The Tao of Gaming

• "Settlers of Catan," and
• "Insert gratuitous Nazi reference here."

I do like the following comment on Cities and Knights:

Hitting upon the excellent idea of removing all the compelling simplicity of the original version, he crafted a game that was just as strategically and tactically challenging, but also ridiculously overcomplicated

I then noticed that the author lives in San Antonio, and complains that nobody here is hardcore enough to play C&K. The mind boggles.

So I tune into the US Bridge Championships and see that Meckwell are playing ... six spades redoubled (making, but can't get an overtrick). Next hand they jump to an ambitious four hearts, get doubled and ... redouble. This time the overtrick is there, but their opponents run ...

I can't recall seeing two high contracts redoubled in one session, much less back to back. (Of course, Meckwell are way behind, and taking big risks...)

(Rodwell's hand on that slam was AKJT98653 -- 9 A94)

Buy a Wii. UFC Undisupted is indeed sweet (albeit with insanely complicated controls for the ground game).

Played a lot of Face to Face Dominion for the first time. I've certainly played a lot on BSW, but I'm starting to enjoy the 'real' game. I'll certainly trade for a copy now. Also got in a game of Through the Ages, and managed to self destruct when I sacrificed my army to get a colony that provided enough yellow tokens that I could easily rebuy the people in one turn. I forgot I wouldn't have enough ore to rebuild the units for 2-3 turns. And two turns as whipping boy is one too many. I managed to recover somewhat and had a huge run in the end, despite only producing 4 ore a turn at game end (and one of those was via a trade agreement). Lots of mineral deposits, patriotism and military build ups (6 civil actions by mid game, 8 by mid Age III).

Also played the "Ace of Aces" book game. Exactly how many games use that exact same system? Ace of Aces, Blue Max, Richtoffen's War (which, I'm told, the Ace of Aces people used to build their book). There's a miniature version of Blue Max I've seen (the players had never heard of Blue Max, but their rules were identical, down to the damage chits).