New Bedford Review

New Bedford Review

So, for the first review of the 2016 review set, I’m going to go with one of the games that I was most excited to get, New Bedford. I was fortunate enough to get to playtest this game before it was kickstarted by Greater Than Games and Dice Hate Me Games, and ever since that first playthrough, I was excited to get the final copy. This review is also going to cover some of the expansion material from New Bedford:…

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Finishing up the year

Finishing up the year

So it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve posted. It’s been busier than normal. I finished up my most recent job contract on the 13th and we moved yesterday, the 14th, from Oakland, CA, down to Woodland Hills, CA, which is North LA. Like I mentioned, it was a whirlwind of a couple weeks. We spent 4 of the 5 weekday evenings last week hanging out with friends that we had made in Oakland, and we were playing games on…

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Viticulture: Essential Edition Review

Viticulture: Essential Edition Review

Alright, first off, let me start by stating and admitting that I’m a self-diagnosed Stonemaier games junkie. As I’ve mentioned before, Euphoria is my favorite game and everything they’ve published so far, I’ve liked. Actually, more than liked. I’ll kickstart whatever they want to publish because I know I’m getting a good product. Plus, Jamey Stegmaier is phenomenal at responding to questions and social media posts, and even recommends tweeting him during games if you have rules questions. That’s a…

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Shopping Close to Home

Shopping Close to Home

As we near the end holidays, I’m sure most people have spent more time shopping during the last 6 weeks than they have in the 6 months prior. I’m not a big fan of shopping. I love to be out and about during the holiday season, and be out in the bustle of people running around and looking for those last second gifts. There’s just something fun about being in a shopping center around Christmas, especially when there isn’t anything…

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Royals Review

Royals Review

I’m a big fan of heavy theme. I love when the things I’m doing in a game feel like they’re supposed to be happening. However, every once in a while, I get the itch for a Euro game. Moving cubes around a board, thinking completely strategically, having low levels of luck. All of those things have their place. Today’s review is one of those games. It’s a little lighter on the Euro side, but still very fun. Royals Designer: Peter…

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(Not) Home for the Holidays

(Not) Home for the Holidays

I know this is a board game blog. Primarily, that’s what I write about, but I started writing this week and this is what came out. Not really about board games, but I like it. That’s why I still posted it. And if you only want to read about the board game side of things, I’ll get back to that nearer the bottom. While traveling around the country for work has its perks, it also has its downsides. One of…

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Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition Review

Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition Review

A big debate in the board gaming world revolves around the use of digital media to supplement a gaming experience. Should a game have an app that may be used, but isn’t necessary, or an app that is required to play the game? Should there be no apps required for board games at all? Today’s game is the first I’ve played that requires an app to play the game. Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition Designer: Nikki Valens Player Count: 1-5…

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Story-based Campaigns

Story-based Campaigns

One of the things my wife and I are looking forward to diving into is storytelling/campaign games. I love immersive games. I want to feel like I’m a part of the world in the game. I want my decisions to feel like they have more of an effect than just moving a cube from here to there. I want characters that evolve and change over the course of the game. That is going to be one of our next steps…

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The Great Dinosaur Rush Review

The Great Dinosaur Rush Review

I love when games provide a unique theme. I’ve mentioned it before, and this won’t be the last time, I’m sure. One of the reasons I love playing board games so much is that I get to explore so many different times and worlds. I grew up watching and loving the Indiana Jones films, and wanted to be an archaeologist for a while because of them. When I saw this game on Kickstarter, I knew I had to back it….

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Riding in the Car

Riding in the Car

As a contract therapist, you drive a lot. Since December, my wife and I have put over 25,000 miles on our car. We have to drive across country to my new job location, plus when we get there we spend every weekend taking mini road trips to make sure we are able to see as many of the sights as we can. That adds up to lots of hours in the car. When we went on our honeymoon, we drove…

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