November On the Table
What has been getting played at GB HQ this last month
Every month I like to look back at what I’ve played. Some of these will be regular parts of my collection while others will be first plays or similar at clubs or friends.
Binding of Isaac: Four Souls
I played the Binding of Isaac computer game a bit, but not as much as the many that it really grabbed the imaginations of. That game is a weirdly themed bullet hell game with incredible depth of combinations of pickups alongside hidden stages and bosses.
This card game was crowdfunded a few years ago and is a really odd product. The core of the game is a tableau builder where the tableau allows you to take on monsters and bosses dealt from a deck. Monsters get you more resources to buy cards for your engine, and bosses give you victory points. Get 3 of the bosses, or cards with victory points on them, and you win.
It is no more than fine. It doesn’t really evoke the computer game for me, beyond the inclusion of art and theme. Card quality is good, but the game is incomplete in terms of components. You need health tracking tokens for the monster combat and they are only in the expansion (that of course came with the Kickstarter). Another example of a retail version of a game getting a raw deal.
Expeditions
Still working through this adventure style game sequel to Scythe. It has got some things to recommend it for sure but I have concerns that there is a bit of a player scaling issue at the heart of it.
Hardback
Hardback is a game that just keeps on giving to my group. Easy to play, quick to teach, and with lots for those who aren’t necessarily into word games. The usual great Fowers’ production as well.
Infinity: Code One
This one has been percolating in my brain pretty much all year as I worked through the missions with my brother-in-law. Code One is meant to be a simpler version of the base Infinity rules, a skirmish miniatures game with a reputation for complexity and depth. I enjoyed the game, but the starter set was rubbish in terms of actually teaching it.
Last Bug Standing in the Circle of Doom!
This is a Bez designed game but published by Surprised Stare Games. At the core of it you are using a sort of rondel mechanism to move a tank around an alien landscape. In doing so you are attempting to take out your opponents preferred alien bug and protect your own. Its got a deductive element to it which is intriguing. More plays of this before it gets the review treatment.
Long Shot
Long Shot is a new game to my collection this year that is in hard rotation. Easy to teach, fast to play, but with a nice bite of strategy running through it. Pushing and pulling the horses around the track is hilarious.
Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
I am starting to solidify my thoughts on Oath as we play through a campaign. Got one more game planned before putting pen to paper properly as I have a concern about last player bias in the victory (though that may just be a problem at 5 player).
Sea, Salt and Paper
This is an intriguing little card game with beautiful art (all photographs of real origami). Its not the deepest thing ever, but it has some interesting combination of mechanisms that make it stand out from the crowd a bit.
Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game
Sneaking in on the very last day of the month, I finally got a chance to try this release from Fantasy Flight Games. There is no getting away from the fact that this is basically Star Realms or similar. A central market allows the buying of cards to alter your deck.
The twist here is that some cards are for the Rebels and some for the Empire, the two sides of the game. The opposing sides can remove cards from the market row that would benefit their opponent, getting a bonus for doing so. Neat twist and I enjoyed my game of it. Definitely feels like a game rife for expansion.
What’s been getting onto your table in the last month?