Game Profile: Splendor

Lure Nobles with spectacular gems.

Classification Lite Strategy Game
Mechanics Card Drafting, Set Collection
Publication Space Cowboys/Asmodee, 2014
Ages 10+
Time 30
Players 2-4
Description

Splendor is a set collection game with multiple layers of sets to collect,
an easy rule set, quick but deep tactical game play and great components.  The game starts with an array of 12
development cards available for purchase. 
There is also a set of nobles waiting for a chance to visit a player and
bring them victory points.  There are 5
types of gems and a set of gold tokens.  
Players can choose 1 of 4 actions on their turn.  Players first need to collect the right set
of gem tokens to claim development cards. 
Some development cards can be purchased with as few as 3 gems.  Others require as many as 14 gems.  Each development card purchased yields a
permanent gem to be used for future purchases. 
Some development cards also yield victory points.  They range from 1 to 5 points depending on
how difficult it is to amass the gems to buy them.  Amassing the correct set of gems on the
development cards is the only way to claim a visit from on the nobles.  Each noble requires a different set of
development cards and each noble brings 3 victory points with them.
                                                       
The ultimate goal of Splendor
is to score 15 victory points.  Players
need to collect set of gems to collect sets of development cards to collect
victory points.  We have had a chance to
both a 2-player and a 4-player game of Splendor.  The
2-player game ended really tight in scores. 
Scores will be close so every turn will be important.  The 4-player game is a little more random
because the card array can change before your next turn.  Players will need to take advantage of every
opportunity to score when they can.  With
heavy duty poker chips for gem tokens, great art on the cards and a 30-minute
play time this one is going to get to the table frequently.
We have an open copy of Splendor available in our Store Demo Library for you come in and try.



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Continue to check in for the latest in board games.
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Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Night Happenings: Friday May 9th

Friday Night game night rocked! We had a packed house. The weather may have been horrible outside but it was all fun inside.


Here some of the board games that hit the tables:

Glass Road
Z-Man Games

Lane won in Glass Road.





Helen won in Vikings.
Vikings
Z-Man Games



Revolution
Steve Jackson Games
Martin wins in the game.
Trains
AEG
Tristan wins in the game.
The First Sparks
Power Grid
Rio Grande Games
Erik wins in The First Sparks –
Power Grid.
Castles of Burgundy
Ravensburger
Nathan wins in the game.
Seasons
Asmodee
Tanner wins in the game.
Elder Sign
Fantasy Flight
Schel, Nate, Mike, & Erik
collectively defeat the evil
Ancient One.
Gravwell
Crytozoic
Jessica, James, & Austin
each win at Gravwell.
Lane wins in Tzolk’in.
Tzolk’in
The Mayan Calendar
Rio Grande Games
Takenoko
Matagot/Asmodee
Dan wins in the game. 
Ticket To Ride
Days of Wonder
Jeremy wins in the game.

We have a wide variety of games in our Store Demo Game Library available to play while you are here.  No experience is necessary! We are happy to teach you the rules and get you started.
Come Play ~ ~ ~ It’s Free ~ ~ ~ It’s Fun!



Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, TDC, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Profile: The Builders: Middle Ages

Becoming the First Builder of the Kingdom is the dream of
any foreman.

Classification Micro Game Line – Strategy Game
Mechanics Card Drafting, Set Collection, Worker Placement
Publication Asmodee, 2013
Ages 10+
Time 30
Players 2 – 4
Description

The Builders: Middle
Ages is a micro game in a small metal tin that really
doesn’t feel like a small game.  The object
of the game is to accumulate 17 victory points. 
Points are scored by constructing a variety of buildings using a wide
array of workers.  Each player gets 3
actions per turn.  An action can be used
to take 1 of 5 workers that are available, or to assign a worker to the
construction of a building.  There is a
cost to assign a worker to work on a building. 
Apprentices work cheap.  Master
builders are more expensive.  Each
builder brings a unique set of resources to the project, i.e. stone, wood,
knowledge or tile.  Each building
requires a unique mix of resources to complete it.  Some buildings can be completed with one
worker.  More complex buildings can
require as many as 3 or 4 workers.  Once
completed buildings yield both coins and victory points.  Some simple structures yield only 1 point and
a few coins.  The Cathedral yields 8
victory points and 20 coins.
We have had a chance to
play The Builders: Middle
Ages and found that players will need to
hire a well- balanced work force to complete a variety of buildings.  It is necessary to complete some smaller
structures in order to maintain the supply of coins necessary to fund the
workers on the more complex structures. 
This is a lot of game in a small box.


We have an open copy of The Builders: Middle
Ages available in our Store Demo Library for you come in and try.


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Continue to check in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Arrivals: Week of May 4th – 10th

This week’s arrivals includes a newly released game and a new game expansion.  Here’s a look at what hit the shelves:


Newly released and on the shelf is Splendor from Space Cowboys/Asmodee.
Splendor
Space Cowboys/Asmodee



Splendor is a fast-paced lite strategy game.  In the game, players take gem and gold tokens to purchase development cards which are worth victory points and/or gem bonuses.  The cards with the gem bonuses allow players to purchase subsequent development cards at a lower cost.  Additionally, the gem bonus cards allow you to purchase a visit from a noble. Victory points are achieved from a combination of development cards and visits from nobles.

We have an open copy of Splendor available in our Demo Game Library for you to come in and try.



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New in from Fantasy Flight is Forsaken Lore, an expansion to Eldritch Horror, a cooperative board game in which players take the roles of globetrotting investigators working to solve mysteries, gather clues, and protect the world from an Ancient One – an elder being intent on destroying the world.
Eldritch Horror –
Foresaken Lore
Fantasy Flight

With Forsaken Lore, players are thrust headlong into perilous and strange new encounters, while Ancient Ones defeated in the past attempt to reclaim the world. In order to stop them, players will need to uncover new mysteries, and dig deeper into the lore surrounding each of the games’ Ancient Ones with the aid of new Research cards.

This expansion also includes new Encounter and Mythos cards, Artifacts, Assets, and Spells.

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A worker placement &
management game. One
in our line of mini games.
The Lord of The Rings
Fantasy Flight
Cooperative card game that
puts 1-2 players in control of
the most powerful characters
and artifacts of Middle Earth.
Dead Panic
Fireside Games

A cooperative game of



zombie invasion. Fight


the dead. Escape the

panic.Survive the night.
Formula D
Asmodee

Put your car racing abilities



to the test. Don’t lose control


as you slipstream your way

to the checkered flag.

Lords of Vegas
Up!
Mayfair Games

Up is the direction you



will take your casinos


in this expansion.
Seasons
Path of Destiny
Asmodee

Special abilities, die



of Destiny, and more


in this 2nd expansion.

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Continue to check in for the latest in board games!
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~



Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, Cobble Hill, and White Mountain.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Events: May 4th – 10th

Come and join in on the fun at this week’s Game Events. It’s a great way to try out some games. Here is this week’s schedule:


Date: Weds. May 7th
Time: 6 pm

Place: Off The Charts Games Store



Weds. Suggested Games
To learn more about each featured board game click on the game name below it’s picture.


Origin
Matagot/Asmodee
Sunrise City
Clever Mojo
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Date: Fri May 9th
Time: 6 pm
Place: Off The Charts Games Store


Takenoko
Matagot/Asmodee
Tzolk’in
Rio Grande Games

For an intro to Tzolk’in watch our video
    
No experience is necessary! We are happy to teach you the rules and get you started.
Also, while you are here any of the games in our Store Demo Game Library are available for play.



Come Play ~ ~ ~ It’s Free ~ ~ ~ It’s Fun!


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, TDC, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.



Game Profile: Le Havre The Inland Port

This industrious port is where you will try to amass a
fortune with your warehouse and numerous buildings.

Classification 2-Player Strategy Game
Mechanics Resource Management, Action Pt Allowance
Publication Z-Man Games, 2012
Ages 13+
Time 30
Players 2
Description

Le Havre: The Inland Port is the 2-player game for those looking for an
intense half hours of so.  The game
features 31 buildings that will be introduced over each of the 12 rounds.  Five buildings are available for purchase at
the start of the game.  Two or three more
buildings will become available in each round. 
There are 4 resources (wood, brick, grain, & fish) that can be used
along with money to buy buildings. 
Tracking the resources is done on a unique warehouse board in increments
of 1 and 3.  Turns are also unique.  On Round 1, the first player get 2 actions
and the second player gets 1 action.  The
turns are reversed in Round 2.  The
number of actions per round will change throughout the game.  There are three actions in each of the first
3 rounds.  Then there are 5 actions in
each of the next three rounds (Rounds 4, 5, & 6).  Actions in Rounds 7, 8, & 9 will increase
to 7 actions.  And finally, there will be
9 actions in each of the last three rounds. 
And again actions will alternate where the 1st player will
have one more action than the 2nd player.
                     
Each player’s main game
board (warehouse) has a wheel that tracks the number of actions per round and
how many times an action can be used when a building is activated.  Each building gives a unique action.  That action can be used form 2 to 4 times
each round depending on the building’s relation to the wheel.  One of the things that make the game intense
is the ability to activate the opponents’ buildings taking advantage of its
ability and denying that action to its owner for that round.  The game is over after 12 rounds. The player
with the most victory points on owned buildings combined with money wins.  Timing is everything in this game.  Players have to build an engine to generate
end game points, buy and activate buildings to maximize accumulation of
resources on their warehouse board.  This
is a real brain burner for something with a small rule book and short game
play.


We have an open copy of Le Havre: The Inland Port available in our Store Demo Games Library for you come in and try.



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Continue to check in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, TDC, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Profile: Camelot The Build

A game of interior design with positively medieval
stratagems and low cunning.

Classification Family Game
Mechanics Tile Placement
Publication Wotan Games, 2013
Ages 10+
Time 30 – 45
Players 2-5
Description
Camelot The Build is a tile laying game where players must make good decisions on
every round.  The object of the game is
to score the most points by playing your tiles at the right time and place in
order to maximize your own points without setting up your opponents to score
too many points from the tiles you just played. 
The game board has an outline of the castle with a few rooms outlined
within it.  Tiles must be played to match
the outlines on the game board.  That
means tiles with lots of places to play score low or no points.  Tiles with restricted places to play will
score higher points.  What ramps up the
intensity is that all tiles played on your turn are scored along with all tiles
that lie adjacent to the tiles you just placed. 
When you score big, you probably set up someone else to score big right
behind you.
Each player starts the
game with 3 high scoring tiles and 7 additional tiles drawn at random.  Your hand of 10 tiles must be placed on the
playing area in front of you with 7 tiles placed face up and 3 tiles placed
faced down.  Each player’s hand will
remain this way throughout the game, 7 tiles exposed for all to see and 3 tiles
kept secret until played.  Players can
play from 1 to 3 tiles on each turn. 
Playing 3 tiles in a row doubles the score for the round.  At the end of their turn a player will draw
additional tiles bringing their total back to 10 tiles.  One devious twist in the game is that when a
player makes their last play their score is doubled and counted as negative
points instead of positive points.  So,
do not keep high scoring tiles for your final play or it will hurt.
I have played Camelot
The Build as both a 3-player and 1 4-player game.  The final scores for the games have been
tight.  The crux is to time the play of
high point tiles to your best advantage. 
Then to take maximum advantage of your opponents’ high point tiles while
reserving low point tiles to play on your final turn.

We have an open copy of Camelot The Build available
in our Store Demo Library for you come in and try.



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Continue to check in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Arrivals: Week of Apr 27th – May 3rd

Come in and check out this week’s arrivals.  Here’s a look at what’s back in stock:


Russian Railroads
Z-Man Games

Race to build the largest

& most advanced railway
network. There are many
paths to victory in this
heavy-duty strategy game.
Letters From Whitechapel
Fantasy Flight Games

A semi-cooperative game of de-


duction and bluffing themed on
the infamous Jack The Ripper.
Detectives will work together to
try and find Jack & his hideout.

Lord Of The Rings
The Card Game
Fantasy Flight

A cooperative card game that


puts 1-2 players in control of
the most powerful characters
and artifacts of Middle Earth.
Lords Of Waterdeep
Wizards Of The Coast

A Euro game from the world of


Dungeons & Dragons.  With many

levels of strategy, players score
victory points for completing a

series of quests.
Tokaido
Fun Forge

A 45-60 minute game for 2-5

players. Players are travelers
on Japan’s important East Sea
Road, the route that connects
Kyoto to Edo.  Players must
balance how quickly they
travel down the road.
Forbidden Desert
Gamewright

Gear up for an adventure to


recover a flying machine buried

deep in the ruins of an ancient
desert city.  Players will  work
together to use all available re-
sources in order to survive the
scorching heat & sandstorms. 
Cheap Shot
Gut Bustin’ Games

The gloves are off in this


card game of biting insults

and sassy block.
Battlestar Galactica
Fantasy Flight

A sci-fi game of politics, betrayal,
& survival based on the TV series.
Players band together to battle for
survival against the Cylons. But
watch out there  may be a spy.
Pathfinder: Rise of Runelords
Sins Of The Saviors
Adventure Deck 5
Paizo
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Continue to check in for the latest in board games!
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, Cobble Hill, and White Mountain.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Events: April 27th – May 3rd

Come and join in on the fun at this week’s Game Events. It’s a great way to try out some games. Here is this week’s schedule:


Date: Weds. Apr. 30th
Time: 6 pm

Place: Off The Charts Games Store


Weds. Suggested Games
To learn more about each featured board game click on the game name below it’s picture.

Kingdom Builder
Queen Games

Eldrtich Horror
Fantasy Flight
  Watch these video for a game overview of Eldritch Horror.      

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Date: Fri May 2nd
Time: 6 pm
Place: Off The Charts Games Store

Fri. Suggested Games
To learn more about each featured board game click on the game name below it’s picture.


Camelot The Build
Wontan Games
Trains
AEG
Watch these videos for a game overview of Camelot The Build and Trains:



Camelot The Build video by Wotan Games

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Trains video by Dice Tower
No experience is necessary! We are happy to teach you the rules and get you started.
Also, while you are here any of the games in our Store Demo Game Library are available for play.



Come Play ~ ~ ~ It’s Free ~ ~ ~ It’s Fun!


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, TDC, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

Games Go “Off The Charts”: Agent Hunter and Continental Express

We had a chance to sneak out of town for a couple of days over Easter weekend. We grabbed our ski’s and naturally stashed a couple of new micro-games in our travel bags and headed for Mt. Bachelor for some downhill and some tabletop play time.




Relaxing in the hotel after a spring day of skiing was the perfect opportunity to break out these new micro-games.




First to hit the table was Agent Hunter from Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG). 

Agent Hunter
AEG

 This is a 2-player card game with each player attacking and eliminating their opponent’s 3 safe houses.  At the start of the game you will each secretly select 3 cards from your hand to be your designated safe houses. These will be placed face down on the table in front of you.  On your turn you can attack one of your opponents’ safe houses with either a card from your hand or with one of your safe houses, or heh, heh, heh you can swap one of your safe houses with another card from your hand.

In our first game there was plenty of back and forth action before I succeeded in eliminating all 3 of Lynn’s safe houses.  In the 2nd game, Lynn quickly eliminated 2 of my safe houses and wore me down to eliminate the 3rd safe house a little later.  Agent Hunter works as a quick 2-player filler game.  It packs easily and could even be played in the airport or on the plane.






Next on the table was Continental Express from Asmodee a 2 to 4 player a light set collection game using railroads as a theme.

Continental Express
Asmodee

Each player starts the game with a secret objective worth bonus points.  In addition, there will be 3 regular objective cards  and an array of 9 train and character cards in the center playing area. Fulfilling and claiming the right regular objectives will lead to fulfilling your secret objective.

Each turn players will take one card from the array of 9 to add to their collection of train cards.  Cards consists of 5 types of train cards, money, and 4 different character cards all of which are very useful.
In  our first game, money and character cards were scarce and Lynn out maneuvered me to grab the right train cards and victory.  In the 2nd game, character and money were more readily available and I managed to use them to my advantage to post a win.  Continental Express is another lite filler game that is easy to pack.

We have an open copy of both Agent Hunter and Continental Express available in our Demo Game Library for you to come in and try.


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Continue to tune for more games that go “Off the Charts”
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Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, TDC, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.