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Games I'm Playing
Alas, nothing got played this week except a prototype I can't talk about. My friends Tom and Dana and I had planned to play the prototype, along with Freeloader from Cheapass Games and Ever Green and Pizarro and Co. from Rio Grande Games. So what stopped us? The prototype rocked. We loved it and played it three times, becoming consumed with the game.
This weekend, the plan is to get in some two-player games with Beth. No specific games on the agenda except for Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation from Fantasy Flight Games.
Games I Can See While Sitting At My Computer
These change regularly, as I move them around in a seriously misguided attempt to trick my wife into thinking there's some possibility that they'll all be put away someday. (She's too smart to fall for it, but she indulges me.) Listed in alphabetical order:
From Randy Cox, commenting on the quote I have in the signature file I use for the About Board Games Forum:
>>"Erik is boldly trying to keep the cinnamon in his mouth with his right hand."
Have you looked at the page that this quote comes from? I was very curious, so I looked it up. A company called Stinkfactor (or something like that) has a page full of wacko "I bet you can't eat this" challenges -- cinnamon, Tabasco, horseradish, sardines, crickets... I laughed so much at the play-by-play commentary that I'm sure the other people in the office thought I was nuts.
Future Emails of the Week can be sent to boardgames.guide@about.com.
Boardgame Top Picks List of the Week
In the spirit of the upcoming November elections (we have an open race for Governor here in Pennsylvania), SMG presents the Top 5 Political Board Games.
The list (click the link above to read a bit about each game):
Freeloader
The board includes various homes (lawyer's, doctor's, gambler's, waitress', artist's hippies') and the sidewalks in front of them. These are laid out in a hexagonal shape. The deck of 54 cards includes items like golf clubs (8 points), fine art (16 points) and a silk tie (2 points).
On a turn, you either move, draw, place favors or play cards. If you move, roll two 6-sided dice and then follow the instructions on the square you land on. If you draw, you can choose one of the six faceup cards (one in front of each house) or the top card on the deck. By placing favors (each player gets 30 markers at the start of the game) you can enhance your position in one of the houses. If you play a card, you pay the cost of that card in favors and then place it face up in your "stuff" pile.
Along the way, you can fight to be the best friend in a house (which wins you benefits), steal from other players' stuff, trade stuff, and crash at someone's house for a while.
At the end of the game, you need to have at least one card in your stuff pile from each of three major categories: food, clothing and shelter. Among the players who meet that requirement, the player with the most points wins.
Board Games Survivor Island Update
Campaign Trail got tossed into the ocean this week, leaving us with 13 games to go. Every week, one of them gets tossed into the ocean based on your votes.
About Something Else Site of the Week
Brad Lang's About Classic Movies site covers classic film like no other place on the Web. Roger Ebert named About Classic Movies the best classic film site on the Web, and there's a good reason why. His tributes to classic actors and actresses, his videostore packed with recommended movies, a Forum full of intelligent conversation... if you're into classic movies, it's a lot of fun to hang out with Brad.
Green Bay Packers Notes of the Week
Last week's win against Carolina was ugly, really ugly -- just like every game so far this year. We could easily be 0-4. But the Pack pulled it out, 17-14, thanks to the misfortune of a field goal kicker whose 24-yard chip shot was tipped at the line by the ghost of Vince Lombardi -- and so we're 3-1, tied for the best record in the National Football Conference. On the positive side, the defense allowed less than 31 points. And if Brett Favre ever goes down, it looks like tight end Bubba Franks might be a good candidate to replace him.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers, 31; Chicago Bears, 24.
Other Off-Topic Thoughts of the Week
What's up with Grace on the television show Push, Nevada? I'm seriously conflicted about her -- is she really as much on Jim Prufrock's team as she appears to be, or is she a double agent working for the bad guys?
The Amazing Race, which started its third season this week, is my second-favorite reality television show, right behind The Mole. Survivor is a distant third, but still a lot of fun to watch.
I'm a big fan of crime shows, with Monk being my favorite new show, but there's something about Boomtown that I couldn't get into despite the fact that I was pumped to watch it. Didn't care enough about any of the characters.
Boardgames Poll of the Week
What's That You Say?
Talk back to SMG in the About Board Games Forum.
--Erik Arneson
5 October 2002
Email of the Week
Fresh Spiel of the Week
Cheapass Games
3 to 6 players
