King of Tokyo: SurfMonkey Brings on a Rune Age While Waging a Summoner's War

On our monthly game night, SurfMonkey and I brought quite a few games to the tables. I suppose with the exception of one game, it was a night of Fillers. Not that there is anything wrong with that...

First up was the fast and furious King of Tokyo! A game I had heard raves about and that, IMHO, lived up to the hype. Dice rolling modified with cards providing special attacks and powers. SurfMonkey and I played two monsters each. 

The only improvement I think it needs is to provide a special ability for each of the monsters as to set them apart. Otherwise, though, it was fun and solid game by the designer of Magic the Gathering. I guess you really can't go wrong with a pedigree like that.

Next up, I exposed SurfMonkey to the fun dice roller, Martian Dice! I pulled out a last minute set of rolls that took me over the 25 point limit and utterly crushed SurfMonkey's hopes of stealing anymore Earthlings. A fun, quick filler that makes me smile when it hits the table.

It had been awhile since this deck builder had hit the table. I had been in the mood for it lately, and I am glad SurfMonkey suggested it. We tried the fully co-op scenario, Cataclysm. Man, is that one hard! We played it three times and only made it to the third stage of the Event deck once. Whew. Was it tough. He was playing the Uthark Yllan, and I the Latari Elves. I always enjoy this game and need to bring it to the table more. 

Although SurfMonkey and I have been playing Summoner Wars to death on the iOS, we still felt it needed to hit the table. If for no other reason than to try out my brand new faction dice! 

As always, it was an epic struggle. I was playing the Sand Goblins vs. his Shadow Elves. In a brilliant ending move, with one of his Summoner bearing down on my Summoner, I used Silts to bring the sneak beat down to Selundar, ending the battle. What a finish! What a game!

What do we have in store for next month? I know not. What I do know is it will be a good time. Until next time, good reader. Play more Summoner Wars!

Starshield Boardgaming Knights: The Great Summoner War

Monday night four members of the Starshield Gaming Society met for a relaxing night of board game fun. Weezoh and Moosecadet hosted; Iczer and I attended. Weezoh, Iczer, and I played a game of Martian Dice while we waited for Moosecadet to get home from work. I pulled out a squeaker in Martian Dice to win.

I brought Summoner Wars as the main event. We decided in the interest of time to break the games into duels instead of playing the clunkier four-player version. Randomly, Weezoh was chosen as my opponent while Moosecadet and Iczer were paired. The plan was to have the winners of the initial duels play each other while the non-winners would go head-to-head. How did things turn out, find out by checking out the pics below.

                                   

Both Games Begin: Weezoh playing the Filth vs. Me and the Benders; Moosecadet playing the Guild Dwarves vs. Iczer's Fallen Kingdom.

After a bad tactical decision on my part where I got a bit greedy, Weezoh advanced on my position  very quickly and smashed poor Tacullu. First game: Weezoh. Moosecadet and Iczer were off to a slow start...

While Moose and Iczer seemed a bit far from an end game, Weezoh suggested we play Blood Bowl: Team Manager. A game I had wanted to play since its release. We played a game, and I really enjoyed it. I even won by a point! Definitely a fun game.

At this point, Moosecadet and Iczer were trying to set a record for the longest game of Summoner Wars ever played...

Weezoh and I decided that our second game of Summoner Wars would be against each other. He was feeling 'Jungle Elfy' while I brought the Mountain Vargath to the table. I had a great draw and beat Weezoh making us even in Summoner Wars victories on the night. Moosecadet and Iczer were still not finished, but not long after my Vargath dropped Abua Shi, their epic duel ended. 

Any night I get to play Summoner Wars is a good night, and this night was no exception. This game just keeps getting better and better for me. I look forward to my next outing onto the Battlefield. Thanks, Starshielders for a great night of gaming. May there be many, many more to come. Until next time, good reader, may the dice fall your way and play more Summoner Wars!

Friends and Fumes and Games at Tiny House...

This past weekend, 6 friends gathered together for a convocation of games, food, and flatulence! Yes. It was yet another Guys' Weekend! Gather 'round and hear a tale of great deeds and even greater games. 

The Dramatis Pretentious:

StormBringer: Host and least flatulent of us all.

magehammer: Yours truly and Games Master extraordinaire!

IMStuds: The Organizer 

Beowulf: Trickster and tormentor of IMStuds.

Mage: Rocket Scientist and expulsion specialist.

Ga'oin Shaftshooter: The young vagabond world traveler, student of StormBringer.

After all arrived and Chipotle had been consumed, we sat down to the game table, and another epic game of Nuclear Risk ensued. 

The game was chock full of earth-shattering and astounding turns of events. Some highlights included poor Ga'oin going out after only making a single die roll. See the pics below for a visual history of said events.

My trying to nuke something and actually accomplishing my goal by taking about half of all Beowulf's forces by blowing up Kamchatka!

The most significant event of all, though, was, of course, us allowing IMStuds to finally win a game of Risk before he moves to Southern climes. You are most welcome and happy birthday. 

You will never win again.

The victor?

After Risk, we played a quick game of one of the newest additions to my game collection: Martian Dice. 

Despite my barely comprehensible rules explanation, we managed to play a game. StormBringer won as he does a lot in games dealing with dice. 

The next day after a tasty brunch at Panera, we endeavored to play a multiplayer game of Fear and Faith. The scenario I designed can be found here . I was especially excited because it was the first time I got to take my new Wounded City battle mat from Zuzzy miniatures for a spin. Those mats are amazing!

Though the game took a bit longer than I would have liked and a bit of down time between turns that resulted in a lot of ADD-style behavior, the story of the game played out in a tense and exciting fashion. 

Many of the team members on both sides succumbed to the roaming zombies and became zombies themselves. Beowulf managed to escape with the medical supplies and military-grade weapons found in the wreckage of the helicopter. After which he promptly blew himself and some zombies up with a grenade. So goes life during the zombie apocalypse...

 The battlefield is set...

 Bring on the zombies...

 The teams turn on each other to grab the precious supplies from the downed helicopter...

Beowulf grabs the cases and makes his way off the field of battle, semi-victorious...

In the afternoon, we turned to the gaming climax of the weekend, Summoner Wars. My current favorite game was a big hit with the guys. Over a dozen games were played by all. I was psyched to give the Master Set an extensive workout and try some new factions, and this weekend was a perfect opportunity to do so. The Benders are now my favorite faction. What an incredible game! 

We capped off the weekend with two more relaxing games of Martian Dice.

Miscellany: 

During the Fear and Faith game, IMStuds began a script to the movie he wanted to film this weekend. I became the script doctor and was relieved by Ga'oin. The film never did get filmed, but that's what next year will be for, though, sadly, IMStuds may have to phone in his performance...literally. 

Sunday morning we participated in our annual Bob Evans meal of celebration as we all parted ways, happy to be heading home, but already thinking of next year.

Conclusion:

Overall, another awesome Guys Weekend in the books. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. StormBringer for their hospitality. On behalf of all your guests, we would like to apologize for the stench. 

Until next year, good gamers, play Summoner Wars as much as you can and roll a d6!