Secret War Journal[15 June 2013][Long Post][Picture-Heavy]
Author's Note:
Phew! It has been really long time since I last published a post huh? I am so glad I finally have some time to myself because for the good half of this week, I'm on leave. Hahas!
With us today at The Mind Cafe in Funan Digital IT mall are Darian, Johnston and Qi Xiang. Sadly, the rest of them was not able to make it but oh well, 4 people, just nice for almost every board game.
 |
| Mind Cafe @ FUNAN IT MALL |
Today, we are trying this new game called 'Bang!'. To be honest with you, I am not sure if I should label it as a card game or a board game since it has both. Hmm...
I think I would label it as a board game since Settlers of Catan is a board game and it has both. :)
Moving on, the first time I heard from this game was from Adrian (I think?) some years back during my days as a Junior College student. (Ah, I feel old already.) Then, we never really got into playing it because I just never chanced upon it outside. Hahas! Recently, this year during my work retreat at a chalet (will be posting on that), one of my colleague, Melvin also mentioned this board game.
Clearly, that was a sign as come today, lo and behold, this board game caught our eye.
--
Bang! is a game that is based on the Wild Wild West. Basically, there are 3 types of characters in this game - Sheriff, Outlaw, Renegade. Sheriff's role is to apprehend both the Outlaws and the Renegades. Inversely, the Outlaw's objective is to work together with other Outlaws to remove the Sheriff from play. Lastly, the Renegade's job is to eradicate everyone in the game to become the last man standing.
In addition to this, there are many classes that each character can be in the game. Each classes has its own special abilities which would be constantly be in effect in the game. Such effects could include discarding 2 cards to heal for 1 hp or increasing the distance from you to other players to make it difficult for them to shoot you. The amount of health you have would be determined by the class you choose.
 |
| Trying out Bang! |
For the first game, I was the Sheriff. At this point, you must be wondering 'How do you decide who plays as who?' Well, you are not allowed to choose. Thus, at the start of each game, the character cards would be shuffled and randomly assigned to players. Only the Sheriff would place his character card face-up, announcing to everyone who is the Sheriff. (Obviously, the outlaws and the renegades do not play fair.)
 |
| My action cards |
Moving on, there are many different kinds of action cards that can be played during your turn in Bang! Firstly, there is a 'bang' card where you shoot at someone. Who you can shoot depends on the distance between you and the target as well as the range of your weapon. To summarise, the longer the range of your weapon and the closer you are to your target, the better. The distance between you and the target is determined by the seating arrangement of the players. The distance between me and those beside me is 1 and so on. Unless specified otherwise, each player can only shoot once each turn.
Secondly, there is a counter card called 'miss'. This card can only be played when you are being shot. This card is useful in saving yourself from losing health.
Thirdly, there is a card named 'beer' that heals you for one health.
For other special action cards, feel free to read up on them when you play the boardgame! (I cannot list them all down, there are so many different kinds!)
 |
| Johnston has got to stop using Beer! He is almost immortal in this game! |
 |
| The Sheriff got taken down! Outlaws win! |
 |
| Second game! Johnston's the Sheriff this time round. Renegade wins. |
Things get more interesting when the Sheriff manage to take out the outlaws. Left with the renegade, it is now a deathmatch between the two. The objectives are now very clear cut, be the last man standing to win. That said, it is not that easy for the Sheriff to win in this game.
After a few rounds of Bang!, we decided to change the game. By popular demand, we chose Munchkin.
Players (from top left, clockwise): Darian, Qi Xiang, Myself, Johnston
 |
| Level 3 at the start? That fast? |
The thing about playing with veterans is that the game gets heated up quickly. Already, everyone is trying to prevent each other from becoming too powerful in the game.
 |
| Who needs levels when you have good equipments? |
Most notable was the time when Qi Xiang decided to gamble on his levels to steal some items from us. At the cost of 2 levels, apparently he saw great potential in that item. Was it worth it? Time will tell.
 |
| Darian overtook Johnston! |
As everyone approaches level 10, the number of action cards being thrown just intensifies. Within a round, Johnston reached level 9, reclaiming the spot as the highest level.
 |
| Will Johnston win next turn? |
 |
| Nope, not going to happen. |
Responding to this, Qi Xiang and I eliminated the threat of Johnston winning by making him lose 4 levels during his battle with his monster. Taking advantage of this chaos, Darian gained a level to level 9. Now, he is on track to winning next turn. But, would he?
 |
| Reaching end-game setting soon |
Unfortunately for Darian, he could not find a monster to fight while the rest of us gained levels during our turns. Despite my initial lack of equipments, I managed to salvage some items to catch up with the rest. Phew, who is going to win? It is anyone's guess now.
 |
| Just how many items can Qi Xiang equip?! |
With the latest addition of the kneecaps of allure, I am on track to winning! However, notice how well-equipped is Qi Xiang right now.
Out of the blue, Qi Xiang turned level 9 and we had to throw everything we had at him as he was really too well-equipped.
 |
| Qi Xiang's equipments the round before |
 |
| Some of the cards used during the final battle |
In the end, we failed in our attempt to prevent Qi Xiang from defeating that army of monsters. I guess good equipments bring you a long way in Munchkin. :)
 |
| Darian is not happy to hear that. He was supposed to win (since he was level 9 for so long). Hahas! |
 |
| Stay silent and strike at the last moment. |
Other cards used during the game (which I cannot fit anywhere)
 |
| You are not making this easy for me to escape right? |
 |
| When in danger, run! |
 |
| One painful hammer, that one. |
 |
| What's this? Designed by Darian |
With that, we moved on to Blokus!
For those unfamiliar with this game, the objective is to be the last man standing in the game. Somewhat similar to Tetris, you need to place as many pieces on the board game as you can. There is one condition - all your pieces must be connected via the edges of the pieces and they cannot be in contact with each other, i.e. side by side.
--
After playing these games, Johnston went for Violin lessons while we walked around the shop to kill time.
 |
| Hmm, where is Johnston? |
 |
| Why are you taking pictures of us?! |
 |
| Photo-bomb! |
As it turned out, Johnston was already downstairs. Hahas! We had dinner at Pastamania and shortly left for home. :)
What a blast I had today! Wohoo!
 |
| See you guys next time! :) |
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." - William Shakespeare
Credits: Darian (Photos)
As everyone approaches level 10, the number of action cards being thrown just intensifies. Within a round, Johnston reached level 9, reclaiming the spot as the highest level.
Out of the blue, Qi Xiang turned level 9 and we had to throw everything we had at him as he was really too well-equipped.
--
