A small step for my son, a giant leap to RPG?

After having seen E.T. with my four (and a half - it's important for him that I mention it) years old son I decided it was time to play a D&D-like game: HERO, Immortal King: The Infernal Forge.

Not an unforgettable game, BUT, maybe the first (little) step to RPG?!  ;-)

1775: Rebellion

Last Saturday we played 1775: Rebellion.

The system is simple (and easy to learn), yet deep and full of strategy.
Can't wait to play it some more.

Compulsive buying (again...)

It was cheap and I'm weak...

BattleLore my favorite game?

BattleLore is one of my favorite games (20 games played in 2011, 8 in 2012 and 6 so far in 2013). It's an holiday game since I play it with my brother in law or my nephews.

What is BattleLore?
From BGG :
"This game is based upon Richard Borg's Command and Colors system. The world of BattleLore meshes history and fantasy together - putting players in command of an array of miniature troops on the battlefields of a Medieval Europe Uchronia at the outset of the Hundred Years War.
Drawing on the strengths of Memoir '44, this Days of Wonder game takes the time-tested Command and Colors system to a new level and offers gamers of many backgrounds a chance to fight medieval battles with a dose of epic fantasy.
In this fantastical re-imagining of the Hundred Years War, French and English armies are supplemented with Goblins and Dwarves mercenaries and even some creatures like the Giant Spider and the Earth Elemental! Just as important as the armies you have, though, are the Lore Masters you choose to aid you: Wizards, Clerics, Warriors and Rogues can all aid you with unique powers and spells in ways role-playing gamers will find familiar."

Why I like BattleLore?

Maybe because it's fun:
"Fun from games arises out of mastery. It arises out of comprehension. It is the act of solving puzzles that makes games fun. With games, learning is the drug."
Raph Koster, A theory of fun for game design (2005)

If we talk about game design what are the main game dynamics of BattleLore?

What is the hidden structure that makes the experience enjoyable?

- meaningful choices and BL is all about that (should I attack on my left front with my Ogres or do I call back my heavy cavalry?) ;

- emotions: I killed his giant spider! :-) / he killed my giant spider! :-(

- sense of accomplishment, the emotional reinforcement that pushes people to play more to master the game (don't forget to support your units!) ;

- narrative: BL is full of narrative with a very fun alternate history of the Hundred Years War (with goblins, trolls, etc.) ;
- progression: with each game you learn how to use more and more different units, magic, new terrains, etc. 

This game is a masterpiece. :-)

Boardgaming with kids

Still working hard, I find some time to play with my son and nephews: some very shiny moments!

A glimpse of Heaven ;-)

Carcassonne

Zombie Dice

PitchCar

Tyrannosaurus Rex

World of Warcraft

Mémoire 44

BattleLore

Digital Games

Since I don't have time to go to the club I play more and more boardgames on the iPad. I play mainly Neuroshima Hex, Eclipse, Ascension, Lost Cities and Summoners War.

Neuroshima Hex

Eclipse

Ascension

Summoners War

More boardgames

Because I'm overwhelmed by work my spare time is limited. However I managed to play some boardgames: Agricola, Timeline, Mr Jack, etc. I play also with my four year old son: he loves Zombie Dices...

I play also more with my iPAD...

... and online, on boardgaming portals like http://www.boiteajeux.net (Agricola) and http://www.yucata.de (Rattus, Stone Age).

And guess what, all this is related to my work...

Back to boardgames

Since I don't have much time to play with minis I'm back to boardgames. Last week-end I played Wallace's Age of Industry (very interesting and streamlined) and Tokaido (zen and fun). A pleasant saturday...

Rackham Adventurers

Here are some Rackham Adventurers for my Warrior Heroes Legend campaign: