I carried in the dice tower with equal reverence.
Dave, Paul, and Pete joined me for game night on the small board. Joe was originally on but later opted out, deciding instead to hike the Appalachian Trail. Happy hour began at 7:00 and we started gaming before the official game start of 8:00.
This was before gaming started:
So peaceful.
I thought we were at NERDCON 5 with my dice tower.
I was wrong.
Bravo, Dave. Funny enough, Pete mocked me thinking I was taking a selfie with the dice tower between me and the mug. Yes, I know that such a photo would be a girl repellent on online dating sites.
We dined on pizza (one with bacon and ham and the other with sausage and pepperoni), Cheese popcorn, crunchy Cheetos, Halloween mini-cupcakes (which is odd because cupcakes are just mini-cakes), chocolate chip cookies, plus some specific dietary needs.
We had the usual Labatt Blue Light and an assortment of 24-ounce cans of other beers just to really bring the beer quality level down. Pete and Dave brought some higher class IPAs, bringing up the average quality. Thanks guys! And I had my usual supply of pop and carbonated water, as well.
Dave was orange; I was white; Pete was red; and Paul was blue.
We used the harbormaster variant, which requires 11 points to win.
Game one's board looked odd (I did set this one up before guests arrived) with lines of sheep and bricks. I won the roll and placed first and last. Pete had the double P spot:
Game one again led us to wonder about the "probability of the rolls" as expected rolls did not come up in the quantities one would assume. So all was normal. I keep challenging the engineer types to keep track but none do. Dave and I battled over the longest road--undermining my oft-repeated claim that I don't really try to get that as a distraction from building cities. I finally locked it down as Dave maxed out. Sadly, Dave got the harbormaster card. My longest road slowed him down, but in the end Dave reached 11 points and the victory! Nobody had the largest army, but I think nobody even bought any development cards this game.
Game two put bricks in short supply. I won the roll again, and the first three of us placed on the best brick hex. Four did not come up as often as any of us (except Pete) thought it should.
The development cards were purchased a lot this game. With my four my friends were noticeably worried that I might have a victory point card. Nah. I only built two cities--to get the harbormaster card--but in my own defense by the time I got my second victory point card I kind of figured that cities weren't absolutely necessary and perhaps I could avoid the Peter Rule (pick on whoever is in first place) by getting more development cards. I did use my one knight at the end to steal a resource card. Paul had a good-sized empire but no extras. I trailed the pack. Let me tell you there were a lot of horrified gasps as I built my port city, collected the harbormaster card, and revealed my three victory point cards (I think there are only 5 in the deck), and so winning the game.
Game three was the last game. This time Paul one the die roll and Dave had the DP spot:
Dave declined to take the wheat port to support his wheat investment, and seemed a tad put out that I placed on the wheat port, which he wanted to build toward. But I really wanted the wood. But for some reason everyone thought that putting the robber on the desert--where I built--was equivalent to putting the robber on an unoccupied space! It was not! It affected me every time!
But I digress.
This last game saw all of the 2-point cards deployed, with Dave beating Pete to the largest army. Even I played a couple knights. Pete grabbed the harbormaster and I had the (ahem) longest road. Really, I don't value it that much. Sometimes it just comes my way--I swear. With four cities and a settlement, Pete reached 11 and won the game!
We didn't have any real vendettas this game night. What happens in Dexter stays in Dexter, I guess. We didn't have any really egregious new blocks or cut offs that inspired outrage or awe among the participants. Or perhaps I overlooked them.
We wrapped up at about midnight and decided--in part because Paul had to "Tend to the horses" (which is not, apparently, anything at all like hiking the Appalachian Trail)--we had not watched Game of Thrones in a while. So rather than start another game and get a respectable four in, we retired to the TV area. Pete generously changed the language default on my new Blu Ray player from French to English. Thanks Pete!
We watched season 5 episode 2, which sadly lacked boooobs. I know that sounds kind of crude if you haven't been here from the start, but there is context:
I forgot to offer coffee! Sorry guys. Perhaps the Blu Ray language issue distracted me. Just ask, people! Although Joe is usually the main customer for that. One month off and I get sloppy. When Joe returns from the Appalachian Trail next month, I swear to the New Gods and the Old that I will make coffee.
But I'm not the only one suffering from absence from Catan Prime. Paul forgot his usual Bailey's Irish Cream in the official glass.
And nobody took me up on the standing offer of staying over if driving ability is in any doubt.
Anyway, it was a fun night. Thanks to all who attended! You can add your comments below to correct or add to the tale that is of necessity Beej-centric.
Next month here in October, I assume.
For those who hesitate to visit this den of ruthless Catan players with a sense of vengeance that equals their memories of slights and offenses large and small, you can always come for the food and beer, while occupying yourself with this until you feel comfortable approaching the table:
So there's that. It also has Tempest, Major Havoc, and Lunar Lander.
