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Last year, I gave you my top 20. This year, 10 is all you get. I wanted to see what the list would look like if I forced myself to make some decisions. And since I didn't look at last year's list when I made this one, certain things simply moved up or fell off. The way my heart was motivated this year was a combination of how easy it was to teach to new players and how much fun I have playing them. There's lots of shake up this year so let's get right to it.  10. Legends of Andor Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Mid Components: Whoa Chrono: 60ish mins This is a great cooperative game that has you playing the typical tropes of any good dungeon crawl trying to puzzle your way through different scenarios. The art is amazing and bits are fantastic quality and the gameplay is pretty simple to grasp. This game has been much higher on my list for the past few years, but lack of expansion support has really hampered my feelings towards it. English expansions are supposedly coming out soon, so it may get a bit higher next year again.  9. Jamaica Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60mins Race your pirate ship around the island and grab loot as you go. The artwork is delightful and the card driven movement makes this simple and fun to play. Component quality is very good and you can even enjoy making a panorama with your cards when it's all over.  8. Mage Knight Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid-High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60+ mins A new entry on the list; one I've been eyeballing for a while and now have two solo plays under my belt. This game is a virtual cornucopia of mechanisms- dice rolling, deck building, exploration, pre-painted minis, scenario driven gameplay, etc. Even though I've only got 2 plays under the belt, this is something I can't wait to get back to the table.  7. DC Deckbuilding Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 60ish mins In years past, DC has shared it's spot with the Marvel Legendary. As of this year, I have finally come to the decision that I like DC better. It just gets to our table way more often (more than 3x as much). Great card game with plenty of expansions and variations to play the game. The base game box is kind of empty to start with, but it can accommodate just about everything that is now currently printed. The mechanisms are simple to grasp and, even after several expansions, the key vocabulary hasn't changed much so that adding those expansions won't have you running to the rule book each time you play.  6. Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60mins A Ritz Household favorite! If we have you over, we will probably make you play. Push your luck as you raid the mummies' tomb. Don't dawdle too long or you could be trapped in there with them for the rest of eternity. I still would recommend either purchasing the painted minis separately or give a whirl painting the pieces yourself if you are the crafty type. If not, thankfully, they include snap on colored bases to help distinguish who is who. Honorable Mentions They didn't make the list, but you should give them a whirl: Twilight Imperium 3 (8 hours long), War of the Ring (out of print and 4 hours long). Hoplomachus (too difficult to get a copy of- only available through their website chiptheorygames.com). All three are absolutely terrific games and if you have the opportunity, play them or get them! And the one that just missed the list... Discoveries, a dice rolling worker placement game set in the travels and adventures of Lewis and Clark. STUNNING artwork.  5. Bang the Dice Game Cost: Low <$20 Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: about 30 mins This is a raucous dice rolling game. If you can play Yahtzee, you can play this game. I'm always a fan of spaghetti westerns and this delivers in spades. Hidden roles and unique special abilities makes this game a fun party style game. The only downside is that every once in a while, with 6 or more players, someone can be eliminated before they ever get a turn. But the game is over so fast, that there is always another game after that one, and another one after that, and another...  4. Dead of Winter Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid-High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60+ mins Up 4 spots from last year, this is a semi-cooperative zombie game where someone might be a betrayer. The things that I pointed out last year that are still standouts: a) the art work is not overly gross, b) the cards have a little icon on the bottom of some of the cards that note which aren't appropriate for younger players, and c) They give long and short versions of the scenarios to play through. They also just released a companion app that will read those cards aloud for you. It's a buck, but I think well worth it. House Rule: After playing 10 times this year, I would say playing with 5 or more players tends to increase player downtime considerably. Either avoid it or be up front about it and allow people to get up from the table every once in a while.  3. Pandemic Cost: Mid $20- $45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins In this cooperative thriller, you are trying to save the world from several diseases that are striking all at once! Move yourself around the board to wipe out pockets of virus and use interactive set collection to develop cures. Quick and easy to learn. I would also argue that the expansions don't add much to this game. Keep it simple with just the base set. On another note, they just came out with a new edition called Pandemic Legacy in which the game itself changes as you play one game to the next. So in essence, after 2 or 3 games, your copy would not play the same as my copy of the game. First reactions on the internet are very favorable for this newest edition.  2. Colt Express Cost: Mid $20- $45 Complexity: Low Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins This is a great spaghetti western themed game. You're train robbers trying to loot the passengers and get the best of one another. You use programmed movement to run along the train, punch and shoot other players, and snatch up the loot. This is a VERY FUN game. Every time I've played it, everyone at the table turns around and plays another game right after it. I listed components as Bunch because there is a bit of work on the front end constructing the train cars, but it is a one time activity and after that you can just jump right into the action. House Rule: The character Doc is a little over powered with his extra card each turn, so I would let younger players have him or keep him in the box until he is absolutely needed.  1. Robinson Crusoe
Cost: High > $45 Complexity: High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60ish mins For all the same reasons as last year: This is a fantastic game! It is difficult and heavy, and you will lose more than you win! Set your workers to work hunting beasts, gathering resources, building necessary tools, exploring the island, and more. Depending how you go about accomplishing those things, you may not succeed, but it will only make you more determined. Use your special powers by spending determination tokens to get a slight edge toward achieving your goals. Robinson Crusoe is simply dripping with theme! The board looks great and there are lots of bits and pieces. There are several different scenarios to play through and so many cards to setup with that the replay-ability is extremely high. And best of all... the creator has released a blank scenario so you can write your own if you wish! I am almost finished with my own personal scenario: Island of Misfit Toys. I've spent quite some time, effort, and resources to upgrading my copy of this game and if you every are over to the house and want to try something a little more difficult, just ask; I'll have it out and on the table in a heartbeat!
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I was checking in on when I usually do my Top 10 game post and was so very surprised that the last post was a year ago! Time to correct that! But what to write about. First up, my little experiment. At the beginning of the year, I wanted to see if I could reach 1000 games played this year. Thanks to some illness and then going to Nepal for three weeks, which nipped game playing for about 3 months, that 1000 number is now set to 750. I am pretty sure I am going to come up short, but it has been an interesting experience. I'm up to 457 plays, 56 of which are first time plays (sheesh). You can check it out here: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/185315/1000-plays-more-750-2015 Each game has it's own entry and quick write up. For some, there is a small amount of running commentary as well. Next, Trading! I have been a game trading fool this year! It has been a great way to shape my collection some. The games that weren't seeing a whole lot of action got traded for things I really wanted. It's been a fun experience. Which leads me to my last point... Lastly, I feel like I have finally caught up! By that I mean when you come into the hobby, most people's heads swim with the huge selection of games that exist and the large amount of great games out there. Recently, through trading and selling some games, I've gotten myself to the point that there really isn't anything from the past that I am desperate to have in the collection at this point. Nowadays, I just look ahead for what's due out soon and also look for promos or small expansions for what I have. Not to mention, I love trying out other people's games and seeing what they like a bunch, And now for my current hotness (click the link above if you are at all curious about these games):      This year I decided to revamp and double my "Top 10" from last year. "Why?" Because I had the time and the inclination. And it was fun to think about. As another new edition, I am categorizing each by: Cost: Low < $20, Mid $20-$45, High > $45 Complexity: Low, Medium, High Components: Little, Bunch, Whoa Chrono (how long it takes to play): about 30mins, 30-60mins, 60ish, 60+ If you're looking for a gift for someone or a game to bring to a holiday get-together, give one of these a whirl. You can find most of these on Amazon, and some you can find in your big name stores. But let me encourage you to seek out a local game shop and see if they have them there. OFF LIST MentionsThese two games I didn't feel like I should add to the list in general. They are fine games and I would suggest you find out more about them for yourself.
Honorable MentionsThese two games have recently come out and are fun smaller games that just missed the list. I haven't played them enough to know where they would go, but they come with my stamp of approval.
 20. Bang the Dice Game Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: about 30 mins Built around the Yahtzee mechanism, you roll dice 3 times keeping what you want and rerolling what you don't. Each side of the die has something different to offer, so choose wisely. Take a character at the beginning of the game and then you are given a secret role- Sheriff (who isn't so secret), Deputy, Outlaw, or Renegade. Try to kill off the appropriate people while the indians attack to be the victor in this spin on a spaghetti western (there's even Italian printed on the cards)! You need at least 4 people for this one, and it really shines at 5 or 6 people.  19. Guillotine Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: about 30 mins This is a great little card game that has been around for quite some time. At the beginning of a round, set up 12 nobles to have their heads cut off. Rearrange the order of the line using one of the action cards in your hand. Then collect the noble at the front of the line at the end of your turn. The person with the most points after 3 rounds wins.  18. No Thanks Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: about 30 mins Another fun little card game that is roughly about set collection and getting piles of numbers in order. The goal is to have the lowest score possible. If you don't want the face up card, put one of your chips on it. If it comes back around to you after everyone has put a chip on it themselves, either put on another one or take them all for yourself- because each chip will subtract 1 point from your total score when the game is over. Don't have any more chips? Well then, you're stuck and you have to take the card.  17. Last Word Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins A rather raucous word game where everyone plays at the same time. Reveal a letter card, race to throw down one of your topics, smash the start button on the randomized timer, and everyone starts trying to get the last word in before time runs out.  16. Citadels Cost: Low Complexity: Medium Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins This is a "drafted roll selection" game where each turn you choose a roll that allows you to have a specific type of action. Then you either draw city cards or draw money. Then you build part of your city. The first person with 8 parts of their city built, triggers the end of the game. Each part of your city is worth as many points as the gold it took to build it. You've got the most points? You're the winner. Look for the edition with a little purple icon in the bottom left corner of the slim edition box. That edition comes prepackaged with an expansion inside. This is another one that is better with 6-8 people. **House Rule: Only play to 7 parts of a city, you'll thank me.  15. King of Tokyo Cost: Mid $20-$40 Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins Fun, easy to teach, and play. Earn 20 victory points by rolling dice or standing in Tokyo, or be the last monster standing! If you can play Yahtzee, you can play King of Tokyo and you get to be a gigantic monster in the process.  14. A to Z Cost: Electric Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins This word game is great at parties, and we Ritzes always play it Men vs Women. In 15 or 30 second increments, yell out words related to a topic. Cover up the letter of the alphabet those words started with. Cover up all the letters and you win. (the board game version of this game is now out of print, but you can get the electric handheld version now- kind of a cheat, I know, but I couldn't leave it off the list)  13. Ticket to Ride Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 60ish mins Ticket to Ride has become THE gateway game for people entering into the hobby. You can find it just about anywhere. Get tickets with destinations, acquire sets of color coded cards, play your trains, and secretly earn points. Very straight forward, beautiful artwork, and a blast to play. Make sure to get the 1910 expansion set to get normal sized cards. Also, they just came out with an anniversary edition that is more expensive, totally swank, but is much larger than the original game- taking up a HUGE amount of table space.  12. Jamaica Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60mins This is a pirate themed racing game. The artwork is quite delightful and it is really easy to teach and play. Card play drives movement, and gunpowder and dice rolling drive combat. Making it around the island the fastest though doesn't necessarily make you the winner. You need the doubloons too.  11. Darkest Night Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 60+ mins Fight back the fantasy darkness that has already conquered the land in this cooperative game from Victory Point Games. This company produces all their games right here in the USA (good ole CA). I love playing this game solo, but it works just as well with other people. From your list of actions, you only get to do one thing per turn, which keeps play lively and quick. This game definitely starts you off in a hole that you need to work your way out of. I would also recommend getting "With an Inner Light" expansion as well. It adds some depth to the game's mechanics by adding quests.
 9. Lord of the Rings Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60+ mins This game has some of the most gorgeous boards I've seen in a game. This cooperative romp through Middle Earth has the players as the hobbits trying to use card management to work through all the significant scenarios through the books. I happened to find mine at a yard sale ten years ago for a dollar! Best deal in my collection for sure. If you're only playing with two people, be sure to work as Frodo and Sam and only go to the scenarios that they went to.  8. Dead of Winter Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid-High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60+ mins This is easily one of this year's smash hits. This is a semi-cooperative zombie game where someone might be a betrayer. You will get to control lots of unique characters and make really tough decisions. I've only gotten to play this twice and I am most intrigued. It's so popular right now that it is difficult to find. I really appreciate several things, three of which are: a) the art work is not overly gross, b) this game is part of a new system Plaid Hat Games is implementing called Crossroads (where you make tough decisions). They were wise enough to put a little icon on the bottom of some of the cards that note which aren't appropriate for younger players. Nice Move Plaid Hat! and c) They give long and short versions of the scenarios to play through. *House Rule: If playing with more than 3 people, don't use the long scenarios, especially with new players. Again, you'll thank me.  7. Tales of the Arabian Nights Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 60+ mins Think of this as the largest Choose Your Own Adventure Book as a board game that you have ever come across. This game will leave you laughing and telling stories long after it's over. Parents should note that some of the content is a little more on the mature side (PG for sure) but nothing explicit in nature. Choose your own victory condition too (some combination of story and destiny points) and get out there and have an adventure. *House Rule: The rules state to play for 20 points and then head back to Bagdad. Play to 15 and don't go back to Bagdad. Just claim your victory (this saves 30-40 mins of gameplay and leaves people wanting to come back for more).  6. Survive, Escape from Atlantis Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins There are cooperative games on this list. There are competitive games on this list. This game is CUTTHROAT. With great wooden and plastic pieces, try to get your survivors off the island while simultaneously trying to kill off other players' survivors. This is another game that is easy to teach and quickly understand the concepts. It's great fun if the people at the table like to dig into each other a little bit... ok more than a little bit. AND now, On to My Top 5!!! 5. Adventurers The Pyramid of Horus Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins This game has become quite the staple over here at the Ritz household and it probably would be disingenuous of me to leave it out of my top five. It pits the players (treasure hunters and tomb raiders) against each other AND the board to race in, snatch artifacts, and get out before the falling boulders trap you in with the mummies... FOREVER! Lots of push your luck with this game and the tension only mounts as your competitive nature and greed take over your better judgment. All the bits are sturdy grey plastic and the pieces come with colored bases to snap on so you can tell them apart, but I would really suggest getting these painted miniatures to replace them, or better yet... paint them yourselves! This was the second game in the series. The first was Adventurers The Temple of Chac. That one has a more Raiders of the Lost Ark feel, compared to the Tomb Raider/Mummy feel of Pyramid of Horus.  4. Hoplomachus Cost: High > -$45 Complexity: Mid-High Components: Whoa Chrono: 30-60 mins This is where I'm going to have to get a little bit Hipster on you. Even most gamers "probably have never heard of it." As the name of the company, Chip Theory Games, implies... the pieces in this gladiator style game are poker chip style pieces and the arena your units play on is a thick mousepad material that is very well designed. Each of the different cultures has it's own unique abilities, as well as some standard abilities that are found throughout each of the cultures. Earn special bonus tactics and gladiators by giving the crowd what it wants. If you are ever here at our house, just ask. I'm always willing to pull out this game that's nicknamed, "My 12 pounder." And be sure to check them out over at Chiptheorygames.com  3. Legends of Andor Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Mid Components: Whoa Chrono: 60ish mins Play as a dwarf, wizard, warrior, or archer. Help stop the oncoming hoard of evil that is invading the land. Work through all the scenarios to complete the rich story that is woven through each legend of Andor. Component quality is excellent, the BEAUTIFUL board is DOUBLE SIDED! It is a cooperative game that teaches you how to play while you play (I love that in a game). There are different scenarios to play through and more are available online (but regrettably, most are still only available in German). Some reviewers have complained about the puzzley nature of Legends of Andor; that it would hamper replay-ability. I say, "Bologna!" This game is a great value with tons of replay within the box! Last year, I thought this would move up on my list, but unfortunately I have to say that the lack of expansion support from a company that is expansion crazy, for a game that won a major gaming award, is crazy in itself and a little disappointing. Still though... GREAT GAME!  2. Pandemic Cost: Mid < $45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins You and all the rest of the players assume unique roles and are racing around the globe trying to find the cures to deadly diseases that have threatened humanity to the brink of extinction! Great cooperative game, easy to teach, and readily available in Target stores (if you just want to walk in and grab up a copy today). There is a second expansion that just came out that adds a level of complexity to the game (as if it wasn't already difficult enough). It is such a solid game though, you don't even need any of the expansions to get a ton of value from the base box. You will play it again and again.  1. Robinson Crusoe
Cost: High > $45 Complexity: High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60ish mins This is a fantastic game! It is difficult and heavy, and you will lose more than you win! Set your workers to work hunting beasts, gathering resources, building necessary tools, exploring the island, and more. Depending how you go about accomplishing those things, you may not succeed, but it will only make you more determined. Use your special powers by spending determination tokens to get a slight edge toward achieving your goals. Robinson Crusoe is simply dripping with theme! The board looks great and there are lots of bits and pieces. There are several different scenarios to play through and so many cards to setup with that the replay-ability is extremely high. And best of all... the creator has released a blank scenario so you can write your own if you wish! This has become by far and away my favorite game. Let's face it. Sometimes you don't want to haul around some big ole square box of cardboard and plastic. Sometimes you just want to enjoy a game that isn't going to take all afternoon. Sometimes you don't want the rules explanation to take longer than 5 minutes. Sometimes you need a fun little gift for someone (or yourself) and you don't want to pay $60 for it. Well this is the list for you! Since the New Year, I have been learning and having fun with all sorts of little games- most of which come in really small boxes and most (if not all) are under $20 online. Here are a few that I think you should give a whirl.  No Thanks! is a fun little card game that is roughly about set collection and getting piles of numbers in order. The goal is to have the lowest score possible. If you don't want the face up card, put one of your chips on it. If it comes back around to you after everyone has put a chip on it themselves, either put on another one or take them all for yourself- because each chip will subtract 1 point from your total score when the game is over. Don't have any more chips? Well then, you're stuck and you have to take the card.  Citadels is a "drafted roll selection" game where each turn you choose a roll that allows you to have an specific type of action. Then you either draw city cards or draw money. Then you build part of your city. The first person with 8 parts of their city built, triggers the end of the game. Each part of your city is worth as many points as the gold it took to build it. You've got the most points? You're the winner. Look for the edition with a little purple icon in the bottom left corner of the slim edition box. That edition comes prepackaged with an expansion inside.  Bang! The Dice Game is built around the Yahtzee mechanism where you roll dice 3 times keeping what you want and rerolling what you don't. Each side has something different to offer, so choose wisely. Take a character at the beginning of the game and then you are given a secret roll- Sheriff (who isn't so secret), Deputy, Outlaw, or Renegade. Try to kill off the appropriate people while the indians attack to be the victor in this spin on a spaghetti western (there's even Italian printed on the cards)! With really nicely engraved and painted dice, this game passes up it's card game predecessor- Bang!  Lifeboat is a game in which you are one of six people on a lifeboat. Not only are you trying to survive, but you also secretly love someone you hope and will help, to survive. At the same time, there is someone you secretly hate, who you are helping to their watery grave. You might chose to do nothing, you might chose to pick a fight by trying to swap places, you might mug someone, or you might chose to decide who gets thrown overboard. All the while, find things of value in your lifeboat such as money, jewels, art work, etc. and try to be the character at the end who has survived and has the most points.  Guillotine has been a family favorite for years. At the beginning of a round, set up 12 nobles to have their heads cut off. Rearrange the order of the line using one of the action cards in your hand. Then collect the noble at the front of the line at the end of your turn. The person with the most points after 3 rounds wins.
 Between having caught a cold, which has developed into a sinus infection, and also having a kid who has sustained a slight concussion thanks to a skateboarding accident, I have spent far too much time on the internet and on the couch over the past few weeks. Which after watching silly cat videos, reading Facebook posts, and reading up on certain topics of spiritual interest, my attentions turned to my hobby of board gaming and checking out the upcoming line of games that are due to release this year. I've got to say, there really isn't anything on my radar as of yet. That isn't to say that I haven't gotten into some new games (which I have), but there isn't anything that I know of that I am super excited about. But what I am looking forward to are some EXPANSIONS that are coming out soon. This brings me to a topic that, if you are new to the hobby, you probably know about, but may be unclear on. Expansions are things that you add to an existing game that you already have. Ticket to RIde for example has several different map packs that you can get to use with the "base" game that you already have. You use pieces and cards from the base game and the board and tickets from the expansion to play with using a different continent. Expansions can breathe fresh life into a game you are already familiar with. Sometimes an expansion will simply give you "more of the same" stuff, simply giving you a greater variety of the mechanisms from the base game, but don't be surprised if things change up a bit. Usually, an expansion will add new rules, mechanisms, or even variants to the game play. This can have both positive and negative effects. On the plus side, the expansion could add a level of depth that was needed in a game. Also, they say that variety is the spice of life and the same usually holds true in the board game world. Things may begin to get stale after a few dozen plays of a game and an expansion allows for reinvigorated excitement in regards to the game itself as a whole. Often times, it will round out the theme of a game as well, adding more characters, and specialization that gives each player a more unique way of approaching the challenges the game offers. Sometimes it simply adds the ability to have a 5th or 6th player into the mix, though that may not be a good thing. On the down side, sometimes an expansion can just add too much to a game. It may take too long to finish now, or the rules become too fiddly to be an enjoyable experience. Thankfully though, many times you can pick and choose which parts of an expansion that you would like to use. So, how do you decide on what to get? Different people do things differently. Many in the hobby are known as "completionists" those who are compelled to get every single last expansion and thing for every game they own. They buy these things without even a moment's consideration. Others, wait to play someone else's copy with the expansion to see how it effects gameplay before they buy it for themselves. And still others look to reviews online. Many reviewers get advanced copies and though you might not agree with their opinion, you can usually get a good sense of what it may or may not do for the base game before you get it. One such review site that I always suggest is Dicetower.com. Lot's of content and a great youtube channel to boot. And what am I looking forward to? (in order of release date)
Lately, I've been playing and acquiring lots of board games and giving suggestions to friends and family about what to play. With the holidays just around the corner, you may be thinking of getting a game for someone and maybe you vaguely remember me mentioning something on some post. Well, I thought I would give you my top 10 games right here for you to find easily. If you click on the picture, it will take you to the Amazon page for that game. Let's just jump right in to it.
AND NOW... FOR THE TOP 5!Really quick, I should say that as I was compiling my list, I noticed something in common with my top 5 games which is a personal preference of mine. They all have a dynamic where the board game is out to beat the players. This typically shines through in cooperative games, which 4 of them are. But even that 5th one has this mechanic in it as well.
 Well, here is the final product seconds before the clear coat finish. There 3 things I want to quickly write about to wrap this little tutorial up. First is "washing," and it's not what you think. Using a very watery black paint, apply over all places that have little cracks and crevasses, sort of like the spaceship and Dexter in this case. Now, I am the first to admit that I am not good at this step. I tend to not put enough pigment on, but this is an important step. If nothing else, but to give a little bit of realism to the pieces. Find a video on this technique on Youtube to see what I am talking about. Secondly, finishing your figures with a clear coat spray will protect the paint for years to come (as long as they are handled normally, and not given to your cat as a plaything). Like the ongoing rule of thumb, several light coats and don't let it puddle. Now there is some debate as to gloss or semi-gloss. I am a gloss fan, but have used both with good results, so my recommendation, pick one and give it a whirl. Maybe even try it out on that test figure that someone commented about back in the first post. Lastly, wait for the clear coat to dry before you dismount them from the poster tack and nail. Once you do, scrape off the bottom of any excess paint and primer with a utility knife. I do this to help ensure that no paint gets on my game boards (where it is almost impossible to get off).
That's it! I hope you've enjoyed this little walk through! Again, let me encourage you... for around $10, you too can give a whirl at painting a figure or three! It's a lot easier than you might expect and has a very calming effect... ***twitch, twitch, twitch
 Have a look at my set up. The toothpicks are to get paint out of their little pots and on to the old Christmas Cookie lid which I use as a pallet (the container itself is great for paint storage). Notice the abundant amount of brushes on hand, a small thing of water and a paper towel. Alvin and Dexter stand ready for their first coats of paint. Now remember, a little paint goes a long way. I usually take out no more than a dime sized amount from the pot and put it on my pallet. This helps with a few things. The paint doesn't dry out inside the pot while I'm working with it. I don't accidentally put the wrong color into another pot. It allows for good color mixing, and if I mess up the color mix, I haven't messed up a whole bunch of paint. The next general rule of thumb is to work from the innermost parts to the outer most. So taken in this order: skin then clothes then armor then vehicles they are in, etc. In this case we need to start with the buildings, since both the alien and the monster have the buildings IN their clutches.  Here you can see why it is important to work from the inside out. Getting to the clock tower portion of the building means working through Dexter's nether regions! If I were to have painted him first (like I wanted to) I would probably have gotten paint on or scraped paint off of that inner thigh of his in an attempt to paint the building. This is why it is also important to get comfortable tilting and spinning the figure to get the best angles for your brush. This will also show certain areas that you may have missed or forgotten about. Ideally, you want as much light as possible to help with that. Sometimes I even resort to using my phone's flashlight app to illuminate things in tough to see places.  As you can see here, using black primer does have some disadvantages. It does add shadow and depth, but it also means needing to paint lighter colors a few times to get the color right. And the same rule with primer applies here. Several thin coats are always better than one thick one- this will keep the detail intact. Let me also take this moment to talk about something I didn't photograph. Inevitably you will have some stray paint get somewhere you've already painted (say like red paint of your roof onto the yellow paint of the walls). The best way I have found to fix this is to not panic, but quickly grab one of those spare brushes, preferably a short tight brush, load it with water and then gently scrub the offending paint off. Don't scrub too hard, or you are liable to take off the paint under it that you want to keep. If you do it right, it will almost seem like the wayward paint is attracted to that new brush like a magnet.
 I'm about half way finished painting the 205 pieces for War of the Ring and I thought it would be good for me to quickly paint something else over the weekend. I also wanted to take the opportunity to encourage you out there, Mr. or Mrs. Neverpaintedanythingbeforeandkindofscaredtotry, that for very little investment ($10 or so), you can probably pull off something pretty good. Pictured above are Alvin and Dexter, an expansion well worth getting for the game Ticket to Ride. Here you see them how they come... interesting, but blah. This is where the list of STUFF you will need, comes in. For the beginner I suggest, a shoe box (used for storage and as a workbench), several nails with flat heads on them, some poster tack stuff that you used as a kid (sort of like thick silly puddy found in the tape and glue isle), a can of primer (though I'm partial to Krylon Camouflage Black, as long as it is flat black it should work fine), a cheap craft acryilic paint set, some small beginner brushes (the smaller the better), and a can of clear gloss lacquer. Now follow along- board game piece is smashed carefully into a small wad of poster tack (preferably completely under the base of the piece) which is mashed on top of nail head with the nail pushed through the shoe box top. Once you have all your pieces mounted like this (as pictured above), check the humidity outside! Anything over 65% is too humid. Once the weather is nice and dry, take the box top with the mounted figures and head outside with your primer. The box top acts not only as a holder for the pieces, but also as a shield for your hand as you pitch and move the whole thing to get at hard to spray places.  Once you are nowhere near a vehicle, the house, the dog, or cement, CHECK FOR THE BREEZE! You don't want to be covered with this stuff either. Toss a few blades of grass into the air and stand upwind. Now the golden rule to priming: spraying several thin coats is always better than just pouring it on. If it begins to look wet, just get your finger off the trigger for a few seconds. Too much too fast, and you will lose details. Here you see Alvin and Dexter with their first coat. And you can still see the details of the buildings and such. Make sure to get into sneaky areas like mouths, spaceship seats, tunnels, in between legs, etc. Keep doing this while twisting and turning the nails from under the box top to get better angles, until the pieces are completely coated.  Here we are back inside after 3, maybe 4, thin coats. You can see the rivets on the spaceship still, and though my photo doesn't show it very well, the scaly skin is still crisp and full of detail. You probably could start painting in about 15-30 minutes, but a tip I have for you is to wait overnight. This will give it a chance to completely dry and give you a chance to figure out things like color schemes and finding tricky spots to remember to paint (like deep inside the mouth of Dexter).
Next time, Painting! Part 2 Here!  After several reviews on Facebook, I thought it would be fun to write about my favorite hobby- Board Gaming. You may have seen some games on your last trip to Target or Barnes & Noble that didn't seem like the games you grew up with. Sure the old standards like Monopoly and Risk are still out there, but right now you can find way more games than you could ever play in a year on the shelves of a hobby store. And take heed, these ain't your grandmama's games! Up front you should know a little bit about them (and the people who play them) before you agree to play something you've never heard of before.
First off, know that the game you are sitting down to could cost anything from $40 to $100. The average price is about $55-$60 for a board game. Often times, owners will upgrade their games driving up their monetary and emotional value. Cards may have plastic "sleeves" to protect them, pieces may have been upgraded with custom painting or even swapped out all together for better pieces, there may be ultra rare promotional bits that weren't distributed widely. Even the box condition is important to hobbyists, so be careful when examining the box or helping to clean things up. And it always shows good manners to ask the owner of the game about what to do with any snacks or drinks you may have (where to put them- use a coaster if they are anywhere close to the game, make sure you aren't eating cheetos or doritos etc). How gamers react to others handling their games is a pretty wide spectrum. You could see every reaction from not caring one iota about the game or its bits, to those who would seemingly have you where a containment suit while playing their precious board game. Secondly, find out how long a "learning game" will take. Many of these games have a play time that is well over an hour. Most hobbyists don't even bat an eyelash at the thought of sitting down to a game that will last TWO hours. A "learning game" will usually tack on a 50% longer playing time than one where everyone is pretty familiar with the game "mechanics." Leaving before a game ends is not be considered sinful by most, but it is generally regarded as poor form. Though this is easily forgiven when playing only one other person, consider the time and keep this in mind before sitting down with a group of people. Thirdly, there are all sorts of games types. If the first game you try out doesn't seem to peak your interest, try something else! There are dice rolling games, deck building games, place workers for resources games, competitive games, cooperative games, short games, long games, games whose theme is rich and encompassing, games whose theme isn't all that strong but the game is still fun, light easy games, party games, heavy games (deep and complex), the list goes on and on. Don't be discouraged by the first time or two where people are talking about things that seem alien to you. They may use terminology that sounds foreign (and may even be a foreign language). You may even notice that somethings come simple to many veteran gamers who sit down to a game for the first time. Like anything else, these things will seem easy to you too, in time (many games have "mechanics" that are similar to other games on the market and experience helps those veteran players flatten the learning curve of a new game). Lastly (for now), many gamers are always on the look out for other gamers. If you don't have a store that caters directly to the board gaming community (try a Google or Yelp search, you may be surprised), try asking at your local comic shops. Many host specific nights when we all come out and meet new folks and try new/old games that we own. That's the one thing I love about this hobby. The meeting of new people and the willingness to share what we have with one another. It's also a great way to meet people who wouldn't normally be involved in your established social circles. So don't be too afraid to talk with new folks, strike up a conversation, ask questions, request to play this or that (whatever looks interesting), and build genuine relationships along the way. |
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