SoCal Games Day 10 Report | Back to SoCal Games Day
January 18, 2003
La Cañada/Montrose
This Games Day was notable for a couple reasons. First, it was our 10th event since starting them back in January 2001. Over the time we changed location twice, and almost tripled our original turnout.
The second item worth noting about this particular Games Day was that it almost didn't happen! A mixup with our room reservation (they double-booked us) meant that we started the day with nowhere to go. Fortunately, all was solved soon enough, close enough, and Games Day went on, almost without a hitch.
Thanks to everyone for showing up, and doing so without any grumbling about our sudden and temporary shift in location. Lots of attendees know each other now, and everyone pulled together well. Hope to see you all at Games Day 11!
-Mark Johnson
Who was there
David Arnott, Bruce Ballard, Russell Berman, Greg Bond, Henry Bramlet, Brian Chafer, Ryan S. Davis, Michael Deems, Jonathan Degann, Allen Doum, Heidi Eldenburg, Debby Estes, Eddie Hagiwara, Mark Johnson, Josh Kaufman, Ian Kezsbon, Karin Kunstmann, Roderick Lee, Winton Lemoine, Roger Lighty, Steve Lorenz, John Margerum, Paul Marjoram, Robert & Kasia Martin, Dana More, Kevin O'Hara, Greg Pettit, Chad Pridgen, Neil & Nicholas & Alexander Rhodes, Patricia Rigby, Bruce & Jennifer & Todd Schlickbernd, Jon Schultz, David Siskin, Wayne Smith, Alan Stroud, Dennis Ugolini, Jeffrey Wauer, Chris Weiser, Ryan & Erin Wheeler, Scott Alan Woodard, Patrick Wyrick, and Fen Yan
Where they came from
Burbank x3, Chino Hills x3, Downey, Garden Grove x2, Glendale x2, La Crescenta, Long Beach, Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Orange, Oxnard, Palmdale, Pasadena x4, Redlands x4, San Diego, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Studio City, Tujunga, Valencia x2, West Los Angeles x3, Westchester, Westminster, and Whittier
(plus a few more I know weren't entered, like Tarzana and Sherman Oaks)
What was played
Abenteur Menschheit, Abilene, Age of Steam, Alles Im Eimer, Bang!, Barbarossa, Big City, Blood Bowl, Cairo, Carcassonne, Carcassonne: Hunters & Gatherers x3, Cave Troll, Circus Maximus, Clue The Card Game, Crokinole x6, Dschunke, Emerald x2, Entdecker, Europa: 1945-2030, FFF, Fist of Dragonstones x2, Gang of Four, Hamsterolle, Hellas, Imperium x2, Industrial Waste, Ivanhoe, Lord of the Rings, Medici, Medina, Meuterer, Mexica, Modern Art x2, Mogul, Monkeys on the Moon, Mu x2, Princes of Florence, Pueblo, Puerto Rico x5, Ra x2, Settlers of Canaan, Sid Meier's Civilization, Subbuteo, Taj Mahal, TaYu, Through the Desert, Tichu x4, Tip It, TransAmerica x2, Trias x2, Vabanque, Web of Power x2, Wongar, Wyatt Earp, X-Bugs, and Zirkus Flohcati
Reports posted to SoCal-Boardgamers:
Scott Woodard | Jeff Wauer | Ian Kezsbon | Mark Johnson | Mike Deems | Wayne Smith
Photo Album
Note: This time the photos have been web-optimized for smaller filesizes. There might be a tiny drop in photo quality, but the page should load much quicker. Drop me an email if you care to comment on this, one way or another.
Uh-oh... they double-booked our room! Time to devise a plan B.
Fortunately we managed to shift to another Cal-Fed/Citibank community room in nearby La Cañada. This would have to do until after lunch, when we could shift back to our original, larger room in Montrose.
This room was actually a little nicer, but definitely smaller, particularly regarding game-storage space (always in short supply for us).
Still, there was room for Crokinole (and even Subbuteo later that morning, set up in the hallway past the windows).
Whew! Games Day was finally in full swing after only a little delay & inconvenience.
Necessary roughness.
The latest in the Settlers of Catan franchise, it's the large game Mankind Adventure (roughly translated--it's only in German so far).
Monkeys at the table playing Monkeys on the Moon?
More fun with choo-choos (where's Medford?)
What do you get when you cross Settlers of Catan with Sunday School? Settlers of Canaan (no foolin!)
For those getting burned out on Puerto Rico, a refreshing look back at Princes of Florence. Ah...
I always did like playing with blocks. (Pueblo)
Imperium, one of the three Knizia games inside GMT's new Rome
Back at the Montrose bank's community room, with lots more space.
I told Scott that Abilene was supposed to be a pretty lame game...
...but them thar bits shore is purty!
Pretty game #1 (Medina)
And pretty game #2 (Ta Yü)
A Knizia filler that's gaining in reputation, Zirkus Flohcati
Prizes! (Alan prefers to drink his...)
Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!
It's FFF, played on two tables at once!
Those rubies didn't help me (Meuterer)
San Diego vs. Burbank in the Southern California Crokinole singles championship!
Retro gaming with Tip It (only I never played this as a kid)
Could this game be the origin of the gaming term meeple? (Europa 1945-2045)
Michael Schacht's sleeper game, Dschunke
Michael Schacht's more well-known game, Web of Power
I am gradually learning not to overbid in Medici.
It's past midnight, guys... time to pack it up. (Not really--read Jon Schultz' report)
The Goofy Sign-in Sheet Question
On the sign-in sheet question about who will win the Super Bowl, there was only one person who picked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers--Erin Wheeler! The rest of the picks were
Raiders x8, Jets x5, Titans x3, 49ers, Broncos, Eagles, Falcons
Plus the usual smattering of nerdy gamer non-answers. :-)
Orcs x3, Colorado Avalanche, Dortmund F.C., The Best Team, Who is playing?