A Grail Find From My Childhood

While visiting my very good friend in Detroit, I stumbled onto a game from my childhood; Merry Milkman. While not a challenging game compared to today's games, I have very fond memories playing it with my parents. What ever happened to that game? It is a spin & collect game with very neat game components given its age, 1955! There were two versions, one had three trucks for three players, and the other had four trucks. Many thanks to Robin who allowed me to recapture a piece of my childhood.

As of late I have been thinking about my collection including how to grow it, manage it, and where to draw the line. My collection has grown tremendously this past year. Presently, I am feeling as if the collection lacks focus/boundaries. I have games that I love to play and games that I love to own but will rarely play. I have games that I consider a work of art, and games that I use to grow my collection through trading or Ebay. I have often contemplated the "Jones" theory. Cull games that are replaced by better games/mechanics.

While I doubt Merry Milkman will get played, I love the idea of recapturing my childhood. Owning Merry Milkman supports my wife's theory that I am a big "kid."

The Second Annual Sid Sackson Board Game Fan Fest

The Sid Sackson Board Game Fan Fest – Are you a fan or newcomer of Sid Sackson board games: Acquire, Focus, Can’t Stop, Buy Word, & I’m the Boss to name just a few? If so, please join us as we celebrate these wonderful games as I am hosting the second annual event at Gencon. Multiple copies of these games will be available to play. Rules will be taught if you’re a new comer. Prizes /swag for all participants. BGM1230497 Saturday August 18, 2011 6pm.

My Five & Dimes; 2011 Games Played

2011 was a wonderful year in gaming. I got in 280 played games this year that spanned 92 different games. This was up from 239 plays in 2011. My favorite games this year were Puppet Wars, Innovation, and Le Havre. Acquire was the only game that made last years and this year’s 5 & 10. Three games that I enjoyed very much that made it to the table, that I have waited to play well over a year was Sid Meier’s Civilization, Tails of the Arabian Nights, and Le Havre. While 7 Wonders made my 5 & 10, I don’t care for it much, and have traded it away. While I will play it if my group wants to play it, I certain it will not make my 5 & 10 list next year. I predict that Quarriors will make it next year as well as Acquire as it is my #1 game of all time.

The 5 & 10's

Ticket to Ride 34
Ascension; Chronicles of the Godslayer 32
Hive 15
Settlers of Catan 15
Innovation 10
Quarriors 10
Tigris and Euphrates 10
Werewolf 8
Roll Through the Ages 7
Acquire 6
7 Wonders 5

Airlines Europe; I’m Certain that Sid Sackson Would Enjoy This Game

I got in an eagerly anticipated first play of Airlines Europe tonight. As the game was being set up, I became even more eager to play. I can see several other game mechanics within this gem including the scoring cards (Alhambra,) route development (Ticket to Ride,) and the stock options (Acquire.) While researching Sackson’s biography, a friend of Sackson’s shared with me that Alan Moon is a fan Sackson’s designs. However I have yet to verify that as I have not yet had the opportunity to interview Mr. Moon. I even enjoyed the open money and stock management as Sackson intended how Acquire should be played. Overall, my favorite component was the
tension that existed within my decision matrix. Should I choose A, B, C, or D? Then without warning the game ended. This is where the game parts from Alhambra and Acquire. You are out of luck if you’ve held too many stocks to long. Many games allow the round to be completed as the end game triggers, but in Airlines it just ends. I’m not sure how I feel about the end game. In
Alhambra, Acquire, and Ticket to Ride, I can anticipate and prepare for the end game as opposed to Agricola or El Grande that have a set amount of turns.

Sid Sackson has an unpublished design call Airline. He first writes about it on 1 10 64 “I played
Airline, it lasted 3 ½ hours, but it held interests. “ After countless hours of play testing, he notes on 7 22 65 that he thought “Airline is my best game.” He demonstrated it to Parker Brothers, Hallmark Cards, 3 M, Phil Orbanes, and eventually received a contact for $2500 to publish it. However, it was never published, and his notes suggest that it eventually evolved into “Holiday.” One additional note, Sackson would appreciate is the world board. The first 3M Acquire in ’63 and the ’95 Avalon Hill had world boards. The 63 is very hard to come by. Overall, I had an enjoyable game night. Merry Christmas to all.

WDC '11

Well it's hard to belive that another White Dagon con has come and gone. Twenty fellow gamers gathered on a gray day in Lenexa, Kansas to celebrate the seventh WDC. Games played (that I can remember) included Belfort, Fresh Fish, FFG Civilization, Dominion, Fash Point, Kingdom Builder, Hey That's My Fish, Werewolf, Merchants & Marauders, Crokinole, Acquire, Tigris & Euphrates. I would like to send out a special thank you to Jay Witten of Gamestation for crafting our custom dice. The eight annual White Dragon con will be December 7, 2012.

Seven Days Until White Dragon Con 2011

I can't believe that it is one week until the seventh White Dragon Con. It's hard to believe that this will be the seventh gathering! White Dragon began as a game day that celebrated Pat Robert's and my birthday. Maybe it just an excuse to take a day off and play board games with friends and family. Either way, its a wonderful day.

I am planning to teach a game of Sid Meier's Civilization by Fantasy Flight games as well as play some of my classic favorites such as El Grande, Amun-Re, Acquire, and Crokinole! In addition, I'm sure new favorites will hit the table as well including Quarriors, Dominion, and Eminent Domain. During last years White Dragon, I found out that two of my gaming friends had been hired as artists for Eminent Domain, Eric Carter & Ryan Johnson. Both artisits are wonderful guys. It is exciting to see their work come to life on the gaming table.

Gaming has been a little slower than past months, but has remained steady. Over the last two weeks I have played 10 Days across the Americas & Asia, and Ticket to Ride with the family. At Pulp Fiction game nights, we have played Power Grid Factory Manager, Tigris & Euphrates, Alhambra, and Tower of Babel.

I have continued to find interesting games while visiting local thrift stores. Some of these finds have translated into trades which include several vinatage games. Before the year is over, I will blog on some of these finds.

Peace Be With You and Your Family this Holiday Season!

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

My 10 year old son's 4th grade teacher shared during a recent parent teacher conference that she needed some games for her classroom. Really! Games! So after a week of extra thrifting, I donated some unique games that I hope Ian's classmates will enjoy.

CONSPIRACY 1973
The aMAZEing Labyrinth 1986
Sorry Sliders
Apples to Apples
The Hulk Busts Lose
Rivers, Roads & Rails 1969
Pirateer (a MENSA selection)
A Burger King Twister variant that uses fingers!
A neat wooden box edition Stratego

Plus it's time to start thrifting games for the Secret Thrifting Santa project on the Board Game Geek web site. I've collect three neat Star Wars games to give away; Stratego Star Wars, Clash of the Light Sabers, & Star War Simon variant.

I got to give a shout out to the Desoto Boys Cross Country team that finished 3rd at state this past weekend that included a first place finish by a Desoto Boy!