Bunker Project Log

As all two of you who regularly read the world famous Bunker Plog know, I am peeing my pants for Rock Band. I have pre-ordered both the 360 and the PS3 version, in hopes of choosing one and sticking with it, or just saying screw it, and having a full Rock Band setup in both the DDR room, and the Theater. (Battle of the Bands anyone?)

However, when I saw this Joystiq post, I knew that Guitar Hero III had gone from a “probably… unless I really get bitched out by the wife” to “don’t even think of telling me that I’m not getting this game, wummin!”

A Turn in Twilight Imperium is broken up into three phases:

1) Strategy
2) Action
3) Status

This post will go over the basics of the Strategy Phase.

There are eight strategy cards, numbered 1 through 8. Each has a Primary and a Secondary Ability. The player holding the card when it is invoked takes the effects of the Primary ability, and each of the remaining players may take the effect of the Secondary ability.

Click on the images of the cards to get a more legible view. As I haven’t played the game yet, I can’t really comment on why you would choose a given strategy over another.

Yesterday I went through the setup, but I broke my rule dictating that I must describe victory conditions first, so I am backtracking.

The only scoring metric for the game is the “victory point”. (Some day, I am going to try to find one of these, and describe what they look like. They must be pretty awesome because it seems that every friggin game is based on collecting them.)

The main game is played to 10, although there are ways to short-circuit this and finish the game sooner. There is also a variant called “The Long War” that plays to 14. I won’t be playing that one for… a while. Victory points are counted on the victory point track.

In one of the recent great Tangapacolypses, I pulled the trigger on Twilight Imperium. On paper, this is exactly not my type of game. Complex, massive, and epically long.

However, it is currently #22 on Boardgamegeek, and my previous Tanga policy was, buy anything in the top 50.

So, when all 10 pounds of it arrived on my doorstep, I wasn’t really sure what to make of it. I let it perk for a week in the analog room before I moved it closer. Then it started talking to me. Open me up and check out all my bits… there’s lots of them, and they are pretty!

I have infected two “non-gamers” with?Catan?this week. I am starting everyone with a tutorial game of the Settlers of Catan Card Game, which you can read about here.

My hope is that, by the next Bunker Party, there will be an army of Catan addicts. From there… Puerto Rico… and then… Twilight Imperium, my new Holy Grail!

In the comments for IGN: Ultimate Setup XLVII, I’ve been harshly criticized about the general blandness of the Bunker. I quote:

“This is a bit much for me…….maybe he should get a life? Does look cool but really designed poorly just because all the walls are white and really plan I mean pimp out the room with some posters or paint the walls, but who ever uses a whole house for gaming is either insane or needs to lose their virginity…..…” – LadiesLoveCooLJ

Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party?came out on Wednesday, but?I am on credit card probation.

I keep trying to convince Mrs. G that she really needs to buy it for me, for the good of all Cobalt Flux owners everywhere, because I will figure out what it takes to mod this bad boy!

So, if you are a proud owner of a Cobalt Flux, and a Wii, and are waiting to take the plunge, leave a comment and tell Mrs. G that she needs to put down the 70 bones so I can show you the light!