The collection

I am happy with my game collection currently at 70 games. An objective for now is to try to play them all. Some are better than others, some are good, some are bad.
These are my "tower" games, Carcassonne, Jenga, Shogun.


Here are some games that Lorena and I purchased cheaply in Germany in June 2007. So far we have only played Inka about 4 times, Thurn and Taxi's and Tombouctou once each. Just because they are on special doesn't necessarily mean they are good!



These are our Rail games. Well, Elfenland is included because it is a route connection game based on similar principles. These are all good games.



My CDG (Card Driven Games). Hannibal is a classic, and well played. Wellington had yet to see a match although I am looking forward to organising it.



My Block game collection (think Stratego but more complicated). Rommel in the Desert and Crusader Rex (Richard the Lionheart nearby but a lot earlier).



Some of the game collection in the shelf.

Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition

On Sunday 9th December 2007 we settled down to a day of Twilight Imperium. This is an epic game of space combat, politics, intrigue and endurance. Lorena launching her yellow star-fleet across the galaxy.


Nathan looking content with his armada in grey, Bridie perhaps not so, with her green fleet.


A closeup of the intergalatic tension.


We played for 7 hours and didn't quite finish. For "epic" read "very long"!

Shogun

"Shogun" is a game set in the Sengoku period of fuedal Japan. Each player must develop his kingdom, build armies, supress peasants and engage in warfare in order to see who is the most powerful Daimyo. It is an interesting mix, a game involving combat - a wargame, and yet it includes many of the mechanics of the Eurogame. A popular (or not) feature of the game is the dreaded "cube tower" which is used to determine combat results. I enjoy the game of Shogun very much. Here is Lorena 21st of September. (Steve, Jim, Alvin, myself and Lorena playing).







Another game, this time with the Old Guard at Ians place on 07 December 2007. Jim, John R, myself, Ian and Chris struggled over who would be the mighty Daiymo. Chris and I in mid game.




A close up of the action. I am yellow, Ian red, Jim blue, Chris purple and John R black.




Ian near the end game, fortified by coffee, as the results come to hand. Victory - John R, in his first game too!

Settlers

Settlers of Catan is a great way to introduce new people to quality board games. Players control a settlement on the island of Catan and seek to improve their civilisation by careful expansion and trading. The game is meant for 4 to 6 players but here we are playing a two player version using two colours each.

This is our Settlers collection, including the basic game, Seafarers, both 5-6 player expansions and the seperate Settlers card game and extensions.

Parthenon

Building a civilisation in Ancient Greece. Trading with other players is necessary, dangerous voyages are undertaken. Who can bring the most glory by building the grand monuments?
In this game I am the player on the left (with the cards all in order) and opposite me played Alvin (with a more chaotic style). Lorena is middle right. We would love to play this game again soon, it's a lot of fun. Well we did play again! Here are Lorena, Bridie and Megan on 19th October at our house. I won this time, heh, heh, heh.....

Jenga

Jenga is a block building game, the blocks must be removed from lower in the tower and placed on top. Lorena carefully removes a piece.


Our niece Alison carefully places her piece on top.


Eventually it will become unstable and fall - thus a loser! Oops, looks like me!

Bitter Woods

Bitter Woods is a regiment/brigade scale wargame of the famous "Battle of the Bulge" which was fought in the Ardennes forest in December 1944. The Americans have to hang on grimly until their reinforcements and superior airpower can make itself felt. The Germans must attack hard to keep their enemy off balance. They have the units to do it, the SS panzers are really powerful. This is a well tuned game and a fine playing experience.
This is early in our first game and my German troups are on their way west!


Later in the same game and my offensive is pretty much at high tide against accumulating american assets (played by Jim).