Games played in August

Solo august is a significant contrast to July. A lot less rulebooks, or at least straightforward ones, and focussing more on games I already know. Also I tried cautiously some solo RPGs.

So short impressions of the games I managed to play:

- Aeon's End: Legacy of Gravehold (9 plays): So on the day after my birthday, I played through the campaign in one ride from morning to evening. It was so enjoyable to be able to block any obligations (for work or house hold) and just play my favourite deck builder. I understand JW's frustration with the legacy part of this one. They went overboard on the bookkeeping in between games which was at times too fiddly. Also, the legacy building of your mages wasn't that interesting. I just went with it and tried to focus on what makes Aeon's End so good, the boss battle and deck building gameplay loop. What I do like are some of those new bosses. The mages are mostly variations on existing ones. Also, the new gems, relics and spells are nice. In retrospect, I wouldn't recommend this one to new Aeon's End players but only to people who, like myself, just want to complete their collection.

- Arkham Horror: The Card Game (2 plays): I still struggle with this game. I should like this, the dark horror vibe, the small emerging story, the card play... but it doesn't click. I'm still playing the 3 story campaign of the base game and it's really crushing. I have one other campaign (Dunwich Legacy) and maybe I should try that one. I had similar frustration with Eldritch Horror until at one point until I just let it go and enjoyed the ride. This one has the perception of allowing you to customise your card deck and somehow have more strategic play. But that bag of chaos just crushes any strategic decision. I should just let it go and enjoy the ride.

- Paupers' Ladder (5 plays): After reading about it here on this site and watching a video from The Dungeon Dive, I decided this could be a game for me and ordered it. And happy to discover I was right. Paupers' Ladder is a light overland adventure game that puts fun exploration first with wonderful artwork and an original setting. No grey mini's and plays in an hour, I'm so blessed 😊

- Friday (5 plays): I'm so bad at this game. I'm at the stage where I can get to the yellow stage but already lost a lot of health. I'm sure there is a moment where this game clicks, but I'm still looking for it.

- Lux Aeterna (1 play): Still enjoying it. I suspect this will remain in my collection for a long time.

- Solenia (1 play): Just to refresh my mind on the rules as I wanted to play this with Nathalie. It has the same cool board moving mechanism as Black Angel and kind of prefer the later.

I'm trying to slowly get into solo RPGs, so I tried A Torch in the Dark and Ronin Both are very accessible and rules light. It's really something that I have to be in the mood for.

In September I want to continue my list of games from July but at this moment work is overwhelming leaving me little time in the evening for any descent brain activity.