RogerBW's Blog

In 2023 my boardgaming life was more at conventions than in local groups.

I played 57 new games, up from last year. Overall, I had 414 plays of 322 distinct games, up in plays but slightly down in diversity. My collection has expanded to 185.

My Eddington number for games in 2023 (the largest number E such that I have played E different games at least E times each, also known as an "H factor") was steady at 9, with Rallyman GT, Rallyman Dirt and Sentinels of the Multiverse: Definitive Edition making up the bulk of that – and 38 demonstration plays of Ensemble at UK Games Expo!.

My overall Eddington number has risen from 21 to 22; one more play of Firefly or Colt Express and I'll make 23.

I stayed out of the 52 game challenge this year as I found it a bit wearing (I don't want to be in the situation of playing a game only because it'll help with the challenge). I'll give it another try this year though.

The boardgaming podcast has had to go on hold. But I don't really have time to do it justice anyway.

I ran another Tekelilicon, but not the third one that I'd hoped for. Life got busy, and the degree of support it generates fom the site is marginal. I'm hoping a charity registration will come through soon which will make this more viable.

The Marlow group continues to meet in a pub. I haven't been going much to other local groups, particularly when there's been such a splendid slate of conventions available.

I went to two Stabcons, and three separate Airecons, and Tabletop Scotland, and UK Games Expo, and Gridcon. Didn't get COVID at any of them. I'm the only person I meet who still masks all the time.

And Essen, which is very much still Essen in spite of fears about the new management.

There hasn't really been a Big New Game for me this year. Probably my favourite is Nokosu Dice, which does odd and enjoyable things with the trick-taking paradigm. Though of course there is always the glory that is Crokinole. Tinderblox was my Game of Expo. And a small game I'll have out on any excuse is Piepmatz.

My List of Opportunity (games that I own, that aren't up for trade, but that I have not yet played) at the end of the year:

• Assembly
• Crossfire (KS bonus)
• Freehand (demonstrator freebie)
• Make It Happen (demonstrator freebie)
• Newsboys
• Path of Light and Shadow
• Radlands
• Riverside (demonstrator freebie)
• Umbra Via

I still haven't played the Dominion and Breen expansions for Star Trek: Ascendancy either… in fact I haven't played the game since I got them.

Kickstarters that arrived:

• Damask (nine days late)
• Sentinels of the Multiverse: Rook City Renegades (a month early)
• Rallyman Dirt (2020) (a year and a half late, contributor's copy got to me just as the company fell apart)
• Aeon's End Past & Future (13 days late)
• Ell Deck, much to my surprise (3½ years late)
• Project L Phoenix—the final promised part of this excellent game (a month early)

Kickstarters still pending from 2022 or earlier:

• None!

Kickstarters newly backed and not yet arrived:

• Sentinels of the Multiverse: Disparation (expected in May)
• String Railway (expected in October)