28. A DarKHaZZl3 history lesson, and Intentional Table Top Day. The Cardboard Cartographer issue 4.

Welcome to issue 4 of 'The Cardboard Cartographer' here at 'The science of selling yourself short.'

This week I'll be talking about a few things, including International Table Top day.
I'll come back to that later.

I wanted to start off by having a bit of a personal history lesson; a story explaining how I go to here. Here being passionate about various table top games.
(If you want to skip this, you can scroll down to the International Table Top Day sub-heading).

 When I was a kid I was introduced to the usual menagerie of board games; Monopoly, Cluedo, Guess who, Scrabble and so on.
I imagine these to be staples of quite a few peoples childhood experience in regards to board games.

 I think I began to diverge from the mainstream board game industry just before high school.
I was introduce to RISK for the first time.

RISK isn't a game that is outside popular cultures knowledge of board games, but it did leave a distinct impression on me. I enjoyed the strategy, the tactics. My choices mattered, or seemed to at any rate.

After RISK there was a drought of anything new in terms of board or card games (I don't count the Pokemon TCG, despite taking it further and still playing it occasionally to this day).

I was introduced to table top war games during my second year of high school; Warhammer, Lord of the Rings, 40k.
These had a profound impression on me. I attribute this to the amount of control you feel whilst going through the entire hobby process. Everything is down to the individual; the army you collect, how you build the models, how you paint them, how you play them on the battlefield. They all require the individuals direct input.

I am still very passionate about miniature war gaming. I've worked at a Games Workshop store, I play various game systems and I have a blog which updates fairly regularly here - htpp://underhivehero.blogspot.co.uk

Then nothing. An occasional card game (Munchkin and The Great Dalmuti, both of which I love) and the occasional board game, but nothing I was overly passionate about.

A couple of years ago, a group of my close friends decided to get back into playing games. Mainly RISK.
We'd played this game for years, so after a while we quickly wanted a new experience.
We decided to buy Civilization (mainly because we all loved the PS1/PC games).
It was instantly wonderful.
Strategy, tactics, luck. It was all there. You felt like you could win this game by your own machinations and maybe a little luck along the way.

We fell, and we fell hard.

We researched new games, and slowly expanded. We bought the first expansion. It wasn't enough.
We bought Battle Star Galactica.
We kept looking for the next game we'd get.

Then, one day, my then Girlfriend introduced me to something.
A show on YouTube called TableTop.
Now, after falling for Civilization, me and my friends had looked at other games. We hadn't really expanded out collection greatly though. Pleasing everyone is difficult after all.
But until I watched Table Top, I didn't really intend to buy too many games myself (I'd bought Gloom and some Munchkin expansions, but nothing else).

Afterwards however, I was hooked.

Fast forward to the present.
My now gaming group owns several games together, I own dozens on my own, as well as several card games. I write this blog, I back projects on kick starter and I even try my hand at game design.

Needless to say, what started as just another thing to do has turned into a hobby.
A Hobby the I am passionate about, and something I can't imagine how I lived without for so long.

So this is my thank you.
To my friends, for starting my down this road and staying the course.
To that significant other, for pushing me along and encouraging me.
And to TableTop, for making me realise that this is something I wanted to continue with for a long time, and opening my eyes to new games (even if they are no longer on sale!).

With that in mind...

International TableTop Day.

The following is taken from the International TableTop day website. To read the full article head to their website - http://www.tabletopday.com/about/

'International TableTop Day 2013 was a huge success — we had 3,123 gaming events in 64 countries worldwide, including every state and province in North America and every continent on the planet (yes, even researchers in Antarctica were playing.) With your continued support, we’re hoping to make International TableTop Day 2014 even bigger!

International TableTop Day is a celebration for all the fans of tabletop gaming. A single day where the whole world is brought together in a common purpose of spending time together and having fun. We hope you find the resources you need — to connect new fans to experienced group organizers, retailers with their community, and publishers with the international community — all in one place'.'

Last year I missed the live feed. I didn't even know about TableTop at that point.
I watched the recorded videos on YouTube sometime after, and I thought it was a great idea.

 So this year I have set about the task of trying to organise a Table Top Day event, or at the very least attend one.
I have a venue in mind, and the guys who run the place seem willing to participate.
It would be awesome to get a group of people passionate about games together and just have fun. If we can introduce people to this hobby, that would be awesome.

So, until a more concrete plan comes emerges, remember...

PLAY MORE GAMES! SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH, 2014. WORLDWIDE.

Are you doing anything for TableTop Day this year? Let me know in the comments, or @DarKHaZZl3 on Twitter!

-DH-

27. It's complicated, or rather, it isn't.

Taken from 'It's Complicated' - A Day To Remember
 
'Here we go again, another night of being bummed
I'll keep to myself, avoid the sun and cancel plans with everyone
I know 'cause this is how it always ends
Our bond will break 'cause you can't relate to anyone, to anything at all

You brought your worst and I'm right here
Now I've seen it all and it's never been so clear'

I feel so incredibly crappy.
Despite everything I'd give anything to get back what I've lost.

-DH-

26. 'The Great Dalmuti' review. The Cardboard Cartographer Issue 3

Welcome to Issue 3 of my apparently weekly board/card gaming blog here at 'The science of selling yourself short.'

This week sees me reviewing a favourite game of mine called 'The Great Dalmuti.'

First though, a notice on scheduling.

The Cardboard Cartographer will not be weekly forever.
At some point I need to research and play some more games to review and talk about.
 There will be at least 1 post per month, and this may not always be a review.
Future Issues may focus on up and coming games, kickstarter campaigns, 'top 5's' and so on.

But for now, sit back and enjoy the show.


The Great Dalmuti

  The Great Dalmuti is a family and party card game designed by Richard Garfield and published by 'Wizards of the Coast' in 1995.
The game features some great art work by Sandra Garavito, Margaret Organ-Kean and Christophe Swal.
For more information you can head over to Board Game Geek's page on the game - http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/929/the-great-dalmuti

  Dalmuti is game for 4 - 8 players that is part bluffing and luck, and part strategy and scum-buggery.

  The game represents life in feudal society.
You have the peasants; the most numerous of folk at the bottom of the social order, working your way up to the King or 'Dalmuti;' a single entity of divine standing.

The object of the game is to be the first player to discard all of his or her cards wins the round and secure the title of 'The Great Dalmuti.'

 The twist in this game is what other players do on their turns; whilst you agonisingly wait for it to be your turn, can make or break your bid for victory. A few advantages and disadvantages depending on your social standing also give some gravity to which position you finish in.

First Impressions.

Since I have been playing this game for almost a decade now, it is safe to say my 'first impression'  will be slightly rose tinted. I will try to remain as objective as possible (if you have read any of 'The science of selling yourself short,' you will know this is less than likely).

The game is small and compact, like all good party card games.

The contents are;

• The box
• A small rule book
• 80 game cards

 I do think that the game is very nicely put together.
The cards are simple and colourful, with wonderful mural style artwork that adds to the feudal theme.

   The box is simple enough, but a bit lacking in substance; it isn't something you'll want to move around often in, say, a bag. I suggest getting some form of deck box.

Game Play.

 Like all good card games, Dalmuti is simple, fast paced and has very little down time (more players = more downtime).

 Before starting each player picks a card. The number will denote your rank for the first round of the game.
 The lowest, and thus rarest, number (ignoring the jokers) will be the original Great Dalmuti, the highest, and thus more common will be the Greater Peon. If a game has 6 players the second lowest/rarest and second highest/numerous will be the lesser Dalmuti and Lesser Peon respectively. Every other player is a merchant.

The players should then find a way to identify each player accordingly. (The game suggests switching seats; the Greater and Lesser Dalmuti having the best, while the peasants occupy the floor. In our games we have found this a little arduous, so we use hats. The more glorious the hat, the better the rank!).
 These different classes play a small, but important role at the beginning of the game. 

Taxation
Before each round begins the lowest ranked player; the Greater Peon, shuffles and deals all of the cards out to each player.
Then the Greater Peon must then give the Greater Dalmuti their best two cards; that is to say, their rarest/lowest number (No lying!). The Greater Dalmuti then hands any two cards of their choosing back to the Greater Peon.
 The Lesser Peon must then give their best card to the Lesser Dalmuti and receive a card in return.
Everyone else; the merchants, may trade cards between each other for as long as the Greater Dalmuti permits.

When this phase is over the round may begin.

Game round.

Starting with the Greater Dalmuti, players go around in a clockwise direction playing cards face up in the middle of the table.
Subsequent players must match the quantity of the cards first played, and be of equal or lower/rarer value.

An example to illustrate this would be as follows.

 
The greater Dalmuti starts the round, and plays 5 Masons; valued at 8 (There are 8 of them in the deck).

The next player; player A, must then place down cards. These cards must ; a) match the quantity of the cards played. In this case, player A must play 5 cards; b) be of equal, or lesser value than the cards player, in this case a mason (8) or lower, and c) b) be all of the same value.

In this instance, player A plays 5 Knights; valued at 6

This move is fine. The cards match the number of cards put down initially (5) and are of a lower/rarer value than a mason.

Player B then tries to play 4 Abbess; valued at 5. 

This move is incorrect Whilst the cards are of a lesser/rarer value than the previous players cards, they do not match in quantity.

Player B then tries to play 5 peasants; valued at 12. 

This is also incorrect. Whilst player B now matches the quantity of cards put down (5), they are not equal to/lesser/rarer than the value of player A's cards (6 < 12).
Player B therefore decides he cannot go.

(A note on the Jester card. This card has no value and therefore is not the best/worst card and does not have to be given in taxation. This card may be played in conjunction to any other cards instead of an appropriate number. Example. If player A played two Archbishop cards he would usually win, however, if player B plays The Great Dalmuti card and a Jester card, that would count as two cards of a lower/rarer value, thus player B would win the hand).

If a player cannot go, or doesn't want to go, they are out of that particular hand and cannot go again until the next hand starts.
A hand ends when a player cannot be matched or bettered by any remaining player in that hand.

The winner then starts the next hand.
This continues until each player runs out of cards.
The first to do so is the greater Dalmuti, the second the Lesser Dalmuti and so on. The player who still has cards remaining when no one else does is the Greater Peon.

The game continues in this fashion... well... forever?

You can find the rules here if you fancy reading them yourself - http://mrs-sullivan.com/wp-content/uploads/dalmuti_rulebook.pdf

Personal Opinion.

I love this game.

 
Every time I go to a person's house I take this just in case there are enough people.
It is a great, quick game that isn't too serious and is laid back enough to enjoy at any pace whilst maintaining enough strategic planning to keep you focused on the game.

The game becomes more engaging the more you get into it.
At the back of the rulebook it explains the 'additional rules' about seating, symbols, scoring and the merchant trading (which really should just be a core rule. The game isn't as strategic without it).
But there are other rules such as revolutions (having two jokers = reverse roles) and rank related perks (ordering the peasants about and so on).

Whilst I enjoy the game immensely, I do have two gripes with it.

Firstly, without setting a score the game never really ends. This can lead it to grow stale and/or drag on and on and on...
 It is probably best to set a score limit, a time limit or a round limit. First to 'x' points, or the last person to be Dalmuti after 'x' hands or 'x' time is the winner.

Secondly, you don't really need to buy the game.
 The rules are readily available online (and up in the game play section), and the card set up can be made with three decks of regular playing cards for a fraction of the cost.

That being said I really do encourage you to buy the game.
It isn't massively expensive, there are no crazy expansions and due to its simplicity and random draft nature, the replay-ability is pretty high.

Have you played 'The Great Dalmuti'?
What did you think?
Any suggestions on other board/card games I should look into?

Feel free to comment here, or hit me up on Twitter @DarKHaZZl3

Thanks for reading
-DH-

25. 'Love Letter' review. The Cardboard Cartographer Issue 2.

Welcome to the former home The Cardboard Cartographer.

The Cardboard Cartographer has moved.
The reasons for this decision can be found here in this post

Because of this, when a review for a game that was once hosted here is covered on The Cardboard Cartographer it is removed from this site.

But have no fear!
If you wish to read the new and improved review you can follow the link bellow!

Love Letter Review.