What we did in October …

October was such a busy month for board games in Melbourne with the Anti Football League Lunch (photos) , weekly gaming at the NGV Studio’s exhibition of boardgames (photos), and all the Euro Games clubs around Melbourne (eg Corkman, Dockers…) .

Luckily people still found the time and inclination to come to Cafe Games, to get a drink, put their feet up and relax in some less serious game playing …
The much anticipated sequel to the art-appreciation game Dixit – “Dixit Odyssey” – now with a special “number board” with which the cards can be aligned. Allows up to 12 players!!!

Anomia – Paul suddenly spots a match, and instead of calling out “Snap!” says “Jam!” (a doughnut flavour) while Eric tries to recall if he knows any Spanish words.

Leo and Al try to teach themselves Dominion… to get a handle on the “big box o’ cards”. Don’t worry guys, you only play with less than half of them!

Munchkin Deluxe – the amusing monster-fighting card game has sprouted a board!

The accusations fly as people’s motives are questioned in The Resistance, a simple but intense hidden role game, with some significant advantages over Werewolf and “Are You The Traitor?” which we also enjoy playing. This tends to be one of the noisier games right now as people get rather exciteable playing it.

Intriguingly we tried out a prototype of “The Resistance” at Cafe Games in June 2009, at the suggestion of the inventor. Back then it was just played with ordinary playing cards and was a bit too short, but that’s all been fixed up.

Sequence – it’s a both a board game AND a card game! (see the board is filled with a grid of playing cards)

Max (on the left) is a craftsman. How much money would it take to convince him to chop off one of his hands? Not as much as you’d think! In “Name Your Price”, players have to pick how much money it would take to convince someone to do all sorts of strange things, both minor and major. Would you walk naked to the shops on a dare? For $100? No? How about $5000?

Much loved cooperative game Pandemic – work together to save the world from four pandemic plagues.

Goldbräu – could be called Octoberfest – players try to make the most money during a beer festival where you get to run breweries and beer gardens – and the game comes with real beer coasters!

A teetering pile of colourful blocks always seems to command attention – Uno Stacko (jenga).

Competing with colourful crystalline craziness! Blokus. (Not Clokus)

Aha! Mahjong!


Shadow Hunters – who is who, and who can you trust?

Survive! Your island is sinking into the ocean, jump on boats and sail to safety! Would be easy if it weren’t for the small number of boats, the whales who knock over boats, the sharks who eat people swimming … and of course the Sea Monsters!!

Nargiza introduces her brother to map building in Carcassonne

Qwirkle … and Sequence at the other end of the table

Bohnanza , the Bean Game: “Hey I’m collecting Chili Beans, does anyone have any they’ll trade to me for Green Beans or Black-Eyed Beans?”

Six explorers set off to find Incan Gold in dangerous, crumbling, ancient ruins. See the little pale green tent in front of each player?

Paul teaching Citadels again – get the impression it’s his favourite game!

In Citadels you’re trying to build the best city, but you have to secretly select your actions for the next turn without knowing what other people are going to do – and of course what they’ve chosen may affect you.

Packet of mints.

Allison teaching Carcassonne

Red cap Bayden looks like he’s hustling some suckers. Pick the right card and win double your money!

Actually, it’s a game of Colossal Arena, pitting mythical creatures against one another.

Not quite Mahjong – but still a distant relative – Rummikub (from Israel)

Another Articulate game I’ve missed. Someday I’ll have to find out what all the fun is about. It always seems quite popular.

Bridie showed little mercy, slaughtering the three other players in Valu with some spectacularly well-timed jumps.

More “Resistance”!

The classic game Taboo – be careful what you say!

Oh I say! Clint tries to both raise Cafe Games’ fashion levels, and remain upright. 😉

Corey and the guys learn to play a new game … but what game is it?

They’re quite proud of the height of their Uno Stacko tower …

… but can it take one more block???

To save any stress, here’s a nice peaceful game instead:

The Eternal Struggle of Light versus Dark!!  ( Othello, a classic boardgame)

Thanks to everyone for coming and making it another fabulous day of fun!
(Special thanks to Shane D for taking the square-shaped photos above. See more of his photos from the event here) 

Video

Taken at the recent gaming events at the NGV Studio at Federation Square

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Comments!

(Feel free to leave your own further down, but here are some already received)

• Daiva D

  Had a brilliant time. Played a new game called Articulate, which I LOVED!! Can’t wait for the next meetup.

• Celeste

  Played 2 awesome games – Citadels & Survive – with some really great people. Definitely want to play both games again! Tried to play Scotland Yard, on the basis it seemed like Whitechapel, but no, not really. Its still great fun though, whether chasing a master criminal or a red herring!

• Shane D

  Thanks Chris. My friends and I had a wonderful time and lots of laughs.

• Steve G

  Fun no pressure event. Christopher, the host, goes above & beyond 2 make all welcome & included. Every1 there seems happy 2 teach those that don’t know.

• Andrea

  Great again. 3 new games in 2 hrs. Looking for them online already. Lovely group again.

• Shane

  Yet another brilliant day. I got to play sooo many new games I started to confuse the rules between them. I’m sure it’s the first time risk pieces were used in a game of citadel 🙂 My only diappointment is that I’ll probably miss the next event 😦 However I hope to see you all in December. Yeah. PS: Go the spies 🙂

• Kathy

  A regular attendee of this event – great atmosphere.

• Alexandra

  Had a great time! So much fun.