Barnes on Games- Drakon in Review, Relic redux, Broom Service

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I never played Witches' Brew, so don't ask.

At least the basic mechanic of Brave/I Am or Cowardly/So Be It sounds the same. Witches' Brew has been a favorite in my group for a while. Glad others get to play even a similar game.

Drakon holds its own with other fillers out there, adding just enough with the quasi-programmed-movement to make it more interesting than say Tsuro. It certainly plays quicker than Dungeonquest or Wiz-War.

and the ersatz Nazi
We've dubbed him M. Bison.

I don't have any of the expansions yet either. They both seem kind of odd. I never had Talisman The City so I'm wondering if Halls of Terra is supposed to be it's counterpart? I'll probably get them when they hit the clearance bin.

HeckMeck is awesome, especially if all players are fully engaged. Played three games on Wednesday, had the 24 (1 worm) piece stolen on eight consecutive turns, just because.

Sam

Pickomino is a great "push your luck" game. It's a hit every time I break it out. At a bar, at a picknic or a game day. I hate to use the word "filler" but that's what it is. Except that it's fun with just a smidge of "take that"

It's also very portable. I even own the travel edition that comes in a tin container the size of a Skoal tobacco tin.

Having played 40K for as long as I did, Relic was an autobuy for me. But after playing it a couple times, I remember why I got bored with Talisman and sold it. The greater hindrance for Relic is that there's no PvP, which was always a huge element of our Talisman, 2nd Ed. games. They kinda added it with the first expansion, but it's still not enough for me, so both are on the block. I'm a bit mystified as to why they decided that combat between the "good guys" (such as they are in the grimdark future) was not something they wanted for this game, given that combat between "good guys" and even Imperium forces in 40K happens ALL THE TIME. Whatevs. It's a decent game, but just not worth keeping.

I've played Witches Brew but I can't find a copy glad to see Broom Service out and that you liked it

Pickomino is stupid fun. My girls have been playing it since I think they were 6 or 7, with a little guidance back then, of course. Why is it out of print? That's the real question. It is a very, very good dice game. We've played the hell out of it. It even came out the other night as a filler for five other players while we waited for game sessions to synch back up.

Drakon was fun but ultimately forgettable. I dug it in 2006 but as you say Mike, the luster wears off, there's just so many other games that do it better (where that didn't use to be the case.)

I wonder though if they solved the "tiles of sour ass" problem. I broke out my copy a few years ago to play with the kids and the whole fucking inside just REEKED. I mean, like, made your hands stink handling them. I was freaking out, looking for mold inside, nothin'. I finally looked online and found others who'd had the exact same thing happened.

While it was out of print, this guy messaged me and wanted it in trade. I warned him repeatedly that my copy did indeed smell like sour ass/musty balls. He assured me that was ok. I always meant to check in with him to see if he felt the same way down the road, but I did so much trading during that period of time I literally forgot who I traded it to.

I skipped Broom Service at first, but hearing it's a remake of Witch's Brew has my interest now. Fun game of bluffing and pushing your luck. Stealing someone's primary action feels way better than it should when you slap down the card and they just groan and piss and moan and bitch. EVIL CACKLE