Update Summary: Brian Sucks

Hello readers!

I am going to get straight to the point.

What has disappointed me since the last article?

We are going to fail this challenge…miserably.

We have played four games from the challenge since my last update. The four were: Nations (which we still love), Lord of the Rings (my wife is still not decided about this one), Legendary (we do still love this one as well), and Goa (see below).

Unfortunately, I have come to the following realization: I cannot renounce my membership to the Cult of the New. In fact, I am trying to become a dual citizen of the Cult of the New and of the Cult of the Bankrupt. From January until update #1, I managed to buy zero games. Zilch. Since then, I have amassed the following cache of games:

• Bruxelles 1893 (not played yet, but really want to)
• Madeira (two plays, minds were melted)
• Deadwood (four plays, review coming soon)
• Pixel Tactics 3 (just received – no plays yet)
• Concordia (one play, we really like it)
• Marvel Dice Masters: Marvel vs. Xmen (10+ plays – see below)
• Fairy Tale (many plays, the kids LOVE this game)
• One Night Ultimate Werewolf (many plays, everyone who has played this game has loved it)
• Lewis & Clark (one play – WOW…good game)
• Tzolk’in: Tribes and Prophecies (one play, we really liked the new tribes and prophecies)
• Splendor (four plays, should win Spiel, whole family loves the game)
• Glass Road (six plays, my surprise game from 2013)

As you can see, we have played many games…just not from the 10 we are supposed to be playing. I feel as if I have failed you. I need help, I know. But, to be fair, I blame Tony. He is making me review games, which cuts into my time to participate in this challenge. So, to be honest, it is his fault. He is enabling me.
(Publishers Note: I make Brian do nothing. He is just weak willed when it comes to shiny new games).

But not all is doom and gloom. I have several positive experiences I would like to tell you about:

 Goa is a remarkably solid game

I mean that as a compliment. It reminds me of that friend everyone has who you see once or twice a year and when you are together you have a great time. At the end of the night, you both invariably say “We should do this more often,” or “Let’s not wait so long to see each other again.” Then you do not see them again for another year. Of course, the next time you do, you have a great time, and the cycle repeats.

That is my relationship with Goa.

It was originally released in 2004. It is about spice trading/farming (not like Dune). It has a unique design, but is not as complicated or as flashy as many of today’s more recent board games. Without going full review on you, the game plays as follows:

• Players take turns choosing which tiles will be auctioned
• There is an auction that has 1 + the number of players auctions
• Each auction lasts one round only, with the player to the right of the auctioneer bidding or passing, and this repeats for every other player until the bidding gets to the auctioneer. The auctioneer then either buys the tile for one less than the highest bid and pays the bank or allows the highest bidder to win the tile and the highest bidder PAYS THE AUCTIONEER.
• After all of the tiles are auctioned, players then do one of several actions to improve their spice farming, exploration abilities, etc., but since it is a Euro, it is all just different paths to chase VPs.
• Repeat the above eight times (with the board being replenished with tiles at the halfway point), and the game is over. So why is it so good?
• It is an auction game that works for two players. It works for three and four players as well. It is a really well designed auction system.
• The decisions can be agonizing. You may REALLY want a tile, but you need to think about how much you bid. Bid too low and the auctioneer can buy it for one less than you bid. Bid too high and you pay your bid directly to your opponent.
• It plays fast.

I highly recommend you at least try Goa once in your life if you are a serious board gamer. It is a brilliant design and, for those who play mainly two player games, it will give you the opportunity to play an auction game that is EXCELLENT for two players.

Marvel Dice Masters is as good as the hype (assuming you can find it)

I am going to now direct you to my review of this fantastic game, go read it if you want to know how really awesome this game is.

(Is it me or is advertising your own review within your own article, when both are housed on the same website, just a little bit pushy? Like when you take your kid to the pool and all you want to do is relax but every 30 seconds they call out to you to watch them do some “amazing” trick like hold their breath underwater for 2.5 seconds.)

Glass Road – at least try it once

I had a $50 gift certificate to a LGS (F removed intentionally). After looking around for 20 minutes, Sarah and I could only find two games we would really consider buying: Russian Railroads and Glass Road. Now, to be honest, I was not enthused with either choice. I had just played Russian Railroads the week before and came away less than impressed. I thought it was a good game, but I was concerned about its long term replay value. On the other hand, I had only watched/read that Glass Roads was an average game. I decided to let Sarah pick because I didn’t want to deal with the mockery that I would be given if I picked a bad game.

She predictably selected Glass Road. I say predictably because she is an Uwe Rosenberg fangirl. I am convinced that if they made Uwe Rosenberg bikini briefs, she would purchase them. I am further convinced that her Uwe fanaticism would drive her to try to convert her bikini brief resource into something that scored more VPs. But I digress…

So we took the game over to Tony’s house and the four of us (Tony has a very supportive and understanding wife) played Glass Road.

I was shocked at how much I liked the game. I honestly cannot explain why I do. I find the card selection and revealing process supremely fun. I find the resource conversion mechanics entertaining to manage. I really liked the variability provided by the number of different buildings (unlike Caverna, the buildings that are available are random every time you play). And, in what seems to be a growing trend in my qualities that I look for in a game, it plays fast at any player count.

Oh, and Sarah loves it as well.

We reviewed Glass Road a little while ago if you would like further details.

That concludes this month’s update. I will try to play more of the original 10 x 10 games next month, but I can see this series of articles moving more towards a bi-monthly update on my thoughts on games I am playing instead of actually completing the 10 x 10 challenge. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Until next time, take care! And make sure you try Goa. It is game that is under appreciated, especially by card carrying members of the Cult of the New.

Progress Tracker:

Caverna (2/10 Plays)
Goa (1/10 Plays)
Legendary: Marvel Deckbuilding Game (4/10 Plays)
Lord of the Rings: The Card Game (1/10 Plays)
Lords of Waterdeep (1/10 Plays)
Nations (3/10 Plays)
Sentinels of the Multiverse (0/10 Plays)
Suburbia (1/10 Plays)
The Castles of Burgundy (0/10 Plays)
Terra Mystica (0/10 Plays)