Union Stockyards

This game came highly recommended, but it is not a subject I care for being a vegetarian.

I was the Swift meat packing company and muddled through with poor brand reputation, but a healthy slice of Packingtown.

Here is some commentary from Richard:

Union Stockyards

Well, we certainly learned what to do in the last turn if you're in a positive margin on your products. Russell selling three times in the last round pocketed a whole bunch of cash. Everything else kind of evened out, but Russell's cash holdings tipped things in his favour. Russell is 3 wins from 3 games. (I'll make sure the board is upside down when facing him next time).

Mark's product prices suffered from poor brand development, but he streaked ahead with buildings. Perhaps choosing different ones which also boosted brand might have helped.

My buildings suffered from poor synergies only getting a few late game points for those and I didn't get the most out of my railroad connections only getting one double location which I chose to develop instead of slaughtering like Russell.

It would be interesting to see how this game played with 4 or 5 players as that would cut down opportunities to acquire so many buildings each and you also get far more limited numbers of trade houses (although we didn't lean heavily into that in this game).

This game is really great I think and it plays so fast once you understand how it works.

Francis Drake Sails Again

Happy to get my second go at this game.  Much better when you have a feel for what to do, however it's a tricky game, especially when trying to outfit one's voyage.

Final scores top left corner.  Richard in yellow. I'm blue and Russell was red.

Back to Stalingrad

Andrew and Stefan successfully take a block of the ruins of Stalingrad from Karl and Stephen.

Clearing one building and getting ready to dash to another.

While the other Germans hold on in the factory.

More Dark Age reinforcements

These are very much intended to be generic Dark Age figures, but also, I just painted what felt right.

DNA6 Heavy archer form the Tin Soldier Norman Range.

DSA4 Select Fryd from their Saxon range.

Pretty sure these are Old Glory.

I was inspired by a mannequin I saw in the Army Museum in Toledo of a Visigoth knight.

One Sided Miniature Wargaming Discourse: Museum of the Army Toledo Spain

Tobago and Francis Drake

Two new and to me unknown games played in a few hours with Richard and Stefan (who had put in the effort to guess the game based on clues provided).

First there was treasure hunting on Tobago.  Fun and easy to pick up (the rules that is, not so much the treasure).  Both Stefan and I suffered from cursed treasure which impacted Stefan particularly badly.  

Then there was Francis Drake.  A more challenging game and it took me a while to figure out what to do.  As there are only three voyages this made it hard to catch up especially with some bastard moves that blocked me from getting indigo.  As it was Stefan (blue) and myself (green) finished very close together in terms of VPs.  Richard had romped home to win this game as well the previous one.

This game had some nice player aids, like the little treasure chests in which to store any gems that had been looted from the Spanish colonies.  Although a few things were rather dull in comparison (gun and crew markers for example).  But with this game it certainly helped to know the rules. 

Charming games.  Played quickly although not without lots of thought.

Nubian versus New Kingdom Egyptians

Could my Nubians repeat their victory against Karl and the Egyptians? 

No... :-(

The Nubians won the scouting and found the Egyptians defending a low hill 

with some broken ground on one flank.  

They decided to drop their large formations 

and went for filling the horizon in order to intimidate their opponent.

It didn't work.

Both sides start to advance.

The Egyptian chariots surge forward protected by their skirmishers against Nubian bow fire.

Some Nubian warriors decide to charge before they are charged, but it is a stand-off.

The Egyptian chariots prevail.

The Nubian centre realise time for waiting is over and start to advance.

The Egyptian foot has pulled back to defend the hill.

The triumphant chariots still have to contend with hordes of Nubian skirmishers.

The Nubian warriors charge, but it fails to have an impact.

The fighting drags on...

The Nubian attack has failed.

The Egyptian chariots have also broken free of the Nubian skirmishers.

Some Nubian warriors fight on, but it is all over.

Defeat!

Viticulture World

This cooperative version of Viticulture makes for a pleasant family affair.  Zoe and I completed the game in one session, it looked impossible to win until the final turn.

Note wine themed coaster which is not part of the game.