‘Java’ by Kramer and Keisling
Games night....... 16th January
It’s finally raining. ‘Java’ arrives in a strong carrier bag and Kendall has another one for his beers. This is a heavy game. With no sign of Spiller and British athletics struggling, there’s plenty of time to set up and exchange bits of Ragnar news.
Spiller arrives, and the game is still being extricated from the box. The set-up involves Kendall calling out bits of kit whilst Dicken shouts ‘Check!’ Gilly arrives, but can’t be persuaded to make a fourth player. Hard to believe as Kendall grinds through a fifteen minute rule bashing session. This is not a game that can be paraphrased – every rule counts. After fifteen minutes, Spiller announces that he hasn’t taken much in.
Dicken starts. He places a couple of 3-space tiles, moves a ‘developer’ onto the village and builds a Palace, thereby creating a City and scoring himself 2 points. It seems easy. Kendall can’t think of anything better to do and promptly executes an almost exact copy of Dicken’s turn. Spiller does something similar and the game is up and running.
Carol breaks off from her chat with Gilly to answer the phone.
Dicken has a brainwave. He extends an irrigation site, placing 3 extra irrigation tiles. Then he surrounds it with some 3-space tiles and scores 12 points (his developer being the only one adjacent to this mighty watering hole). Spiller and Kendall consider their options, but decide not to buy shares in water companies at this juncture (actually there aren’t any shares in this game – sorry). More 3-space tiles are laid, villages extend and Palaces are either built or enlarged.
Carol comes back in. Catherine’s dog has bitten Catherine (a friend whom Lorna, daughter of Dicken, is staying with). The dog is going to have to be put down. Dicken is going to have to get up at some un-Godly hour to drive to Kent. Spiller can’t believe it and argues a different case on behalf of Dicken, involving mid-day and a spade. Carol manages (somehow) to continue her protestations with Dicken. Gilly tries to extricate Spiller from the debate. Kendall keeps quiet. It could be a very long evening.
‘Java’ has not been played by the Ragnars before, despite it being bought for Phil as a Christmas present last year. Phil’s excuse has been vague and something to do with Roger and ‘not his type of game’. Kendall read the rules and almost gave up after discovering (or rather NOT discovering) what constituted a City rather later than might be expected. Other slight glitches caused further consternation. Rio Grande usually do better. Still, after navigating early difficulties the game proves to be no more difficult than many and is certainly modelled on aspects of its sister games ‘Tikal’ and ‘Mexica’.
Not-with-standing this, Spiller is struggling. ‘Can I put this tile here?’.... ‘No, you’ll be joining two Cities’. ‘Why can’t I do that?’.... ‘You’ll be joining two Cities.’ ‘I’m going to build a Palace’ ..... ‘You can’t build another Palace in a city’. And so on. It doesn’t help that every time a rule is interpreted he comes off the worse, and that Dicken profits. Spiller wishes himself chatting with Gilly and Carol – but bridges are already in flames regarding that possibility.
Kendall and Dicken have discovered the delights of ‘Festivals’. This is a neat development away from the exclusive board play of the two other games. Players collect and play cards to determine who gets points from the Festivals taking place as Palaces grow. Slow Palace building can mean lots of extra points, both for building and for Festivals, but can allow opportunity for others to jump in and steal some of the action.
And so, to the main feature of the game - ‘Terracing’. Nothing to do with ancient English football grounds, but think more of paddy fields. The developer placed highest on the terraced tiles is top dog. Build a Palace – he gets the points; organise some irrigation – he gets the points; at the end of the game – you guessed it. (Festivals are different). There are quite a few strictures on how tiles can and cannot be built up, and players have extra 2-space and 1-space tiles in their own supply. Plenty to keep gamers puzzling for weeks at a time. In fact, being the first game all three players can be found putting on and taking off tiles like some DIY fanatic from hell. Six action points don’t go very far in this game.
Beer and Pringles are the order of the day. Spiller is desperately out of salts and goes for a second cigarette. Dicken and Kendall jockey for the lead in a game that ‘doesn’t matter who wins’... as if.
With the last of the 3-space tiles being placed, Kendall counts his points, scoring a healthy 143. Spiller has his last go and comes in with a chesty 104. Dicken does all he can, but can only manage 139 - not bad considering Kendall kept the end game scoring rule to himself until virtually the last 10 minutes! ed.
The verdict is , ‘Good’. Not much by way of theme, but different and demanding. Further games will require in-house rules on turn management e.g. a player may only take off the tile just placed. Spiller seems prepared to give it another try – not what he said earlier in the evening. There’s a lot to this game and it will warrant a further review to do full justice.
Time for a quick coffee and some serious thought about the running of fantasy football this year. Kendall sends his regards to Catherine, advising her to report to the doctor if she starts frothing at the mouth. Dicken adds a further warning about hydrophobia. Spiller snorts. Carol manages a wry grin.
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