Atlantic Storm

Atlantic Storm is starting to gain some traction in our little game group. I got to play the game twice today, once with three players and again with four players.

This is a game that has a good reputation but deserves more exposure. It is basically a trick taking card game with a WW2 "Battle of the Atlantic" theme. For someone who likes card games (as I do) this is a great mixture of game mechanic and theme. And there are a lot of variables to keep track off while playing. New players can become confused (and frustrated) trying to keep in mind everything they need to remember when deciding what card to play. So the game does have a learning curve, but the curve isn't that bad and it's well worth overcoming with a few "friendly" games.

The game is playable with two and three players, but it really shines with four or more players. This is a great little game that I will keep in my "travel tote" of games in the hope that it will see a lot more play.

War of the Ring

Almost two years (twenty months) after I purchased it, I finally got the chance to break out and play this game! Oh, why did I wait so long? This is a fun game. The forces of Evil, led by Sauron, have the strength and almost unlimited resources to crush the Free Peoples. The Free Peoples have... the Ring Bearers? It seems like a one-sided conflict, but in that mis-preception is where the game lies.

Charlie played the Free People and I took on the role of Sauron. Charlie has played before and this was my first game. I think I may have played too conservatively. I took the time to build up and concentrate my forces before attacking Gondor and Minas Tirith. My attack went well and I was sweeping the army of Gondor before my double pincer attack. Meanwhile, the Ring Bearers were racing to Mordor and Mt. Doom. At the very last moment, with victory within their grasp, the Ring Bearers succumbed to corruption and all was lost for the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. Sauron and Evil and won the day. (In game terms the Ring Bearers reached the twelfth and final spot of the "Doom Track" but accumulated twelve points of corruption at the same time. Game over for the good guys.)

After one play, I like this game. I want to play again. I will try a different, more aggresive, strategy the next time I play as the Shadow. I'm not sure what I'll do if I play as the Free People. I think Charlie showed me the way... The Free People must concentrate on getting the Ring Bearers to Mt. Doom as quickly as possible. I look forward to playing War of the Ring again.