me of On Tour. I think it works and is fine but there is nothing to write home about.

I love Streams so I was looking forwar to trying out Streams Cross which is essentially the same. Its cool.

Next was a push-you-luck dice game 空中都市アーレア (The Sky City of ALEA). I super lost as you might expect.

We needed a quick game so settled on PicTwist: National Parks Edition which I have played the original game several years back. I like the beautiful photography in this though. Quick puzzle game.

dan had a weird cooperative word game called 単語探知機タンタンゴ (Word Detector Tantango). It was very interesting an I totally choose weird helping workds to start the game with, but it was fun.

I knew I wanted to check out Merchants of the Dark Road becasue it is absolutely gorgeous and I like Ronels. A lot of interesting mechanics working, but not sure it is one that I want to explore futher. I would try again though.

If you like Cat Lady you will like Dog Lover! It is like the next step up from Cat Lady. It feels similar but has a few new mechanics which is nice.

I knew I wanted to try The Isle of Cats: Explore & Draw and Rob Daviu joined us for an even better experience. I loved this game. It is a perfect fast version of Isle of Cats. Will definitely need this in the collection.

More from the Roll n Write pile was Torpedo Dice. This was fun to try and blow up the other players. It was tough but interesting.

One of the better Roll n Write games I learned was Riverside! I loved all the choices in this game and trying to make it all work. Really cool.

A few new party games came next and the first was Last Message. We played a few times, and it was super cool. I had such a hard time trying to draw the clues and make it work, but it was a great challenge! Totally enjoyed playing this twice.

A couple games of Phantom Ink and it was definitely interesting. I am not good at this game. Not a great word game, but I can see the appeal.

An EPIC game of Nemesis is always called for. Poor Scott died again, but he survived a lot longer than the last time we played at gathering. The rest of us survived somehow!

I was recruited to try Der Garten des Sonnenkönigs. Hey I played a game with James Nathan, and it was an experience. Easily one of the games I will remember for hating so much.

We tried a really neat card game called Pastiche: The Birth of a Masterpiece. Somehow I beat Joe H. Crazy!

I really enjoyed my play of WORMS. If Joe H sells his copy, I think I want it. It is Snake the boardgame!

Michael and I played a 2-player game of Dodelido Extreme. It is truly silly, but in a good way. I thought I would be good at it, but man was I terrible at this!

Steffan was around and he was interested in playing Fields of Arle! I was so super psyched to play this and had a blast. Wish I played this more!

Michael and I tried One Small Step. It was decent, but there is just a pretty big swing element with some of the cards and it was rough ending. I don't know where i stand with this one.

New party game called Ferret Out and it was like a lof of party games like Sacred Rites or Spyfall. Sort of fiddly with the card rotations, but still interesting to see what happens. Would rather just play Just One.

Dan and I played Sagani. Great to get it back to the table. I do really enjoy the puzzle tile-placement aspect to the game. I think it works well.

A new spatial game called Perfect Shot really worked for me. I was terrible at it, but the theme is so cute and the game was just fun.

New prototype Living Together. Nice card game with a slight engine builder mechanic. Smooth and interesting. I look forward to seeing where it goes.

A quick 3-player game of Illiterati and I am still a fan!

I really didn't care for Villagers, but still wanted to try Streets. Streets is a much different game that I did enjoy more. Tile-placement and figuing out how to score the most points. I think it would be easy to house rule in 2 stacks of tiles so you can choose a stack to take from on your turn for slightly more strategy.

All the rage right now is Creature Comforts so I had to play it. Box says 45 minutes... it is more like 30 minutes per player. It was quite long and it felt long. There is a cute game in there though. I can see why people like it.

Another fantastic roll n write game I learned was Welcome to the Moon. Oh how I want to dive right in and play all the maps. I need this.

I taught a quick game of Fantasy Realms. My go-to filler that never lets me down.

New party game called Venn. SUPER weird art, but somehow works. definitely enjoyed this game.

One of the best new games I learned at the con was Space Station Phoenix. I loved everything about this. So many great chocies to be made when you play this. Everyone will love it, I am sure. I simply can't wait to get my hands on a copy fo the game.

I looked at the box and knew I wanted to try Overbooked. Neat game with some tile-placement to get the people into their seats on the plane. I loved the challenge. I will look into getting a copy of this in the future.

Oh Hey, Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice! This was way better than the card game. More choices and rolling dice is just more fun. Still the same feeling though, so probably not one I need to acquire.

Dan made me play a weird dexterity game called バック・トゥ・ジ・アース (Back to the Earth). We played that, we aren't good at it.

A 4-player game of Décorum and it was SO HARD! We had like one round to spare when we won. Great game.

I sort of regret trying Ofrendados, the road to Mictlán since we didn't really enjoy it very much at all. The theme is fun and the production was fun too, so that sort of made up for it.

We tried the very cute Snapshot: Wildlife Photographer. great theme, but the rules are just so dense and extreme it sort of took us away from te expereince. I didn't hate it, but I am not sure I would seek it out again.

We tried a nice set collection game called The Whatnot Cabinet. Simple and elegant and enjoyable.

Next up a few roll n writes starting with Roar and Write!. Was just like the bigger game but in dice form. neither game does much for me, but I do enjoy the artwork.

Then we tried Rustling Leaves which was slightly better. I just don't know what kind of replay value it has. I would always go for the rainbows.

Joe R wanted to learn The Isle of Cats. I was ready to teach it since it has shown up on BGA and I have taught it a few times this year already. Always happy to play this.

Dan and I played a 2p abstract called 魔幻特攻 (Magic Special Attack). It was a game and we played it. I sold it.

Another game I really enjoyed playing was Akropolis. I love the personal city building you have to accomplish in the game. It is totally a Steph game.

New prototype game called Vivarium that I enjoyed a bunch. Neat take on drafting.

Next we tried Peanut Butter Belly Time which is a super simple drafting game to create some peanut butter. I always love drafting. it is still in prototype form so I am guessing development is still happening. Look forward to seeing the final product.

Another one of my favorites that I got to learn was Stroganov. I ended up learning and then playing a 2nd time that week. The game is actually pretty easy to teach. My biggest gripe is with the box cover since I dont think it conveys the game at all. It is a straight up euro game for those who need to hear it. Super interesting game though.

We had Scott and we had Scott's copy of Dokmus so we played it. I always love me some Dokmus!

Towards the end of the week I tried to get some of my unplayed shelf played so we tried Desperados of Dice Town. Neat little dice game, but totally forgettable in teh long run.

Geoff suggested The King of Frontier and I don't say no to that! Michael hadn't played but also really enjoy it once we played it. Great game, but geoff had cool printed tiles so he wins for awesomeness.

A silly Dex game was next called Yummy Yummy Pancake. It is a memory game on top of dexterity. We had a bunch of laughs. Super cute.

I was soooooooooooooo looking forward to trying Skymines. I love Mombasa and thus I loved Skymines. It is essentailly the same game. There is a second side to the Skymines board that offers a new way to play that I am totally interested in trying! I still liked Mombasa more since it is just easier to see and read everything, but I will own both for sure.

I LOVE that we have been getting Mysterium to the table. It is always a great time and fun challenge.

Dan wanted to learn Surrealist Dinner Party so we played 4p. It is super challenging with so many people. Definitely felt more chaotic than with 2 players. I still enjoyed it.

Dan and Geoff were interested in learning Corrosion so I was happy to teach them. I quite enjoy the game. I knew they would probably not like it or be indifferent to it, but it was something they should try to see. I wasn't wrong, and I do think they would enjoy it more the second time. I still really like it.

The EPIC 7 Wonders championship of the world took place. As it does every con I see Stefan at, if possible. This time we found 3 others to join us. There was some final score funny business, but still an awesome time. I love this game.

Dan taught Vom Kap bis Kairo which is a neat betting game.

Next we tried Siebenpunkt which didn't go over well at all. I liked a lot of the ideas, but it is a game that definitely needs some refining.

Next up was a game of Schinderhannes. I was actually enjoying this more than the Old Town game, but it is definitely not really easy to grasp what to do. I would try again though.

Dan left out the part where we had to use both dice in Travel Over, so yeah we had to stop part way. Still, it is a game I quite enjoy and will keep my copy of it.

Dan and I tried a 2-player game called Bossa (坊茶). This didn't work for me at all. Trying to get tiles in line and you just don't have much control over the tiles at all. It was pretty ridic.

I love me some Sweets Stack! A game I wish I got to play more of just for the Tetris challenge.

The final game of the con was Jump Drive with tom himself. He taught the game to Michael and then we played a second time with the prototype of the expansion. Loved it and love the game. Always happy to play some of Toms game with Tom and spend the time. Great way to end the convention too! I didn't get a pic of us though! Boo!

New to the Collection:
The biggest Game Haul I ever took home!

Thanks for following along!

Happy Gaming!!!

-Steph

All images in this post are copyrighted, owned, and controlled by Steph Hodge Photography, unless otherwise noted.
Please contact me if you would like to purchase or use my images in any way.
Disclaimer: I am a contract Employee of BGG. I review games that are provided by the publisher. I am not compensated for my blog content.
Thank you.

58 Comments

Mon Apr 25, 2022 11:00 am

Post Rolls

[+] Dice rolls

| Locked Hide Show Unlock Lock Comment

View Previous {{limitCount(numprevitems_calculated,commentParams.showcount)}} 1 « Pg. {{commentParams.pageid}} » {{data.config.endpage}}

[ShowHide] Thank you for helping us moderate the site. [Community Rules]

Edited
Posted
- Reply
- Quote
- Edit
- Delete

View More Comments {{limitCount(numnextitems_calculated,commentParams.showcount)}} / {{numnextitems_calculated}} 1 « Pg. {{commentParams.pageid}} » {{data.config.endpage}}

Contributors

Steph

All the Meeples of the Rainbow.

The Gathering of Friends! 10 Amazing Days of Gaming!

Search

Subscribe

Categories

Contributors