Hi all,

Well the Christmas season is all but here - certainly the snow is!  I hope that all this snow finds you safe.  Certainly with my work I'm more conscience than ever how quickly life can change because of treacherous driving conditions.  With it being the Christmas season, December fills up with many commitments.  Such is the case for me and so we're moving Strategy Saturday to the first weekend of December which also happens to be the 1st (sorry to conflict MOLC Family Game Night). 

We're not going to have a designated Feature Game is month.  It's going to be pure open gaming - and I'm only bringing the games I really want to play!  So should you. 

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this note).

Hope you'll be there,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)

PS - Jan. 12 - The theme will be "New2U (New-to-You)" - a game that you recently added to your collection.  If you have a game you'd like to play, contact me ... and new can mean anything that came your way in the last year! 

Hi all,

It has finally arrived.  Winter is here - sloppy, cold, and slippery.  Indoor activities have never been more appealing.  So make plans to join us for November's Strategy Saturday.

For the Feature Game we're going try to focus on party games - games that have no true upper limit for the number of participants (ie. Apples to Apples, Scum, Cheat).  If you have such a favourite, bring it.

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this email).

Hope you'll be there this weekend,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)

Hi all,

September is over and by now everyone should be pretty much back into their 'normal' routines.  Activities are starting back up (for me it's indoor soccer), people are closing up cottages, and soon our thoughts will be turning to getting ready for Christmas.  Yes, Christmas is soon upon us.  How does it manage to sneak up on us every year?  But this year I will be ready!

For October's Strategy Saturday it's time to break out the oldies-but-goldies.  The theme is Retro Games so if you have a game that has been around for 20 years or more blow off the dust and bring it down.  20 years old may sound ancient but it really isn't; 1992 was 20 years ago and that was like yesterday, right? Maybe I am getting long-in-the-tooth.  Dave Tesky will be featuring the classic hotel game of 'Acquire' this really is an excellent game that has stood the test of time.

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this email).

Hope you'll be there next weekend,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)

November 10 - Party/Group
December 8 - Open

Hi all,

Well the end is in sight.  Labour Day is here and so it means that summer is quickly leaving us.  Yes, we can hope for great weather still (hopefully weeks worth) but you know it isn't really summer unless kids are out of school, regular activities are on hold, and work is just that bit slower because of co-workers away on vacation.

While we all bemoan the approach of winter - is it ok to even say that word yet? - one thing we don't need to bemoan with the advancing seasons is another opportunity to get together for Strategy Saturday.  This month the theme for the Feature Game is business.  There are many, many games that touch on this broad topic (Monopoly is the classis example).  Cory Heistad has volunteered to feature a game called Globalization.

Next month is Retro games so be thinking about that oldie-but-goodie that you have and bring it out for another spin.

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this invite).


On another note: I'm looking to set up a schedule on themes for next year's games nights.  If you have any suggestions of a theme, I'd like to hear from you.  Post below with your idea and an example of a game(s) that you think would fit (eg. Cooperative (Shadows Over Camelot)  ).  Here is a list of themes we've had this year to start your brainstorming:

• Military
• Barry's Choice
• Cooperative
• Railroad
• Historical
• Family / Gateway
• Business
• Retro
• Party Games/Group Games

Hope you'll be there this weekend,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)

October 13 - Retro (20 years or older)
November 10 - Party/Group
December 8 - Open

Hi all,

Hope you've all enjoyed the mid-summer long weekend.  To bad it's not a federal holiday - and trucking falls under federal legislation.  But that's how it is.

So for this month's Feature Game we going 'back-to-basics' and holding to the theme of Family/Gateway Games.  We won't have a specific game picked out but come expecting to play something like: Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Seven Wonders, TransAmerica, Elfenland, ... if you have any of the games listed (or think of another that is in the same spirit), bring it out.  After all you don't have it just so it can occupy space on your shelf, right?

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this email).

Hope you'll be there,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)

PS - Would like it lots if someone had a game they were willing to feature for any of the remaining dates below (ie. I don't really have any 'pure' business games in my collection - I do have some that hit that theme, but not specifically).

September 8 - Business
October 13 - Retro (20 years or older)
November 10 - Party/Group
December 8 - Open

Hello everyone,

I trust you all survived this week's crazy weather.  Hopefully you didn't have any property damage and are getting ready for the Canada Day holiday weekend.  Me?  I'll be working - someone has to make sure that there is gas available for all you travelers.

So this weekend is no doubt busy, busy.  But the two weekends later ... well it's time for July's Strategy Saturday!  If you remember, July has a historical theme and for our Feature Game we're going to reach way back to a game set in feudal Japan called Samurai Swords.  Samurai Swords was originally released as Shogun and has just recently been republished under a third name of Ikusa.  Though there are three names, it is all the same game.  It also has a big brother, a game you've likely heard of - Axis & Allies.  Check out the links for a short history of the two's relationship.

Samurai Swords has 2-5 players seeking to dominate Japan and claim the title of Shogun by directing their generals and their armies.  Intrigue, assassinations, sieges, and epic battles make up the game in which timely and bold gambits will win the day.  If you like Risk, Axis & Allies, or Diplomacy then this should be right up your alley.

Special thanks to Dwayne Wright for being willing to bring his copy - I sold mine to a friend years ago.  Of course if you also have a copy feel free to bring it - maybe we'll have multiple people claiming to be Shogun by evenings end.

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this email).

Hope you'll be there,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)


PS - And here's a reminder on what we see the rest of the year looking like as far as our themes for Strategy Saturday's Feature Game segment.  If you have a game that hits one on these themes and you'd be willing to feature it, let me know.  Of course your always welcome to bring your game even if it doesn't neatly fit into a theme (within reason of course):

August 11- Family/Gateway (Intro)
September 8 - Business
October 13 - Retro (20 years or older)
November 10 - Party/Group
December 8 - Open

That. is. SICK!

If life was idyllic and, well, not life (read busy), I'd dance with that.

Hi all,

June is here and that means summer is pretty much here as well.  Yes, there still are some anxious farmers looking to get those last few acres seeded, but for the most part the sky is blue, the land is green, the wind is warm and it is just great to be alive in Saskatchewan.

June has just started but already the second weekend of the month is fast approaching.  For June's Strategy Saturday the Feature Game is focusing on the theme of railroads.  There are lots of good railroad games and hopefully people will bring out the ones in their games collection.  I'll be bringing Railroad Tycoon.  This is a game that captures the early days of trains when entrepreneurs were struggling to be the first to establish links with important communities.  This game has also be more recently been released as Railways of the World.

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this email).

Hope you'll be there,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)


PS - And here's a reminder on what we see the rest of the year looking like as far as our themes for Strategy Saturday's Feature Game segment.  If you have a game that hits one on these themes and you'd be willing to feature it, let me know.  Of course your always welcome to bring your game even if it doesn't neatly fit into a theme (within reason of course):

July 14 - Historical
August 11- Family/Gateway (Intro)
September 8 - Business
October 13 - Retro (20 years or older)
November 10 - Party/Group
December 8 - Open

Hi all,

Welcome to May.  It's time for another edition of Strategy Saturday.  Some of you will remember that last month I included an overview of the types of games we're looking to feature for the remainder of the year.  This month the focus is on cooperative games.  If you've never played a cooperative game, then you're in for a real change of pace.  In a cooperative game all the players are working together to beat the game.  Everyone will win together or everyone will lose together.  It's a team effort.

The Feature Game for May will be Flash Point: Fire Rescue.  In this game the players take on the role of firefighters trying to rescue people (& pets) from a burning home.  There aren't a lot of cooperative games on the market and this one has been beautifully put together.  You can check out more on it at Board Game Geek.

We'll be in the basement of Argyle Road Baptist Church (3510 Argyle Rd) from 7pm to midnight.  As usual we'll have our snack counter open so feel free to contribute a drink or something to munch on.  And feel free to bring along friends (and to forward this email).

Hope you'll be there,

Allan
(along with Michael and Barry)


PS - And here's a reminder on what we see the rest of the year looking like as far as our themes for Strategy Saturday's Feature Game segment.  If you have a game that hits one on these themes and you'd be willing to feature it, let me know.  Of course your always welcome to bring your game even if it doesn't neatly fit into a theme (within reason of course):

June 9 - Railroad
July 14 - Historical
August 11- Family/Gateway (Intro)
September 8 - Business
October 13 - Retro (20 years or older)
November 10 - Party/Group
December 8 - Open

So Barry has chosen the game that he'll be teaching for Strategy Saturday.  It will be Scrappers.  Check it out at Board Game Geek.

Hope you'll be able to come out and join us.