We make our way into the gas station and Rod closes the doors behind us so we can search in relative safety. He heads down to the basement and I follow him. It's musty and dark. I can't see Rod but I can hear him bustling around. He seems to know this basement even without any light. "Is there a light we can switch on? So I can help...?" Rod grunts then mumbles to himself. A flashlight flicks on to my left and I see him continue digging through some shelves. The light brightens the basement near him I notice it's a very well supplied storeroom. He's got boxes with labels identifying them as being from the grocery store on the other side of town. He's got a lot of them. On the floor, between the shelves I can red jugs with yellow necks. It takes me a moment to place them, but I realize they are plastic gas jugs. I remember seeing my Daddy fill up the lawn mower with one. I wonder why he has so many, and tucked away near the food. I hear him give a grunt that I've come to understand means he's happy about something. Well, as happy as Rod can get. Then the flashlight clicks off.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
A Review of Dead of Winter
We make our way into the gas station and Rod closes the doors behind us so we can search in relative safety. He heads down to the basement and I follow him. It's musty and dark. I can't see Rod but I can hear him bustling around. He seems to know this basement even without any light. "Is there a light we can switch on? So I can help...?" Rod grunts then mumbles to himself. A flashlight flicks on to my left and I see him continue digging through some shelves. The light brightens the basement near him I notice it's a very well supplied storeroom. He's got boxes with labels identifying them as being from the grocery store on the other side of town. He's got a lot of them. On the floor, between the shelves I can red jugs with yellow necks. It takes me a moment to place them, but I realize they are plastic gas jugs. I remember seeing my Daddy fill up the lawn mower with one. I wonder why he has so many, and tucked away near the food. I hear him give a grunt that I've come to understand means he's happy about something. Well, as happy as Rod can get. Then the flashlight clicks off.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
A Review of BattleCon: Devastation of Indines
I remember the first video game I ever bought with my own money. It was 1994 and I had saved my allowance for weeks. I could not wait to go to the local Target (this is pre-Super Target, mind you) and pick up... KILLER INSTINCT! It was glorious. My Super Nintendo never got as much use as it did playing Killer Instinct. I memorized all the moves and combos. It was insane. The game itself wasn't very good, but I thought it was amazing.
To this day, I'm not very good at the classic 2D fighting game, but darn it if I don't love mashing buttons. Lately, though, I've found a replacement. A brilliant replacement that scratches that boardgamer itch and doesn't require any button mashing. What could I ever be talking about? Why - BattleCON: Devastation of Indines, of course!
To this day, I'm not very good at the classic 2D fighting game, but darn it if I don't love mashing buttons. Lately, though, I've found a replacement. A brilliant replacement that scratches that boardgamer itch and doesn't require any button mashing. What could I ever be talking about? Why - BattleCON: Devastation of Indines, of course!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Review -- Acquire
Acquire is a classic board game that first hit the scene in 1962. It's fast paced and easy to learn but still has its share of twists! In the original game you're an investor in hotel chains. Newer releases shift to tech start-ups instead but the game play is still the same. So get ready to build your portfolio and head for the stock market!
Labels:
3M,
6 players,
Acquire,
Avalon Hill,
stock market,
Tile Placement
Monday, November 17, 2014
Coup, by Rikki Tahta

Coup fits perfectly in my collection as a short game for a maximum of 6 players that's incredibly fun (the most important thing!). It's also among the best hidden-role games that exist, regardless of length. As Coup is also among the very best "light" games I've ever played, I theorize that it will be in my library for years to come.
Labels:
base game,
Bluffing,
card game,
Coup,
Deduction,
Indie Boards and Cards,
JR,
Rikki Tahta
Tabletop Gift List
The holidays are coming, and that means frantic shopping for gifts for all your gamer friends. I created this form to help us all figure out what's hot and what fits various niches in games. Fill out and submit the form, then click to see other responses!
I, for one, can't wait to pick up Sheriff of Nottingham from my Friendly Local Game Store!
Please share with others so we can get more ideas! If you want to review responses first, you can do that here.
I, for one, can't wait to pick up Sheriff of Nottingham from my Friendly Local Game Store!
Please share with others so we can get more ideas! If you want to review responses first, you can do that here.
Labels:
christmas,
games to buy,
gift list,
gifts,
presents,
TableTop,
what game should I buy
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Duels For the Iron Staff, by DeQuan Watson and Galen Ihlenfeldt

Full disclosure: I wasn't compensated for this review, nor have I received a copy of Iron Staff. That said, DeQuan and Galen are dear friends of mine, and I've done my best not to let that influence my opinion of this game.
For a more detailed consideration, read on!
Labels:
Artsy Brain Games,
board game,
card game,
DeQuan Watson,
Duels For the Iron Staff,
Galen Ihlenfeldt,
Iron Staff,
JR,
review
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Ten Games
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Surprisingly not included. |
I'm occasionally asked what my favorite games are, and the answer is quick for me: "Betrayal at House on the Hill and Battlestar Galactica". These are numbers 1A and 1B, but I don't play them often because they require a specific type of play group (great friends!) and a specific atmosphere (relatively quiet, a place where folks can pay attention for 2-3 hours). When I started to answer the "ten games" question, I assumed I'd list both of these, but I surprised myself by omitting one.
The "rules" are that each game can have as many expansions as necessary included, and they all count as one item on the list. For my sanity, I'm not including my Magic: The Gathering cube as a game, as it occupies a different place in my gaming life and frankly, I'm writing the article so I get to cheat a little bit.
Without further adieu, my list of ten games that I'd keep in my library:
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