2024 Session Reports

04/24/2024 – Berkshire Gamers Session Report #24-17

13 at the UNO Park Community Center in North Adams for an evening of games about SPRING – Flowers, Pollinators, Plants and Gardens.

Our May 1 Session will feature games on CITY BUILDING. Expect to play from among: Big City, Quadropolis, Skyrise, Point City, Sprawlopolis, 60-Second City, The Estates, Streets, Micro Architects, My City, Rolling Heights, Shake That City, Ragusa, Metropolis…..and more
4/24/2024 @ UNO Park Community Center
 
IN: Steve & Sandy, Tim, Amy, Armando, Tony & Rachel, Matt, Chris, Nicole, Reimi, Danny, Rob O.
 
ON OUR TABLES:
Cellulose: A Plant Cell Biology Game (led by Matt) 2022 worker placement game that puts players inside a plant cell, where they will compete over limited resources in order to undergo photosynthesis, produce carbohydrates, and build the cell wall. With everyone vying for the same actions, players must time their use of proteins, hormones, and cell component cards in order to diversify their strategies and outplay the competition.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/333372/cellulose-a-plant-cell-biology-game

Bonsai (led by Tim) 2023 drafting and tile placement game about growing perfect miniature plants. Each turn players choose and perform one of two actions: meditate or cultivate. If players meditate, they choose one of the face up cards on the board and take it, along with any Bonsai tiles represented below the card drawn. If players cultivate, they can place their Bonsai tiles from their personal supply. When all common goal tiles have been claimed, then points earned for their Bonsai plants are totaled.
Lacuna 2x (led by K-ban/Tony) 2023 two-player 15-minute abstract with incredible table presence. 49 wooden flower tokens in 7 different colors are deposited on a square fabric board and spread fairly evenly to avoid clumping. The first half of the game consists of each player placing one of their 6 metal markers between two flowers of the same color (providing there is a clear line of sight) and claiming them. After each player has made their placements, the remaining flower tokens are claimed by whoever’s metal marker is the closest (a ruler is provided to measure). Victory goes to the player winning majorities in at least 4 of the 7 colors. Short, sweet and thought provoking.
Tussie Mussie (led by Armando)  2019 two-player 18-card album card game by the author of Wingspan. It is based on the Victorian custom of sending secret messages through flowers. In turn, players look at the top two cards of the deck, then offer them, one face-up and one facedown, to an opponent. That opponent takes one, leaving the other for the active player. A round ends when each player has four cards, at which point the scores are tallied. The highest score after three rounds wins!

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/257614/tussie-mussie

Miyabi (led by K-ban) 2019 Michael Kiesling (Azul series, Tikal,Torres)  design where players draft tiles representing Japanese garden decorations/items and place them onto their garden grid board. There are both row and column restrictions for placement and in-turn scoring that rewards building on higher levels. End game bonuses for most and 2nd most for a given row complete the scoring. A relaxing puzzle game, but we only tried the base version.  There are multiple expansions that raise the complexity level.  
Honey Buzz (led by Armando) 2020 game where players continually expand their hive, forage for nectar and pollen, make honey, sell different varieties at the bear market, host honey tastings, and attend to the queen and her court. Players use their bees to get one of 6 action tiles, then place their tile. Actions are activated when a hexagonal hole is created, which can be filled with nectar producing honey. Honey can be sold or used to fulfil contracts.
Living Forest (led by Tim)  2021 Kennerspiel des Jahres (German Gamers Game of the Year)  As a nature spirit trying to save the forest and its sacred tree from the flames of Onibi, you are not alone in your mission as the animal guardians have come together to lend a hand around the Circle of Spirits where you progress. 

You have one of three ways to achieve your goal: by planting 12 different Protective Trees, by collecting 12 Sacred Flowers to awaken Sanki the great Guardian of the Forest, or by extinguishing 12 Fires to permanently repel Onibi

Beez (led by K-ban) 2020 opulent board game where players compete to optimize their flight plans to secure nectar for their hive. Be careful of the other bees as you will compete with them over a set of public and private scoring goals. The 3D bee miniatures are beautiful as are the honey/nectar player boards. There is a small spatial awareness learning curve but this is a good gateway game.

Steve

13 at the UNO Park Community Center in North Adams for an evening of games about SPRING – Flowers, Pollinators, Plants and Gardens. Our May 1 Session will feature games on CITY BUILDING. Expect to play from among: Big City, Quadropolis, Skyrise, Point City, Sprawlopolis, 60-Second City, The Estates, Streets, Micro Architects, My City, Rolling Heights, Shake…

13 at the UNO Park Community Center in North Adams for an evening of games about SPRING – Flowers, Pollinators, Plants and Gardens. Our May 1 Session will feature games on CITY BUILDING. Expect to play from among: Big City, Quadropolis, Skyrise, Point City, Sprawlopolis, 60-Second City, The Estates, Streets, Micro Architects, My City, Rolling Heights, Shake…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *