u/GibsMcKormik

Hero or vilain ?

Finlay played through all the games I ordered through Portals Games Liquidation Sale section only to see that they just added Resurgence. I'm a little irked that I payed full price a few months back, but what can be done.

Imperial Settlers Roll & Write : Well, this is certainly a R&W. I didn't have high expectations and they were almost met. There just isn't anything particularly gripping involved to keep the player invested over the play time. This results in the feeling that it needed to wrap up a couple of turns sooner due to the inherent repetitiveness of the simplified game play. (5.5)

Gutenberg : A fairly straightforward contract drafting and fulfillment game with the added element of gears granting shifting special actions available during turns. There is a blind action bidding system that makes you prioritize what you hope vs what you can accomplish on your turn. There is nothing really tricky to wrap your head around. Having that thing you had your eye taken before you can select it doesn't hurt either since the balanced modular nature always keeps the game state fair. It makes for a pleasant game without(yet not missing) the usual tension these types can have. The only real negative I have to say is that lacks anything that gives it that special "wow" moment. (7.0)

Printing Press : A very clever game system that sees you building out a 3x3 grid that you determine at the end of each round. Your choose your contract then go about drafting 3x1 cards to arrange to match. You can make your area as big as you want before placing the window constraining the scoring area. Your able to select end game scoring bonuses that pulled overlay tiles can make up for a weak round. It also employs a smart initiative system that I hate and gives this game its edge. Finally included is a brilliant solo opponent that just adds an Ai preference board granting a realistic challenger. The biggest knock against the whole thing is how fiddly it all is. (7.5)

Resurgence : This game is a beast that packs in every mechanic it can. You begin with bag building your workers to area control for their deployment that has a race track for bonuses. Occupied sites require you to pay a resource. There is drafting for additional special actions in addition to your asymmetrical starting player one. Base building grants access to more lucrative contracts and an extra end game scoring condition. Points come from all sorts of things so it winds up being an efficiency puzzle that forces you to plan for random misfortunes. It flows really tight and makes the ordeal zoom by before you are ready to end it. (8)

Made with ink and markers (and space whiskey) on a watercolor pad

414 BC: Siege of Syracuse is a very light war game where you play as the Athenians trying to conquer the city of Syracuse. You can achieve this goal by surrounding them with fortifications and blocking their port or reducing their morale through combat.

Each turn you will choose a command(building walls, moving troops, attacking, or recouping) then draw an event card. These cards represent Syracuse's actions in the game and generally are a hindrance. Roll a die then consult the appropriate table to determine the result.

There isn't any grand tactics or planning necessary. You really only have to focus on this turn and not worry too much about the next. It is decent for when you want something basic that doesn't tax the brain.