Is East Best?
Organising a con is hard work. Organising DiceConWest is tougher than DiceConEast because of the competitions since running competitions well (at least I hope they are well run) takes a lot. But at DiceConEast the hard work is offest by the fact I get to play games. This year I got to play lots of games and, from the looks of it, so did everyone who came.
BattleLore
Thanks to the good offices of Days of Wonder and Gordon Lamont, we had a copy of BattleLore for people to drool over and play. suffice it to say we nearly had to forcefully take it back as this was an undoubted hit. The fantasy version of Richard Borg's 'wargame' system - Memoir '44 and Command and Color: Ancients - was very well received and hopefully will be a big success for Days of Wonder. They thoroughly deserve it for putting out great, playable games.
Shear Panic
Gordon and Fraser Lamont had some copies of this which were given away as door prizes; and very popular they were, too.
My Games
I got to play Settlers the Card game, Medici v Strozzi, Imperial and Yspahan.
Settlers was good fun. The Medici 2 player game is excellent. Just the right balance of luck and planning and playing time. Easy to play and tough to master.
Imperial was a strange experience. It's about investing in countries which may go to war, industrialise or whatever. But the other players can interfere with your plans and take over control of your target country. I finished second in a four player game but one of the players was out of things for half the game. And I felt there was nothing I could do to make up lost ground from about half way through. It's a game I would like to try again with the benefit of some expert help to get the best out of it.
I liked Yspahan because it was fresh and fun. Again I finished second but this time every player was involved and had a fair chance up until the last turn. The desert/trading theme works well and the disparate mechanics blended surprisingly well, too. One to play again.
Door Prizes
Too many to mention. But we must mention Esdevium Games and Days of Wonder for their terrific support whic allowed us to have such good prizes.
Thanks
To everyone who came along, thanks. To everyone who gave a hand - especially the ever reliable and helpful Gery McLaughlin, Brian Stern and Ian Borthwick - thanks. Gordon and Fraser Lamont know we could not manage it without them. And to the Royal Overseas League for hosting us, thanks.
Your Con
How was it for you? What did you play? Enjoy? Hate? Miss? Please send in your articles - short, medium or long - and let us know what you thought of our efforts. Email me. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Next Year
Is there any reason not to go back to the same venue? Do let us know. We're off for a break.
Ellis Simpson
17 December 2006