It's Essen time again, and that means it's time for another Metagamers episode (no, that's not the only time we put out episodes...)

In this episode we discuss some quick news items, Jim gives a review of Conflict of Heroes, and we discuss some recently played games.

Our main segment (starts 1 hour into the 2 hour podcast), is where we discuss the Essen games we are looking forward to.  Here is a semi-complete list of games we discuss in fair detail:

Time's Up - Title Recall
Conflict of Heroes
TtR: The Card Game
Conflict of Heroes
Glory to Rome
WoW: TCG
Agricola
Metropolys
Tinner's Trail
Dune
Prussian Rails
In the Year of the Dragon
Space Alert
Battlestar Galactica
Dominion
Great American Railroad Game
Le Havre
After the Flood
Duck Dealer
Endeavor
Ghost Stories
Ideology: War of Ideas
Steel Driver
The Name of the Rose
The Sorcerer of Salem
Wabash Cannonball
Cavum
Powerboats


Enjoy!

A later than planned look back at the year 2007. Jim and Mark talk about their top 5 games of the year, and what makes them so good. There is only one game on both of our lists, which we guess makes it The Metagamers' pick for game of the year 2007.

Games Mentioned

What fun would that be??? Listen and find out!

Vikings image by gamephotos

We're back!

Sorry for the poor sound quality.   I was recording on a new computer, and the mic was up too high at the beginning.  The crackling stops, but it still isn't great.

In this episode we talk about a bunch of games we've played recently, discuss some news items, and start a new contest for Arkadia!

Enjoy!

This episode is all about Auctions.  We get into some news and recently played games, and then jump right in to our main topic.  We discuss (among other things):

- brother story (EG, Taj, Ra, Goa, AoS, PoF....Maharaja!) it might be that they bring a game out of the casual realm you can't just choose something reasonable when it's your turn you have to fight for resources and be able to set values for them

- granularity/scale

- types: open/sequential/fixed price/dutch/blind, restrictions on bids

- unusual auctions: Taj (6 simultaneous rewards), Beowulf (changing currency, bidding for reward selection order), SoE (turn order and alliances)

- stretch: isn't area influence an auction?  EG: bidding cubes over many turns to win VP's

- evaluation: this is one skill that auction games stress, there are games where you compete for items or actions by simply selecting them in sequence (caylus, perikles) with auctions, there's the additional layer of having to evaluate the available item(s) compared to the resources you can afford to spend for example, something is "worth" 6 gold, and you have 6, but spending it all is going to kill you this turn not necessarily the same value per player you may need to bid on items just to make sure another player doesn't get it too cheaply, can be risky, fun?

- balance mechanism

- income: where does money go?

- close: auctions are not all the same, if you hate one game because of auctions don't automatically dismiss other auction games

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:48 News
00:01:51 On the Radar
00:04:13 Recently Played
00:15:44 Victory Points
00:19:00 Main Segment (Auctions)
01:13:06 Outro

Modern Art image by Moviebuffs

We're finally back!

We have a sad announcement, followed by happy retelling of our recent but separate con experiences.  Mark went to Great Lakes Games, and Jim went to Lobster Trap.  Once again, we talk about a ton of different games, most of them new.  We promise the next episode won't be as far away!  Enjoy!

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
00:57 News
03:12 Recently Played
19:34 Great Lakes Games / Lobster Trap
22:35 Convention Games Played
71:22 Outro

Games Mentioned
Main Segment: 1960: The Making of the President, Gheos, Pandemic, Twilight Struggle, Wallenstein, Mr. Jack, Die Kutschfahrt zur Teufelsburg, Bang, Aquaduct, Die Siedler von Catan - Das Würfelspiel, Tichu, Ubongo Extrem, Bug Bluff, Cuba, League of Six, Merchants of Amsterdam, Gyges, GIPF, Cold War, Vikings, King of Siam, Galaxy Trucker, Factory Fun, Through the Ages, Chang Cheng, Jantaris, Felix: The Cat in the Sack, In the Year of the Dragon, Giganten der Lüfte, To Court the King, Key Harvest, Deduce or Die, Brass

Links
Mr. Jack online
Cold War online

Galaxy Trucker image by garyjames

Just in time for Essen, this is our Essen Overload episode, where we discuss all the games we're looking forward to at and around the Spiel fair in Essen.

A couple of corrections to make:
Mordred Correction: If Mordred wins, the player who is the LEAST EVIL wins. That is, the player who has moved the fewest
spaces on the Mordred track.

Cuba:  This was before the rules were released, so there is a lot of incorrect information.  Most importantly, there isn't simultaneous action selection.

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
01:11 Agricola
07:19 Cold War: CIA vs KGB
11:29 Cuba
16:48 Roma II
21:14 Ra Dice Game
22:57 Through the Ages
29:45 Race for the Galaxy
34:14 Kingsburg
39:36 TZAAR
40:50 Akkon: Machtkampf der Tempelritter
43:09 Jantaris
50:29 Amyitis
51:06 Galaxy Trucker
53:58 Chang Cheng
54:14 Ghost For Sale
55:27 Im Jahr des Drachen
56:55 Gangster
57:54 Neuroshima Hex
61:50 Mordred
64:17 Pandemic
65:04 Brass
65:51 Utopia
67:01 Big Boss
67:28 Great American Rail Game
68:41 Container
69:30 King of Siam
70:32 Hamburgum
70:48 Ming Dynastie
71:22 Im Reich der Jadegottin
72:22 Municipium
72:52 Key Harvest
73:06 Veritas
73:51 Merchants
74:06 League of Six
75:47 Essen Wrap Up
78:00 Outro

Games Mentioned

image by

Jay is finally back!  We discuss the social contract of gaming, what makes gaming fun, and what we find fun in games.

There is an extended news segment, in which Jim talks about the some recently released game rules.  We also share some of our recently played games.

Hosts
Mark Haberman(habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
01:30 News
20:55 Recently Played
41:28 Main Segment
73:30 Outro

Games Mentioned

Recent Gaming: Lord of the Rings - Battlefields, Roads and Boats, Caylus Magna Carta, Caylus, Puerto RicoA Victory Lost, Jungle Speed, Vegas Showdown, Ponte del Diavolo, Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation

News: 1960 - The Making of the President, Twilight Struggle, Patrician, Medina, El Capitan, Tycoon, Chang Cheng, Macht und Ohnmacht, Amyitis, Santiago, Samurai

Main Segment: Universalis, Puerto Rico, Ticket To Ride, Apples to Apples, I'm the Boss, Santiago, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thebes, Tower of Babel, Fiji, Goa, Tigris & Euphrates, The Sceptor of Zavendor, Factory Fun, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Through The Desert, Reef Encounter, Ra, Guatamala Cafe
 

Links
1960 vs Twilight struggle comparison
Game Rules Wiki Page
LOTR:TC Fellowship Starting Positions
LOTR:TC Sauron Starting Positions
Jay's Geeklist - Social Contract of Gaming

Dice and Water image by chuckles2000

This episode we are joined by special guest Michael Webb to talk about Age of Steam.  We talk about basic game strategies such as determining the best starting position, figuring out how many shares to issue, and when to choose the different actions.

We also talk a little bit about Railroad Tycoon and the current state of Age of Steam affairs, including the flood of new expansions.

In addition to the Age of Steam discussion, Jim talks about his recent trip to Unity games, and we announce the latest contest winner.

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jim Cote (ekted)
Michael Webb (cortexbomb)

Index
00:00 Intro
01:42 Contest and Donation
03:58 Unity Games
10:25 Age of Steam
78:14 Outro

Games Mentioned
Main Segment: Age of Steam, Railroad Tycoon

Age of Steam image by Thommy8

After a short delay and many technical problems, The Metagamers are proud to present the Boardgame Podcaster's Award for Best Game of the Year.

We discuss the nominees and the awards in general, as well as mention our continuing contest and new supporters of the show.

Hosts
Jim Cote (ekted)
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)

In this episode we talk about the GIPF series of abstract games with our special guest Joe Gola.  We get into general strategies for each of the games, and discuss issues such as balance and tension as it relates to each game. 

As usual, our discussion assumes that you are already familiar with the games, so if you aren't, head over to BoardGameGeek and check them out there first.  The Abstract Gamer podcast also has nice introductory episodes on YINSH and GIPF. 

Jay is off this episode, but look for all three of The Metagamers to return to form in the next one.

Hosts
Jim Cote (ekted)
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Joe Gola (Gola)

Index
00:00 Intro
00:32 Contest Winner / New Contest
02:52 Unity Games
03:23 GIPF
14:45 TAMSK
21:36 ZERTZ
25:23 DVONN
36:48 YINSH
46:13 PUNCT
57:44 Wrap Up
63:22 Outro

Games Mentioned
Main Segment: GIPF, Abalone, TAMSK, Space Dealer, ZERTZ, Dots and Boxes, Samurai, DVONN, Fjords, YINSH, PUNCT

Links
Abstract Gamer Podcast
Play YINSH Online
Play PUNCT Online
Boîte à jeux
Boardspace

GIPF image by fehrmeister

Jay and Mark discuss their time at Origins 2007.  We give our Hits and Misses, as well as our general thoughts on the games, sights, and exhibitors at the show.

Hosts
Mark Habermanm (habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)

Index
00:00 Intro
00:30 First Impressions
05:15 General, CABS
08:50 Hits
25:00 Misses
32:30 Podcast Panel, Exhibitions
43:50 Auction
45:50 Miscellaneous
57:50 Closing Thoughts
59:15 Outro

Games Mentioned
Main Segment: Duel in the Dark, Through the Ages, Jenseits von Theben, St. Petersburg, Colosseum, Princes of Florence, Pizza Box Baseball, Pizza Box Football, Strat-O-Matic Baseball, Fiji, Bazaar, Shazamm!, Guatamala Cafe, Oasis, Dos Rios, Ra, A Victory Lost, Zooloretto, Marvin Marvel's Marvelous Marble Machine, Chopstick Dexterity MegaChallenge 3000, Battleship, Tichu, Space Dealer, Zooloretto, Taluva, Attribute, Apples to Apples, Imperial, Mimic, Stack Market, Can't Stop, Battlestations: Pirates of Trundlia, Lifeboat

Head over to Jim Van Verth's The Vintage Gamer for a recording of the Boardgame Podcaster's panel held at Origins.  Jim was kind enough to record and post the session.

Here is the link:
http://essentialmath.com/vintagegamer/?p=60

Jim, Mark and Jay get together to talk about all the games they'd love to play that they just haven't had the opportunity for -- lacking access to the game, to enough time or to the right group of players. We discuss what makes some of these games so compelling and interesting to us.

At the very end, Jay features a short podcast from the Geekway to the West, held in St. Louis back in June, including a broadcast of the thrilling Monkey Madness Finals.

Hosts
Jim Cote (ekted)
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)

Index
0:00:00 Intro
0:01:33 Recently Played Games
0:29:48 News
0:39:16 Victory Points: Goa
0:48:58 Main Segment - Wishlist Gaming
1:21:19 Outro
1:21:49 Geekway to the West Recap

Games Mentioned
Recent Gaming: Antike, Leonardo da Vinci, Tempus, Caylus, Age of Steam, Railroad Tycoon, Tide of Iron, Memoir '44, Advanced Squad Leader, Traumfabrik, Hollywood Blockbuster, Minion Hunter, Ra, That's Life, Wits & Wagers, Lexio, Diamant

News: Zooloretto, Yspahan, Notre Dame

Main Segment: Through the Ages, Twilight Struggle, Dune, Cosmic Encounter, Shadows Over Camelot, A Most Dangerous Time, Fire in the Sky, Nobunaga's Ambition, A Victory Lost, Bonaparte at Marengo, Man O War, MechWarrior: Dark Age, BattleTech, Heroscape, Galactic Destiny, Age of Empires III, Arkadia, Imperial, Antike, 18XX, Acquire, Race to the Galaxy, San Juan, Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage, Princes of the Renaissance, Long Live the King, die Macher, BattleStations, Magic Realm, Combat Commander: Europe

Links
The Metagamers BGG Guild

Through the Ages image by pogo

Gerald Cameron and I tell you more than you ever wanted to know about The Princes of Florence ... and then a little more.  It's a fantastic medium heavy Euro with a lot going on: auctions, actions, pseudo-secret goals, spatial management, economic planning, and a moderate amount of player interaction.

We will be announcing the contest winner in the next episode.  Mark was sidelined due to the birth of his daughter.

Hosts
Jim Cote (ekted)
Gerald Cameron (Linnaeus)

Index
0:00:00 Intro
0:06:12 Auction Phase
0:19:51 Auction Phase Thoughts
0:25:28 Evaluating Auction-Phase Items
0:42:39 Action Phase
1:04:34 General Strategies
1:14:16 Risks and Disadvantages of Strategies
1:21:59 Q&A
1:32:50 Outro

Games Mentioned
Main Segment: The Princes of Florence, Age of Steam, Amun-Re, El Grande, Power Grid, Tigris & Euphrates, Puerto Rico

Links
Rick Fawke's Strategy Article
Gerald Cameron's Strategy Article Part 1
Gerald Cameron's Strategy Article Part 2
Gerald Cameron's Strategy Article Part 3

The Princes of Florence image by kilroy_locke

After getting caught up with our recent gaming, we dive into one of Eurogaming's leading designers, Wolfgang Kramer. With more than 100 games to his credit, Kramer has a diverse design portfolio, from meaty, complex games to lighter family and children's games. We discuss Kramer's design style, our favorite games he has designed and explore a number of his contributions.

In this podcast, we mention that the current contest will run until May 30th; however, Due to delays in editing, the contest will actually run until June 6th.

 

Enter the Contest!

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jason Little (ynnen)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
01:03 Recent Gaming
25:14 Victory Points
32:18 Main Segment: Wolfgang Kramer
63:38 Contest Update
65:41 Outro

Games Mentioned
Recent Gaming: Struggle of Empires (Innovan's FAQ), Die Macher, Mr. Jack, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Shadows Over Camelot, Lord of the Rings, LotR: Sauron Expansion, Drunter & Druber, TRON Light Cycles!!, Heimlich & Company, Gulo Gulo, Hey! That's My Fish!, M is for Mouse (misnamed as Mouse to Mouse), Imperial, Antike, Fjords, Carcassonne, Through the Desert

Victory Points: El Grande, El Grande and even more El Grande!, San Marco.

Main Segment: El Grande, Maharaja, Java, Mexica, Tikal, Torres, Princes of Florence, Australia, Viva Pamplona, Midnight Party, Verflixxt (That's Life), 6 Nimmt, Category 5, Gulo Gulo, Colosseum, El Caballero, Venedig, Pueblo, Hacienda, Origo, Wildlife, Ticket to Ride, Through the Desert, Risk, Monopoly, Sorry, Trouble.

El Grande image by Propose

In this episode we discuss the finer points of RA with guest Alex Bove (montu), announce the winner of contest 2, and begin a new contest. 

There is a shorter Recently Played segment and no news due to the length of the main segment.  Enjoy!

Enter the Contest!

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jason Little (ynnen)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Hosts
Alex Bove (montu)

Index
00:00 Intro
00:45 Contest Results
05:12 Recent Gaming
14:04 Main Segment: Ra
67:55 Outro

Games Mentioned
Recent Gaming: I'm the Boss, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Notre Dame, Yspahan, Mare Nostrum (w/Mythology Expansion)

Main Segment: Ra, http://www.partypoker.com/how_to_play/using-our-poker-table/game-fairness-and-security/, For Sale

 

 

RA image by JackRandom

In this episode we talk about all manner of gaming goodness, from our recent gaming to some interesting news bits. We also introduce a brand new Strategy segment (which desperately needs your help finding a new name!). Our main segment focuses on the randomness, luck and chaos in games - and just what we mean by those terms, which get tossed around the hobby quite a bit. Just watch out for the cat in that ding n' dent copy of Settlers of Catan.

Enter the Contest!

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jason Little (ynnen)
Jim Cote (ekted) -- (note to self: sounds like "Cody")

Index
00:00 Intro
00:58 Recent Gaming
15:10 Contest Winner!
17:01 News & Notes
27:12 5-Minute Strategies
37:31 Main Segment: Luck & Chaos
67:55 Outro & The End....?

Games Mentioned
Recent Gaming: Notre Dame, Blood Bowl, Mare Nostrum w/Mythology Expansion, Dungeons & Dragons, Mexica, Goa, Beowulf , Taj Mahal, Go, Liberte, Notre Dame, Santiago, Bull in a China Shop (Der Elefant in Porzellanladen), Medici vs. Strozzi, Medici, Wayfinder, Mancala, Samurai

News: Cleopatra's Caboose (Yeah Zambo!),Notre Dame, Puerto Rico, Venedig, Tichu, Ra, Race for the Galaxy, Phoenicia, San Juan, Zepter von Zavandor

Slightly-More-Than-5-Minute-Strategy-Segment: Samurai!, Puerto Rico, Samurai, Samurai, Samurai, Samurai, Samurai

Main Segment: Caylus, Crokinole, PitchCar, X-Bugs, Settlers of Catan, Louis XIV, Beowulf, Risk, The Napoleonic Wars, Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage, Crusader Rex, Ra, Caylus, Chess, Princes of Florence, Notre Dame, Fairy Tale, Lost Cities, Citadels, Maharaja, Mission: Red Planet

 

Links
MaBi Web (Samurai online)

Citadels image by lehjoz

In this episode we deal with cats, various technical difficulties, and oh yeah, we play Venedig on BSW.  We discuss the rules in depth and tactical situations as they arise in game.

This episode also marks the start of our new ongoing partnership with GameSurplus.com by announcing the first of many contests.  We will be giving away two $10 gift certificates a month to our listeners, so stay tuned!

Enter the Contest!

A note about the sound quality:  We experienced several problems while recording and editing the podcast, resulting in poor sound quality throughout the episode.  We are sorry for this, and the next episode will be back up to our usual standards.

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Gerald Cameron (linnaeus)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
01:33 Recent Gaming
33:58 Main Segment
52:00 Venedig (screencap 1)
52:20 Venedig (screencap 2)
57:50 Venedig game end (screencap 3)
59:22 Contest
62:57 Outro

Games Mentioned
Recent Gaming: Bonaparte at Marengo, El Grande, Tikal, Shogun,
Wallenstein, Antike, Shadows Over Camelot, Saboteur, Factory Fun,
Take It Easy, Mission: Red Planet, Boomtown, Salamanca, Tigris &
Euphrates, Acquire, Hermagor, Thurn & Taxis

Main Segment: Venedig, Tower of Babel, Blue Moon City, Torres

Links
VASSAL Engine Web Site
SpielByWeb
BrettSpielWelt
GameSurplus

Venedig image by Arneji

In this, our second expansion episode, we delve deep into the strategy game Amun-Re.  We will be discussing strategies for the first and second epochs, running down the relative value of the provinces, discussing the value of the power cards, and answering some listener questions.

For those unfamiliar with the game, it is highly recommended that you read the rules, and even get in a game or two online to get the most out of this episode.

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)

Index
00:00 - Intro
00:48 - Why Amun-Re?
03:09 - Overview of Strategies & Concepts
05:50 - Strategies for the First Kingdom
14:18 - How to Evaluate Regions
20:22 - Region by Region Analysis
38:32 - Power Card Preview
44:15 - Second Half Strategies
46:50 - In-Depth Power Card Discussion
53:58 - Strategy Q&A
71:07 - Outro

Games Mentioned (* = in passing)
Amun-Re!

Links
SpielByWeb

Amun-Re image by garyjames

In this episode we discuss some of our favorite games, and why we like them so much.  There wasn't much news to report, so there isn't a news section in this episode.

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
00:26 Recent Gaming
30:27 Main Segment: Personal Favorites
71:41 Exit

Games Mentioned
Recent Gaming: War of the Ring, Twilight Struggle, Antike, Elasund, Lord of the Rings, California, On the Underground, Through the Desert, Hollywood Blockbuster, Ra, Cranium Hoopla, Cribbage, Cairo, Make 'n' Break, X-Bugs, Pitch Car

Main Segment: Ra, Taj Mahal, Beowulf, Blood Bowl, Get the Goods, El Grande, San Marco, Cosmic Encounter, Goa, Fjords, Time's Up, Maharaja, Princes of Florence, Vinci, ASL Starter Kits, Subbuteo, Fury of Dracula, Shadows Over Camelot, Minion Hunter, Battlestations, For Sale, Samurai, Beowulf, Siege of the Citadel

Ra image by wizardless

Welcome to the first "Expansion" for The Metagamers Podcast. In this Expansion, Jay Little - ynnen on BoardGameGeek - talks a bit about himself, the hobby and shares an embarrassingly bad version of the original Intro theme which was thankfully voted down by Mark and Jim.

These shorter mini-episodes provide some additional context about The Metagamers hosts and our likes and leanings in between the full podcasts. These Expansions are bite-sized morsels of gaming goodness that may not otherwise fit into the context of our main segments.

Hosts
Jay Little (ynnen)

Index (total run-time 8:51)
0:00 - Metagamers Intro
0:28 - Expansion Intro
1:20 - Ynnen's Background
4:36 - I Love My >>
6:08 - Over the Top Intro Attempt
7:52 - Goodbye For Now
8:24 - Outro

Games Mentioned (in no particular order)
Boggle, Scrabble, Blood Bowl, Chainsaw Warrior, Talisman, Wizard, Cribbage, Hearts, Pitch, Cosmic Encounter, Klay Warz, Exodus, Cyberpunk, Shadowrun, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons

Karate Chop image - ynnen's most common BGG Avatar.

In this episode we discuss the widely used Area Control / Majority mechanic. Despite its popularity and presence in so many games, it's not a searchable category or mechanic on BoardGameGeek.com.

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
00:26 Recent Gaming
17:47 News & Notes
32:57 Main Segment: Area Influence Games
59:37 Exit

Games Mentioned (* = in passing)
Recent Gaming: Downfall of Pompeii, Elasund, Carcassonne*, Fjords*, Go*, Through the Desert*, Pueblo*, Midnight Party*, Twilight Struggle, Liberte, Cranium Hoopla, Beowulf, Snorta*, Risk*, Axis & Allies*, Fearsome Floors

News & Notes: Age of Empires III, Caylus*, Leonardo da Vinci*, Puerto Rico*, Struggle of Empires*, Goa*, Settlers of Catan (Xbox 360), Zombietown, Zombies!!!*

Main Segment: Web of Power, El Grande, San Marco, Carcassonne, Santiago*, Union Pacific, Get the Goods, Modern Art, Alhambra, Maharaja, Blue Moon City, Hansa, Perikles, Alexandros, Taj Mahal, Samurai, Entdecker, Australia

El Grande image by garyjames

Welcome to our first episode, where we take a look at some recent gaming, news notes, and then discuss scalability in games, and why some games work well with different numbers of players.

Hosts
Mark Haberman (habermanm)
Jay Little (ynnen)
Jim Cote (ekted)

Index
00:00 Intro
03:17 Recent Gaming
12:20 News & Notes
29:52 Main Segment: Area Influence Games
49:13 Exit

Games Mentioned (* = in passing)
Recent Gaming: Zertz, Punct*, Yinsh*, DVONN*, Tumbling Dice, Crokinole*, PitchCar*, Vegas Showdown, Ticket to Ride*, Settlers of Catan*, Amun-Re*, Great Wall of China*, Beowulf, Cranium Hoopla, Time's Up*, Make n' Break, Carousel*, Villa Palleti*, Hamsterolle*

News & Notes: Colosseum, Princes of Florence*, Clash of Gladiators*, Age of Steam, Railroad Tycoon, Tide of Iron, Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition*, Memoir '44, Advanced Squad Leader, Duel in the Dark, Siena*

Main Segment: Amun-Re, Princes of Florence, Ingenious, St. Petersburg*, Caylus, Tikal*, Java*, Attika, Louis XIV*, Hey! That's My Fish!, Goa*, Antike*, Kill Doctor Lucky*, Web of Power*, Carolus Magnus*, San Marco, Alhambra*, Katzenjammer Blues*, City & Guilds*, Masons, Tigris & Euphrates*, Great Wall of China, Beowulf, Santiago, El Grande*, Wallenstein*, Oasis*, Ra, Samurai, Through the Desert, Keythedralt

Attika image by Frouvne