Went to the 2021 edition of a board game convention earlier this month. For obvious reasons, it was a lot more understated than previous editions.
Outside of the games I signed up for, I didn't really play anything that was new to me, which was fine. It's been awhile since I've played real life board games, so I didn't mind playing something I was familiar with.
2017 report
2018 report
2019 report
Friday:
The game I had signed up for (Nusfjord) got canceled because the GM decided not to come on account of rising COVID cases. Was looking forward to that one. Just played a game of Terraforming Mars, which is always fun.
Nevada City (
BGG link) - Plays like a mixture of Le Havre and Agricola, while being not as good as either one. The dumbest part was the secret goals we all had. They were worth thinks like 6 points if you had the most of a certain thing, 4 points for 2nd most, etc. But by the end of the game, we were putting down stuff like 10 point buildings. So these goals that we've been holding onto the entire game are absurdly underpowered. That's a lot of complaining, but that aspect really annoyed me. Rest of the game is fine, but nothing special.
First impression:
C
Saturday:
Underwater Cities (
BGG link) - Was not a fan of the 8AM start time, but was really looking forward to this. I'm a sucker for city building games, and the theme seemed cool. This did not disappoint. Network building, just enough player interaction, many possible choices, relatively simple-ish rules. This was great. The one downside is that it took a long time, so it might be difficult to play this on a regular basis with people. Otherwise, I'd get this in a heartbeat.
First impression:
A+
Western Legends (
BGG link) - This was the game I had the biggest question mark going in. The reviews I saw were good, but I was unsure about the sandboxy style. But I figured there was no better time to get out of my comfort zone and give it a shot. Unfortunately, this was definitely not my thing. Way too much randomness in the fights and the poker game sucked. Also there are goals that get awarded during the game that are impossible to get by the time it's your turn again, and they often come with punishments for those who don't complete them. I'm glad I gave it a shot, and the group I had was fun, but I don't imagine I'll be playing this one again.
First impression:
D
The Isle of Cats (
BGG link) - I love cats, so I had to try this. First off, cutest meeples ever. In this game, you rescue cats onto your boat. These cats are in the form of Tetris style pieces that you assemble onto your board. Each round, you draft cards that dictate how many cats you're able to rescue, as well as other things like end of game goals. This is a fun light/medium weight game that I imagine would be popular with kids.
First impression:
A
Sunday:
Tigris & Euphrates (
BGG link) - This is a classic that somehow I've just never played before. It's a game of tile placement and area control. The theme is very weak, but that doesn't really bother me. The artwork was really dated. It's possible this was an early edition, but the game was super ugly, especially in comparison to stuff like Isle of Cats or Underwater Cities. Still a solid game though.
First impression:
B
Had a longer drive home, so that was pretty much it. Had a good time. Hopefully we're done with COVID for the 2022 edition.