Damn it! You know what? I'm sick of this crap. I'm sick of being the guy who eats insects and gets the funny syphilis. As of this moment, it's over. I'm finished being everybody's butt monkey!

Xander ,'Lessons'


Gaming 1: You are likely to be eaten by a grue

A thread for the discussion of games: board, LARP, MMORPG, video, tabletop RPG, game theory etc. etc. and all attendant news, developments and ancillary subjects thereof, as well as coordinating/scheduling games either online or IRL. All are welcome to chime in, talk about their favorite games or learn about gaming of any sort.

PLEASE TO WHITEFONT SPOILERS for video games, RPG modules or anything for which foreknowledge of events might lessen one's enjoyment of whatever gaming experience.


Connie Neil - Feb 16, 2016 5:42:37 am PST #24965 of 26133
brillig

RftG

I will probably not respond to game things till Friday. But I'll be thinking of all of you from my Vegas hot tub.


billytea - Feb 16, 2016 8:05:26 pm PST #24966 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

I can't help feeling that that would be making suboptimal use of Vegas hot tubs.


megan walker - Feb 17, 2016 12:13:06 pm PST #24967 of 26133
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

FYI for anyone with old Magic cards about:

I had my revised edition collection out for my friend's kid and out of curiosity checked the price of dual lands. Any one with blue (Tundra, Tropical Island, Volcanic Island, Underground Sea) is going for well over $100 on eBay. Before I was done even listing the four duplicates I had (and I priced on the high end), my Volcanic Island sold for the "Buy It Now" price of $225. Within 30 minutes a local offered to meet me and buy the other 3 for $450 cash. Makes me wish I bought more when I was filling out my collection and they were priced around $15-20.


Kalshane - Feb 17, 2016 4:01:45 pm PST #24968 of 26133
GS: If you had to choose between kicking evil in the head or the behind, which would you choose, and why? Minsc: I'm not sure I understand the question. I have two feet, do I not? You do not take a small plate when the feast of evil welcomes seconds.

That's good to know, Megan. I last played Magic probably 20 years ago, now. I wonder where my cards are.


billytea - Feb 17, 2016 4:09:21 pm PST #24969 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

RftG

While Connie relaxes in Vegas and the rest of you go rummaging for old Magic cards, I have the orders for Round 8.

Connie Neil: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)
Laga: Phase V - Produce
omnis: Phase V - Produce
chrismg: Phase V - Produce

It's all about the goods this round, making 'em and selling 'em. Phase IV (Consume) is first.

Connie has one Yellow good, which she trades for 5 cards. (This exhausts the deck, so I've reshuffled the discards.) No one else has any goods, so they all pass.

Everyone else chose Phase V (Produce), which allows them to produce on 1 windfall world, if they have any. Everyone produces on their production worlds, which is why we call them that.

Connie produces 2 Brown goods.

Laga produces 1 Blue, 1 Brown and 1 Green good. She then draws 1 card for producing on Comet Zone.

omnis produces 2 Blue goods.

chrismg produces 1 Blue and 2 Brown goods, and draws 1 card for producing on Gem World.

Cards are going out now. We won't get into Round 9 until Connie's back, but you can send me orders when you're ready.


billytea - Feb 17, 2016 5:02:13 pm PST #24970 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 8
Goals
Largest Industry - Most Blue/Brown Worlds (chrismg)
Greatest Military - Most Military Strength
Galactic Riches - First to 4 goods
Overlord Discoveries - First to 3 Alien cards
Budget Surplus - First to discard at round end (Laga, omnis)
Galactic Status - First to play 6-cost development (Laga, omnis)

Connie Neil
Layout
Epsilon Eridani (Non-Military World)
Expedition Force (Development)
New Earth (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Rebel Miners (Military Brown Production World) + good
Alien Robot Sentry (Military Yellow Windfall World)
Space Marines (Development)

Cards in Hand: 8
Victory Points: 5
Layout Value: 11
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

Laga
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World) + good
Secluded World (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Comet Zone (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Mining League (6-Cost Development)
Terraforming Robots (Development)

Cards in Hand: 5
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 6
6-Cost Developments: 2
Goals: 6

omnis
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Pirate World (Military Blue Windfall World) + good
New Survivalists (Military Blue Production World) + good
Investment Credits (Development)
Galactic Survey: Seti (6-Cost Development)
Outlaw World (Military World)
Replicant Robots (Development)

Cards in Hand: 3
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 8
6-Cost Developments: 6
Goals: 6

chrismg
Layout
Imperium Armaments World (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Alpha Centauri (Non-Military Brown Windfall World) + good
Mining Conglomerate (Development)
Radioactive World (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Gem World (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Galactic Renaissance (6-Cost Development)

Cards in Hand: 1
Victory Points: 2
Layout Value: 6
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 5

VP Pool: 40


billytea - Feb 19, 2016 3:40:57 pm PST #24971 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

RftG

We once again have a full complement, and orders are:

Connie Neil: Phase II - Develop
Laga: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)
omnis: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)
chrismg: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)

Whole lot of commerce going on. But first, we have Phase II (Develop).

Connie plays Investment Credits. It costs her nothing, as she chose this phase. This gives her -1 cost on any future developments.

Everyone else passes. More cards!


billytea - Feb 19, 2016 3:49:24 pm PST #24972 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

RftG

Phase IV shall indeed provide those cards.

Connie is the only one not to choose this phase, so she just consumes normally. She consumes her two Brown goods on her choice of Epsilon Eridani, New Earth or Terraforming Robots for 1 VP and 1 card each. Total of 2 VPs and 2 cards.

Laga trades her Green good for 4 cards. When then consumes her other two goods on Terraforming Robots and Secluded World. Total hauls of 1 VP and 6 cards.

omnis trades his Blue good from Pirate World. He gets +3 cards for that. He consumes his other good on Outlaw World for 1 VP and 1 card, total of 1 VP and 6 cards (same as Laga).

chrismg trades a Brown good for 4 cards (he gets +1 card from Mining Conglomerate). He consume the other good on Mining Conglomerate for 1 VP. His Blue good goes unconsumed for want of a Consume power that can take it.

Cards are going out now. Everyone's better cashed up now; please send me your choice of Action card for Round 10.


billytea - Feb 19, 2016 8:05:34 pm PST #24973 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

RftG

End-of-round summary. This will be after Laga discards one card, as she ended the round over her hand limit.

Round 9
Goals
Largest Industry - Most Blue/Brown Worlds (chrismg)
Greatest Military - Most Military Strength
Galactic Riches - First to 4 goods
Overlord Discoveries - First to 3 Alien cards
Budget Surplus - First to discard at round end (Laga, omnis)
Galactic Status - First to play 6-cost development (Laga, omnis)

Connie Neil
Layout
Epsilon Eridani (Non-Military World)
Expedition Force (Development)
New Earth (Non-Military Brown Production World)
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Rebel Miners (Military Brown Production World)
Alien Robot Sentry (Military Yellow Windfall World)
Space Marines (Development)
Investment Credits (Development)

Cards in Hand: 9
Victory Points: 7
Layout Value: 12
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

Laga
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World)
Secluded World (Non-Military Blue Production World)
Comet Zone (Non-Military Brown Production World)
Mining League (6-Cost Development)
Terraforming Robots (Development)

Cards in Hand: 10
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 6
6-Cost Developments: 2
Goals: 6

omnis
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Pirate World (Military Blue Windfall World)
New Survivalists (Military Blue Production World)
Investment Credits (Development)
Galactic Survey: Seti (6-Cost Development)
Outlaw World (Military World)
Replicant Robots (Development)

Cards in Hand: 9
Victory Points: 2
Layout Value: 8
6-Cost Developments: 6
Goals: 6

chrismg
Layout
Imperium Armaments World (Non-Military Brown Production World)
Alpha Centauri (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Mining Conglomerate (Development)
Radioactive World (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Gem World (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Galactic Renaissance (6-Cost Development)

Cards in Hand: 5
Victory Points: 3
Layout Value: 6
6-Cost Developments: 1
Goals: 5

VP Pool: 35


billytea - Feb 20, 2016 6:37:04 pm PST #24974 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

RftG

Choices are in:

Connie Neil: Phase II - Develop
Laga: Phase II - Develop
omnis: Phase II - Develop
chrismg: Phase III - Settle

With everyone cashed-up, it's time to extend the layouts. Phase II (Develop) is first for some big diamond action.

Connie plays Alien Tech Institute for 4 discards; that's at -2 cost for choosing the phase and Investment Credits. this is a 6-cost development that gives her -2 cost on any future non-military Alien worlds, and +2 military on any future military Alien worlds. With her existing 4 strength, that's enough for any Alien military worlds in the game. At game end, it's worth 3 points per Alien production world, plus 2 points per other Alien card. It's currently worth 4 VPs.

Laga plays Galactic Federation for 5 discards. This is another 6-cost development. It gives her -2 cost on future developments. Its value is 2 points per 6-cost development plus 1 point per other development. It's currently worth 5 VPs.

omnis plays Free Trade Association for 4 discards (same discounts as Connie). Yet again, this is a 6-cost development. It lets him produce on a Blue windfall world and consume up to 3 Blue goods for 1 VP and 1 card each. At game end it's worth 2 points per Blue production world plus 1 point per Blue windfall world, plus points for a couple of other cards. It's currently worth 3 VPs.

chrismg passes.