Game Profile: Castles of Burgundy

Strategically create the most prosperous estates in the region!


Mechanics Dice Rolling, Set Collection, Tile Placement
Theme Medieval Estates Building
Publication Ravensburger, 2011
Ages 12+
Time 90
Players 2 – 4
Description

The Castles of Burgundy is a
city building game with so many variables it is hard to describe. The game features 12 different types of buildings.  Each building type grants either victory
points or a special ability.  In addition
there are 26 unique knowledge tiles each with a different ability.  There are also six double sided player
boards.  Four of the game boards have the
same map on side one for a game where up to 4 players have the same map to play on.  The reverse side of these game boards each have a unique map. The two additional player boards have unique maps on both sides
making a total of nine different available to play.  Each turn involves a dice roll, two actions
and using as many abilities a player can gather.  This is a dice rolling, set
collecting, resource management strategy game.


After playing The Castles of Burgundy the first time I knew that I’d definitely want to play it again and again.  The game has a wide variety of ways to score points. And, points can come in bunches. Additionally this game plays well as a 2-player game.  A feature that hits the sweet spot for us.




We have an open copy of The Castles of Burgundy available in our Store Demo Library for you come in and try out.




For more insight into Castles of Burgundy watch this game review video:









~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
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.

This Week’s Game Arrivals: June 19th – 24th

Hitting the shelves this week are:


Eclipse: New Dawn For The Galaxy
Asmodee

Back in production, the highly popular game Eclipse has finally arrived! 

A game of Eclipse places you in control of a vast interstellar civilization, competing for success with its rivals.  You will explore new star systems, research technologies and build spaceships to wage war with.  There are many potential paths to victory, so you need to plan your strategy according to the strengths and weaknesses of your species while paying attention to the other civilizations’ endeavors.

The game features seven races: humans and six alien races.  Each race has specific abilities that will guide your strategy as you play.

~And~
Nefarious
Ascora Games

Nefarious: The Mad Scientist Game is another of Donald X. Vaccarino designed games (Dominion, Kingdom Builder, & Infiltration). 


This quick playing game, players will race to build inventions, i.e. a freeze ray, cloaking device, robotic pet, etc. before their opponents can.  Player’s strategies to get the money to build their creations will have to vary because each time they play, Nefarious will have a different environment thanks to its fiendishly clever twists.


~And~

The Resistance
Indie Boards & Cards



The Resistance is a highly interactive party-style game for 5-10 players.  It full of secret identities, deductions and deceptions. From Indie Boards & Cards comes this game description:

Set in the near future, The Resistance pits a small group of resistance fighters against a powerful and corrupt government.  The resistance has launched a series of bold and daring missions to bring the governement to its knees.  Unfortunately spies have infiltrated the resistance ranks, ready to sabotage the carefully crafted plans.  Even a single spy can take down a resistance mission team, choose your teams carefully or forever lose your chance for freedom. 

The Resistance includes a bundled expansion, “The Plot Thickens”, that offers even more possibilities for discovery and deception.

The Resistance artfully balances pure deduction elements with the social elements into a game that creates the adreniline filled moments of high stakes poker but in a full interactive and social event.  Its not for the faint of heart, or slow of mind – but if you are quick on your feet you’ll be proud of your hard fought victories.

Continue to tune in for the latest in board games.

At Off The Charts Games, we have a fabulous selection 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, and White Mountain.
We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.


Game Profile: Cargo Noir

Trafficking in Troubled Waters



Mechanics Auction/Bidding, Set Collection, Worker Placement
Theme International Smuggling
Publication Days of Wonder, 2011
Ages 8+
Time 30 – 90
Players 2 – 5
Description
Cargo Noir
is a typical Days of Wonder production
where game play is straight forward and the components are top notch.  Since it is a game about smuggling goods the
goal is to collect valuable sets of contraband; gold, ivory, uranium, weapons,
etc. and trade them for things any crime boss might be interested in owning,
like a villa, yacht, or dive bar.  These villa,
yachts, dive bars, etc. are victory spoils cards and are worth victory
points.  Additionally, there are three
types of smuggler’s edge cards that aid players in collecting money, adding
warehouse space, or adding ships to their fleets as well as yielding a few
victory points.

The main board is set up so it can be adjusted
to handle from 2 to 5 players by turning over certain double sided sections.  During their turn players will send ships
with a number of coins to bid on the contraband available in various
ports.  If the bid is successful, the
contraband will be stored in your warehouse until you have sufficient sets to
trade for smuggler’s edge cards or victory spoils cards.  There are places to send your ships to
exchange goods at a black market or to visit a casino for a quick infusion of
coins.  The key to success is managing
your supply of coins and placing your ships in the most advantageous ports.  The game takes place over 10 or 11 rounds
depending on the number of players.  The
player who has acquired the most victory points will win.



Cargo Noir
is easy to learn, quick to play, and always competitive.  We have an open copy of Cargo Noir available in
our Demo Games Library for you come in and try out.


~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
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 Event: Week of June 17th – 23rd

Date: Friday, June 22nd
Time: 6:00pm
Place: Off The Charts Games Store

Featured Games
To learn more about each featured board game including video overviews click on it’s game name below the picture.

Alhambra
Queen Games
Sunrise City
Clever Mojo Games



Come Join Us for a Night of Free Game Play. No experience necessary. We’ll be happy to explain the game rules and get you started. Reserve your seat today.

Happy Fathers Day


The penguin theme of this father’s day comic reminds us of the game Hey That’s My Fish.  
Hey That’s My Fish! Deluxe
Mayfair Games
Here’s a little more Father’s Day humor:

A father carries his pictures where his money use to be. ~ Author Unknown
Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope. ~ Bill Cosby


Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there. Have a fun-filled day.



Surprise Visit

On Friday, local game designer Lisa Steenson of Gut Bustin’ Games popped in for a visit.



Lisa is the designer of these popular board games.  While here she autographed several copies of the games.

Redneck Life
Do you say redneck like it’s a bad thing?
Trail Park Wars!
Live the dream . . . be a Trail Park Manager

Oh Gnome You Don’t!
Get ready for a Gnome-tastic Adventure
For a game overview, just click on the game name to link you to our Game Profile located on our website OffTheChartsGames.com and learn more about these hilariously fun games.  A demo copy of Redneck Life is open and available for play.  While you are here in the store we are happy to teach you the rules and get you started on the fun.

We are working with Lisa to arrange a play-test event for a couple of new games she is working on.  Stay tuned for details.


At Off The Charts Games we have a fabulous selection 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, and White Mountain.
We
proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver
area.


News Flash: Table Top Episode 6 Features Castle Panic

Pull up a chair and get ready for this week’s Table Top episode hosted by Star Trek’s, Wil Wheaton on Felicia Day’s You Tube Channel, Geek and Sundry.  This week Wil’s featured board game is Castle Panic.

Castle Panic
Fireside Games

Watch as Wil and guests: Tara Platt (actor – Naruto), Yuri Lowenthal (actor – Prince of Persia), and Andre the Black Nerd work as a team in this co-operative game to defeat the advancing trolls, orcs, and goblins.  Do they live to tell the tale?



Click on the name Castle Panic to read our Game Profile write up.  You can find Castle Panic available in our store.


Continue to tune in for more Table Top Episodes

At Off The Charts Games, we have a fabulous selection 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, and White Mountain.
We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.


New Game Arrivals: Jun 12th – 17th

This week’s store arrivals include:


Cthulhu Dice
Steve Jackson Games




Serving Cthulhu is fun . . . except for all those other cultists out to get you.  So get them first! 

Cthulhu Dice lets you drive your rivals mad . . . very, very quickly.  Introduced in six new colors: Sparkly Green, Copper, Swirly Pink, Ice Blue, Ichor Green, and Gold Pearl. Additionally, eighteen Sanity marbles are included.  Lose all your marbles and you’re mad.  The last sane cultist wins . . . unless everyone goes mad together.  Then Cthulhu wins!



Saboteur
Z-Man

You are dwarves digging for gold in the depths of a mine.  Suddenly, a pick-axe breaks and the light from the lantern goes out.  The saboteur has struck again – but which of your fellow players is a saboteur?  Will you find the gold or will the saboteur’s sinister actions be successful?  After three rounds, the player with the most gold nuggets wins the game!

Continue to tune in for the latest in board games.

At Off The Charts Games, we have a fabulous selection 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, and White Mountain.
We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.


Game Profile: Sunrise City

The Sky’s The Limit
 

Mechanics Auction/Bidding, Tile Placement, Card Drafting, Variable Player
Powers
Theme City Building
Publication Clever Mojo Games, 2012
Ages 13+
Time 60
Players 2 – 4
Description
In Sunrise City players will get to
assume the role of a different character in each of the game’s three
rounds.  There are sixteen characters to
choose from and range from Protester to Crime Boss to City Manager each with a
unique ability.  Players will work to
create zoning which will benefit them later with the buildings they need to construct.  They will then bid to gain control of
undeveloped zones.  Then Building
construction begins. Construction of
buildings must comply with zoning restrictions. 

The winner of the game is the player who amasses the most points.  Points can be gained by clever zoning.  They can also be scored by construction
buildings on zones you controlled during the bidding process.  Additional points can be earned for
constructing buildings next to certain valuable community locations and by
building higher and higher in the city scape. 
Manage your roles well, plan ahead and you could be the master builder
of Sunrise
City.

 

We have an open copy of Sunrise City available in our Store Demo Library for you come in and try out.


~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
Continue to tune 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 Profile: Infiltration

Corporate Larcency in a Dystopian Future



Mechanics Hand Management, Press Your Luck, Modular Layout
Theme Corporate Sci-Fi
Publication Fantasy Flight Games, 2012
Ages 14+
Time 30 – 45
Players 2 – 6
Description
Infiltration is a game for 2 to 6 players to control futuristic thieves
infiltrating a highly secure corporate facility to steal digital files.  The “board” consists of 13 cards representing
rooms of which six will make up the first floor rooms.  Another six will make up the second floor
rooms, and one will be a secret room.  Each
of the 32 available room cards is unique so that the facility will be different
each time you play.  On each turn players
will play either an action card or an item card.  These will be used to move deeper into or out
of the facility, and to download data files. 
The player who gathers the most valuable data files and escapes from the
building without being caught by security will be the winner.  Players can watch the security forces drawing
nearer.  Their speed will be determined
by alarms triggered in the various rooms. 
Along the way the thieves will encounter lab workers, tech locks,
interface tokens, and a variety of characters who are not any of the players.  Move stealthily, download well, and get out
of there before security arrives to be the winner.
We have an open copy of Infiltration available in our Store Demo Games Library for you come in and try.



~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
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.