Gameblog

Category: Session reports

  • Helcon notes, 2009 edition

    Helcon was last weekend. The event was again great success, with lots of good games available. Running the event just week after Essen proved a bit problematic, as some of the games arrived from Essen on Friday, barely in time. I did a day trip for the first time, driving to Helsinki in the morning…

  • Last Train to Wensleydale first impression

    I was fortunate enough to make it to the game night this week. Last Train to Wensleydale was most wanted of the new games, so we got full four players. Short version: it’s good and worth buying. Description of the game Players build small railroads in the Yorkshire Dales, moving cheese, stone and passengers. Passengers…

  • 1825 Unit 3 with Olli

    Olli and I played another game of 1825 Unit 3 (our first game, our second game). Even though it was a while since our previous game, we got the game up and running in just 10 minutes. That was pretty sweet. On company selection I got the large private, Olli started NBR and I took…

  • Ghost Stories and Steam over Holland

    I’m a wee bit late, since everybody played Ghost Stories back in Helcon last year, but I got it now as the Finnish version was published and we got it on the table today with Johanna — and got promptly butchered. It’s one hell of a difficult game! I suppose that’s good, as beating the…

  • Roads and Boats for three

    I was able to organize a longer game today. We ended up playing Roads and Boats, which was certainly welcome. I bought the game back in 2006 and played the only game so far back in 2005, so I’d say it was about time. Olli and Robert joined me, Robert had played back in 2005…

  • Here’s a start!

    Johanna went shopping today and to my great surprise, bought a board game! She had found a copy of Piikkisiili (aka Polly the Porcupine), a children’s game that has an age recommendation of 3+ and won the Finnish award for the best children’s game in 2007. Since Nooa turned three a month ago, this was…

  • First impressions of Steam

    Steam is an interesting variant of Age of Steam. It won’t make AoS obsolete, but it seems to stand quite well in comparison. Things I like about Steam: the new income system where income can be changed into cash creates a whole new financial environment in the game. It’s not quite as strict as in…

  • Age of Steam: Texas, Oklahoma & New Mexico

    Last Sunday’s board game club was an excellent opportunity to get some Age of Steam action. I had heard a tip that Winsome’s cow expansion Age of Steam: Texas, Oklahoma & New Mexico is good, so that’s what we tried. I enjoyed it. The expansion has cattle. In the first round, 32 cattle cubes are…

  • Thursday session: Gulf, Mobile & Ohio and Frantic Frankfurt

    Gulf, Mobile & Ohio was requested, and I was happy to provide the game, especially as I had finally got the new board made by Sampo Sikiö printed. So, now we had new board and new shares, the same gorgeous style as the other Winsome Games Sampo has remade. I played with Petri, Hannu and…

  • Thursday session: Greentown, Corner Lot

    During yesterday’s game session, I was able to play the two games I most wanted. First we played Greentown, a rather excellent route-building game. Players develop the board to make the most beneficial tourist routes. Route cards specify the length of the route and the mandatory and optional locations to visit. Visiting places makes you…