Ok this is my final day at the fair. Here’s some quick thoughts on what I saw.

Forest Shuffle won the A La Carte award. I know a lot of people play it online but for those that play with actual cards, take advantage of the new phone app that makes scoring easy.

Also, here’s a glimpse at a super secret promo card that it soon to arrive. I wasn’t allowed to show it all so you’ll have to deal with my thumb.

It’s always good to see Opinionated Gamers designs for sale…

The Allplay booth is jammed as usual. They are launching a new mini card game line in cute small boxes. Goal is to release eight a year. Here are the first four…

Also everyone is carrying around the official Loot bag and Loot, the official game. It’s admittedly a nice huge bag to carry around games.

A much smaller haul for Friday. In part because I got the bulk of my list on Thursday and in part because I’m out of space in the luggage…

I spent part of the afternoon packing and doing the usual weight shenanigans. Looks like I’ll make it fine as long as I don’t get more than 8 pounds on my final day…

Ok now news from my meetings…

Board and Dice are redoing Trismegistus. Refining the game and more importantly putting a new graphic design on it. KS next year. The bright board on the foreground is the new updated art with the original in the back.

Look forward to three T games in 2025. Trismegistus spring KS, one at Gencon, one at Spiel. Larry’s of the world should be drooling.

In case there was a doubt, I have enjoyed my German food above is Duck in curry sauce, below is yet another Doner Pide.

At my meeting with Mighty Boards, everyone was playing Rebirth, a new design from Knizia. You are fighting for control of territory on the board as well as control of the city areas. Double sided board gives you two ways to play

The other exciting thing at the booth is Fateforge which is finally done. It’s an app supported campaign game but can also be played piecemeal. I doubt that my group will ever finish a campaign, but I am excited to see what the individual games have to offer.

Here’s a close up of the new Free Ride USA board. Cincinnati is on the map and it’s in a good color!

I also can’t wait to try Power Grid Outpost, but I’m going to need a huge table. You have a regular PG sized map, a player mat about A4 size, and you also need space for the card markets!

Ludonaute is working hard on their 10th anniversary Colt Express expansion, and they also have a great new release in Arctic. It looks to be q clever card game where you try to take advantage of special actions of each of the five suits of cards that you play.

I should also report on the wonderful Spiel des Jahres dinner that we’re privileged enough to attend. It’s a great night to celebrate the three winners of this year’s award, and then a great chance to play some games and chat with old friends.

I had a great time, fantastic food and got to learn Moonlight Market from the Queen family line. This is one of the annual highlights of the Spiel experience for me.

Overall the crowds Thursday were the worst. Probably due to the national holiday. Don’t get me wrong, Saturday was still it’s usual packed day, but nothing like Thursday.

Here is a change from last year. This is the Lorcana area at 1015 on Saturday. Yes that’s right, the line was short enough to be contained solely on the exhibition floor.

Here is a once in a decade opinionated Gamers reunion photo. So nice to see OMG Melissa again (you may need to be old-school to remember why she’s OMG Melissa)

Sad news, YRO stuck in customs and won’t make it. Also to answer the question I’ve heard a lot, the games is pronounced “EE-ro”. Like the mesh internet thingy or that Greek sandwich. Source: Zev himself.

Above and below are the Saturday mid day Fairplay lists

It’s nice to see that the lists do not seem to show a proximity bias. Well the expert games are all nearby, but Fairplay is in the “expert” hall…

Super excited to finally get my hands on this… I feel like I’ve been waiting for this since before Covid… Can’t wait to break it out with other like minded folks.

Sometimes you see famous artists and game designers (sai beppo and trick Kuma)

Got a new hat. Gotta represent.

Ok back to the room

Here is the final Saturday haul… The rest of the day spent figuring out how to get all this into my luggage.

Well for me the show is over. Next year the fair returns to what I feel is the more usual time, close to the end of October.

Until your next appointment

The Gaming Doctor