Query the First: What'd you actually DO?

[Cyrano]

OK, it's not like any one owes this guy a living, but surely, for all the talk of how loved boardgames are, others around this joint have played something groggy to completion in the past six months?

And, yeah, the "blocks" series Is lovely...and the deluxe version comes in an artillery shell...an engraved, personalized artillery shell...what's not to love?

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

[Rekim]

Actually, that is Block in the East BB. It looks exactly like EastFront when played without all of the chrome.

The advanced and optional rules add a crazy amount of gear to the mix. This includes tons of wooden bits that look like they were borrowed straight from Agricola. These are used for managing production. I found production to be a time consuming pain in the ass with EastFront and suspect this system will be a huge improvement.

[Cyrano]

Yepyep...hence my reference to the artillery shell :).  Would that my copy of Eurofront II had come that way.

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

[GJK]

Past 6 months?  Some ASL (groggy) and a lot of Blood Bowl (geeky) mainly. 

[calandale]

What is the biggest, meatiest, groggiest, most monstrous non-electronic wargame that you've played to completion against a human or humans in the past six months?

I generally don't want to be around humans that much. I did A Distant Plain, some Hoplite, and a couple of
heavier economic games (Manifest Destiny and 1846) in a gaming group locally.

Also Amateurs to Arms with my wife, which is a more pleasing situation, as I don't feel compelled to wear clothing.


On the other hand, I've played a good deal of larger solo things. The biggest being Last Chance for Victory,
and Unconditional Surrender in that time frame. I don't think I'd have ever become a wargamer if not for the
solo aspect. Sure, it becomes a backdrop for social interactions, but the games are much less interesting to
me opposed.

[DennisS]

I will confess to having found the conversation re: PC and non-electronic gaming intriguing.  There is one thing that grew out of this that I wanted to set on the record:

What is the biggest, meatiest, groggiest, most monstrous non-electronic wargame that you've played to completion against a human or humans in the past six months?

Games played on Vassal or similar do not count for the purposes of this inquiry.

I proffer mine own:

Napoleon (4th ed.)....seriously...although I will say in my defense that I added the option of resolving battles using the "Eagles" card game.

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

Gotta be Carriers!  GREAT game, and not for the faint of heart. Every time I pick it up, I have to re-learn the rules!

[Cyrano]

Well, based on my highly-unscientific and haphazard sample I conclude:

We're passionate conceptually about groggy board games, but their innate size, complexity, and the occasional lack of those against whom one can play, prevents all but a few from being able to actually play the damned things.

I could build a fort with the board games I know I shall never get to play...and yet I love them...yesterday my beloved game me "the look" because two more of them came in the mail.  It's not an angry look, mind.  More of resignation and the now-eternal question of "oh, now where are those supposed to go?"  All of this is perverse, perhaps, but at least I know I'm not alone.

All those who move from this observation and actually turn up their noses at PC games, though, might do well to remember that we're actually playing a game or two.

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)