My bug army advancing on the eggplant.

The bug army battlefield.

By the way, the 'test subjects' were AM, BR, LL, and me... not the bugs.

It's a fun game and very easy to learn with potential limited only to the descriptive talents of the players. The enjoyment of the game peaks as the number of players and small hours of the morning increase. We didn't find the limit but I suspect at about 3 or 4 AM enjoyment would peak and discontinuous drop in enjoyment would begin.

World of Warcraft Board Game

Had a wonderful Labor Day with LL, BR, and AM. The game was a learning experience. I knew there was a reason the chain mail I was wearing was so itchy (my character was only capable of cloth armor). By the Time LL and I got out characters in working order BR and AM had strategized, powered up, and were making quick work of conquering their quests. After 7+ hours and lots of conversation BR and AM were declared the winners after LL and I were beat to a pulp by a plastic mushroom looking figure (it was much more terrifying in person).

Despite prior defeats I look forward to another adventure even if it turns into a desperate scramble for survival

BC, SH, VA, TN, JB, MA had one last late night game of Cataan. MA almost walked away with the victory but beginners luck (and a little underhanded under-the-table trading between BC and SH) sent BC home as the new super power on the dinky island of Cataan.

No, they didn't move as a result of losing the game

AM walked away with the victory and beginners luck was on T's side. He was really getting into it - might be an exciting guy to play Risk with. Good times, good times.

Note to self: Invite Mr. MA (emphasize the Mr. because there is a Mrs. MA too).

As with all my Talisman games, despite additional starting craft and a reduced craft/strength modifier, the game was slow in the beginning but then after a couple upsetting character deaths (like mine *grin*) it became interesting and ended in a glorious dash to the finish.

AM, BL, LI, and I were in attendance. LI suspended his character half-way through and BL swooped in the for the close win.

Getting back to the game, it is a cross between The Settlers of Catan and Drakon. The board unfolds with each players turn to generate scoring opportunities. You have a chance to subtly coerce your fellow players and interact with them to make the game more interesting.

We played at the T's place, RT, CT, and AM where there.

It is a fun game that I'd like to bring home during the holidays to play with my family. Not as intense as Risk or Monopoly but yet has a fun edge so even if you don't try to over analyze each move you still feel like something was accomplished after each rotation.

Alhambra is a board game with the goal of building the best palace. Game play is fairly straight forward, the primary actions are; pickup coin, buy palace piece, or re-arrange existing palace piece. Each player has their own palace and the goal is to score the most points by having the most palace pieces of a specific designation. There are various rules about how the palace can be constructed which increase the level of complexity. The game is broke up into 2 scoring rounds with a final scoring round when all the palace pieces are in play.

Within 90 minutes we were taught the rules and had a very fulfilling first game.  By chance I did win but I assure you that has no bearing on my appreciation for the game *wink*. My only complaint is that it was perhaps too isolated between players. The only direct interaction between players in the game is when players are deciding what palace pieces to buy.

The game reminds me of Cleopatra and the Society of Architects but with less confusion.

In attendance was AM (game leader), RT, CT, and me.  It didn't take long to grasp the finer points of palace construction but unfortunately the first game resulted in several gee-I-won't-build-like-that-again moments. CT scored big in the end with a wicked long wall. RT was well rounded but stuck with several unusable pieces at the end of the game. AM had a fierce palace with some intricate but useless internal palace walls that tripped him up.  My green pieces and modest outside wall were decent scoring each round.

It lacks the fierce competition of a game like risk or the fun frivolous player interactions between turns but it is a decent family game worth playing.

Have my friends warmed up to Drakon? I'm not sure, it will take another game to find out. LI, BL, VG and I were in attendance. The victory was almost mine until BL tripped me up which paved a way for LI to sneak in with the win. Beginners luck, this time