Ready ORE Not.....More Catan!

For today's segment we returned to Noble Coffee & Tea to play Rivals for Catan.  A few weeks back we did an at home segment to play The Settlers of Catan.  This version of Catan is a two player card game in which you are still building roads, settlements, and cities, but this time only with cards.  You also still gain resources such as wool, grain, brick, ore, lumber, and gold, but the approach is very different.  Each turn you will roll your dice, and one die will determine which resources you gain, and which actions or event cards are drawn.  

More Gold, More Coffee, More Wins!

Today we have returned to Sure Shot coffee to play Citadels.  Once again, we have had another great experience at Sure Shot and would never shy away from inviting any new players to the table.  Citadels is a card game of bluffing, diplomacy, and city building for 2 - 8 players.  The purpose of this game is that you are a medieval ruler trying to build the largest city before your opponents can.

A Sure Shot at Victory!

Today's segment is being played at the newly opened Sure Shot Coffee in downtown Fishers off of 116th st.  Sure Shot stemmed from what began as a small T-Shirt and skate shop known as Vardagen.  The environment is relaxed, welcoming, and fun.  Their staff are very friendly, respectful, attentive professionals who know how to make great coffee!  In the back of the building resides a small comfortable seating area as well as some tabletop games that they provide for their customers!  Claire and I have been very involved with Sure Shot Coffee so far.

Boards & Brews at Home: The Settlers of Catan

Once again we return to our monthly, at home segments to play larger games with more components.  It's one that nearly every gamer knows, The Settlers of Catan.  This game in my opinion has been one of the quintessential gateway games for people who are curious about strategic, euro board games.  It was released way back in 1995, and that makes me feel old.  The Settlers of Catan was my first real introduction to TableTop gaming back when I was in college at Taylor University.  

On Any Forbidden Sunday

On this segment we returned to Books & Brews to play Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert, our first double feature!  As always, we had another great experience at Books & Brews.  Both of these games are cooperative and Forbidden Island is the more lenient of the two.  The idea behind Forbidden Island is that you and your colleagues are trying to get off of an evil Island that is gradually sinking and plotting to drown all of you.   

...We've Got Fun and Games (obviously).

Today we visited Mama Bear's Bakery in Geist/Fishers for cinnamon rolls and coffee.  The cafe has a very welcoming feel to it.  Between the wood carvings, the long wooden beams across the ceiling, and forest art, this cafe has a ski-lodge feel to it, which I really like.  There's also a variety of breakfast food and lunch sandwiches.  The employees seem nice and I could see us returning here again.  The game of choice for today was Welcome to the Dungeon.  The game has a push your luck element,

Playing With Fireworks While Drinking Mead.

On Today's segment Claire and I hit the New Day Meadery in fountain square.  We've been to New Day several times and have always enjoyed their mead and atmosphere.  For the most part their staff seem pretty respectful, and they have a monthly rotating art gallery which is really nice.  New Day has their own selection of board games for their customers, but as usual we brought in one of our own games to review. 

Boards & Brews at Home: Thunderstone

Today for Boards and Brews it has been one month since our first at home segment, which means it’s time for our next at home segment.  Tonight we played a more advanced deck builder, Thunderstone.  Claire and I really love this game and understandably so.  The best way to describe Thunderstone is D&D meets Dominion.  For our previous at home segment we did it on Dominion and it’s crazy how much this game is like Dominion.  We don’t own as many expansions of Thunderstone because it seems Dominion has always been the bigger hit within most gaming groups.  This segment will just be us playing the original base game of Thunderstone.  

Summon Me Some Coffee!

On this segment of Boards & Brews we returned to Noble Coffee & Tea to play Summoner Wars.  Essentially, Summoner Wars is Dungeons & Dragons meets Chess.  There are a number of mechanics that are different, but there are also multiple methods and approaches that are similar during gameplay.  The end goal of the game is to destroy the other opponents summoner.  There are six phases per turn, and during these phases the players will draw cards, summon more units, play event cards, move their factions to the desired locations on the board, attack, and then build up their magic piles for the next round.

The Evil Wizard Took My Beer!!

On this segment we return to Books & Brews to review a fast-paced, light strategy, two player game known as Dragonheart.  The premise of this game is that an evil wizard has placed the great dragon, the protector of the realm, into a petrified slumber, and it's fiery breath locked away in a ruby jewel known as the Dragonheart.  With the land's guardian imprisoned, trolls and fire dragons run amuck, barely held in check by brave knights and canny huntresses.  Two different roles are taken on by both players.  You can either be a disciple of the great dragon, and focus your skills on freeing him, or as a minion of the evil wizard, you can see to it that the dragon sleeps forever.

Say Anything (Not the 80's Flick)

Today we took a break from our usual strategic segments to play a party game. Everyone who lived and was conscious during the 80's, probably knows about the classic John Cusack film, Say Anything.  This post will not be about that awesome film!  Today we visited Books and Brews off of 96th St.  Books and Brews specializes in craft beers, appetizers, sandwiches, and their own bookstore!  I was proud to see they also have a working original NES from 1985 for retro video game nights.  Their staff were conscientious, respectful and we really enjoyed coming in to play board games!

Boards & Brews at Home: Dominion

This is the first segment we are doing at home.  The idea behind doing this is that it's easier to play and review big box games from home.  Typically we play smaller games in public places for the convenience and security of limited components.  However, the segments at home will allow us to demonstrate our larger games for the blog.  For this first segment at home we're playing the deck-building game that started it all known as Dominion.  

Libraries, Gold, and Coffee

This week with boards & brews, we returned to Noble Coffee & Tea to build our libraries with the most books possible.  Biblios is Greek for book.  The premise of this game is that you are abbots in a monastery during the medieval era collecting various books, manuscripts, scrolls and supplies to create the greatest library in all of Europe.  The game has two phases, the gift phase and the auction phase.  During the gift phase, we go around the table and every player allocates a set of cards from the draw pile depending on the number of players in the game.

Winemaking fun, TableTop style

Today on Boards and Brews, Claire and I visited Goose the Market off of Delaware St. in downtown Indianapolis. In the lower level of their building, resides Enoteca, which was a perfect location to play Viticulture.  It's not common for us to bring in a game with so many components into a public establishment, but we could not pass this opportunity up.  Goose the Market provided us an excellent overall experience!  Their staff were very accommodating and respectful, the environment was very nice, the selection of wines, craft beers, hard ciders was widespread and offered a great variety to choose from! 

Who's Yer Con 2015

This week for boards & brews Claire and I attended Who's Yer Con which was held at the Wyndham West Hotel located on the southwest side of Indianapolis.  This convention offered game stores, a game library, cosplay, comics, and workshops for FREE.  We played several new games this weekend so read on to learn more about this wonderful convention.