Just Gaming Around - "Antiquity" by Splotter Spellen (Review)

Yes, I know Splotter Spellen is actually the publishing company and not the designer, but it's the name people recognize so I put it in the title. The REAL designers are Jeroen Douman and Joris Wiersinga. And, in reality, they ARE the publishers (or rather part of the self-publishing team of Splotter Spellen), so they are effectively one in the same.

If you don't know about 'Splotter' games then you're missing something.

Splotter Spellen actually has a full range of games, but the games that get the most attention tend to be the longer, more involved games such as Bus, Indonesia, Roads & Boats, Duck Dealer and Greed, Inc, of which I have played the latter 3 at least once each. Roads & Boats is my ultimate favorite and I'm regretting not having purchased a copy of it when it was 'cheap' and available...if you call a game cheap at $80. It's at least twice as expensive now. Antiquity is at least another factor more expensive.

Why are they so expensive? First, they are quality games. Second, they are produced in limited runs. Third, they have a ton of components in them (some have 100's, even 1000's of components). Fourth, they are terrific games to play. Well, at least, if you like long, deep games. Fifth, they make the games themselves! By hand (well, with some machinery of course)! At least from what I understand from their website.

Timely Topics - 1 Month Blog Anniversary!

Well, today it's been exactly 1 month since I started this blog. So far I'm pretty happy with it. I've spent some time tweaking the layout a bit, started pulling in data from BGG and added a separate page counter.

I've had people from at least 17 different countries visit the site and had over 500 hits. I think it's helped that I've cross-pollinated to BGG in posts and my profile there as well as to Facebook via Twitterfeed (even though I don't twitter). As to staying power for the same people coming back, I have no idea. Ultimately, I'm just happy that SOMEONE is reading it and hopefully getting something out of my blatherings.

I've done some reviews and posted some topics of interest that have come to mind. I even have a few half-written entries of topic ideas and a half-written review of Antiquity which I got to play this weekend with my friend Robert. And any number of half-written reviews rattling around in my head.

I have some friends that read the blog and I've received some good advice from them (sometimes conflicting) but helps me think about how I want to write about things.

Timely Topics: What Kind of Game Buyer are YOU?

Ok, the word 'buy' also relates to trading, but you get the idea.


I was thinking about how I buy games now and how that compares to how my attitudes were when I first  started acquiring games them in the past. It also made me start thinking of the different ways I see game acquisitions occuring for other people I know or observe online. When I was first getting into gaming, I was a Frantic Newbie - everything looked awesome and I had to have it all! I went on buying binges and quickly accumulated a lot of games.

Here are the terms and definitions I have invented and then included some additional details about my attitudes now and in the past. Later, you can take the POLL at BGG to see how you stack up to other gamers and their acquisition habits...


Frantic Newbie - Found an interesting game in the store (maybe thrifted, maybe new) and bought it on impulse, or was introduced to a terrific game and 'had' to have it. Did a web search for more information and discovered an overwhelming selection available that they didn't know existed. They start buying furiously to 'catch up'

When I was a board game newbie I couldn't stop reading BGG and learning about all these 'new' and exciting games I'd never heard of. I would spend HOURS and HOURS reading the information and reviews. Many games went onto my 'wishlish' and I soon started buying a lot of games. LOTS of games! Unfortunately, my wishlist hasn't stopped shrinking.....

Just Gaming Around - "Jaipur" by Sébastien Pauchon (Review)

Glad you could make it to the Board Game Back Room today! Previously I showed you What's in the Box for Jaipur. So far I've played this game a handful of times against Bob (who introduced me to the game). Obviously, I liked it enough to pick up my own copy. I would call this game a 'social' game as it's fairly light and you can have a nice conversation while you're playing the game, but at the same time it definitely has some interesting decisions to make so you still need to pay close attention to what the other player is doing on their turn.

Jaipur, released in 2009, was designed by Sébastien Pauchon, the same designer as such outstanding games as Yspahan, Jamaica, and Metropolys. Artwork was done by Alexandre Roche who also did art for such acclaimed games as Carson City, Rattus and Troyes.

Front of the box

What do you find interesting about this game?

Timely Topics - Do you use Card Trays for Gaming?

Card Trays. Do you use them when playing games? Or any other kind of card holder?

I used to think the idea of card trays was kind of silly. You should be able to hold a bunch of cards and fan them out and play them easily, right? 

But, sometimes, if you think about it, things can get a little awkward, especially with games that come with two (or more) types of cards you have to manage. How do you hold them in your hands? Each type in a different hand? Maybe. Or, you hold them in your hand all sort of mixed together. But this can be troublesome if you get them too mixed together, and it can be a lot of cards to hold. 

So, you most likely resort to separate piles and playing goes something like this: Look at one set. Put it down. Pick up the other set. Look at it. Put it down. Forget what was in the other set. Put down the current set and pick up the other set. Oh wait, I need to look at both together. Pick up the other set in your other hand. Scrunch your hands together to manipulate them. Then fumble around until you almost drop them all!

Blech! What a pain!

EGG (Eugene Games Gala) Convention next week here in Eugene!

I'm excited for the EGG game convention here in overcast Eugene, OR - perfect game playing weather! It is the weekend of Feb 4-6 (so in less than 2 weeks!). You can register at that link and find out a bit more about the convention, where it's located, etc.

What's really great about this convention is that everyone is very friendly and, even if you haven't been before, you are always welcome to join any game. 

There are tables all around the outside walls of the room where people put the games they've brought and generally you are allowed to look through them to see if there is something you are interested in playing. If you find something but don't know how to play, if you ask around eventually someone will speak up that they can teach and likely will even play it with you. 

Or, if you see a game starting up you can ask to join in if there are any seats available. So, if you go, you don't have to worry if you've brought a friend or not - there are plenty of new friends to be made!

Sad news and what you can do to help

I just wanted to post this news about a respected and well loved gaming community individual, Tom Vasel, and the crisis his family is going through right now. Their newborn son, Jack, is in the NICU in Miami, Florida. He was born two months premature in November and has been fighting ever since.

Jack Vasel

The details are on an update thread posted by Tom but here's the short story: the fight has been up and down with some good news, then some setbacks. The worst news yet came on Monday (yesterday now at the time of this posting)....he has fought off bacteria in the brain (E. Coli Meningitis) which had already been eating holes in it and now has hit a second time and he is ravaged so severely he has not much of a life left if he does survive.

The family is facing some difficult choices.