Little Wizards, Starshield, and SurfMonkey...Game On!

Sunday night I traveled to Flash's place for some Magic the Gathering. Had an enjoyable time with good friends and won more than I lost. A card slinger can't ask for more than that. 

Then on Monday, I traveled to Starshield HQ for our weekly D&D Next game. The members of the Gravenport University expedition found themselves stranded on what they believe to be the island they were looking for. Through hot and humid air and white sand beaches, they slowly surveyed their surroundings after salvaging essential survival gear from the wreckage of their crashed ship. They even made their first steps into the jungle. They got lost. 

After they became un lost, they were ambushed by massive sabertooth tigers.  Oh, my! The cats did some damage, but the adventurers eventually defeated the savage beasts. 

The heroes eventually made their way to a great wall behind which they found a native village. After passing through the massive gates and some ado, they were shown to the chief's quarters where during their discussion with the chief, a runner came in to say that the chief's son had been kidnapped by pirates who are asking for a ransom for the return of the young man. The chief, in her infinite wisdom, decided since the pirates were foreigners, that the heroes--foreigners as well--should deal with the problem. The heroes agreed to rescue her son and in the process of doing just that. Will they be successful? Will the Isle of Dread consume them? Check back here next week to follow the continuing adventures of the Expedition of Gravenport University. 

SurfMonkey Night 

Enjoying a trifecta of gaming, Tuesday was SurfMonkey's monthly visit. This time he brought Noir, a deductive reasoning game. There are several variations in the small little tuck box; we played the one where an investigator must search for a killer before that killer murders 16 victims.



We took turns playing the investigator and killer. Each time, it was fun. Thinky but not too thinky. A cool and quick mystery game. We look forward to trying out the other variations in other gaming nights.

Next we took Smash Up out for a spin. I played zombies and wizards vs. his choice of dinos and pirates. Smash Up hasn't risen above its filler reputation with me, and it is some mindless fun. I declare it is still worth the money.

Then we sat down to what I considered the main event of the evening. Our return to the universe of Warhammer Invasion. We first visited W:I way back in June 2011. I loved the game back then and still love it now. Of course, as followers of this blog know, I have been playing a ton of W:I with Maximan66. I continue to build my collection and each Battle Pack and expansion just keeps adding variety and fun to an already awesome game. On to the battle report.

In the first game, I never really was able to get my resources going. The second, we switched decks. I managed to win. That brought about the rubber match. We rolled for factions, and I kept the Dark Elves. The final game was an intense come-from-behind victory for me. I couldn't believe how awesome the whole thing was. Each time I play, I am loving the game more and more.

I am already looking forward to next month when SurfMonkey visits again. Sounds like next time, we will be playing X Wing miniatures game and finally re visit the Lord of the Rings LCG. SurfMonkey has sunk quite a bit into the expansion packs. I look forward to playing the game again. Cooperative play is always a nice change of pace. 

I will keep you posted on my other gaming experiences between then and now. Until next time, good reader thanks for reading and play more games!

Since Last Weekend...

Since the IMStuds Gaming Weekend at Tiny House, I have played D&D with the Starshield Gaming Society and several games of Warhammer Invasion with Maximan66.

I love my hobby. This week is more D&D, SurfMonkey, and game night with the Little Wizards Basement Gamers. Good to be a gamer!

IMStuds Memorial...er...Birthday Gaming Weekend

Once again it was time for the annual game night at the home of StormBringr: Tiny House. This year was billed as the IMStuds Memorial Gaming Weekend, but IMStuds surprised no one by showing up! StormBringr and Beowulf's birthday present was plane fare for him. 

The Dramatis Persona:

me: magehammer

StormBringr

IMStuds

Beowulf

Mage

Shaftshooter

KatoKatonian

He who lived closest, KatoKatonian was last to arrive. But that was okay because many of us spent the time checking out StormBringr's newest acquisition: A Tesla car. Speaking of which, five of us piled into it and headed to the traditional dinner spot: Chipotle. After returning from the delicious dinner, KatoKatonian had prepared a surprise for us and had us purchase an app called Artemis, a space ship bridge simulator which essentially allows the players to be the members of a starship crew ala Star Trek and run their station from their personal iPad. The scenario prepared by KatoKatonian involved us saving an ailing ship from certain destruction. Our mission was successful under Captain StormBringr. I was the Weapons  officer. The night was off to a stellar start. 

After Artemis, we cracked open Risk and had at it. This year I changed my strategy and started out berserking and didn't stop, which in the end led to me achieving victory!

The night ended after a few refresher games of Summoner Wars, my favorite game.

The next morning, IMStuds made eggs for people. Well...let's say things got sticky as the video below will show.

While we waited for IMStuds and Beowulf to return from an errand and Kato to return, Mage, Shaftshooter, and I played a game of Sentinels of the Multiverse. I played Legacy and Tempest; Mage, Bunker; and Shaftshooter, Ra. We trounced poor Baron Blade in his bid for the Ruins of Atlantis. Soon the entire gang was sitting down to play most recent home brew RPG, Quests & Bones. The newest recruits of the Vigilants of Starshield were called upon to investigate the strange silence of a Palanite monastery at the base of the Wyrmspan Mountains. 

The journey there was fraught with peril, with rampaging orcs and hungry ogres at every turn...

After arriving at the Monastery of the Sun, they found it deserted with only giant spiders to greet them, complete with web-wrapped bodies of a monk rescue team...

After vanquishing the giant spider guardians and further investigating the monastery, they are ambushed by ettercaps in the basement...

After making their way into the monastic tomb below the monastery, they soon discovered the true reason for the deserted monastery: drow had emerged from the Dark Beneath to wreak havoc and evil and gather slaves for their subterranean city. The heroes prevailed but now face a decision: return to Northgate and report their discovery, or descend into the Dark Beneath to rescue the slaves or avenge them?

I am really happy how the game played, and I think everyone had a great time. Next year, I am planning on adapting the system to a pulp adventure game at the request of our host. Can't wait!

We played a game called We Didn't Playtest This: Legacies, a game I bought StormBringr for Christmas. It was crazy but fun. 

Next up was the long-awaited Summoner Wars tournament. I played Swamp Orcs and then The Filth the rest of the games. I lost to Beowulf in the semi finals when I missed four opportunities to take out Sundreved. 

I love that game!

The next morning all said their farewells and headed off into the noonrise. I had dinner with my parents and brother as they had come up to take IMStuds to the airport. 

A huge Thanks to MEM and StormBringr for hosting and allowing us to disrupt their lives for a couple of days in the name of friendship and gamesmanship. 

I hereby declare the third annual Tiny House Gaming Weekend a success. Already plans are being made for next year. Will IMStuds show his face again and ruin yet another pan? Will any of us go to sleep before 3:30 a.m.? Will Shaftshooter be living in a house? Answers to all these questions and more await next year.

In the mean time, friends, play more games!

Quick Update

Another session with the Starshielders went very well. They have made contact with the mysterious reptilian denizens of the Tomb in the Greyfells. Where this newest development will go, only the Dungeon Master knows...

Over the past week, Maximan66 and I have managed to fit in some more Warhammer Invasion games. We have also started playing best of three matches. The first of those matches are pictured below. The match went two games. 

It was an epic Empire vs. Chaos match up. In the end, the Empire's mobility overcame the crushing might of Chaos. Then the next match was a lot more tense. I was playing the Dark Elves vs. Maximan66's Dwarves. The stout ones quickly dispatched the fragile Dark Elves, but the next two games were all Dark Elves. They rallied to win the rubber match. Love it. Great times!

The coming week promises to be epic in its own right. Red Dragon Gaming Society after school Monday, Starshield Gaming Society Monday night, then it is time for the Sean Ries Memorial Gaming Weekend. Can't wait for this week of awesome gaming!

My next entry will probably be chronicling this upcoming week of gaming awesomeness. Until then, may your warhammer swing true during your invasion.