Ian Watoop
@watoop.bsky.social
Inevitably will be posting about UK politics or board games.
Not a big fan of where the human race has taken the planet at the moment.
Trying hard to keep the lights on in dark times.
Not a big fan of where the human race has taken the planet at the moment.
Trying hard to keep the lights on in dark times.
Played Inferno for the first time last night.
It was very, very good - certainly a top 5 for this year.
You need a few rounds to 'understand' the point scoring arc but there was lots of player interaction with the shared Hell board.
Length maybe 20 mins too long but definitely a keeper. #boardgames
It was very, very good - certainly a top 5 for this year.
You need a few rounds to 'understand' the point scoring arc but there was lots of player interaction with the shared Hell board.
Length maybe 20 mins too long but definitely a keeper. #boardgames
November 19, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Played Inferno for the first time last night.
It was very, very good - certainly a top 5 for this year.
You need a few rounds to 'understand' the point scoring arc but there was lots of player interaction with the shared Hell board.
Length maybe 20 mins too long but definitely a keeper. #boardgames
It was very, very good - certainly a top 5 for this year.
You need a few rounds to 'understand' the point scoring arc but there was lots of player interaction with the shared Hell board.
Length maybe 20 mins too long but definitely a keeper. #boardgames
Shouldn't we have a Celebrity Faithfuls as well though 'for balance'?
November 10, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Shouldn't we have a Celebrity Faithfuls as well though 'for balance'?
Played Galactic Cruise last night.
Very good Euro game, nice production (although parts of my copy were damaged) and hangs together well.
Runs a little long (4 hours) and intro game setup is perhaps too forgiving (everyone could pretty much do everything for free by the end).
#boardgames
Very good Euro game, nice production (although parts of my copy were damaged) and hangs together well.
Runs a little long (4 hours) and intro game setup is perhaps too forgiving (everyone could pretty much do everything for free by the end).
#boardgames
November 7, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Played Galactic Cruise last night.
Very good Euro game, nice production (although parts of my copy were damaged) and hangs together well.
Runs a little long (4 hours) and intro game setup is perhaps too forgiving (everyone could pretty much do everything for free by the end).
#boardgames
Very good Euro game, nice production (although parts of my copy were damaged) and hangs together well.
Runs a little long (4 hours) and intro game setup is perhaps too forgiving (everyone could pretty much do everything for free by the end).
#boardgames
Has this line been agreed by all sub-committee members as per the 12th draft of the policy framework document?
October 31, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Has this line been agreed by all sub-committee members as per the 12th draft of the policy framework document?
Played Eclipse (New Dawn) last night. Enjoyable game. A little fiddly (never seen so many chits) and the random dice rolls in battles + random tech draws annoyed some players. However I thought it a much better experience than Voidfall and can see why it is so highly rated. #boardgames
October 29, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Played Eclipse (New Dawn) last night. Enjoyable game. A little fiddly (never seen so many chits) and the random dice rolls in battles + random tech draws annoyed some players. However I thought it a much better experience than Voidfall and can see why it is so highly rated. #boardgames
After a disappointing play of Voidfall last week, this week I'm learning Eclipse (New Dawn not the newest one) for game night tomorrow.
#boardgames
#boardgames
October 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
After a disappointing play of Voidfall last week, this week I'm learning Eclipse (New Dawn not the newest one) for game night tomorrow.
#boardgames
#boardgames
Keep your hair on, Nazi Grammar Google:
October 27, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Keep your hair on, Nazi Grammar Google:
Must stop doomscrolling.....
October 12, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Must stop doomscrolling.....
It's vaguely ludicrous that you can actually get 18 cans of lager for a tenner. That's 55p per can - little different to multipack cans of Coke.
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It's vaguely ludicrous that you can actually get 18 cans of lager for a tenner. That's 55p per can - little different to multipack cans of Coke.
£8.50 if you have a Clubcard 😀
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
£8.50 if you have a Clubcard 😀
Hmm. I'm going with 'crosses over the line' with this one.
October 9, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Hmm. I'm going with 'crosses over the line' with this one.
Wait! I know the answer to this one.....
October 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Wait! I know the answer to this one.....
Played Panamax and Sonar last night.
Panamax was a very, very good semi-coop logistics / economic game which might even be great with further plays. Only worry is possible lack of variability.
I enjoyed Sonar - basic battleships for gamers but fun with 2 on 2 teams. #boardgames
Panamax was a very, very good semi-coop logistics / economic game which might even be great with further plays. Only worry is possible lack of variability.
I enjoyed Sonar - basic battleships for gamers but fun with 2 on 2 teams. #boardgames
September 24, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Played Panamax and Sonar last night.
Panamax was a very, very good semi-coop logistics / economic game which might even be great with further plays. Only worry is possible lack of variability.
I enjoyed Sonar - basic battleships for gamers but fun with 2 on 2 teams. #boardgames
Panamax was a very, very good semi-coop logistics / economic game which might even be great with further plays. Only worry is possible lack of variability.
I enjoyed Sonar - basic battleships for gamers but fun with 2 on 2 teams. #boardgames
Having a go at Panamax tonight, which I will attempt to teach. Should have 4P - which seems to be the optimum player count. #boardgames
September 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Having a go at Panamax tonight, which I will attempt to teach. Should have 4P - which seems to be the optimum player count. #boardgames
Played Lignum & The Vale of Eternity last night.
I like Lignum for the first hour but less so in hours 2 & 3 as there seemed little 'arc' to the game. Also so many steps of planning required I'm not sure how high the fun factor was.
Vale of Eternity was a light but smart tableau builder. #boardgames
I like Lignum for the first hour but less so in hours 2 & 3 as there seemed little 'arc' to the game. Also so many steps of planning required I'm not sure how high the fun factor was.
Vale of Eternity was a light but smart tableau builder. #boardgames
September 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Played Lignum & The Vale of Eternity last night.
I like Lignum for the first hour but less so in hours 2 & 3 as there seemed little 'arc' to the game. Also so many steps of planning required I'm not sure how high the fun factor was.
Vale of Eternity was a light but smart tableau builder. #boardgames
I like Lignum for the first hour but less so in hours 2 & 3 as there seemed little 'arc' to the game. Also so many steps of planning required I'm not sure how high the fun factor was.
Vale of Eternity was a light but smart tableau builder. #boardgames
Our own Bob Woodward is still churning it out for his other half at the Guardian:
September 11, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Our own Bob Woodward is still churning it out for his other half at the Guardian:
Finally a little Crockinole-lite palate cleanser with Push It! #boardgames
September 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Finally a little Crockinole-lite palate cleanser with Push It! #boardgames
Second up was Industrial Waste, a 2001 'hidden gem' economic game. Basic design but liked the low complexity rules and decent decision space. However the fact that the players control when it ends means it can drag on if everyone is looking to max out everything. #boardgames
September 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Second up was Industrial Waste, a 2001 'hidden gem' economic game. Basic design but liked the low complexity rules and decent decision space. However the fact that the players control when it ends means it can drag on if everyone is looking to max out everything. #boardgames
Played some interesting games last night.
First up was Godspeed. Artwork makes it look like a space horror game but it's actually a pretty docile resource collection / card builder. Enjoyable but maybe went on 2 rounds too long & wonder if we've seen most of what the game offers. #boardgames
First up was Godspeed. Artwork makes it look like a space horror game but it's actually a pretty docile resource collection / card builder. Enjoyable but maybe went on 2 rounds too long & wonder if we've seen most of what the game offers. #boardgames
September 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Played some interesting games last night.
First up was Godspeed. Artwork makes it look like a space horror game but it's actually a pretty docile resource collection / card builder. Enjoyable but maybe went on 2 rounds too long & wonder if we've seen most of what the game offers. #boardgames
First up was Godspeed. Artwork makes it look like a space horror game but it's actually a pretty docile resource collection / card builder. Enjoyable but maybe went on 2 rounds too long & wonder if we've seen most of what the game offers. #boardgames
Autumn has clearly arrived as Windows is telling me the temperature outside is absolute zero.
But at least it's sunny, I suppose.
But at least it's sunny, I suppose.
September 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Autumn has clearly arrived as Windows is telling me the temperature outside is absolute zero.
But at least it's sunny, I suppose.
But at least it's sunny, I suppose.
Exeter Underground Passages is actually a fun tour (if you aren't claustrophobic). The entrance is at the far end of the High Street.
August 30, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Exeter Underground Passages is actually a fun tour (if you aren't claustrophobic). The entrance is at the far end of the High Street.
I live there. Go to Parliament Street, allegedly the narrowest street in the world (even though it isn't). Smells of wee but at least you can say you've been there. It's a few doors down from the McDonalds on the High Street 😀
August 30, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I live there. Go to Parliament Street, allegedly the narrowest street in the world (even though it isn't). Smells of wee but at least you can say you've been there. It's a few doors down from the McDonalds on the High Street 😀
Managed to get hold of a copy of the intriguing Indian game Shasn.
Any thoughts on it (including the Azadi expansion / standalone)?
#boardgames
Any thoughts on it (including the Azadi expansion / standalone)?
#boardgames
August 30, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Managed to get hold of a copy of the intriguing Indian game Shasn.
Any thoughts on it (including the Azadi expansion / standalone)?
#boardgames
Any thoughts on it (including the Azadi expansion / standalone)?
#boardgames
Up for game night tonight (probably won't get through all of them).
Donning the Purple
Elysium
The Vale of Eternity
#boardgames
Donning the Purple
Elysium
The Vale of Eternity
#boardgames
August 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Up for game night tonight (probably won't get through all of them).
Donning the Purple
Elysium
The Vale of Eternity
#boardgames
Donning the Purple
Elysium
The Vale of Eternity
#boardgames