Monday Oct 26, 2009

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Essen Spieltage - 2009

It was my first time here, at the world's biggest boardgaming showcase. This is where the new games get released each year, and various awards handed out. Buyers from all over Europe show up, just to catch discounts on the classics and the latest releases. If you're not up on the Boardgaming Renaissance, a side trip to BoardGameGeek.com's rankings is a good primer.

Essen is different from other gaming conventions in that it's an all-ages event. From the limber minded venerable to the still in the stroller, everybody comes to Essen I have to say, if I were six, I'd think this place was better than Disney.
Just for that bungee-trampoline alone. Or the inflatable American Gladiators platform. Or the tossie-toys and diablos and spinning plates for playing with that didn't even make it into these pictures.

While the kids play, others are preparing for Serious Business.
How do Serious Germans prepare for a Serious Day of Serious Game Evaluation?

SPOILERS! (Click to view)



Outnumbering the buyers and the sellers are the players, just here to have a good time, and meet new people while they try out some new releases.


The big release I was looking forward to was Uwe Rosenberg's latest, "At the Gates of Loyang"
This is the newest flavor of German Farming Game, the Chinese German Game. We can talk about it in terms of ice cream. Shall we?

Agricola: Rocky Road
Le Havre: Cherry Garcia
At the Gates of Loyang: Double Fudge Swirl

I hope that clears things up for you.

What's actually going on in this game behind the spoiler.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)
Each player gets a "Path of Prosperity" to keep score on. Cards to the lower left of that are "helpers" that are one-shot powers, ready for use. To the upper left are market stalls, where you can swap out the veggies you have for veggies you might need. To the upper right are contract customers, who demand the same deal turn after turn. To the bottom right are one-time customers, who calmly wait until you're ready to fill their order.

This is my first game, halfway in, and I'm playing like a meth monkey. I've taken three "credit" vouchers (ouch!) so that I can play a long term contract every turn of the game after the first. (The first one is already cleared.) I'm swimming in cash now, but the second best player will only have to get within about 50 coins of me to win, after I take the hit from the credit markers at the final reckoning.



And random other pics behind spoiler #2

SPOILERS! (Click to view)
What convention would be complete without cosplayers?

Contending for "Most Insanely Awesome Minis Dungeon Yet".

Metal Meeples. 200% more brutal than your pansy wooden meeples. Don't just take Carcassonne, stomp it into the ground.

VIEW 25 of 29 COMMENTS
kraven:
Sweet.... thanks sooo much for your skills and Knowledge... I will try that and see what happens!!!! Appriciate the help! It needs it!
lemonkid:
Try the recording of Arvo Part's "Arbos" on ECM.

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