When I arrived, four people were involved in Roll Through the Ages. It was a typical SABG game, in that there was much complaining that Brian was getting all the rolls, and Michael won despite constant protestations that he was getting killed. Part of my wants to try the game, but another part of me can't shake the image that everyone playing it looks like they are taking the SAT.
Next came five-player Snow Tails. I snuck around the first corner, blew down a tree, and took a two-move lead over Brian. But trouble ensued at a tricky spot near the end, where the track narrowed to one lane, then widened with an obstruction in the middle and a 4-speed limit immediately after. I came in at high speed (dogs 5/5, brake 2) but one lane left of center, and no combination of cards would get me through the choke without brazenly violating the speed limit. The solution was to play a 4 on the left dog, shift into the middle lane, and then slam into the obstruction at ludicrous speed, taking a second dent. I then had the right cards to squeak around it and reach top speed again before crossing the finish just ahead of Brian. I still like the puzzle aspect of the game, but it felt cheesy to use a giant rock as a speed brake with so little repercussion.
Next was my 12th Pegasus game. Jon was the early Cylon, using a Critical Situation and Zarek's one-shot to drop population before revealing and brigging Michael. After two jumps for three distance, every ship in the game came out (no joke, even the heavies), costing several population, destroying Pegasus, and adding two boarders. Jon drew the sleeper Cylon and handed it to me for an immediately reveal. But the humans killed the boarders on the last possible turn before a loss, and made it to New Caprica with the dials at 2/4/6/4. At this point Scott had to leave, so Jon played both Cylon hands and I became human again. Jon pushed occupation forces hard to blow up ships, and our first few crises were jumpless. But thanks to high food and morale, we were able to use the oft-ignored "drop the highest dial for a jump" space twice. Jon's inbound nukes brought us to the brink, but thanks to everyone drawing XO's, we evacuated the last ship and jumped with the dials at 1/2/4/1 for possibly the tightest human win ever.
Thoughts:
- That's twice we've nearly called a game due to hopelessness, only to see the humans hang on by their fingernails on New Caprica. Awesome.
- Humans are now 7-5 in my 12 games, with only one failing to reach New Caprica.
- Have we played Pegasus with the Kobol destination yet? I'd like to try that.
- Having gone from human to Cylon and back to human, am I happy or sad that the humans survived?
The last order of business was to covet my Space Hulk pretties. I'll have them assembled this week, but painting will take a
lot longer.
Also played: Statis Pro Baseball, Rum & Pirates (at least a little), Merchants of Venice, presumably other stuff after 9pm.
A crippled, diseased, wounded beast-man, scorned by all, wanders into Baghdad ... and wins! During the game I'd also been ensorcelled, imprisoned, and exiled. Needless to say, I quickly obtained the master level of "Enduring Hardships." Dennis almost won, since his years spent in the oubliette made for a good story. But he was merely wounded and pursued, and that don't compare with Quasimodo.
