Our next meeting will be Tuesday 14^th Movember 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is doing food, and the table is booked from 6.30pm for those that would like to eat first.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Kites (rules, review and play-through video), which is a cooperative real-time game where players are playing cards and flipping egg-timers to keep the air display going.

– Image by boardGOATS

Speaking of kites…

One morning, Jeff was in his garden drinking a cup of tea when he spotted something in the sky and wondered what it was.

“Is it a bird?” he asked himself. “No, I think not—it doesn’t have wings.”

Jeff went on, “Neither is a plane, it is too circular, so I’m very sure its not a plane.”

He continued his musings, “It’s not a kite because it doesn’t move around…”

And it was then that Jeff noticed a very important detail—as he watched, it was growing larger and larger.

Then it hit him.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 31^st October 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is doing food, and the table is booked from 6.30pm for those that would like to eat first.

This week, as it is Halloween, the “Feature Game” will be Betrayal at Mystery Mansion (rules, review and play-through video), which is a Scooby-Doo themed re-implementation of Betrayal at House on the Hill.  Betrayal at Mystery Mansion is a semi-cooperative game, where players work together until there is a haunting and one player takes on the role of the bad guy.  As well as this game other games with a witch, wizard, ghoul or ghost theme will also be available together with the odd trick or treat…

– Image by BGG contributor kalchio

Speaking of Halloween…

Vampire Jeff came in from the night covered in fresh red blood and settled down in his coffin for a rest.

Before long, all the other vampires in the area smelled the sweet scent of blood and began hassling him about where he’d got it.

He told them to go away and let him get some rest, but they persisted until finally he gave in.

“Alright then,” he said, “Follow me,” and left the crypt enthusiastically followed by all the other vampires.

Down through the valley they went, across the river and into the dark forest. Finally, he slowed down and all the other vampires excitedly milled around him.

“Now,” Jeff said, “Do you see that tree over there?”

“Yes, Yes, Yes!” the vampires all screamed together in a frenzy.

“Good,” replied Jeff, “Because I sure as hell didn’t!”

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 17^th October 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is doing food, and the table is booked from 6.30pm for those that would like to eat first.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Forest Shuffle (rules, review and how to play video).  This card game is a new release from the SPIEL in Essen, where players are trying to build combinations of animals around trees to score points.

– Image by BGG contributor W EricMartin

Speaking of forests…

Jeff lived in the a forest. As he grew older and older, he started losing his hair, until one day, on his deathbed, he was completely bald. That day, he called his children to a meeting…

He said, “Look at my hair. It used to be so magnificent, but it’s completely gone now. My hair can’t be saved. But look outside at the forest. It’s such a lovely forest with so many trees, but sooner or later they’ll all be cut down and this forest will look as bald as my hair.”

“What I want you to do,” Jeff continued, “Is, every time a tree is cut down or dies, plant a new one in my memory. Tell your descendants to do the same. It shall be our family’s duty to keep this forest strong.”

And so they did. Each time the forest lost a tree, the children replanted one, and so did their children, and their children after them. And for centuries, the forest remained as lush and pretty as it once was, all because of Jeff and his re-seeding heirline.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 3^rd October 2022, when we will be celebrating our eleventh birthday.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is doing food, and the table is booked from 6.30pm for those that would like to eat first and there will be cake afterwards.

As is now traditional on our birthday, the “Feature Game” will be Crappy Birthday. This is a party game where players give each other comedy birthday presents and the recipient has to decide who gave the best and worst gifts.

– Image by boardGOATS

And speaking of birthdays…

It was Jeff’s birthday and, as it was a special birthday, his brother had bought him a special present.  Before opening the gift, Jeff shook it slightly, and noticed that it was wet in the corner.  Touching his finger to the wet spot and tasting it, he asked, “Is it a bottle of wine?”

His brother shook his head, “No…” So, again, Jeff touched his finger to the box and tasted the liquid.

“A bottle of Scotch then?” he asked, beginning to get all excited – this was way better than he’d expected.  Again his brother shook his head though, “No, not a bottle of Scotch…”

Eventually, Jeff said, “OK, I give in, what is it?”

His brother paused for effect, before answering, “A puppy!”

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 19^th September 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is doing food, and the table is booked from 6.30pm for those that would like to eat first.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Alea Iacta Est (rules, review and how to play video).  This is a fairly simple dice chucking game, with a lot of similarity to one of our old favourites, Las Vegas, but with a bit more planning and a roman theme.

– Image used with permission of BGG contributor MeepleMaven

Speaking of Romans…

Jeff was working at a cinema when a Roman centurion walked in. After the showing, the Roman came back to the desk and asked for a refund.

“No one told me that the movie was going to be a pornographic one,” the centurion explained to Jeff.

Jeff politely replied, “Sir, look at the sign, it clearly says right here what kind of films we show.”

Looking back at the sign, the centurion responded, “You lie! There are most certainly not thirty movies!”

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 5^th September 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is doing food, and the table is booked from 6.30pm for those that would like to eat first.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Vaalbara (rules, review, how to play video).  This is a light card game, with elements of hand management and set collection where players are neolithic clan leaders trying to take over territory.  It is very quick to play, so should leave plenty of time for other games.

– Image by BGG contributor The Innocent

Speaking of the Neolithic…

Joe hadn’t been feeling well and he was down the pub sharing his woes with his mate Jeff.

“You see,” he explained.  “The doctor said I’ve got kidney stones, gall stones and even bladder stones.  It’s really painful and they don’t know what’s causing it.”

Jeff answered, “It’s because you are so old fashioned—you are living in the stone age…”

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 22^nd August 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is doing food, and the table is booked from 6.30pm for those that would like to eat first.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Ticket to Ride: Northern Lights (rules, review).  This is the latest version of one of our favourite games, Ticket to Ride, and is similar to the Nordic Countries stand-alone game that we often play at Christmas, except that more people can play, there are a few rules tweaks, and the artwork is less festive (though still very, very beautiful).

– Image by boardGOATS

Speaking of the Northern Lights…

Jeff’s mate Joe was telling him about the recent trip he’d made to Norway with his girlfriend, Alice. He explained how seeing the Northern Lights was one of the things he’d always wanted to do. He’d found a romantic log cabin and they stayed there together for a few nights. Joe explained that he’d loved his time there and seeing the Northern lights, but his girlfriend Alice, had admitted that she hadn’t found the trip at all interesting.

Jeff replied, “I guess it must have been really hard watching the Aurora boring Alice…”

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 8^th August 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is now doing food once more, so we we will be meeting from 6.30pm for those who would like to eat.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Ginkopolis (rules, review; how-to-play video).  This is a tile-laying game with an area control element.  It is a medium-weight game that should suit everyone and is set in 2212 where players are urban planners trying to building the eco-city, Ginkgopolis.

– Image by boardGOATS

Speaking of urban planners…

Jeff was working as in the planning department and, after a liquid lunch with some colleagues all three had popped to the gents and were standing at the urinals. The first, an architect, finished and walked over to the sink to wash his hands. He then proceeded to dry his hands very carefully. He used paper towel after paper towel and ensured that every single spot of water on his hands was dried. Turning to the other two, he said, “As architects, we are trained to be extremely thorough.”

The second, an engineer finished at much the same time and he proceeded to wash his hands. He used a single paper towel and made sure that he dried his hands using every available portion of the paper towel. He turned to his colleagues, “Engineers, are not only are we trained to be extremely thorough, but we are also trained to be extremely efficient.”

As Jeff finished, he walked straight for the door, and commented, “In the Planning Department, we don’t pee on our hands.”

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 25^th July 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  The pub is now doing food, we we will be meeting from 6.30pm for those who would like to eat.

To mark the recent announcement of the Spiel des Jahres winners, this week, the “Feature Game” will be the Kennerspiel winner, Challengers! (rules, review; how-to-play video).  This is a deck-building, dueling “capture the flag” game where players battle head-to-head to find the winner.  This is a very light game, but that should give us opportunity to play other games, perhaps some that have won (or been nominated for) the Spiel des Jahres awards in the past.

– Image by boardGOATS

Speaking of duels…

Jeff had offended his friend Joe, who, being a man of honour challenged him to a duel.

“As I am the challenger, I will let you choose our weapons, ” said Joe, opening a case with two swords and two guns. “Would you like to duel with swords, or guns?”

Jeff was a terrified, but he knew his skills with a sword were vastly superior to Joe’s. As such, he chose to give himself the advantage. “I choose to duel with swords,” he exclaimed.

Joe nodded at this choice. “Very well then.”  He solemnly handed both swords to his opponent. “Here are your swords; that just leaves me with the guns…”

Our next meeting will be Tuesday 11^th July 2023.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  There is currently no food available, so everyone will be eating before they come out.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be the Fantasies & Futures expansion (rules, review; play-through video) to one of our more popular heavier games, Tapestry (rules; review; how to play video).  We have played Tapestry lots times since it first came out five years ago and this is the third expansion we will have tried which introduces new civilizations, advanced capital city mats, and more tapestry and technology cards.  Although Tapestry is a heavier game, there should be plenty of people to play one or maybe two lighter games in parallel.

– Image from stonemaiergames.com

Speaking of fantasy…

Over the years, Jeff had been caught by his wife in illicit liaisons with two elves, and more recently a witch. His marriage had just about withstood his misdemeanors because after the last affair he had promised he wouldn’t do it again. But then, one night Jill came home to find Jeff in bed with a young, female halfling.

She screamed at him, “You said you wouldn’t cheat on me anymore!”

Jeff answered, “I know, I know… But can’t you see I’m trying to cut down?”