Oh no, I'm on another ship that's sinking. This makes twice now that I've been a passenger on the wrong boat (the last time was back when Games International was still around). Thank goodness, all my best gaming pals are once again going to be in the liferaft with me. Hmm, there sure are a lot of them. Hope it doesn't get overloaded. Might not be a bad idea to ask a Mike or two (Schloth, Siggins, Clifford, Gray, take your pick) to wait for the next boat.
The first two games in are just too easy. Adel Verpflichtet and Wildlife Adventure have alternated back and forth for the last couple of years as my favorite game. Both continually frustrate and delight. Because you must play against the other players and the game system at the same time, these are two of the only games that force me to try to change my natural gaming style, most often with the expected results. Wish I'd designed them.
Third in the boat is Liar's Dice. If I had a buck for every game of this I've every played, I could have afforded a cabin on a better ship. It can sometimes be a little noisy, qhich is about the only complaint I've heard about it, but who's going to complain on a desert island? I was one die away from winning the tournament at The Gathering two years ago and I'll probably never get that close again.
A few months ago, the fourth game into the boat would have been Niki Lauda's Formel 1 or Modern Art. Now it has to be Was Sticht. My first impression was that Was Sticht might be too involved, might require card counting, and might appeal only to serious card players. Wrong again. It will appeal to serious card players, but it should appeal to all game players just as much. I enjoy the game more and more each time I play, even though I have yet to win. Each game, I think I've chosen the perfect set of tasks. Each game I think I've chosen the best hand of cards. Each hand, I'm confident I'll be able to fulfill the chosen task. Each game I lose and have a great time doing it.
Despite being overtaken by Was Sticht, Niki Lauda's Formel 1 is nevertheless welcome in my boat any time. It is the only race game I'd take-- which is sort of sad since I like race games a lot, but few ever retain my interest for long. If you really enjoy sticking it to your friends, this game gives you the opportunity. By the way, we don't use the White 10. In addition, we often don't deal out all the cards (with four playing, we might leave four cards out) which increases the chances of one or more cars not finishing.
Number six is Modern Art, down a notch or two in recent months because no one seems to want to play it anymore besides me. I've always thought it best with three because you get to play more cards and therefore have more control, and hardly worth playing with five. A friend of mine recently told me he felt just the opposite though, so maybe I'll have to try it again with five. If I can ever find four more people willing to play.
The seventh game will be a surprise to many. Sagaland (Enchanted Forest in its American incarnation) goes totally against the grain. First of all, there is a memory element which I usually hate. Second, movement is governed by dice, which is very passe. Third, you are bumped back to the start when someone lands on you. Fourth, if you roll doubles, you are allowed to perform one of several special actions. Strangely enough these mechanics, which by themselves turn my stomach, together make a great game. So if you haven't tried it, don't be put off by the memory element, the theme, the components, or the rules. Give it a try.
Since I know I'm going to have lots of time to play games, the last three choices have to be more complicated games. Die Macher, 1829 Nothern Board, and Titan have all at one time had my full attention. But due to the reduced amount of gaming time available and their game lengths, I haven't played any of them in the last couple of years. Once of these a day would sure help make the time go by.
Since I know there will be decks of cards available (Peter having promised to bring some, and he'll be thrown out of the boat if he forgot), I can live without some other games I would otherwise have to take. I can make the special decks for En Garde, Attacke, and Hol's Der Geier from a couple of regular decks. Or, maybe I'll put all the cards for all three games in one small box and hide it under my vest just to be sure.
One game that is just outside my top twenty and so, unfortunately, cannot be taken, is Rette Sich Wer Kann. Too bad, since the game is all about lifeboats and which of the passengers make it to shore and which are thrown overboard. Then again, knowing my friends, we might wind up playing for real if we didn't make it to the island right away.
Alan Moon is president of White Wind Games, the inventor/designer of numerous games including Airlines, Santa Fe, Elfenroads, and Freight Train, the organizer of the annual Gathering of Friends (the gaming event of the year), and an all-around nice guy.