Hello? Is there anyone here?
Almost all the SABGers have gone to BGG.CON for the weekend, but that's no reason for the blog to be a desolate wasteland until the session reports roll in on Sunday night. What's currently occupying your mind? (Game-related and not your raging jealousy of the guys in Dallas)
Z-Man games is taking pre-orders for the English version of Agricola. It's a 2007 Essen release where each player is attempting to create a successful farm. If you've managed to not hear of this one yet, prepare yourself for a wave of hype similar to what we saw for Caylus two years ago. Speaking of Caylus, there are some similarities between it and Agricola. In both, there are a finite number of actions to be chosen each round, and players take turns claiming those actions by placing one of their workers. Additional choices appear as the game progresses. What's different? In Caylus, all the buildings are in a pool that all players have access to. In Agricola, each player has a hand of card representing Minor Improvements that only they can attain (there are also Major Improvements that are in a pool accessible to all). In Caylus, your workers simply represent the maximum number of actions you can take in a turn. In Agricola, you start with two (a farmer and his wife) and generate more through normal biological processes. The family in Agricola requires food (two units per worker) every round, so in addition to working to improve the farm, you also have to generate enough food to feed the family. It sounds like it'll be right up my alley and I'm already drooling in anticipation. I'll definitely be picking this one up.
posted by Jeff @ 9:39 AM
17 comments
17 Comments:
Apparently, the answer is "no one here but us."
I'm thinking that Beowulf is coming out Friday.
That and that Agricola must get purchased.
But you knew all that, Jeff.
If no one else shows up soon, we'll have to do Abbott and Costello's "Who's on first?" routine to pass the time.
I'm here but not for long. Heading home to visit my parents for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I'll be back soon though, I have a job interview during the week after.
So we are rehashing old jokes?
Take my wife, please.
No, seriously.
Just reread
"...finite number of actions to be chosen each round..."
Thank Jebus, those games with infinite actions each round cause hardcore AP.
I am still here and had a forlorn hope that those of us left behind might still do some gaming at some point Friday-Sunday...
This weekend isn't looking too good, but next weekend is very promising, especially Black Friday. We could host starting at 9 am. Watch for a real planning post sometime early next week.
Jacqui and I are here, but Hurricane Children have left the house unfit for public viewing, and my back issues also make me nervous about hosting.
ooog agricola. i want that one. we shall have to see though.
And, just for the record, I heartily approve of your purchase of Agricola. I can't approve of seeing Beowulf, though. (Take the Pixar pledge, and eschew motion capture in your CGI. And I cannot give anyone money who films a nearly Naked Angelina Jolie, and doesn't publish the actual footage. Simply Criminal).
So, have you actually signed up for the pre-order?
It's good to know that at least the Bridge community is able to keep everything in good perspective.
Not voting for Bush is treasonous? Really?
We have not signed up for the Agricola preorder at this time. We will likely wait and purchase it (immediately) after it is actually published, which means we'll either miss out on the extra Improvement deck or have to buy it separately.
I support the idea of not having motion capture in my CGI, but Neil Gaiman wrote the screenplay, and that makes it a must-see.
Neil Gaiman is my master now.
Yes, Neil wrote it and, almost more importantly (which I'm shocked to have written those words) it's Beowulf. And to quote Wikipedia, it is "the single major surviving work of Anglo-Saxon heroic poetry," which means it must be viewed. Seamus Heaney did a excellent poetic translation in 2000, which was so much better than any translation you were forced to read in high school. Sure, it has the potential to suck, although that's pretty unlikely if Neil did the screenplay, but it's Beowulf, so you have to give it a try.
So disappointed after "Beowulf and Grendel." **sigh**
Beowulf is one of those things that I will be seeing in December. I might have to get my hands on a better translation of it. There is rumor that Tolkien did one but yes. And i randomly wanna see Hitman as well. Action movie mathon seems to be in progress.
Don't know much about the movie of Beowulf besides Angelina. I hear there's like fight or something.
I was in California yesterday, but I'm here this weekend.
I can't host, but I am *definitely* interested in games next Friday.
I'm really hoping to get a 6 player Mare Nostrum to the table. This currently tops the list, but others include:
-- BL and CC:E
-- Reef Encounter
-- Beowulf the controversial
-- Ra
I'll have to see what my schedule is. I may be able to host, although there would be children around.
Mare Nostrum w/Expansion is an idea. Ted also mentioned Here I Stand, which I'd like to see hit the table sometime.
I also got my Combat Commander Expansions (Paratroopers and CC:Med).
Jeff, I thought about you when I played Agricola. It is definitively right up your alley (and Amy's).
What a great game. From what I read on your post, it almost sounds like you've actually played it already! Guys, it's simply great. I haven't seen a deep, super replayable (there are a BUNCH of minor improvements and Specialists, that will take a bunch of games to see them all) euro like this that meshes mechanics and theme FLAWLESLY in a while.
I went up to Zev Schlasinger mid game to sign up for a preorder. Yes, it is that good. I don't think any of the other SABG'ers tried it though. Jeff, if you have any questions, ask away. It needs all the preorders it can get.
Best of all, the game does not take forever to play (2hrs with 5 players who know the game....but you are COMPLETELY engaged all the time).
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