Look at the Moon

Hey gang..

Been a while, and I haven't had much time for games (although I did break out Kingdom Builder recently and it was as good as ever). But I made a thing and want to share it with everyone. Yayy is an Apple TV app for browsing and watching channels of GIFs. It's part screensaver, part visualization, and totally fun.

GIFs on the big screen. Browse dozens of hand-picked channels of hypnotic visuals, cute animals, topical memes, sports highlights, and more. Search to start a channel about anything else. Save the channels you like and make a playlist of your favorite GIFs.

The Contender.

🚨 New Podcast Alert 🚨

CARDBOARD! with Rich Sommer is hosted by the Mad Men and WHAS:FDoC actor and board game enthusiast. Guests include Ty Burrell, Nate Corddry, and board gaming's own Rodney Smith.

Yay, Shut Up & Sit Down reviews Trajan. They're generally appreciative of it, but in the end decide the game "has no heart" and recommend a load of other euros above it.

I will say I had a totally different experience introducing Trajan to friends than Quintin describes in the second half of the review. The first night with it everyone was very into it, with lots of player interaction and contention in all the mini-systems. The final points tally reveal was as suspensful as the end of a hand of poker that you bet your wedding ring on. We played multiple rounds and a friend ordered their own copy to play when I wasn't around.

Roll for the Galaxy is a game that I've been keeping an eye out forever. Happy to report that it threads the needle of satisfying longtime Race for the Galaxy fans while simultaneously being much, much easier to pick up by new players.

Roll shaves down many the rough edges of Race. A few examples.. Military worlds no longer are a special case when it comes to settling. Windfall worlds don't require subtle, easy to miss symbology. Develop/Settle can now be performed over multiple rounds, meaning players can slowly but surely get any development or world built given time. Trade/consume is now a single Ship phase where either action can be performed. Produce/consume now happens in that order, so one could theoretically explore, settle, produce, and ship from a world in a single turn.

The X-Wing Tantive IV expansion, and the accompanying “Epic” ruleset, turns the game into something.. more.

The big ship inevitably becomes the primary focus of the game, drawing attention of enemy ships to give flanking opportunities. It costs a ton tho, so you’ll be outnumbered, and it’s blind spots create pockets for enemies to hide in.