Session Report – 17 February 2010

With 11 people we were spread across 3 tables this week with 5 on one and 2 3's on the others.

On the 5 player table we had Amun-Re, one of our top 10, this is a game that I like but prefer to limit myself to once or twice a year. When looking over the stats for last year I discovered that it hadn't been played for the first year since we have records (starting 2003), so I decided it could do with another run out, knowing it is a game that Steve and Mike certainly like a lot. The history on this one is.

Game: Amun-Re
Plays: 16
Play Time (Hours): 29.92
Player Hours: 133.42
First Played: Sep-03
Last Played: Feb-10
	Plays	Wins	Ties
Gordon	9	4	0
Mike	10	2	0
Steve H	14	3	0
Dave D	8	2	0
David	1	0	0
Dave C	2	1	0
Steve P	2	0	0
Jonathan	1	0	0
Julian	4	2	0
James	1	0	0
Richard B	6	1	0
Daniel	1	0	0
Duncan	2	0	0
John C	1	0	0
Matt	3	1	0
Luke	1	0	0
Richard C	1	0	0
Andy	1	0	0
Ben	1	0	0
Donald	1	0	0
Colin	1	0	0

We were joined in this game by Donald and Colin who were trying the game for the first time and the scores perhaps indicate that this is one of those games where first timers are at something of a disadvantage. Steve, Mike & I were 16/15/14 in that order after the first epoch, with each of us gaining 5 points for most pyramids on one side of the Nile, I had a power card (all provinces away from the Nile), while Steve and Mike scored for 2 point temples.

Going into the second epoch I had 3 power cards to aim for and was able to make them all (all on one side of the Nile, all in the upper Nile and 7+ power card symbols) adding to this I spent all my money on building stones on the final turn to build 3 pyramids for a total of 9 to ensure the 5 point bonus on my side. Steve had a couple of temples and spent 20 in the last turn sacrifice to just about get the value up to the maximum 4 (Colin & I had played our -3 cards), but in so doing he found himself only 3^rd in the most money behind Donald and Mike. I think if Steve had spent 2 less the temple value would have dropped without him gaining in the money order, but I've an idea if he had dropped his bid still further he might have been able to get to most money without dropping the temple value to 2, which would have gained him 4 on the money, while losing 2 on the temples and giving him the win. As I said I can't say that for sure, but as it was I won on the tie break of most pyramids.

Amun-Re 130 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Dave D	44+
2	Steve H	44
3	Mike	38
4	Donald	31
5	Colin	27

The other major game played was Dungeon Lords, which seems to be getting a lot of good buzz at the moment. It is designed by Vlaada Chvátil, designer of Through the Ages amongst others, a game which I have recently had the chance to play with Dave & Ben, an enjoyable game, although I am nowhere near getting the hang of it.

This game has a theme that certainly appeals to me, although from what I have read of it, it seems that the mechanics are not what I'd normally think of as my favourite type. I have to play this to see where I stand.

Dungeon Lords 120 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Steve Pe	23
2	Steve P	13
3	Paul	9

On the third table, while the rest of us were playing 1 game, 3 games were played, first was Dominion, for the first time this year (the 21^st play in total). I think that the Seaside expansion may have been in use, but can't say for sure.

Dominion 80 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Dave F	62
2	Nigel	54
3	Andrew	27

Next up was Roll Through The Ages

Roll Through The Ages: The Bronze Age 40 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Dave F	33
2	Andrew	19
3	Nigel	18

And finally Tsuro, completing a hat trick for Dave F. This is also the 21^st play for this one.

Tsuro 20 mins.
Posn.	Player
1=	Dave F
1=	Andrew
3	Nigel

On a general note, I've made a few changes to the layout having discovered a few new features available. There are some other things currently behind the scenes but the most obvious visible changes at the moment are the search in the top right and the calendar has gone (it will be back); also I've made the page a bit wider.