Although we hold Gulf Games every six months, it seems as though years pass between each one. I am always so anxious to get together again with all of the wonderful people, that the wait seems interminable. Of course, when we are actually planning the event, making decorations and name badges and tending to the myriad of details that help make each Gulf Games so special, there never seems to be enough time!
FRIDAY - TUESDAY: FEBRUARY 14 - 17TH
Once again, Gulf Games began early for me. James Miller escaped the frozen tundra of northern Ohio and journeyed down to the bayou for several days of sight-seeing and Mardi Gras madness in the Big Easy. We were 2 bachelors for a long weekend, as Gail had departed on Thursday for 4 days in the Big Apple with some friends.
James and I spent Friday sight-seeing in the French Quarter, enjoying the sights, street performers and food. Later that night, Westbank Gamer Jim Fairchild joined us for a few games: Railroad Dice and Nuggets. This was my first playing of Nuggets and I found the game quite intriguing, although a bit prone to the “cone of silence” syndrome. In other words, lots of staring, thinking and little chatter. Still, I'm not averse to such games, and this one was enjoyable.
On Saturday, we visited the outstanding National D-Day museum. I've visited the museum numerous times and always am mesmerized by it. The quality of the museum is on par with the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. I'll never tire of visiting it.
We returned home for some rest before heading over to meet my good friends Tom & Ann Cortazzo for a Mardi Gras parade. This was James' first carnival parade and he really enjoyed it, catching an abundance of beads, doubloons and cups. After the parade, we returned to the Cortazzo home for a few games.
Sunday brought another Mardi Gras parade: the Krewe of Alla. It was a chilly day, but the sun shone brightly, giving both James and I a bit of a sunburn. We caught lots of loot from the generous riders. We returned home and were joined by fellow Westbank Gamer Dave Atwood and the Scottish clan of Ian Borthwick, Desmond Middleton and Moira Baxter. It was great to have Ian and Desmond back at the bayou bungalow, and a true pleasure to meet Desmond's fiancé Moira.
I taught the group Oasis, and we closed with a 5-player game of Wildlife. Moira was a bit tired from their Birmingham - New Orleans journey, so she opted to crash on the sofa and watch a bit of television.
Dez destroyed us in Oasis, while I managed a come-from-behind victory in Wildlife.
Oasis: Desmond 143, Mona 94, Ian 74, Dave 68, James 53
Ratings: Desmond 8, Dave 7, James 7, Ian 6, Mona 5
Monday was a work day for me, so James did a bit of shopping and sight-seeing while I was occupied. That night, we packed the bags in preparation for Gulf Games. We also managed to get in a few 2-player games, including Carcassonne: The Castle. Once again I failed to scoop the special tokens, which cost me the game. Still, I thoroughly enjoy this 2-player version.
After a bit of work on Tuesday, we headed to Pensacola that afternoon. The drive is fairly short, just over 3 hours. We arrived in time to freshen-up and meet-up with Ian, Desmond and Moira. We opted for dinner at Flounders, which was unusually crowded for a Tuesday evening. After dinner, we returned to the game room, where Tim & Vickie Watson and Joe Huber were waiting.
We were a bit surprised by the layout of the game room, and it was Vickie who discovered that the hotel had mixed-up the three page room diagram she had FAXed them. So, we had to rearrange the room, a chore which took a bit of time. Not too much time, though, as we managed to play a few games before retiring for the evening.
Ark of the Covenant
Yet another installment in the Carcassonne franchise. This one has some interesting twists and is my favorite of the series. The addition of the Ark gives players another option on their turn and does add another strategic element. Ian, Desmond, James and I traveled back to the time of the Old Testament.
Finals: Greg 103, Ian 76, Desmond 51, James 49
Ratings: Ian 8, Greg 7.5, Desmond 7, James 6.5
King Me
We closed the evening with a 6-player game of King Me. In spite of having a healthy dose of “bluffing”, an element I usually am not terribly fond of, this game is light enough that I am not bothered by this. Vickie proved the most astute at maneuvering her candidates up the ranks of the King's court.
Finals: Vickie 756, Greg 64, James 63, Tim 61, Joe 56, Ian 48
Ratings: Ian 7, Vickie 6, Greg 6, James 6, Tim 6, Joe 5
WEDNESDAY: FEBRUARY 18TH
Wednesday was preparation day. A ever-growing crew spent the better part of the day decorating the room. James Miller managed to get the electric air pump operating and spent several hours blowing-up the nearly 100 inflatable sea critters that we hung from the ceiling. Joe Huber was assigned the task of attaching the ceiling clips to the critters, while I used my favorite toy - the ceiling pole - to hang the inflatable critters from the ceiling.
After the ceiling decorations were hung, it was time to construct the tiki hut. When Vickie first suggested the idea of constructing a hut, I was, well, skeptical. She always has some wonderful ideas, but the amount of work required frightened me. As we struggled to tie the bamboo polls and get them straight, I must admit that my skepticism increased. However, things managed to come together and soon we had a very authentic tiki hut to serve as our Beach Bazaar. It really did add to the atmosphere and was quite impressive. Bravo, Vickie!
Many other volunteers helped with the decorations, which made the process go smoothly. Still, it did take us the better part of the day to complete. The outcome was well worth it. The room was stunning and very, very festive.
A large group of us enjoyed a dinner together at Crabs, a seafood restaurant near the hotel. I really enjoy the time spent with the wonderful folks who attend Gulf Games, and going to dinner with some super friends just adds to the experience. We joked, we laughed and had a fantastic time. It was especially amusing when Chris Comeaux cracked a king crab claw and a piece flew off, striking Ian Borthwick in the head!
After dinner, it was time for a few games. Well, in my case, one game played twice.
Tongiaki
This was my “most played” game of the convention. I think that only Jay Jones played it more than me. I had played it only once previously, and that was a 6-player affair at a Westbank Gamers session. Truth-be-told, I wasn't very impressed after this playing, as the board changed so drastically from turn-to-turn that I felt there wasn't much control. However, I was still planning on playing the game with 4 and 5 players to see if one's control - and my opinion - improved. Fortunately, after numerous additional playings, I found that the answer was “yes” on both accounts. I found myself enjoying each subsequent game more and more, and actually looking forward to playing it again after each playing. Sure, there is still a decent element of luck involved, but there is more control and strategy present than initially meets the eye.
My first game involved Ward Batty, Ed Rozmiarek, Jay Jones and myself. Ed proved to be the best explorer.
Finals: Ed 30, Ward 25, Greg 18, Jay 18
Ratings: Ed 7, Jay 7, Ward 6.5, Greg 6.5
Jay and I stuck together for an additional playing, being joined by Chris Comeaux, Stven Carlberg and Chris Jones. My opinion of the game improved, in spite of losing yet again.
Finals: Stven 28, Jay 25, Greg 22, Chris C. 20, Chris J. 5
Ratings: Jay 8, Chris J. 7, Stven 7, Greg 7, Chris C. 5.5
THURSDAY: FEBRUARY 19TH
Thursday marked the official opening of Gulf Games 13. All of the preparations had been made and the room was festively decorated. The atmosphere was exciting and the months of anticipation had finally come to fruition. Let me tell you, Gulf Games is simply fantastic and the excitement when one begins is titillating.
Lots of folks arrived on Thursday. It is always fun to watch folks enter the game room. I enjoy the expression on their faces as they look around and are amazed by the decorations and the overall atmosphere. Plus, it is fun to greet each one, welcoming old friends and meeting new ones. It is truly magical.
The big event on Thursday was our Welcome Party. Since we were meeting in Pensacola Beach, it was only appropriate that the theme of the event would be 'Back to the Beach'. Thus, it was only natural that our Welcome Party required everyone to be in “beach attire”! The results was amazing and highly entertaining. There are some super photos of folks in their “beach best” up on the Gulf Games website and I encourage everyone to take a look:
Some highlights: Kim McCarthy in her turn-of-the-century (early 1900's!) swimwear; Mark & Mindy Engelberg as snorklers; Henry Hunger (who won the “bravest” award!) in swim trunks and towel; Ian Borthwick and Desmond Middleton in bizarre, early 1900's beach attire, complete with handkerchiefs on their heads; and, of course, Lee Hendee wearing a grass skirt and shell brassiere. That photo will come back to haunt him one day!
Kim McCarthy displays the latest fashion in swimwear. Ian Borthwick is in the background, modeling Scottish beach attire.
Stven Carlberg was our master of ceremonies and kept things moving along nicely. Our group Take It Easy contest was won by Philip Sasse with a score of 186. The clever group “mixer” had everyone scurrying about the room trying to find folks who had the same answers they did … and in the same location. I tied with Mark Engelberg (I believe), but he had more answers in a row than I did to capture the victory. Kudos to Stven for another fun Welcome Party.
Now for a summary of the games I played on Thursday:
Oasis (2x)
I played and taught this new UberPlay release numerous times throughout the convention. While some complain of the “luck of the draw”, I find the game immensely fun and challenging. I look for it to receive a nomination for the International Gamers Awards and the Spiel des Jahre.
Game 1: Ty Douds 91, Greg 78, Kenny Douds 62, Calvin Douds 42, Dave Vander Ark 37
Ratings: Ty 8, Kenny 8, Calvin 8, Greg 7.5, Dave 6
China Moon
A game that seems as though it should play fast and quick, but actually is prone to over-thinking. It also has a nasty “king-making” problem that rears its ugly head too often. My opinion of the game has dropped from my early playings.
Rome - Circus Maximus
Although very basic, I still find this Reiner Knizia chariot racing game from GMT's Rome compilation to be quite intriguing and challenging. It is amazing how each game feels different from previous ones. I'm still searching for the perfect chariot racing game, though.
Winner: Greg
Ratings: Leon Hendee 8, Greg 7.5, Ian Borthwick 7, Jeanette Vander Ark 6, Desmond Middleton 6
Tongiaki
Along with Oasis, this is the game that I taught the most different people how to play. Yes, there is luck of the draw and an increasing lack of control when playing with more players, but I find the game to be interesting and intriguing. There are some clever moves and tactics one can employ, particularly when playing with 4 or even 5 players. I don't recommend playing with 6.
Finals: Jay Jones 21, Susan Hendee 16, Michael Weston 14, Julie Weston 12, Greg 10
Ratings: Jay , everyone else 7
Bonobo Beach
I never had the opportunity to play Cronberg, so pestered Kevin Gonzalez to teach Bonobo Beach to me. Bonobo is the same game as Cronberg, but with a beach theme. How appropriate! Yes, the game is light, easy and very straight-forward. Still, it was reasonably enjoyable and just might be something Gail and her parents would enjoy.
Finals: Shay Douds 33, Greg 14, Michael Weston 4, Kevin Gonzalez 2
Ratings: Kevin 6, Shay 6, Greg 6, Michael 5
Maya
An abbreviated game as we only completed 2 rounds prior to aborting the game due to the approaching Welcome Party. I find the game very enjoyable with lots to think about. Some have claimed this is a “brain-burner”, but I just don't see it as being that intense.
Die Steven Segal (Die Sieben Seagal)
I am very, very intrigued by this clever trick-taking game from Steffan Dorra. Sometimes I feel I have a good grip on strategy, while at other times, I feel as though I'm a fish out of water. This was one of those times as I was left gasping for air by my more astute opponents.
Finals: Christine Simundson 7, Rick Thornquist 9, Derk Solko 9, Greg 15, Jay Jones 25
Ratings: Rick 8, Derk 8, Greg 7.5, Christine 6.5, Jay 6
Guillotine
It has been a long, long time since I played this very light, yet quite fun card game of chopping off heads. I did miss using the miniature guillotine that I use with my set!
Terra
When last visiting with Tim & Vickie Watson up in Madison, Mississippi, Gail, Tim, Vickie and I played this game 7 times in succession. We finally overcame all of the world's problems in the 7th game! Although the game admittedly has some problems, we all had a good time and found it to be quite enjoyable. Sadly, the group I taught it to here was far less enthused, as the world collapsed into chaos very quickly.
Stalking the Perfect Tan
The ever-clever Joe Huber designs a game for each Gulf Games he attends. This edition's game had an appropriate theme - searching for the perfect tan. The game was a clever dice-rolling, push-your-luck affair.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH
The Crokinole tournament began on Friday, but I generally do not participate. First, I'm not a huge fan of Crokinole and I generally avoid contests, preferring to participate in “open” gaming. As such, we had no other specific events scheduled.
10 Days in USA
I must say that I really enjoy the Out of the Box versions of Europa Tour. The boards are larger and less cluttered. Plus, the components are top-notch, including heavy wooden tile holders. Unfortunately, I am still terrible at the games! Julie Weston proved the best travel agent. Players: Julie Weston, Kim Berg, Craig Berg, Greg
Hase und Igel
It has been awhile since I played this David Parlett classic. Fellow Westbank Gamer Jim Fairchild had just arrived and this was his very first Gulf Games … and his first game. What a way to begin as he sped to the victory! Players: Jim Fairchild, Ian Borthwick, Leon Hendee, Ed Rozmiarek, Chris Lohroff, Greg
Crokinole
No, I wasn't in the tournament, but did manage to do some finger-flicking nonetheless. Kim Berg and I were partnered against Stven Carlberg and Ben Huber. Finals: Kim & Greg 55, Stven & Ben 0
Attika
Along with Tongiaki and Oasis, Attika was probably amongst the top 3 games played at the convention. Although there certainly is a “luck of the draw” factor, I still find the game quite strategic, with plenty of opportunity for clever play. We all jostled to make connections and to deny connections to our opponents, but Michael Labranche managed to sneak around the rear of a temple and make a connection.
Tahiti
The Atlanta crew has been playing quite a bit of this older title, so I was anxious to learn the game. Stven Carlberg was gracious enough to teach me. Money is extremely tight, so I found the auctions quite constrained. The game just didn't do much for me. Finals: Stven 21, Greg 7, Jim Fairchild 13, Ward Batty 11 Ratings: Stven 7, Ward 7, Jim 5.5, Greg 5
Arena Maximus
Another chariot racing game - how could I resist? Truth-be-told, I wasn't too enthused about the idea that magic was involved in this latest Fantasy Flight release, as I'm still searching for a “pure” chariot racing game. However, since none of the participants had played before, we decided to omit the optional magic rules and run the basic race.
I found the game OK, but nothing special. It seemed very repetitive. Perhaps we weren't being aggressive enough. I did grab a copy off the prize table, so will play it again soon. Keith and I raced passed the finish line on the same turn, but I had more movement to spare, thereby capturing the victory.
Tongiaki
Yet another playing of this recent UberPlay release. My opinion and rating is holding steady at solid “7”. The game ended in a tie, with Sharon winning the tie-breaker by being on the most islands. Finals: Warren Madden 23, Sharon Madden 23, Greg 22, Matt Albritton 21, Craig Berg 10 Ratings: Sharon 7, Matt 7, Greg 7, Warren 6, Craig 6
Exxtra
A few Gulf Games back, several of us were involved in a silly game of Exxtra wherein we invented names for each rolled result. For instance, “63” was a “Kennedy”, while 76 was “trombone”. Think about it. Well, we laughed ourselves silly, so now playing a game of Exxtra using these names has become a tradition. Stven Carlberg was dragged into the madness and actually emerged victorious.
Nuggets
James Miller had introduced me to this game prior to Gulf Games and I found it very interesting. This was the first opportunity I had to play it in partnership and enjoyed it just as much, if not more. It does have a tendency to drag a bit as players ponder their moves.
Finals: Tim Watson & Greg 26.5, Charlie Davis & Lenny Leo 21.5 Ratings: All 6's
Zirkus Flohcati
One more game before retiring for the evening. In spite of being exhausted, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play with two folks with whom I had not yet played!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST
The last full day of gaming for the convention. Sigh. It seems to come SO quickly. There were several activities scheduled for Saturday. The first was the traditional Liar's Dice tournament. Eight tables of dice rolling and cup slamming commenced, followed by a finals consisting of eight players. The Westbank Gamers were well represented in the finals, with Shanna Labranche, Jim Fairchild and myself qualifying. The Douds family was also well represented, as both Shay and Ariel qualified. In the end, it was little angelic Ariel who ousted all of us grizzled veterans (sorry, Shay and Shanna!) to capture the title.
Our next scheduled event was heavily dependent upon the weather - a sand sculpture contest. Fortunately, as Warren Madden predicted, the weather cooperated and was actually sensational! Participants were given one hour in which to create a sand sculpture that was somehow related to games. Numerous teams rushed to the beach, buckets and shovels in hand, to create their masterpieces. Just about everyone took some time to roam out to the beach and view the various creations, which included a Liar's Dice set, Crokinole boards, meeples, Survive ensemble, Whack-A-Mole and more. It was a fun event and the talent of these folks continues to amaze me!
The final event of the evening was the announcement of our contest winners and the prize table giveaway. We also had a special treat for everyone. For quite awhile, it has been a tradition for attendees to bring various items (food, snacks, souvenirs, etc.) from their locale. Formerly, these would be assembled into several gift baskets and awarded as prizes. Well, we wanted everyone to share in the wealth, so we opted to construct a “Beach Bazaar”. We had over 100 items donated and these were separated into various groupings. As people were called to the prize table, they would also stop by the Bazaar and “purchase” items using the sea critters they had earned during the course of the convention. This proved to be extremely popular and will be continued at future Gulf Games.
Craig Berg handled the announcement chores during the prize table giveaway. Each person walked away with at least 3 games. This was probably our best prize table ever, with nearly 150 top-notch games available. Thanks to everyone for bringing some outstanding games.
Games played on Saturday:
Feurio
We decided to use two variants: (1) When placing a tile as a fire-break, the player does NOT have to discard a pawn; and (2) The tiles with a value of “1” are treated as a “2”. Both of these variants seemed to work extremely well and created a very tight game.
Finals; Michelle Corbin 13, Greg 13, Keith Canova 12, Earl Bailey 9
Ratings: Michelle 8, everyone else 7.5
Sticheln
As much as I enjoy Sticheln, this was the first time I've ever played it with just 3 players. Michael Weston insisted that this is the best way to play, as it offers the opportunity for some extremely clever - and nasty - plays. He is correct. One has much more control when playing cards. I must try it again with 3 player with my Westbank Gamers group.
Liar's Dice (2x)
Two games as I managed to advance to the finals. My first game was tremendously tight and tense, coming down to Marcia Baldanza and I. We had over a dozen folks standing and watching our head-to-head confrontation. I managed to bluff my way out of a jam two times in a row, ousting Marcia 1 - 0.
Dwarven Dig
Kyle Berg had been itching to play either Warcraft or Dwarven Dig. Since Dwarven Dig was the shorter of the two, I gladly agreed to teach him the game. I normally don't care much for “dungeon crawl” style games, but I find this one rather fun and not tedious. Our 4-player match was quite fun, with treasures changing hands a few times. Julie managed to be the first to rush to the exit and claim the victory.
Silberzwerg
I enjoy this rather obscure title, which has its roots in Sid Sackson's classic game Bazaar. Sadly, we had to abort our match early as several folks were involved in the judging of the sand sculpture contest, while Philip had advanced in the Crokinole tournament.
Trendy
The most elusive person at Gulf Games in undoubtedly Henry Hunger. Henry is Lenny Leo's long-time friend and roommate and he really doesn't play that many games. Still, he loves the people, so attends just about every Gulf Games. It's hard to corner him, though, so whenever the opportunity arises, it is best to grab him for a game. We had a fun time with Trendy, assuming various designer names and doing a bit of role-playing.
Tongiaki
Yes, yet another game of Tongiaki.
Winds of Plunder
This is Al Newman's design and it is currently on GMT's Project 500 list. I had been anxious to play it, having missed out on the opportunity at Gulf Games 12 in Williamsburg. Al was nice enough to send a copy to me so I could play it at Gulf Games and with my Westbank Gamers group. I did have the opportunity to play it again subsequently with my Westbank Gamers group, so I will write a full report on the game soon. I will state here that I found the game to be highly enjoyable and filled with interesting choices and decisions. I put it on par with Pirate's Cove, but a bit deeper in the strategy pool.
Finals: Sheldon Smith 62, Ed Rozmiarek 58, Ty Douds 57, Greg 56, Kenny Douds 54
Ratings: Ed 8, Greg 7.5, Kenny 7, Sheldon 7, Ty 7
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND
The worst day of the convention. Why? Well, because the arrival of Sunday means that another Gulf Games is just about over. Many folks are departing for home early and we begin taking down the decorations around lunchtime. Although the convention doesn't officially end until 3:00PM, most people are gone by then. It is truly sad to watch everyone depart, knowing that I won't see many of them until our next Gulf Games.
Much to my surprise, when I had arrived at the hotel on Tuesday, I was informed that there was a Mardi Gras parade that was going to pass directly in front of the hotel on Sunday. And I thought I had escaped Mardi Gras when I left New Orleans! In addition, the entire highway would be closed between 1PM and 5PM, so folks who had a flight to catch during that time were forced to leave early. Sigh. Truthfully, though, the parade was a lot of fun. Several of us took time to walk out of the hotel and participate. The crowd was rambunctious and loud, adding to the spirit. In spite of the un-decorating chores and the depression of having another Gulf Games come to a close, I did manage to get in a few games.
Atta Ants
I continue to enjoy this little gem from Essen. This is the first time that I've played wherein the game has ended by placing the final tile. Usually, someone managed to get all of their ants onto the board to claim the victory. The spiders had a feast as we all had most of our ants devoured. Susan had the most ants on the board when the game concluded.
Big Top
I was anxious to learn this Ray Mulford design, particularly since I had been sent an advance copy but was unable to understand the rules. Some of the terminology used in the rules can be confusing to non-card game players, of which I am one. Michael and Shanna are both huge card game fans, so Michael read the rules and explained the game. We were just about to begin when Ian returned from the parade. So, I gave up my seat and played as a team with Shanna. I was pleasantly surprised by the game. Although it may initially feel that one's options are limited and the game plays itself, there really are some decisions to be made. I have since played it a few times more and find that good strategy will generally win out.
POST GULF GAMES
Gulf Games 13 was held at the same time as the big Mardi Gras weekend in New Orleans. Parades actually begin up to 4 weeks prior to the main event, but the really, really big parades are on the weekend prior to Fat Tuesday. David Vander Ark and his family left Pensacola Beach fairly early on Sunday in order to join Henry Hunger for some of those big parades. James Miller, Gail and I joined with that group on Monday for a nice cruise down the Mississippi River aboard the steamboat Natchez. Yes, it looks similar to those paddle boats in Mississippi Queen, except that the big paddle is actually on the rear of the boat. We experienced a bit of rain, but it did stop periodically, allowing us to venture outdoors and enjoy the scenery.
We then browsed through the French Quarter and Farmer's Market before heading back to my place for some food and gaming. We played Pick 2, the fast reaction crossword-puzzle word game that is always tense and exciting … and sometimes frustrating. Gail proved the “Queen of the Crosswords”. Fittingly, our last game of the evening was Tongiaki.
On Tuesday, the Vander Arks, Schloessers and Henry joined the Cortazzo family for Mardi Gras parades and festivities. Although the day was overcast and chilly, it didn't dampen our spirits as we had a wonderful time hollering for beads and trinkets, and consuming enough food to feed a small army. It is always fun to experience Mardi Gras through the eyes of “newbies”, and it sure seemed as though the Vander Arks had a blast.
And so, another Gulf Games is now history. The memories will certainly linger for a long, long time. Pensacola Beach is simply a superb location for Gulf Games and will quite likely become part of a regular rotation. The hotel is outstanding and caters to our every whim. But, as has often been said numerous times before, it is the people that make Gulf Games so special. Everyone seems to put aside any personal prejudices and quirks, giving love and friendship freely to everyone who participates. The word “magical” has been overused in our society, but it sure fits here. Gulf Games is an incredible event, one that has touched me deeply. The friendships I have formed thanks to this event have been deep and lasting. The moment I depart from a Gulf Games is the very moment I begin anxiously awaiting the next one.
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© Copyright 2004 by George Phillies.
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