Gaming Weekend!

 Another annual game weekend in the books. This session was at Stormbringer's house, and it was an excellent time had by all. Here are some pictures to memorialize the fun times. 

SurfMonkey Mania

SurfMonkey came over Thursday night for our monthly game night. This night was particularly busy as the boys joined us for a few games at the beginning of the evening. While SurfMonkey and Max played Star Realms, Jasper and I played some Vanguard!

Then we played a game of Sentinels vs. Kismet (Setback's nemesis). In the end, we kicked her butt. 

After the heroes took down the supervillainess, we continued superhero action and played a couple of games of Marvel Dice Masters, using a roughshod draft mechanic. 

We split our wins. 

We finished out the evening with a head to head battle of Star Realms and then played a co op vs. the Nemesis Beast. We took it down!

Overall, a great night of gaming. Next month: We brave the arena and finally break out Mage Wars!



Summer Gaming with the boys: When not hanging out with SurfMonkey, the boys and I have been revisiting some of the great games.

In the Sentinels game, Plague Rat defeated us. Next up: Ambuscade invading The Block.

Our Origins Journey: 2014

My birthday weekend was one for the history books as Max, StormBringr, and Kato Katonian piled into StormBringr's Tesla S and headed for the second largest gaming convention in the country: Origins! This trip was the three big people's second trip to the convention and Max's first. It was an amazing time. We met up with Feecha and Joe for dinner on Thursday night at Easton, then played games in our hotel room. As we stayed at the Hilton across the street from the convention center. That is the only way to go. We were able to get way more out of our time at the convention because of our close proximity.

Food at the North Market and Barley's was amazing. Can't wait to eat at either of those places again! 

We got to meet Issac Vega, Sam Healey, Ryan Metzler, Rob Dougherty, Darwin Kastle, Vito Gesualdi, Tom Vasel, Mike Selinker, Mike Mearls, Rodney Thompson, and Colby Dauch.

We also met up with Shaftshooter on Saturday!

The following is a pictorial history of our time there:

Feecha bought us breakfast Sunday morning, and we made our way back to the North. A grand time was had by all. 

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!

Season's Gamings!

Over Christmas Break, the Ries household was a flurry with holiday cheer and games galore. I taught Maximan66 how to play Space Hulk: Death Angel. He likes it a lot. We lost our first game but escaped with 4 Space Marines in the second.

Game 2 of Space Hulk Death Angel

I also taught Maximan66 how to play Warhammer: Invasion. He played the Waugh! Orcs. I played the dwarves. It was a learning game for him, but the dwarves did emerge victorious. I am looking forward to more games of W:I. It is a solid game and extremely fun for me. I even ordered more cards with Christmas money. 

Then at Yia Yia's house, we put together a Sentinels of the Multiverse game. The heroes kicked Baron Blade's butt. 

On New Year's Eve, we got together with my brother's family at Grandma and Grandpa's house, IMStuds and I played the game he gifted me for Christmas: Lords of Waterdeep! I really enjoy this game and was ecstatic he bought it for me. We played in my parent's basement like we used to do with other games when we were kids. Nice memories, good time, and he won, kicking my butt quite handily...or is it footily? 

On the second day of 2013, Maximan66 gave to me another game of Death Angel. We played against the Tyranids that Kato Katonian picked me up at Gen Con. They proved to be ridiculously tough on the Deathwing battle brothers.

Maximan66 and I sat down to another game of Warhammer Invasion shortly after our Death Angel game. Maximan66 played the High Elves this time while I played Chaos for the first time. I started off strong and then the High Elves got the upper hand. I didn't draw any units when I needed them and it was over. My zones burned! I am loving this game the more I play it.

Later that day, after dinner, we sat down for another game of Sentinels of the Multiverse!

The next visit to the game table found Maximan66 and I taking on the role of Lords of Waterdeep. Unlike my ill-fated game against IMStuds, I ended up on the winning end of this game. Triumph on the Field of Victory! 178 Victory Points to 157. Maximan66 proved to be a worthy opponent!

On Saturday before the return to school, I was able to tear Maximan66 away from his Mindstorms long enough to get in another game of Warhammer: Invasion. He played his High Elves while I played the Orcs for the first time.

The game was fast and furious, but in the end with a Rock Lobber, the Greenskins burned the High Elves capital.

On Sunday evening, we sat down for the final game of the holidays. It was a Sentinels of the Multiverse game. Maximan66 played Legacy and Bunker, while I played Ambuscade's nemesis, Haka, and ExPatriette vs. Ambuscade in Megalopolis. He put up a fight, but ultimately, the heroes were triumphant.

It was a great holiday for family and gaming. Hoping you all had a joyous season. Now into the winter, a traditionally fertile season for gaming. Can't wait. Between the Starshield Gaming Society, the Little Wizards Basement Gamers, SurfMonkey, Maximan66, and the Red Dragon Gaming Society, I am one fortunate gamer. 

Until next time, good gamers, may your cards sling the way you want and your dice love you.

--magehammer