minor updates

Over on the “Games Night” page, Scott has been kind enough to provide the latest information. While it was needed, I’m glad to see he didn’t increase his post count while doing it. I don’t know what I’d do if he got to 5 total posts by the end of 2008, so this leaves him plenty of room to work with. :)

In other news, I finally got around to updating the cycling map page. I decided to do away with the route line (for now) and just go with markers indicating where I finished up each year and where I am currently. Huzzah for being in Atlantic Canada!

I figure that if I maintain my current pace I should be done my coast to coast virtual journey by the end of the year… and then I may modify the route I have been using to include the northern coast as well.

what can I say, I need to have something to ride for. ;)

creating your own board game

We have started working on a game.
It will involve colours.
I am trying to think of a way to avoid the typical winner/loser aspect.
Must make it somewhat non-linear.
Is going to take a lot of thought and various incarnations.
May have to go through a few MSGN game night trials where everyone who participates can give feedback.

It will be awesome! Count on it!

Past Magic Satchel Hostings

Aug 08 -
Jul 08 –
Jun 08 –
May 08 – Virginia
Apr 08 – Alan
Mar 08 – Barry’s
Feb 08 – Josh
Jan 08 – none (nerd night)
Dec 07 – Alan
Nov 07 – Josh
Oct 07 – Barry’s
Sep 07 – Alan
Aug 07 – none
Jul 07 – none
Jun 07 – Barry’s
May 07 – Hani Akbar
Apr 07 – Alan
Mar 07 – Randall’s
Feb 07 – Josh
Jan 07 – Barry’s
Dec 06 – none?
Nov 06 – Alan
Oct 06 – Barry’s

Alan – 5
Barry – 5
Josh – 3
Randall – 1
Akbar – 1
Virginia – 1

Yes those are stats.

Game 6 – Calgary

We will be in town attending game 6 on Sunday, which means I will likely finally be regaining my voice sometime on Tuesday while driving back to BC after screaming my face off at a live game instead if just at my TV. Swollen uvula. I am bringing my hardhat. Though Jen says the Flames have to win the cup before I even have a chance at winning the hardhat bet.

I can see the future and it looks like this:

Yea, you take it Grier!

And does anyone else find it funny that the injury Chara has been nursing is his ribs after he did that terrible “it’s the ribs” radio ad for a restaurant when played for Ottawa.

Karma baby, it’s a bitch… just like San Jose is going to be on Sunday.

Go Flames!
(and go road clearing crew in Roger’s Pass!)

(and Al, you are so going over the waterfall on Saturday… unless you want to see if you can irrigate 5 sheep farms? I know it sounds dull, but Squatter is a pretty good game!)

playing with myself

my sister made me a shirt once that read, “I used to be in the band, now I just play with myself”

and so I will do on Saturday night, when I am not in Calgary for December’s festive MSGN.

I am sad we will be missing it… we have missed too many now.

MSGN – 1st Kelowna Edition

So last weekend we finally had the inaugural Kelowna Chapter Magic Satchel Games Night!

It was perfect for a first go, not too many people and everyone who attended came to participate. Having only 7 of us was great because as no one knew all other attendees, the small number allowed and encouraged everyone to get to know each other a little. I think if we’d had a larger turnout people may have grouped themselves with those they already knew.

And we played the first ever double-decker old-school Mille Bornes! No, we didn’t add a London bus card. We actually combined 2 of the original-style Mille Bornes decks. (We did only use one draw/discard tray though… and we did leave in the 2 custom cards… oh “Azal Inhamination” you’re my favourite! [we don't talk about the other one])

There is definite interest in having another one, though it will likely have to wait until January. But we didn’t get to playing Ticket to Ride, Slamwich, or the bean counting game (which I have been assured is much more fun than it sounds).

Speaking of games that are more fun than they sound, maybe we’ll bring Squatter: The Australian Wool Game with us to Calgary this weekend!

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Samurai

At first glance the game seems pretty simple… you place tiles of various types and values on a board shaped like Japan (a board that expands with the number of people playing) to try and capture pieces representing the three houses – High Hats (ruling), Buddha (religion), and Rice (peasant). It looks like survive in reverse, how hard can it be?

Once you start playing you realize that it isn’t as straightforward as you thought. Almost every tile played impacts 2 pieces at the same time, and with limited real estate mistakes can be costly. You can only change out one tile (using the swap tile) in the entire game…and some pieces can’t be changed at all once they are played. Opposing players can mess with your perfectly laid plan and swap out the game piece at the last second, leaving you wondering why you didn’t act sooner to capture what may turn out to be that all important piece. Pieces that wind up being tied don’t count towards the end result.
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