Thoughts of a Flying Sheep

Session Report: May 17, 2004
Games Played: Hick Hack, Web of Power, San Juan
Gamers: Rob, Richard, Marianne, Sara, Chip, Vitas, Lewis, Eric (+5 more)

Thanks to Rob for hosting. We had over a dozen people in attendance (not counting all the naked chicks).

HICK HACK (0:12)
Richard: 35
Rob: 32
Marianne: 31
Sara: 31
Chip: 15

There was a game of St. Petersburg already underway when we arrived, so I suggested Hick Hack as a quick filler, as people were still showing up. The final scores were (with one exception) really close.
I like this game. It's sort of a quick brain warm-up exercise before getting into the meatier games.

WEB OF POWER (0:25)
(first round score) final score
Rob: (16) 52
Chip: (14) 51
Richard: (13) 49
Vitas: (12) 38

Richard suggested Web of Power, and Rob, Vitas, and I joined him. I was new to the game, Rob and Vitas had played once before, and Richard was, as he put it, the most experienced.
I really like this game. For such a short game, there's a lot going on, and a lot to think about. I didn't keep track of everything, and I made a few mistakes along the way. I'd really like to try this game again soon.

SAN JUAN (1:02)
Lewis: 29
Chip: 27
Sara: 25
Eric: 24

After Web of Power, we waited for the other games (San Juan, St. Petersberg) to finish up. In the meantime, Lewis mentioned that he had not played San Juan yet, so I offered to teach it to him (and Eric). Sara had just won San Juan, and was reluctant to play again immediately. Faced with the remaining options (Nano-Fictionary or Tahuantinsuyu: The Rise of the Inca Empire), she opted to join us in the hopes of repeating her victory.
The more I play San Juan, the more I appreciate my luck in the first two session of this game. I was able to build violet buildings almost exclusively and rack up a lot of points doing so. Without a few key components, however, I ended up not really focusing on a single strategy, and my score suffered as a result.
So far, the prevalence of luck in this game has not turned me off to it. Rather, it makes each play a little different, forcing me to think on my feet, as it were. I still enjoy playing this game and look forward to playing it again soon.

posted by FlyingSheep @ 9:44 AM