The Year of the Dragon (Reflections Upon My Anniversary)

One year ago today, I posted my first review on iSlaytheDragon.  What a busy year it’s been!  As I take stock over the last 365 days, I’m amazed at how much I've grown in this hobby…or maybe, rather that should be how much it has sucked me in!

The Train Set Syndrome (Another Guide to Gaming with Kids)

You know what I mean, right? Dad buys son a train set for Christmas. Dad builds train set with son. Dad and son play with train set. Dad buys more track, cars, and scenery to expand train set. Dad spends small fortune to build replica of West Virginia that takes up most of the basement. Dad now has new hobby subscribing to train set magazines and going to train set conventions. Mom decides on future Christmas presents for son.

I'll be honest. Nostalgia was the catalyst in introducing my kids to hobby gaming. In junior high and high school I spent an inordinate number of late nights board gaming with friends. As this was before the influx of German hobby games to the United States, we played war games. Mostly it was Risk and the Milton Bradley GameMasters Series (Axis & Allies, Samurai Swords, Conquest of the Empire, and Fortress America). We also enjoyed some select titles of the old Avalon Hill and SPI hex and counter, strategy simulations. We even dabbled in painted miniatures. Oh, how the plastic and cardboard and tempers would fly!

Sow Low, Reap High (A Review of Fill the Barn)

Ah, a farmer’s life. There’s never a shortage of work? You have fields to plow and hay to put up. It’s a time demanding career, so don’t dally. I mean, there’s only so much room in the barn and you don’t want the competition squeezing you out. But farm smartly – not only do you want to be quick, but you want good prices, too. There are no government subsidies to bail you out in this game!

Padding About (A Review of Hey Froggy!)

This place is hop, hop, hopping!  It’s a race across the pond.  Can you be the fastest amphibian, leaping from lilypad to lilypad to leave your opponents green with envy?  Carefully choose which frogs to move or you’ll be croaking in disgust!

Unholy Cow! (A Preview of Monster Moos)

Beef. It's definitely NOT what's for dinner! At least in today's preview of a new card game recently launched on Kickstarter. If you prefer free range, grain fed hamburger, you may run screaming from this livestock! I mean, I know all about the controversy over growth hormones, but these cows take it to a whole new, freaky level. Should your rope this one in? Or ride right on by? Read below to see if Monster Moos is a good fit for you.

[Ed. note: This is a preview of a non-final, non-production prototype of the game. Our opinions reflect that of the game at the time we played it; the final product may feature some slight variation in gameplay, art, and components.]

All You Need is Love (a Review of Hugs)

Aphenphosmphobia.  Don’t ask me to pronounce it – I wasn’t even able to type it!  But if you’ve got it, don’t play this game.  You see, aphenphosmphobia is the fear of touching, and so is naturally associated with clinical hugging anxieties.  In the game of Hugs, you’ll be putting the squeeze on so many friends and family that your face will turn blue and your extremities will go numb.  Yeah, the term “personal bubble?”  Doesn’t exist, here!

Guide to Gaming: Gaming with Kids

One of the simpler and under-rated joys in life is playing with kids. As it pertains to our hobby, of course, that means enjoying time spent on board games with our children, grandkids, nieces and nephews, as well as in other, family-oriented, social circles. Not only are these occasions just flat out fun, but it is important in teaching kids critical thinking skills, family bonding, and developing strong and healthy child-adult relationships.

Smile and Wave, Boys (A Review of North Pole)

Imagine you’re a penguin. First of all, you’re a bird that can’t fly. That’s got to be embarrassing enough. Then, on top of that, you live somewhere way down at the bottom of the globe, not too far north of the South Pole, on some desolate island or coastline with a bunch of other flightless yokels staring at ice all day. Pretty boring stuff. That is, unless you’re frantically running (again, not flying) for your life to keep from being some sea lion’s next frozen dinner. I’d say you definitely deserve a vacation. So check out these wonderful travel brochures I have on…um…the North Pole?

Wakey Wakey (A Review of Sleeping Queens)

Oh, no!  A mysterious potion has put all of the queens to sleep.  And for some reason, rather than enjoy the peace and quiet(!), you must find the kings, who are the only ones able to wake the slumbering highnesses.  But do it quickly!  The player with the most queens wins, so you may have to steal a fair lady or two from others, or use potions of your own to send them back off to dreamland.  Hmpf!  Royalty.  How typical.