Session Report – 24 February 2010

A split into 2 groups of 8 this week and further run outs for the 2 games, not played before this year, but currently sitting on top of the year's most played.

First World Without End, played for the 3^rd time with the same player line up on each occasion and the speed with which we were able to get though the game is an indication of the advantage of having all players with recent experience. With 3 times played we also have had 3 different winners, me taking my turn having previously finished 2^nd all the time. Although this is certainly a different game to the earlier Pillars of the Earth, the 2 games do have a certain random element in common, which adds variety to the game play and this is something I feel is sorely needed in many of today's games. The trick is getting the balance right and I think that it is with this one. All that said, however, it is inevitable that it is going to catch people out on occasion and this certainly happened to Steve and to a lesser extent, Dave.

In the first game, Dave won by virtue of medical knowledge, in the second Steve's building won the day. In this one I supposed I also went with building (I had no medical knowledge at all), but at the same time I didn't do that much building, in addition I picked up points from my houses and donations to building projects, together with collecting from the favour track based on my piety and loyalty, both of which I was pretty flush with for much of the game. I was also able to take advantage when others were unable to meet their end of chapter obligations, where I always made mine.

World Without End 90 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Dave D	54.5
2	Dave F	48
3	Andrew	42.5
4	Steve H	33.5

After that we discussed playing again, but I think we would have been pushing it to get a second game finished. We played Ra: The Dice Game, after which I left, while the others played a repeat game of that, I do not have the result of that second game at this time.

Ra: The Dice Game 30 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Steve H	38
2	Dave D	32
3	Dave F	30
4	Andrew	26

Second game added on 11 March, looks like a low scoring game

Ra: The Dice Game 30 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Dave F	29
2	Steve H	25
3	Andrew S	18

On the other table the repeated game was Louis XIV, which has also had 3 different winners in 3 games, although in this case that is from a pool of 3 total players.

Louis XIV 120 mins.
Posn.	Player	Score
1	Andy	43
2	Colin	42
3=	Donald	39
3=	Mike	39

February 2010 – 4 meetings, 15 games played, average attendance 8.5