Shrek ears really?
I think Aces face sums it up perfectly.
The Monster Squad is currently drawing up retaliatory plans to implement once Ace is with us next week.
Current favourite is to hack in and change some of the US targeting data for Iran.
Revenge will be ours.
Another great second half to the month. Let’s get straight into what hit the table.
The rule of cool. The one rule to play these sort of games by. I’m happy at the end of the game if I’ve done something cool. Winning is a bonus. Having fun, and a good time the priority. Throw in a bit of banter, and some politicking and bargaining, and you have the recipe for a fun Twin Suns or Commander session. How Simon ended up winning a game after I wiped out all his ground units with a Turbolaser Salvo, leaving him with nothing I don’t know. But somehow after all the dust settled he ended up the victor! I even was allowed to attach a Darth Vader leader to The Death Star and use its ability for the first time ever. I still lost! But it was cool to do that. Especially when one of the other players cottoned on to what I was about to do with Vader and the Death Star.
Innovation: wow four players is mad! And mean!! But still great fun. However I’ve also now played it at its full player count of five. This five player game gave me some firsts whilst playing. In the previous games I’ve played we’d never got to the tenth age, let alone the eleventh. But in this one not only did we get to those ages we decked out the eleventh age, ending the game. I’d also never seen a self-executing card, or used the chain rule. But because we hit the later ages I got to see the mechanic and the rule used. These later age cards are insane! Some even had instant win conditions. The game also ended in a first, a draw! Two players (I wasn’t one) same score, tied on the tie breaker with an achievement each, so it was a rare draw.
Acquire 60th Anniversary edition: such a great game. And the game that started my Sid Sackson fanboyism.
Targi: love this two player worker placement. But sadly like all my two player games doesn’t get the love it deserves.
Three Sisters Harvest edition: still my favourite of the series of games. We played game one which is just the original game. Next time with Dave we’ll start the campaign, which breaks things in gently.
Alice’s Garden: I liked this tetranome tile drafting game. Well I enjoyed it. But after finishing the game I was left feeling a little underwhelmed.
Streets: This game is growing on me.
Tikal Legend: a two player learning game. This was Marcin’s kickstarter copy that had all the bling. It’s a table hog for sure. The board is massive. The drafting was interesting, not just for tiles and cards, but action points, and start order. It does leave an interesting choice particularly if there is a card or action point amount you really want. The intermediate scoring on the appearance of volcano tiles and how that worked was interesting with players getting action points to spend before they scored. The iconography took a little while to get used to, especially on the player aids. Not a bad game at all. But I wouldn’t want to play it with anyone that suffers from ap. Despite all the bling they skimped on the card reference sheet, only providing the one.
Hanami: just great tactical fun.
Venture: wow! Another Sid Sackson classic. A four player game. Not overly complicated but boy is there some tough decisions to make. We liked the game a lot.
It seems I’ve been on a bit of a Sid Sackson fix.
A recent Ace video and one hot off the press with some great news.
UPDATE 29/10/16: I have just received the new flight itinerary for Ace and he arrives in the UK next Wednesday afternoon. So excited to have him finally here.
A short but sweet update.
“He is having a nap right now! Today he had a laser therapy and it’s looking so much better
Foot is much better!! Finally only improving
Wound is now 40% of what it was
We are on track”
Yeah I made a stove!
It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very very long time.
After seeing a YouTube video on Japanese lightweight camping/hiking gear. Using a third party shipping company I got my hands on the RSR type C stove diy kit.
The kit arrived yesterday and when I saw the size (I should of checked) of the provided bits I knew I didn’t have the right size can to use. So this morning while picking up mums prescription I also picked up a home brand energy drink for 55p. There was no intention of drinking it, I hate the taste of them. When home the contents were poured done the sink, and the can was rinsed out.
The actual assembly that involved cutting the can with the “fancy” gadget was less fiddly than expected. Although bending the aluminium combs and fitting the provided aluminium “ring” was probably the fiddliest bit.
I did an initial burn in what can only be described as less than optimal conditions, i.e. it was windy.
Maybe with the success of this I’ll be motivated to try other designs. In the meantime I have a new toy to play with.
Yesterday evening a zoom call was held between the rescue home and Kate.
The outcome of the call was that Ace will be in limbo at The Village for at least another two weeks.
The reason for this delay being to allow his paw to heal after he managed to lick it.
Apparently this is something dogs that have little feeling in a paw are prone to do.
Here is the video I mentioned in the previous update plus a new one as well.
I seem to be on a retro gaming kick at the moment. I’d like to blame this on my friend Gavin and his hunt for a cheap copy of Acquire. Speaking honestly none of these games I played as a kid or teenager. So they are new to me. What’s surprising to me is how well the ones I’ve managed to get to the table so far have held up.
Take Stratego. I saw a video on YouTube of a game being played using an app (which I now have installed). It looked fun. So I’ve been playing the app a little. Loved the game play. And would you know it a 1982 copy of the game popped up on the Facebook group, dirt cheap. It’s now on its way to me.
Let’s look at what I’ve played so far this month.
The new set Homeworlds has dropped. And after scavenging cards from the Tarkin spotlight deck, it’s imperial after all. I updated my All the Vaders deck to a Varder/Tarkin deck. The fortify mechanic is interesting. It’s basically upgrades for bases.
Tenby: a four player game. Yeah I like this game. It works so well. I love the choice you have to make between the number of actions (and what they are) and turn order. Going early means you can do less but have more choice, but vice versa going later means you do more but have less choice!
Into The Machine: a worker placement game of sorts where you are manipulating your position on a track. The theme is paper thin. You upgrade workers to access more powerful actions. There is a race along a track which you manipulate with the actions. It’s good, not great.
Splendor Duel: played with the new Counterfeiters expansion. I like the new expansion. It adds literally no overhead to the game play. But the powers you are able to tap into with the counterfeit cards can be pretty powerful.
Hanami: I actually liked it as a two player game. It worked really well.
Innovation: what can I say I love this as a two player game.
The last couple of days has seen a lot of photos of Ace, plus a short video clip. In this post I’m going to share the update that came in last night plus all of the photos. I’ll save the video clip for another day when there are more clips to go with it.
“Hi! Here are some pictures of Ace in The Village :)
Wound is closed but with the minimum contact with the boot over night it opens a little bit
Today we are doing laser on the wound to help healing
We will see how it appears tomorrow morning to see if he is able to pass SENASA on Monday
If not, we will need to posponed the departure some extra days”
I love as a Prisoner fan that they call the place Ace is staying The Village. It’s almost apt.
I know the last few posts have all been dog related. To be fair that is the most important thing going on in my life at the moment. There will be other content soon I promise.
Last night Kate asked how Ace’s paw was doing. What I present here is the resulting exchange that was interspersed with photos and video.
“He’s healing well, and we’re keeping a very close eye on him”
“Good he seems very friendly and good with the other dogs.”
“Yes, he is very friendly with everyone !”
“Ace has been friendly/playful with other dogs and people.”
It is very obvious from the photos, now and previously, that he gets on well with other dogs. I have to admit I find these photos hard because I want the other dogs as well. They too deserve a loving forever home.
The one thing I am unsure is whether myself, Dolly, and Loki are ready for Diogo and Ace playing!
Looking at the paw in the video I don’t think next week is out of the question for Ace completing his journey to us. Then I can start getting excited again.
Tuesday saw Diogo have his second pickup and train session with Heidi.
As usual Heidi takes the odd photo and video of Diogo to show how he is doing throughout the lesson.
This time he spent time in the main park in Wisbech.
Obviously there were other dogs and even joggers there. He’s still reacting to other dogs, but his recovery ie stop reacting is improving.
Diogo even took treats from Heidi this time!
Diogo even had his first ever pup cup from the local Costa. Something I wasn’t aware they did. That did feel a bit like missing a child’s first word to be honest. It also means road trips to walks in the area just got expensive!
It does appear, no it’s obvious that Diogo is enjoying these sessions with Heidi, and a trust is building up between them.
Diogo has another session booked in two weeks time.