The Maine Gamer

The meet-up poster, ready for the printer!

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:41:00 -0400

The meet-up poster, ready for the printer!

Northern New England BGG Meet-up, June 16th, Brunswick, Maine

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:42:48 -0400

Attention northern New England BoardGameGeek.com users and fellow board gamers from across the state Maine! The Maine Gamer is happy to announce the Second Annual, Northern New England BoardGameGeek Meet-up, June 16th (Saturday) in Brunswick, Maine!

We’ve reserved the Morrell Community Room at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick for this day long event. Bring your favorite strategy, war and family board games or try something new from our lending library. Come for one game or stay for the day.

Like last year, the meetup will feature: two morning sessions, two afternoon sessions with a break in the middle for lunch, and a board game swap meet. There will also be five unscheduled tables for BYOBG (bring your own board game) fun.

The meetup is free (no charge). Children ages 13 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

DAY SCHEDULE:
9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Open Tables (5 unscheduled tables, first come, first serve)
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Session 1 (5 reserved tables, registration required)
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Session 2 (5 reserved tables, registration required)
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Break for lunch / Swap Meet ( swap meet geeklist on BGG )
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Session 3 (5 reserved tables, registration required)
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Session 3 (5 reserved tables, registration required)

SESSION SCHEDULE:
Signup and registration, along with the schedule of hosted games on the reserved tables, are now online at our Warhorn event page. Please note that we are using the same Warhorn event page so if you signed up last year you’re already registered for this year!

HOSTING A GAME:
If you are interested in hosting a board game at one of the reserved tables please register on the Warhorn event page and include the name of the game(s), along with the publisher and edition information in the “Notes” field of your registration application. You may also email the information to the event coordinator from the link provided on the Warhorn event page.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
You are not required to register or reserve a table during a session to attend the event. You may elect to chance the availability of the open tables. However, registration is free and scheduling a session guarantees you a table for you to host a game or a seat at a scheduled game (as availability permits). You may reserve two morning or two evening sessions back-to-back if table availability permits.

There is no time limit on the open tables but they are reserved for board game use only. The open tables are available on a first come, first served basis.

Lunch is not provided. Please bring your lunch or, if you wish, many of Brunswick’s fine dining establishments are readily available downtown (within walking distance from the library).

Please Note: Food and drink are not permitted at the game tables.

DIRECTIONS:
Directions to the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick can be found on the Curtis Memorial Library website. We will be holding the event in the community room which has a separate entrance to the left of the main library entrance.

PARKING:
Please do not park in the library’s (very small) parking lot. There is plenty of street-side, public parking on the streets that surround the library. Also, additional parking may be found downtown and at the Hannaford parking lot nearby (all within walking distance).

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
If you have questions or comments please post them on the forum thread regarding the meetup at Boardgamegeek.com.

SPONSORS:
We’d like to thank this year’s sponsors: Merrymeeting Games, Rio Grande Games, GMT Games, Slugfest Games, Fantasy Flight Games, and Minion Games for their contributions to our board game lending library and for sponsoring this event.

SHOTS FROM LAST YEAR:

Shots from SnowCon 2012

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:20:00 -0500

Congratulations to BangPop for putting on another successful SnowCon! Hope to see you at the Northern New England Boardgame Geek Meet-up this spring!

We’ll be at SnowCon Maine 2012 this weekend living it up,...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:21:26 -0500

We’ll be at SnowCon Maine 2012 this weekend living it up, playing games and taking photos. Hope to see you there!

Boardgamegeek announces Golden Geek 2011 award winners at BGGcon

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:08:00 -0500

Boardgamegeek announced this year’s Golden Geek award winners via Twitter at BGGcon this past weekend. Congratulations to all the winners!

Game of the Year: Dominant Species.

Best Family: 7 Wonders
Best Strategy: Dominant Species
Best Wargame: A Few Acres of Snow
Best Abstract: Paris Connection
Best Cardgame: 7 Wonders
Best Thematic: Mansion of Madness
Best Children’s Game: Tier auf Tier: Das Duell
Best Party Game: Fixity
Best Expansion: Twilight Imperium Shards of the Throne
Best Two-player: A Few Acres of Snow
Most Innovative: A Few Acres of Snow
Best Art: Merchants and Marauders
Best Print and Play: Thing

BGG Geeklist of the winners…
http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/74833/2011-golden-geek-winners

Tabletop Gaming Modeling Tips and Tricks via Make Online

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:26:00 -0400

Gareth Branwyn (editor-in-chief of Make Online) has written a wonderfully detailed article revealing some of his tips and tricks for model building and crafting in tabletop miniature gaming.

In the early aughts, I ran a popular and well-regarded tabletop wargame modeling and converting site called 40K Konversions. It was dedicated to all forms of modeling related to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. For those who don’t know, “conversions” are wargame miniatures that have been altered in some way, from swapping legs or heads to creating whole new figures by parts swapping, sculpting on new features, and so on. Unfortunately, my site is no longer accessible. I went through my articles from the site and have put together some of the best tips and tricks that I published. Some are specific to sci-fi/40K gaming, others can apply to many forms of modeling. Feel free to add your own tips in comments. I’ll be moving this over to Make: Projects at the end of the month and will be folding in your tips and suggestions. -Gareth

Read Gareth’s guide called Skill Builder: Tabletop Gaming — Modeling Tips and Tricks.

Jay Tummelson of Rio Grand Games displays the components of the...

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:53:00 -0400

Jay Tummelson of Rio Grand Games displays the components of the new Anniversary Edition of Puerto Rico. (Earlier today, live from Essen Spiel in Germany).

SnowCon Game Master registration is open!

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:58:00 -0400

Interested in running a game at SnowCon Maine? SnowCon Game Master registration is now open! SnowCon GMs will also receive a swank, exclusive SnowCon t-shirt! Visit http://snowconmaine.com/main/run-a-game for the details. Attendee pre-registration will open November 1st.

The SnowCon Maine Gaming Convention is only 3 months away!

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:39:00 -0400

The SnowCon Maine Gaming Convention is only 3 months away!

A Drunken Bastard's Brief Review of Red Dragon Inn

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:20:00 -0400

First off let me spoil this review but stating that I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game, and not just because I won. As I sit amongst my winnings I foggily recall that I got together with a group of my old fraternity brothers from college. Apparently someone brought along copies Red Dragon Inn (1, 2 & 3) by Slugfest Games. It’s a excelent game in its own right, but toss into the mix fraternity brothers, actual drinks and a Randy Marsh (South Park) player turn token and the game rapidly approaches awesomeness!

Red Dragon Inn is a “beer & pretzels” card-drafting game that offers a gambling sub-game encapsulated within a satirical, high-fantasy themed, drinking game. (Keep in mind that it’s the game’s characters that are doing the drinking, not the players.) There are three versions of the game: Red Dragon Inn, Red Dragon Inn 2, and Red Dragon Inn 3. Each version is a game in its own right, providing everything needed to play for 2-4 players. However, mixing the three games allows you to seat more players and offers a wider variety of character decks with which to play. The basic object of the game is to not let your character’s alcohol content (indicated by the clear glass token in the above photo) surpass your character’s fortitude (indicated by the red glass token in the above photo).

THE VERDICT:
Red Dragon Inn might not appeal to some of my hardcore Euro or strategy gaming friends, but with the right group this game is a blast. Unfortunately for underage players the game reaches a whole new level of enjoyment when playing with debauched adults who are already socially lubricated. I admit that I did not give this game much consideration prior to playing it but after this gaming session I have decided that all three editions deserve a place in my collection, right next to the Alka Seltzer.

Creating a Wargame Hex Grid in Adobe Illustrator

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:45:24 -0400

tgov:

Recently I have been having a conversation via email with another wargame designer regarding the drawing of wargame maps. He has provided some wonderful insight into the process he uses and I asked him where he gets his blank hex grid he uses for most maps. He sent me the file he uses and mentioned that there had to be an easier way to make hexes for a wargame map than using a scanned image or something similar, specifically using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. This got me thinking; in the past I have just created my hex grids the ‘hard way’ by drawing a hexagon and then duplicating it into a small grid, then duplicating that small grid until I had the size desired. There are a few problems with this, one of them being hex drift. This occurs when you don’t get the hexes exactly lined up with one another and the tiny misalignment gets magnified the more it is repeated. Sure there is a way to resolve this by setting up a rather complex series of guides and grids, but it is a pain.

The tutorial below is very image heavy….just a warning ;) Also, this isn’t the only way to do it, it is just the way I have found to make it quick every time I need a hex grid. The initial setup is a pain, but for future use it will save time.

Read More

Northern New England BGG Meet-up, August 13th, Brunswick, Maine

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:15:00 -0400

Attention northern New England BGG users and fellow board gamers from across the state Maine! The Maine Gamer is happy to announce the Northern New England Board Game Geek Meet-up, August 13th (Saturday) in Brunswick, Maine!

We’ve reserved a large, air conditioned community room at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick for this day long event. Bring your favorite strategy, war and family board games or try something new from our lending library. Come for one game or stay for the day.

The meetup will feature: two morning sessions, two afternoon sessions with a break in the middle for lunch, and a board game swap meet. There will also be five unscheduled tables for BYOBG (bring your own board game) fun. For those who wish to linger (and are of age) we will end the day at one of Brunswick’s fine pubs.

The meetup is free (no charge). Children ages 13 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

DAY SCHEDULE:
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Open Tables (5 unscheduled tables, first come, first serve)
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Session 1 (5 reserved tables, registration required)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Session 2 (5 reserved tables, registration required)
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Break for lunch / Swap Meet ( swap meet geeklist on BGG )
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Session 3 (5 reserved tables, registration required)
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Session 3 (5 reserved tables, registration required)

SESSION SCHEDULE:
Signup and registration, along with the schedule of hosted games on the reserved tables, are now online at our Warhorn event page.

There is no time limit on the open tables but they are reserved for board game use only. The open tables are available on a first come, first served basis.

Lunch is not provided. Please bring your lunch or, if you wish, many of Brunswick’s fine dining establishments are readily available downtown (within walking distance from the library).

Please Note: Food and drink are not permitted at the game tables.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
If you have questions or comments please post them on the forum thread regarding the meetup at Boardgamegeek.com.

SPONSORS:
We’d like to thank Merrymeeting Games, Rio Grande Games, GMT Games, ToyVault, Atlas Games and Asmodee Games for their contributions to our board game lending library and sponsoring this event.

The Industrialist: A Free Home-brew Settlers of Catan Expansion (Revised)

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:17:00 -0400

A few weeks ago I released a home-brewed victory card expansion for Settlers of Catan called “The Industrialist”. I’ve made a slight revision to the rules and the card text. The revision is now incorporated into the original post along with the revised victory card.

The text on the card was changed from “2 Victory Points! The first player to acquire 2 factories and five gold gets this card. Another player who acquires more factories or gold takes this card.” to “2 Victory Points! This first player to acquire 3 factories gets this card. Another player who acquires 3 factories and more gold takes this card.”

This was done to simplify the conditions by which the card is taken.

Cheers!

-Mark Leaman

We’d like to thank ToyVault for their donation of these...

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:48:00 -0400

We’d like to thank ToyVault for their donation of these two great cards games to the Northern New England BGG Meetup lending library!

Do You Worship Cthulhu - One person acts as moderator, overseeing a village of people, one (or more) of which are secretly Cthulhu worshipers! The worshipers begin sacrificing other villagers one by one. Deceive your friends and lie through your teeth while experiencing a truly unique game. [BGG Link]
Godzilla: Stomp! - Godzilla: Stomp! is a fast-paced card game of monster-induced city destruction. The game is played in a series of rounds. During each round, several buildings will be revealed, and players will simultaneously choose their attack strength to destroy one or more buildings for the round. Play continues for six rounds, at which point players add up their scores. The highest score wins. [BGG Link]

You can check out and play any of these great games from our lending library at the Northern New England BGG Meet-up, August 13th, Brunswick.

Maine Historical Wargamers Association Flea Market, August 6th, Brunswick, Maine

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 09:53:00 -0400

Join the Maine Historical Wargamers Association on Saturday August 6th, for their first annual Wargamers Flea Market and Game Day at United Lodge in Brunswick. Browse tables filled with miniatures, books, board games, maybe complete armies, even a vendor or two! Bring some of your own to sell or to trade.

The flea market will run from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at the United Lodge, 65 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick, Maine [map link].

During the afternoon, join the MHWA for miniatures and board games, starting at 1:00 p.m. and running until 6:00 p.m. Check the MHWA forum for more details as they become available, www.mainewargamershq.lefora.com.

Schedule:

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - Flea Market
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Gaming
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Club meeting, followed by dinner in town, all are welcome

This event is free and open to the public. There is a $10 table fee for the flea market. For more information contact: mainewargamershq@gmail.com.

Fantasy Flight Games is Hiring

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:41:00 -0400

Interested in working in the hobby gaming industry? Fantasy Flight Games of Roseville, Minnesota, publisher of many popular board games, card games, roleplaying games, and tabletop games, is hiring for the following positions (details about each position available in the pdf documents linked below):

Associate Graphic Designer (pdf, 464 KB)
Associate LCG Designer (pdf, 456 KB)
Associate Miniatures Game Producer (pdf, 456 KB)
Associate RPG Producer (pdf, 456 KB)
Customer Support Associate (pdf, 116 KB)

Visit the Fantasy Flight Games web site for more information about applying for these positions.

A big thank you to Rio Grande Games for their donation of these...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:41:00 -0400

A big thank you to Rio Grande Games for their donation of these new additions to the Maine BGG Meetup lending library!

Mousquetaires du Roy - Fresh out of Gascony, D’Artagnan, a young man whose ambition is to become a musketeer for the King – Mousquetaire du Roy – becomes acquainted with Athos, Aramis, Porthos and the beautiful Constance, linen maid to the Queen. Soon he finds himself at the heart of an adventure where France’s destiny is at stake. [BGG Link]
Asteroyds - The Ujitos system: A tiny inhospitable planet and an erratic asteroid field is home to the most dangerous, ferocious and prestigious race against death of the galaxy. [BGG Link]
Black Friday - Get rich riding the stock bubble before it bursts and the market crashes. A fast-moving game with thrills and excitement as players try to outwit each other for the highest gains. [BGG Link]
Fürstenfeld - Harvest hops, barley, and spring water, and increase your wealth with a growing agriculture. Expand your operations to help you to get the necessary funds for building your desired palace. [BGG Link]

You can check out and play any of these great games from our lending library at the Northern New England BGG Meet-up, August 13th, Brunswick.

Z-Man Games acquired by Filosofia

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:28:00 -0400

Twitter and BGG are agog with the news that Canadian game company Filosofia has acquired Z-Man Games. Apparently this news was divulged at the Origins Game Fair over the weekend.

Hopefully we’ll see an official press release from either company sometime this week.

The folks at the Tric Trac web site have “Le scoop du samedi!” regarding Filosofia’s acquisition. For those of you who cannot read French (myself included) here is the page translated through Google.

I came across this collection of game board photos on Flickr...

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:44:00 -0400

I came across this collection of game board photos on Flickr dating back as far as the 16th century. It’s a beautiful collection worthy of rainy day perusal. Fortunately I was able to find the accompanying BibliOdyssey blog that provides more information about each game board. Enjoy! -Mark

Five Centuries of Board Game Boards at BibliOdyssey

http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2008/11/board-games.html

Maine Game Designer: Patrick Rael

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:59:00 -0400

The Maine Gamer would like to introduce the Maine Game Designer as our first recurring feature. Our first featured Maine game designer has combined an obvious interest in history with that of boardgames. Bowdoin College Associate Professor of History Patrick Rael is the creator of Plantation, a game in which players compete in building plantation empires in the New World.

Plantation is a deck based game designed for two or four players. Each card in the deck represents a colony, complete with several plantations of sugar, wheat, indigo coffee, and tobacco. Players take turns discovering, settling and harvesting these colonies, and taking other actions intended to construct the most effective plantation society.

Rael also created the railroad-themed, card-drafting game Iron Horses where each player starts with an engine and works to enhance their train by adding cars. Cars are produced by one of four player-owned manufacturing companies. Players score points by adding cars to their train but may also purchase private stock in another player’s companies as a way to bolster their score.

Patrick Rael is a specialist in African-American history, who earned his Ph.D. in American History from the University of California, Berkeley in 1995. He is the author of numerous essays and books, including Black Identity and Black Protest in the Antebellum North (North Carolina, 2002), which earned Honorable Mention for the Frederick Douglass Prize from the Gilder Lerhman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition. He is also the editor of African-American Activism before the Civil War: The Freedom Struggle in the Antebellum North (Routledge, 2008), and co-editor of Pamphlets of Protest: An Anthology of Early African-American Protest Literature (Routledge, 2001). ^[1]