For those interested, here is a link to a specially prepared version of the Archipelago Rules v2. Because, apparently, according to the confused and I just don't understand it tone of the designer, some people like, had confusion with the old rules ?
Never !
Rather amusingly within a few posts on the rules thread on bgg the designer then admitted that yes, a rule that had been left out of the rulebook was rather confusing and not at all straight forward as he had originally stated.
If you've tried looking at the official pdf of the version two rules on the Ludically site, you'll note they are painfully slow to read. Almost one might argue, unusable.
I've flattened the pdf and made it readable, the quality has suffered - I didn't bother making it picture perfect - but it now runs at a tickety boo pace.
Specially NoBoG Altered ArchipelagoRules_v2_flattened.pdf
Alternatively if you are a glutton for punishment you might like to try the official pdf
http://download.ludically.com/ArchipelagoSite/Archipelago.Rulebook.EN.web.pdf
but don't say I didn't warn you.
I look forward to future lectures on how many rules I personally got wrong.
There are, it must be noted still holes. Sea Inlets are now in the rules, but they still fail to address everything - for instance, can you place a worker down anywhere in the tile if you have an already existing worker on just one side of the inlet ? The implication is no. . . but there's the rub. It's implied. Not stated.
Playing board games since 2005ish. Every Monday & Tuesday evening at St. Andrews Brew House/Louis Marchesi.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Yet More Island Shenanigans
Twelve this week, in three groups of four.
Fletch brought a couple of unsuspecting civilians along to join in - whos names I have utterly forgotten, terrible, terrible me - and along with Dean the four of them had a go at Lords of Waterdeep, the Euro that is not about cube shuffling but is instead about farming wizards... that are represented by cubes... and tend to do not so much wizarding, but more shuffling. Hmm.
Dean went on to club the newcomers into submission by securing himself a comfortable lead and win, with Fletch managing second place. Such was the extravagance of his win that everyone was hard pressed to say who had actually won until forced to concentrate. Next up they took a few swings at King of Tokyo - no news on which outrageously ridiculous monster won.
This left Pete, Tom, Nicky and Moritz to tackle Terra Mystica again. A few weeks back Tom was telling me that he thought he had Terra Mystica just about figured out now, and was looking for an opportunity to play it again and put his figuredoutness to the test.
No easy task when Pete is playing a game he has experience at. Pete is a wily player adept at spotting VP synergies and not beyond deploying 'Weasel Words' ( Matt's description ) when push comes to shove.
Buildings were raised, terrain converted and after the dust had settled, Pete's VP engine had stalled in the late game, and Tom came through as the winner. His figuredoutness was indeed figured out.
Lastly Archipelago graced the table once again, this time I got to play, Matt, Ewan and Sam joining in. The game got off to a grouchy start where co-operation seemed to be a bad word. Trading was almost non existent, and there were a few hostile overtones as Sam marched in and built a town to control Ewan's up til now undisturbed wood harvesting.
Despite this the rebels in the colony had a hard time - with Matt really convincing all to put down the disquieted natives, and skipping card buys to prevent possible further crises.
As it turned out this was not Matt being a team player at all, but setting himself up for some nice end of game VPs from being the Pacifist. Damn him. As Pete pointed out after the game, if the rebels are struggling that much, it might be favourable to lend them a hand now and then - just to upset the pacifist. Which is a fair point I have never really considered - my focus is usually on doing my best to keep the islands at peace - not maintaining a delicate balance between peace and outright chaos.
No one turned out to be the separatist, and with a public goal of most ships, the game turned out to be very tight. Ewan who had looked strong throughout the game managed to miss a few key VP conditions, Sam doing an epic double bluff of considering how likely an exploration VP was, whilst all the time having it in his hand. You really can't trust anyone whilst playing Archipelago.
Matt eventually won by a single point - his pacifist VPs giving him the edge he needed to stick his nose in front. Curses. Me and Sam tied for second place and Ewan came in a few points off the mark.
Worthy mentions should go to Sam's Explorer, who on an explore action would allow the user to use the top 3 hexes to explore with, rather than just 1. As it turns out No Eyes Eddie, the Intrepid Explorer managed to turn up 3 duff tiles for Sam, and out of the six choices, none were playable. No Eyes Eddie was seen to take Sam's money with a cackle and head for the nearest pub, declaring that he would get right onto that exploring malarkey after he had slaked his thirst. Awfully thirsty job this exploring.
Matt resplendent with his Archipelago win took himself off home, whilst Ewan, Sam and myself had a quick game of Zombie Dice, which Sam won by pipping Ewan at the very last moment. My zombies were hopelessly last.
Fletch brought a couple of unsuspecting civilians along to join in - whos names I have utterly forgotten, terrible, terrible me - and along with Dean the four of them had a go at Lords of Waterdeep, the Euro that is not about cube shuffling but is instead about farming wizards... that are represented by cubes... and tend to do not so much wizarding, but more shuffling. Hmm.
Dean went on to club the newcomers into submission by securing himself a comfortable lead and win, with Fletch managing second place. Such was the extravagance of his win that everyone was hard pressed to say who had actually won until forced to concentrate. Next up they took a few swings at King of Tokyo - no news on which outrageously ridiculous monster won.
This left Pete, Tom, Nicky and Moritz to tackle Terra Mystica again. A few weeks back Tom was telling me that he thought he had Terra Mystica just about figured out now, and was looking for an opportunity to play it again and put his figuredoutness to the test.
No easy task when Pete is playing a game he has experience at. Pete is a wily player adept at spotting VP synergies and not beyond deploying 'Weasel Words' ( Matt's description ) when push comes to shove.
Buildings were raised, terrain converted and after the dust had settled, Pete's VP engine had stalled in the late game, and Tom came through as the winner. His figuredoutness was indeed figured out.
Lastly Archipelago graced the table once again, this time I got to play, Matt, Ewan and Sam joining in. The game got off to a grouchy start where co-operation seemed to be a bad word. Trading was almost non existent, and there were a few hostile overtones as Sam marched in and built a town to control Ewan's up til now undisturbed wood harvesting.
Despite this the rebels in the colony had a hard time - with Matt really convincing all to put down the disquieted natives, and skipping card buys to prevent possible further crises.
As it turned out this was not Matt being a team player at all, but setting himself up for some nice end of game VPs from being the Pacifist. Damn him. As Pete pointed out after the game, if the rebels are struggling that much, it might be favourable to lend them a hand now and then - just to upset the pacifist. Which is a fair point I have never really considered - my focus is usually on doing my best to keep the islands at peace - not maintaining a delicate balance between peace and outright chaos.
No one turned out to be the separatist, and with a public goal of most ships, the game turned out to be very tight. Ewan who had looked strong throughout the game managed to miss a few key VP conditions, Sam doing an epic double bluff of considering how likely an exploration VP was, whilst all the time having it in his hand. You really can't trust anyone whilst playing Archipelago.
Matt eventually won by a single point - his pacifist VPs giving him the edge he needed to stick his nose in front. Curses. Me and Sam tied for second place and Ewan came in a few points off the mark.
Worthy mentions should go to Sam's Explorer, who on an explore action would allow the user to use the top 3 hexes to explore with, rather than just 1. As it turns out No Eyes Eddie, the Intrepid Explorer managed to turn up 3 duff tiles for Sam, and out of the six choices, none were playable. No Eyes Eddie was seen to take Sam's money with a cackle and head for the nearest pub, declaring that he would get right onto that exploring malarkey after he had slaked his thirst. Awfully thirsty job this exploring.
Matt resplendent with his Archipelago win took himself off home, whilst Ewan, Sam and myself had a quick game of Zombie Dice, which Sam won by pipping Ewan at the very last moment. My zombies were hopelessly last.
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Pwnies
This week there was much discussion of My Little Pony down the pub.
For those who didn't turn up - I know what you're thinking. Playing mermaid games and debating My Little Pony ? What has happened whilst I have been away ?
To be fair, one instigated the other, with Tom coming up with a top money making plan of creating a My Little Pony euro boardgame kickstarter. Fletch then came up with a counter top money making plan of a kickstarter that would promise NOT to make a My Little Pony euro boardgame - only if the goal was achieved.
Much subtle jeering of MLP continued with a brief nod towards Bronies - Dudes who like My Little Pony.
If you've been living under a rock for a the last few years, you might not realise just how big MLP has become outside its once usual demographic.
So for the unbelievers - a nice weird MLP Brony created mashup.. which always makes me laugh. For the manga heads - it's a reference to Fist of the North Star.
Link to the creator's site : http://mrponiator.deviantart.com/art/Fist-of-the-Shy-Pony-289417846
For those who didn't turn up - I know what you're thinking. Playing mermaid games and debating My Little Pony ? What has happened whilst I have been away ?
To be fair, one instigated the other, with Tom coming up with a top money making plan of creating a My Little Pony euro boardgame kickstarter. Fletch then came up with a counter top money making plan of a kickstarter that would promise NOT to make a My Little Pony euro boardgame - only if the goal was achieved.
Much subtle jeering of MLP continued with a brief nod towards Bronies - Dudes who like My Little Pony.
If you've been living under a rock for a the last few years, you might not realise just how big MLP has become outside its once usual demographic.
So for the unbelievers - a nice weird MLP Brony created mashup.. which always makes me laugh. For the manga heads - it's a reference to Fist of the North Star.
Link to the creator's site : http://mrponiator.deviantart.com/art/Fist-of-the-Shy-Pony-289417846
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