SoCal Games Day 1 Photo Album | Back to Games Day
SoCal Games Day 1 Report | SoCal Games Day 1 Photo Album
Here are a variety of photos snapped throughout the day. Names given are to be read left-to-right within the picture. Most of the time I disabled my camera's flash, to not disturb the people playing the game. Unfortunately it means some blurring on occasion, too. Next time I'll probably use the flash, and snap fewer candid shots.
First game of the day! Scott, Ken, Eric, Dave, and Greg ponder Big Boss, while Neal looks on.
First wargame of the day! Ed rolls dice against Steve in Rome at War. Note the Carabande track set up in back.
Mark and Neal square off in Assault on Hoth
Neal: "Lord Vader was most displeased with former Imperial assault unit commander Neal Sofge, who really should have sent two walkers and their troops after the Rebel power station to reduce their defenses, or at least keep the accursed snowspeeders busy. As it was, the Rebel reinforcements blunted the Imperial's final charge against the shield generator. This debacle unacceptably delayed the Sith Lord's landing and allowed the Rebel headquarters elements (along with ice troop coordinator Mark Johnson) to safely evacuate to an unknown location."
Assault on Hoth up close. Neal's AT-AT walkers close in on the Rebel base, but all transports got away!
Chris, Michelle, Greg, Aaron, and Alyssa dice off in Ritter ohne Furcht und Tadel
Chris: "I brought this one. I've never played with all the rules. We each had only one set of Knights/Ladies since I was the only one who had played previously. Its a real fun quickie with plenty of ops for yelling and cheering. My kinda game. I think Greg DeBeer won."
Rick, Ken, Eric, and Scott play Minion Hunter.
Rick: "Four of us played. I don't recall the names of the other players. The game system won, with the Fey Folk completing enough of their plots to take over Dark America. (In Minion Hunter all players work together against the game mechanic. The new Lord Of The Rings game uses a system similar to this.)"
Greg, Aaron, Dave, and Chris shiver their timbers in Corsairs
Chris: "This was a real surprise. Very simple at first but cunning is needed to win. I saw some real social engineering at work while playing this. I like that kind of thing. I think Greg won this one also."
Max, Neal (hidden), Zoe, and Bob explore the jungle in Tikal
Ed, Mark, and Steve manipulate Huns like mutual funds in Attila
Fen and Eric serve and volley with Tennis Masters
Chris: "I didn't play this. My jaw just hit the ground when I saw it. That game is NUTS!"
Chris and Fen refight the end of Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace with the lavish Queen's Gambit
Chris: "Highlight of my evening. Fen recommended this and he has rarely let me down. Some poor designer took the time to weld that terrible mess of an ending in Episode one into a workable game system. It has chrome galore. Two boards and a three level throne room in between. If you let any part of the game go without your attention the other side can capitalize on your negligence. Fen and I jousted back and forth with him as the rebel scum and myself as the dark side. Extra drama points were gained with the simultaneous deaths of Darth Maul and Qui Gon. This left Obi Wan free to pour through my droids like a wrecking ball. Blowing away the true queen and kill all the imperial guard saved the Federation from an embarrassing defeat."
Zoe tempts fate and physics in Arbos
Arbos again, this time in its final shape after Mark's winning placement
Scott, Bob, Alan,Greg, and Dave play the silver screen game Traumfabrik
Steve and Ken finally put that Simple GBOH setup to work!
Mark and Jonathan (who arrived with less than an hour left!) play 2-player speed Expedition
One last game of Attila for Dave, Steve, Ed, Bob, and Ken while others clean up.
Other comments about games not pictured
Clash of the Lightsabers
Neal: "I'm surprised at the commercial failure of this title, considering that it was strong enough to support so many games in a row between the same group of three players. I think the final score was Maul 4, Qui-Gon 3, but considering how many times we switched sides I'm not sure how relevant that is. Max was definitely the champion for the evening."
Adel Verpflichtet
Chris: "I didn't expect much from this dry looking game. Another big surprise. Lots of fun not hurt by it being the first win of the day for me. Reminded me a little of Stop Thief by Milton Bradley. (Someone my call this Blasphemy)."