Thrift Store Finds

I have a reputation amongst my fellow gamers.

I'm lucky. REALLY lucky. Lucky to the point that whenever it comes to contesting dice rolls, someone around the table will remind whoever I am up against that they're rolling against me. As you can imagine, that is quite a reputation to have when it comes to gaming and, without any sense of ego I can say that it is well deserved.

I am lucky. REALLY REALLY lucky and, it doesn't end at the gaming table. I have made some pretty amazing finds in thrift stores over the past few months, so I thought I would take a moment to share a few of them with you, what they're actually worth and the pittance I paid for them.

The first great find this year was Gorkamorka. Not only was this game a limited production run but, the copy I found was for the most part untouched. The orks and what not had been assembled but, the books where virtually unread, the bulkheads that came with the set where still on sprue's and, the vast majority of the card-stock components where unpunched.
Approximate Value: £80ish.
I Paid: £10.

Inside that very same box there was also a sealed blister of metal Blood Bowl Chaos Cheerleaders, circa 1998.
Approximate Value: Hard to say as I have no frame of reference. There isn't even a similar item to be found on E-Bay. I would conservativly say in the ball park of £30 though.
I Paid: Nowt.

My next lucky find was Heroquest. I have wanted a copy of this for years, so there was no way in hell that I was going to leave that sitting on the shelf. Upon picking it off the shelf however I noticed that the box seemed to be bulging at the seams. What ever could be in here? Well there was only one way to find out given that it was all taped up. I bought it (like I said, no way in hell I was going to pass this one up. Especially with a mystery element attached).

When I got it home, JACKPOT! Not only was there a complete copy of Heroquest inside in good condition but, also the better part of three expansions! Sure, they may be missing a couple of miniatures all told and two or three card pieces but this was still an amazing find.
Approximate Value: £130.
I Paid: £4.99.

Only a week ago a thrift store dive uncovered 60 Lord of The Rings Miniatures for the tabletop skirmish game by Games Workshop. The most impressive aspect here for me was that the vast majority of those miniatures where metal and, included a close to complete fellowship.
Approximate Value: £35.
I Paid: £2.50.

Today was no exception to the rule either, turning up as I have Carcassone plus two expansions (one of which is unpunched).
Approximate Value: £20ish.
I Paid: £3.50.

Today also turned up a copy of a nice little abstract strategy game called Queen Bee. A little research has turned up the fact that this appears to be a first printing (by Condor), but little more. Either this little gem is remarkably unpopular or as rare as hens teeth. I suspect it may be the latter, making it an ideal candidate for a write up and review. It's also rules light, abstract strategy. Which is just awesome!
Approximate Value: Not a clue.
I Paid: 99p.

 

 

Links

Blood Bowl Board Game Geek Entry

Carcassonne Board Game Geek Entry

Gorkamorka Board Game Geek Entry

Heroquest Board Game Geek Entry

Lord of The Rings: Tabletop Battle Game Board Game Geek Entry

Play Report: Mijnlieff #1

As gamers we soon learn that there is a great difference between knowing the game and, playing the game. In my last post we took a good look at the former but, how does the theory work as practice?

Well one thing that I have certainly learned from play is that changing the board drastically changes the game. Now this may seem like an obvious point to bring up for those of us who have played games with variable boards before, like ZOMBIES!!!, Space Hulk, Dungeonquest and, The Legend of Drizzt to name but a few.

Mjinlieff differs however in that the shape of the board drastically alters the value of the pieces to you as a player. If for example you create a board with very few diagonal connections, then the diagonal pieces become worth a lot more to you because they place greater limitations on your opponent and the spaces that they can play into in response.

Something tells me that this is only the tip of the iceberg too.

This is certainly a game I expect to be playing a lot more of in the future as it's right up my street! Abstract, Strategy and, Rules light. Stay tuned for more reports as we see just how deep down the rabbit hole we can trek with this gem.

Links

Boardgame Geek Entry

Order your copy here!

Quickstart: Mijnlieff

Overview

Mijnlieff (pronounced Mine-Leaf) is an abstract strategy game that definitely falls into the "Quick to learn, hard to master" category of games that I love so dearly. To boot, it's rules light, which is always a plus. So a quick flick through this guide should have you playing confidently in minutes.

The Game As It Is Played

Before play the four 2x2 boards are arranged in a pattern mutually agreed upon by both players. For your first game it is probably best to arrange them in a square as this is by far the easiest board to get to grips with.


Each player then takes the 8 pieces of their color and, like Chess, "White" (light in this case) pieces play first. The light player may now place any one of their pieces in any space on the board. Play then passes to the dark player.

The dark player may now play anyone of his pieces BUT is limited to where he may place it depending upon what the light player has played (see The Pieces below). Play then alternates between the two players in this fashion, with each move being limited by what your opponent played last.

If at any point it is your turn but you cannot play a piece (because all of the legal spaces have already been occupied) you must pass. If you pass, your opponent may place their next piece in ANY free space.

Once a player has placed their last piece, their opponent gets one last chance to place a piece (which must be placed legally or the turn passed) before the scores are tallied (see Winning below).

The Pieces

In Mijndlieff each player begins the game with 8 pieces of four different varieties (Straights, Diagonals, Pushers and, Pullers).

Straights: Your opponent's next piece must be placed in an empty square connected to this piece by a straight line.

Diagonals: Your opponent's next piece must be placed in an empty square connected to this piece by a diagonal line.

Pushers: Your opponents piece cannot be placed in any square that touches the square this piece is played into. This includes both straight and diagonal connections.

Pullers:  Your opponents piece must be placed in a square that touches the square this piece is played into. This includes both straight and diagonal connections.

Winning

Once the last piece has been placed players score 1 point for every line of three that they have managed to lay and, 2 points for every line of four. The player with the most points wins the game.

Links

Board Game Geek Entry

Order your copy here!

Even More On Logan Stones

A friend of mine has just posted up a nice little review of his first impressions of Logan Stones over at his blog.

Check it out here.

Like Logan Stones? Order your copy here.

Quickstart: Logan Stones

Overview

Logan Stones is a simple light-strategy game that combines elements of Connect 4, Othello and the playground classic Rock, Paper, Scissors. Don't be fooled by the relative ease of these component games or my description of Logan Stones as "light" however as the depth of play can be quite substantial, as can the level of challenge.

The Game As It Is Played

Logan Stones consists of 18 double-sided playing pieces (the Logan Stones) that depict one of three images (a rock symbol, a paper symbol and, a scissors symbol).

Before play these pieces are mixed in a bag (provided with the game). Two pieces are then removed from the bag and placed next to each other to form the starting set-up. The remaining pieces are then dealt out equally between the players.

The first player then places a stone of their choice so that it touches two stones already in play, flipping them if they are trumped by the stone placed. For example, placing a stone displaying a paper next to a stone displaying a rock will flip the rock. It is then the next players turn.

If a player cannot place a stone (because they have run out) they must move a stone instead. They may move any stone as long as it does not leave a placed stone touching only one other stone. Moved stones are treated the same as placed stones and will trump a stone they are placed next to if at all possible (rock beats scissors, scissors beat paper and, paper beats rock).

Winning

The first player to connect any four (or more) matching symbols in a straight line wins.

Order your copy here!