Settler of the Boards

Meet Stephen!

On June 20, 2019

Hey Gamers!
Since I know I tend to mention my fiancé a lot, since that’s who I play pretty much all my games with, I thought it would be fun to introduce him a little more properly after all this time!
(He disagrees; hates the attention … oh well!)

So without further ado, meet Stephen! (Yes, we basically have the same name, we get it, we’re adorable).

Who: Stephen, my fiancé, person who introduced me to the hobby, cool dude
Occupation: Rule reader extraordinaire (mostly because I refuse to read rules as often as I can, remember?); Expert gaming partner
Favorite Game: Galaxy Trucker (thumbs down from me, dude)
Player Color: He always opts for orange when it’s available, but unfortunately it isn’t very often. His choices then go from purple, then to yellow, then to “whatever is available.” Unlike me who freaks out if I’m not red, Stephen is usually happy to choose his color last and get whatever there is.
Least Favorite Game: He has a few that he rates at a “1,” but decided that The Mind is his absolute least favorite game (fair).
Favorite Mechanic: Deck building
Least Favorite Mechanic: Cooperative Play
Cons He’s Attended: Tas-Con, Grand Con, Temple Con, PAX Unplugged, and Granite Game Summit
Why He Likes Games: Because they’re fun, of course!
His Contribution to the Blog: Without Stephen, I wouldn’t be able to do this. I generally dislike solo gaming, and most of the games I’ve played don’t have solo play anyway. He is always willing to try things out with me which allows me to do this. He’s also proofread/corrected a bunch of my articles and has more recently helped me in playtesting the game I’m working on for 2019 GenCan’t (surprise!)! He’s awesome and I’m so glad to be on this gaming adventure with him by my side being cool and supportive.
Personal Quote for this Article: “No Comment” – Stephen, probably.

Thank you all for joining me for this introduction! See you next time ^__^

Can You Survive the Virtual World of Sword Art Online?

By Steph

On June 12, 2019

In Game Review

Get ready to take up your swords, fellow gamers! The only way to survive the virtual reality game of Sword Art Online is to fight your way out, together. Face fierce battles against foes and keep an eye on your health because if you die in the game, you die in real life (and, your friends will lose the game too, which sucks, of course). Secure your fate and the fate of your friends by overcoming your enemies! Let’s take a closer look.

Gentes: A Game of Many Paths

By Steph

On June 5, 2019

In Game Review

So, you think you always know the best path to success? Well, it may be time to prove it. In Gentes players try to build monuments, settle in new cities, and, train their people trying to score points along the way by matching symbols on buildings, achieving common goals (like training 18 people). You want to build up an optimal engine so that you don’t end up slowing yourself down in the long run. With many choices available each turn, what strategy will best help you get ahead of your opponents? Put your planning to the test! Let’s check it out …

More Than a Kid’s Game: My Little Scythe

By Steph

On May 31, 2019

In Game Review

Dark color schemes and themes got you down? Maybe you’re just a little “over” long battle-type games that feel a bit dry. Maybe you’ve just been looking for the perfect game to play with your kiddos. OR, maybe I’m completely off and you just want me to get to the point and tell you about this game. In any of those cases – great!

My Little Scythe is the cure to all those problems at once! With bright colors, fun pieces, a cute theme, and a medium play time, it’s a fresh face to bring to the table that plenty of game groups will enjoy. While appearing a little childlike on first glance, to some, My Little Scythe is definitely a game the whole family (or honestly, even just the adults) can appreciate! Let’s check it out …

Punching Babies Preview

By Steph

On May 31, 2019

In Previews

As in, babies punching each other (because they’re small boxers) … not the act of punching babies. Please DO NOT punch babies, kthanks!

Now that that’s out of the way – let’s talk about this one! If you’re into wacky themes and quick card games, then you might want to settle in for a bit and take a look at Punching Babies. All in good fun, this 2-player, turn-based card game simulates 2 heavyweight babies fighting for the gold! Or … the belt? Or … whatever heavyweight fighters might fight for!

In this preview I take a look at a prototype of the card game, and highlight its beginnings. Please keep in mind that some things you see/read may change from my copy to the final version (in fact, I know a few things have already been worked on!) Without further ado, let’s take a look!