Warm Winter Play or Prepping for Dominion

Broke the game out for the first time with my wife thinking that tomorrow during gaming night she, perhaps, would join in for a game.

The game went well with only one card played wrong which I caught on my turn (thus played right from that point on even though wife's eyebrow rose).

We fought hard and she read me too well and I basically went a few turns with little to nothing to do when she assigned me.

When all was said and done she had 26 points to my 21 and told me point blank, " if we played the Merchant right from the start I would have kicked your ass".

As for possibly joining in tomorrow night when the 'boys' get here she thought for a moment and responded with, "those guys are killers, NO WAY". She enjoyed and would play again but with Dominion coming tomorrow my only hope is that this card game warms her up for the latter.

Gaming of the Taste Buds

Most recent gaming night took place at a window table overlooking the woods, unfortunately it was too dark out to enjoy a view but letting your imagination roam you could easily imagine seating at the finest restaurant near the alps as you knew the snow and winds were just feet away.

Upon entering the house you were swept away with the aroma of a delicious meal that had been brewing most of the day in anticipation of this evening. The menu was restrictive but with anticipations of a good home cooked stew I would have considered little else even if the menu was bristling with sights of fish and meat from around the world.

                                                                    A meal fit for a King

As soon as I was seated the entertainment started with a beautifully staged show from Max & Bailey. I missed the title of the performance but it was a lovely play of 2 wild animals held captive in an isolated cottage with only a slipper to eat. The loser of the slipper meal had dibs on leftovers on the counter left behind by masters long gone. I found the play quite entertaining and can say it only highlighted the meal soon enjoyed.

When the stew did arrive at my table I was met by a medley of colors and smells none of which over dominated the other. The beef was both tender and remarkably tasty with hints of spices to compliment. Carrots galore were on the verge of melting on the fork but somehow held their form until they entered your mouth and only then would tantalize your taste buds just prior to warming your stomach and in turn warming your spirit.

What's this?? Another performance by the Max and Bailey team?? Indeed. This short play, during dinner, told a heart warming story of two brothers both in need of freedom. Freedom from the ho hum trappings of life on the inside. It was of freedom and the meaning of 'I need to go when I need to go!'. It was all I could do to hold back the tears when they finally gained their freedom from the 'gulag' only to find out that while Max was free to escape, his best bud Bailey was held from freedom by a chain wrapped around his neck (with the chain representing man's inability to gain, or have control, of his future)  his freedom was just a dream...a vision of trees never to be the target of his release...I would love a repeat of this masterful Shakespearean type mastery.

As the play wrapped up I was met with an empty bowl of what once held my taste buds captive! Without hesitation my bowl was refilled to the brim and again I was in heaven.

A surprise late addition was Dave who also had his senses satisfied by the masterful chef Robert. Unfortunately Max and Bailey had no performances planned at that late hour but no matter I was still quite emotional from their last show.

               Snacks....hit the spot later on.

 Pro's of Gaming Night:

• STEW
• 2 Surprise plays by the team of Max and Bailey
• Surprise guest Dave
• Dominion 
• 1960: The Making of the President

Con's of Gaming Night

• Diet 7up was where???

All said it was a grand night of gaming even thought that Damn Witch cursed the hell out of me! I swear never again!!!

Axis and Allies and a few rules here and there

Dave prepping for battle

Axis and Allies played out quite well Tuesday night even thought it seemed we were still learning the rules right down to the last move. A good board game often takes a few plays to not only understand the rules completely but more so in developing a strategy on how to beat an opponent or a game when taking co-op games into account. No doubt this game will go much smoother next time around and the consensus was it will be welcome if introduced again.

What was most annoying to me was how much of the map was devoted to Africa and Australia among other areas that play almost no importance in battle or otherwise yet Germany and Europe, where it seemed so much time was spent, was small and crammed. I am not familiar with A&A outside of this 1984 version we played but there must be a version out there for Europe alone or maybe even a better map with the 2009 version soon to be on sale. Oh, and the colors were so close - I must be more colorblind than I thought. I had military sitting still thinking they were Japans long into the game.

The Axis won most easily. I would swear Russia had secret plans with Germany to crumble at every battle, at least that was the way the dice rolls went. Russia took such a beating at the expense of the damn dice Germany had little problem doing almost whatever they wanted to. Japan proved very powerful once they mastered the transport rule and the UK found out much too late how powerful bombing raids could have been.